1952 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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yearbook
OF
JEHOVAH’S W1TNESSE:
1952 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses containing report for the service year of 1951 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, 1951, by Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Made in the United States of America
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
N. H. KNORR President
P. 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 ............................
Angola ............................
Argentina ........................
Australia .........................
Austria ...........................
Azores ............................
Bahamas .........................
Basutoland.......................
Bechuanaland .....................
Belgian Congo ...................
Belgium ..........................
Bermuda .........................
Bolivia ...........................
Borneo ............................
Brazil .............................
British Guiana ...................
British Honduras .................
British Isles.......................
British West Indies ...............
Bulgaria ..........................
Burma ............................
Cameroun .........................
Canada ...........................
Ceylon ............................
Chile ..............................
China .............................
Colombia .........................
Costa Rica ........................
Cuba ..............................
Cyprus ............................
Czechoslovakia ....................
Dahomey .........................
Denmark .........................
Dominican Republic ..............
Ecuador ...........................
Egypt .............................
Eire ...............................
El Salvador .......................
Ethiopia ..........................
Fernando Po .....................
Fiji ...............................
Finland ...........................
France ............................
French Equatorial Africa .........
French West Africa ..............
Gambia ...........................
Germany ..........................
Gold Coast .......................
Greece ............................
Guadeloupe .......................
Guatemala ........................
Haiti ..............................
Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan Hawaii ...........................
Honduras .........................
Hong Kong .......................
Hungary ..........................
Iceland ............................
India .............................
Iran ...............................
Israel .............................
Italy ..............................
Page 63
, 218 78
, 80
64 84
219 220 189
86 65
90 216
91 93
95 96
100 102
103 186 105 158 108 109
112 113 116 118 120 186
122 123 125 128
98 131
65 187
82 134 137
67 67
68 140 142 144
69 147 149
70 151 153 111 155
70 156 158
71 159
Page
Ivory Coast ................................ 144
Jamaica .................................... 162
Japan ...................................
Kenya .....................................
Korea ......................................
Lebanon ................................
Liberia ....................................
Libya ......................................
Luxembourg ...............................
Malta ......................................
Martinique ................................
Mauritius ..................................
Mexico .....................................
Netherlands ...............................
Netherlands West Indies ..................
71 168
Newfoundland .............................
New Zealand ..............................
Nicaragua .................................
Nigeria ....................................
Northern Rhodesia ..................
Norway ....................................
Nyasaland ................................-
Pakistan ...................................
Panama ....................................
Paraguay ..................................
Peru ......................................
Philippine Republic ........................
Poland .....................................
198 200 201
Portugal
Portuguese East Africa
Puerto Rico
Romania ...................................
Saar
St. Helena
Sierra Leone ............................., 75
Singapore and Malaya
South Africa
Southern Rhodesia
South-West Africa .
Spain
Sudan
Surinam ................................... 227
Swaziland .................................. 224
Sweden .................................... 229
Switzerland ................................
Syria ......................................
Taiwan ....................................
Tanganyika Territory......................
Thailand ...................................
Togo ......................................■
Turkey .....................................
Uganda ....................................
United States of America ..................
United States of Indonesia.................
Uruguay ...................................
Venezuela .................................
Virgin Islands .............................
Yugoslavia .................................
232 170 167 191 234 187 236 192
57 215 238 241 211 243
Service year chart, page 246
1952 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
JEHOVAH, the great Sovereign Ruler of the universe, has shown undeserved kindness to the least of humanity, men and women just like us. Paul was a recipient of this undeserved kindness. He appreciated it so much, he just had to express it in words as well as in works. The gratitude to Jehovah that was Paul’s he wanted all other persons to feel too. That is why he wrote so fervently to Timothy, saying: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who delegated power to me, because he considered me trustworthy by assigning me to a ministry, although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy, because I was ignorant and acted with a lack of faith. But the undeserved kindness of our Lord abounded exceedingly along with faith and love that is in connection with Christ Jesus. Trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance is the saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am foremost. Nevertheless, the reason why I was shown mercy was that by means of me as the foremost case Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his longsuffering for a sample
of those who are going to rest their faith on him for everlasting life.”—1 Tim. 1:12-16, A7W.
It was so fine of Paul to speak frankly to this young man Timothy, who also wanted to gain life and who could gain it too, because of the undeserved kindness of Jehovah. Acknowledging his insolent disposition in times past, Paul tells Timothy of the undeserved kindness God showed toward him even though he was a blasphemer. He appreciated this love. The abounding joy in Paul’s expression to Timothy was over the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ had considered him trustworthy and had delegated him to be a minister. What an assignment! What a privilege! Paul certainly appreciated his ministry, and in the book of Acts the account of his life of service shows that.
When, on another occasion, Paul wrote to the Ephesians he also had this same thought—the ministry—in mind. He told the congregation at Ephesus that God had extended to him a kindness that was undeserved. Certainly neither Paul nor the Ephesians nor any other of the human family deserved kindness from God. But still Paul was shown such love and was given the opportunity to declare good news to the nations concerning God’s love and to make known the majesty, the power and the wonderfulness of the Creator and his Son. Paul stated it this way, when he wrote to the Ephesians: “To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ and should make men see how the sacred secret is administered which has from past eternity been concealed in God, who created all things.”—Eph. 3: 8, 9, NW.
Jehovah did something for Paul. He was now a free man in line for everlasting life. He came away from the bondage of that old system of things in which he had lived, and now for the first time he had freeness of speech that comes to God’s people through knowledge of Jehovah. What Paul learned about God’s revealed purposes through Christ Jesus gave him confidence to do his work, through his faith. This faith was never shaken. He proved this by doing good works now in the role of a persecuted man, not the persecutor he had once been. His trials, tribulations and buffetings were many; still he was faithful unto death. He was a man of integrity. He knew God’s will and he was 'resting his faith in Christ for everlasting life’. Paul must have been an inspiration and a good example for others to follow, because he himself was following in the footsteps of Christ Jesus.
But what about other Christians? Were they faithfully following Christ? Did God’s undeserved kindness have the same effect on them as it did on Paul? Yes, it did. Consider the early Christians: The Jews had failed as a nation to keep their covenant with Jehovah God. They were once chosen to be God’s name-people, but now when Jehovah had revealed the sacred secret, his Son Christ Jesus as the Messiah, they would not accept him. So the call went forth to the Gentile nations in order to take out from them a people for God’s name. The sacred secret that had been concealed for generations, that is, how Jehovah God would bless all the families of the earth, was now revealed in Christ Jesus.
According to it Jehovah had now shown mercy and undeserved kindness toward the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Both kinds of “nations”, or all kinds of men, could now accept the Messiah and get in line for everlasting life. Truly, Jehovah God knew from the foundation of the world how he was going to work out his purposes for the blessing of all the families of the earth and the vindication of his name, even though he had not revealed this to the fullest extent in times past.
For centuries Jehovah God had no dealings with the Gentiles, but now the way was open for them to become Christians, God’s chosen servants, Jehovah’s witnesses. In writing to the Romans about their being shown so much mercy and so much kindness not deserved (for they had done nothing to honor Jehovah), Paul exclaimed : “Oh the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are! For ‘who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counselor?”’ (Rom. 11: 33, 34, A’F) It is incomprehensible, but still Jehovah’s undeserved kindness was extended to the Gentiles; and those who dedicated themselves to the Most High and came into the congregation or visible organization became spectacles before men and angels.
It was about nineteen hundred years ago that this visible organization, the congregation of God’s people, was brought into existence. The recipients of this undeserved kindness were taken into a new covenant with God, not the old law covenant. The old one mediated by Moses had been abolished with the impaling of Christ Jesus. This new covenant was the law of God written in the hearts of the covenanters, not on tablets of stone. These New Covenant persons were to be “a people for his name”. These were the ones like Christ Jesus, namely, Paul and all the early faithful followers of Christ, the pro-claimers of the kingdom of God.
A new system of things, a new organization, was starting, and it was of vital importance. The selection of the bride of Christ had begun and it was to be made up of 144,000 faithful followers of the Lord Jesus. At that time this selection of the bride and the forming of this visible organization wherein each individual must be faithful unto death was a very serious matter; and so the members appreciated to the full that they must work together in unity, because in God’s undeserved kindness he had brought them together for a special purpose. Eventually the eyes of the world would be upon them and certainly the angels in heaven were watching the outworkings of God’s marvelous arrangements. Here were the announcers of Jehovah’s kingdom, which is the only hope of the world. Could there be anything any more vital or important?
“FREENESS OF SPEECH”
Jehovah had purposed that men should “see how the sacred secret is administered”, and hence that which had been concealed in God was now being revealed, and “this was to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord, by means of whom we have this freeness of speech and an approach with confidence through our faith in him. Wherefore I ask you not to give up on account of these tribulations of mine in your behalf, for these mean glory for you”. (Eph. 3:10-13, NW) Yes, “the eternal purpose which he [Jehovah] formed in connection with the Christ” was now being accomplished. Things were moving ahead to the vindication of Jehovah’s name and word. The congregation of God was now his visible organization making known the good news about Christ and heralding the glad tidings of the kingdom of the heavens. A true foundation was laid with Christ Jesus, the faithful and true witness, and, come what may, whether tribulations to any individual member of the congregation or the dispersing of the companies of Jehovah’s witnesses, all would still “rest their faith on him for everlasting life” and speak with the wonderful freeness of speech Christ Jesus had given them.
You see, during his ministry Jesus introduced a freeness of thought and speech that had vanished from the earth by his time. It was he who said: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17: 3, AW) The world’s religions had a powerful hold on the people. Millions of persons of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues were in a definite rut. The truths Jehovah had set forth centuries before Jesus’ time were till then hidden. The Israelites were just as bad off as all the other nations, for they had forsaken Jehovah’s teachings for the traditions of men. When Christ Jesus came he demonstrated by his words and actions a freeness of speech that cheered the hearts of men.
His sayings were not based on any old false religious tradition. What he taught he did not learn in the schools of his day. He learned it by studying the Hebrew Scriptures, by communicating with God in prayer and by dedicating himself to doing his Father's will. It was this anointed One, the Master, who said: “The truth will set you free.” (John 8: 32, AW) Certainly Jesus was free from this old world. He was no part of it even though he was in it. He was a man free to say the things that were true and righteous and an honor to Jehovah’s name. He was free to do the things that would bring praise to his heavenly Father. He restored pure worship of the Most High God. He condemned hypocrites and false religions with their idol worship.
Paul recognized these priceless and fearless qualities in Christ Jesus, and it was through Christ Jesus that he himself received his freeness of speech. To speak the truth concerning Jehovah and his Son and God’s kingdom was certainly speaking freely, for all nations and their rulers were and still are against Jehovah God’s kingdom and its rule by Christ Jesus.
All the persons in the congregation of God must have this same freeness of thought and expression and must no longer be tied down to the oppressive thinking of the world. They must not be caged up or hemmed in; they must come forth free from this world’s prison houses. Jehovah made provision for this freedom through his Son Christ Jesus. It was Christ who said in the synagogue in Jerusalem one sabbath day: “Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor, he sent me forth to preach a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away with a release, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year.” (Luke 4:18, 19, W) He was quoting from Isaiah, chapter 61, and from that moment on he went forward doing that great work of releasing the captives, or sending the crushed ones away with a release. He pointed to Jehovah’s acceptable year of freedom now from this old world. The time had now come for people to be free from the bondage of this dying old world, and Christ Jesus was showing them the way to that freedom. The congregation of God knew this!
Jesus had not preached this freedom message too many years before the scribes, the Pharisees and the rulers of that day had had enough of his free speech which he was talking throughout Palestine. It became the determination of these worldly mighty ones to do away with him. The record is clear as to how, time and time again, these scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus and bring about some sort of false trial and a cause to silence him. Eventually they succeeded in having him impaled upon the torture stake until dead. Now he could talk no more. What relief for them I They were confident that freedom of speech had been stifled. No longer would people be trying to free themselves from the influence of the scribes and Pharisees and be listening to this man. They thought they could hold their people in their prison houses. But how wrong they were! Consider Jesus’ prayer and note his request to his heavenly Father for those he was leaving behind:
“I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word. They have now come to know that all the things you gave me are from you; because the sayings that you gave me I have given to them, and they have received them and have certainly come to know that I came out as your representative, and they have believed that you sent me forth. Also I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them out of respect for your own name which you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are. I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:6-8,11,14, A7TF) Jesus’ disciples had the truth and they must speak it. They did.
It was shortly after the resurrection of Christ Jesus that he organized his followers so as to accomplish the great work to be done. When talking with his disciples he had told them that they would remember the things he had spoken to them and that he would send them a helper, God’s spirit, to remember these important things. “I have many things yet to say to you, but you are not able to bear them at present. However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things coming. That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to you.”—John 16:12-14, NW.
The spirit was poured out upon them at Pentecost, just as Jesus said. “And while he was meeting with them he gave them the orders: 'Do not withdraw from Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; because John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.’ ” (Acts 1: 4, 5, AW) Their minds were then filled with the truths that Jesus had taught them and they moved forward fearlessly preaching the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. (John 14: 25, 26) All the persecutions, trials and difficulties they endured; their being jeered by mobs of incensed people and even imprisoned never halted them. Freedom of speech they had gained through Christ Jesus, by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, and it was theirs to keep. No, they were not going to be prisoners again, for Christ Jesus had released them. The prophet Isaiah had declared: “Say to the prisoners, Go forth.” (Isa. 49: 9) Jesus did just that to the prisoners. His disciples were free men now and they went forth making proper use of their freedom by preaching the truth.
They traveled to the lands near Palestine, Peter to the east as far as Babylon and Paul west probably as far as Spain. They practiced God-given freeness of speech. They said to those in prison, 'Go forth! Listen to this good news! Have confidence and faith through Christ Jesus in Jehovah God the Creator of the universe. Trust in his precious promises and seek the way to eternal life.’ The gathering together of those who loved truth and righteousness began and God’s visible organization was made manifest.
Paul, of course, was one of the outstanding missionaries and evangelists of his day. He said to those whom he met and taught the truth that they should walk worthily of the things where-unto they were called. They should no longer live in a proud, austere manner, as the peoples of the world lived. Rather, they should be humble and show lowliness of mind. They should be mild and long-suffering, “putting up with one another in love.”
Accomplishing this loving attitude means the making of a strong organization of brothers, and then great work can be done in the interest of God’s kingdom.
TAKEN CAPTIVE BY CHRIST
Paul was explaining the proper attitude of mind Christians must have. No longer were they under the oppressive rule of Satan’s world as subjects of that old system of things, but Christ had purchased them with his blood. They were his possession. Paul says: “What! Do you not know that the body of you people is the temple of the holy spirit within you which you have from God? Also, you do not belong to yourselves, for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of you people.” (1 Cor. 6:19,20, NW) Paul was certainly happy to be such a bought one, a prisoner in the Lord, one led captive by Christ. He told the Ephesians he was a “prisoner in the Lord” and said: “Now to each one of us undeserved kindness was given according to how the Christ measured out the free gift. Wherefore he says: ‘When he ascended on high he led captive a multitude; he gave gifts in men.’” (Eph. 4:7, 8, NW) In order to free those followers of his who had been held in bondage Jesus had to capture them and take them to himself into his organization. So the thousands who heard the truths that Jesus had expressed were led to him and were made to think as he thought. They thus had the mind of Christ. They were freed from this old dying world. To all these free people “he gave gifts in men”.
These “gifts in men” were apostles, prophets and evangelists, men who went about from congregation to congregation serving them. They were able to speak in tongues, to interpret and to heal. They were given the gifts of the spirit, which were in effect in Paul’s day. (1 Corinthians 12, NW) These men helped the young congregation, the visible organization of the Lord, to get strong and bind themselves in unity so as to be used in his praise and worship. Paul, who was one of those “gifts in men”, appreciated that he had been freed from the old system of things, and he was grateful for this undeserved kindness on the part of God. Whether as a prisoner in chains at Rome or as one taken captive by the Lord Jesus Christ, he was glad to be made a prisoner of the Lord, as he stated in Ephesians 4:1-3 (NW): “I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, entreat you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with longsuffering, putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” Paul the prisoner wanted the visible organization of the Lord to be at unity, at oneness with one another. There was work to do in the new visible organization under Christ Jesus.
The congregation of God was to be made up, not of individuals who were striving for prominent positions, but of servants. (Jas. 2:1-4, NW) Jesus was the example for the congregation and he said that he who was greatest among his brothers was to be their slave. Jesus showed his lowliness of mind by washing the feet of the disciples on the night of the last passover and at the introduction of the memorial of his death. (John 13, NIL) Here he was showing how they must humble themselves and be slaves to their brothers. These apostles were the principal ones who were called to be “gifts in men”, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, and they were not to lord it over the flock, but they were to be shepherds and care for the visible organization. (1 Pet. 5:2-4, NW) These special representatives were to help all the individuals in the congregation to see their responsibility to be ministers.
Having been called to the Lord’s organization and given the freeness of speech, then every individual in the visible organization should walk worthily of the calling with which he was called. All, shepherds and flock alike, had the same responsibility. Faithfulness in service as ministers was required.
ONENESS AS A BODY
So then, the congregation must see alike and have the same positive views in mind. All must realize that the purpose for gathering together these servants of the Most High was to preach this good news of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness, to magnify Jehovah’s name, to announce the Son Christ Jesus and to make public expression concerning the sacred secrets that God has revealed through his Word. All those within the Lord’s visible organization must work together to this one end. They could not work against one another, for the members that compose the body certainly do not work against other members. That is why Paul went on to say at Ephesians 4:4-6, NW: “One body there is, and one spirit, even as you were called in the one hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all persons, who is over all and through all and in all.” Jehovah was dealing with all the body members through His Word and His visible organization, and, what is more, he is doing the same in this our day.
Look at the situation as it existed back there in Paul’s day: Jews were coming into the truth, some of whom had been taught under the Pharisees, others under the Sadducees. Paul himself was formerly a Pharisee. There were Egyptians, people from Asia Minor, Greece, Babylon and other far-flung parts of the world—all of them mixed together in the one congregation of the Lord. At one time all had different ways of life, different religions and teachings, but now they were to live together under one God with one Bible, the Word of God, as their guide. They were to make up his visible organization, having freeness of speech and a determination to do the Lord’s will. If this organization was to be successful, then they must work together just as the members of the human body work together: the head, the arms, the organs—all must function to the best interests of the whole body.
Paul was impressing upon the minds of the Ephesians that there is just one body and that governing this one body is one spirit, God’s spirit. They were all called in the one hope, the hope of being joint heirs with Christ Jesus in the heavenly kingdom and of living eternally. All had the same faith based on God’s infallible Word, the same baptism and the same Father in heaven. Therefore there should be no difference in viewpoint as far as the members of the body were concerned, but they should all be striving to accomplish the great work of carrying on the clean worship of the Most High God, sharing in the vindication of His name and Word and aiding all people of good will to get the knowledge of Jehovah’s purposes. It was done in Paul’s day; it is being done in our day, too.
Then do Paul’s wise words that Jehovah would have an active, working visible organization find fulfillment today? Where is there an organization today like the congregation about which Paul was talking? Could there possibly be a group of people today who have one Father, the Father of all the persons in the congregation, a Father who is over all, through all and in all, a Father who is earing for his children and keeping them together in the pure way of worship? What a privilege and pleasure it is to answer Yes, yes, there is such an organization. In the apostles’ day you could find such a visible organization in the early congregation of Christ. In this year of 1952 you will find it in a group of Christian people known as Jehovah’s witnesses. They make up Jehovah’s visible organization. What is more, you can be in that organization if you think like Paul and have faith like his.
Note how Jehovah’s witnesses today are like the early congregations of Jehovah’s faithful witnesses: Jehovah’s witnesses are firm believers in GodWord. They study it; they preach it, and they live it. They are “putting up with one another in love”, even though their customs and habits of life and the tongues they speak in their daily conversation are different in all parts of the world. They are fulfilling the command to preach the Kingdom in all the world for a witness. (Matt. 24:14, NIT) Thus in all parts of the earth they demonstrate the unity of God’s visible organization.
ORGANIZING FOR THE MINISTRY
Jehovah is the greatest organizer and he taught his Son Christ Jesus how to organize. When on earth Christ selected disciples and taught them how to gather more workers who loved truth and righteousness. At that time it meant a “little flock”; now it means the gathering of a “great crowd” of “other sheep”. So as to assemble the “little flock” Jesus arranged for organizing the congregation and developed that into a strong working unit, with competent servants. Hence the apostle Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 and says: “He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as missionaries, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the training of the holy ones for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ, until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of growth that belongs to the fullness of the Christ; in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of craftiness in contriving error.”—Eph. 4:11-14, NW.
Jehovah God was very much interested in the proper organization and care of the early congregation. The Son Christ Jesus meted out the gifts of the spirit to his followers so that some could act as apostles, others as prophets and missionaries and still others as able teachers. But what was the purpose of all this in the body of Christ ? This: “The training of the holy ones for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ, until we all attain to the oneness in the faith.” Today this visible organization is also being used to aid the “great crowd” of “other sheep”. These are not of the ^Tittle flock” but they must be brought to maturity in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God. These are not the ones to be joint heirs with him in the heavenly kingdom, but they will gain life under it in the new world of righteousness.
Everyone who ever comes to the Lord’s organization, having studied the LordWord, must see it only one way. God never purposed that there would be hundreds of different denominations throughout the world, each having a different faith, a different doctrine, etc. There could be only “one faith, one baptism; one God and Father’’. Jehovah is desirous that everyone who seeks salvation come to an accurate knowledge of these truths. (Rom. 10:11-13, W) He wants them to become full-grown, mature men. The only way a person can become full-grown is to gain knowledge, and this comes through education. The false religions are not disseminating this accurate knowledge from GodWord. On the other hand, Jehovah’s witnesses want all kinds of men to be well acquainted with their Bibles and have this one faith. If they have this faith they will manifest themselves as Christ’s “other sheep”.
The education that was being brought to the “little flock” members in the days of the apostles was for the training of the holy ones for ministerial work. The whole apostolic organization was an organization of ministers. It was not a laity class, with one or two clergymen over each congregation. All this training and instruction then being given the “little flock” was to make every member of that flock a fully competent ordained minister. There were not to be any spiritual babes in the organization for long. New ones would be coming in all the time, that is true, but they would not remain babes in the Word, “tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men.” There was not to be a division of ideas, with part of a congregation believing one thing and the other part another. By study all were to become mature, full-grown men. There must be unity in God's visible organization. As it was then with the “little flock”, so it must be now with the “other sheep”.
There was to be no stunting of growth, no relaxing. All were to watch for the trickery of men. There was no arrangement to branch off into a little Methodist group, or Baptist group, or some other religious organization and be content with one man’s teaching. JehovahWord points out that one person may plant, another person may water, but it is Jehovah God who gives the increase. They all belong to God, not someone else.—1 Cor. 3: 6-9.
Being recipients of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness now and belonging to Jehovah, the “other sheep” should work hard to become full-grown and to stay in God’s visible organization. To do this everyone must have the same mind. Study the truth!
Paul went on to say, in his argument to the congregation of God: “But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.” (Eph. 4:15, AW) Yes, the vital thing was the speaking of the truth. The only place the apostles, evangelists and the missionaries of that day got the truth was from GodWord. It is the same now. Jehovah’s witnesses today regularly receive visits from mature brothers, special representatives of the Watch Tower Society, and all of these are required to speak and live the truth as set forth in GodWord. Not only these mature brothers, but the whole congregation of God, his visible organization, must look at things from GodWord, seeing harmoniously and having God’s mind on matters along with his spirit. By closely associating one with another and by showing love for Jehovah and our brothers, “let us by love grow up.” If we did not have love in God’s visible organization there certainly would be a standing still and a retarding of growth. When there is discord and strife there is no advancement. When there is peace, love and joy, things grow.
The growing human body is a wonderful example of harmonious movement, function and co-ordination. A body can do things, can get work done; and while it is made up of many members, still there is no opposition on the part of any member of the body in accomplishing the desired purpose. This is why Paul went on to argue concerning the “body of the Christ”, that “from him all the body, by being harmoniously joined together and being made to cooperate through every joint which gives what is needed, according to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love”. —Eph. 4:16, NW.
When every tissue, every organ, every joint, every muscle of the human body responds to the instruction of the mind, what unity of action there is! This is a picture of how to achieve the oneness of God’s visible organization under the Head Christ Jesus. Things can be done by a person who is not awkward or clumsy and who has a well-formed and balanced body, one under full control. That is exactly the way it is with Jehovah’s witnesses today throughout the world. They are under control and receive instruction from the greatest instructor, Jehovah, through Jesus Christ. They study GodWord and have his spirit. They get things done. Co-operation is received from every part of the organization, every department, every company, every branch, every missionary home. They all function unitedly as respective members of the whole organization, the body; and this makes for the growth of the organization in love.
When we review the work of Jehovah’s witnesses during the year 1951, it is again seen how they are working at unity. No doubt about it, Jehovah’s spirit is upon them in the work. They have not done the work in their own strength. They have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father”, and all the Lord’s people are associated in one visible organization built up in love; first, love for Jehovah, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and, secondly, love for one’s neighbor. This is the answer to the unusual growth of the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses.
LIBERATION FOR THE MINISTRY
Jehovah’s witnesses today are interested in one thing no one else is interested in, and that is the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness. Not only are they interested in doing this themselves, but they have interest in training others for ministerial work. They know this means the salvation of others; as it is written: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” (1 Tim. 4:16, AW) The witnesses of Jehovah are going to the ends of the earth, saying to the prisoners of modern Babylon, “Go forth!” Hundreds of thousands of all kinds of persons who are desirous of preaching the good news of the Kingdom are 'going forth’ from this Babylonish world. All they need is the necessary help and instruction.
One thing is certain: men of good will certainly have not received proper instruction from this old world’s Babylonish religions. Millions of people go to churches every Sunday and listen to their pastors, but after a ten- or fifteen-minute sermon and the religious ceremonies for the day the people leave with no good news to preach to the world. They have heard a little about some popular book which was reviewed, or they have listened to something on politics. Maybe the pastor did discuss some abstract thought from the Bible or use a Scripture text and then wander off into some easy-listening philosophy. But where is “the one hope” ? Where “the one faith” ? Where the accurate knowledge of the Son of God? Where the growth to the full-grown man? Where is there interest in God’s kingdom? Where is the one visible organization built on love ?
If the so-called “Christian” churches were being taught the Word of God and the truths presented in the Bible, then all the members of the congregations would be trained to be ministers. Did we not find in our study (page 22,^2) that the reason teachers were given was “with a view to the training of the holy ones for ministerial work”? Yes. Hence, to engage in pure, undefiled worship means you must be a preacher, a minister, a servant of the Most High, Jehovah. Christendom has failed in this respect.
In contrast with the indifferent way taken by false religion, Jehovah’s witnesses diligently work to make everyone who shows interest in the truth a competent minister of God’s kingdom. They try to bring all immature ones to a mature knowledge of GodWord. Jehovah’s witnesses go into the homes of the people when invited and study with them. These ministers of Jehovah will spend all the time the people of good will desire so as to help them to know what GodWord has in store for them. After these interested persons study the Bible and the publications that are used as study aids, it is not long before they start talking to their neighbors. It is not much longer until they come to the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s witnesses, to which all lovers of righteousness are invited, there to study deeper things pertaining to GodWord. A little more time and they are ready to go from door to door preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Next, they dedicate themselves to God in imitation of Jesus, who said: T come, as in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do your will.’ (Ps. 40:7, 8; Heb. 10: 5-9) They believe that GodWord contains instruction for them to follow, sets forth his purposes, and clearly indicates to them their responsibility to God now to be ministers to “declare to the nations the good news”.—Eph. 3:8, NW.
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society does send out missionaries, teachers and special representatives who are trained in aiding others to gain a better knowledge of the LordWord. Everyone needs building up in the most holy faith. Still, all of Jehovah’s witnesses are ministers, because that is why God has been and is gathering together his “other sheep”, to train them for ministerial work. In this organization of ministers we see a new world society working at unity. Jehovah’s witnesses make up Jehovah’s visible organization today. Seek them out. Study with them. Hundreds of thousands are already doing so.
During the past year many have heard the call, ‘Come forth from the prison houses of Babylon!’ They have left Catholic churches, Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues and heathen temples. Since their coming forth they have studied and prepared themselves for the intensive preaching of Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide. During the year the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses has had a monthly average of 384,694 ministers who were engaging in the preaching work every month, comforting people from door to door, making back-calls and conducting home Bible studies with the interested. These zealous publishers have accomplished a tremendous amount of work during the service year of 1951.
GENERAL SURVEY OF WORK DONE
These 384,694 publishers were not alone in their work. They were taking along and training some “babes”. Some who had been prisoners in devilish organizations heard the good news of God’s kingdom and began to pull away from the old world and its way of thinking, and they associated themselves with these publishers for the new world. They too went out and preached, 57,686 of them, for the first time. Combined, that means 442,380 ministers—a new all-time peak for Jehovah’s witnesses! The Society is interested in the welfare of every one of these 442,380 persons and it wants to see them continue as ordained ministers. This is the way Paul felt. He wanted to help the members of the early church to become qualified, fully grown, mature ordained ministers. Paul knew why he was called; he said: “I should declare to the nations the good news.” He said we should imitate him as he imitated Christ. If it was his responsibility to declare the good news, then it is the responsibility of everyone who comes to this knowledge to declare the good news. That is why Jesus said he gives “gifts in men”, namely, “with a view to the training of the holy ones for ministerial work.”
Many of these 442,380 persons who are preaching need to be brought to maturity. They are “babes” not a year old and they cannot remain babes the rest of their lives, in danger of being tossed about by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching. They have to be well trained. They need constant attention and help. Bible studies must continue in their homes. They must come to service meetings, participate in the theocratic ministry school and attend the Watchtower studies that Jehovah’s witnesses conduct in their Kingdom Halls. They will go out in the field with seasoned publishers. Circuit servants will visit their companies and take them out in the preaching work and give them advanced training. Questions on the Bible which may be bothering them will be answered. They must study diligently the publications of the Society along with their Bibles. They cannot afford to remain babes; they must become full-grown and appreciate the visible organization God has set up and be an active part of this body that functions all to the honor and glory of Jehovah’s name. Their keeping busy in the preaching activity and keeping up with their studies “makes for the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love”.
This training work will not let up either, because Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to “say to the prisoners, Go forth”. (Isa. 49:9) Why should lovers of righteousness stay in the old world and go down with it at Armageddon and die for an eternity, when they have the opportunity of pulling away from this system of things and of enjoying life in a new world of righteousness?
A most wonderful work is going on. People are hearing this good news and heeding it. They see the unity of God’s visible organization and they flee to it for safety. Of course, it means a big change in their lives, but it is all for their benefit. It is interesting to observe that during the 1951 service year 17,732,323 books, booklets and Bibles were distributed by Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide. It took a lot of time to distribute these publications along with the 20,046,485 copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines that were placed with the people. This was certainly planting seed. These witnesses of Jehovah devoted 62,854,483 hours to talking the Kingdom and doing this planting and watering. But just why did they do this? For the simple reason that Christ Jesus, the Pattern they are following, preached the good news continually, saying that the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. He also gave a command to the effect that this good news of the Kingdom shall be preached now in all the world for a witness. Jehovah’s witnesses are glad for this command and are zealous in doing their ministerial work.
In order to help everyone they could, they made 20,438,000 back-calls on persons interested in God’s message. Just think of that! Going back to the homes of the people over 20 million times during the year, trying to help them gain a better knowledge of the Bible! And the record shows that every month throughout the year there were 260,187 Bible studies held in different individuals’ homes throughout this whole world. These studies were conducted at least once every month, but usually every week. Jehovah’s witnesses want to help these people of good will all they can. That means work. But it is joyful work.
This organization of Jehovah’s witnesses is not one that is standing still; it is growing rapidly. In fact, in 1951 we see an increase of 17 per cent over the preceding year in the number of persons taking up this good news and proclaiming it. As you look at the chart on pages 246-251 you will be able to see the comparative work of the 121 countries that are listed. For such expansion of the work world-wide it was Jesus who said: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matt. 28:19, 2VJF.
Many people are seeing that Jehovah’s witnesses are a blessed and happy organization in the earth even though persecuted, and that they have the favor of God. Many who see this are forsaking this old world and its organizations and are coming to Jehovah’s organization. One fact alone that proves this is that during 1951 there were 63,178 individuals who symbolized their dedication to do Jehovah’s will, by water immersion. These want to be at unity with God’s visible organization and share in the blessed promises of the new world. During the year many ministers entered the pioneer work and now 17,955 are spending full time in this branch of ministerial activity. Another 1,004 work at branch homes doing office work, caring for the buildings, and others of this number did the printing of 4,955,201 books, 13,604,283 booklets, 30,256,927 Watchtower and 21,422,620 Awake! magazines for subscribers and for distributors, and 278,820,411 handbills, tracts, placards and office forms.
All of the brothers in the branch homes and the headquarters office in Brooklyn, New York, enjoy serving their brothers world-wide. They are grateful for the undeserved kindness of Jehovah toward them and all of Jehovah’s witnesses the world over. And with their brothers around the world they will continue to “say to the prisoners, Go forth”, so that all liberty lovers may enjoy the blessedness of the unity of God’s visible organization. Our blessed privilege it is to help all such liberated ones to get organized with us for the ministry.
THE NEW WORLD SOCIETY
Jehovah’s witnesses are not only looking and praying for a new world organization but they are working for that new world now. They fully realize that the wicked conditions that exist in the earth at the present time must be destroyed; but Jehovah’s servants do not want to be destroyed with them. They appreciate what the apostle Peter said: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.” (2 Peter 3:11,12, NW) Jehovah’s witnesses appreciate that the “day of Jehovah” has come and his kingdom has been born; that the Sovereign Ruler of the universe has placed his King Christ Jesus upon the throne to rule, and that this took place in 1914. With the Kingdom here and the “new heavens” of the new world already in operation, is it any wonder that Jehovah’s witnesses are working hard for the new world? Certainly not, for there is plenty of work to be done. Clearly, we can see from the Scriptures that the ingathering of those people who are seeking after truth and righteousness must be accomplished. The Bible terms such ones “other sheep”. And, indeed, these sheeplike ones are being gathered together, as this year’s report so eloquently testifies. Yes, being gathered they are, but not just in hundreds, or thousands, or even tens of thousands, but in hundreds of thousands. Surely the new world society has begun!
Jehovah’s witnesses and people of good will toward God are desirous of living in peace and righteousness in the new world. But, more than that, they know that according to GodWord they must begin living in peace now. Among themselves they are dwelling in peace and are uniting in carrying the peaceable message of Christ Jesus to all nations, kindreds and tongues. That message which has such a peaceful effect on all lovers of righteousness is that “the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near”. From all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues men of good will are streaming into the new world society anxious to learn how to live in the new world. All work together in unity under the direction of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, which acts as a governing body for them. This organization, a Pennsylvania corporation, sets forth plans and suggestions for Jehovah’s witnesses relative to ways and means of promoting the educational work in which all are engaged. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society sends missionaries out into all parts of the world and keeps in touch with its many branch organizations which direct activities in the various lands.
The home office of the Society is located in Brooklyn, New York, at what is known as the Bethel home. In this home there are more than four hundred workers, all ordained ministers serving the interests of their brothers throughout the world.
The organization that has been built up under the blessing of Jehovah God is a simple organization; it is not complicated in its structure or operation. The president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, with other able ministers residing in the Bethel home, plans the work that should be done in harmony with the LordWord. Such plans are put into operation, and instructions regarding them sent to the branch offices around the globe. This information, whether in the form of a Watchtower magazine article, books, booklets or letters, is translated into the various languages and sent forth to all the company organizations and special representatives of the Society, such as pioneers, full-time ministers. The companies transmit the information on to the publishers of the Kingdom, and the good news of God’s glorious work spreads into every corner of the territory.
Additionally, the Society at Brooklyn, New York, sends forth missionaries into new fields where there are no branch offices or organized activity. There it establishes missionary homes, and the specially trained missionaries carry on the same kind of work as do the company publishers and pioneers in other lands, namely, going from house to house, making return calls on interested persons, conducting home Bible studies, and organizing companies.
Thus the organization functions and good results are forthcoming. As the years roll on, the persons interested in the true Word of God associate themselves with Jehovah’s witnesses and become part of this peaceful, life-loving new world society. As stated, not only do they pray and look forward to life in a paradise earth, but they work for it. They spend their time and energy and funds in the interests of God’s kingdom; they devote themselves wholeheartedly to that work now. They believe it with all their heart and they preach it.
Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide constitute a society of ministers. There is no clergy class or laity class; all of them are one society of people happy in the glorious treasure of service they have received from the Most High God. These Kingdom workers use many corporations throughout the world to earry on their work, as in the state of Pennsylvania, in the United States, they use the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. This corporation deals primarily with the foreign branch activity and the missionary service. In America the Lord’s people have another corporation, known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Incorporated, of New York state. This Society operates the Bethel home and the large printing plant located in Brooklyn, New York. Also, it directs the general activity of the witnesses of Jehovah throughout the United States. It also operates radio station WBBR and directs the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, where missionaries are specially trained for foreign service. Having been trained under the supervision of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, the missionaries are then sent forth to lands throughout the world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, a Pennsylvania corporation.
In many other countries of the earth there are corporations formed, such as the International Bible Students Association of Great Britain and Canada. There are other corporations in Cuba, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Sweden and other lands. All these corporations are used by Jehovah’s witnesses to carry on their ministerial activity. Persons associated with these corporations have one thing in mind, and that is the making known of Jehovah God’s kingdom in all the world. This educational work with the Bible must go on until the accomplished end of this old, wicked system of things. Those in this new world society are seeing to it that this good news is preached to all nations.
ORDINATION
All of Jehovah’s witnesses receive their ordination from Jehovah God. Each one makes a careful study of the LordWord and after studying what God has set forth in his Bible he sees that the only course of action that will bring life is that of doing the Lord’s will. Individually each one dedicates himself to the doing of the Lord’s will. And, as it is stated in Isaiah 61:1, such ones appreciate that “the spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me”. This text goes on to say that it is Jehovah God who anoints such dedicated ones to preach the good tidings to the meek and sends them forth to bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to the captives and open the prisons to them that are bound to this old evil world. Jehovah’s people have been freed, and now they want to free others by bringing to them the good news of the Kingdom. Having dedicated themselves to serve Jehovah God, the Most High consecrates them to carry on in his service. This they do with joyful hearts.
So we can see throughout all of the new world society that Jehovah’s witnesses are really ministers. All must be preachers. It is not just a matter of going to a Sunday school or church once a week. With Jehovah’s witnesses it is a matter of continuous study and then application of the knowledge gained by carrying this information to others and being preachers themselves.
Many of these ministers are able to devote all their time to the preaching of the good news. Others have certain obligations, such as providing proper care for their families and rearing their children in the discipline and authoritative advice of Jehovah, and these Scriptural responsibilities prevent them from giving full time to the preaching work. But in every instance these witnesses of the Most High God are seeking first the Kingdom and its righteousness. As it was in the days of the apostles when certain older brothers were sent to admonish and build up in the most holy faith the congregations of Christ’s followers, so today the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses does the same thing. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society selects certain individuals who are qualified to take the lead in spreading this good news, and these ordained ministers are appointed to special service. Some are branch servants, some are in special assignments of duty in branch offices, Bethel homes and missionary fields, and others serve as circuit and district servants, traveling about assisting in more efficiently carrying on the work done by the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses.
It would be impossible to list all of those assigned to such special services, but we do list here some who have positions of greater responsibility and who hold special appointments from the Society.
ORDAINED MINISTERS APPOINTED TO SPECIAL SERVICE
Abbey, Goeffrey Abbuhl, David Abrahams, James Andrews Abrahamson, Richard E. Abt, Harald Adach, Zygfryd Adams, Don Alden Adams, Elmer Polk Adams, Frederick Walter Adams, Joel Cameron Adams, Karl Appleby Adamson, Eduardo Diego Adedapo, Timothy A. Afolabi, Moses O.
Agbayani, Pacifico Aguilera, Candido Akanbi, Emmanuel Adewole
Akers, Albert Smith Akintounde, Nouru Akpabio, Asuquo Obot Albu, Pamfil N. Aldrich, Lloyd Eigen Alegado, Francisco Allan, Joseph Allen, Paul Arthur Almona, Morris Oputa Alspach,Russell William Amadi, Eugene U. Amaro, Armando Amores, Victor Casas Amos, Ronald Fraser Andersen, Anders Christian Andersen-Moller, Aksel Anderson, Fred August
Anderson, John Henry Anderson, Marvin Ferrol Andersson, Allan Andersson, Hans Andersson, Ivar Aoanan, Catalino Catandig Archibald, Ross Alexander Arikpokpo, Ben Arnott, Harry Walker Ash. Ronald Victor Atkinson, George Attwood, Anthony Cecil Atzemis, Demetrius Constantine
Aura, Mikael Avey, Arthur William Avoletta, Raymundo Babinski, Joseph Eugene Backloupe, Emmett
Joseph (Jr.) Bacsi, Jozsef Baczinski, Francois Baeuerlein, John Adam Baier, Sandor Baker, Alfred G. G. Baker, Glenn Seymour Baker, Paul Southgate Baker, Robert Wallace Banda, Florentino Bangle, Aleck Bank, James Banks, Thomas Edgar Barber, Carey Walter Barber, Norman H. Barnes, Augustus F. Barnes, Stuart Francis Barnett, Arthur Eugene Barney, Paul Joseph Barnhart, Keith M. Barr, John Edwin Barrett, George Charles Barry, William Lloyd Barten, Berend Bartha, Andras Bartlett, Milton Everett (Jr.) Barton, George Bartonek, Erich Bartrip, Trevor Gordon Bartzsch, Otto Baswel, Macario Bernardino Batuke, John Bauer, Kurt Baumgart, Hans Baxter, Donald Edward Baxter, Wallace Hendrie Beacham, John E. Beck, Paul Boone Becker, Guenter Becker, Otto Bedwell, Ernest Frank Beedle. Charles Joseph Behunlck, Stephen Beier, Hans Belinger, Hans Bellotti, Norman David Belokon, Nicholas Belscher, Delbert Clayton
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