Meanwhile, in The Hague there was a young man who was in constant contact with the spirit world. He could read letters in closed envelopes, and much more. What he was to do and what he was to say were always whispered into his ear. When he learned that these were the voices of demons, troubles seemed to intensify for him. He had to make a decision. For the first time in his life he prayed aloud to Jehovah, asking forgiveness for having served the demons and promising now to do the will of Jehovah. Brother van de Eijkhoff recalls: “I had made my decision, and from that moment the whispering voices vanished. Everything was now quiet and peaceful and I was myself again.”

SPIRITUAL FOOD PROTECTED

Just before the war broke out, a shipment of 100,000 booklets, along with an issue of Consolation magazine (successor to The Golden Age), arrived at the freight station in Rotterdam. When the city was bombed on May 14, the freight station was gutted. But when the flames subsided, the entire consignment lay undamaged amid the rubble. Later, the carrier loaded it all onto a truck and headed for the Society’s branch office. On arrival he was visibly pale and shaken as he asked: “Whatever is it that these cartons contain? The freight station in Rotterdam burned, but these were all saved in spite of it! On top of that, I have just now come from Rotterdam without being stopped a single time by the military patrols. Yet, in front of me and behind me throughout the journey all cars, vehicles, and pedestrians were stopped. But I passed right through.” The brother’s conclusion was simple: “It is a message the people must receive.” The driver gladly accepted personal copies. Then, as quickly as possible, the rest of the shipment was dispersed to the congregations.

Another shipment caught in the maelstrom of the war was deposited in a storage bin in Papendrecht, situated on waterlocked Alblasserwaard. Every route out of there involved crossing some bridge or using a ferry, all of which were checked by the SS. Paul Jansen and a couple of other brothers set out to get the cartons. They loaded the literature onto a hired cart. As they tied down the tarpaulin, Paul’s heart pounded wildly. Fear? Sure they were afraid. But they also had faith​—just a little more than the fear they felt. As they approached the ferry, the group became less and less talkative. Then the cart was pushed onto the ferry. They all realized that the only way to get through was to depend fully on Jehovah. Each one prayed silently but fervently to Jehovah. The literature was soon safely in the hands of the congregations. This was a new lesson for the brothers​—one involving faith, trust in Jehovah—​a lesson in the power of prayer, a lesson in Christian courage. Such evidences of Jehovah’s care, along with the fact that the spiritual food contained in The Watchtower continued to reach the brothers on time, were faith strengthening indeed.

The brothers urged Arthur Winkler to go underground so he would not fall into the hands of the Gestapo any earlier than necessary. Discreetly he changed his lodging from one place to another during the months to come​—frequently not far ahead of Nazi agents.

Before the end of June, three Gestapo agents visited the branch. When Helen Hartstang came down the stairs at 9:00 a.m. she saw them talking to Arnold Werner, who was then doing translation work. “Good morning, gentlemen,” she said, and, trying to act as normal as possible, she walked through the kitchen to the garage. Then she grabbed her bicycle and raced several miles (over 4 km) to the printery to warn the German brothers who were working there.

Meanwhile, the Gestapo searched the office. They also asked where R. A. Winkler was. But it was plain that everything they wanted was gone. In the hearing of Brother Werner, they mumbled, “We have come too late!” After a while they drove to the printery. But the German brothers had already cleared out. Although the October issue of Consolation was being printed, the Gestapo left without closing the plant. However, in three days they were back at the Society’s office.

This time they stayed for three days, answering the phone and opening the door for all visitors. Whenever the brothers who were in hiding would phone the office, it was evident to them that the coast was not clear. The smell of tobacco smoke alerted visitors to danger, and they quickly excused themselves after asking for someone that they knew did not live there. Finally, on July 6 both the office and the printery were sealed. The printing equipment that had come from Czechoslovakia had been in use for less than a year, but it had been used well to build up a good stock of literature.

TIMELY DIRECTION FOR BROTHERS IN THE FIELD

To fortify the brothers for what might come, the June 1940 issue of The Watchtower in Dutch had reported on the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany, the torture used, and the death sentences handed down. On June 15, before the branch office was sealed, a circular letter to all publishers had discussed the caution that Jesus used under various circumstances. It recommended refraining from further house-to-house distribution of the book Enemies and the booklet Warning, while continuing to use other publications freely.

Ten days later another letter had been sent out, this one to all circuit and congregation servants. It had announced a precautionary measure in handling future issues of the Informant (now Our Kingdom Ministry) to minimize the danger that any of these might fall into the hands of the enemy. Henceforth all copies would be collected at the end of each meeting where they were used. When everything in the issue had been studied, the congregation servant would put one into his file and destroy the rest.

To care for the spiritual needs of the brothers, commercial printers were now engaged. The brothers did not go without. Henk Toonstra reminisces: “We still think back on those days with deep feeling. How we would rejoice as The Watchtower would always appear on time, even if it was in a new cloak! How intensely we relished the explanations of prophecy and its application to our time!”

UNDERGROUND ARRANGEMENTS GO INTO EFFECT

During the summer of 1940, further steps were taken to fortify the organization. In August a letter to the congregations made clear that no more correspondence was to be sent to the office by regular mail. Congregation servants would see to it that mail reached the responsible brothers.

From now on, publishers would know the identity of only the study servant who served their little group. Addresses of other servants in the congregation were unknown to them. And these other brothers they knew only by their nicknames. All sorts of cover names were invented​—“Tall Bep,” “Black Koos,” “Blond Gerrit,” “Remie,” and “Old Truus.”

Bible studies continued to be started with interested persons. But, in order to provide a safeguard against infiltration by spies, no one was to bring a newly interested person to a congregation study without approval of the congregation servant. During the following months, the wisdom of this arrangement was proved repeatedly. It was imperative that publishers attend only their own study and not even try to find out where any other group was meeting. None were to divulge the address of their study, even to the most trusted friend. Any who broke this rule could lose the privilege of attending meetings.

As publishers shared in the field ministry, careful note was made of all persons who showed hostility toward the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Those names and addresses were kept with territory cards, and special precautions were taken when calling on such persons in the future, if they were visited at all.

Instead of there being a slowdown in the work, Jehovah’s spirit upon his servants resulted in outstanding increase. The report for the service year ending in August 1940 showed 501 publishers, an increase of 58 percent! Literature placements were up nearly 100 percent, and hours devoted to the field ministry rose 77 percent. The course of action being pursued by the Witnesses was truly bringing honor to Jehovah’s name.