From 1918 to 1940, Moldova came under the rule of Romania, which was then a kingdom, or monarchy. The government in Romania appointed a minister of cults, who had jurisdiction over religious matters. Bowing to religious Orthodoxy, this man opposed the work of the Bible Students and sought to have them and their Bible-based publications banned. The charge, as you may have guessed, was that the brothers were in league with the Bolsheviks.

This official contempt for Jehovah’s people resulted in a government directive from the inspector general of Moldova to a certain chief of police, dated April 25, 1925. It stated: “Motivated by the Police Security Directive No. 17274/925, we have the honor to inform you that the Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to prohibit and stop the propaganda of the international ‘Bible Students,’ and we would like you to take the necessary measures to accomplish that purpose.”

The effect that such official opposition had on the brothers is reflected in a report that the Romania office submitted to world headquarters on October 17, 1927. In summary, the report stated that congregation meetings had been stopped and forbidden everywhere and that ‘hundreds of brothers had been arraigned before the military and civil courts.’ It also said: ‘Few meetings could be held during summer, as the congregations were and still are closely watched by the secret service and policemen, especially in villages, where most congregations are. Most meetings were held in the woods, in well-concealed places.’

The report continued: ‘As of March, the work of the traveling overseers was also curtailed. In that same month, the minister of the interior gave strict, confidential orders to find the colporteurs and to arrest all these “propagandists.” Within a short time, almost all the colporteurs were put in jail. And although neither we nor the brothers are frightened, having endured opposition from the beginning of the work in this country, this time the system of routing us is so thorough that we can hardly make a move.’

1925: Work of Bible Students is prohibited.