Charles Taze Russell and "independent thinking"

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  JWB

  CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL AND "INDEPENDENT THINKING"
  
  "After a good night's rest we started for Dublin, where we were met by a committee of four representing the Church and were hospitably entertained. Here we preferred a Church-meeting only. It lasted from 4 p.m. to 11:10 p.m., tea being served in the same room. The Dublin company is not in a most happy condition; several of the dear friends have become afflicted with 'independent thinking,' and claim 'new light,' which we tried to show them is really the 'outer darkness' in which Christendom in general is discomforted. Our discussions of these differences were conducted in a most kindly manner, yet we fear not to any great profit to the disaffected, who seemed determined to hold to and to magnify their differences rather than to prefer harmony and seeing eye to eye. The beauties of the Divine Plan, once seen, they saw no more and seemed not to desire to see them again. We urged upon all the cultivation of love and humility and prayer and study as being all that could be counseled under the circumstances. The loyal ones expressed themselves as greatly strengthened, and incidentally mentioned that they had taken the *Vow, while, so far as they knew, none of those who had turned aside had done so." - Watch. 1 July 1909, pages 198 (from the article "Brother Russell's European Tour", under the heading "Belfast, Dublin, And Homeward"); emphasis mine
  
  *Vow (Zion's Watch Tower, 15 October 1908, page 317):
  
  (1) Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. May thy rule come into my heart more and more, and thy will be done in my mortal body. Relying on the assistance of thy promised grace to help in every time of need, through Jesus Christ our Lord, I register this Vow.
  (2) Daily will I remember at the throne of heavenly grace the general interests of the harvest work, and particularly the share which I myself am privileged to enjoy in that work, and the dear co-laborers at the Bible House at Allegheny and everywhere.
  (3) I vow to still more carefully, if possible, scrutinize my thoughts and words and doings, to the intent that I may be the better enabled to serve thee, and thy dear flock.
  (4) I vow to thee that I will be on the alert to resist everything akin to Spiritism and Occultism, and that remembering that there are but the two masters, I shall resist these snares in all reasonable ways, as being of the Adversary.
  (5) I further vow that, with the exceptions below, I will at all times and in all places, conduct myself towards those of the opposite sex in private exactly as I would do with them in public--in the presence of a congregation of the Lord's people.
  (6) And so far as reasonably possible I will avoid being in the same room with any of the opposite sex alone, unless the door to the room stand wide open.
  (7) Exceptions in the case of Brethren: wife, children, mother and natural sisters. In the case of Sisters: husband, children, father and natural brothers.
  
  Opposition to 'the Vow' had evidenced itself the year previous to the visit to Ireland. According to Russell, these ones were not prepared to force themselves to see "eye to eye" and become like "the loyal ones". A lengthy article in Zion's Watch Tower, 15 October 1908 (page 314, "What the Word Vow Signifies") began:
  
  "IT seems evident that a few ordinarily bright brethren have missed their education as respects the meaning of the word 'Vow'; or else, that our great Adversary, opposed to the Vow recently suggested in these columns, is using every means to confuse their minds, to disorder their judgment in respect to it. The said few appear to be awfully distressed by the Vow and protest vociferously against it, against those who take it, and against the Editor for advising it. Their arguments are amusing, ridiculous and self-contradictory; but with all their brightness these brethren fail to see this. We pray for them a still wider opening of the eyes of their understanding, and in harmony with our prayers we proceed to discuss this subject, condescending to details which should be quite unnecessary; our excuse is, love for the brethren, and a clear realization that they are taking a wrong stand, supporting a wrong standard, and overlooking the fact that there are but two Princes or Leaders--the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness."
  
  So, the "few ordinarily bright brethren" either didn't know the meaning of the word 'Vow', or Satan ("our great Adversary") had confused their minds. On top of that, their arguments were "amusing, ridiculous and self-contradictory". Having set the scene to his advantage, by questioning their ability to think properly and suggesting they may be under the influence of the Devil, he continues at great length to argue his side of the issue. Some selected examples of unnamed "brethren" who manifest less than holy attitudes are given. I get the impression that this is to give us a "them and us", "black and white" presentation suggesting that those who are against 'the Vow' must be on the 'wrong' side. Never mind the concerns that were growing within the movement that the Ecclesias were becoming more and more Russell-centric, with less and less ability to come to one's own conclusions of what constitutes doctrinal 'truth'.
  
  I wonder what Russell would have thought in his young days, questioning his own family's brand of Christianity, had he been accused of being an "independent thinker"? No doubt loyal JWs and modern-day Bible Students are thankful that he was!