The initial reaction to the evangelizing work of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses was violent. Early bearers of the Kingdom “good news” got a very hostile reception.

Those who tried to spread the message of truth, especially in rural areas, were often evicted from their accommodations. They had to face mobs who threatened and many times perpetrated physical violence, or who took their literature from them and destroyed it before their eyes.

Two Witnesses in the south of Ireland were suddenly confronted by a mob of incensed women who angrily accused them of being Communists. Despite all attempts to reason with the mob, they got more and more threatening. One of the Witnesses tried to escape by boarding a bus that was nearby, but instead of finding refuge he found himself under attack by the bus crew, also. Eventually he was pelted with stones but managed to get clear with cries of “throw him in the river” ringing in his ears. The mob then used the bus to overtake the other Witness and launched another vicious attack on him, destroying all his literature. Only the timely arrival of a policeman saved him from serious injury.

There were verbal attacks also. The press reported one of the bishops as saying about Jehovah’s Witnesses: “These false prophets . . . are no better than Mohammedans; indeed they are worse, for they do not believe in the immortality of the soul. . . . To listen to them is to deny Christ.” Those who did manifest any interest in the message of truth were immediately subjected to intense social and religious pressure, to break off association with these “false prophets.” In many instances, especially in the Republic of Ireland, it was made virtually impossible for those who responded to the truth to remain in their home areas, as their means of livelihood was often denied them. Some even left the country so that they would not be hindered in growing spiritually.

IN THE TROUBLED NORTH

In Northern Ireland, which is predominantly Protestant and ultranationalistic, the situation in earlier days was not much better. Vicious attacks were launched here also, and the deep-seated hatred between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities has remained as a threat to Jehovah’s Witnesses, especially as some Catholic people still mistakenly identify the Witnesses as “Protestants.” But now more and more people are coming to realize that the Witnesses are quite separate from all other religions, Catholic or Protestant.​—Rev. 18:4.

On one occasion the Irish Republican Army threatened to explode bombs if a public lecture was not canceled. The assembly hall had to be guarded by policemen and detectives. On another occasion two Witnesses using a “sound car” drove unwittingly into a solidly Catholic area, where they were mistaken for Protestants. A barrage of missiles was hurled at them. Quickly they piled all their equipment back into their vehicle and headed out of the area, but not before the mob had smashed the car windscreen and battered the bodywork with iron bars.

An event that marked a great turning point in the affairs of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ireland was the first relatively large international convention held in Dublin, in 1965. The venue was a local football ground. When the news broke that Jehovah’s Witnesses were to use these facilities, the battle was on! Intense, virulent opposition was encountered. For a time it was in the balance whether the assembly would proceed at all. The city council that controlled the property was under incessant pressure to refuse permission for the grounds to be used by these “anti-Christian and particularly anti-Catholic people,” as they were called. Despite the Witnesses’ being referred to as a “menace” and a “threat,” and the old bigoted attitudes rearing their ugly heads again, permission was finally granted and a fine assembly was held.

There were other great problems in arranging for this assembly. For instance, over a thousand accommodations were canceled at the last moment as religious pressure was brought to bear, but despite this, lodging was found for all 3,948 delegates who attended.