The BIG YELL at the KH

ZazuWitts

I was about age 12, already bored with the routine of Sunday talks, and the 'Tower' study. I had had about two years worth of enduring the repetitive meetings, as a consequence of my parents' conversion.

One Sunday turned out to take a decidedly exciting direction. We were at the KH early in order for my MS stepdad to tend to his duties before the 3:00 public talk.

Imagine everyone's surprise when a minister of 'Christendom' walked into the Kingdom Hall. He was still attired in his Sunday service garb, collar and all. Everyone's eyes were 'bugged' out, for sure. A total hush fell over the place.

The PO approached the minister; it turned out he was interested in purchasing the NWT and an interlinear translation. Money changed hands and the minister even offered a further donation, due to the modest cost that was requested for the materials. He was pointed to the contribution box at the rear of the KH and I saw him place money in it. The PO asked if he would like to stay for the public talk, and surprisingly the minister accepted.

I'm telling you, it was quite a novelty and many people, were turning in their seats to watch the gent sitting there and even looking up scriptures.

At the end of the public talk, the minister appeared about to leave the KH - but when he passed the library decided to enter. The WT study proceeded, but people were often turning to look back and see the man still in the library.

After perhaps 20 minutes or so had passed, the PO arose and went back to the library.
There was the faint sound of normal conversation that could be heard. Then one voice got louder, it was our PO. The mic handler turned up the volume...now you know what that is like...people were commenting accompanied by 'squeaks and squeels.'

The PO got even louder, truly yelling, yet the minister never once raised his voice.
Two or three other MS's went back and entered the library. A brief few minutes of quiet followed - then more YELLING by ALL of the JW's. Not once did the minister truly raise his voice during all of this.

The minister got up to leave and offered his hand to the JW's - only one of them shook it, and I'm sure later regretted that he did because his own daughter later informed me that he had been chastized for doing so.

The Tower study resumed, but afterwards the congregation was asked to stay for a bit. All of the men that had been in the library, then met privately for a short conference.
Then the PO took the stage, with a still sweat-beaded brow, and led us in a short prayer. When he finally addressed us about all he had to say was that Satan finds many ways to deceive, and that the minister was Satan's tool, one who wanted to deny the 'truth' and persecute Jehovah's followers. Whooo, scary, and we all sat there nodding our heads in agreement. What puppets we were.

That was definitely the most excitement ever in our stodgy, 'anointed-filled' KH. Once a drunk staggered in during the TMS after leaving a local bar, shouting "Jesus Saves."
He was quickly, but gently, escorted out.

But the big YELL, was a topic for car-groups for a long, long time...of course, with the proper JW spin put on it...and don't you know it was the JW's who were definitely essentially 'whispering' and the demon-inspired minister who had been engaging in the yelling. So, funny because my one good friend in the congo and I used to wager as to when Brother 'B', a library participant, would bring up the big YELL story to a car-group of newer publishers. At that point, he definitely had his own unique take on the incident. Why, he hadn't been able to say anything at all while in the library, because he had 'laryngitis' - forgetting altogether that he was the one who gave the public talk that day! All he had been able to do what offer silent pleas to Jehovah to rescuse them from this spawn of Satan. LOL

David Gladden

I always noticed that when someone new arrived unexpectedly, they were always met with eyes of fear and concern. People were always reluctant to approach or talk to them, leaving that to the elders. Everyone would always freeze with the thought: “Oooooo! A worrrrdly person!” like a dear caught in headlights.

Celia

Did you ever learn what this big yell was about ?

Angharad

It was great when things like that happened, when you were little (or grown up for that matter), just relieved the boredom for a while.

BritBoy

I remember an incident when I brought my boss to the meeting and he was a smoker. He was standing outside the KH smoking his fag shaking hands with all who walked past him... I remember at the time thinking how funny this was as the horrified faces tentatively shook hands with the man while maintaining eye contact with his fag! I was counselled after he left for "allowing" him to smoke! He did not know any better and I was 18 at the time, I had explained to him that he should not really smoke at the hall, but I guess he took that to mean he could not smoke inside! LOL... something as silly as a ciggy can cast such FEAR into their hearts (and faces)

I also remember a blazing row between two MS's over something. The one was a new Bethelshite and he was an arrogant little shit, honestly thinking himself gods gift to all. He was an expert at throwing ALL his toys out his cot if he did not get his own way! What a turd he was... anyway, he got into a huge row with a really sweet MS and the arrogant little shit was to blame for the argument, but he got told to go outside and calm down, while the other bro was taken off into the *shudder* Back Room where he emerged a few minutes later very shaken. I found him in the loos during the meeting sobbing his heart out. This bro was NOT a Bethelshite... Mmmmmmmm

Coonts

Brit

They wouldn't have made the cane if you weren't meant to break the rules!

ZazuWitts

David,

"Deer in headlights" is a good description. In fact, at least in our congregation, it seemed that if even a JW just walked it, unless the person was known by someone, people were quite suspicious; there was quiet murmuring, 'who are they,' 'does anyone know them,' and my favorite 'why are they here?' Mind you, this was during the time when we would leave a leaflet with people at the door inviting them to a 'free public talk.'

I recall a time when two extremely attrative young women showed up at our KH; they were on their way to Florida, had exited the highway just to make a Sunday meeting. They stood around the coatroom for many minutes, finally took the initiative and introduced themselves as sisters from an area a few hours north of us.

The married women in our congregation were staying close to their husbands that day - you see we had had a couple of brothers that had gotten involved with younger sisters, quite the scandel.

Celia, I was never privy to extactly what went on in the libary, only knew that it stemmed from questions the minister had from listening to the public talk. He apparently had the audacity to voice his own thoughts on scriptual interpretatin of some JW belief. I don't remember what the talk was about that day...too distracted by all the excitement I think.

C

ZazuWitts

Angharad,

So, true any little thing that could break the boredom, was a good thing.
Haha, when I was starting to nod-off during a meeting, I used to pray that a minister would happen in and cause another round of excitement.

Brit-Boy, that was funny about your boss smoking outside the KH. Yes, I can just imagine they held you responsible for his actions.

We had one truly eccentric sister that believed cigarette smoke could enter the pores of your skin and cause a demon visitation??? At any rate, if she was exposed to cig smoke, she would insist on returning home quickly, convinced a quick shower would avert the old demons. Then she would prance about naked to 'air' her pores...'because demons don't like fresh air'. Her husband once told this and commented, "It ain't a pretty sight." It was the very first time I heard that expression.

barry

Dear ZazuWitts,
I studied with the witnesses for 6 mths, however when I was first invited to the KH on memorial night I asked my minister to come with me. At first he wasnt sure but then he agreed to come. The meeting explained how only the 144000 could receive the elements etc. After the meeting the guy who invited asked me why I had brought Ross along but the elders got on with Ross very well seems they new each other and we stayed back talking while almost everyone had left.
Barry

patio34

Thanks for sharing Zazu. But you know the minister's composure fit right in with the Bible, as 'Satan turns himself into an angel of light, so too his ministers. . .' The elders aren't the only ones who can twist scripture! LOL!

Pat

larc

Folks,

Zazu, my main sqeeze, brought this up to me in a discussion we had. It was about Danni's post. Several people did not believe that the elders could loose it like they did. That is what brought back to her mind, her own experience, which does demonstrate, that yes, those in charge can go ballistic.

You know, I have known that woman, old what's her name, for 40 years now, and she never told me that story before. Hmm, I think I will hang around for another 40 years. She is a damned interesting woman.

The BIG YELL at the KH

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