The last time I posted information about the fall out of 1925 was on April 13, 2007. I think there should be some modifications on this.

Many friends in the early 20's thought that the end of the wicked world would end in 1925. When 1925 came and went some have left the organization. But how many? Opposers says that masses of friends have left the truth. Is this true? Also, the opposers main taget is the memorial attedance had dropped signifcantly and that is true but, the PUBLISHERS record says the opposite. I will let the reports do the talking.

Before 1920's, the main ones who were focusing on the preaching work were Colporteurs (now Pioneers). During the 1920's Joseph Rutherford stipulated that ALL of Jehovah's people should preach and not just Colporteurs.

That is why we are reminded what happened in 1922, in Cedar Point, Ohio. And that is "advertise, advertise, advertise, the king and his kingdom." The slogan ADV were everywhere at the convention. This slogan were NOT for Colporteurs ONLY, but for all of God's people and that is the same for today too.

So during the 1920's annual reports of the Bible Students ( now Jehovah Witnesses), we began to see the maturation of ALL of God's people preaching God's Kingdom. So the reports back then were at it early stages and had some webs in it. So the reports need to be adjusted year from year in order to find out who is REALLY the PUBLISHER of the Good News. And that was hard to do during this maturation period. So the numbers of publishers during the 1920's and early 30's was hard to get an accurate data.

But we must not forget that the Proclaimers book brings out on page 717, that: "The method of counting PUBLIHERS underwent a number of changes during the 1920's and the early 1930's". Also in his book "Between Resistance and Martyrdom" by Detlef Garbe brings on page 562, ft. 66,"... Even though the yearbooks of Jehovah's Witnesses during the 1920's list exact numbers of distributed publications, they generally do not include membership numbers..." and that is so true. Yet, there were increases of activities AFTER 1925.

According Proclaimers book on page 717, it has a chart that consist of activities of Jehovah's people worldwide in the 20th century. According to the lands of activites that were reported were.

1920 - 46 lands , 1925 - 83 lands, 1930 - 87 lands. So we can see here the amount of lands jumped considerably between 1920-1925, and it slow down considerbly between 1925-1930.

However, according to the chart, it has the activities of amount of Pioneers or Colporteurs at the same period of time. The report is: 1920 - 480 pioneers, 1925 - 1,435 pioneers, and 1930 - 2,897 pioneers. So we can see here the amount of pioneers went up considerbly every five years.

According to 1975, Yearbook p. 140, par. 2, brings out that there were 1,064, weekly workers in 1924. In the December 1, 1925, WT, page 358, there was an average of 1,089, weekly workers in the 1925. In the 1928, Yearbook page 47, there were 1,540, workers per week in 1926 and in 1927, there were 2,406 workers per week. These workers would refer to USA only. According to Proclaimers book p. 563, par. 3, it says: "... the average weekly number reported as sharing in field service in 1922 was 2, 712. But by 1924 the figure had dropped to 2, 034. In 1926 the average rose to 2,261, with a peak of 5,937 sharing during one week of special activity". On page 45, in 1928, Yearbook paragraph 2, brings out that there was a total INCREASE of production of books and booklets for 1927, over 1926, of 3,555,892, volumes.

In the 1929, Yearbook page 55, brings out that there were 866 Classes and 1928, there were 931 classes in USA. So we can see here some INCREASES. Also, in the 1929, Yearbook p.55, par. 1, In 1927, an average 18,602, and in 1928, 21,766 persons engage in the field.

Also, there is a chart in the 1930 Yearbook has a list of Regular Colporteurs [Pioneers] in USA during most of the 1920's. The Monthly Average of these are:

1922-23 - 364.3

1923-24 - 436.58

1924-25 - 438.91

1925-26 - 414.27

1926-27 - 376.40

1927-28 - 791.33

1928-29 - 1,131.67.

According to the chart on page 42, "The Trumpet Prophecy" 1975, by James Beckford is differant. On his chart, the number of Full Time Pioneers ( highest number of the year) in USA were:

1925 - 439

1926 - 414

1927 - 398

1928 - 1,183

1929 - 1,339

1930 - 1, 151


Right here we see a drop in 1926-27, according to the previous year, but it was not a major one. However, the year that (1927-2 the pioneer ranks double.

According to the same chart we see the list of Regular and Auxiliary Colporteurs [Pioneers]. The Monthly average were:

1922-23 - 676.33

1923-24 - 800.66

1924-25 - 756.66

1925-26 - 727.10

1926-27 - 706.90

1927-28 - 1,306.41

1928-29 - 1,766.75

Right here we see a small drop in 1926-27 according to the previous year, however the pioneer ranks almost double the year after.


Now let us shift away from USA and lets go to Germany. Was there growth there? There is a chart in the 1932, Yearbook page 128. One part of the chart brings out the subscribers to the Golden Age [Awake] magazine. The chart brings out:

1923 - 70,000

1924 - 175,000

1925 - 227,000

1926 - 280,000

1927 - 305,000

1928 - 310,000

1929 - 330,000

1930 - 345,000

1931 - 420,000


So we can see here a study amount of growth of subscribers of the Golden Age magazine through the years. In his book "Between Resistance and Martyrdom" by Detlef Garbe page 63, par. 2, brings out: "During the mid-1920's, because of the fluctuations, the total number of Bible students in Germany changed only insignificantly. In1926, the denomination had a membership of 22,535 organized in 316 groups in 1931 this number had increased to a total of 24,135 believers organized in approximately 395 groups..."

On page 63, of his book there is chart of Increasing memberships of the Hamburg, Germany Bible Students between 1909-32. The total amount of students between 1925-1932, in interesting, the list shows:

1925 - 470

1926 - 480

1927 - 493

1928 - 464

1929 - 401

1930 - 385

1931 - 430

1932 - 546

We see here that During 1927 - 1930, the number is lower by 108. However, the number jumped even higher during the next two years (1931-32) to 161 members. Why? There may be some factors behind those who left during the late 20's. They are:

1. Some moved.

2. Some left because the year 1925 didn't ended.

3. Some died.

What is interesting the numbers jumped significantly in the 1931-32, even during the time they were persecuted. (1974, Yearbook pp. 102-109).

In the 1933, Yearbook page 84, there is a chart for Central Europe in which it covers 10 countries. According to this chart there is a good amount of increase of placement of literatures during 1928-1932. Most likely here, if we see and increase placements of literatures, then most likely the publishers would increase too.

In England, there might be problem. Over there the workers are registered. The numbers are taken from a book by Timothy White "A People For His Name' p.285, chart 2. The numbers are:

1928 - 5,991

1929 - 5,643

1930 - ?

1931 - 5,033

1932 - 5,137

1933 - 5,403

1934 - 5,175

1935 - 4,820

1936 - 5,464

Why do we see a decrease in the late 20's and early 30's? What Timothy White failed to say is that: "During the 1920's and early 1930's, many brothers from Britian sought to expand their field of preaching by taking up missionary work in other lands..." 2000 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 71, par.3 under the subheading - International Moves-

Going back to USA. According too 1928, Yearbook on page 44. There is chart here regarding the production of literatures between 1920-1927. According to the chart there were an average production of 33,000, Volumes and Booklets per day during 1920-1927. During 1925-27, there were a production of 58,000, Volumes and Booklets per day. So we can see a good amount of increase here during the later part of the 1920's.

Here is what I see here. Usually if there is a BIG drop of publishers from 1925 and after (maybe for three to five years), and it would show in the publications, however I don't see it this way with this at that period of time. Yes some left, but how many? We don't know. Some did left, why?

1. The end didn't came in 1925.

2. In the March 1, 1925, pp. 67-74, WT had an article entitled; "Birth of the Nation" in which it brings out that instead of Christ began to ruled as king in 1878, it was 1914.

3. In 1927, the celebration of Chistmas was dropped.

4. In the November 15, and December 1, 1928, Watchtowers had a two part acticle stipulating that the Pyramid of Gizeh had nothing to do with true worship.

So we know that some left because the end didn't happened in 1925. Also, some left because there was changing of the teachings what Charles Russel taught.
When that happened some left and went to the splitter groups.





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Great information and just when I needed it! I copied portions of your post onto topix. It came in real handy

Gareth and All

Don't forget, I haven't complete this yet. I noticed one error I made and that is all the referance I referred to in 1927 YB was in the 1928 YB.