by headmath 6 Replies latest watchtower scandals
http://www.touchstoneforum.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.pl?az=printer_format&om=257&forum=DCForumID6
I found the memorial attendance for the following years from the above site
1914 - 18,243
1919 - 21,411
Apparently there was a peak in memorial attendance in 1916(I think it was old "old hippie" who said that)
The attendance from 1914 to 1919 seems to be steadily increasing, so how was there a peak in 1916? Is this just another WTS coverup?
or maybe the "princes" have returned and thus the numbers are going up. I sure there is a good reason for it, just give them time to come up with an answer.
*** jv chap. 33 p. 717 Continuing to Keep on the Watch ***
Memorial Attendance and Partakers
Before 1932, available figures for Memorial attendance are often incomplete. At times, only groups of 15, 20, 30, or more were being included in totals published. Interestingly, most years for which any figures are available show that at least some of the attenders were not partakers. By 1933 the difference was about 3,000.
Year Att. Part.
1935 ...... 63,146 ... 52,465
1940 ...... 96,989 ... 27,711
1945 ..... 186,247 ... 22,328
1950 ..... 511,203 ... 22,723
1955 ..... 878,303 ... 16,815
1960 ... 1,519,821 ... 13,911
1965 ... 1,933,089 ... 11,550
1970 ... 3,226,168 ... 10,526
1975 ... 4,925,643 ... 10,550
1980 ... 5,726,656 .... 9,564
1985 ... 7,792,109 .... 9,051
1992 .. 11,431,171 .... 8,683
or maybe the "princes" have returned and thus the numbers are going up.
Actually the WTS has taught that the princes were always people who would live on earth, not part of the 144,000. Initially, they were considered to be people like Abraham, David, Moses, etc. Since 1950 the WTS doctrine is that the princes are the elders/overseers in the congregation.
That was what I was getting at ... that the princes were those mentioned in the Divine Plan of Ages (or Apes whichever you prefer). So the congo is filled with Moses, Abram, etc
1914 - 18,2431919 - 21,411
Apparently there was a peak in memorial attendance in 1916(I think it was old "old hippie" who said that)
The attendance from 1914 to 1919 seems to be steadily increasing, so how was there a peak in 1916? Is this just another WTS coverup?
I have no idea for sure, but this sounds like a plausible theory;
Attendance increased from 1914 to 1916, with a peak in 1916.
In this time period, the Bible Students were primarily a US religion. In 1917 and 1918, the US was involved in World War I, there was the "persecution" of having the directors of the Society thrown into prison, CT Russell died in late 1916 leaving them "rudderless" for a while, etc. So the attendance dropped then.
By 1919, Rutherford & his cronies were out of prison. Rutherford took full control of the Society, World War I was over, so there was a rebound from the low attendance of 1917 & 1918.
Sound reasonable?
lg, the WTS had 1925 as the target date of when these "princes" would show up and start ruling from Jerusalem on earth. The anointed were supposed to go to heaven then and rule over the earth..........no Moses, David, or Abraham in 1925.........lost a lot of members then.
Blondie
