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Sunday, January 24, 2016

Looking forward ...

It's never too early to plan ahead. After bunches of emails, phone calls, and face to face, Bruce and I think we should divide book three in our history series into books three and four. As we see it now, book three will cover the years from the publication of Plan of the Ages to 1912, ending with the Missionary Tour and report.

We aren't near done with volume 2 of S. I., but it's time to put material together. You can help. We need someone to scour the newspaper archives (such as fultonhistory.com; the Library of Congress Newspaper archive, etc.) for Russell's Newspaper sermons and, more importantly, for comments on his newspaper ministry. Also search Google Books.

Instead of sending articles piecemeal, or sending entire newspaper pages, open the .pdf versions of the articles, cut and paste them into a Word document (or Word Perfect), include name and date of newspaper; include title of article. When you accumulate significant material, send it via google documents or dropbox.

This will help me stay organized. (Bruce seems to thrive on chaos; I throw up my hands in dismay.)

Other than the two famous debates (1903, 1908) there were other proposed debates and some actual debates between Watch Tower adherents and others. We need to document this as above. Again, poast it all into one document and send it that way.

Jerome has his hands full. So I need other volunteers for this. This is not a rush assignment. Book three is only in the planning stages.

We will need "country histories" too. Most of the Yearbook histories omit significant detail. You are interested in the history of your country? Research it in depth for the period 1885-1915. We want newspaper clippings, magazine articles, extracts from books. If in a foreign language, please translate them for us. I can translate German, but not well. (It gives me a headache. Save me the headache.)

Anyone?

6 comments:

roberto said...

I am not a good researcher, but I will do my little part.

Miquel Angel Plaza-Navas said...

I did a research concerning Spain for my thesis and there was little documents before 1915.
I am really very interested of any data about in spanish of Bible Students before 1920 and also in Spain. I will try to give here data I found about Spain.

For example, I thinkg that first mention of Russell's interest to do something wish Spain was in November 1906:

“We rejoice that 'the dark places of the earth, the habitations of cruelty,' are getting a glimmer of the light of the Millennial morning. We lift up our heads with rejoicing that the deliverance of the true and only church ('whose names are written in heaven') is nigh at hand; and that then speedily the great Sun of Righteousness will shine forth to bless all the families of the earth, to give to all the knowledge of the glory of God as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Meantime the Lord has stirred the hearts of some familiar with the Spanish tongue, and they are preparing a translation of Vol.I, ('The Divine Plan of the Ages,') in that language, which we hope to have ready soon after the beginning of 1907. It will be in demand in Mexico first, but we learn will also be appreciated by considerable numbers in Spain.”
(“Views from the Watch Tower: Romish influence in Spain.” En: Zion’s Watch Tower, 1906, November 1, p.339 y 340; Reprints, p.3881)

If I am not right, please, give me any other previous mention of Russell's interest to reach Spain.

Miquel Angel Plaza-Navas said...

The translation of Millennial Dawn's first book in spanish didn't see the light until 1908 or 1909. I could not find any previous reference to this until April 1909
(“Studies in the Scriptures. 'Millennial Dawn'.” En: The Watch Tower, 1909, April 1, p.114; Ibídem, April 15, p.130; Ibídem, May 1, p.146; Ibídem, May 15, p.162; Ibídem, June 1, p.178; Ibídem, June 15, p.194; Ibídem, July 15, p.226; Ibídem, August 1, p.242)

May be the spanish translation could be done some months before but April 1909 is the first add I have found.
If anyone find a previous add or mention of this, please, share wht me.

A.E WIlliamson, then a well known Bible Student, mentions that Millennial Dawn's series reached more than 2.500.000 copies before 1910 in a group of languages as swedish, danish, norwegian, french, italian, modern Greek and SPANISH. Exactly he said "The sale [...] has reached the number of 2,684,500 copies, and the volumes have been translated into German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, French, Italian, Spanish and modern Greek.” (WILLIAMSON, Albert Edmund. “Millennial Dawn.” En: JACKSON, Samuel Macauley (ed.). The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: embracing biblical, historical, doctrinal, and practical theology and biblical, theological, and ecclesiastical biography from the earliest times to the present day. New York: Funk and Wagnalls Co., 1910, vol.7, p.374. )

Miquel Angel Plaza-Navas said...

And related to Spain, the first mention of the existence of some people interested in this country cames from a quotation 1910. But I would like to find more info about these workers in Spain... if anyone finds something, please, share with me.

“In this hemisphere the message of God's redeeming love has been carried with considerable success into Mexico, the work in that country being centered at Guadalajara, State of Jalisco. Returns from there show that many are turning to an appreciation of the glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, and many also who had only partly known the Lord are reported as serving him with renewed zeal and fresh energy.[...]
The work in the Republic of Panama is also most encouraging, though visits of short duration are thus far the limit as respects the Society's direct representation. The work is encouraged considerably by correspondence with the more able and advanced of the natives, who in turn love to tell the story. In this correspondence work there were sent out during the past year 88,230 letters and cards. [...] The Society also supports workers or assists workers in Hungaria, Servia, Italy, France, Spain, and the Azores.” (WISE, C.A. “Response by Brother C.A. Wise on Behalf of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.” En: Souvenir Notes Bible Students' Conventions 1910 : Louisville, Kentucky : June 17, 18 and 19, 1910. Chicago, Ill.: L.W. Jones, 1910, p.88)

Bye

Anonymous said...

I try to check in to your site every 3 weeks or so ... you are doing a huge job of great importance! I have nothing of any help to you but encouragement but have stories to tell of my late father -in -law's adventures in Ontario in the 1940's during the "Ban". Hope you will still be publishing for that future time! -

Miquel Angel Plaza-Navas said...

I have about 30 pages of the history in Spain before 1920, but... in spanish. May be some day I would try that anyone will translate it to english.