● Is it necessary for a woman to cover her head when conducting a home Bible study? When such a covering is or is not required is causing much discussion in our company.—P. W., Ohio.

She would not need her head covered for the conducting of a home Bible study, as it is not a congregational meeting, but one that she has arranged herself. It is not a case of her being appointed to conduct a congregational meeting. However, if her husband were to attend this home meeting, she would cover her head if she prayed at the opening or close of the study. This would harmonize with the instruction: “Every woman that prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames the one who is her head.”—1 Cor. 11:3-16, NW.

We view a head-covering necessary under two conditions: (1) when a sister receives an appointment through the congregation or theocratic organization to keep order and conduct congregational meetings, and (2) when she is married and must show submission to the one God has made head of the family, the husband. These two principles enable one to decide for herself the requirement of varying situations.

A few examples may aid in grasping these principles. In a company composed entirely of sisters, the Society appoints sisters to positions ordinarily held by brothers. When such sisters serve from the platform at congregational meetings, they will show recognition of the theocratic headship of the man and that they are serving in the man’s place only because circumstances require it. This recognition they show by wearing a head-covering, such as a hat or scarf or other suitable covering. Any sister conducting or presiding over a part of a congregational meeting should do likewise, whether she is a servant in the company or not.

While sisters presiding at the service meeting or Watchtower study or company book study wear head-coverings, other sisters who merely read the paragraphs in sum-up at such meetings, or who participate in demonstrations, or relate experiences, or answer questions from the audience, do not need to wear such a covering.

Sisters leading in prayer at congregational meetings should have their head covered. The woman’s hair is not sufficient as a covering. If it were, the question would never have been raised.

But when a sister finds interest in the field, follows it up and establishes a home Bible study of her own, she does not thereby become a conductor of a congregational meeting. Only if her husband is present must she wear a covering when she prays, for his presence brings into the matter the second principle, that of showing subjection to her family head. Of course, if the husband is in the truth he should do the praying, and if this is done then the sister, his wife, may conduct the meeting without head-covering.

In the case of prayer at mealtime, the man of the house should do the praying. If he will not do this for one reason or another, and calls on his wife, her head should be covered to show recognition of the theocratic principle of man’s headship in the family relationship. If her husband is not present, she may pray with uncovered head, just as she does in her individual prayers privately uttered. If the sister praying at mealtime is unmarried, having no husband as her head, she need wear no head-covering, whether she is in her own home or a friend’s home or a missionary home. Of course, in all instances if a brother is present he should pray.

So the matter resolves itself to this: Is it a congregational meeting where the sister is presiding or praying? If so she should have her head covered. If not a congregational meeting, does a husband-and-wife relationship exist for her to show recognition to his headship, if he is present? If yes, then she should have her head covered. She would not show this sign of subjection to another woman’s husband. Nor would a single sister or widow show this sign of subjection to another woman’s husband. Such unmarried sisters have no male head as does a married woman. The only time the single sister would concern herself about a head-covering is when she comes under congregational conditions calling for it.

This has been answered at some length, since it comes up often in the United States. It is no question in many lands, where women customarily go with heads covered or with veils. In view of all that has been said on this subject, we suggest that each sister henceforth decide for herself when the covering is required, doing what she conscientiously believes right in situations not specifically covered herein, but which can be determined on the basis of the principles herein set forth. If she is in doubt and unsettled in conscience over a particular situation, she should wear the covering to be safe and at ease in mind and in conscience.

Knowing now the principles involved, let us show Christian maturity and apply these for ourselves, conscientiously, and not have to ask others on every imaginable situation. The Society would soon be compiling a set of regulations as voluminous as the Talmud if it endeavored to prescribe specific rules for all the varying cases. In fallen man under Satan’s influence there is always the tendency to substitute rules for principles. It is so much easier to conform the conduct to a rule than to make a principle inform the whole life. Moses prescribed rules; Christ inculcated principles. Rules are for children; principles for men and women mature in Christian growth. So now show maturity in applying the principles herein given regarding head-covering, making your decisions conscientiously, and you will not properly be criticized by others.

Announcements

“WAY OF SUCCESS” TESTIMONY PERIOD

Diligently the world seeks for success. But to no avail, for it strives for fleeting, superficial things, for selfish gain. Actually success is measured in terms of living, life in happiness for all eternity to come. That is real success. But how does one get it? Joshua 1:7, 8 discloses the formula for success: loyal obedience to the Creator, Jehovah God, studying his Word, the Bible, meditating on it and then keeping it on our tongues by discussing it with others and informing them of it for their guidance to success. During the month of October, this sure way of success will be made clear to many thousands of lovers of righteousness by offering a subscription for the Awake! magazine for 1 year and 3 booklets, at the regular rate of $1.00. Prosperity not only for the reader but also for others is assured by gaining and then applying the information contained in that magazine. Write to us for further information and assistance.

WASHINGTON CONVENTION

The Society is planning to hold a convention in Washington, D. C., October 12, 13 and 14. The place will be Griffith Stadium, the home of the Washington American League Baseball Club. A number of the brothers that are attending the European conventions will be back by that time and the talks delivered at London will be given in Washington, including the public talk, “Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?” by the president of the Society. Announcements concerning the rooming committee address and how you can obtain rooming accommodations will appear in the Informant. For your information, the stadium is an open-air assembly place, and evenings in October will be cool. So you can arrange accordingly as to what you believe you will need in the way of wearing apparel. We feel sure the assembly will be as interesting as the one in London and as upbuilding as our recent district assemblies in the United States. Those who can arrange to attend should do their planning now.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL CORPORATION MEETING

This announcement supplements the regular notice which all the members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Pennsylvania Corporation) will receive by mail relative to the forthcoming annual meeting. Pursuant to the provisions of the Society’s charter the annual meeting of the members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society will be held on Monday, October 1, 1951, at ten o’clock in the forenoon. The registered office of the Society is the meeting place, and this is located in the Wabash Building, 410 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh 22, Pennsylvania. At this meeting the regular business of the Corporation will be transacted. Proxy forms will be sent by mail together with the notice of the meeting to all those who are members, and the proxies should be returned to the Society as soon as convenient. Some of the members will attend the meeting in person and some will not be there themselves. All, however, should return the proxies whether they will be in attendance or not. So after receiving the regular notice and proxy form, each member should fill out and mail his proxy to the office of the secretary of the Society, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 2, New York. We would like to have all the proxies in not later than September 15, 1951.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of October 7: Will the Stones Have to Cry Out? ¶1-24.

Week of October 14: Will the Stones Have to Cry Out? ¶25-30; also, Not Remaining Silent on the World’s Doom, ¶1-16.