Posts by OrphanCrow

25

"The Calendar of Jehovah God" - a historical tidbit

by OrphanCrow in

in 1935, clayton woodworth (editor of the golden age - later the awake!

magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.he wrote a three part series for the golden age (i am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the divine plan.

the calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar.

OrphanCrow

JWdaughter: A retraction in WT literature. Was that a one off? How was it phrased?

From a thread 12 years ago :

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/56455/retractions-watchtower?size=10&page=1

w5/1/35 142
THE CALENDAR
TO HAVE a correct system of reckoning time is desirable. It is well known that the calendars heretofore used have been incorrect and unsatisfactory. For this reason The Golden Age published facts concerning a system of reckoning time, obtaining the important data from the Scriptures, and some from astronomy. Seeing there is a danger of giving importance to this and to the exclusion of weightier matters, this note of warning is here sounded. God’s people should keep in mind the “pyramid” delusion and the speculations that accompanied the study of chronology, and the pitfalls into which these things led many. Do not fall into a similar trap. It is of far more importance to understand our commission and to perform it than to understand at just what time Adam was created. Be reasonable and moderate. Avoid wild speculation as to at what time and in what manner things future will come to pass. Be sure that you always are guided by the counsel of the Lord’s Word. The statements in The Golden Age are not dogmatic, but are worthy of due and careful consideration.

25

"The Calendar of Jehovah God" - a historical tidbit

by OrphanCrow in

in 1935, clayton woodworth (editor of the golden age - later the awake!

magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.he wrote a three part series for the golden age (i am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the divine plan.

the calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar.

OrphanCrow

Simon: Which idiot would have Lightday and Lifeday as names ... no possibility of any confusion there !
"I'll meet you next liteday"
"Ok, lifeday, got it ..."

Lol!

Well...today is "Mansday", in the month of "Jehovah". Aaaaccckkk!

25

"The Calendar of Jehovah God" - a historical tidbit

by OrphanCrow in

in 1935, clayton woodworth (editor of the golden age - later the awake!

magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.he wrote a three part series for the golden age (i am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the divine plan.

the calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar.

OrphanCrow

Dropoffyourkey: I knew that Woodworth was an instructor for ICS (International Correspondence School), but I never heard that he was an owner.

I may have been wrong to use the word "owner" and should have said "one of the founders". However, I would think that a "founder" would also have ownership.

Where I found this information was at the end of the letter Woodworth had written while in jail in 1918.

Letter from archive.org.

Since this letter was typed by Brother Clayton J. Woodworth in 1918 it was quite old and fragile and since the photo copy that was sent to me was hardly legible, with much effort this copy was made. Bro. Woodworth became the editor of The Golden Age when it was started in 1919. He was one of the founders of the International Correspondence Schools from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Each week end he would go home by train to Scranton to see his family and take an interest in the ICS. He was faithful to Jehovah right to the end. The one who copied this letter knew him personally.

Regardless, it isn't difficult to see that the WT had used the same format for WT study as an ICS home study course did.

25

"The Calendar of Jehovah God" - a historical tidbit

by OrphanCrow in

in 1935, clayton woodworth (editor of the golden age - later the awake!

magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.he wrote a three part series for the golden age (i am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the divine plan.

the calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar.

OrphanCrow

dropoffyourkeylee: Wood worth was very studious, probably too much. He produced, single handedly, the first index of all the WT literature , in about 1909. It was called Gems from the Mine.

Woodworth, along with George Fisher (who co-authored The Finished Mystery), was a text book writer for the International Correspondence School.

One source, which I have been unable to confirm, claims that Woodworth was also an owner of ICS in Stanton, Pennsyvania. He would travel between Brooklyn and Stanton regulary, spending half his time writing for the WT and half his time writing for the International Correspondence School.

Thanks for the 'tidbit' about Gems From the Mine. I had not heard of that publication.

25

"The Calendar of Jehovah God" - a historical tidbit

by OrphanCrow in

in 1935, clayton woodworth (editor of the golden age - later the awake!

magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.he wrote a three part series for the golden age (i am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the divine plan.

the calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar.

OrphanCrow

In 1935, Clayton Woodworth (editor of the Golden Age - later the Awake! magazine) devised a 'new' calendar that he proposed was far superior to the pagan calendars that have been used in human history.

He wrote a three part series for the Golden Age (I am not sure if these were actually published) that laid out his justifications for how this new calendar was more accurate and of course, was right in line with the Divine Plan. The calendar was published in the 1935 yearbook, but the Watchtower magazine later published a retraction to the calendar. From what I have read, Judge Rutherford gave Woodworth a horribly abusive 'dressing down' in front of Bethel staff over the calendar.

The three part article and Woodworth's crazy calculations attest to the claims that Woodworth was an obsessive compulsive. He must have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into constructing 'Jehovah's Memorial Calendar'.

Please follow this link to download the three-part Golden Age articles, the calendar as it was published in the 1935 yearbook, and the subsequent Watchtower references to the article.

Woodworth's calendar (AKA Jehovah's calendar) was based on a lunar measurement system - "The Second Hand in the Timepiece of God".
Woodworth claimed that it was superior to the Jewish lunar calendar:

That the Jews are confused is self-evident........................
Jehovah's people have nothing to learn from the Jews on this subject; the Jews have lost the "key of Knowledge".

*keep in mind that this calendar was conceived of shortly after the transformation of the 'Zionist' Bible Students into Rutherford's 'army' - the Jehovah's witnesses. The dual covenant doctrine that Russell had campaigned valiantly for had been dropped for Rutherford's 'replacement theology'.

A few highlights of the new calendar:

Woodworth's calendar is a '6000 year calendar' that claims to count time back to the very moment of Adam's creation - he numbers the days and months forward from that zero beginning and also changes the names of the days of the week and the names of the months. He designates the era before 1935 with the letters B.R. - Before Ransom - and calls 1935 the Year of the Ransom.
The day starts at 6 pm and the year starts at......I think.... the vernal equinox.

Here are his descriptions of the new names for the days of the week (sans Bible verses):

Lightday, the first day of the week, is commemorative of the great gift of light in creative epoch No. 1.

Heavenday, second day of the week, is commemorative of the gift of the atmosphere, necessary to sustain the life of breathing creatures.

Earthday, third day of the week, is commemorative of the making of the beautiful home which god made for man and other breathing creatures.

Starday, fourth day of the week, is commemorative of the unfoldment of the magnificent pageantry of the heavens, suns, moons and stars inconceivable in number and beauty; the matchless spectacle of the universe.

Lifeday, fifth day of the week, will ever be commemorative of the great epoch in which the Creator first bestowed upon earthly creatures the unspeakable boon of life.

Mansday, sixth day of the week, will ever remind man of the gracious act of God in making the human creature and will remind him of the time when he was not in existence. It was not at all necessary to the happiness of God that such a creature as man should ever have lived.

Godsday, seventh day of the week, reminds man for ever of the source of all his joys and hopes and the eternal resting place of his love.

And the names of the months are as follows:

Redemption – (first month); Life; Visitment; Freedom; Vindication; Hope; King; Peace; Order; Logo; Jehovah; Temple

The calendar is hinged upon two events: Adam's creation and Jesus' life.

from Pg 428 – April 10, 1935 – part 3 :

The evidence herein seems to clearly prove that the day of Christ’s birth was King 3, Edenic day No. 1470658, completing week No. 210094, god’s month No. 49801, B.R. 34 (Oct.1, B.C.2). He was born on a Mansday (Friday), and died on the same day of the week, which, as in hereafter be shown, was Redemption 14, Edenic day No. 1482894, completing week No. 211842, god’s month No. 50215, year of Ransom 1 (Friday April 1, A.D. 33). The time of his death was 9:00 D. (“the ninth hour” of the day, 3:00 p.m.)

Woodworth goes on to devote the next couple pages to calculating the exact time of the last Supper, and all the details of Jesus' death and resurrection.

28

Memorial of the Death of Jesus 2016

by wolfman85 in

in 2016, jw will have their memorial of jesus death on march 23, 2016. http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/meetings/#?insight[search_id]=99cee3cb-687e-4276-9c70-3af8d20c220b&insight[search_result_index]=0.

that day is not for nissan 14th of the jewish calendar, or am i wrong ?

?.

OrphanCrow

Maybe the WTS is using "The Calendar of Jehovah" to calculate the memorial date.

https://archive.org/details/theCalendarOfJehovahGod

59

Cooperate Members of the Watchtower Society

by James Jack in

a older sister in miami florida has told me that the special pioneer couple who got their walking papers last week said they are also voting members of the watchtower society.

also his stock share is valued at $800,000!.

i did some research and spoke to some longtime witnesses and found out that there are 500 voting members of the society and they are also called shareholders.. has anyone ever of someone selling his share?.

OrphanCrow

Thank you for that link, Anon.

The problem with that document is that it is no longer valid.

Organizational bylaws are not that difficult to change. Time consuming but not difficult. Over the course of the past almost100 years, there would have been many changes to those bylaws. The only way we can know for certain what the membership requirements are is to have access to the current WTS bylaws.

59

Cooperate Members of the Watchtower Society

by James Jack in

a older sister in miami florida has told me that the special pioneer couple who got their walking papers last week said they are also voting members of the watchtower society.

also his stock share is valued at $800,000!.

i did some research and spoke to some longtime witnesses and found out that there are 500 voting members of the society and they are also called shareholders.. has anyone ever of someone selling his share?.

OrphanCrow

Saint: According to the 1945 charter amendment the Watchtower is a non-stock corporation with only voting shares.
The voters are selected by the board and have to be dedicated male witnesses.
If they elected non-JW's the Watchtower board would be violating the charter, and for this there can be serious consequences.

That is true - according to the 1945 amendment.

However, if you check the most recent amendment (2003) that we have access to, it states:

"The members' number, the members' qualifications, the manner of electing members, and other matters pertaining to members, shall be as provided in the bylaws."

Do we know what the WTS bylaws state? Have those bylaws ever been made public?

59

Cooperate Members of the Watchtower Society

by James Jack in

a older sister in miami florida has told me that the special pioneer couple who got their walking papers last week said they are also voting members of the watchtower society.

also his stock share is valued at $800,000!.

i did some research and spoke to some longtime witnesses and found out that there are 500 voting members of the society and they are also called shareholders.. has anyone ever of someone selling his share?.

OrphanCrow

JamesJack; I have bought stock from different companies throughout the years if I thought I could make a dollar or 2 regardless if I like the business or not!

James, I think that there are a few critical points to consider -

1. there is no capital stock in the WTS, according to their charter.

2. shareholders do not buy their shares - they are selected/appointed

3. there are no share dividends

4. even if the WTS closed up shop, any profits made from the dissolution of the corporation has to be turned over to another non-profit entity

So, with those points in mind, Gayle's questions are intriguing:

Gayle: Why would anyone be a shareholder, not a member of the organization (or any other such business, religion, etc.) and have no monetary interest, or any other interest in such organization???

Exactly. How do non-JWs benefit from being part of an organization that offers zero profit to a shareholder? We can understand the JW shareholders - their belief system is what invests them in the WTS and they see their payoff as being measured in spiritual reward. But...what about those who do not have an emotional investment/connection to the WTS? Why would they hold voting shares?

Well....let's think about that. A nonJW would have to see some sort of return outside of spiritual considerations to be bothered to invest time into an organization. According to the WTS charter, nobody gets dividends or profit from their membership in the Society. Hmmmm.

Okay...bear with me. This is a hypothetical example. Hypothetical.

Let's imagine that some of those nonJWs are...let's see...bloodless surgeons. Or maybe administrators connected to blood management. How would their membership in the Society benefit them? Would the blood doctrine that the WTS has power over have any effect on their profession? Of course it would.

Would it be in the interest of people who work in bloodless medicine to have the WTS drop their blood doctrine? No, it wouldn't. But, keeping that doctrine in place would pay 'dividends' to the bloodless industry and anyone connected to it. Which, in turn, would ensure that the WTS would receive 'donations' (tax exempt for those donating) from the ones who profit from keeping the WTS blood doctrine in place.

372

On respect for the belief of others. Sorry for the long post

by StarTrekAngel in

i am inclined to start this thread in response to some comments made in other threads.

i have been coming around these forum for quite some time now so whatever you find in here is not just related to something someone may have said this week.

it can go months back as well.. i have seen many who claim to respect the belief of others but when it comes down to applying it into practice, things take a whole different tune.

OrphanCrow

TheRebel: Absolutely OpenCrow, that was never my suggestion. But when the brain is a silent immovable rock, trapped in a captive Jehovers Witness mind, it needs compassion and answers. Now I am not saying we should all be full of love and not challenge a posters deeply held believes. All I am saying is some posters, can respond to posters deeply held beliefs and be as challenging but with more sympathy and understanding than other posters.

*pssst...it is "Orphan" Crow...

You are right that a person's "cult brain" needs compassion and answers. Some people are going to give you compassion, and others are going to give you answers. As the old saying goes - "the truth can hurt".

Don't ever forget that those posters who you perceive as not being sympathetic and understanding are also in recovery.