"ALso lets not forget how he became head of WT, contrary to what we were told, his father and a banker owned the majority of WT shares before he inherited it and did his own thing"
The original organizational document dated Feb 1881 shows that Russell contributed the bulk of the founding money. Reports to the contrary are mistaken. The document was recently displayed in Brooklyn for a period. It showed A. D Jones contributing 2000, J. L. Russell contributed 1000; W. H. Conley 4000; and C. T. Russell 7000 dollars. Each paid in half up front.
According to R. M. de Vienne, one of the historians behind the Truthhistory blog, Conley was chosen president not because he contributed the most money, but because he was more widely known. His name gave weight to a small, new tract society. When the Watch Tower Society was incorporated, the concept of a share for each ten dollar donation was introduced. Russell held the bulk of shares until about 1907. There was no provision in the original 1881 document for "shares."
Pittsburgh PA, Feb’y 1881
We the undersigned – believing that much good can be accomplished and many people be brought to see the great loving plans of our heavenly Father, by a judicious and thorough use of tracts and reading matter treating on some of the salient points of our belief, as we find it to be gloriously and graciously revealed in our Father’s word, do hereby combine and unite our energies etc. for the purpose of so publishing and distributing “Zion’s Watch Tower” tracts etc.
The Lord willing and aiding us we purpose distributing said tracts etc. in all the large cities (north) of the United States and in the principal ones of Great Britain etc. etc. as the Lord of the harvest shall open the way and reveal his will.
This work will require millions of pages of tracts costing thousands of dollars; it will require thousands of distributors costing other thousands of dollars. (The purpose complying with the words of the Lord “Owe no man any thing” and will contract no debts.) And we the signers of this paper willingly contribute toward this fund the amounts set opposite our names. The money which we contribute is not ours, it belongs to Him whose we are – We gave it when we gave ourselves and our all to him. We now act as God’s “stewards” in distributing of His goods to His praise and glory and for the preaching of the good news to thousands who are in darkness and being (as we once were) led into infidelity and unbelief through the misrepresentations made concerning the character and plan of our loving Father.
Of the sum which we have set opposite our names we “stewards” of the manyfold grace (favors) of God will pay one half in cash and one half on demand after six months to the publisher of “Zion’s Watch Tower” who agrees to keep a strict acc’t of all moneys received and expended; and to make a showing of same to any of the subscribers to the fund whenever desired..
http://truthhistory.blogspot.com/
