A chief editorial writer for a Montreal, Canada, newspaper, under the heading “Let’s smile back at the people of Jehovah”: “The day before yesterday, in less than two hours, they knocked on 800,000 doors in the area. A form of mass spiritual proselytizing, which may be a bit annoying but not really a nuisance. . . . When you receive visitors in your home, you don’t mind a little inconvenience to make room for them. . . . So, what if we don’t share the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses; we would share, for a few days, just a little of their serenity, and we would feel better for it. These peaceful people have chosen to meet in Montreal; let more of them come, tens of thousands of them.”

[Box on page 30]

Montreal Convention​—Something Special!

In program content, the “Integrity Keepers” District Convention held at the famous Olympic Stadium complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was like all others in this series. But in some ways it was special. Among other things, it was the first of a group of these conventions that would be special in size or in other ways.

Size: A total of 78,804 assembled from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It was faith strengthening to be part of such vast throngs of integrity keepers listening, singing, and praying together. That was special!

Baptism: It was a special joy to see 1,004 newly dedicated ones stand up for baptism. Here was visible evidence of the growth now taking place among us.

Languages: There were programs in 11 languages​—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian. In the bowl of the stadium, the special sound system was so arranged that those in the French sections listened in their language while the English-speaking delegates heard in theirs.

Trailer City: This was another special feature. To accommodate delegates who needed space for trailers, recreational vehicles, and tents, efforts began in December 1984 to obtain use of nearby Maisonneuve Park, just across the street from the stadium. When officials were first approached about renting the park, they understandably laughed. After all, renting an entire city park had never been done there before. Eventually, however, permission was granted. The good reputation of Jehovah’s Witnesses had helped.

Ultimately, 4,300 units were set up, and almost 20,000 conventioners were accommodated on lush grass amid abundant shade trees. And what was the park’s condition after so many people had used it for about a week? Amazed officials found no serious damage anywhere. For that reason, the entire amount of the five-figure damage deposit was returned!

Governing Body Members Present: This feature also made the Montreal convention special. While Jehovah’s people avoid all creature worship, doubtless many shared the sentiments of one brother who appreciatively said: “The presence of seven members of the beloved Governing Body, some of whom I had never seen or heard give a talk before, was most encouraging.” Such association does result in a spiritual “interchange of encouragement.”​—Romans 1:11, 12.

A Fine Reception: Officials and the general public dealt with Jehovah’s Witnesses in a commendable and fair-minded way. This was special when it is remembered that not many years ago former Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis openly declared a “war without mercy on the witnesses of Jehovah” until they would be no more. With good reason, then, one newspaper reporter observed: “Just imagine, yesterday [Friday] there were exactly 74,846 Witnesses within the confines of the stadium! Maurice Duplessis, who had banned the movement, must have been turning over in his grave.”

This was not the first time that Jehovah had blessed integrity keepers so abundantly. In many ways, however, the Montreal convention was something special.