by Fatfreek 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Let's say you're a JW, you're curious about some quote you found on the internet -- some newer book slyly changes mention of a date prediction from 1874 to 1914 -- and you'd like to see the original pages of those books. Are any of these publications available to:
1. Anyone from off the street
2. Baptized JW's
3. Bethelites
4. Nobody
5. They followed their own advice to Kingdom Halls and have destroyed all publications beyond a certain age
Fats
When I lived out there but not at Bethel, I just had a Bethelite come down to sign me in and spent many hours in the varous Bethel libraries...I loved the older books. I could not check them out but then you can't check books out at the KH library any more either.
If you represented yourself as an ex-JW, you probably would not have access. If you had some sort of credentials as a researcher, there might be access.
Interestingly enough, I had no interest until I watched a show where an ex-JW said that a certain book was no longer in JW libraries because they had been ordered to burn them. So I went checking and I found several copies still in the Bethel libraries...as well as older JW personal libraries. Makes me wonder what the ex-JW meant. The book: The Way to Paradise by W.E. VanAmburgh. It is an old book and the paper used to print it has not held up over time. But when I questioned a person from that time (Bible Students then), they never heard of being told to burn any book let alone that one.
Blondie
I recall when visiting my sis & bro-in-law at Bethel that there was a library that was open to visitors but mainly used by Bethelistes. However, they brought us to another "secret" library where we got a see some rare WT stuff. One item was a Bethel Christmas card with a picture of the Bethelites eating Christmas dinner.
Was a bit interesting.
I hear that the UN joined the Bethel Library , but only so they could use the Bethel Swimming Pool.
The book blondie was looking for is available again from Lulu press. --VM44
http://www.lulu.com/content/185257
The Way to Paradise
by W. E. Van Amburgh
This is a high quality enlarged replica reprint of the rare 1924 book by W. E. Van Amburgh, who was the Secretary/Treasurer of The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society for 43 years. It is worth noting that in his time W. E. Van Amburgh was one of only five members of the Watch Tower Editorial Committee qualified, as the Watch Tower said, "to approve as Truth each and every article appearing in these columns.” He must have been very thoroughly familiar with all the Watch Tower’s teachings to hold such responsibility. Today many of the doctrines taught in "The Way to Paradise" are no longer taught by Jehovah's Witnesses. This edition includes the biographical supplement, "Who was W. E. Van Amburgh?"
However, they brought us to another "secret" library where we got a see some rare WT stuff. One item was a Bethel Christmas card with a picture of the Bethelites eating Christmas dinner.
this item is on display for all to see at the canadian branch. it's part of the tour.
I hear that the UN joined the Bethel Library , but only so they could use the Bethel Swimming Pool.
LOL!
There are libraries scattered throughout some residences in Wallkill, Patterson, and Brooklyn. Most of the time they're used for studying or preparing for meetings. I suppose the rules about a normal JW being at Bethel would apply to the libraries: basically you have to have a Bethelite "escort" - they don't want those pesky regular JWs running around everywhere invading the inner sanctums. But no really, a lot of times this rule was ignored. However, I doubt any JW would come to Bethel just to see the libraries. From what I saw they had a few additional books available - like the entire Russel set and so forth - but not much more than a regular KH would have.
Interestingly enough, I had no interest until I watched a show where an ex-JW said that a certain book was no longer in JW libraries because they had been ordered to burn them. So I went checking and I found several copies still in the Bethel libraries...as well as older JW personal libraries. Makes me wonder what the ex-JW meant. The book: The Way to Paradise by W.E. VanAmburgh. It is an old book and the paper used to print it has not held up over time. But when I questioned a person from that time (Bible Students then), they never heard of being told to burn any book let alone that one.
When the xjw chatroom was open on yahoo I met a guy on there by the name of Apostosnitch (sp?) (he lives in the Indianapolis area). He was raised in the bOrg by his mother I think and remembers the org telling people in his congregation to burn old books. He's a few years older than me and says this happened in the 60's if I remember correctly. I trust what he told me.
I had been to Bethel twice back in the mid 90s and went to one of the libraries. I can't remember right now which building it was in; more than likely it was in the main corporate building and nothing was off limits that I know of. Even one of my friends from my hometown congregation was a bethelite there at the time showed me older original copies of the Watchtower and other publications.
Mrsjones, I am old enough to remember the 60's and my family have been associated with the WTS since the 1920's. No one remembers the organization telling people to burn their old publications. The proof is that those publications are in their libraries and in the libraries of the older KHs in this area. I can imagine that independently some people at the congregation level might have said that and that it might have been a regional thing. But a directive from the top...my research has not shown that to be true. In fact, the Studies in the Scriptures were still available to the rank and file through the literature counter until the 1930's.
I'm not disputing his local, individual experience, my research has not shown it to be an organizational wide directive.
Blondie (traveler and investigator of many KH libraries)
