Hey, Country Girl,
Hi Blondie! Were those rules ever posted anywhere, or were they just rules for your own specific hall?
No these "rules" about having small groups meeting together to study the WT publications apart from the congregation arrangement were pretty pervasive in the Midwest. I can't speak for the east, west, south US or other countries. This was shortly after many were kicked out of Bethel for doing that and being found to be "apostates." Ray Franz was asked to leave about the same time and it was briefly announced in the KM.
August 1980 KM
p. 2 AnnouncementsThis is a notification that Raymond Victor Franz is no longer a member of the Governing Body and of the Brooklyn Bethel family as of May 22, 1980.
August 1980 KM
pp. 1-4 Branch Letter ***We are saddened to report at this time that five members of the Bethel family, and a few others in the New York city area have recently been disfellowshiped. There has been some apostasy against the organization and the promoting of sectarian divisions in some of the congregations of God’s people. (Titus 3:9-11) Living as we are in times difficult to deal with, it should not be surprising that such things occur. The first-century congregation also experienced deviations as we well know from our reading of the Holy Scriptures.—1 Tim. 1:20; 4:1; 2 Tim. 2:17, 18; 1 Cor. 15:12, 13; Acts 20:29, 30.
It is our hope that such ones will come to their senses, repent, and return to Jehovah’s organization which would be to their everlasting benefit.
This WT article appeared with this caution:
8/15/81 WT
pp. 28-29 Serving Jehovah "Shoulder to Shoulder14
From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude. They do not want to serve "shoulder to shoulder" with the worldwide brotherhood. (Compare Ephesians 2:19-22.) Rather, they present a "stubborn shoulder" to Jehovah’s words. (Zech. 7:11, 12) Reviling the pattern of the "pure language" that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the "sheep" away from the one international "flock" that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16) They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous "table" of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where truly there is ‘nothing lacking.’ (Ps. 23:1-6) They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendom’s festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones.—Matt. 24:11-13; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Pet. 2:1, 22.I wasn't addressing any issues regarding totally social occasions, though some have mentioned size of group, who was in charge, who would be there were "principles" provided by the WTS for the elders to control get-togethers. Actually, those principles started being enforced and emphasized before 1980 in a study article in 1977. Here is a "loving" example:
9/1/77 WT pg 524
How can one prevent social affairs from becoming worldly and, hence, spiritually damaging and divinely disapproved? Consideration must be given that those invited will not bring in an unwholesome influence.
Accordingly, Christians have the responsibility to keep clear of those whose conduct is open to serious question
We can ask ourselves the question, Is the occasion really bringing praise to Jehovah God? Usually upbuilding association can be enjoyed by all when social get-togethers are kept to a reasonable size, when care is exercised regarding who is invited and the Christian host conscientiously assumes full responsibility for what takes place. If, for example, a whole congregation enjoys a picnic together, elders would certainly want to use their influence for good. Of course, when social gatherings draw people indiscriminately from beyond the congregation, it is difficult, if not impossible, for elders to exercise healthful control of the group. Any who arrange for a social gathering should therefore keep this in mind and avoid circumstances that lend themselves to a lack of proper control and direction.
Blondie