gumby,
Here are the relevant quotes:
*** w55 7/1 397 Visiting Jehovah's Witnesses in Mexico and Central America ***
Here Jehovah's witnesses of northern Mexico assembled in the first of four district meetings in the nation. "Bienvenidos" (Welcome), in large neon-lighted letters, graced the ball park used. Certainly all in attendance at this fine assembly felt welcome as they listened to the series of talks covering a wide range of subjects. In Mexico no public advertising can be done, so only those invited or Society members may attend.
*** yb95 176-8 Mexico ***
Registration With Government Authorities
On May 23, 1930, the Society's branch office made application to the Secretariat of Government to register the International Bible Students Association. Among the basic objectives set out was the following:
"That the International Bible Students Association has the objective of spreading, by every means possible, the principles and truths that contribute to the refinement of all social classes, but especially of the lower class, pursuing the elevation of its status economically, as well as morally, mentally and physically."
Reference was made on the application to the fact that, in pursuing its goals, the Association distributed printed material besides making use of other means of communication, that it arranged for public lectures in which subjects were examined in the light of the Bible, and that it organized classes for study. At that time the Mexican government was trying to put an end to religious fanaticism as well as to the ignorance that breeds it. For this reason, the application emphasized the educational aspects of our work. Regarding the nature of the religious activity of the Association, Part "e" of the Second Clause stated:
"That its members have a deep reverence, and by word and deed they give praise to the Creator of heaven and earth, Jehovah God, and express their sentiments without the use of rituals and ceremonies, etc., but only by arguments and reasonings that convince and satisfy the heart, being irreconcilably anticlerical and opposed to the control of the conscience and the bridling of reason." Following that, it was unequivocally stated that we "do not form a religious sect," and eleven points were cited in support thereof.
On June 2, 1930, we received an answer from the Secretariat of Government that said: "This Secretariat authorizes the operation that was solicited for the International Bible Students Association, as long as said association does not violate what is decreed in laws dictated on the matter of religious worship and external discipline . . . "
Later, on December 14, 1932, a new application was filed, to change the name from International Bible Students Association to Sociedad de la Torre del Viga (Watch Tower Society), without changing the precepts that had already been stated. However, additional clarifying paragraphs were added, including the following:
"We do not take any part in politics. We believe that Jehovah [is] the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and that the Bible is his Word that reveals his purposes for the human race. That he has promised to establish his government and authority over the earth, under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we are already in the time of the establishment of this government, which will be for the happiness of all nations of the world."
Another paragraph further stated the neutral position of the Society. The Ministry of Government acknowledged receipt of the application on December 20, 1932. Thus, over 60 years ago the legal agency used by Jehovah's Witnesses was registered with the Mexican authorities. In harmony with the objectives set out at that early date, the preaching of the good news has spread throughout the country.
*** yb95 201 Mexico ***
It was to be expected also that the adversary would become frantic and would go to any extreme to impede the entry of our brethren. In August 1943, the Society informed us that if we could obtain the necessary permits for their entry into Mexico, about 30 of these instructors (Gilead graduates) would be assigned to work in Mexico.
"Every effort was put forth by us to obtain the permits, but an unbelievable number of obstacles presented themselves to prevent the entrance of these instructors into Mexico. We had practically given up, thinking Jehovah willed otherwise, when Brother Knorr arrived here in February of this year. He refused to take 'no' for an answer and made some special arrangements, and lo, the 'impossible' was accomplished! In March the barriers were let down to admit Brother and Sister Anderson, and shortly thereafter, in April, seven more Theocratic instructors, graduates of Gilead's first class, were admitted into the country."
*** yb95 232-3 Mexico ***
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Mexico
The organization of Jehovah's Witnesses has always operated along the same basic lines in Mexico as in other parts of the world. Also, since 1931, the brothers have individually identified themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. Yet, for many years, in Mexico, it was necessary for the organization to function as a civil and educational society, as explained earlier.
However, during the decade of the 1980's, changes began to take place. Government representatives repeatedly visited some of our meeting places and insisted that they be registered with the government as places for religious meetings and that these become federal property. On the other hand, it became more and more difficult to rent public places for our conventions and assemblies because the authorities insisted that the law prohibited religious meetings in public places.
This led to meetings with government representatives in 1988. We learned that the authorities, even though they had no complaint against our organization as to comportment, felt considerable distrust because of what others had told them about our organization and our attitude toward the national emblems. Furthermore, they had the idea that our organization operated underground since the meeting places could not be easily identified. At our meetings with the authorities, they received an ample witness as to the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Our position of Christian neutrality was made clear, also our respect for government authority, balanced with insistence on refraining from what to us is idolatry. The conclusion drawn from these interviews was that our organization should operate openly as the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, even if it meant that all of our meeting places would become government property. This would allow the authorities to get better acquainted with our work, and this, we felt, should have positive results. Even so, there was no solution regarding how we would be able to hold large conventions.
In 1989, with the approval of the Governing Body, a letter was written to all the "companies" saying that as of April 1, we would be operating in Mexico as a religious organization. Afterward, in the June issue of Nuestro Ministerio del Reino (Our Kingdom Ministry), which was changed from being called Informador (Informant) de la Torre del Viga, further details were given. From then on, the Bible would be used from door to door, and prayers would be offered at meetings. Later, we began to sing songs at the meetings.
Farkel
