by RR 43 Replies latest watchtower scandals
Minimus, what is it they say about great minds?
Well, whatever it is, it must be true!
Thanks to your own divinely inspired insight, the doctrinal cycle is whole and complete. A new mystery is finished. The Watchtower can now print and distribute "The Dub Book of The Dead" to escalate the fear and trembling of superstitious people around the world.
...and the angel said, "Amen, let it come!"
Edited by - Nathan Natas on 16 January 2003 8:17:41
Danny, I really can't say what the actual impact was in 1909, I agree with Jim's thoughts, the only thing that was organized was the Watch Tower itself, the congregations were all independent.
I do know that E.C. Henninges, M.L. macPhail and others who were very prominent BIble Students causes one of the biggest schisms in BIble Student history, second only to what happened in 1917.
Henninges was branch manager of the Society in Australia and MacPhail was in Chicago and there were some in New York. Henninges bagan the New Covenant Publishing, publioshing books, booklets and a journal "New Covenant Advocate."
It should be noted that Henninges accepted EVERYTHING C.T. Russell taught up to 1909, he differed mainly on the New Covenant, but he accepted the chronology, the presence, etc. The New Covenant Publishing folded in the 1930s with the death of Henninges.
The New Covenants groups today do not resemble anything of their 1909 counterpart.
Also RR you mentioned that the 'Dawn's' were instrumental in getting WBBR going. Since my father was the radio station engineer at that time. He was involved from the very start, putting up the broadcast tower and building the facility.
If you notice the Society ALWAYS refers to their radio show by the call letters, WBBR. This can be seen from the 1924 program pictured in the Proclaimers book on pages 80-81 [btw, John T. Read left the Society to joined the Pastoral Bile Institute, and became its editor for some ten years, he died in August 1978 at age of 101.]
Norman Woodworth of Rutheford, New Jersey created the radio show for the Society, it was a dialog between two Bible Students, discussing an array of Biblical topics, the name of the program was "Frank and Ernest." Apparently even while the judge was making changes Woodworth was still preaching Russel's Divine Plan. One day Rutherford tuned in and was upset at what he heard, so he called Woodworth into his office and handed him a manuscript and told him, "from now on I will write the show." That was the last straw and Woodworth left the Society and took the radio show with him, that was in 1928, he tried offering to the PBI, but they were not interested, so he and the Associated Bible Students of Brooklyn, NY formed the Bible Students Radio Committee, and they began airing the "Frank and Ernest" show while the Society via WBBR went on to just airing the Judges sermons. The radio program was influential in gathering the old timers of the Society who listened in and heard what they call "the old old story." In 1932 the radio committee became the Dawn Publishers, publishing the Dawn magazine and others books and booklets, in the 1940s they left Brooklyn and moved to Rutherfod, NJ under the name Dawn Bible Students Association, where they remain. The Dawn was instrumental in gathering a lot of the disgruntled JW's in the 1930-50s.
RR
Rutherford closed the doors of heaven i 1935, but Russell had closed them in 1878, was it not? He stated that it was only those already in connection with the Bible Students by them, who had any heavenly hopes. I'll check up in Stafford, butthis is to the best of my recollection.
Actually, Russell did not "close" the door in 1878. He said the "general call" ended in 1878. Mainly that all the crowns were accounted for but as the Lord saw fit to replace unfaithful ones. Russell never claimed that one had to be a BIble Students to be a part of the heavenly class, and he believed there were spirit-begotten ones in the nominal churches.
Unlike the Society today who don't even talk about the high calling and if they do, it's held so high above your head and you're told you could never attain to it and if you do assume such a gift of the holy spirit, you're viewed with suspect.
An interesting spin of the thought in my eyes, is the question about those were "fortunate" enough to die before the splintering years. Say you have 10,000 Bible Students (just imaginary numbers) in 1890, and then a good lot of them, as many were elderly, would die before 1918 and the problems arising then. They died "steadfast" and "in good standing with the Lord" - but what if they had lived till 1920 or so, would they have followed Rutherford, or would they have been discouraged because Russell died and left it all, or would they have followed those rebelling against Rutherford? A large portion of the then living Bible Students did. OK, we move on a bit further, you still have 6-7-8,000 remaining of the original Bible Students, and they look forward to 1925. That year comes and it goes - and in some areas, 90 % leaves. Say half or so leave altogether, and you are left with very few of the original ones. Some have died between 1918/19 and 1925 - what would they have done, had they lived till 1926? They didn't, so they died "steadfast" and "in good standing".
Tit for tat, people leave for different reasons. I serve with the Jersey City Bible Students, the oldest Bible Students congregation in the world, formed in the 1880s. The elders in that class knew the Judge and when he was elected to office in January 1917, the congregation submitted their disassociation letter, simply because they "knew" him and didn't think he was fit to be president.
Some congregations sumbitted their disassociation letters in other cases it was just individuals, some clases actually split in half, over the judge. Many stayed believing the Lord would take care of it or "let's give him a chance." As the years went by and more radical changes were made, those who left felt vindicated, while others who stayed felt the need to leave. Some were stuck in a rut for some years not knowing what to do Persons like William Schnell [30 years a Watchtower Slave] mentions how even though he saw more and more badly designed changes, he stayed, eventualy he lost sight of what he was doing.
Norman Woodworth who started the Dawn was one of those who stayed till 1928, many who came out of the Society to support the DAWN left the Society in the 1930s and 1940s.
VanAmburgh himself in personal letters to his family [who are still Bible Students] shared his remorse for what he helped create, he actually manuevered things so that the Judge could become President, but eventually he and the Judge had a falling out and VanAmburgh became like so many bethelites today, too old to care to move on, be quiet, do as your told and you'll have a roof over your head and a meal to eat. Not realizing that his family among the BIble Students would have taken him in with open arms. But he was so ashamed that he never forgave himself.
RR
RR,
Thanks so much. It is obvious you have done some real homework on this history.
Loyalty seems to be the rallying cry of jw's for thier entire history. I know my folk were extremely loyal to the judge. Around 1940 the judge was acting irrational with lots of his close associates. My folks just up and left Bethel service, with just a few belongings and a home made travel trailer.
Whisper's of the judges erratic behaviour is all we ever heard. But from what I remember it was serious enough to make people pick up and leave.
For my dad to do so, was significant. He was the judges personal chuaeffer as well as body guard. Somewhere in our family records is a 'concealed weapon permit' issued to dad, to carry a 45 while drivng the judge around in his sixteen cylinder caddy. Mom his personal housekeeper on Staten Island. So they were indeed very aware of most if not all of the judges foibles.
Will your research be made available in a published format? If so I would look forward to obtaining a copy.
Thanks for the most interesting background.
Danny
Hi Danny,
When I was with the witnesses I was always fascinated with their history, and I spent a lot of time just reading the older publications I picked up at used bookstores. I was the answer man, the history buff in the congregation.
It was in reading the older publications that I saw the truth, all the changes and the discrepancies and just outright lies and deceptions.
Later I began associating with the BIble Students in my area, and about seven years ago a historical committee was formed and I was asked to write a history after all the data was compiled, we actually have audio and video files of old timers from Russell's days who were recollecting the old days and what happened when the judge took over. Pretty awesome.
The data was all researched, but later I found myself the only one left of the original committee members, in those seven years, I became a father, and elder, an contributor to various BIble Students joyrnals, a webmaster of several Bible Student websites a travelling speaker.
I also spent a lot of time researching the years Pastor Russell associated with the Advent Chistian Church [1868-1879]
And although the book isn't about the Witnesses, there are several chapters dealing with the takeover, which is well documented. I'm hoping to put a dent in it by the summer.
I know there are several books about Russell coming out this year, one authored by a Catholic Priest who has been documenting Russell's life for some twenty years, and the book is pro-Russell.
RR
RR,
*** we actually have audio and video files of old timers from Russell's days who were recollecting the old days and what happened when the judge took over. Pretty awesome***
Recently I have become even more intrigued by this early history. My grandfather a former methodist minister, just up and left his pulpit after listening to one lecture by a Bible Student colporter. He later became what I guess would now be considered a District Overseer. I don't remember the exact title.
I believe that Russell's death and Rutherford's takeover, actually was one of the main reason's for the rift in my grandfather's marriage. My mother going into Bethel service not long after Russell's death, while my grandfather started writing and publishing his own religious views. My mother never talked to my grandfather again. Both are dead and gone, but the family was ripped apart by all this religious fervor.
I guess you can understand why Iam so interested in all these time lines and events.
I believe that very soon another book will be released focusing on Rutherford and his political leanings. Sounds like there will be alot of new info to be released. Looking forward to reading the results of your seven year project.
Danny
In "Faith on the March", ( http://www.e-cepher.com/books/fotm/ )
Rutherford's ELECTION in 1917 is described as "the Lord's will": "On January 6, 1917, J. F. Rutherford was elected president. There is no doubt in our minds that the Lord's will was done in this choice." pg71.
And yet I read:
"After Rutherford became president he was not long in seeing that the democratic arrangement was not the proper procedure for the Christian congregation at all." "the democratic method of electing elders and class officers would lead to serious difficulties, besides being out of harmony with Jehovah's way of doing things." pg155.
If elections are out of harmony with Jehovah's way, then how was the election of Rutherford the "Lords will"?
"Directors were not elected, as these had been elected by Russell for life. This he could do because he held the majority of votes although, according to the charter, they should have been reelected to that office every year as we learned later. ...Some of these thought they should succeed Russell and considered themselves better qualified for the position of president. The fact that Rutherford was approved by the shareholders of the Society...did not seem to impress them." pg72.
Why were they not impressed?
"The original congregation was theocratic. It was ruled by Jehovah God through Jesus Christ. The apostles were selected by Jesus, not elected by the disciples." "Hence, those who opposed or resisted the theocratic arrangement were not opposing or resisting men; they were striving against the spirit of God."pg157. "Some of these thought they should succeed Russell and considered themselves better qualified for the position of president." pg74. "Rutherford was not only an entirely different type of man, but he had come into association with our movement later than some of those who opposedhim." pg74. "The apostles and a few others were authorized by the governing body to appoint men who were already elders, that is, who were mature and well- established in the faith." pg157.
***********
So Russell's appointment of men (just as the apostles did) was against God's will. The election of Rutherford was God's will (despite elections being desrcibed as un-theocratic). Then the election of others in the organization was "against the spirit of God". "Jehovah God does not have any contradictory wills". pg137.
I believe that Russell's death and Rutherford's takeover, actually was one of the main reason's for the rift in my grandfather's marriage. My mother going into Bethel service not long after Russell's death, while my grandfather started writing and publishing his own religious views. My mother never talked to my grandfather again. Both are dead and gone, but the family was ripped apart by all this religious fervor.
This is common. There was a black family of Bible Students, about seven in this family, who wen RUssell died and the schism began, the family itself split, actually, one left to stay with the BIble Students.
I've been told they have some real "fun" family gatherings. On the Bible Students side there are elders, deacons, colportuers [pioneers] and missionaries, on the JW side, there are bethelites, CO's, DO's, elders and servants.
RR
I believe that Russell's death and Rutherford's takeover, actually was one of the main reason's for the rift in my grandfather's marriage. My mother going into Bethel service not long after Russell's death, while my grandfather started writing and publishing his own religious views. My mother never talked to my grandfather again. Both are dead and gone, but the family was ripped apart by all this religious fervor.
This is not entirely true. According to the charter, the directors were appointed for life, ONLY the officers were elected annually.
RR
BTTT
