could speak Spanish, requiring no interpreter, whereas Brother Knorr, speaking only English, always had an interpreter.

A very fine cafeteria having been established, the brothers’ physical needs were exceptionally well cared for besides their being fed well spiritually. Speakers at the convention included also a number of the circuit and district servants and those of the branch office.

The local authorities at the Cinódromo voiced surprise at the tremendous amount of publicity that Jehovah’s witnesses were given in the newspapers. They were amazed at the orderliness of all the brothers, for such had never before been seen at that place, a race track frequented by people of all walks of life, having no love for one another. But, of course, Jehovah’s witnesses do have love for their neighbors. Then, too, each day the grounds were being kept so clean that at the convention’s end there was not a speck of dirt. Indeed, some workmen of the race track who were assigned there during the convention worked right along with the brothers, co-operating excellently and to the fullest extent. The baptismal service, too, was a high light, 83 (34 men and 49 women) symbolizing their dedication to Jehovah God.

A special session was arranged for circuit and district servants and this was conducted principally by the Society’s president, who answered their questions. A fine meeting was held with pioneers, 270 being present. In Cuba there is a big field for pioneering, just as in all other parts of the world.

So much favorable comment had been caused by this convention that even the owner of another large arena, The Stadium Tropical, telephoned the branch office, saying that should their stadium be wanted for the big assembly in 1955 it ought to be applied for some time in March to get in their schedule. They were very anxious for Jehovah’s witnesses to come in and use their facilities.

In talking with the brothers it was observed that they were strengthened by what they had heard, the good counsel and heart-cheering Bible information greatly encouraging all. Everyone was happy because of having come to this assembly. All seemed determined to return to their respective congregations and to fight harder for the truth, maintain their integrity and joyfully give a greater witness for Jehovah’s kingdom.

The Cubans very much appreciate the good news and they, along with all of Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide, will continue to show their gratitude to Jehovah God. They want to make the name of Jehovah widely known and to preach the good news of his kingdom in all their land.

Brother Knorr and Brother Franz were very grateful that they could visit with their Cuban brothers, and they believed this convention would mark a big forward step in the Cuban work.

CONCLUSION

This trip by the president, through Mexico, Central America, part of South America and some of the Caribbean islands, brought much joy to his heart. A number of years ago he visited some of these countries. Many of them he has visited three and four times, some twice; but when he reflects, looking back to 1942 when no missionaries had been sent out and when only a few pioneers and a few part-time ministers were preaching in some of these countries, it certainly warms the heart now to see the grand increase. For example, in 1942 the publisher’s chart said: Honduras, one publisher; Colombia, two; Netherlands Antilles, one; Nicaragua, two; Venezuela, one.

During the two months he was away on this trip of 1954-1955 the president visited thirteen countries in this area. In 1942 there were 3,005 publishers. Now, just thirteen years later, in the 1955 service year, there are 30,363. So in thirteen years those thirteen countries combined have ten times as many publishers, a 900 per cent increase. What an increase! It shows that it pays to send out missionaries, and when these stay in their assignments, working hard and gathering together the “other sheep,” such in turn also will become good ministers and the work will further multiply by leaps and bounds. Jehovah’s spirit is upon his people. Now is the time when this good news of the Kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness, and Jehovah’s witnesses know that. So with joy, with growing gladness, they courageously press on, not only in this part of the earth but everywhere, happy in these days of the “Triumphant Kingdom.”

Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Part 18—Second World War’s Christian Neutrals in British Commonwealth

IN THE “Battle of Britain”—including its terrible ordeal of air war—less than a dozen of the more than 12,000 witnesses of Jehovah then residing in the British Isles lost their lives. True, many witnesses suffered injury and lost their homes and Kingdom Halls in the Nazi air “blitz”; nevertheless, they kept right on in their way of worshiping Jehovah, the living God. House-to-house preaching they maintained at a high level. Congregational meetings had to be transferred to Sunday afternoons to avoid dangers of night air attacks, but all such were regularly held. The great preaching campaign, which kept on operating and expanding even in those war years, brought much comfort and hope to thousands of honest-hearted ones.

Large zone assemblies were held right on schedule as if no war existed, some sessions even being held during actual bombing raids. In a night raid Manchester’s large Free Trade Hall was demolished just after Jehovah’s witnesses had completed their 1940 national convention in that city. Most amazing was the convention held at Leicester, September 3-7, 1941, where some 12,000 witnesses assembled for a five-day theocratic festival amid war’s intense heat. In the face of unfriendly forces, almost insurmountable obstacles at every turn had to be overcome—as to feeding, accommodation and transportation—to assemble such a vast number. The recordings of Judge Rutherford’s principal lectures at the St. Louis convention the month before in the United States had been sent by air mail to London just in time for the censors to clear for this British convention. What a spiritual lift this assembly proved to be! What a spirit of unity and loving cooperation was manifested! It strengthened all to endure the trials of the war years.a

An embargo was placed on receiving shipments of literature from Brooklyn.