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attendance with about 750 there most of the time, and more for the
Sabbath days. This was a 67% increase. Now that a NATIONAL
membership was attending, a gradual and steady increase continued.
1954 - attendance 1050 -- 40% increase
1955 -
"
1500 -- 43% "
1956 -
"
2100 -- 40% "
1957 -
"
2750 -- 31% "
1958 -
"
4000 -- 45% "
Since the first year at the present location, the yearly
increase has averaged 40% a year over the year before.
Now, suppose we continue to AVERAGE 30% a year increase,
which is less than the average has been for 14 years. The average
increase for 14 years has been 47%. Even this very year there was
a 45% increase. Many of our members think it will CONTINUE to
increase by not less than 30% a year.
IF THAT HAPPENS, just look at the astounding result: By
year after next--just two years in the ENLARGED Tabernacle, which
will seat 7,000, we would have 6,750 in attendance. We would have
to enlarge the Tabernacle again for the next Feast in 1961, when we
would have 8,800 attending. The year after that, 1962, attendance
would be 11,400.
Then, in 1963, there would be 14,800
" 1964, "
" " 19,200
" 1965, "
" " 25,000
" 1966, "
" " 32,500
" 1967, "
" " 42,250
" 1968, "
" " 55,000
" 1969, "
" " 71,500
" 1970, "
" " 93,000
" 1971, "
" " 121,000
" 1972, "
" " 157,000
Does that take your breath? IT DID MINE! No use figuring
any farther--for if our calculations are right, 1972 will probably
be the last year of this great work--we will then have to be taken
to a place of safety by God's divine power, or suffer the Great
Tribulation. This is figuring into the future as far as it is in
the past. In the past we have AVERAGED 47% increase per year. This
is figuring a 30% per year increase for the NEXT 14 years.
But I do not believe the attendance will continue to
increase even by 30% a year. I expect to see the PERCENT of
increase begin to slacken off somewhat from now on, until
attendance finally levels off. It is very possible that the
PERCENT of increase from now on might go something like this: 1959,
30%; 1960, 25%; 1961, 22% with 8,000 attendance; 1962, 20%
increase; 1963, 20%; 1964, 18%; 1965, 15% with 15,650 attendance;
1966, 10% increase; 1967, 7«%; 1968, 5%; 1969, 2«%, and levelling
off by 1970, with an attendance of about 20,000.
So--these calculations meant that WE MUST NOW HAVE THE
VISION TO PLAN AHEAD FOR AN AUDITORIUM THAT WOULD SEAT 20,000 or
more. The plan we have had in mind would go up to perhaps 15,000