of Revelation 7:9 (AV) is an earthly class of men and women who will live forever on earth in God’s new world. For getting the message to these thirsting ones the Society adopted use of portable phonographs beginning in 1937. These were made here at the factory. People still talk about them.

World War II did not stop the witness work, although it was under fire in many lands. While the war was still in progress the Society opened Gilead School upstate in New York. This brought many new faces to Bethel, going and coming from the school. In 1950 another new factory and Bethel addition were dedicated. Thousands of delegates came to visit us that year while attending the first Yankee Stadium convention.

Of course, the months just preceding big conventions are very busy at headquarters and filled with anticipation. Preparation of future convention releases is one of the many Bethel privileges, but confidence is kept among the respective departments so that only the ones directly involved are aware of what is being produced. It is not unusual for convention releases to take members of the Bethel family by complete surprise, so well does each one “study to be quiet and mind his own business.”

In 1956 we welcomed completion of the new thirteen-story building for printing The Watchtower and Awake! From my sunny room on Columbia Heights one could see that new structure until just recently. Now across the street from 124 Columbia Heights stands the Society’s beautiful twelve-story dormitory, school and office building with its lovely green courtyard. Through that yard come members of the family and Gilead students hurrying to and from their assignments and studies. Now that Gilead has moved to Brooklyn and members of the family accompany them on tours of the city further joys and privileges come to us here at headquarters. Right now our household numbers over seven hundred.

Being at Bethel is its own reward in so many ways. None of my assignments have been particularly out of the ordinary. But it certainly has been a thrill to be among dedicated Christians for forty-seven years and have a share in the work. Like David, I would rather be a doorkeeper in Jehovah’s house than to dwell in the tents of the wicked and support this dying system of things. Bethel is a “house of God.” There is no question in my mind about that. Now I am in my eighty-seventh year. Younger hands are taking up the work here, but I thank Jehovah to be united with them in the joyful work of serving the Universal Sovereign and looking ahead to eternal happiness in God’s new world.

Questions From Readers

● Why does the New World Translation at Judges 16:28, different from other translations, read: “Lord Jehovah, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, just this once, O God, and let me avenge myself upon the Philistines with vengeance for one of my two eyes.”—E. B., United States.

The footnote of the New World Translation shows that the Septuagint and Vulgate versions read differently, as though Samson prayed for one avenging for his two eyes. This is the thought expressed in Roman Catholic and the King James versions. However, the translation “let me avenge myself upon the Philistines with vengeance for one of my two eyes” is the literal rendering of the original Hebrew and is