Special seating for children at an assembly

by Bonnie_Clyde 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Bonnie_Clyde

  As I was reading an article in a 1941 WT about the 15,000 children from ages 5 to 18 sitting in a special section at the assembly in St. Louis, I had a sudden flash of memory. There was a more recent assembly where they asked the children to sit in a special section because they were directing a talk at the young people. More I think of it, it might have when when they were releasing the "Young People Ask" book, and that was in 1989. If that was the year, my son was age 15. I tried to get him to move to that section and he refused. I didn't get upset with him, and now I'm really glad he didn't.

  It makes me wonder if there were any children at that assembly in 1941 who refused to participate. What galls me about that the Judge asked, "All of you...children who have agreed to do the will of God and have taken your stand on the side of his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus and who have agreed to obey God and his King, please stand up." (The children before him arose as one body.) "Behold, more than 15,000 new witnesses to the Kingdom." "All of you who will do what you can to tell others about God's kingdom and its attending blessings, please say Aye." (Cry, "Aye!") (Applause) That's when they introduced the "Children" book which counselled them not to get married until after Armageddon. And children as young as 5 were asked to show their dedication to the organization.

  Two of my children are out of the Borg. I have a daughter who is still in and don't think she will ever change.

  Love, Bonnie
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  garybuss

  I've read the "Children" book. It should have been named the "NO Children" book. The staged hype at the book's release at the assembly and the actual book's contents are a contradiction. The book said Witnesses shouldn't be having children while the book was released to the children.
  
  I was born in 1944. Apparently my parents didn't heed the book's directions.
  
  
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  BluesBrother

  I do remember the more recent District Assembly when all the young ones were asked to sit in a certain area, I was at Twickenham, London . I think you are right in saying that it was the release of "Young People Ask", I was already grown up though.

  A young lad who sat there told me that everybody behaved impeccably - probably expecting something more than another study book!
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  Elsewhere

  What galls me about that the Judge asked, "All of you...children who have agreed to do the will of God and have taken your stand on the side of his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus and who have agreed to obey God and his King, please stand up." (The children before him arose as one body.) "Behold, more than 15,000 new witnesses to the Kingdom." "All of you who will do what you can to tell others about God's kingdom and its attending blessings, please say Aye." (Cry, "Aye!") (Applause)

  This is the very definition of High-Control Cult Behavior. Seriously, how many children, or even adults, would have the self confidence and will power to remain seated in such a high-pressure situation?
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  luna2

  Makes me shiver. I would probably have forced my kids to go up there in the height of my dubdom. I haven't decided yet if the Judge's in-your-face control techniques were worse than the underhanded, sneaky, double-tongued crap they pull now or what.
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  TresHappy

  I remember Joan Cetnar telling me about that. She was one of the 15,000 in 1941. She was about 5 - she remembers that horrible speech that went along with it.
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  geevee

  They made the children to about aged 18 sit in a special section for the release of the "Your Youth, How to get the Best out of It" c1976
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  Bonnie_Clyde

  I don't remember special seating in 1976, but will ask my other son who was 9 years old that year. Maybe he'll remember.
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  MinisterAmos

  Sitting them all together away from the parents made it easier to cut the pretty ones out of the herd for "special attention" by the leaders
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  blondie

  I remember young people up to 20 being asked to sit in a special section at the DC for the release of the red Your Youth book. Lyman Swingle gave the talk at the convention I was at. I was too old to sit in the group.

  Blondie