...which is just one of the interesting facts discussed in this essay on the history of singing in the JW religion.
Rutherford banned singing at the meetings in 1938 - Knorr reintroduced it in 1944
by slimboyfat 19 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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blondie
*** w97 2/1 pp. 26-27 Music’s Place in Modern Worship ***
In 1938 singing at congregation meetings was largely dispensed with. However, the wisdom of following apostolic example and direction soon prevailed. At the 1944 district convention, F. W. Franz delivered the discourse “Song of Kingdom Service.” He showed that songs of praise to Jehovah were offered by God’s heavenly creatures long before the creation of man and said: “It is proper and pleasing to God for His earthly servants to lift their voices in literal song.” After developing the argument for singing in worship, he announced the release of the Kingdom Service Song Book for use at the weekly service meetings. Then the December 1944 Informant (now called Our Kingdom Ministry) announced that other meetings would also include opening and closing songs. Singing once again became a part of Jehovah’s worship.
*** jv chap. 16 p. 241 Meetings for Worship, Instruction, and Encouragement ***
Although singing in local congregations was largely dispensed with in about 1938, it was revived again in 1944 and continues to be a significant feature of the congregation meetings and convention programs of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- ^ The Watchtower, May 1, 1938, p 139, "At all study meetings...the one presiding at the study might well, as a prelude to the meeting, briefly state God’s purpose which is now being performed... two minutes might well be devoted to such at the beginning of all meetings for study [by] the one presiding... A few words like the above pronounced at the beginning of the study would be far more beneficial than to occupy the same time in singing songs, which often express much that is out of harmony with the truth"
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transhuman68
Available in PDF...
http://archive.org/details/KingdomServiceSongBook
funny to think of all those Witnesses singing almost 70 years ago...
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Quarterback
WTH....I thought Rutherford was fond of the Hymm, "Amazing Grace", His favourite part in the song was, "That saved a w retch like me".
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OnTheWayOut
JF Rutherford was probably tired of people laughing at him slurring his words when singing while drunk.
No, it was probably part of making things outside of the cult feel demonistic. Bringing in their own songs sealed the deal.
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whathappened
I learn something new all the time from this site. Very interesting.
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AndDontCallMeShirley
It's easily explainable:
God didn't like music from 1938-1944.
When he changed his mind and decided he liked music again, he let WT know.
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mP
So please tell me the difference between islam and the JW ?
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Phizzy
Only the size of membership mP !
The present day singing in K.H's should be banned, it is offensive to the ear of anyone who loves real music.
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sir82
God didn't like music from 1938-1944.
Have you heard the new songs? Evidently he still doesn't!