1929 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses
Download: PDF — 1929 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses
I.B.S.A. YEAR BOOK
TEACHINGS
MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
HIS WATCHMEN
IDENTIFICATION
HEADQUARTERS
DAILY ROUTINE
RADIO
NATION-WIDE BROADCASTING
LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
AMERICA
OFFICE
FACTORY
MATERIAL
PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
FIELD SERVICE
CLASS ACTIVITIES
REGIONAL SERVICE DIRECTORS
LECTURES
SUNDAY CANVASSING
IBSA WEEKS
SERVICE CONVENTIONS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
CORRESPONDENCE
BETHEL FAMILY
THE WATCH TOWER
THE GOLDEN AGE
DIVERS LANGUAGES
FOREIGN COUTRIES
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BLIND
BRAZIL
BRITAIN
BRITISH GUIANA
CANADA
COLORED
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
NORTHERN EUROPEAN OFFICE
DENMARK
ESTHONIA
FINLAND
FRANCK, BELGIUM AND SAAR BASIN
BELGIUM
GERMANY
HOLLAND
HUNGARY
INDIA
ITALY
JAMAICA
JAPAN
JUGOSLAVIA
KOREA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
NORWAY
POLAND
PORTUGAL
SOUTH AFRICA
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
SYRIA
TRINIDAD
WEST AFRICA
YEAR TEXT
Daily Texts and Comments
YEAR BOOK
of the
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
with
Daily Texts and Comments
(Copyright 1928)
Publishers:
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.
Also London, Toronto, Melbourne, Cape Town, Berne, Magdeburg, etc.
PRINTED IN U. S, A.
International Bible Students Association
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford President
Jesse Hemery Vice-President
E. C. Chitty Secretary
W. E. Van Amburgh Ass’t Secretary & Treasurer
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford President
C. A. Wise Vice-President
W. E. Van Amburgh Secretary & Treasurer
Peoples Pulpit Association
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford President
H. H. Riemer Vice-President
A. R. Goux
Secretary & Treasurer
I.B.S.A. YEAR BOOK
THE purpose of this Year Book is to advise those who desire to know what this organization is doing. It may serve as a testimony to the name of Jehovah God, and bring aid and comfort to the people. All organizations of the world are selfish. By that is meant that each organization looks for some benefit to itself from others. The International Bible Students Association is not an organization of this world. Jehovah God has an organization to carry out his plan. This Association or Society, by the grace of the Lord, is a part of God’s organization because unselfishly devoted to and serving him. It claims no power of its own. Its help and authority come from the Lord. It desires no help from any one or anything that is against Jehovah God. During the year past, and prior thereto, it has been faithfully endeavoring to magnify the name of Jehovah. It is engaged in advertising his King and kingdom, well knowing that the kingdom of God is the only means for the blessing of the oppressed millions of people on earth.
The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is a corporation created and organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania for the purpose of carrying on an educational work amongst the people. It is devoted to giving instruction in the Bible. It was originally organized in 1884. Its official residence is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 1909 it has maintained its main operating office at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The Peoples Pulpit Association is a membership corporation organized and created under the laws of the State of New York. Its purposes are identical with that of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, and its organization is for the purpose of aiding in carrying on the work for which the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society was organized. It was organized in the year 1909 and maintains its official residence at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The International Bible Students Association is a corporation created and organized under the laws of England, with its official residence at 34 Craven Terrace, London, England. It is also an associate organization of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, organized to carry on more efficiently the educational work concerning the Bible. It maintains its main operating office at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
These three corporations have the same president. The other officers are practically the same. They all work in conjunction with each other, and the three separate corporations are maintained for convenience.
These corporations are not business concerns. They are not organized to make money, nor to engage in making money. They are non-stock corporations and no one receives a pecuniary profit therefrom. They are created solely to meet the legal requirements of the countries wherein they serve and to hold together the property necessary to carry on a benevolent work in an orderly way.
The primary purpose of the organization is to aid the people in obtaining a better understanding of God’s purpose and the means to be employed to bring them the promised blessings of life, liberty and happiness. These corporations are Charitable organizations within the proper meaning of that term. A charitable organization is one that puts forth an unselfish effort to aid others, without the desire or hope for pecuniary profit. The organization is benevolent in that it seeks to benefit the mind of the individual and to aid the people in a better course of living. It is a public benefit in that it enables the creature to see his obligation to the Creator and to his fellow men.
All the consecrated Christians that go to make up the members of the Society are preachers of the Word of God. They are ordained ministers. The ordination of each one is that provided and set forth in the commission which Jehovah God grants to all who are in Christ Jesus, to wit: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isa. 61:1,2) Supplementary thereto a number of men in each ecclesia or congregation are ordained by the congregation by electing them and appointing them to office as servants in the congregation.
The methods employed by the organization for preaching the gospel are, to wit: The holding of public meetings which are addressed by speakers; the use of the radio for the broadcasting of the gospel of the Lord’s kingdom; and by any and all of those who are consecrated to the Lord calling at the homes of the people and there exhibiting to the inmates or the dwellers in such homes the gospel sermons in printed form, and giving them an opportunity to avail themselves of books or booklets containing such printed sermons. The work of preaching the gospel in all of the above-mentioned manners is not followed as a vocation by any for a living or a pecuniary profit. Those who go from door to door and preach the gospel by carrying to the people the printed books and booklets, take a nominal sum of money for such sermons published in book or booklet form and use the same to defray expenses incident thereto. This work is done entirely unselfishly and in the interests of the people and to the glory of God, and is therefore charitable and benevolent. Those thus engaging in preaching the gospel do so on each and every day as opportunity affords, including Sunday. To earn their livelihood they engage in some secular employment during certain hours of the day, and then, out of love for the Lord and for his truth, they preach the gospel in the manner above stated.
The term “International Bible Students” is a generic one which applies to all the consecrated and anointed Christians throughout the earth who work together harmoniously in the proclamation of the message of God’s plan. In many towns and cities in various nations there are classes or ecclesias; that is to say, men and women who assemble themselves together in an orderly way for Bible study and to work together systematically for the spreading of the message of God’s kingdom on earth. These various organizations or classes recognize the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and its associate corporations as instruments for the carrying on of the Lord’s work amongst his people on earth. The official paper or journal of the organization is The Watch Tower, published twice each month at Brooklyn, New York It contains usually a leading article discussing some important Bible question. This publication is used regularly as a text for Berean study by the many classes of International Bible Students. It also contains lectures or brief discussions of Bible questions suitable for broadcasting or otherwise for use at public meetings.
The term “the Society’’ is used as a general term to represent all the consecrated and anointed Christians on earth who are harmoniously working together in the promulgation of God’s message to the peoples of earth. The above corporations are not the Society, but said corporations are the servants of the Society. Those associated therewith believe that the Lord is using the Society, composed of his anointed people, as his witnesses on earth concerning Jehovah God and his plan for the salvation of the human race.
The corporate organizations diligently seek to cooperate with consecrated Christians in performing the work above mentioned. The International Bible Students Association has no membership roll Members are not sought, but all are welcome to meet together who believe the great truths taught by the Scriptures and who honestly and earnestly engage in the Lord’s service.
TEACHINGS
As an evidence that the Society is strictly adhering to proclaiming the message of God’s Word as taught by Jesus, the holy prophets, and the apostles, there is set forth herein an epitome of the truths so taught, to wit:
That Jehovah is the only true God; that his name has been pushed aside by so-called Christians for many centuries; that the Devil has blinded even Christians to the truth concerning him; that the world is totally blind; that the time has now come for God to make for himself a name in the earth and he commands his people, as his witnesses, to proclaim his truth.
That the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that it contains a statement of the divine plan for man’s salvation and blessing.
That the great fundamental truths prominently set forth in the Bible are these: Adam, the first man, was created perfect in organism and endowed with the faculties of wisdom, justice, love and power; that he wilfully violated God’s law in order to join his wife Eve in the transgression which Satan had induced her to commit; that the Lord God justly sentenced him to death and expelled him from Eden; that all of his children were begotten and born thereafter, and that hence they were begotten in sin and brought forth in iniquity.
That God made promise that through the seed of Abraham he would bless all the families of the earth, and that in due time he would redeem man from death and ransom him from the power of the grave; that he would raise up a mighty ruler unto whom the people shall be gathered; that in due time he sent to earth his beloved Son, who died upon the cross, whom God raised up from the dead and who by his death and resurrection provided the great redemptive price for mankind.
That since the death and resurrection of our Lord, beginning with Pentecost, the Lord has been selecting the members of the body of Christ; and that these, Jesus the Head, and his body members, constitute the ‘seed of promise’ according to the promise which God made to Abraham.
That Christ Jesus taught his followers to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom that God’s will might be done on earth as in heaven, and promised that he would return in due time and set up his kingdom; that the great hope of the church from Pentecost forward has been the second coming of the Lord, the completion of the church and the inauguration of God’s kingdom.
That God’s provision for one’s becoming a member of the church, which is the body of Christ, is this, to wit: Belief in Christ Jesus as the great Redeemer of mankind; a full consecration to do God’s holy will; justification of the one consecrating, which justification is obtained by the act of Jehovah in justifying or determining that one is right with him.
That justification by faith during the Christian era is for just one purpose, which is that the one justified may be a part of the sacrifice of the Lord, and hence such has made a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice; that then God begets such an one by his spirit to the divine nature and inducts him into the body of Christ and anoints him; that thereafter such Christian must perform his part of the covenant faithfully unto death, and that thus doing he will receive full membership in the body of Christ and an abundant entrance into the heavenly kingdom.
That when Jesus was on earth his disciples propounded to him the question as to what would be the proof of his presence and the end of the world; that his answer was couched in prophetic phrase; that he gave a statement of conditions that would exist at the time of the end of the age and the setting up of his kingdom, to wit, the World War, famines, pestilences, revolutions, return of the Jews to Palestine, the persecution of Christians, and then a period in which the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all the nations as a witness.
That the proof shows that the Gentile Times ended in 1914; that there God, according to his promise, set his anointed King, Christ Jesus, upon his throne (Ps. 2:6); that there followed a great conflict in heaven between Christ on one side and Satan on the other, in which Satan was cast out of heaven; that since then the Lord has come to his temple and is now strengthening his people for the final experiences on earth.
That God in his Word has declared his purpose to overthrow Satan’s wicked organization and to thereby release the peoples of earth from great oppression; and that he will accomplish this by a demonstration of his power and in a time of such trouble as the world has never known, and that this demonstration of power will convince all creation that Jehovah is the Almighty God; that then the authority of unrighteous men in the earth will cease and God will establish the world in righteousness, which righteous government shall be upon the shoulder of his beloved Son and will endure to the eternal blessing of mankind.—Ps. 96: 10; Isa. 9: 6,7.
That the reign of Christ will be for the purpose of granting to every one of the human race, both dead and living, an opportunity for life, and that to this end all those who have died in ignorance of God shall be awakened and given a knowledge of the truth; that the church alone participates in the first resurrection; that all the families of the earth shall have an opportunity to know the Lord and to obey him, and that those obeying shall be granted the blessings of life everlasting in peace and happiness upon the earth for ever.
The Bible Students believe that the only reason for their being on earth at this time, and the only excuse for the existence of their organization, is that they might be witnesses that Jehovah is God and that his kingdom is at hand; that the Devil has for so long a time blinded the people to God’s truth and that now the time has come for God to make for himself a name; that God will have his people bear testimony of him to the world, and then will follow the great conflict which shall mark the final end of earth’s wicked organizations; and that such trouble is not a fight in which the Christian shall participate, but is a fight of God Almighty against the Devil’s organization ; and that the part to be performed by the Christians on earth is to faithfully represent the Lord by telling others of God’s purposes, and thereby to show forth his praises. The Bible Students are earnestly attempting to do this part.
The International Bible Students Association has no membership roll and is not seeking membership. All who believe in the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and who now believe in the presence of the Lord and that the time has come for him to set up his kingdom, and who desire to participate and, to the best of their ability and opportunity do participate in giving the witness to the name of Jehovah, are counted in as members of the Association or Society. All such, in obedience to the admonition of the Apostle Paul, are standing shoulder to shoulder, fighting for the gospel of Jesus Christ and never quailing before the enemy. These have entered into the joy of the Lord, namely, seeing that the time has come for the establishment of the kingdom and the vindication, of Jehovah’s name, it gives them great joy and delight to tell this good news to others.
The Bible Students, in the performance of what they understand to be their covenant and in diligently trying to be witnesses for Jehovah, are now doing their part to hold up the standard of the Lord to the people, to remove the false doctrines that have stumbled the people and to point the people to God’s great way of returning to him, and are thereby bringing consolation to all those who desire to be free. Believing that the time has come when a witness must be given to the kings and rulers of the earth, as well as to the peoples, they are earnestly putting forth their best efforts, gladly spending what little money they have and also their time and energy in spreading amongst mankind the good news that Jehovah is God, that Christ Jesus is the King, that God has set him upon his throne and that he bids all the peoples of earth to give heed to his message and to render obedience to his rule.
It was centuries ago that God promised Abraham that in his seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. As surely as God has placed the sun in the heavens to give light to the earth, just so surely is his promise of blessing the people to be carried out. That time of blessing is now about to begin. He will have all the people brought to a knowledge of the truth, that they may avail themselves of the promised blessing. His consecrated and anointed ones making up the Bible Students organization count it their greatest privilege to represent Jehovah as his witnesses and to carry his gracious message of deliverance to the people, well knowing that all who hear and obey the Most High shall live for ever.
MINUTES OF MEETING
Pursuant to a notice duly given as provided by law and by the by-laws of the Watch Tower Bible &
Tract Society, the corporation convened in annual meeting at ten o’clock Wednesday, October 31, 1928, at Carnegie Hall, county of Allegheny and city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The meeting was called to order by the president and was opened with prayer. It was unanimously agreed that the reading of the minutes for the previous meeting would not be required but that they stand approved as made.
The first order of business was the submission of the report by the president. The report being very lengthy, the president submitted a resume thereof with the understanding that the report be printed in book form and circulated amongst all who may desire a copy. The report was gratifying to all who were present, and many words of commendation and thankfulness to the Lord were spoken by those who had heard.
The treasurer also made his report, which was received and approved. Those attending the annual meeting were specially impressed with the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon our brethren in foreign countries, who have been giving the witness under adverse conditions. As an expression of appreciation and loving-kindness toward the brethren in foreign lands the following resolution was offered, supported by a number of brethren, and, when put to a vote, was unanimously adopted, to wit:
The shareholders of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, assembled in annual meeting of the corporation at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., this 31st day of October, 1928, desiring to express their love and appreciation of the cooperation of the brethren in foreign countries, do adopt the following resolution, to wit:
We send greetings and Christian love to our brethren throughout the earth. Our hearts are thrilled at the evidences of loving zeal in the service of the Lord and of the work accomplished by our brethren, especially in foreign lands, who under great opposition are exalting the name of Jehovah God and lifting up a standard for the people. The annual report as submitted by our president, Brother J. F. Rutherford, is gratifying beyond expression and is another evidence of the directing hand of Jehovah, through his chief executive our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the fact that his message of comfort and deliverance is reaching the people. To him we render our thanks and praise.
Further, that our prayers rise to the Lord for the continuance of his grace and favor throughout the coming year, to the end that an even wider witness may be given.
Further, that we appreciate our heavenly Father’s guidance of the affairs of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and of his provision for his people’s needs through The Watch Tower and associated publications.
Further, that a copy of this resolution be sent to our brethren in foreign lands, also that it be embodied in the Annual Report for the year now concluding.
There being no further business before the annual meeting, it adjourned.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
To the Lord's Watchmen:
Because as president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society it is my privilege and pleasure to make report to God’s people, I bring to you a brief statement of the work done by the Society during the year now closing. You will understand that our fiscal year ends the last day of September. The annual report is made on October 31.
There is a reason why this work is going on in the earth, and there is a reason why we are engaged in it. It is well to call one another’s attention from time to time to these reasons. Before the beginning God knew the end. This he shows by his prophetic Word, and from time to time reveals the meaning thereof for the encouragement of those who have been and are objects of his loving-kindness.
HIS WATCHMEN
Jehovah caused his prophet to say: “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.’’ (Isa. 52: 8) God’s anointed ones on the earth are aware of the great truth that the Lord has come to his temple. The temple class is made up of the anointed ones of God, and such are in his dwelling. (2 Cor. 6:16) In God’s due time Christ Jesus comes and takes account with his stewards to whom he had committed his kingdom interests. Some he found had proven themselves slothful and unfaithful servants.
Others had proven faithful, and to the latter the Lord said: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt, 25:21) The faithful ones thus approved of the Lord are the ones constituting his watchmen. To such all his goods or kingdom interests from that time forward are committed, and hence that class becomes the “faithful and wise servant”.—Matt. 24:45-47.
By the mouth of his prophet God gave another picture for the encouragement of his approved opes. The robe of righteousness is the symbol of approval by Jehovah. The robe is furnished by Jehovah, and the Bridegroom brings the approved ones under that robe. All judgment is committed to him, and he acts as the great representative of Jehovah in this capacity. There is therefore a close and sweet relationship formed between Christ and the faithful ones on earth. The faithful, being received into this condition and approved, arc the feet members of Christ, because they are the last ones on earth. These are the ones that make up the ‘wise virgin’ class. Seeing their position of favor they rejoice with great joy.—Isa. 52:7; 61:10; Matt. 25:1-10.
Still another beautiful picture is given by the Lord God for the comfort and encouragement of his people. He caused his prophet to write: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps. 91:1) Those who enjoy this blessed privilege respond: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
This prophecy tells the anointed ones that they are in the place of security and have complete protection from the Almighty God as long as they remain there.
Watchmen are those whom the Lord has put on watch to give attention to his interests. The watchman is not one man, but is made up of a company of creatures wholly devoted to the Lord. None of these creatures are perfect in themselves, but their love for the Lord and faithfulness to him are pleasing to Jehovah, and these approved ones are the recipients of his precious promises. (Ps. 31:23) Surely the Lord would put no one on watch to give attention to his interests unless that one had shown his love and devotion to God. Just as surely no one will remain on watch unless he continues to manifest his love and faithfulness to the Lord. Love for God means keeping his commandments. No one can be faithful to the Lord unless he loves the Lord. Love must be the propelling motive, the moving cause of the action of the servant. Love means unselfish devotion of one’s every faculty to the Lord. The love of the anointed for God is proven by his joyful devotion to God, and, particularly in the day of judgment, is shown by faithfully keeping God’s commandments. (1 John 4:17, 18, 5:3) No one can possibly abide in God’s love unless he is diligent in keeping God’s commandments.
This is conclusively proven by the words of Jesus: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto yon, that my joy might remain in yon, and that your joy might be full.”—John 15:10,11.
The foregoing scriptures emphasize the fact, which is now clearly seen, that there must be at the same time a class faithful to the Lord and also a class claiming to be God’s children but who are less faithful. Those who are less faithful have received and held the truth because they have wanted the best for themselves. The members of the faithful class hold the truth in the love of the truth because they delight to show forth the praises of Jehovah God, who has favored them with his great light. It is therefore clearly shown by the Scriptures that the watchmen are made up of those who are faithful and true to the Lord. To remain a member of the watchman class means that one must continue faithful and true to the Lord.
IDENTIFICATION
It is possible for the anointed to learn who is and who is not of the watchman class. The prophecy says: "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing.” The voice is a symbol of a message. The prophecy, therefore, must mean that the watchmen have a message to be delivered and that the message is one of joy to their hearts. They do have a message to deliver. That great message is that Jehovah is God; that Christ is earth’s rightful governor; that God has placed his governor upon his holy throne; that the final conflict with Satan is about to be fought; that such conflict will result in complete victory for the Lord, and that God’s name
will be vindicated and the people of earth delivered. What a marvelous message to commit to men for delivery ! Could any one know and appreciate this message without being thrilled with joy? All the watchmen having the same message and all being moved by the same spirit, of necessity they sing together the praises of Jehovah. (Isa. 12: 4-6) Such is God’s commandment.
Then the prophet of God says: “The watchmen . . . shall see eye to eye. ’ ’ They see that the Lord is in his temple: that Jehovah is the source of light and truth and that “his lightnings” from time to time flash forth disclosing to the temple class his purposes toward his anointed. They see by the light of God’s truth that he has a work which the temple class must do. All members of the temple class, looking to the Lord God, and therefore looking in the same direction, see the truths exactly in the same way and are in exact harmony with the work that God has for them to do. They break forth in song; they walk shoulder to shoulder; they work as one well-organized body. There is no sound known to man so harmonious and beautiful as the human voice. The illustration here is an apt one. His watchmen, on the earth, and therefore in the flesh, unitedly and harmoniously engage in the same thing and always with the same purpose in view. Their course of action is harmonious, sweet and beautiful because their sole purpose is to glorify God by keeping his commandments. This is another proof that the Society is composed of those faithful anointed ones scattered throughout the earth but united in action and harmoniously engaged in watching over the kingdom interests. Those who continue faithful in thus performing their duty and obligations will continue to be of the watchman class, and in God’s due time will enter into the fulness of joy.
The reader may examine this report of the activities of the Society during the year just passed and then determine for himself whether or not this is the Lord’s work on the earth at this time. If he comes to the conclusion that it is the Lord’s work, then it means that the Lord has something that he might do to be in line for the blessings which God through Christ will shortly bestow upon the obedient ones.
HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of the Society is at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A. The three corporations that operate together to carry on the work of the Society throughout the earth are, to wit, the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the Peoples Pulpit Association, and the International Bible Students Association. The executive offices of each corporation are at the above address; also the office of secretary and treasurer is there. The Society has more than thirty sub-offices in different parts of the earth. Each one of such sub-offices has a local manager appointed by the president. The president is the general manager of the entire organization, and the management is conducted from the Brooklyn headquarters. Every month each manager submits to the president a detailed report to be examined and cheeked, so that every detail of the work may be properly in hand and the cost of production and maintenance and the general conduct of the work may be intelligently known and directed.
At the same address is the Bethel home, which now consists of a building of approximately 120 rooms with modern conveniences, making it a suitable place to house those who work in the Lord’s service. The home is not elaborately furnished, of course, but it is pleasing and comfortable. Approximately 180 persons are in the house of the Bethel home. Most of these are young men. The purpose is to maintain a good working force. Two persons occupy each room. Each room is fitted with two single beds so that each one may have a bed to himself. It is also fitted with tables and lights for private study.
There is a general assembly room, where the brethren may congregate for music or conversation. There is a library, where quiet study may be had by those who wish to be there in the evening. There are music rooms used for instruction and practice both in vocal and in instrumental music preparatory for the radio programs. These rooms are used daily for the purposes mentioned. Other rooms are fitted with typewriters for use by the brethren in preparing their discourses for radiocasting and for other occasions of speaking.
The Bethel home has a house manager, whose office is on the first floor below the entrance. He looks after the affairs of the home generally and in detail. Each person entering the home reports to the manager or to his assistant and is required to register. The purpose of registering is to enable the management to know who is in the house and to what room assigned and why he is there. This is necessary with reference to guests as well as to those who occupy rooms permanently. The work of the manager’s office includes the buying of the food, preparing of the meals, serving the meals, the cleaning of the house, and generally looking after the work that goes on there. There is a well-organized force of assistants working under his direction. Each one, being devoted to the Lord, does his or her part with gladness of heart.
DAILY ROUTINE
Of necessity the Bethel home must be conducted in an orderly way. No other way would be pleasing to the Lord. To this end, rules are had for the government of the home. A printed copy of the rules is placed in the hands of each one who enters the home for service. He is requested to study these rules and abide by them. At 6:30 o'clock in the morning the rising signal is sounded. Every one is expected to arise immediately, take a bath and prepare for the day. At 7 a.m. the breakfast signal is sounded and the entire family assembles in the dining-room. The morning devotion is led by the president when present. When he is absent, some one else is designated to fill this place.
Morning devotion consists of singing a song previously selected for the day. Then prayer is offered by the one leading or by some one whom he requests. After this the blessing upon the food is asked by some member of the family. Following that, the breakfast meal is served; and during the service the Bible text for the day is read and is freely discussed by the members of the family, particularly those who are elders in the ecclesia. At the conclusion of the discussion and the reading of the comment contained in the Year Book, the president sums up in a brief statement especially appropriate to the daily text. The family then stands while being dismissed with prayer.
At eight o’clock in the morning all members of the family are expected to be diligently performing their respective duties. Some operate the laundry, others mend shoes or press clothes, others prepare the food, others cook it, others wash the dishes, and give attention to the dining-room, while still another company cares for the house. Each one performs his service faithfully as assigned, doing it always as unto the Lord because he is doing service that is necessary to carry on the Lord’s work. All who arc admitted to the home and assigned to service first file a questionnaire declaring that they are fully consecrated to the Lord and in full harmony with the work that the Society is doing. The purpose is to have the members of the family in full harmony and working with one object in view, namely, that of proclaiming the gospel of God’s kingdom. It is readily to be seen that no one is expected to remain at the home unless he performs service.
At noon an hour is given for the serving of the food and the discussion of Bible questions. Any one of the family or any one visiting the family may propound a Bible question. The one presiding calls upon various brethren to give their expression on the question and then there is a free and open discussion of the question by any one who may desire to participate therein. At the conclusion the one leading sums up the question by covering the points that have been previously brought forth. A similar course is followed at the evening meal. In fact, at the time of serving each meal in the dining-room there is also a time and occasion for the study of the Bible and the time is so occupied.
In addition thereto, all members of the household have time for personal and private Bible study in their respective rooms; so, in fact, every room in the house is devoted to the Lord’s work.
Regular Bercan Bible study classes are conducted in the home almost every evening. On Monday evening there is a study of some leading article in The Watch Tower. The attendance at this meeting is limited to members of the family. This meeting is usually led by the president of the Society. Those living outside of the home and who are members of the congregation may attend other study meetings and also the praise, prayer and testimony meetings, but the Monday meeting is exclusively for the family, that the family may have a special opportunity to discuss important questions.
Appointments are made regularly for either members of the family or those outside who desire to consult the president on personal matters. These appointments are always made through his secretary.
From early morning until 10:30 o’clock at night, the Bethel home is a busy place.
At 10:15 the signal is dashed, which is a warning to prepare for retiring, and every one is expected to retire quickly and extinguish the lights, that the proper rest may be had preparatory for the next day.
The printing and manufacturing work is done at 117 Adams Street, where the Society maintains its factory. Manuscript for the various publications is there set in many different languages and the printing and manufacturing work is done on machines operated by consecrated hands. There also the detailed work of the radio is carried on. The general management of all the work, however, is done from the Columbia Heights executive offices.
RADIO
The value of the radio for communicating to the people grows steadily. There are many improvements today that were not enjoyed by radio operators a few years ago. There are so many stations operating simultaneously, however, on close radio frequencies that continuous reception over a wide area is not satisfactory. The Society has put forth its best endeavors during the year to use the radio to tell the good news of the kingdom to the people. It has met much opposition. Satan’s organization is now in control of earth’s affairs and of course, it is to be expected, would oppose the broadcasting of the truth concerning God's kingdom. To be sure Jehovah could instantly put out of working order all of Satan’s organization and the radio stations operated by it, but it seems that his due time has not yet arrived so to do. The mere fact that God permits Satan to interfere with the use of the radio must be construed to mean that such permission is for a wise purpose known unto the Lord. Trusting in him implicitly, his people may go confidently on, knowing that in his due time he will cause the radio to be used to give his message of the kingdom as widely as he wills it to be used.
NATION-WIDE BROADCASTING
A nation-wide broadcast was arranged for May 13, 1928. The originating station of the program was WGY, at Schenectady, New York. Fifty-one radio stations were linked together by wire. These stations were located at various points in the United States so that the speech on that occasion covered the major portion of the country. The president of the Society delivered the lecture on that occasion from a theater at Albany, New York, and simultaneously the fifty- one radio stations carried the speech throughout the land. In response to this lecture a great number of telegrams and letters were received showing a splendid reception, and much interest was manifested by the people. At the same time WGY broadcast the lecture on a short wave length which made it possible for long distance reception, and reports showed that the lecture was plainly heard in Scotland and portions of Continental Europe.
On Sunday morning, August 5, 1928, the president of the Society delivered a public address at the State Fair Grounds Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan, before the International Convention of Bible Students assembled there. The subject of the lecture was "Ruler for the People’’. It was delivered in support of a resolution offered at the time before the convention and which, at the conclusion of the lecture, was unanimously adopted by the convention.
Arrangements were made to broadcast this lecture throughout the United States and Canada. A total of 107 radio stations participated in this simultaneous broadcast. Immediately following the lecture and musical program, a large number of telegrams were received from various parts of the United States and Canada, announcing that the reception was clear and well received. In many places halls were taken and loud speakers installed, while in many private homes audiences assembled. Also in some places loud speakers were installed in public parks. Within a short time thereafter a flood of letters were received from various parts of the country, with many requests for copies of the lecture The Society’s presses at 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, have been running steadily for twenty-four hours a day for more than a month printing the booklet entitled, The Peoples Friend, which contains the resolution adopted, also the speech in support thereof, and another address delivered on another occasion. Upward of five million copies of this booklet in the English language have been printed, and these are now in course of distribution among the English-speaking people. In addition thereto, the booklet is being printed in many other languages for distribution in America and Europe, also in parts of Asia and Africa.
On Monday morning, August 6, 1928, the president of the Society broadcast from the Detroit Auditorium the same lecture for the special benefit of the peoples of New Zealand and Australia. This was done by short wave radio frequency from station WGY at Schenectady, New York, the speech being transmitted by telephone wire from Detroit to Schenectady. Reports from these countries show that there was a very fair reception both in New Zealand and in Australia. At the same time, many heard in different parts of South America, the Canal Zone and islands of the sea.
The cost of the broadcasting of this program was contributed to by a number of brethren throughout the land. Therefore many had part in sending forth the good news to hungry souls, some of whom are held as “prisoners” in the ecclesiastical systems. Others confined to hospitals or to sick beds in their homes, and many others through out the countries of the earth, were made glad by hearing the message that Jehovah is now sending forth to the people.
LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
The Society owns and operates radio stations WBBR, situated at Staten Island, New York, and WORD, at Chicago, Illinois. These stations have broadcast programs concerning God’s kingdom regularly during the year and with good effect. Both stations, however, have been greatly handicapped and put to much disadvantage by reason of being compelled to broadcast on unfavorable wave lengths or radio frequencies While the radio belongs to Jehovah, we must keep in mind that Satan and his organization still control the affairs of this world. God’s due time to completely destroy the enemy from the earth is not yet. Manifestly the Lord is permitting Satan to interfere with the broadcasting of the Truth. Such interference comes chiefly from the clergy, who claim to represent the Lord, but who in fact represent Satan, whether they know it or not. The Lord could prevent this interference, but he sees wise not to do so. Probably the Lord wants his people to have some tribulation in the broadcasting field as well as elsewhere. All these experiences tend to advertise the King and his kingdom. We may be confident that when the Lord gets ready to have all the radio stations of the earth broadcast his message of truth, he will do so. We will continue to go on in the way he permits, knowing that his perfect wisdom is directing the course of his people and that in due time he will cause all experiences to redound to his own glory.
The new allocation made by the Federal Radio Commission becomes operative November 11, 1928. Under that reallocation WBBR is required to broadcast on a wave length of 230 6 meters, and WORD, at Chicago, on 202 6 meters. Since WORD was built to operate on a wave band between 300 and 600 meters, it is entirely impossible to broadcast on a wave length of 202 6 meters. There is but one thing left for us to do at the present time, and that is to reconstruct the equipment at great expense of effort and money. We hope that the reconstruction may enable us to continue to use WORD to good advantage. Our own engineers could do the reconstruction work; but since the patents for the equipment are owned by private corporations, we must bow to their method of doing the work and pay what to us seems to be an exorbitant price. Since the beginning of the radio work there has been manifested a continuous opposition, and this opposition has kept us busy trying to overcome it and to still go on with the work.
The Society has special contracts with stations WHK, at Cleveland, Ohio, and KFWM, at Oakland, California. These contracts provide that the Society has the exclusive privilege of broadcasting Bible truths over such stations. These two stations have been broadcasting the Society’s programs throughout the year and with splendid results, and for this we give thanks to the Lord as for all good things which proceed from him.
The Society’s stations that for some time operated in Canada were compelled to cease broadcasting because the government declined to renew the licenses therefor. No legal or other adequate reason was assigned for such arbitrary action on the part of the government. It is manifest that the influence, of the clergy got in its work through the principal of their flock and caused arbitrary action to be taken. There were less than two hundred complaints made against the stations there broadcasting Upon these few complaints the license was denied The people rose up on masse against such action. Meetings were held which were addressed by prominent Canadian citizens who are not Bible Students and who spoke in favor of the Society's stations Later a petition was presented to the government, signed by approximately five hundred thousand Canadian citizens. The petition protested against the action of the government and asked that the licenses of the Society’s stations be renewed. The matter is still pending and will be again heard in Parliament. This opposition has been blessed by the Lord in this, that it has caused a great amount of advertising of the truth throughout Canada and a far greater number than ever have been looking into the truth and buying the literature and thereby informing themselves. If it be the Lord’s will, we hope to see these Canadian stations again broadcasting the truth to a better advantage than before.
During the fiscal year other stations have broadcast the Society’s programs giving the message of the kingdom. This, of course, has been done under contract. Stations broadcasting the message for the Society during the year totaled 143, and are distributed throughout the earth as follows: United States, 127; Canada, 8; Australia and New Zealand, 8.
In addition thereto there has been occasional broadcasting of the truth in South Africa, India, Switzerland and other parts of Continental Europe. Without a question of doubt, the Lord has given his blessing to the radio method of preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Great multitudes of the people who never before heard the truth concerning God’s plan have been enabled to hear by radio while sitting quietly in their respective homes. Then, when called upon by the colporteurs or class workers, they have readily purchased the books and begun the study of God’s plan. This gives proof that, notwithstanding all the opposition that the enemy may put forth, the gospel of the kingdom goes grandly on.
During the year the radio stations not only have broadcast the truth in the English language but have also broadcast the kingdom message in the German, French, Greek, Syrian, Armenian, Norwegian, Swedish, Polish and other languages. The radio has thus been one of the strong features during the year for making known the name of Jehovah and his purpose of establishing his righteous government on the earth.
AMERICA
It was in America that the gospel of the second presence of our Lord began to be preached. That was about fifty years ago. That does not mean that there were consecrated persons only in America. On the contrary, many other countries were the residences of people consecrated to do God’s will. It seemed pleasing to the Lord, however, to have the message of present truth begun to be sent forth from America. Probably that was due to the fact that America has a more cosmopolitan population than any other country on earth. In this land the people have come from all countries of the earth and have made America their place of residence. Because all nations of the countries claiming to be Christian arc represented in America, it may well be said that the gospel began to be preached here to all nations.
During the period of approximately forty years from the beginning of the preaching of the second presence of our Lord, the chief work of the anointed was to study the Word of God and to interest others who were seeking the truth, to study his Word. During that period of time the Lord restored to his people the great fundamental truths that had so long been hid from their vision. This enabled the consecrated to see their privilege of separating themselves from worldly organizations and to come together for communion and fellowship in the spirit of the Lord. The work therefore was more in the nature of gathering out of Babylon, and assembling together to build one another up in the most holy faith. There was witnessing work done, of course, but most of the witnessing work in that period was done by a small number of men going from place to place and preaching the gospel by word of mouth, and by a small number of men and women as colporteurs calling from house to house and preaching the gospel by telling of the Lord and his purpose to bless the obedient ones of the human race. That means brought a goodly number of persons together and into present truth. Many of such accepted the truth because it appealed to them as being the best religion they had ever heard about. They saw that Jehovah God is the great God of love and that he would not torture any one in hell torment, but that the fate of the wilfully wicked is destruction. That great truth, restored to the people, released many from great mental distress. During that period of forty years the anti-hell doctrine of the Bible was specially stressed and with a good purpose and to the Lord’s glory.
Those who saw that God in his loving-kindness had made provision, through the death and resurrection of his beloved Son, to save the human race were not only relieved but made glad. They saw also that God was separating from the merely nominal systems those who loved him and that he was bringing them together in a company by themselves. They accepted the truth and made a consecration to do his will. Some of these had a selfish purpose in view, in this, that they looked forward to the time when they would receive a personal reward by being taken to heaven, be relieved of all their woes and troubles and be for ever in bliss and ease. They were not particularly impressed by the love of God, exhibited by him toward mankind, and the privilege of magnifying his name amongst men. They gave a greater amount of glory to Jesus because he had died for mankind. They had a desire to be made in the likeness of the Lord Jesus and, to do this, they insisted that they must be diligent in developing a beautiful and sweet character. That which claimed their attention chiefly was getting ready to go to heaven and to go just as soon as possible. The date 1914 was undoubtedly a marked date in the Scriptures, which was seen by those in the truth, and they looked forward to that time believing and hoping that they would be taken to their heavenly homes.
Then when 1914 came and those above described found themselves still on the earth, they were disappointed. Many of them were dismayed and wondered if they had figured out the matter just right. Some had been so rash as to say that if God's plan did not fully mature in 1914, then they would cast the truth aside. They had a chance to do that very thing and some of them did it and fell away.
At the same time there was another class walking side by side with their brethren, more fully devoted to the Lord and who were not looking so much for a place of ease and comfort as they were interested in doing what they could to the glory of the Lord in obedience to his commandments. They realized that in themselves there was no perfect thing, that all they had or hoped to be was by the Lord’s grace, and their great desire was to magnify the Lord and his great plan.
From 1914 to 1918 was a strenuous time for the consecrated. In 1918 the great testing time was reached, and many of those who had made a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice were shaken out. That was a fiery time, and it had been foreshadowed by the ending of the experience of Elijah the prophet. During the period of forty years all the consecrated walked together; and now a time of separation had come, and this was foreshadowed by the separating of Elijah from Elisha. It marked the end of a certain work and the time for the beginning of another.
Those that were more fully devoted to the Lord rejoiced to know that God, in the exercise of his loving- kindness, had provided salvation for all and that in due time all would have an opportunity for life. They saw the great privilege of service and understood that serving the Lord was a means of proving their love for him and faithfulness to him.
Uppermost in the minds of such was the fact that God in his due time would establish a kingdom or government of righteousness, that Christ Jesus would be the Head of that government and that there would be associated with him those who should prove themselves faithful and true to him before the establishment of that government in full sway. They appreciated the necessity of being faithful to the Lord and put forth their best endeavors to faithfully and truly perform their covenant by looking after the kingdom interests committed to them. This they did by seizing opportunities of serving the Lord. They did not fully understand what it meant to have the kingdom interests committed into their hands, but they knew it was of greatest importance to prove faithful to God and to Christ Jesus, Therefore they endeavored to take advantage of opportunities to bear witness to the name and majesty of God and of his beloved Son.
The Watch Tower has heretofore given ample Scriptural proof showing that the Lord suddenly came to his temple in 1918; also that he came to his temple for the purpose of judgment or taking account, first with his servants; that there he did take account with the consecrated, and those whom he found earnest and faithful he gathered together into the temple condition, gave them the robe of righteousness, which signifies approval, and the garments of salvation, enabling them to identify themselves as the Lord’s children, and constituted them the “faithful and wise servant”. It was shortly thereafter that those more fully devoted to the Lord understood the purpose of God to have a witness given in the world. The World War ceased in 1918, and these faithful ones understood thereafter and appreciated the commandment of Jesus, to wit: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) They began to appreciate the further fact that such are constituted God’s witnesses to declare his Name and majesty in the earth. God revealed to them the distinction between his organization and the Devil’s organization. From 1922 forward they began a more strenuous witness which has gradually increased in velocity even unto the present time and which has clearly received God’s manifest approval by his continued blessings. This work done by the faithful was foreshadowed by the experiences of the Prophet Elisha The work beginning about 1922 spread to other countries and nations. Likewise the more active witness work that began in America was taken up in other parts of the earth and has been greatly blessed by the Lord During the past six years there has been a gradual increase of the witness work although the number engaged therein has not materially increased and in many places the number has grown less There is conclusive evidence given by the Lord’s Word and by the extraneous facts that he will have the witness work now given in the earth, and the anointed ones are more keenly appreciating their great privilege of having a part in this work. Just how long the Lord will have it continued we do not know, so far as years and days are concerned; but we do know that the Lord through his prophet has said “Until the cities [Devil’s organized systems] be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate.” (Isa. 6:11) By that we understand that God will have the witness go on until Armageddon, and probably even for a time after Armageddon, and this witness will be done by his anointed ones on earth For this reason the anointed are not particularly concerned about the day or the hour or the year that they may finish their earthly course. That which concerns them is to be faithful and true to the Lord in performing with gladness what he has given them to do.
OFFICE
It is believed that the work of the Lord should be done in the most efficient manner possible. In order to do the witness work it appeared to be the Lord’s will that the Society organize an efficient office force at the American headquarters. This has been done. Likewise an efficient office force has been organized at other headquarters throughout the earth. The work at the office at headquarters was arranged under departments, to wit: Service department, which includes the colporteurs, pioneer colporteurs, auxiliary colporteurs, regional service directors, and class workers; Translation department, wherein the message is translated into twenty or more languages and prepared for the typesetters and is set in the same factory; Stencil department, which systematically ar ranges and handles all the names and addresses of those who subscribe for The Watch Tower and The Golden Age; Correspondence department, which handles all the correspondence to the office concerning orders, inquiries, questions, etc.; Proofreading department, which examines and marks all the manuscript and reads the proof after it is set in type; Radio and Lecture department, which has control of the public speaking, which includes those who travel from place to place and address the interested and the public either in halls or by radio; the Bookkeeping, the Cost Control and the Dispatch departments. All these departments are under the supervision of one office manager and the general supervision of the president.
Each department puts forth its best endeavors to perform the duties assigned and not get in the way of some other.
By the cost control the office is enabled to keep an accurate account of the progress of the work in the factory as well as in the office. A budget arrangement is put in operation and the material for manufacturing the books, The Watch Tower, The Golden Age and other publications, is ordered in quantity and at the best possible price. It is known before we begin what it will cost to produce a book, and then the selling price may be fixed accordingly. It was Jesus who said that a wise man, before building a house, sits down and counts the cost. Following this advice the office diligently endeavors to determine approximately the number of books and booklets to be manufactured within a year, and estimates the cost, and t hen contracts arc made for the purchasing of material accordingly.
By the dispatch control system each man who works in the office and factory has his duties assigned to be performed at a certain time, and the dispatch clerk is able to follow the work from the beginning to the end. There is a schedule by which every one is expected to act. The president is told by the dispatch clerk when the manuscript must be in the hands of the proofreaders and, from that time until the book is ready for shipment, each one in the office and factory is expected to follow the schedule as faithfully as a railway train is run by schedule. By this means the work can be systematized and is done economically. The office controls the factory, which is situated in the same building. The work at the office begins exactly on time each day, and all work ends at the same hour. Every one is expected to be at his desk during such office hours.
…