Brother Russell’s visit was an exciting occasion for this small band of brothers. Tremendous preparation went into advertising the public talk, which was held in the finest hall in Helsinki, the auditorium of the Fire Department House. Elis Salminen, then a ten-year-old boy, who served Jehovah faithfully up to his death in 1981, related how the brothers displayed pictures of Brother Russell that were over one story high. “After that I heard my schoolmates saying that it was that American advertising religion,” reported Salminen.

Brother Russell himself recounted his visit in the October 1, 1912, issue of The Watch Tower: “Two Finnish brothers have been specially active for two years to serve the truth to all the truth-hungry. They have translated three volumes of the Scripture Studies and Everybody’s Paper for free circulation, at their own expense. Now about fifteen colporteurs are carrying the truth to every nook and corner of the land. The public meeting was crowded to the capacity of the hall​—1000—​many standing; some almost in tears because they could not gain admission. . . . The evidence is that God has some true children in Finland to whom his harvest message is now due.”

During his visit, Brother Russell authorized Brother Harteva to publish The Watch Tower in Finnish, starting with the November 1912 issue. The new magazine was recommended to be given as a Christmas gift to relatives and acquaintances.

The Testimony Spreads Out

Brothers Österman and Harteva had the problem of reaching the sparse population in that vast territory, over 600 miles [1,000 km] long and some 300 miles [500 km] wide. How were they to give an efficient witness? In hopes of a solution, at his own expense, Brother Österman published advertisements for the Society’s literature in various newspapers. Harteva, on the other hand, decided to concentrate his attention on giving public talks, which proved to be very successful. But how would he organize the public talks? Let him speak for himself:

“When I had chosen a town as my objective, I wrote to the editor of the best-known newspaper and asked what would be the best hall in the area for a public talk and whom I should contact if I wanted to rent it. When that was clear, I wrote an application, and having received a favorable answer, I made up an advertisement and sent it to the newspaper, asking them to print similar handbills and to put them between the pages of the newspaper so that people would get to know about the public talk. Then I went on my trip with some books. The meeting places were usually filled to capacity. . . . Once when I tried to get in, I was told that it was in vain. Only when I explained that I was the speaker could I make my way through. Another time, so many tried to get in that the hall was filled three times that same night, and the listeners waited patiently for their turn.”

This success tells about the hunger for truth in Finland at that time. After the Memorial celebration in 1913, the report showed 235 had been present throughout Finland.

Brother Rutherford’s Visit

A stir of activity filled the summer of 1913. Joseph F. Rutherford, who became the second president of the Society, and A. N. Pierson, both of the world headquarters staff, visited Finland. Brother Rutherford spoke on the subject “Where Are the Dead?​—From a Lawyer’s Viewpoint.” Some thought the lawyer meant Rutherford himself, as he was a judge, but he actually meant the apostle Paul. The public talk was a success: The estimated attendance was over 2,500, and 33 new ones were baptized.

This was followed by another public talk in Kaisaniemi Park, which Brother Harteva had used earlier. Brother Rutherford said that it was his first talk given outdoors, and he thought it was an interesting experience.

[Picture on page 150]

Joseph F. Rutherford in Kaisaniemi Park, where he gave his first outdoor public talk, in 1913