We had an 82-year old P.O. who discouraged get-togethers among friends outside of meetings and service. I was a brand new, 29 year old elder at the time, and there were other elders in their 40s and 50s who would challenge him on it, saying we NEEDED to spend time together. He would say things like...
These folks get into TROUBLE at these get-togethers. Why, one time they were havin' Watchtower studies at each others' houses--and IMMORALITY BROKE OUT!!!
One of the elders who'd been around for awhile said...
Bob, that was ONE time in 1962...
I piped in, saying...
Yeah, I wasn't even born back then.
It didn't seem to faze him. He was usually a fun fellow outside of the meetings, but very RARELY came to any social gatherings. I always remember how he couseled two young sisters when we were both in a meeting with them. He was trying to emphasize the need to keep our mouths shut about sharing sensitive matters with other friends. He asked one of them...
"How many people have you told?"
"One."
Turning to the other, he asked, "How many people have YOU told?"
"One," she also replied.
Then he very seriously held up the index fingers of both hands so they were pointing up and together. He said, "You told one person, and you told one person. Now you know how many people know about it?"
They shook their heads...
With fingers still in the air, forming two numeral ones, he replied, "ELEVEN!!"
One time, when questioning a couple of young ones about whether they'd been involved in immorality while alone together in an apartment for a long time, he asked them...
"What are we supposed to think you two were doin' in there? Whittlin' little men outta wood?!"
