Here is some infor: HIS DYING HOURS A few weeks ago he started on a trip to the Pacific Coast. preaching every evening, and traveling throughout the remainder of the night and of the day. His last sermon he preached to the Congregation at Los Angeles; and being too weak to stand, he sat throughout the discourse. He left Los Angeles Sunday evening on his return to Brooklyn, and rapidly grew weaker. Seven hours before his death, addressing his traveling companion, Brother Menta Sturgeon, he said, "Make me a Roman toga." Using the bed sheets, Brother Sturgeon made a toga, which Brother Russell put on himself. He stood erect for a moment, and then lying down on the couch in his Pullman drawing room, closed his eyes, thus in symbolic language speaking of death. A great deal of the Bible is written in symbolic language, ,and it was quite appropriate that he should speak his last message in symbols. It is interesting here to know what a Roman toga symbolizes: Augustus’ Poet Laureate, said, "It is by the toga that the royal nation is recognized." The word toga means ,a covering garment (white robe). It was the official robe of higher magistrates, priests and of persons discharging vows, and was worn on special occasions, such as celebrating a triumph. We are reminded of the last experiences of the Apostle Paul, who traveled with his beloved companion Timothy, whom he called his son--not a natural son, but, as St. Paul shared, he had begotten this young man in the spirit. Likewise Pastor Russell begot Brother Sturgeon in the spirit, in that he brought Brother Sturgeon to a knowledge of the divine plan. Shortly before St. Paul’s death he wrote, "I am near ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8) Our dear Brother Russell not only loved the appearing of the Lord Jesus, but above all men on the earth he declared the presence of the Master. Brother Russell was a very modest man and never exalted himself. It was exceedingly difficult to get him to speak of himself. He chose, therefore, a symbol which we could afterwards interpret to speak practically the same thing spoken by the Apostle Paul. By wearing the toga Brother Russell in effect said, "I have fought the good fight; I have triumphed and shall be received as a member of the royal family of heaven." WT Reprint Vol.7(1916-1919) pg.6012,par.11,12 Investigator74
Possible scene for book. Opinions needed: DEATH OF PASTOR RUSSELL
by Terry 20 Replies latest jw experiences
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Nathan Natas
Consider this: Brother Sturgeon must have had some EXPERIENCE in fashioning togas from bedsheets. Sure he did not simply blunder his way through the process, and there were no copies of CRAFT: magazine on hand back then to guide him.
How much time did the guys in Broolyn Bethel spend playing "dress up"?
As always, T, this is well written, and I think it, along with the deleted Rutherford chapter, is evidence that you have a second book in you. Let them out, I say! Let them ALL out!
Oh, and you know that Rose Ball became the wife of pilgrim E. C. Henninges, moved to Australia with him and "fell away" over the "New Covenant" doctrine controversy, right?
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Quentin
I'm with Nathan on this. You do have more than one book in progress. Which I hadn't thought of till NN brought it up....
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OUTLAW
I don`t like the fantasy of Russel talking with his mom while he`s dieing..Seems to take away from the reality,of the rest of the writing......Just my opinion..It`s your book.......So far I`ve liked it up till that point..
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Terry
- I would switch religious and Watchtower in the fourth paraggraph. "...on a special pilllow embroidered with a cross and crown: the religious engraving on his Watchtower magazine."
- Small thing maybe, but you have two paragraphs in a row that start with his. You are very varying your sentence structure so do that there too.
Duly noted! Thank you, my sharp eyed friend. A nice touch.
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Terry
Brother Russell was a very modest man and never exalted himself. It was exceedingly difficult to get him to speak of himself. He chose, therefore, a symbol which we could afterwards interpret to speak practically the same thing spoken by the Apostle Paul. By wearing the toga Brother Russell in effect said, "I have fought the good fight; I have triumphed and shall be received as a member of the royal family of heaven."
I'm sure he took the white garment literally. The man clearly believed he was going to rule as a king and priest in heaven.
I thought it would be interesting to show him in his death throes with subconscious guilt that he may actually be dead wrong. Hence, I wrote the above account.
There is probably a lot more interesting truth about his death than has been made public. Especially is that true concerning the gold mines and the true location where his death ocurred.
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Terry
Oh, and you know that Rose Ball became the wife of pilgrim E. C. Henninges, moved to Australia with him and "fell away" over the "New Covenant" doctrine controversy, right?
Ahhh, but they celebrate her every New Year's day with a parade in California! The Rose Ball parade is even televised.
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Terry
I'm with Nathan on this. You do have more than one book in progress. Which I hadn't thought of till NN brought it up....
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Terry
I don`t like the fantasy of Russel talking with his mom while he`s dieing..Seems to take away from the reality,of the rest of the writing
I have the same problem with it. I actually don't know why I wrote it. Just an idea whose time had come.
I have an alternate way of covering the historical material that is boring. I was trying to liven it up and SHOW not TELL.
Sigh...
Writing about such matters is really almost impossible for me to do in an interesting way. So much blah blah blah. Unless I have an incredible idea between now and quitting time I might have to use the exposition and not the fantasy.
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Nathan Natas
I thought this was apropos:
...OUTLAW