Posting for Brother X
Petra!
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If you were a child during the years of 1960 to 1970, the question isn't; Do you remember these conventions? The question is; How could you forget? How could anyone who attended those conventions forget their legs going numb sitting on wooden chairs, sweat pouring off your forehead, and being forced to stay awake, while hearing that you should be doing more for God's kingdom.
Brother X was there as a child and remembers all too well being denied his sleep, and being forced to stay awake while the convention speakers went on and on about the theocratic organization.
Brother X progressed in his life and qualified for Bethel. He sat across from Ray Franz at the Bethel breakfast table and remembers Ray well. Some of you may recall these conventions, or perhaps even attended these grueling heat smoldering torture chambers. A child would certainly never forget them.
Memories of Maryland Conventions.
Brother X writes:
Around the 1960's
The 20th Century In Bible Prophecy
This was probably an invitation to the public talk on Sunday of a circuit assembly. Three days back then! This warehouse was an old tobacco auction house that has been torn down for decades now. This old place had squeaky wood floors and a big pile of tobacco leaves was in one corner.
We put up wooden folding chairs that were not the most comfortable to sit in. There was no heat or air conditioning and I remember it being as hot as hell there, and all I did was yawn the whole time. I was a small kid at the time. We were told not to touch the tobacco, but being a bratty kid I sampled some anyway. The stuff was very bitter and I spit it out.
The tobacco warehouse was so ancient, that there were four bathrooms; one for colored men, one for white men, one for colored women, and one for white women, and there were two water fountains.
Circuit Assembly Of Jehovah's Witnesses
1969 April 4, 5, 6, PROGRAM
At that time it was a three day convention. All day Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and field service. Sunday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and field service. The next year the new Assembly Hall was built nearby in Crownsville.
I was a nine year old kid at that time and got so tired. The next day I had to go to school and all I did was yawn. The teacher even noticed it and said out loud: “Mr. X you can stop yawning any time now”!
"1970 “Men of Goodwill”
District Assembly Of Jehovah's Witnesses
District Assembly Program
The following year the race track in Laurel MD. was used for a district convention. Four frigging nightmarish days of it. They had air conditioning but the unit wasn't made for a big crowd like that, so it was hot! If I had stayed there much longer, I would have started to believe in hell!
Anyone who went to these conventions remembers how exhausting it was, especially for growing children who needed their sleep. That schedule had no mercy and was exhausting even for a healthy adult.
Enjoy, from a person who was there and who will never forget!
Brother X