they saw a large sign at a busy intersection announcing in French the public talk “Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?” to be delivered by the Society’s president the following day. At 7:15 p.m. a meeting for the brothers took place at the Regina Palace near the center of town. Since Brother Knorr last spoke in Brussels the owner has interested himself in the truth, is now an active publisher and offers his hall free to Jehovah’s witnesses. Here about 450 brothers and interested ones listened to the four above-named speakers. Their talks were all translated into French and Hollandish, the two official languages of Belgium.

The one-day national assembly began at nine o’clock next morning at the Stadium, a modern sports hall near the heart of Brussels. After a baptismal talk to them, 64 brothers underwent water immersion to betoken their dedication to Jehovah’s will. By way of advertising, 30,000 handbills were put out, 2,000 placards borne by information walkers or placed in windows, and 200 large signs set up in prominent places throughout the city, while 6 autos bore signs through the streets focusing attention on the public event. During the afternoon three speakers addressed the 1,400 conventioners. The most of the Belgians had never before heard Brother Knorr, because since his last visit here in 1947 the publishers have increased from 1,038 then to a new peak of 3,080 in June this year. They are willing to provide further material for foreign missionaries, for, following a talk by Brother Knorr to the pioneers, 13 filled out preliminary application blanks for Gilead School.

The evening public meeting went off very well, with 1,604 attending. This was very good for a meeting in the middle of the week and in between Paris and the coming Rotterdam assemblies, where about 1,200 Belgian brothers attended. The talk was translated into French to a keen audience whose frequent outbursts of applause expressed hearty agreement with the speaker. All the Belgian conventioners were very happy, for their Brussels assembly, despite its shortness, was a very fine one. They now face the future with joy and greater confidence.

ROTTERDAM

This same week was crowned with a three-day assembly at Rotterdam, the great seaport of the Netherlands, August 17-19. Conventioners from many lands flocked to it and made it truly international. On Tuesday of the week the government-controlled radio station at Hilversum broadcast for the first time a ten-minute interview (1:20 to 1:30 p.m.) with a member of the Amsterdam branch office, on Jehovah’s witnesses, and this afforded opportunity to advertise the national assembly. It created a favorable impression, corrected many misinformed persons, and stimulated a desire for Watch Tower Bible literature. Among the radio listeners favorably impressed was a director of the Ahoy Gebouw, the sports arena in Rotterdam which had been engaged for the assembly.

The Ahoy building proved an excellent place for such a large-scale assembly. It has extensive grounds, beautified with lawns and beds of bright flowers. This provided ample space for a huge encampment designed to furnish lodging for thousands during the assembly. Large tents of varying sizes were erected. Of the six tents surrounding the Dames-Kamp two were 52 meters long by 12 meters, and one 50 by 20. Of the three tents surrounding the Heren-Kamp two were 100 meters long by 10 meters broad. Toiletten were installed for service of each camp. For the bedding of the campers 40 tons of clean hay was bought at 45 guilders a ton, but after the assembly this was to be baled and resold at a reduced rate. A berth on the straw cost 1.25 guilders a night (about 25c). Some 3,600 conventioners slept thus on the straw, but there were about 1,950 put in the homes of the people of Rotterdam and vicinity, even though the city was terribly bombed during World War II.

The arrangement to lodge the conventioners on straw under tents was contracted for before the effort was made to canvass the homes for rooming accommodations. Now it is realized what a great opportunity was missed by not at first working at it to lodge all the conventioners in the homes and in this way locate witnesses of the Most High God right in among the people to testify direct in their homes. One American couple went out and secured a room in a home for just 1 guilder (20c) each a night plus their breakfast. One friendly man arranged at his birthday party for 17 rooms among those celebrating with him. Two English sisters got a room free with a Catholic man who works with one of Jehovah’s witnesses, and one night of the convention they witnessed to him till 3 a.m. One man, whose wife is in the truth, went off on his vacation to Austria but turned over his whole house to five conventioners. One Catholic lady, who at first refused a room, was informed by the lady downstairs that the witnesses are the most reliable people on earth, and so she ran downstairs and out after the canvasser and turned over her compartment with bath to the witnesses, also handing them the key, to occupy during their assembly and her vacation. We feel sure that next time the effort will first be made in faith to procure lodging for the conventioners in the most effective place for witnessing, the people’s homes.

In the main hall of the Ahoy building 12,000 chairs were set out, and 2,000 in smaller adjoining rooms. The cafeteria was in a large room which opened out on the main hall, and good food in good quantity was served at 1.25 guilders a meal. The service department and bookroom were in another adjoining hall. Here literature in 17 languages was available on the counters. A graph drawing showed the theocratic increase of publishers in the Netherlands. From 3,800 in September of 1946 the publishers decreased to 3,000 in February of 1947, and then made a climb up to near 7,000 in May this year. In 1940, when World War II struck the Netherlands with a blitzkrieg, there were 600 Dutch publishers, and 350 of these went to concentration camps. During the war the 250 publishers averaged 60 hours a month. Today the majority of publishers are in Protestant North Holland. In 1947 a public meeting at the national assembly in Amsterdam brought out an attendance of 5,500. What would the public attendance be here now at Rotterdam? As to literature, the Dutch had only the books Children and “The Truth Shall Make You Free” in their language. Would new releases be made at this convention?

The big platform in the main hall was beautified with many flowering plants, backed by a beautiful brown curtain with broad yellow side-borders. On it appeared the 1951 yeartext in Hollandish. To one side of the platform was the orchestra section. From here there was only intermittent orchestra music, much to the regret of many who would have enjoyed hearing more from that group of consecrated players. But the congregational singing lacked nothing: it called for comments on its goodness and earnestness.

The program was very interesting, practical and up-to-date and it afforded both speeches and demonstrations. Four speakers from the American and Canadian branch offices were featured on this program. In this way, too, the Rotterdam assembly heard a number of the London assembly features. Some feared that so much speaking in English with translation into Hollandish as this required would prove boring to the Dutch listeners; but their fears were not realized. The Dutch lent good attention to the talks first rendered in English, and many expressed appreciation of the fine spiritual things they had learned from these and the enlightenment and encouragement they had received. For the most part the Dutch are not disposed to applaud. They like to sit and listen intently and learn without noisy interruption. But, just the same, they can laugh and clap, like others at the London and Paris assemblies; and at this Rotterdam convention they broke out spontaneously at times in laughter and handclapping.

The first day, Friday, August 17, was fine, with the splendid attendance of over 6,000. The day was topped off by the speech of the Society’s president on “The Triumph of Clean, Undefiled Worship”, broken by applause. And, sure enough, there was a new release in Hollandish. They clapped their hands for joy and appreciation when Brother Knorr announced the new 32-page booklet, Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? All conventioners were given a free copy. But they were in for larger joys of this kind the following night, with over 7,000 present. This was when Brother Knorr gave his talk “Making the Mind Over for New World Living”. He led on into telling of the Awake! magazine to be printed in Hollandish, with 30,000 copies to start with, twice a month, in the hope that this will shortly be increased to 100,000 copies each issue. Thus toward the end of this year they would begin to be supplied with four magazines a month, the two semimonthly issues of The Watchtower and now the two issues a month of Awake! in Hollandish. It had been desired to have the Hollandish translation of the recent book “This Means Everlasting Life” on hand for release at Rotterdam, but it proved impossible to get it ready in time. The announcement that it was all set up and ready for printing evoked a burst of applause.

Light rains dampened Sunday morning, August 19. The day’s sessions began with song and a baptismal talk, after which 285 candidates were taken to the Eastern Swimming Pool and baptized.

Leaden skies still sprinkled as the hour drew near for the public address. But the advertising preliminary to this had done its work—advertising signs atop autos and on the side windows, signs on bikes, with a bicycle parade of 22 cyclists, window cards, placards of sizes for grownups and for children, handbills by the thousands, and badges pinned on coat lapels or waists. So the interested Dutch responded and braved the damp weather and thronged the Ahoy Gebouw, till they numbered 10,775. The advertised speaker forcefully handled his subject. Silent, absorbed, with close attention for so serious a discourse on religion, that biggest assembly crowd ever in the Netherlands listened to the end. Then they gave way to deserved applause.

As with its predecessors, this assembly now progressed to a rapid but heart-warming close, with just two speakers. The feeling of the Dutch seemed brought up to a pitch where it must express itself more freely, and the convention servant’s report had them repeatedly laughing and applauding. He asked if the assembly had been a slag! (a hit, a success!) and they roared out Ja! a positive Yes! Then with appropriate suggestions and remarks the Society’s president spoke in farewell and dismissal of the convention. All agreed with him that Jehovah’s witnesses are the greatest optimists, and that those appointed to minister to them in responsible positions should be servants, and not stern, exacting, hard bosses. Love is vitally essential for us all, love to God first and love to neighbor as to oneself; and in love we should help one another in the theocratic organization.

So with song and prayer the finest assembly yet in The Land of Windmills and Dikes concluded. By their beaming faces and words the friends showed that was the way they felt about it. How glad they were they had expended themselves to come, and now how loath they seemed to part! The blessings received at Rotterdam are sure to sustain them in the days ahead, moving them still more zealously in Jehovah’s service, to the increase of the interest of his kingdom in the Netherlands.

Questions From Readers

● How can we say that Paul became the twelfth apostle, when Matthias was chosen by casting lots?—M. W., Florida.

On the night of his betrayal and arrest Jesus said to the eleven faithful apostles: “You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you.” (John 15:16, NW) The original twelve apostles were selected by direct choice and appointment by Jesus, not by the casting of lots, as in the case of Matthias. In seeking to fill the vacancy left by faithless Judas, Peter had in mind the fulfillment of Psalm 109:8, quoting: “Let a different man take his office of overseer.” But by casting lots to find one to “take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas deviated”, Peter and those with him were acting in advance of the Lord Jesus Christ and without any instruction from him. (Acts 1:20, 25, NW) They did not wait to “become clothed with power from on high”, to “be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this”, and hence this pre-Pentecostal selection of Matthias was not done under the guidance of the holy spirit.—Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5, NW.

After the casting of lots no mention is made in the Scriptures of Matthias personally. True, Acts 1:26 (NW) says he was “reckoned along with the eleven apostles”; but it does not say he was reckoned as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Acts 6:2 and; 1 Corinthians 15:5 speak of “the twelve”, referring to the eleven apostles and Matthias, because Matthias and the eleven apostles were associated together as a committee of special servants in the congregation at Jerusalem; but it is noteworthy that in these cases the terms “twelve” and “apostles” are not used together.

But that a replacement, and only one, for Judas was selected in fulfillment of Psalm 109:8 is made certain by Revelation 21:14, which refers to “the twelve apostles of the Lamb”. That replacement was chosen by Christ Jesus, just as were the original twelve apostles. Was not Paul specially chosen, Christ the spirit creature spectacularly manifesting himself to Paul? Concerning Paul Jesus said to Ananias: “This man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel.” (Acts 9:15, NW) Jesus sent Paul forth, and Paul was excelled by no other “sent-forth one” or apostle of Christ. He was not bragging, but was writing under inspiration when he wrote concerning himself: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through God’s will.” “Paul, an apostle, neither from men nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.” “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus under command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus.” “I was appointed a preacher and an apostle.”—Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:1, 11; Titus 1:1, NW.

Nevertheless, Paul’s apostleship was disputed by some in his day, making it necessary for him to declare frequently his appointment from the Lord. He challenged his disputants: “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, I most certainly am to you, for you are the seal confirming