Well, at first there were 2, then there were 3, then there were five (by 1945).
b]History of the Weekly Meetings
Before 1922, it seems only 2 meetings were in place: the (Congregation Book Study) Dawn Circles and the Cottage Meetings (later changed to Service Meeting).
After 1922, the Watch Tower study was added, for a total of 3 meetings.
In 1943 the Theocratic Ministry School was added for 4 meetings.
In 1945 the Public Talk was added for a total of 5 meetings.
I’m a little hazy about the meetings before 1922.
1895--Congregation Book Study--“Dawn Circles”
After some of the volumes of Millennial Dawn had been published, these began to be used as a basis for study. In 1895 the study groups came to be known as Dawn Circles for Bible Study held on Friday evenings. Extracts from Brother Russell’s books were read aloud, and when persons had comments or questions, they raised their hands.” Brother Russell recommended that at such studies participants make use of a variety of translations of the Scriptures, marginal references in the Bible, and Bible concordances. The studies were often held with groups of moderate size, in a private home, on an evening convenient to the group.
1922--Watchtower Study
Group studies of The Watch Tower were first organized in 1922.
Questions were printed as an aid to study.
1922—Service Meeting (midweek Prayer, Praise, and Testimony Meeting or Cottage Meetings)
Prior to 1922, Jehovah’s servants customarily gathered for a midweek Prayer, Praise, and Testimony Meeting. It was an occasion for singing, giving testimonies, and engaging in prayer. But with the increased emphasis on house-to-house Kingdom proclamation, this gathering developed into the Service Meeting, which stresses the preaching work. Of particular help was the Bulletin, which contained field service instructions and “canvasses,” or testimonies, that could be used in the ministry. Today, Our Kingdom Ministry provides similar assistance, as well as guidance for weekly “Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples.”
April 17-18, 1943--Theocratic Ministry School
To set this new program into operation the Society arranged for the “Call to Action” Assembly April 17 and 18, 1943. Released was a new textbook Course in Theocratic Ministry. These meetings were held for an hour each week following one of their other weekly congregational meetings such as the service meeting.
January 1945--Public Talks
In January 1945 a worldwide public speaking campaign was inaugurated. Each speaker prepared his own discourse, but the Watch Tower Society ensured uniformity of presentation[/b] by selecting the subjects and furnishing one-page outlines for these hour talks.
And so it grew.