by Sentinel 19 Replies latest jw friends
Sentinel,
I read Schnell's book when it first came out. At that time, I thought his tone was too angry. I reread it again a few months back and did not perceive at as so angry as I did the first time.
I would not recommend it as the first thing to read for a JW fence sitter, but after someone is out and has a different perspective, I think it is an excellent book to read. I especially enjoyed Schnell's insider's view of the Rutherford era.
LOL........that title is just tooo funny!, you mean William sounded angry, but now he doesn't sound as angry as you once thought? I wonder whos shifted in their thinking here.Hmmm.....just a thought
I am reading it now. There are times when I don't enjoy the tone but I can appreciate that this man sacrificed his life for the org only to find the extreme hypocracy that it turned into.
He seems to be a man with conviction. And he speaks loudly and very clearly of Rutherford's plan for the organization to become a huge publishing company rather than a religion.
Some fascinating comments in view of some of the things we are learning now. In fact the more I read the more I think he knew and saw exactly the changes occurring that gives us the org we now have.
I think those who read it now will see the clarity this man has concerning the direction the org was going. He nails it - well at least as far as I have read
I found a copy of the book at a yard sale for a mere 10 cents. Still have it actually. Good reading.
Yeah, I remember when growing up as JW...don't read that apostate literature blah,blah, blah.
The aspect of pre-war Germany and how patriotism was acceptable...until the GB in NY starts their shit. I think memory serves me on that statement. Anyhow, do read it. It's very fast reading.
G.L.
An interesting piece of trivia RE: Schnell:
(Apparently when he still had the "blinkers" on)
A CONTINUED TESTIMONY OF DIVINE APPROVAL
D EAR B ROTHER R UTHERFORD :
Having a part in this wondrous witness work has filled my
heart with joy and gladness.
From my childhood days (I was fourteen when I started
witnessing) until now, I've experienced a guiding hand, lead-
ing me to better usefulness, equipping me with better tools
and teaching me to use them effectively to the praise and
honor of our Father's name. Through all these years I've
come to the realization of a great truth: that by constant
devotion to his service, in his witness work, we learn to love
our Father above everything else and to appreciate the great
truths which he gives us through The Watchtower, which truths
again lead us to increased devotion and usefulness.
I cannot help but notice that we are privileged with more
light in one issue of The Watchtower now than we were in
one whole year fifteen years ago. Such is real cause for joy;
for we know that only those can follow the light who have
made use of previous instructions. It shows our Father's ap-
proval of our course of action. For that reason I am always
eagerly awaiting the next issue, as an appreciation and under-
stading of each Tower is a continued testimony to me that
I have still the approval of my Father; for it simply drives
me on with more pep.
This work is the Lord's work, and all honor is due to him.
I feel so elated with it, and particularly because of its in-
creased effectiveness. During the past year I've had marvel-
ous experiences with one branch of it, namely, the radio work.
Your radio efforts are greatly blessed by the Lord. It's a
grand remover of lies and errors.
One lady was so sorry she had been harsh to one of the
J. w's a year ago that she cried. She said that your lectures
had opened her eyes to what we're doing, and I placed ten
volumes with her, and was fed and treated like a king.
The station in Athens, Ga., is doing great work. Due to
your broadcasts there, we placed over a hundred volumes in
four days in the business section. The books were taken be-
cause they liked the lectures. Your lectures reach people we
couldn't get at before. I worked in an exclusive section in
Anderson, S.C., one Sunday morning. I placed many books
with the people, and heard your voice in about twelve homes
while working. Needless to say, I didn't have to say much
to place books.
I've had many more such experiences, but this letter is get-
ting too long. Just wanted to tell you why I am so happy,
and I do know that you'll be glad, too, to know. May the
Lord continue to bless you, my dear brother, for you certainly
have been a lot of encouragement to me.
Yours for kingdom service,
W ILLIAM J. S CHNELL , Pioneer.
--- From The Watchtower August 15, 1935 page 256
Some dude wrote it. Seriously. Its true.I am pretty sure about that.
It's mainly about wt rapid progress in germany under rutherford. Many techniques that the wt first tried there were later also used in the US. It's a great book! It's not that big, but i heard that an earlier version of it that had more content. Can anyone confirm or deny that?
SS
Schnell became a Zone Overseer for the WTS, serving in Germany and the United States. Why is his book so feared? One main reason is that he notes that Rutherford had Bethelites spying on himself (and others) in Bethel at work, evenings after work and even while he did Circuit work.
He tells of Rutherford taking all power away from the Russell-appointed board of directors (Gov Body) as well as Russell-era elders, which caused many congregations to wither and also many to completely die. Then Russell gained new members by sending everyone who was left out canavassing for newcomers door-to-door.
One favorite Rutherford tactic was to do something causing public ire such as teaching flag salutes are worship rather than for showing respect so that his own members drew public anger followed later by publicity from himself and some other media, which in turn made the organization look persecuted, generating more internal cohesion and sentiment by those of the public who did not know what he had engineered.
Nancee,
: It's not that big, but i heard that an earlier version of it that had more content. Can anyone confirm or deny that?
The one that you can still buy is an abridged version. I have both the abridged paperback and the original handbound copies. The original obviously has more content. Schnell does sound a bit off his rocker at times, particularly when he opined the the mark of the beast or 666 applied directly to the WT society.
As larc pointed out, the book is most valuable for Schnell's obversations about life in Bethel under JFR. Little tidbits like about how Rutherford discovered he could make tons of money by selling convention badges are priceless.
Schnell was not a writer, and admitted as much. The book is not smooth and not polished, but is still well worth getting and reading.
Farkel
Thanks to Kenneson, for the name of the "other" book I didn't know about either.
Thanks to Granny Linda, Onacruse, Larc, Lady Lee, SS, Nancee, Highlandyr and Farkel. Hope I didn't miss anyone.
I really do appreciate all the responses. You are such a great bunch of people.
From what I'm hearing, the author was probably writing his book like we have written some of our posts here. He was pouring his heart out. No doubt he was very emotionally unbalanced. Aren't we all at that point. The place we come to in our lives, where we decide to let go of the one thing that we have been attached to for so many years. It's almost like severing a real life-line, because that's all we know,.......and then we realize "they are wrong".
Sentinel/Karen
