Reporters noticed the large numbers of youthful delegates who attentively listened to the program and helped with whatever work needed to be done. In its issue of July 17, 1970, the Straubinger Tageblatt (Straubinger Daily Paper) had this to say: “The large number of young Jehovah’s witnesses is especially outstanding. There is hardly a religious group in our cultural society that would be able to cause young people to sacrifice their free time for the propagating of their teaching and to readily agree to camping cots and air mattresses merely to be able to listen to the words of a preacher. In reply to the question, why they do this, a young man of 20 said: ‘Because we are interested in our faith​—and besides, we were trained to do so.’”

The head of the building commission in Straubing, after inspecting the various installations at the assembly site, told his colleagues: “That is an organization without compare and one with unity. Go and see for yourselves. And above all, take note of the words on the stage.” He referred to the assembly theme​—“Men of Goodwill” District Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

When asked by a Witness how he would explain the fine orderly functioning of the organization, an official of the Essen police department declared: “It must be God’s spirit that makes this possible.”

At Mannheim, where cafeteria and sanitation facilities had to be provided for German, English and Greek delegates, the head of the health department observed, after inspection: “Nothing can go wrong at this convention; this is not merely a routine affair but rather the right spirit is at work here.”

The head of the night watch at the exhibition halls at Stuttgart exclaimed: “Look at this! There were 7,000 persons in this hall and only this little pile of garbage!”​—eight cups and six candy wrappers. The officials were all the more impressed since after a gathering of 5,000 non-Witnesses at the same site an entire truckload of litter had to be disposed of.

The administration of the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen waived stipulations generally included in the contract because, as the official stated: “Jehovah’s witnesses are quiet and patient people. We only make up this type of contract with Jehovah’s witnesses, but with no other organization.”

Also impressed was a friendly lady in Friedrichshafen who provided accommodations for ten persons. She was asked what caused her to take in two families. Her reply was: “What I observed about Jehovah’s witnesses is that you are happy people. You must also lead happy married and family lives because we always see you with the entire family. This is certainly only possible because of your faith.”