Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

Yearbook
SPAIN
Few countries have suffered more from the brutality of
false religion than has Spain. To this day the country has
not recovered from the economic turmoil brought about by
the civil war when the present dictator, sponsored by the
Catholic Hierarchy, overthrew the then·existlng liberal form
of government. Revealing her true attitude toward freedom,
the Catholic Church rules with an iron hand and any indication
that her subjects are daring to avail themselves
of knowledge from the Bible is certain to bring forth her
wrath. lIer methods are Simple. If threats and intimidation
fail to accomplish her purpose she deprives the individual
of his job regardless of the great misery and suffering that
this may bring upon that person or his family. Or if this
one who dares to preach the gospel is not a Spanish national
he is promptly expelled from the country.
During the year word was received from a German brother
and his wife who had fied from Germany and were endeavoring
to eke out an existence at Santa Ana. He had
learned the truth from portions of a booklet which he had
found in a German concentration camp. Although without
the companionship and encouragement which comes frOm
association and study with others of like precious faith, this
brother steadfastly continued to preach the Kingdom gospel.
He found that many of the people well recognize that
Catholicism leads the wrong way, but, even desiring the
word of God, they still reject the truth. The pressure of
opinion, fear and the difficult conditions rob them of the
will to hold to that which is to their greatest welfare. In
due time this brother was denounced by the Catholic priest
and he was immediately compelled to leave the country.
Although interested persons are difficult to find, the "sheep"
are making themselves manifest. Recently a soldier went
to visit some of the brethren who lived in a nearby town.
'l'he brethren gave him a witness concerning the Kingdom,
to which the soldier listened attentively with an open heart.
He was given literature to read. When he returned to the
barracks he began to study the literature openly and a
lieutenant caught him doing so. After examining the literature
the lieutenant handed it back and told the soldier It
would be harmful. Later a corporal, an official guard, a
captain of the barracks and a judge all endeavored to interfere
with this soldier's reading of the literature. Later they
took the literature he had placed In his suitcase and threatened
him. The soldier was forced to go to the home of one
of the brethren to continue his studies until he was trans·
ferred to another town.
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