My Kingdom Hall Beard

by Amazing 14 Replies latest jw friends

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  Bonnie_Clyde

  In the early 70's we had a drama depicting Joseph and his brothers. Clyde was asked to represent "Dan." Dramas were fairly new at the time and our congregation was buzzing with activity, creating costumes and fake beards for the brothers. Clyde decided to grow his own beard, and did he ever get the flack. He finally capitulated and shaved it off before the drama, but in the meantime he got all kinds of counsel about not stumbling the brothers and the people in the territory. I remember commenting that the brothers were supposed to dress and look like business men, that Clyde's beard was neat and well trimmed, and that there were well-known businessmen in the area who wore beards.

  Clyde was removed from his servant's position in the early 80's because of low hours, and after that he has grown a beard on several occasions--usually in the winter. He never keeps it more than two or three months. He has one right now. I really like it--I call it the Hemingway look.
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  Mulan

  My husband worked for two months in Japan in the Winter of 1997, during our fade out. While he was gone he grew a beard, and it looked great. He is a redhead, so the beard was full and red, and well groomed. When he returned we still attended meetings about once a week. At the first one, there was a mixed reaction to the beard. Some loved it and some hated it. Most assumed he would shave it off soon.

  Over the years many of the brothers who worked in construction, would go to Alaska to work (we live in Washington State, so it was common to go there for part time work for a few weeks or a month or two). They would all come back with a beard, saying everyone in Alaska has a beard. That may be, but it isn't true at the KH, as we learned later from people who would move here from Alaska. Anyway, they would come to the KH with the beard, and after a week or two they would shave it off. No one at the KH saw it as a big deal, and it was tolerated because they WOULD shave later on.

  Dave kept his for several months. We went to a large get together, with several congregations a few months later, and one of his old friends from his teen years, came up and chastised him about the beard. She was an old close friend, a sister, and a long time pioneer. She also happened to be the one who studied with him when their family was coming in back in 1960. I guess she felt she had the right to tell him to get rid of it. He just smiled and told her he was going to keep it. She was visibly pissed!

  He shaved it during the Summer, saying it was hot and itched. He grew another one a few years ago and kept it for many years, but shaved last year. I like his looks better without, but he did look good. It was getting pretty gray, and people told him he would look younger without it. That was all he needed.

  This photo was taken almost two years ago, with our two eldest sons. They are tall!
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  Abandoned

  Kudos Amazing. While I believe we part ways on the importance of religion, I applaud your excellent writing style and your unfailing determination to assist people in avoiding or escaping the dysfunctional watchtower. Good job!
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  deaconbluez

  OH NOES! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT HAVING A BEARD WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE DESTROYED AT ARMAGEDDON???!!!
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  Neon Bible

  According this Watchtower art, you can survive armageddon or be resurrected into paradise with a mustache if you re a black man.

  

  

  ... Even sooner, at the Kingdom Hall back room, those who do submit to the WT will have facial hair cut off. (Eyebrows are still acceptable unless we give you new light)