Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

264 Yearbook
our stand as ministers caused the court to give us the
victory.
ZUrich too was the scene of a post assembly battIe. In
June, 1949, just 24 hours before the assembly, the police
refused permission to use placards. Believing we were in
the right we used placards, surprising both police and
citizens. Later the police pronounced a fine, but, after
fighting the matter, the fine was canceled and another
pending case involving local publishers in handbill distribution
was also withdrawn. This opened up the streets of
ZUrich!
Increased pioneer activity in Catholic canton Schwyz
produced a 'case of the year'. Two pioneers stand accused
of "breach of the peace" and "peddling". 'Vhy? Because
the priests had told the people that these deal' souls were
communists, against 'the ChUl'ch', and to report them to
the police. The whole case had the features of a plot. It
is not forgotten that some years ago this canton tried to
permanently ban the work. On June 9 a 100 per cent
Catholic court of 7 judges sat. A fine of 170 francs had
been pronounced against the sisters. What could now be
expected? Frankly, not much, for this court had always
ruled against us. Openly they had said they did not want
Jehovah's witnesses. But that was not the issue, our lawyer
insisted-"It is not whether Canton Schwyz wants these
two Christian women, but the question is one of law whether
their ministerial work is commerce 01' not." "No freedom
for these Christians in Russia-now what will Schwyz do?"
After a two-hour recess the judgment came: Not guilty!
Just as this report is completed the news comes to hand
that cases in Catholic Lucerne city regarding street work
have also now bp('n decided in our favor.
The one hundred brethren from our little country who
were privileged to attend the unparalleled assembly of
God's people in New York will, without doubt, infuse the
companies with the enthusiasm they have brought back
with them, and this will be especially apparent at the
Basle district assembly just ahead. This will generate fresh
dynamic forces which will move the brethren to united
action, for, as so powerfully impressed upon us at the New
York assembly, "for that the leaders took the lead in Israel,
for that the people otTered themselves willingly, bless ye
Jehovah I"-Judges 5: 2, AS.
THAILAND
The service year opened in Thailand with an additional
four Gilead graduates aniving there to help
in the field service. Their first work was to study the