• Sweden
    1991 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • “Aaron 2”​—The Phonograph

      Another “Aaron” was the portable phonograph, with five-minute records of Bible sermons. This new instrument was put to good use for several years.

      In 1937 Brother Eneroth recorded Judge Rutherford’s phonograph lectures in Swedish. When the records became available, the publishers were enthusiastic and went into the territories like swarms of locusts. During the first ten months, 107,077 sermons were played to 153,786 listeners. Brother Eneroth himself was one of the first to use the records. He chuckled as he recalled: “After playing one of these records for a couple in Stockholm, the woman said: ‘Your voice sounds so much like the one we heard. You must have listened to it many times.’”

      At first, portable phonographs were rather big and heavy. Soon, however, a small collapsible type that could be carried in a briefcase became available. It was so cleverly constructed that the record was much bigger than the phonograph. When the publisher asked a householder if he could play a recorded Bible lecture, the householder often replied: “I have no phonograph.” Quickly, the publisher whisked out this little phonograph. Curiosity would overtake the householder, and the publisher was invited in. Some people would even ask if the phonograph was for sale. Thus many who otherwise would not have lent their ear to the testimony listened.

      The phonograph often helped the brothers to feel more courageous in the service. One brother relates: “I came to a farm where a big party was going on to celebrate a child’s baptism. I asked the host if I could play a recorded Bible lecture. Since the host thought it would add some religious atmosphere to the party, especially as the priest was there, all guests were gathered. They listened attentively, including the priest, who, though, scurried off afterward, much to everyone’s surprise. I answered many questions. Several guests took literature too.”

      “Aaron 3”​—The Loudspeaker Outfit

      The branch set up special loudspeaker outfits by connecting a phonograph to a loudspeaker system that could be placed on a bicycle trailer. Thus a recorded sermon could be heard throughout a large housing development. Introductory music was played to arouse initial interest and to get people to open their doors and windows and to listen. After the lecture, the brothers visited the homes, answering questions and offering literature.

      One zealous brother wanted his neighbors to listen to a sermon while they were digging potatoes in a field. He placed a loudspeaker high up in a pine tree and switched on the phonograph. As the strong, articulate voice filled the air, the people stopped working and listened with mouth open and eyes gazing into the sky, thinking it was a message from heaven!

      By the latter part of the 1940’s, the use of phonographs was discontinued. From 1938 to 1943, some 1,200 phonographs were in use and a million and a half people had listened to recorded sermons.