to their relatives and friends, so that all together 4,000 persons were accommodated. In looking for rooms the publishers used 2,743 hours.

The first day 3,575 brothers were present. The number increased to 4,693 by Saturday evening. Also 186 symbolized their dedication by immersion. Forty-two cars were used by the transportation department, which served to bring the brothers to the immersion place and to bring good-will persons to the public lecture. At the public meeting there were 6,940. This was the first time for such a large attendance at a public meeting. Two halls were used, both being packed out. A hard shower right in the middle of the talk did not affect the meeting.

The assembly closed with the brothers very appreciative and hoping that Jehovah will in the future favor them with further assemblies like this to build them up spiritually to work like a New World society.

RÉSUMÉ

Thus the 1955 service year of Jehovah’s witnesses was brought to glorious climax. Among outstanding features that marked this as an extraordinary year were (1) the presentation world-wide of the lecture “Christendom or Christianity—Which One Is ‘the Light of the World’?” on April 3, which was immediately followed by the release of the 32-page booklet bearing that same title, and the record distribution of over ten million copies of that booklet in thirty distinct languages and in eighty-eight lands during April and May; (2) the Memorial celebration the following Thursday night, April 7, the attendance at which—863,973—surpassed any previous world-wide record; (3) the concluding of the four-month Watchtower subscription campaign with the securing of 562,228 new subscriptions for that magazine and its companion Awake! in forty languages; (4) the expansion of the number of publishers of the Kingdom message to a new maximum of 625,256 in 156 lands outside the iron curtain during the Memorial month of April; and (5) the incomparable summer series of thirteen “Triumphant Kingdom” assemblies in as many cities and in nine countries.

The public attendance at the public lecture “World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom” and the numbers baptized at the assembly cities are distributed as follows:

City Public Attendance Baptized

Chicago, Ill. 42,116 620

Vancouver, B.C. 21,877 500

Los Angeles, Calif. 36,290 1,014

Dallas, Tex. 16,409 468

New York, N. Y. 55,009 1,374

London, England 41,970 1,183

Paris, France 16,500 785

Rome, Italy 4,351 378

Nuremberg, West Germany 107,423 4,333

Berlin, Germany 17,729 870

Stockholm, Sweden 21,708 854

The Hague, Netherlands 15,360 451

Helsinki, Finland 6,940 186

Totals 403,682 13,016

The literature releases were as follows:

English

Volume II New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures

Qualified to Be Ministers

What Do the Scriptures Say About “Survival After Death”?

You May Survive Armageddon into God’s New World

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

Spanish

“This Good News of the Kingdom”

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

French

What Has Religion Done for Mankind?

Basis for Belief in a New World

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

Italian

Awake! (semimonthly)

“New Heavens and a New Earth”

“This Good News of the Kingdom”

Basis for Belief in a New World

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

German

Basis for Belief in a New World

4 new tracts

“New Heavens and a New Earth”

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

Swedish

Basis for Belief in a New World

“This Means Everlasting Life”

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

Norwegian

What Has Religion Done for Mankind?

Danish

“Let God Be True” (2d edition)

“Make Sure of All Things”

“New Heavens and a New Earth”

Hollandish (Dutch)

After Armageddon—God’s New World

“This Good News of the Kingdom”

What Has Religion Done for Mankind?

Basis for Belief in a New World

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

Finnish

“Make Sure of All Things”

“New Heavens and a New Earth”

World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom

The blessing that this series of assemblies was to all who put forth the effort to attend was immeasurable. Letters of appreciation have been received by the Society that are typical of the blessings that have been enjoyed by all. For instance, from France comes a letter to Brother Knorr in which the writer says: “Regretting not to have been able to reach you through the huge crowd while in Paris, I wish to do so by these few lines. First let me tell you of the splendid hours I passed in Paris. What a genuine stimulus that was! I’m sure everyone looks forward to the joy of the 1956 assembly. May Jehovah bless you abundantly.”

From England, from two who have been pioneers for thirty years, come these lines: “What a wonderful time we have all had at the conventions. Jehovah has indeed been good to us. So many blessings, and our hearts are full of gratitude for his love and care over us. We are now writing to thank you very much for all your many kindnesses. Each time the post brings the magazines we feel so grateful and we do want you to know how much we appreciate your love . . . also all the books at the convention. The talks ‘Pursuing My Purpose in Life’ were grand to listen to.”

From New Jersey, U.S.A.: “I have just recently returned from the ‘Triumphant Kingdom’ assemblies that were held abroad. Within these few lines I wish to thank the brothers for the tremendous effort that made these assemblies such a great success. Without such well-laid plans many would have been unable to attend. It was a great witness to the glorious name of Jehovah. Again I thank you.”

From Belgium: “The purpose of this letter is to express the appreciation of our publishers in Belgium and Luxembourg for the kind hospitality that was shown them during the assemblies by the English, French, German and Hollandish brothers and sisters and people of good will. It is indeed a very great privilege to be associated with other members of the New World society and to get acquainted with more and more friends in the different countries we visited during the assemblies. It is not only a great privilege to be a member of the New World society, but it is also a great privilege to visit the different theocratic assemblies, to see the glory of Jehovah and to witness the coming into Jehovah’s temple of many thousands of good-will persons. The final session of the Nuremberg assembly is unforgettable, and I am sure that the brothers and sisters who saw it appreciate very much the wonderful working of Jehovah’s spirit on His organization.”

From South Africa: “Now that we are back at home after a wonderful trip, having enjoyed both spiritual and physical refreshment, we would like to express our appreciation first to our heavenly Father for the spiritual food provided, and also to the Society for the loving care that was exercised to ensure our comfort while traveling and also in our accommodations. We have never ceased to marvel at the mass of detail that was included in the plans made—surely there was nothing forgotten. We hope our experiences and enthusiasm will make other publishers plan to attend the next international assembly wherever it may be held. We look forward now to a repetition of many of the good things we had in Europe in our own assembly to be held in October. Surely the blessings are ‘pressed down and running over.’”

Following the assembly in each place private letters were mailed to the religious clergy and editors, enclosing a copy of the booklet Christendom or Christianity—Which One Is “the Light of the World”? In many cases indignant, insulting letters have been received where acknowledgment of receipt of the booklet has been made. So the religious leaders of this world refuse the spiritual relief that is available for them amid the “famine for hearing the word of Jehovah” that rages throughout this world, even Christendom. Some of the letters were kind and wished Jehovah’s witnesses well. May at least some of these few come out of darkness. But Jehovah’s witnesses continue to show the due appreciation for all the rich, spiritual store that he has opened to them. Great masses of the afflicted people, too, are gradually coming to an appreciation of the plenteousness with which Jehovah has blessed his people, This has been manifested by the great percentage of the public that was present at the address “World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom.” Again we say, God’s kingdom has scored another resounding victory in the successful “Triumphant Kingdom” assemblies of 1955.

God or Chance?

“As we learn more about our world, the probability of its having resulted by chance processes becomes more and more remote.”—Arthur H. Compton in The Human Meaning of Science, page 62.