Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

246 Yearbook
and l'I€sitancy Ilnd were immersed, being the first ones in
the island to do so.
Especially interesting have been their experiences in the
public meeting work. A series was begun in the local prison
for the benefit of the inmates. More than a dozen lectures
were presented and were greatly appreciated with many
expressions of genuine interest made. The warden, a music
lover, ofl'ered to play the Kingdom songs on the piano so
that singing could be had along with the lectures. He was
looking forward with eagerness to using the Society's new
songbook.
ROMANIA
It is very difficult to get reports from the country
of IWmania. This is another nation hidden behind the
"iron curtain". The brethren who were in charge of
the work in IWmania have been imprisoned. Their
trial came up in July of this year, according to reports
received, and the brethren gave a fine witness. A very
recent report reveals that the branch servant and
another brother were sentenced to ten years of forced
labor and sent to the Danube Canal to work there.
Others were sentenced to from two to eight years, but
it is not known where they have been sent.
Not many service reports have come through during
the year, but those that have been received show that
the brethren are active and they are preaching the
Word. Even though the Romanian government occupied
the Society's office and living quarters in
August, 1949, and closed down the branch in Bucharest,
the good news is still being preached. The S0ciety's
office equipment, the literature and supplies,
have all been seized, and the principal brethren imprisoned;
but even this could not stop the work. The
government says the preaching of the gospel by Jehovah's
witnesses is not legal; but, on the other hand,
Jehovah's witnesses have the command from the Almighty
God that this gospel of the Kingdom must be
preached in all the world. By God's grace, the Lord's
people in IWmania have continued to speak the good
news as set forth in the Word of the Almighty.