by VM44 63 Replies latest watchtower scandals
weds
oh wow i just saw the money it is going for. well u never know, i set a price limit i'm willing to pay,and if they find a match, they send it to me. maybe I'll get lucky.
the marketplace is for used books, anyone can sell anything through it.
From the book's front flap:
$5.95
A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME
A HISTORY OF JEHOVAH'S
WITNESSES AND AN EVALUATIONby
Timothy White
Jehovah's Witnesses (the constitutional name uses a lower case "W") has been regarded as the fastest growing religion; it may also be called the most active. Because of the persistence of its door-to-door evangelism, the religion is known by name to almost everyone, but in most cases that is the extent of their knowledge. There have been many books written about the Witnesses, but most of them reveal prejudice: those by Witnesses being able to see no wrong; those by others, in most cases, able to see nothing right.
Timothy White, himself a Witness, has written the definitive history of this remarkable religion. He begins with its founder, Charles Taze Russell, in 1870, when followers of the movement were generally known as "Russellites". From its beginning the movement has been noted for its controversial stands and internal turbulence. Using the files of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, which is the corporate name, as well as researching books and publications pro and con, including the public media, Mr. White ha documented his book thoroughly.
(Continued from front flap)
Although Mr. Russell had his difficulties, his successor, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, was undoubtedly a more controversial leader, and projected an image of the Witnesses which has remained in the minds of most nonmembers. Judge Rutherford was frequently in court defending the right of Witnesses to defy the draft, to continue in the sort of preaching and proselytization the sect preferred, and to refuse to salute the flag. The Witnesses are still fighting in the courts for their right to refuse blood transfusions for themselves and their children. Rutherford's views on the rise of Fascism and his vitriolic attacks on the Roman Catholic Church are reported here, as well as his position on the Jews. Through the years Jehovah's Witnesses have equated their persecutions and intimidations with those of the first followers of Christ. Rutherford's successor is Nathan H. Knorr who has continued the Judge's basic ideas.
A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME, written with knowledgeability, in a lucid and concise style, and fully documented, should be read by all the members of the movement, and perhaps even more importantly, by all people of good will in the public, clerical and lay world. In a world becoming more conscious of a spiritual reawakening this is truly a MUST. Published by Vantage Press, Inc. 120 West 31st street, New York, N.Y. 10001
From the back cover:
About the Author
Timothy White has lived for most of his life in England and the British Commonwealth countries - Hong Kong, South Africa, Egypt and New Zealand. He now lives in California.
He is eminently qualified to be the historian of Jehovah's Witnesses. Raised in the movement, he entered the ministry in 1957, and has lectured publicly both in this country and overseas. In addition to the many years' experience he had gained as a minister, he spent two years in intensive research, covering all available sources, to write A People For His Name.
His secular training is also worthy of mention. He has studied at both British and American universities, gaining a B.A. from a California college, and an M.A. from Stanford University, where he expects to receive his doctorate in 1968. He taught literature at Stanford for two years.
He has published a long article on modern China, but A People For His Name is his first book.
VANTAGE PRESS, Inc., 120 W. 31 St., New York, N.Y. 10001
Amazing to think that I've personally read 2% of the entire circulation of that book...
VM44, thanks for the tid bits. Another idea too would be to contact the publisher or author and see if they would agree to a PDFization of the book... observador.
I have now returned the book, it is on its way back to the Sacramento College Library from where it came.
But, I have a photocopy of it now! all 400+ pages! :)
--VM44
The book's title is "A People for His Name"
I now believe that the word "His" in the title refers to Judge Rutherford!"
The JWs were a people for HIS name!
The people were deceived and deluded. Trapped in a Snare and a Racket of The Judge's creation!
--VM44
My understanding is Timothy White was a psuedonym for Anthony Wills. He went by Tony Wills and was originally from a British Commonwealth country...perhaps it was New Zealand or Australia...I can't remember now. Apparently there was a chain of stores called "Timothy White" in the country of his birth and he used that since it matched up to T.W. [Tony Wills]. I was told he lived in the Bend, Oregon area and taught English at Central Oregon Community College there. There was a listing for his name in directory assistance a few years back but I can't seem to find any trace of a listing now. I don't know if he is still living and my understanding is Mr. Wills had no heirs. I was told a few years after writing the book he was disfellowshipped over the blood issue. Apparently, some news story was published regarding a JW refusing blood who was in a precarious situation and lived nearby. Wills contacted them and gave them some historical background on the development of the blood ban and this information was turned over to the elders and led to his disfellowshipping. I have no idea what happened to the JW involved--if he survived or not.
Back in the 80's I gave a photocopy of the book to Commentary Press and they expressed an interest in re-publishing it. I never followed through to see what their final decision was but, apparently for whatever reason, they decided not to re-publish it.
The book is readily available through inter-library loan. I just got a copy of it yesterday. It really deserves a wider readership.
Cabasilas is correct, based on my recollection of several conversations with Richard Rawe over the years. Rawe knew "Timothy White" personally, and for some years sold photocopies of A People For His Name. Rawe never got hold of an original, though, since White only sold at most a few hundred copies, and destroyed the remaining several thousand when they didn't sell. White is probably deceased, because according to Rawe he would probably be a very old man, and he has not been able to contact him for some years.
I looked for this book for years, and managed to find one original via an online book search a couple of years ago for about $15.00. I know of two others who possess originals.
AlanF
Anthongy (Tony) Wills name is given as the author of A People for His Name in the Wiki article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah's_Witnesses.
"A People For His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation by Timothy White (pseudonym for Anthony Wills). The author, a life-long Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. Unfortunately, the book is extremely scarce but can be obtained by inter-library loan. 418 pages. Chapters 1-3 online Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1967."
So now, after 36 years, the author's real name is known, but his location is still unknown, as well as who might now own the copyright for the book.
One possibility is the the work is now orphaned, who whould hold the copyright in that case?
--VM44
Suggestions:
1) Try to contact Central Oregon Community College and see if they know where Mr Wills can be contacted.
2) Since he was a professor of English perhaps Wills authored other works. If so, those might give us a contact through a publisher.
3) Is there anyone reading JWD from the Bend, Oregon area? Would you be willing to search local records and obituaries?
I would think after a reasonable amount of searching if neither Wills or an heir could be found one could proceed with making the book available to others. Wills research on the Rutherford period is first rate.
