Posts by cabasilas

21

What is the mission of those on this board?

by The Berean in

jw
friends

venting, closure, confession, social networking, advocating a new direction, building a case to leave the borg, kicking a dead horse, assisting the abused, warning the public, cursing god and religion, justifying actions, filling time, belonging to something, education, identifying mental disorders, condemning hypocracy, highlighting errors of the past, making fun of other people, self pity, hope for recovery???.

as a newby, i can't tell ....

cabasilas

I note no specific agenda as a group, and this forum in my view is made up of individuals of all stripes......

Well said. There is no monolithic "apostate" group. There's a wide variety here.

10

Smaller PDF versions of 1928 & 1931 Messengers -- Can be emailed

by cabasilas in

i've had a couple of requests for smaller pdf versions of the 1928 and 1931 messenger convention reports.

these are not searchable, but are easily read and are also bookmarked.

this should attach and email with many systems such as gmail and aol.

cabasilas

Thanks, C.T. (say hi to Maria for me!) and yknot! And thanks bereanbiblestudent for mentioning the 1939 Messenger too.

Here's some ideas for some seed planting of doubt. So, you're a lurker or a semi-fader and you're still in contact with JW friends. You could add a line like this to an email:

"Did you realize that it's been 78 years that we've been known as Jehovah's Witnesses? I just got a PDF file of a newspaper published by the Society from the 1931 assembly where we got that name. I'm sending it along as an attachment. It's really interesting to see what the brothers were doing back then."

[Now isn't that simple?]

Or, if you want to "place" the 1928 Messenger instead...

"I just got this PDF file of a newspaper the Society published for the 1928 convention. It was one of those special conventions mentioned in the Revelation book. It has pictures of Bethel with just one factory building and one residence building. XXXX [Here mention someone you both know that's been a Bethelite] would get a kick out all the pictures in it of Bethel! I'm sending it along as an attachement. It's really interesting to see what the brothers were doing back then."

[And you don't even have to ask for a contribution for the world-wide preaching work!]

10

Smaller PDF versions of 1928 & 1931 Messengers -- Can be emailed

by cabasilas in

i've had a couple of requests for smaller pdf versions of the 1928 and 1931 messenger convention reports.

these are not searchable, but are easily read and are also bookmarked.

this should attach and email with many systems such as gmail and aol.

cabasilas

I've had a couple of requests for smaller PDF versions of the 1928 and 1931 Messenger Convention Reports. These are not searchable, but are easily read and are also bookmarked. The advantage of these versions is that they can be emailed.

The 1928 Messenger is larger, just under 13 MB. This should attach and email with many systems such as Gmail and AOL. It can be downloaded from this filesharing site:

1928 Messenger (12.6 MB):

http://www.filesend.net/download.php?
f=52495bdbc29e0cf4717464e13c911039

The 1931 Messenger file is much smaller, only 12 pages. (There were other issues of the Messenger for that convention. Perhaps someday we'll be able to scan those too.) This file is under 4 MB, bookmarked but not searchable. It should attach to almost all email providers. It can be downloaded from this filesharing site:

1931 Messenger (3.2 MB):

http://www.filesend.net/download.php?
f=6b794edf76601961fe02b89fffb40c82

Hopefully, these will circulate amongst many JWs. Both the 1928 and 1931 Messengers have pictures of Rutherford with his fancy 16 cylinder Cadillac. They show Rutherford as the "main attraction" at the Convention. The 1931 Messenger has, of course, two whole pages and several pictures of Beth Sarim. (It was the convention where they adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses.") The 1928 Messenger has the text of a lecture by C.J. Woodworth on how to sell the Judge's books to "prospective customers."

No need to put the JW in the defensive on these items. Just plant the seed of doubt that can come to fruition later.

Pass these around!

15

Somewhere to stay between San Francisco and Las Vegas?

by sweet pea in

jw
friends

a friend of mine is travelling from san francisco to las vegas next march and is looking for a great place to stay en-route for a night.

where would you suggest?

they were considering yosemite but the road in will be closed when they are travelling.

cabasilas

If it's a two day trip between San Francisco and Vegas there really isn't much to choose from. Definitely not Bakersfield, though that would be on the route. If they're looking for something a bit scenic on that route, I'd suggest Tehachapi. It's up in the mountains between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. It's nothing special but is a nice place to spend the night on such a trip. The other possible route would be to go through Reno and down through the Nevada desert to Vegas. Not much there either, aside from Reno, possibly. If you like Nevada desert towns you could consider Hawthorne or Tonopah for a night stop. I wouldn't, but there isn't much to chose from on the Nevada route. :)

If they have more time, I'd suggest they consider going through the LA area on the way to Vegas. There's loads of things to do in LA.

10

Our Kingdom Ministry September 2009 PDF

by RR in

okay ... here is a pdf of our kingdom ministry for september 2009.. enjoy.

rr.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ik76bz.

cabasilas

Many thanks, RR!

38

Breaking News - Russia Close to Banning JWs Entirely YouTube Video

by cognac in

jw
friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-qy14yqx-0 - i'm not sure if i attached this right.....

cabasilas

If they're banned, it'll only feed their persecution complex. JW children who need blood should get it and information should be made freely available to prospective members and those JWs who are questioning.

Driving them underground will only strengthen the current members.

5

1918 Rutherford Jail Letter -- Harvest Closed -- Printed Text -- PDF

by cabasilas in

a little over a year ago, bereanbiblestudent uploaded a typed copy of an "unspoken sermon" by j.f.

rutherford which was written as he prepared to go to prison in atlanta in 1918. it's a fascinating document that was never printed in the watchtower magazine.

i have just come across a printed text of that letter that was printed in a newspaper in 1919 in pittsburgh, pennsylvania which substantiates the typed copy of this letter.. but, first, a little background.. some witnesses are familiar with the bible students' predictions for 1914/1915.

cabasilas

Atlantis, thanks!

Besty, that looks like a good project starting up. I'm glad to see Freeminds providing downloads now.

Bereanbiblestudent, good questions!

5

1918 Rutherford Jail Letter -- Harvest Closed -- Printed Text -- PDF

by cabasilas in

a little over a year ago, bereanbiblestudent uploaded a typed copy of an "unspoken sermon" by j.f.

rutherford which was written as he prepared to go to prison in atlanta in 1918. it's a fascinating document that was never printed in the watchtower magazine.

i have just come across a printed text of that letter that was printed in a newspaper in 1919 in pittsburgh, pennsylvania which substantiates the typed copy of this letter.. but, first, a little background.. some witnesses are familiar with the bible students' predictions for 1914/1915.

cabasilas

A little over a year ago, Bereanbiblestudent uploaded a typed copy of an "Unspoken Sermon" by J.F. Rutherford which was written as he prepared to go to prison in Atlanta in 1918. It's a fascinating document that was never printed in the Watchtower magazine. I have just come across a printed text of that letter that was printed in a newspaper in 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which substantiates the typed copy of this letter.

But, first, a little background.

Some Witnesses are familiar with the Bible Students' predictions for 1914/1915. They, of course, were not predicting World War I or the Return of Christ. They already believed that Christ had returned in 1874 and that a 40 year harvest would conclude in 1914. The Bible Students believed that Christ had become earth's king in 1878. The end of the Gentile Times in 1914 signified that God's kingdom would be set up in the earth, centered in Jerusalem and would mean the restoration of the Jewish people to Palestine. Armageddon was understood to be a battle between nations and classes and not seen as a war led by God. Instead, the disintegration of the nations would be followed by a new earthly society. The Bible Students, however, would be translated to heaven before Armageddon began. The earthly phase of God's kingdom would be led by the "Ancient Worthies" or the Old Testament "princes." Of course, this whole chronological framework was re-interpreted by Rutherford in the 1920s and 1930s.

Fewer Witnesses are familiar with expectations for the year 1918. Russell mentioned 1918 before he died and the first editions of The Finished Mystery made some very strong predictions for the heavenly glorification of the Church in 1918. With this understanding, the end of the harvest was moved from 1914 to 1918.

Now, of course, as the Watchtower leadership was arrested and sentenced to prison in June of 1918, this seemed to vindicate the idea that the work was over and the harvest of the Church had ended.

Rutherford's letter from Long Island City Jail dated July 3, 1918 shows this. He explicitly says "the work of harvesting the church is done." Of the heavenly kingdom, he says that "We are standing at its very portals now. Let us hold fast a little
while, and we shall enter into the presence of our King."

Here are some snippets from Rutherford's letter (as printed in the Labor Tribune on March 27, 1919):

Brother Russell had promised the Seventh Volume. The Scriptures show that it
must be published. When without self-seeking, but by the will of God, I was placed
in the position of executive of the Society which the Lord had organized for his
harvest work, I felt it my sacred duty and privilege from the Lord to see that the
Seventh Volume was published. And when the Lord through two of his faithful
servants (now my fellow prisoners) produced the manuscript, I felt that he had laid
upon me the privilege and duty of seeing that this message went to his people. The
book was published at a time of much opposition to the Society and its
management. It was born in travail. The adversary has always opposed the
progress of the work of the Lord. We are not at all surprised to find the storm
raging about, us at the lime. Almost day and night we labored to get the book out
and to you. Some of you had the opportunity of helping, and did so with gladness
of heart. We give thanks to our Father and our Savior Christ Jesus for the privilege
of having a part in publishing this, the last of the series of Studies in the Scriptures,
which the people in the centuries to come will read with deep interest add profit
and will give God the glory.
Brother Russell’s last expression concerning the harvest, was that, it would end in
the spring of 1918. We believed this; and believing it, we felt that the Seventh
Volume must go out before the harvest closed. My attention was directed to
Jeremiah 51:60-64. I understand it to mean that Volume Seven must go to the
people; hence the organization to distribute it and the pushing of the work. You,
beloved in the Lord, responded to the call and joyfully went forth as living stones
tied to the book, and cast it amongst the people—into the waters of the Euphrates;
and it sank down and illustrated how Babylon shall fall. Ten million copies of "Fall
of Babylon" you distributed with willing hands. The sole thought in the mind of
each of us was to do the will of the Lord of the harvest and finish his work before
the night should come on. There never was a thought in our minds of interfering
with the Government or of violating any law.
The spring of 1918 came; and the evidences began to increase that the harvest was
closing; and the reapers were crying to each other: "Hasten the reaping, we pray."
Forgetting your tired, sore feet you hurried on; and the Lord blessed you richly.
Are you sorry now that you put forth such an effort? I am persuaded from the
letters I have received that you are not sorry, but glad. Rejoice now, Beloved; the
work of harvesting the church is done. The dark night, is coming rapidly on, and
soon we shall be home. There may be a little more work for the faithful to do in
calling the world's attention to the message and in aiding the Elisha class. Ask the
Lord to give you wisdom and to direct you; and he will do it.
The dark night is at hand; but remember that it is darkest just before dawn of the
bright day. Soon the Sun of Righteousness will fully arise with healing in his
beams; and if we have proven faithful, we shall experience the sweet promise of
our Lord, who said: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the brightness of the
sun in. the kingdom of the Father." (Matthew 13:48) Then will the world know us,
not as seditionists, but as true patriots; that we are not enemies but friends, anxious
to do all for mankind. The Lord has promised that the world shall know who has
been born in Zion. (Psalm 87:5) Will you be born there? I hope you will. I hope I
shall see you there.
What joy awaits mankind when "the ransomed of the
Lord shall return [from death and degradation] and come to Christ, with songs of
joy upon their heads!" What joy to have a part in returning and blessing them!
Beloved in the Lord, the history of the ages is behind you; and a sad history it is.
The glories of eternity are before you, and its grandeurs are beyond the dreams of
man. Long have we hoped and prayed for the coming of God's kingdom of
righteousness. We are standing at its very portals now. Let us hold fast a little
while, and we shall enter into the presence of our King. Then by his grace we shall
see him face to face. Oh, that will be glory for me and for you!

So, if Jesus really did "come to the temple" in the Spring of 1918 what did he find the Bible Students under Judge Rutherford doing? Not only had they made false predictions for the year 1918 and circulated hundreds of thousands of books in anticipation of this non-event, they also believed that the "harvesting of the church" had closed and were waiting in expectation of shortly "entering into the presence" of Jesus.

To me, that sounds like they failed the inspection and it would explain why this text has never (as far as I know) been printed in any Watchtower publication before.

For those interested, a PDF of the printed newspaper text of Rutherford's prison letter dated July 3, 1918 along with a transcript can be downloaded from this filesharing site.

http://www.filesend.net/download.php?
f=f9a9466dabe564a6b2c26d0a71de3579

The file is small, less than 1 MB. Feel free to pass this along to your JW friends. There isn't a need to confront them on it. Just reading the article may be enough to plant a seed of doubt that might come to fruition someday.

6

1943 Consolation Jan to June PDF

by cabasilas in

for those interested: consolation for 1943 from january to june in pdf.

this will be all that will be posted for awhile.. file is like the 1942 consolation, but only half the year.

it's indexed and fully searchable.. there's another article by marley cole.

cabasilas

You're welcome. I love cats, btw. :)

3

1939 Consolation (various articles) PDF

by cabasilas in

i know i said the last bunch of consolations would be the last for awhile, but here are a few more.. here are 12 issues of consolation for 1939. as far as i know, only one of these has been scanned and released before.

that was by charles chasson and he has given permission to include that issue in this compliation.

these were scanned a bit differently and the ocring of these issues did not come out well.

cabasilas

You're welcome. There's a lot of info in those old Consolations.

Just to add: for those that may have missed it, there is also the 1928 Messenger convention report of the Detroit, Michigan convention up at:

http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=96360cdbe5615621d6a3e7dcb404ad83