Circuit Assemblies in the "Good Old Days"

BluesBrother

Just been reminiscing about how C/A's have changed since we were young. I remember when they started Friday night in some rented hall , as well as the two weekend days. Saturday Morning was a brief session then field ministry (which only a few performed ) and Sunday sessions.

In the free time around the venue we just used to hang out socialising and eyeing up the girls. We would volunteer on food service and be given jobs like peeling spuds, making sandwiches or opening can after can of baked beans. There were a couple of chefs who produced meals on makeshift cookers hooked up to gas canisters (who ever heard of health and safety?)

The thing was was we learned to work together ,made friends, it was FUN !

Now they expect them to turn up ,shut up and listen..that's it.

The programmes were wildly interpreted by Circuit and District Servants , some of them turned them into hilarious amatuer dramatic shows. At least we remembered it !

Anybody else have fond memories of Albert Broad, John Blaney and more lately David Carter?

The present regime has the arrogance to believe that their programme is so wonderful that it is all the brothers want to experience. It misses the point entirely that the weekend was one of association, friendship and a sense of being a part of something .

cofty

Totally agree.

Huge break from Sat morning meeting for FS until it actually started on the afternoon. Loads of chatting (up) and walks into local town. When you were little it was down to the park in Hamilton beside the town hall.

Wasanelder Once

Paper hats, long aprons and washing large pots were the domain of the lucky kids in the district convention kitchen. There were long tables which attendees would stand at to have lunch. Those were seminal and fun days for a little cult member. Yes the conventions of the 60's were fun for only some kids. The books had more of an aura to them, the latest release was so anticipated. The convention was an event for fellow future survivors! Those kitchen and feeding jobs gave the less educated, and more practical men, who couldn't kiss ass to be an elder a purpose, a feeling of self worth and a value in the congregation. When they did away with that sense of community they doomed thosed people to drone status. Now the convention is about the speakers and their egos. So glad I endured only a few years of that slop.

fokyc

So true, I remember Bingley Hall, Cirencester in 1963 when I was a total idiot and decided to get baptised.

In some ways they seemed quite good times!

Shortly after was the great 8 day assembly at Twickenham, living in a tent beside the reservoirs.

scratchme1010

Anybody else have fond memories of Albert Broad, John Blaney and more lately David Carter?
The present regime has the arrogance to believe that their programme is so wonderful that it is all the brothers want to experience. It misses the point entirely that the weekend was one of association, friendship and a sense of being a part of something .

I have memories, not fond of them, but yes, back in the day the assemblies felt more "owned" by the JWs because there was a lot more work put into getting it all going. The meals were a full menu, there was socializing with people you didn't use to see more often (now with FB and social media that's not the case), the decorations of the assemblies had these complicated flower arrangements. Also, some people used to find thrilling the location for the upcoming meeting place. I also remember at the end, people in the congregations talking about the wonderful experience, charmed by the content.

I still hated them since I was more neglected than anything, so I used to make my own fun by bothering as much people as possible and getting away with as much mischief as I could.

konceptual99

The present regime has the arrogance to believe that their programme is so wonderful that it is all the brothers want to experience. It misses the point entirely that the weekend was one of association, friendship and a sense of being a part of something.

Whilst I agree with your point on the emphasis of the event having changed and that the social/community side of things has been pared back to a minimum through "simplification" over the years I would suggest that for those young ones currently in the organisation assemblies still represent fairly serious events in the social calendar as opportunities to scope around for likely romantic opportunities.

They are also still important to the R&F as markers of critical events to attend. They have not diminished in their import as clues as to the "spirituality" of individuals as to if you attend, are participating, volunteering, take notes or spew out nonsense about the event on your social media feeds.

steve2

In the sixties, I remember hearing the cobbled- together orchestra practising hour-after-hour in the hours before sessions began. It was not always pleasant to the ears!

There was also lots of tension.

My uncle was one of the brothers used over the years as a conductor - and he told me on the quiet that when he spent hours preparing to conduct and with the orchestra, other non-musical brothers criticized him for not putting the kingdom first - because he wouldn't go into field service on Saturday morning.

Eventually, orchestras were done away with and conductors were no longer needed. I know that change upset my uncle - but like the good JW he was, he just grumbled and carried on.

freddo

I caught the tail end of feeding lines and rented halls and Friday night entertainment. And David Carter was a highlight as both a Cricuit and a District overseer in his heyday.

blondie

We had a well trained conductor, high school orchestra/band teacher....He vetted all the players and we started practicing weeks before. Kept it small.

Food was great, brother in charge ran a large cafeteria for a large company. I learned a lot before the days of simplification. The profit from the food paid for the assembly expenses.

I still remember a demo at a circuit assembly in the mid 60's showed 2 people who had been resurrected into the new system, had been married to each other but no more. Were so happy about life there until they say "
flaws" in the process. Starting complaining too much, lightning flashed and they fell to the ground and then the lights went out. Then a disembodied voice said, "Don't let this be you brothers and sisters, if they could complain about Jehovah's provisions in paradise, are you complaining now?"

Finkelstein

It misses the point entirely that the weekend was one of association, friendship and a sense of being a part of something .

I would have to agree with the very reasons you make.

Assemblies were about eating together as a social engagement.

Right after the afternoon secession everyone scurried toward the cafeteria to have dinner together and it was fun to work in the kitchens preparing the meals.

Now JWS are told to bring their own food and sit in their designated seats.

Circuit Assemblies in the "Good Old Days"

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