Does anyone remember a comment I think someone made here years ago, about the Society destroying old WT literature?
Apparently they wrote to congregations and explained so many new congregations had recently formed and did not have a well-stocked library; so they asked congregations to send their old WT literature back to Bethel, where it would be passed on to these new congregations.
But allegedly the old literature was all burned when it arrived in Bethel ...
Anyone else remember this, or is it a figment of my imagination?
See, this is the type of thing I heard over 25 years ago. I used to believe it. However, I now think that it's probably an urban legend, only it would be too far under Snopes.com's radar to bother about.
Unless someone has heard it directly from the Society itself (GB member, letter from one of the departments, etc. -- NOT "A friend heard" or "my brother says"), I tend to take that charge with a grain of salt.
Here's why:
Some assembly halls proudly display the old literature and Photo-Drama equipment in display cases. Lots of JW collectors get together to compare finds and to trade books and magazines and such, or scour the congregation for additions to their collections. There are collectors at various Bethels, including Wallkill, who make no effort to hide their collections from their superiors.
In fact, a newer problem for those in charge is dealing with unscrupulous JWs who dupe fellow JWs (especially the elderly "anointed") out of their books and magazines and tracts in order to resell them. I know of at least one JW in Europe who is currently facing disciplinary action for shady dealings on eBay.
I'm not at liberty to give details, but it's true. So they're definitely NOT burning their heritage.
The "Proclaimers" book is partly responsible for the upsurge in collecting. It provides lots of pictures and information about the older literature and other collectibles, and it also inoculates modern JWs against shock at finding things like 1874, not 1914, as the year of Christ's return, etc.
That's my take,
Cathy
oldlighthousebooks.blogspot.com
www.oldlighthousebooks.com
