Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

Yearbook 179
From the outset tbis assembly was different from any
held heretofore in Tegucigalpa. More local brethren took
part In it. Better and more advertising was brought into
play. A regular radio interview was given by representatives
from the Society's branch office. Weekly announcements
over the various programs sharpened the interest of the
people for the coming discourse "Liberty to the Captives".
For the first time sandwich Sign placards were used for
street walking, which were new not only to the bl'ethren,
but also to the town people. Businessmen came out of their
stores to look. Passers-by accepted the handbills and remarked,
"What will they think of next?" A priest, brandishing
his cane, dashing up and down alongside one of the
colored sisters who was quietly passing out handbillS. shouted
to the crowd, "Don't accept them, don't accept them!"
The sister handed the priest one, whlcb he forgot to throw
away, and then proceeded to hand the "crowd" one. No,
there was no doubt about what had come to town. A
Jehovah's witnesses convention! The largest numher yet
turned out to hear the public talk, tbe total being 511.
Reaching into new territory the circuit servant was able
to contact two of the untouched bay Islands, Utlla and
Guanaja. These are inhabited by white descendants of
English and Scottish mixture as well as a scattering of tbe
Carib Negro whose lineage can be traced back to Africa. Being
isolated as they are on their little islands, religion and
meeting night constitute the hub of social life and activity.
As one old-timer put It, "There are three things to do on our
island: tend our coconut crOllS, raise kids, and go to meeting."
They have done marvelously well with the first two,
but with the last they are admittedly in a mess.
Especially on the island of Utila the animOSity among
the three religions is strong. "The Church of God has put
the Adventists in 'hell-fire'; the Adventists condemn the
other two to destruction because they eat pork and use
grease when they cook, and besides they don't keep Sabbath.
The Methodists hold themselves aloof and say they are the
ones gOing to heaven. We're sick and tired of religion,
Mister!" Thus did a young couple disgustedly express themselves
to the publisher at their door. Before the three-day
visit was over with, the husband was publicly telling his
neighbors he was going to be one of Jehovah's witnesses.
Both he and his wife took part in inviting the town to hear
the public talk scheduled to be given on the main street
corner. After the 150 or more bad dispersed, one islander
came up and said, "Young feller, that's tbe truth. It ain't
false religton we want, It's Christianity. I'll take one of
your books." While no return visit has been made yet to