The following is a list of things going on at that time.
- Witness kids quitting school to pioneer.
- Witnesses ignoring Medical and Dental problems because the end was so close.
- Debt was incurred by many JW's who thought they'd never have to pay it and saving for the future was sign of your lack of faith.
- People were quitting jobs and selling homes to Pioneer out the remainder of the old system (including mine)
- The placement of tracts rather than magazines was instituted because the end was so near. Tract #3 was supposed to be the last one before the end.
- The JW's in Malawi Africa were under persecution for not buying a political card. (unknown to us all, the Watchtower Society belonged to the U. N.) There was a mass letter writing campaign to (Hastings?) Banda the ruler of Malawi.
- Russia was still a threat and it was taught that they would play a key part in Bible fulfillment about the end.
- There was an energy crisis/Gas shortage....people were lining up for gas that cost almost a dollar. This surely had to be the end.
- Jacques Cousteau was predicting there would be no life left in the sea by the year 2000.
- No colored shirts on the platform. No skirts higher than the middle of sisters knees, No sideburns or moustaches.
- Organ transplants were considered cannibalism by JW's.
- People were rehearsing at meeting, how to go undercover with the preaching activity and meetings during the Great Tribulation.
- The Book Study group meeting was called the "Rendezvous " and was to be our lifeline during the Tribulation.
- Due to the closeness of the end, interested ones would not be studied with longer than 6 months if they weren't progressing enough to reach the point of baptism.
- You could be publically reproved if you broke off your marriage engagement .
- Assemblies were 8 days long and were held from 9 AM to PM.
- Several new books were introduced at each assembly...each was considered ground breaking.
- The assemblies served full hot meals.