1950 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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1950 YEARBOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses containing report for the service year of 1949 Also daily texts and comments
Corporate Publishers
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
124 Columbia Heights Brooklyn 2, N.Y., U.S.A.
Branch offices appear on last page
Copyright, 1949, by Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Made in the United States of America
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
N. H. KNORR President
F. W. FRANZ Vice-President
GRANT SUITER Secretary and Treasurer
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.
OFFICERS
N. H. KNORR President
F. W. FRANZ Vice-President
GRANT SUITER Secretary and Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
N. H. KNORR President
A. PRYCE HUGHES Vice-President
E. C. CHITTY Secretary
GRANT SUITER
Ass’t Secretary and Treasurer
Alaska .....................................
Argentina .................................
Australia ..................................
Austria ....................................
Bahamas ..................................
Basutoland ................................
Bechuanaland .............................
Belgian Congo .............................
Belgium....................................
Bermuda ...................................
Bolivia .....................................
Brazil .....................................
British Guiana ............................
British Honduras ..........................
British Isles ...............................
British West Indies .......................
Burma .....................................
Cameroon ..................................
Canada ....................................
Ceylon .....................................
Chile .......................................
China ......................................
Colombia ..................................
Costa Rica .................................
Cuba .......................................
Cyprus .....................................
Czechoslovakia .............................
Dahomey ..................................
Denmark ..................................
Dominican Republic .......................
Ecuador ...................................
Egypt ......................................
Eire ........................................
Eleuthera ..................................
El Salvador ................................
Faroe Islands ..............................
Fiji ........................................
Finland ....................................
64 80
83 92 64 236 236 211
94 66
98 101 105 107 109 116 119 207 121 182 125 127 130 133 137 139 141 206 143 145 147 150 113
65 152 145
87 164
242 68
160 163
France .....................................
French Equatorial Africa ..................
French Guiana .............................
Gambia ....................................
Germany ...................................
Gold Coast ................................
Greece .....................................
Guadeloupe ................................
Guatemala .................................
Haiti ......................................
Hawaii ....................................
Honduras ..................................
Hungary ...................................
Iceland ....................................
India ......................................
Iran ........................................
Italy .......................................
Jamaica ...................................
Japan .....................................
Korea ......................................
Lebanon and Syria ........................
Liberia .....................................
Luxembourg ...............................
Malta ......................................
Mexico ....................................
Netherlands ..............................
Netherlands West Indies ..................
Newfoundland .............................
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Northern Rhodesia
Norway
Nyasaland
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippine Republic
Poland
Portugal
Portuguese East Africa
Puerto Rico
Rumania
Russia
Saarland
St. Helena
Sierra Leone ...............................
Singapore and Malaya ....................
South Africa ...............................
Southern Rhodesia .........................
Spain ......................................
Surinam ...................................
Swaziland ..................................
Sweden ....................................
Switzerland ...............................
Tanganyika ...............................
Thailand ...................................
Togo .......................................
Turkey .....................................
United States of America ..................
United States of Indonesia ................
Uruguay ...................................
Venezuela ..................................
Virgin Islands..............................
Yugoslavia .................................
186 189
234 239
78 241 237 243 245 212 247 208 167
62 90 249 251
YEARBOOK
OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
JEHOVAH God is a wonderful provider. He has given humankind everything they need. From the very beginning when he created Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden he provided them with a beautiful home in a paradise. He did more than that. God did not make his first earthly intelligent creations hunt for food to keep them alive. No, that was all provided for, too. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Gen. 1: 29, A.S.V.) With all these provisions, they should have had sufficient. But even after the first pair sinned by eating the fruit of the only forbidden tree, which fruit was forbidden them in order to test their obedience, the Lord provided them with clothing. “And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.”—Genesis 3:21, A.S.F.
Since that time nearly six thousand years ago, man has needed these three things—shelter, food and clothing—in order to carry on his normal existence in life. With these he should be content. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim. 6:7,8) David, a man after God’s own heart, expresses how generously Jehovah provides for every one of his creatures; not only for man, by supplying him with all his needs, but for every living thing: the birds, fish and beasts of the field. The Almighty God looks after and cares 5 for what he creates. “The eyes of all wait for thee; and thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”—Psalm 145:15,16, A.SLF.
In providing all these necessary things in abundance God was not making man an idler so that he would be able to say, “I don’t have anything to do.” No, God kept man busy from the time of his creation, when He put him in the garden “to dress it and to keep it”. (Gen. 2:15) So it will be with man in the new world. But when man went contrary to God’s law He declared, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” (Gen. 3:17, A.S.V.) While God made man a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor, it was Jehovah who gave him the assignment to look after things upon the earth. He put all things under man’s feet: “All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” (Ps. 8:5-8) Man has used beasts of burden in his toil to plant, cultivate, water, and eventually bring forth food. But still Jehovah is the original Provider of all our needs and our thanks must go to him for all things. We are dependent on him for the rain, sun, air, soil, fertile seed, for everything; and he gives it to us. When God made man ruler over these animals and charged him to keep the fields and forests in all their majesty, he never decreed that man was to be a tyrant over man. Man’s sovereign Ruler and everlasting Provider must be Jehovah. Man’s life is dependent on the only true God!
Man should know that all creation, including man himself, was made to set forth the splendor and the glory of Jehovah, the Supreme One of the universe. Man should feel his need of relying on God; for when one comes into the world he has nothing but the gift of life God gave him, and he can take nothing along when he leaves it. When one knows this, why should he crave to domineer over and control the lives and destinies of other human creatures? Why be greedy and selfish and have that condition of heart ? If, as we know, God supplies all things to sustain our life, why try to take away the substance that God has given other men for their existence? In this commercialized world most persons have very little and the giants of commerce do not want them to have more. Those who substitute communistic co-operatives do not succeed in overcoming that condition, and the people continue to suffer lack of the necessities of life. Under one system or another that men set up, selfishness and lust for control rise to dominate. It would be better to give our substance to the poor than to covet what little they have. What is our gain if we do rob the poor ?
HOW TO GAIN LIFE
It is so very evident that the accumulation of wealth does not bring peace, security or prosperity to the nations, nor does it bring real happiness to the individual who may have gathered it through evil means and covetousness. It is righteousness that counts! One who wants to live and really enjoy life must turn to the Lord’s Word for advice and then follow it. The poor as well as the rich must put their trust in Jehovah and do his bidding and preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Can the rich, those with much of this world’s goods, do that? Is there any hope at all for them to gain life in the new world ? If there is, what must they do?
The Word of God tells us that we should be rich in good works; but what are those good works ? The problem was put squarely before the Teacher, Christ Jesus, when he walked the earth. The interests of men in his time were the same as the interests of men now: they wanted life, -and that more abundantly. Death held nothing for them; so the question was propounded, How can one gain eternal life?
Let us listen in on the conversation. “And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which ? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.”—Matt. 19:16-22, A.S.V.
This rich man that Jesus spoke to got the answer on how to gain eternal life, but did he follow it ? No! As far as individuals are concerned, he probably had a splendid personality, and, from all outward appearances, he was living according to the law of God. One of his outstanding qualities as revealed in the conversation was that he loved his neighbor as he did himself. Very likely he was not an oppressor of the poor. His riches probably came to him through his own good, hard efforts and honest management of his great holdings. So it appears that if an individual happens to be rich or gains great wealth through his own labors there is no harm in that particular fact. The question before the rich man today is, How will he use his wealth? If you give to the poor, said Jesus, “thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” However, there is another requirement for eternal life, and that is “Come, follow me”. If one uses his wealth in the advancement of true worship of the Most High God, he is using his “great possessions” in the right way. Jesus gave this rich man the best advice so that he could have real joy in living. What the Teacher wanted him to have was riches in good works, treasures in heaven.
But, as is the case with most people, so it was with this rich man; his desire was to hold on to that which he believed belonged to him by right. He worked for it, and therefore it was his. No one else could touch it, and there was no reason for giving it away. Had he forgotten that “as he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand”? (Eccl. 5:15) His earthly possessions would not give him eternal life.
Let us assume the rich man wanted to follow Jesus but not sell all that he had and give to the poor. Could he follow the Lord and still look after all his earthly possessions? That would be an impossibility. Christ Jesus was a busy man; he was looking after Kingdom interests. He was moving about throughout the cities, villages, towns—throughout the whole countryside— preaching the good news of the Kingdom. His disciples followed him and were instructed by him. He could not be confined to some particular locality to take care of cattle or lands or possessions, nor could his disciples; not if they were to preach the gospel of the Kingdom throughout all the nation of Israel. Jesus did not even have a place to lay his head, much less a house to call home. No, the rich man could never have kept up with Jesus while still looking after his “great possessions”.
Jehovah provided for Jesus, the second Adam, just as He did for the first Adam. The Son of God had the necessary food, clothing and a place of shelter. He was a welcome guest in the homes of those who loved truth and righteousness. Jesus knew a laborer was worthy of his hire; for he worked in the interests of God’s kingdom. The necessary things of life were assured; so why should he try to accumulate great wealth? He had food and raiment, and with these he was content.
Jesus was looking for full-time disciples, those who would travel with him and do the same kind of work that he was doing, people whom he could send away for weeks and months into different territories to perform works like those he was performing so as to bring the people to repentance. He was looking for dependable persons, those who would learn and then preach “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Nothing must stand in their way of service to their God. They must not be like most people who are just too busy for the really important things in life. Remember the occasion when Jesus told of a certain man that prepared a great supper, and he asked many to come to that supper. It was a feast for rejoicing; so he sent out his servant to ask those whom he wanted to come. But the guests who were invited, because they had possessions and things that interested them more than the feast of this certain man, replied to the invitation: “I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” (Luke 14:18-20, A.S.V.) So it is today; people are so busy with their own obligations and work that they do not have time to look after the King’s interests. They do not have the time to enter into the joy of the Lord and celebrate with the Master the doing of the most important work on earth today. They have put a great hindrance in their way just because of the love of money.
It was very hard for the rich man to give up all that he had so that he might have treasures in heaven. It is just as hard today for many people to give up even little things and to work in the interests of the poor and comfort those who mourn with the Kingdom message. They are busy trying to hang on to and gain more earthly possessions. This is selfishness. It is greediness. It is covetousness. “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Tim. 6:10) Even when the rich plan a banquet they do it with the thought in mind of what profit it will be to them.
Jesus had been invited to an evening meal, and he told his host, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14, A.S.V.) The principle pointed out by the Lord was that of giving to others without expecting a return. Why lavish your wealth on those who are wealthy ? They can repay you by doing similar things for you. But rather invite the poor; they will show real gratitude and the giver will be blessed. Yes, “Go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” You will be “rich in good works”.
LIFE MORE THAN MATERIAL WEALTH
Because man is born in sin and shapen in iniquity, he is prone to lean toward the evil side of life and love money. He is taught to get to the top so as to have security. He must be a self-made man, satisfied with his own greatness! How foolish! Isn’t there something worth much more than security and worldly possessions? Isn’t life itself more important? How did we get that? And those riches—are they not just a hoarding of God’s provisions for all? Jesus said, “Take care! You must be on your guard against any form of greed, for a man’s life does not belong to him, no matter how rich he is.” (Luke 12:15, An Amer. Trans.) Another translator of the Greek Scriptures, Mr. Rotherham, puts it this way: “Mind and be guarding yourselves from all covetousness; for not in one’s abundance doth his life spring out of his possessions.” Or, stated in other words, we can say on the basis of this truth, that every individual must be constantly on the alert and be on guard against every form of greediness and covetousness, because even when an individual has an abundance of this world’s goods his life is not due to the things which he possesses. Is not life, then, worth more than riches?
Paul was following this wise and sound counsel of Jesus when he wrote to Timothy and said, “Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, open-handed and generous, storing up a valuable treasure for themselves for the future, so as to grasp the life that is life indeed.” (1 Tim. 6:18,19, An Amer. Trans.) What a man has gathered together as his possession in the way of riches, property or powerful influence —all these will not guarantee him life. Something else is needed. Pursuing Jesus’ argument that “a man’s life does not belong to him, no matter how rich he is”, he further said: “A certain rich man’s lands yielded heavily. And he said to himself, ‘What am I going to do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do; I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have great wealth stored up for years to come. Now take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you. Then who will have all you have prepared ?’ That is the way with the man who lays up money for himself, and is not rich with God.”—Luke 12:16-21, An Amer. Trans.
How true that is! The way of a man who lays up money for himself is not rich toward God. He thinks only of himself, of his own property, his own pleasure. When one becomes as self-centered as that it is no wonder Jesus said that “a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”. Consider for a moment the plans of this rich man. He was going to build greater barns in which to store his crops and then forget the rest of the world of mankind and just live on the wealth he had stored away. How selfish! How inconsiderate! How lazy! He could have given much of his wealth to the poor and still had plenty for himself. He could have planned for the cultivation of his lands for the next year and thus kept his hired help employed. By caring for the land year by year greater income would be his and greater quantities of food would be available for the poor. But no, not that! He said to himself, “Now take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” What a fool! He never got to enjoy the wealth himself, nor had he stored up riches in heaven by giving to the poor. “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” —Prov. 27 :1.
As an individual, what do you want ? Is it security in this world that will soon pass away, or is it life in the new world of righteousness? The Word of God sets out the pattern that all Christians must follow in order to attain eternal life, whether that life be with Christ Jesus as his bride in heavenly Kingdom glory, or whether it be life as a creature who will enjoy the blessings under the kingdom of heaven and the pleasures of life eternal upon a glorious new earth that God makes for man to inhabit. Both are attained through true riches; so store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.
All people have certain possessions, some greater than others; so the principle, “freely ye have received, freely give,” would apply to the rich, the middle class and the poor alike. The poor widow who came to the treasury and cast in her two mites “cast in all the living that she had” for use in God’s work, said Jesus; whereas the rich who came and made their deposit in the treasury of the temple gave “of their abundance”. (Luke 21:1-4) The rich did not miss the gift that they gave to the Lord. So the question might be asked, Who gave the most? Was it not the widow with the two little coins of small value? So, then, if you would be rich toward God, use your possessions and your knowledge of Jehovah God and his righteous government on behalf of the poor and comfort all that mourn, with the good news of God’s kingdom. Do not let yourself be tied down by your wealth and become a slave to your possessions, but make your possessions work for you in your preaching of the Word of God.
Paul knew of certain individuals among the church who had wealth and who were busy accumulating more, and in a letter that he wrote to Timothy he said this: “Charge the rich of this world not to be arrogant, nor to set their hopes on such an uncertain thing as riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, open-handed and generous, storing up a valuable treasure for themselves for the future, so as to grasp the life that is life indeed.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19, An Amer. Trans.) Just because someone has a little or much of this world’s goods is no reason for that individual to take an arrogant position with his friends and his neighbors, nor with those in a Christian congregation, nor with those in the world. They should never set their hopes upon the uncertain riches such as gold and silver, all of which will be of no value in the very last days of this old world. The rich should realize just as much as the poor that it is God who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. Because one has more of the riches of this world than another is no reason for the wealthy one to look down with shame on the poor one. What all can and must be rich in is “good deeds”.
A SOUND INVESTMENT
It isn’t the accumulation of this world’s wealth that brings security. It is the accumulation of good works. That is what makes one rich toward God, and the “poor of this world” can accumulate this treasure more rapidly than the rich, because they are “rich in faith”. Furthermore, those who are poor in this world’s goods do not have to spend so much time caring for that which they possess. One who puts his trust in money has very little security, especially in these days. It seems that after every war money loses value. Shortly after the second World War most of the money in European countries was blocked in the banks by government order, and the people could not withdraw all their funds for many years. Even the rich were given only a small amount to use, and just recently those who were wealthy in pounds sterling found that overnight they lost thousands upon thousands of dollars, as the value of the pound on the foreign market exchange dropped from $4.03 to $2.80. Many other currencies lost much of their buying power in world markets at the same time. So the accumulation of money, wealth, or the uncertain riches of this world is of little value. Its value can vanish away overnight if governments so decree. How much better it would be for a man to make his wealth work to the benefit of others while it has some value than to hold it until it gathers moths and rust and becomes useless.
It is really a sound investment to make your money work on behalf of the poor and by so doing to store up treasures in heaven. Christ Jesus preached the Word, and you can make your riches help you preach the Word. His admonition to all of his followers was to go forth and preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness. This takes time, energy and money, and Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world are giving time, energy and funds, building Kingdom Halls, renting places and fixing them up so that they will be attractive assembly places. Jehovah’s witnesses invest their money in Bibles, books and magazines and take these to the people so that they, too, may study the Word of God. They invest their money in traveling from place to place and give of their strength in going to the ends of the earth if need be with this good news. Jehovah’s witnesses are great travelers, glad to spend their money so as to get to circuit assemblies and district assemblies or national conventions, for they know they will thus become better equipped so as to “be rich in good works”. What a grand and glorious work a Christian today has in going forth to the nations of the world with this good news which brings comfort to the poor and in being privileged to spend that which he possesses in the interests of those who are captive to this old world! Using your time, energy and money in doing this work is actually storing up treasures in heaven. It is something that no nation, no organization, no neighbor or thief could come in and steal from you. You have already given the good news to the poor, and they have its blessings. You spent your money in helping them, but the blessing to the giver is even greater than to the receiver.
To do such work means that the individual will be content and happy and will always have something that is truly worth-while. Godliness is not just a matter of going to church on Sunday or going to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses, although that is the only way some people try to show their godliness. The only way that true godliness can be of great gain is if it is combined with contentment. Your heart and mind as well as your body must be used in preaching the Word. Those who go to the synagogues or churches of this old world, or even to a Kingdom Hall, if they are worried because of their great possessions like the rich man that Jesus spoke to, haven’t the contentment that brings great gain. Perhaps they attend church for show or for business reasons or because it gives them a better standing in the community; but instead of contentment, they have only worries and problems. Paul gave good admonition to Timothy many years ago, and it will, if followed, change the whole course of one’s life: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Tim. 6:6-10) Individuals may accumulate great material gain, prominence, popularity, position, money and influence. They may gain all these things by their own efforts or through inheritance, but the important thing for them to remember is that godliness with contentment is great gain. When they came into the world they brought nothing with them, and when they leave they cannot take anything away. So why be sorrowful the rest of your life because you have great possessions? Take the Master’s advice: ‘Give to the poor; store up treasures for yourself in heaven, and come, follow me!’ (Matt. 19:16-22) Is it not better to be contented in the house of the Lord than to be discontented in the Devil’s organization ?
DIVINE PROVISION FOR WORKERS
The certain rich man that Jesus spoke about who said he would eat, drink and be joyful, now that he had great wealth and had laid up great stores for himself, yet lacked contentment. He was trying to find it, but his wealth led him “into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts”. He wanted to live just for himself. Jesus, speaking to his disciples, said, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about life, wondering what you will have to eat, or about your body, wondering what you will have to wear. Life is more important than food, and the body than clothes. Think of the crows! They do not sow or reap, and they have no storehouses or barns, and God feeds them. How much more you are worth than the birds!” (Luke 12:22-24, An Amer. Trans.) It is a matter of having faith in Jehovah God and of believing that when he placed man upon the earth there were ample provisions for all if the effort was put forth to use them.
Do not the squirrels gather nuts and store them away in holes dug in the ground or hide them in the trunks of trees? Do not the beavers make provision for themselves and the bees store up honey in their hives for the winter? The point is this: provision is made for all of the animals so that they can gather in the things necessary to their life. They work to gather what God supplies. Man can do the same. All that is necessary for man to do is to use the things God provides. Man should not be lazier than the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, or the animals of the earth. As good counsel to the lazy man, the wise one said, 'Consider the ant, thou sluggard? Yes, we have to work, but we do not have to become slaves to commerce or to this old world in order to live.
It is natural for man to want to live, and he would like to carry on his existence even in this present time of hardship and distress as long as he possibly can; but the hoarding up of earthly riches isn’t the thing that is going to guarantee life any more than it did for that certain rich man who stored all of his wealth away in barns only to die that night. For as the account says, “this very night your soul will be demanded of you. Then who will have all you have prepared?” (Luke 12:20, An Amer. Trans.) Then Jesus in his discussion with his disciples said, “And who from among you though anxious can unto his stature add a cubit?” (Luke 12:25, Roth.) If the body of an individual wears out and it is time for that body to return to the dust, there is not much that one can do in fixing up the organism. If the heart is exhausted or the nervous system worn out or the muscles become stiff and hard, there isn’t much that one can do to add another step to his life; he has reached the end of his way. So Jesus argues, “If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?” (Luke 12: 26, A.8.F.) In other words, if we cannot extend our life just a little, not even a cubit, why, then, should we be so anxious and
concerned about storing away great wealth, food, clothing, and in having many homes and properties? Why should we be anxious to store up that which we have collected during the past year into barns and then say: “From now on I will eat, drink and enjoy myself”? How much better it would be to give that which we have to the poor and store up for ourselves treasures in heaven!
What treasure do we have ? Those who have come to a knowledge of God’s Word have the truth. They have come to understand who Jehovah God is, the Great One of the universe; how He provided his Son, Christ Jesus, to redeem mankind through him that they might gain eternal life; how Christ Jesus has now come and taken to himself his power and begun to reign and that the kingdom that we have prayed for is established. These things we know; these things Christians possess in the way of knowledge because of their study of God’s Word, and they can give this good message to the poor who are sighing and crying because of the abominations that have come upon them in this world. True Christians will devote what they have of this world’s goods, whether little or much, to bringing this message to the poor and comforting those who mourn. They remember that a person’s life is not due to the things that he possesses, but his eternal existence depends on the treasure that he stores up in heaven. They consistently add to their heavenly treasure by preaching the good news of the Kingdom.
REVIEWING THE PAST YEAR’S WORK WORLD-WIDE
Jehovah’s witnesses are ministers of God, ordained to preach the Word. Let us then review what they have done and see if they are trying to store up treasures in heaven, or only treasures upon this earth. Are they giving to the poor and bringing to them the comfort and good news? The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses, has pointed out through its publications that the kingdom of heaven was established in 1914, and it has shown in its writings how the signs of the present day are fulfilling prophecy in proof of the establishment of that kingdom. The first World War was one of the first signs foretold by Jesus in the 24th chapter of Matthew as marking the end of the Gentile times and the beginning of Christ’s reign in heaven. The Watchtower magazine has proved this many times in its columns.
Were there many proclaimers or announcers of this established Kingdom then? Yes, there were quite a number scattered throughout the world; but when the world war broke forth in all its fury, many of the Branch offices of the Society were closed and Jehovah’s witnesses almost everywhere were cast into prison, many killed, and their organization considerably broken up. In fact, those at the headquarters offices at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, were taken away and put in Atlanta prison, but by following through with the slow court procedure and taking the case before the Supreme Court of the United States, the officers of the Society were acquitted. By the time the officials of the Society were freed from jail the clergy and the government officials felt that the Watch Tower Society and its representatives were pretty well knocked out and would remain inactive. They were as though dead in the streets.—Rev. 11: 8.
You cannot keep Jehovah’s witnesses silent. They must preach the Word! They were revived from the deathlike condition and began storing up more treasures in heaven. In 1918 there were only 3,868 persons announcing the King and the Kingdom in all the world. Being strengthened by the spirit of the Lord, and because of their determination to press on, maintaining their integrity, they were richly blessed. Never slacking their hand, they went forward, singing praises “yet more and more”, and as a result 10 years later there were 23,988 persons proclaiming this same good news of the Kingdom and comforting those who were mourning. Grateful to God who had given them time to revive, and grateful, too, that they had the opportunity of gathering together “other sheep”, this remnant of Jehovah’s organization moved on into greater activity. By the time 1938 rolled around, when the nations of the world were again preparing for another world war, there were 47,143 publishers preaching the Word. By this time Jehovah’s witnesses were established in 52 different nations of the world, declaring this same message that Jehovah reigns through his Son, Christ Jesus.
Then came years of greater strife, turmoil, distress and perplexity—a decade of war and of trying to establish peace among the nations. Jehovah’s witnesses were driven underground in most countries of the world; they were persecuted and their work banned, but, nevertheless, they continued preaching the Word. In 1948, after another 10 years had passed, there were 230,532 persons who had taken up this grand message of peace for the poor in God’s righteous new world. Not content unless they were witnessing, Jehovah’s witnesses moved into every corner of the earth that they could possibly reach with the good news, and as you consider the chart which appears on the following pages you will rejoice to find that in the year 1949 there has been an average of 279,421 publishers of the Kingdom engaged in field-service work every month in 104 different places throughout the world. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society has established 63 Branches in the principal countries of the earth, and, by the Lord’s grace, will continue to preach the Word to the poor and rich alike, to all those who have an ear to hear.
Jehovah’s witnesses are not trying to get members for their organization, but they are trying to take to the people the truth as it is contained in God’s Word, the Holy Bible. They know, however, that as people study the Lord’s Word and receive comfort from it and learn how to gain life eternal by storing up treas-
1949 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF
% Inc.
Peak
Av.
Av.
Av.
Av.
Av.
over
Pubs.
Country Pubs.
Pubs.
Pubs.
Pubs.
Pubs,
U. S. of America
6,040
25,596
72,945
82,958
91,463
Alaska
Bahamas
Bermuda
Eleuthera
4 New
Fr. Equ. Atrlca
Gambia, B.W.A.
3 New
Guadeloupe
Iceland
Korea
13 New
Lebanon-Syria
Liberia
Neth. Antilles
Palestine
Portugal
Sierra Leone
Spain
Virgin Islands
Argentina
1,135
1,265
Australia
1,720
3,503
3,774
4,124
Fiji
Singapore
U. 5. ot Ind.
Austria
1,286
1,615
1,886
Belgium
1,177
1,617
1,955
Luxembourg
Bolivia
Brazil
1,077
1,775
2,187
British Guiana
British Hond.
British Isles 2,784
3,066
4,959
14,676
17,239
18,692
Eire
Malta
British W. Ind.
1,057
1,167
Burma
Canada
3,113
12,603
14,305
15,492
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
1,069
Cuba
4,352
5,485
5,991
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
1,581
1,290
1,642
Denmark
3,260
3,774
4,018
Dominican Rep.
Ecuador
Wvador
40 14
167 207
Finland
2,610
3,293
3,723
France
2,627
3,236
3,571
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLD-WIDE
No. of Comp’s
Total Literature
Total Hours
New Subs.
Individual
Magazines Back-Calls 1
Av. Bible Studies
2,905
7,316,373
16,749,899
291,296
7,453,310
5.043,956
61,193
5,613
10,704
6,302
3,958
5,647
15,204
5,436
6,797
1,024
10,319
3,278
2,042
2,215
1,680
1,095
2,836
11,630
1,521
2,631
7,069
2,896
3,363
1,114
8,325
26,284
5,546
5,958
2,078
8,251
1,031
3,286
21,251
15,868
12,471
6,238
1,288
4,441
4,031
4,597
2,290
1,873
3,516
1,389
2,356
8,685
3,443
7,890
12,443
3,098
6,593
129,381
255,142
3,941
79,007
87,917
223,616
738,384
8,098
339,106
219,595
2,286
3,411
3,725
1,745
1,507
4,732
8,018
1,925
3,868
8,436
5,541
1,413
275,403
342,597
3,346
103,253
153,061
150,008
334,920
2,505
60,591
80,194
1,052
2,594
12,415
8,791
3,738
6,838
24,227
4,129
9,279
419,034
498,102
4,419
67,160
125,795
1,345
19,646
57,904
21,908
17,989
2,907
13,320
6,040
4,987
1,783,177
3,654,787
66,191
528,613
1,310,082
9,230
16,276
60,233
3,694
16,422
47,673
254,161
1,488
64,422
85,460
1,348
15,409
20,284
5,269
8,389
628,297
2,361,346
33,569
882,042
537,903
6,136
37,275
67,526
17,201
24,093
13,020
16,972
1,818
4,947
24,879
28,199
4,410
10,931
23,542
176,007
1,023
25,901
48,561
132,016
912,376
3,108
106,059
215,231
3,090
7,587
26,530
3,521
6,631
74,969
161,489
7,737
63,066
265,892
611,958
6,796
313,211
157,527
1,402
26,102
72,539
12,420
28,009
11,565
27,833
6,272
11,865
7,399
32,340
8,179
8,967
6,551
27,860
6,961
9,713
333,516
651,555
8,063
150,578
155,991
1,643
359,810
597,677
6,272
96,256
142,075
1,441
Country
1918 Av. Pubs.
1928 Av. Pubs.
1938 Av. Pubs.
1948 Av. Pubs.
1949 Av. Pubs.
% Inc. over 1948
. Peak Pubs. 1949
Saar
Germany
9,755
29,172
38,897
43,828
Gold Coast
1,412
2,053
Greece
2,338
2,299
2,808
Turkey
Guatemala
Haiti
Hawaii
Honduras
Hungary
1,346
1,410
1,734
India
Ceylon
Iran
Pakistan
Italy
Jamaica
1,465
1,773
1,926
Japan
Mexico
4,711
5,547
6,733
Netherlands
4,190
4,691
5,130
Newfoundland
New Zealand
1,131
Nicaragua
Nigeria
5,511
6,711
8,103
Cameroun
Dahomey
Fr. Togoland
1 New
Northern Rhod.
9,873
12,857
14,650
Belgian Congo
Tanganyika
Norway
1,226
1,346
Nyasaland
1,065
4,918
6,833
7,744
Port. E. Afr.
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippine Rep. Poland
3,589
9,048
5,763
12,162
6,601
14,510
Puerto Rico
Rumania
1,992
2,612
4,347
Russia
8,000
8,000
10,000
South Africa
4,440
5,506
6,288
Basutoland
8 New
Bechuanaland
29 New
St. Helena
Swaziland
33 New
Southern Rhod.
3,599
4,786
5,265
Surinam
Fr. Guiana
Sweden
3,231
3,702
4,074
Switzerland
1,660
1,933
2,133
Thailand
Uruguay
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
Grand Totals 3,868 23,988 47,143 230,532 279,421 21 317,877
Av.
No. ot
Total
Total
New
Individual
Bible
Comp’s Literature
: Hours
Subs.
Magazines Back-Calls Studies
39,403
67,069
8,051
30,601
1,608
451,474
7,865,383
59,475
479,524
3,963,449
20,742
90,166
334,108
1,348
34,296
34,153
41,118
219,346
2,797
43,201
67,370
2,703
5,444
1,721
17,692
47,356
8,792
17,676
8,675
20,783
3,479
7,456
32,651
67,498
2,919
21,092
24,585
6,306
35,828
4,000
11,576
89,586
277,878
3,342
118,875
1,701
20,879
80,573
1,143
15,791
21,009
6,373
13,499
5,318
4,716
1,072
3,823
12,356
6,116
3,609
77,192
97,089
6,275
35,694
41,702
347,919
1,255
55,441
93,456
1,694
3,111
1,060
283,699
974,568
4,210
127,250
187,874
3,350
85,406
932,567
3,765
116,271
196,079
2,047
13,963
32,899
11,986
10,816
74,588
181,346
3,854
108,606
51,595
3,510
17,033
3,621
5,677
77,253
1,434,848
1,434
91,787
147,218
1,657
1,669
23,597
2,897
4,011
5,149
53,766
3,459
35,187
2,661,611
320,854
5,469
5,289
27,127
7,592
177,439
189,638
3,518
111,301
63,722
56,849
1,795,674
2,072
372,132
6,655
1,562
72,091
21,606
26,787
85,835
1,543
35,309
37,765
7,232
14,453
3,499
4,443
25,324
34,061
4,613
14,931
265,315
905,489
4,344
42,442
116,709
1,197
219,245
1,607,028
16,072
140,235
302,716
4,380
34,484
59,348
1,370
14,368
23,752
7,156
221,161
4,079
93,640
4,978
277,711
1,586,123
11,012
212,161
296,413
4,284
3,090
5,618
1,038
1,082
13,490
1,761
90,247
1,249,030
1,384
34,348
161,861
3,688
11,119
20,906
4,165
7,425
286,111
633,200
14,363
463,740
197,120
1,494
177,837
311,852
4,047
309,579
106,103
1,236
18,981
19,724
6,527
5,083
27,285
83,746
20,238
33,283
32,078
35,843
8,468
12,563
14,477
3,181
12,535
15,709,161
53,741,547
596,766
13,020,994
15,897,544
167,571
ures in heaven, they, too, will proclaim this good news. They cannot do otherwise if they love true worship. It is the deep appreciation of the individuals who learn the truth and the righteous way of life that causes them to want to tell others about it. As a natural result, then, a great increase has come to the ranks of Jehovah’s witnesses. In fact, in 1949 as compared with 1948 there has been a 21-percent increase throughout the world in number of publishers proclaiming the Kingdom as the only hope for mankind. A peak number of 317,877 publishers who were out in the work preaching the Word was reached for the year. This is the highest number of ministers of the gospel ever to engage in the work in any one year according to our records, and we rejoice with all these persons of goodwill who are associating themselves with the Lord’s organization and are now working under the direction of the Society, all to the honor of Jehovah’s name.
Jehovah’s witnesses love to serve the King of the new world now. Their hope and faith is in the kingdom of God, for through it the blessings of eternal life will be gained. So they continue to work and pray “Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven!” While being good citizens of the nation in which they live, paying their taxes (complying with the laws of the land as long as these laws are in full accord with God’s laws, still they move ahead, expanding their activity among the people, doing the will of the Lord and following out the principal command of Jehovah, to preach the Word. From one end of the earth to the other these persons of goodwill have organized themselves until now there are 12,535 companies of Jehovah’s witnesses where they assemble together regularly for study of God’s Word in order to prepare themselves to be better ministers.
But you ask, Don’t they get something out of this personally? Is there not something in it, something material they will gain by being Jehovah’s witnesses ? No, the only thing to gain, as far as being one of Jehovah’s witnesses is concerned, is treasure in heaven. They are trying to be rich in good works “so as to grasp the life that is life indeed”. How do they do this? By spending their time preaching the Word to the poor, the rich, the meek, the haughty, the farmer, the factory worker, the husband and the wife. They do it by calling at the homes, the apartments, the palatial residences, the bungalows, the farmhouses, the adobe huts. It makes no difference; wherever people live, there Jehovah’s witnesses will go to preach the Word. During the service year 1949, the 279,421 publishers, who engaged in the field service on an average every month, devoted 53,741,547 hours to preaching the Word of God to people who wanted to hear. Not only did they go from house to house in the first place, but they called baek on the people who were interested in the Kingdom message. These witnesses of God made 15,897,544 such calls on the people to answer their questions.
As a result of these millions of return calls, a number of persons were anxious to diligently study what Jehovah’s witnesses had to offer; and regularly throughout the year Jehovah’s witnesses have been conducting Bible studies in 167,571 homes. These one-hour studies are conducted weekly with groups of two to five or more persons. Sometimes there is only one person interested, but time will be spent each week in giving him lessons from the Bible. Is this a selfish work ? Are Jehovah’s witnesses getting something out of it for themselves by putting all these hours into preaching? or are they giving something to the poor in life-sustaining spiritual food ? The facts show they are giving the people words of life, in addition to their time, energy, money; and thus they are storing up treasures in heaven. For them there is more real satisfaction in that than in accumulating earthly riches.
It must be observed, too, that after a very successful year of gathering together the “other sheep” into the Lord’s organization Jehovah’s witnesses do not settle back and say, “Well, this is enough. We have gathered in great gains. We will make larger barns or churches in which to put these people and then hold them for ourselves.” No, Jehovah’s witnesses are not like the rich man who decided to quit working and to live off his gains and just eat, drink and be merry. Not at all! They want to plant more seed and cultivate the field again and again. So, as the Scriptures indicate, one will plant, another waters, but it is God who gives the increase. (1 Cor. 3:7) They sow in order that they may reap; and as the Lord prospers their efforts, more people come into His organization, seeking refuge and safety. Even those newly coming to the organization in time go out too to sow and water, looking to God to give the increase at harvest time.
What will Jehovah’s witnesses do during 1950 ? Just what they did in 1949; only, by God’s undeserved kindness, they will do even better in their work of preaching the Word in all the world. They will continue inviting everyone who has an ear to hear the truth to ‘come, and drink of the water of life freely5. (Rev. 22:17) Jehovah’s witnesses have placed much literature in the hands of the people, and this for one purpose, to help them to understand the Word of God. The small contributions they receive for such literature are used to print more, so that others too can read. During the 1949 service year, Bibles, books and booklets were placed throughout the world in the number of 15,709,161 copies. Many new subscriptions were obtained for the two magazines, The Watchtower and Awake! in many languages. In fact, 596,766 new subscriptions were taken, in all parts of the world. To accommodate the readers of these magazines it was necessary for the Society in Brooklyn, New York, and throughout its Branch offices to print 23,190,737 copies of the Watchtower magazine and 16,136,389 of the Awake! magazine. In addition to the 39 million magazines, the Society’s publishing plants printed more than 4 million books and over 17 million booklets.
Jehovah’s witnesses could not be satisfied with just serving the people they meet in homes; so they arrange for public meetings in fine auditoriums, in small halls, in their own Kingdom Halls, in public parks, out along the seashore, or in the wilderness. Wherever people will congregate to hear the message of the Kingdom, Jehovah’s witnesses will furnish a minister to preach the good news. During the year 1949 there were 174,404 such public meetings arranged for, all of which had good attendance. These meetings were well advertised, and handbills were distributed, placards printed, notices put in stores, letters sent out to interested persons—all requiring additional printing on the part of the Society. Along with letterheads and normal supplies for office use, the handbill and tract orders made it necessary for the Society to print 231 million pieces during 1949. This is over and above the printing of the magazines, books, Bibles and booklets.
Such work can be carried on because some people are giving what they have to the poor. Jehovah’s witnesses love to give to the people world-wide, regardless of nationality, color or creed. That is why they devote their time, physical strength and funds to the preaching of the gospel. Contributions were made by them during the past year to carry on the Society’s worldwide expansion program. One feature of its expansion program was in helping its missionaries and smaller Branch organizations financially to the extent of $591,358.96. At the present time there are 63 Branch offices of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society directing the work in different areas of the earth. There are also 107 missionary homes, in 77 different countries. The total number of missionaries who are now in foreign assignments outside the United States and Canada, except Quebec, is 652, all of whom are graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Five hundred of these are working out of the 107 missionary homes, while others of these trained missionaries are doing general pioneer work in different countries. Some are working in Bethel homes, and some are circuit or district servants or Branch servants.
Another great field for personal expansion activity is the pioneer work. During the 1949 service year there was an average of 1,451 special pioneers assigned to certain territories that needed special attention, and these have done excellent work. In this special pioneer group are included the missionaries who are scattered throughout all the world. Additionally there are the general pioneers, 10,973 in number, who have arranged their affairs so as to devote most of their time and energy to the preaching of the good news. All of these must have faith in Jehovah, the Great Provider. Jesus’ words are a comfort to them: “See how the lilies grow. They do not toil or spin, but, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendor was never dressed like one of them. But if God so dresses the wild grass, which is alive today, and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more surely will he clothe you, who have so little faith?” (Luke 12:27,28, An Amer. Trans.) It does take faith to make this forward step and go into the full-time service, becoming a pioneer or taking up a special assignment or going into the missionary work. Their faith and their works show they believe Jehovah will care for them. It is not a storing up of earthly treasures either, to become a member of the Bethel family or to take up work in a Branch home; but it does mean storing up treasures in heaven, “so as to grasp the life that is life indeed.”
One must trust in the Lord that the provisions which He makes for the birds and the animals of the fields were also promised to man and will be provided for him. You remember that when Paul was traveling from place to place he did not want to make himself a burden to any of the brethren, so at times he would stop and make tents. He earned sufficient money doing this that he could travel on to his next stop. Sometimes he accumulated enough that he would not have to go to making tents for quite a while. He knew it was necessary for an individual to work and earn some money to look after his earthly needs, but at the same time he could not neglect his preaching duties. Luke tells us in the book of Acts that Paul never failed to go to the synagogue on the sabbath to preach the Word of God to the Jews and he also mingled with the Greeks so that they too might hear. (Acts 18: 3,4) Eating and drinking and being clothed are not the all-essential things in life. They are necessary, yes, but the big thing is storing up treasures for oneself in heaven. “So you must not ask what you are to have to eat or drink, and you must not be anxious about it. For these are all things the nations of the world are in pursuit of, and your Father knows well that you need them. But you must strive to find his kingdom, and you will have these other things besides. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom. Sell what belongs to you, and give away the money! Get yourselves purses that will never wear out, inexhaustible riches in heaven, where thieves cannot get near nor moths destroy. For wherever your treasure is, your heart will be too.”—Luke 12: 29-34, An Amer. Trans.
Certainly there is nothing to be fearful about in going forward in preaching the Word of God. Not with such promises! There will be hardships, difficulties and problems to overcome; maybe some will be killed. Jesus told us to expect that kind of treatment. But life! This is the gift to those who love Jehovah. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51) But even though persons do see death now, there is a reward for those who love righteousness and who have been storing up treasures in heaven. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that be-lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25,26) Furthermore, the time is coming, in the new world, when there will be no more death. (Rev. 21:4) Of course, most of the people of the world today do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ nor in the merit of his sacrifice. That is why Jehovah’s witnesses must preach the good news of God’s Word to the people, so that they may have the opportunity of believing.
At one of the most important meetings of the Lord’s people in the earth today, the celebration of the Memorial of Jesus’ death, there were 453,274 persons in attendance. Of this great number only 24,312 partook of the emblems, thus signifying that they believe they are of the remnant class that will be joint-heirs with Christ Jesus in heaven. The others, numbering considerably more than 425,000 now, are sincerely looking forward to the time when the new world will be established. Not all of these, however, have been preaching the gospel to the extent that they have been making reports to the Society of what they are doing in this respect; but we firmly believe that in time they will take their stand and preach, because they will soon believe with their hearts that the greatest work that must be done in these last days is to make known the salvation of our God. During 1949 there were 42,524 persons who consecrated their lives to God’s service, symbolizing that covenant with water immersion.
They accepted the charge, along with all others of Jehovah’s witnesses, to “preach the word”. By so doing, they will “be rich in good deeds, open-handed and generous, storing up a valuable treasure for themselves for the future, so as to grasp the life that is life indeed”. (1 Tim. 6:18,19, An Amer. Trans.) With joy and gladness Jehovah’s witnesses enter the 1950 service year, thankful for the honor of service under Christ the King. They are not worried about the persecutions, trials and difficulties. These they will face as they come day by day. The thing of greatest interest to them is the praising of Jehovah’s name and the vindication of His sovereign position in the universe. To prove it, Jehovah’s witnesses will “preach the word”.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY
Jehovah’s witnesses, being a world-wide organization, of necessity have a central headquarters. The Bethel home at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, is the location of the central office where the work of the many Branches and the activities of all of Jehovah’s witnesses are co-ordinated. The printing of literature in so many languages is no small task, and the efforts of everyone concerned with the production of a publication in a foreign tongue should be utilized to the best advantage. If each Branch office decided what publications it wanted to translate into the native language of the land in which it is located, it might happen that ten different Branches where the Spanish language is spoken would go ahead with the translation of the same book. This would tie up the effort of many individuals and would only be a duplication of work. So, by having a central headquarters, directing all activity, the greatest amount of good can be accomplished with the organization existing in every country.
Because of the great expansion of the work of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world, it became necessary to enlarge the Bethel home during the past year. As this Yearbook report for the 1949 sendee year shows, the work has greatly increased. This, of course, required more workers in the Brooklyn headquarters in proportion to the expansion of the work in the field, which is the world; so expansion was necessary also in the Brooklyn printing plant as well as in the Bethel home. All members of the Bethel family are very grateful to the Lord for the wonderful provisions He has made for them, but their greatest joy is in the work that God has given them to do at this blessed place, Bethel, the “House of God”.
It has been interesting to watch the construction of the new Bethel home as well as of the new factory, both of which are very near completion at the time this report is being compiled. These new structures, the Bethel home and factory, are both additions to the existing buildings now in use, and they will be a great aid to the Society in taking better care of the work in the United States and in making proper provision for literature for all the countries throughout the world.
The new ten-story Bethel home, with an additional two underground basement floors, will take good care of the ever-increasing Bethel family which now numbers 284. There is plenty of room for the growth of the family. One of the oustanding features of the new home is the large assembly hall, which will be used as a Kingdom Hall for the Bethel family and also as a large studio for WBBR. Two smaller studios on another floor adjoin the control room for the Society’s radio station in New York, and a very lovely observation deck has been arranged for visitors who wish to watch as well as hear the broadcasts. WBBR has done fine work during the past year in bringing the Kingdom message to the attention of the people in New York city and vicinity, and many people enjoy listening to the informative programs.
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