Charles Russell was many things in his life.
1.Clothing chain magnate
2.Presbyterian
3.Congregationalist
4.Adventist
5.Opportunist
6.Pastor
7. Mouthpiece of god
When Russell sold the clothing stores for enough cash to finance his passion for religious zealotry he began a strange journey.
It seems that Charles was the equivalent of a modern day conspiracy geek. There are people who devote themselves to fringe interests such as UFO's, Elvis sightings, Bigfoot, Loch Ness monster, crop circles, etc. Charles Taze Russell was that kind of guy. Except, RICH!
He was looking for a hook to hang his hat on. He chased down a lot of lectures and leads and read everything he could lay hands on.
When he discovered Adventism his eyes must have lit up.
He had found something he could really pour his fortune and genius into and make it a life's work.
By compiling a large body of Adventist ideas together, Russell had convinced himself that Jesus Christ had really already come back. He arrived at this conclusion one year after it was purported to have happened.
1874- According to Russell's theology Christ returned invisibly (2nd Presence). He actually "discovered" this in 1875.
The "invisible Jesus" idea fired his imagination! How could he turn this into some action where his business acumen and writing skills could be of use?
1879- Russell publishes "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence" magazine. This is the predecessor to their present magazine.
Russell pulled together everything that gave him goose bumps and distilled it into a particular viewpoint that would dazzle other Adventists (as people who were looking for proof that Jesus' 2nd Advent was upon them).
He began publishing his viewpoint to the tune of 6,000 issues a month.
By 1880, bible students from 7 different states(East Coast to Ohio) were tuned in to Russell's writings because they were not only eclectic, but, had the strength of a singular view magnified by urgency of rhetoric. Russell connected the dots for people and made it simple.
There was a "buzz" about what he was doing. He was becoming high profile. His next step would be to actually form a formal Society for these peculiar religious views so as to differentiate himself for the background noise of other crackpots and End-of-the-world nutjobs.
1881- Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society formed.
Was Russell's intention to start a new religion? Absolutely not! Russell was a dabbler in strange ideas who wanted to create a business which dealt with religious novelties. Russell did not even like religious organization nor did he wish to be the leader of any religious sect.
He described his view when he made out his will:
"Zion’s Watch Tower Society is not a ‘religious society’ in the ordinary meaning of the term; for it has no creed or confession of Faith. It is purely a business association, whose mission is to serve in a business manner the wishes of its beneficiaries, who are represented in its officers"
The question remains: was Russell sincere, honest and pious--or, was he a fraud and a shyster?
What would be the easiest way to determine his ethical sensibility?
Let's examine his integrity as regards what is perhaps the most novel of all Russell's quirky fascinations: PYRAMIDOLOGY.
