1926​—One Hundred Years Ago

As the year 1926 unfolded, Jehovah​—through the head of the congregation, Christ—​made it increasingly clear that the preaching work should be the main focus of a Christian’s life. To that end, “the faithful and discreet slave” supplied God’s servants with new publications, made adjustments to the meetings, and provided clarified understanding of the responsibilities of a Christian. (Matt. 24:45) Christ ensured that they had the buildings and the equipment they needed to carry out the preaching work.

A NEW PUBLICATION AND ADJUSTMENTS TO MEETINGS

In April, The Golden Age (now called Awake!) announced the release of a new book entitled Deliverance. This book would replace Studies in the Scriptures as the main publication used in the ministry. To meet the anticipated demand, the brothers at Bethel purchased a new press that was capable of printing 22 books per minute. The Bible Students offered the new book at every opportunity.

For many years, the Bible Students had considered the volumes of Studies in the Scriptures at their meetings. But beginning in May, they began to consider articles from The Watch Tower. What were the results?

“The little Bunker Hill, Illinois ecclesia [congregation] sends you greetings,” wrote one congregation in a letter to Brother Rutherford. “On Sundays we study the [articles] appointed by the Society for those dates. We are so thankful that we can all see the new light as it comes due.”

“The new light,” or clarified understanding, helped the Bible Students to keep the preaching work in focus. For example, the article “Character or Covenant​—Which?” explained that “character development,” which focused exclusively on developing a polite and kind demeanor, caused some to minimize the real work of true Christians. The article admonished: “He who loves the Lord must now . . . obey his commandments. . . . Jehovah says: ‘Ye are my witness that I am God.’ . . . The Christian now will be anxious to testify as God’s holy witness.”

Another article, “Sacrifice and Service,” emphasized that true Christians demonstrate their love for Jehovah by offering faithful service to him. The article encouraged all Bible Students to engage in the service of the Lord actively, earnestly, and zealously and “to be witnesses for the Lord and to proclaim his message to the nations and peoples of earth.”​—Isa. 43:10, 12; Matt. 24:14.

The effect of these changes was quickly felt in the congregations. Just a few weeks later, The Watch Tower of July 15, 1926, published this letter: “The recent articles, ‘Character or Covenant​—Which?’ and ‘Sacrifice and Service,’ are a great stimulus and comfort. We cannot merely read our Towers now, we must study them.” The letter concluded by saying that “already there seems to be a greater desire on the part of all to express their thoughts more freely at the studies, and it is otherwise having a very beneficial effect upon our ecclesia.”

CONVENTIONS EMPHASIZE THE PREACHING WORK

At the end of May, many Bible Students assembled at a convention in London, England. A labor strike in Britain made it difficult to hire commercial printers, so the brothers at Brooklyn Bethel worked overtime to supply the convention with 117,000 extra copies of a booklet entitled The Standard for the People.

On Saturday, May 29, those booklets were put to good use. The convention program for that day urged: “Every consecrated one attending the convention is invited to share in advertising the King and the Kingdom. Get to the Alexandra Palace as early as possible, and report for service at the Service Department.”

More than 100,000 pieces of literature were distributed. The Watch Tower of July 15, 1926, reported: “The friends were bubbling over with enthusiasm. They felt that they had done their best to obey the command of Jehovah: ‘Ye are my witnesses that I am God.’”

The next day, at the Royal Albert Hall, Brother Rutherford spoke on the subject “Why World Powers Are Tottering​—The Remedy.” Within just a few minutes after the doors were opened, 13,000 people filled the auditorium. Overflow crowds listened intently to the program by means of loudspeakers that were installed outside.

In his talk, Brother Rutherford explained that the collapse of world powers stemmed from their rejection of Jehovah and His Kingdom. Brother Rutherford went on to denounce the League of Nations and predicted that it would cease to exist.

PREACHING IN INDIA

While in London for the convention, Brother Rutherford met Edwin Skinner, a colporteur (now known as a pioneer) from Sheffield, England. After the convention, Brother Rutherford asked Edwin to come see him in London.

“I somehow sensed that it was going to be an invitation to go abroad,” recalled Brother Skinner. “I went to London the following day . . . , fully made up in my mind that if it was a call to serve in a foreign land I would unhesitatingly say, Yes.” Sure enough, Brother Rutherford asked him: “How would you like to go to India?” Edwin replied: “When do you want me to go?”

Just three weeks later, in July, Edwin and George Wright, another willing evangelizer, set sail for India. Brother Skinner served as the branch servant, caring for the work in Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, and Persia (Iran). Brother Skinner remained in India for 64 years until he finished his earthly course in 1990.

TRAVELING OVERSEERS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE MINISTRY

Since about 1894, the organization had been sending traveling representatives to meet with groups of Bible Students. In July 1926, the work of these representatives, known as pilgrims, changed. Their visits were extended from one day to two, and they were required to spend 100 hours each month in the ministry.

In a letter to The Watch Tower, Brother George Draper, a traveling overseer, stated: “A watch dog is expected to warn the house-holder; and if the brethren are lying down . . . , they are asleep and cannot bark. [Isa. 56:10] The thing for Pilgrims, and for every one else . . . to do is to study The Watch Tower . . . These are the things I am trying to get into my head and heart.” Brother Draper finished his earthly course in 1938.

NEW YORK CITY CONVENTION

The last major convention of the year was held on October 14-18, 1926, in New York City. Local newspapers agreed to publish advertisements for Brother Rutherford’s talk “Earth’s Greatest Conflict Near.” However, at the last minute, several major newspapers refused to advertise the convention.

The brothers decided to go on the offensive. On Friday, October 15, R. J. Martin released a new tract entitled Against the People, designed to expose the problems with the newspapers and to advertise Brother Rutherford’s talk. “We have started our own presses,” Brother Martin said, “and our boys will work them day and night until one million two hundred and fifty thousand copies of this statement are printed; and we are going to ask the brethren at this convention to go out and give them to the people.” When the session ended, the brothers began distributing the tract. By that evening, they had distributed 300,000 copies.

Over the weekend, about one million tracts were distributed! In addition, these zealous workers distributed 3,783 copies of Deliverance and 35,140 booklets.

At 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, approximately 12,000 people heard Brother Rutherford’s speech. After the talk, interested ones requested more information. More than nine thousand books were distributed, the most ever at a convention up to that time.

BUILDING AT 117 ADAMS STREET

Because of the increase in demand for literature, responsible brothers in Brooklyn recognized the need to expand our printing facilities. For years, they had rented the property at 18 Concord Street, but this building could not accommodate the needed expansion. The brothers purchased a plot of land on Adams Street, a short walk from the existing building. They began to construct an eight-story concrete building, nearly doubling their floor space.

That building, located at 117 Adams Street, would be occupied in 1927, setting the stage for even more growth. The year ahead would see a rapid expansion and a continued cleansing of the organization, preparing God’s people to be worthy of accepting the name Jehovah’s Witnesses.