HWGA 20

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Back to Table of Contents or perhaps forward to Chapter/Section 21?

Section 20 – Period of the Testimony from 1940 to 1944

The year 1940 saw the start of World War II in Europe, consequently Mr. Taylor stayed on this sid and took the load in more special meetings in the United States and Canada than in former years, and the number of visitors from abroad was somewhat limited too.

Mr. Joseph Dean visited Australia and New Zealand, and on leaving Auckland the ship that Mrs. Dean and he were on, SS “Niagara” was sunk, and they survived on a lifeboat. He writes of the dramatic rescue and experience. This happened about the middle of 1940.

In the year 1940, Arthur Petersen, of Westfield, an active brother who has been previously mentioned in connection with the Westfield matter in 1937, was put away on account of moral reasons. It was a hard blow to James Taylor as Mrs. Petersen, his daughter, was also involved in similar actions, but she was quickly restored.

There were no special meetings of a worldwide character held in the British Isles during the years 1940 to 1944.

The special meetings in the U.S. and Canada during these years and the other taking the lead follows:

  • Calgary, AB: 1940: F.I., 1941: J.T. Jr., 1942: A.E.M., 1943: A.B.P., 1944: S.McC
  • Knoxville, TN: 1940: S.McC, 1941/1943: J.T., 1942: J.D., 1944: J.T. Jr.
  • London, ON: 1940-1944: J.T.
  • Regina, SK: 1940: S.McC, 1941: J.D., 1942: A.E.M., 1943: A.N.W., 1944: J.T. Jr.
  • Montreal, QC: 1940/1941/1943: A.E.M., 1942: J.T. Jr., 1944: J.T.
  • Rochester, NY: 1940-1944: J.T.
  • Berkeley, CA: 1940: J.W.D., 1941: S.McC, 1942: J.T., 1943: J.T. Jr., 1944: A.E.M.
  • Minneapolis, MN: 1940: H.H., 1941: J.T. Jr., 1942: S.McC, 1943: J.T., 1944: A.N.W.
  • Detroit, MI: 1940/1942/1944: J.T., 1941/1943: A.E.M.
  • Vancouver, BC: 1940: J.D., 1941/1943: J.T., 1942/1944: A.E.M.
  • Toronto, ON: 1940/1942/1943: J.T., 1941/1944: A.E.M.
  • Winnipeg, MB: 1940: A.E.M., 1941/1942: J.T.
  • Seattle, WA: 1940: H.H., 1941: J.D.
  • Council Bluffs, IA: 1940/1942-1944: J.T., 1941: A.E.M.
  • Plainfield, NJ (1 day): 1940-1944: J.T.
  • Chicago, IL: 1940-1942: J.T., 1943/1944: A.E.M.
  • Los Angeles, CA: 1940/1944: A.E.M., 1941: J.T. Jr., 1942: S.McC, 1943: H.H.
  • Hamilton, ON: 1942/1943: A.E.M.
  • Victoria, BC: 1944: A.P.T.
  • Indianapolis, IN: 1941-1944: J.T.

As will be noted by the above, new cities took on the idea of three day special meetings. Mr. Myles remained on this side during the war and was very useful in his service. He made Montreal his home. During 1944 he, with other brethren, secured the recognition of conscientious objection to taking life by the Canadian government, and which meant the removal of many brothers from labor camps.

Prominent brothers who passed away during this period were as follows:

  • 1940: Dr. Charles Borden (Miami) & Arthur F. Moore (NY) & George Moore (Toronto) & Anton Nelson (Minneapolis) & Henry W. Evans (Westfield) & Thomas Bodwell (Los Angeles, out since 1925);
  • 1941: Ernest Pittman (Toronto) & John Thompson (Toronto) & David Truan (Los Angeles) & Jules Gronines (St. John) & George Harrison (Indianapolis) & Fred Dunham (Philadelphia) & John Bowen (San Francisco) & Charles Hiscock (Berkeley);
  • 1942: Andrew Steven (Plainfield) & Walter Bradshaw (NY), Austin Griffith (St. Vincent) & James Fraser (Los Angeles);
  • 1943: George Taylor (Chicago) & Reginald M. Hill (Hamilton) & Jacob Jensen (Council Bluffs) & George Grindley (Los Angeles) & John Barr (Los Angeles);
  • 1944: John Boyt (Des Moines) & Lewis L. Davis (Los Angeles)

The following changes as to new rooms and discontinued ones during the period were:

  • Peoria stopped, and Mr. Shirer went to Springfield
  • Indianapolis opened second room in 1940
  • Windsor, ON and Chili, NY stopped in 1941
  • Columbus, OH opened in 1942 (seceded from independent meeting)

The number of young men in the armed forces reached 102 in December 1944, of which 42 were overseas from New York, and 16 overseas from Pacific ports. Most of them served as privates, corporals or sergeants in Medical or Hospital units. Only John E. Smith (Washington D.C.) was a lieutenant.

1940 saw the worst air raids in England, and a dozen or more lost their lives, it also was bad in 1941. Park Street Room was badly damaged. Brethren in Australia sent money to have the room repaired.

During these years, Messrs. McCallum, Devenish, Hyldahl and James Taylor, Jr., came more into the service at special meetings. Mr. Hyldahl devoting nearly the whole of his time to the service.

Interest at Eugene, Oregon, became known to brethren late in 1940 after Mr. Keefe had attended meetings in Maywood. They were visited by Messrs. Dean, H. Hardwick, W.G. Hardwick, Potts, and Lidston, but drifted to open brethren.

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