Anti-Russell material from 1914

 Your observations on this bit of misleading, false, ad hominem are welcome.

The Perils of Russellism

Alex W. Bealer, Eastman, Georgia, 1914

      Russellism makes absurd the story of the second coming of Christ. It never hesitates to ignore the plain teachings of the Bible, when they interfere with its plans. Russell bends the Bible to support his plan, instead of seeking to show that his plan harmonizes with the Bible.

      The Bible says, that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's second coming. Russellism says that the Wise Virgins went out to meet the bridegroom in 1844, which was just thirty years before his second coming. The exact date of his second coming was 1874. The churches, which are the body of Christ, rose in 1878. Since 1878 the faithful who have died have gone into the presence of God immediately, and they will have no resurrection. In October, 1914, the work of the Lord will be finished, and he will begin his reign of a thousand years on earth. During this time Adam, Cain, the Sodomites, Judas and all others who have died in wickedness will have been led by their experiences to see their mistakes in having been sinners and they will turn to the Lord for salvation. If any are so stubborn that they shall not repent during the Russellism Millennium, they will be annihilated and this will be the sure-enough final annlhillation of these persons.

The Bible on the Last Days.

   HOW TAME is the story of Russellism when compared with the sublime words of the Bible in telling of this great event! Here Is the way as appeared to Zechariah: “His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a great valley; and half of the mountains shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.”

    Jesus told the story in these striking words: “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

p. 4

   Paul’s account is no less striking: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive shall together with them be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

      John tells us that as soon as Christ comes back the devil will be chained and cast into a pit where he will be sealed up for a thousand years.

     Has the reader heard of any great upheaval in the neighborhood of the Mount of Olives, of any one who has seen the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven? Have you heard of any one who has hearkened to the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, of any one who has been changed in a moment and caught up to meet the Lord in the air? Have you heard any rumor that would lead you to believe that the devil has been chained? All these things must take place before Christ comes back and we must conclude that the story of Mr. Russell is an impudent fabrication.

Russellism Tears Down But Does Not Build.

   RUSSELLISM would put the churches of Christ out of business. Russellism says (volume one, page 269) that, since the Kingdom of God is in the future, there is no need to be concerned now about saving the world. The best thing is to let it alone, as it is a waste of effort, worse than useless, to try to influence it for Christ in the times in which we live. But our Lord says: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”

    Russellism would disband every church, recall every missionary, close every Christian school, break down every institution that works for the betterment of mankind. This is exactly the plan that appeals to the most depraved and the most unenlightened people in every community.

   Russellism says that God has turned his back upon the so-called churches, but fails to account for the wonderful work of grace that is going on in many communities. He fails to account for the thousands who are forsaking sin at the call of Christ through the churches, and are devoting their lives to the worship and service of God.

  Russellism repudiates the doctrine of regeneration. Jesus said to Nlcodemus: “Ye must be born again.” Russellism says this means that Nicodemus and all others will have to be regenerated in the time of restitution, after they have all been annihilated.

THE MAIN THEORY of Russellism is that in the Millennial Age all who have not accepted Christ will have a second chance to do so. This second chance theory is designed to make Russellism attractive to the persons who wish to live sinful lives. Russellism says (Vol. 1, P. 124) that God has designed to permit evil because having a remedy to relieve man from sin he would be led to see Its exceeding sinfulness and would thus learn to love his creator for providing virtue and truth to which he could turn. Sin Is not the hideous thing It is painted to be in the Bible. The way to learn to love virtue is to plunge into sin. By sinning man win learn about sin and will learn to hate it when he has drained the last bitter dregs of the cup. “A man's sin in this life will be but an angel, a black angel perhaps, but an angel nevertheless to lead him to the powers of virtue in the life that Is to come.” Men may sin as much as they please in this life and in the life to come they can turn away from it and receive the approving smile of God.

   This fearful “second chance” theory makes it consistent to belittle the churches and repudiate regeneration. It does away with the necessity of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus said he would send as a Guide. Therefore, Russellism has very little to say about the Holy Spirit.

Religious Purpose of Russellism.

    IT IS A PURPOSE of Russellism to break down the present church organizations. This has been its actual history everywhere it has found a foothold. Its promoters delight in creating a division in a local church and in changing peace into discord. Like Its sisters, Mormonism, Spiritualism and Unknown Tongueism, it makes little effort

p. 5

among the unregenerate but seeks follower from among the organized churches.

   It is the purpose of this so-called religion to exalt its founder, Mr. Russell. A man of rather humble origin, he is ambitious; with masterly skill in advertising he has managed to get his name and his picture In thousands of papers and his religion bears his name.

   The chief purpose of Russellism is to make money for its leader. With an Impudence born of the father of lies, Mr. Russell declares that the world will come to an end in the year nineteen hundred and fourteen. Now that the time is upon us he is reported in the press as saying It may be a few years later Instead of nineteen hundred and fourteen. Absurd as are his claims of special knowledge on this subject, thousands of his Ignorant and misguided followers will accept any new date which he may set in professing to know a definite date for the end of the world, which our Lord Jesus said no man knows. It is a profitable thing for Russell to get his followers to believe the end Is nigh. In this fact they will find their earthly goods of less value and he will find It easier to separate their possessions from them. Many of his followers have already willed their property to the Watch Tower Society, which is but another name for Mr. Russell.

Religious Purpose of Russellism.

   THIS MAN claims to be without money, and poses as a faithful ambassador of the penniless Christ. He preys on the prejudice of the people by advertising that he takes up no collection in connection with his meetings. As a matter of fact he does not need to get money this way, he has a more artistic manner In which to separate the people from their possessions. A few years ago he sued the Washington Post for defaming his character and In the course of his trial it developed that he had two hundred shares in the United States Coal A Coke Company, capitalised at one million dollars and that he also had shares in a number of other stock companies, among them the Watch Tower Society which received $150,000 for the sale of Its literature in 1910. Many people have left money to the Society, and It was brought out in the trial of Russell's wife for divorce that the “Pastor” was quite a plunger Into the commercial world. One witness swore that Russell's investment in one concern had brought him in about two million dollars in the last ten years.

     And yet there are poor deluded people in scores of sections throughout the South who are pinching themselves in order to circulate the pernicious books of this man, helping to make him a multi-millionaire. In scores of sections throughout the South where faithful and true men have lived out their lives before the people and have taught the whole truth of God In Christ, there are misguided and Ignorant people who turn a deaf ear to the truth, that they may follow the anti-Christ teachings of a discredited and self-seeking man.

    Paul said: “Though an angel from heaven should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

    We may in the spirit of righteous indignation apply the words of the Apostle to the perverse teachings of this unholy man. His teachings are a caricature of the Christian religion and he is a reproach and a stumbling block in his own life. In the name of Christ who loves men and would save them, let Russellism be accursed.

==========

[From Victor I. Masters, editor, The Home Field Magazine, December 1914, pages 3-5.]

A Watchtower Society Letter

 I'm missing page two of this letter. Do you have it?

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

 

March 1, 1943

 

Dear Company Publishers:

 

Who Will Become Full-Time Reconstructors?

 

            In these last days Satan and all his seed have made desperate warfare against the Seed of God’s woman, Zion. During the dark says of 1914-18 it appeared as though the base schemes of the wicked had succeeded. It looked as though their foul attempt to destroy the true worship of God from off the4 earth had at last been accomplished. The heavy hand of oppression had fallen upon God’s visible organization, the land lay blacked and ravaged, and the fre worship of Jehovah had been suppressed. Even while under the enemy domination and pressure, however, God’s true servants longed for the time when the power of the enemy would be broken and the way opened up for freedom to worship and serve Jehovah as required in his Word. Prayers went up for the reconstruction of Zion, and for the power of the Lord’s spirit to energize his people to faithful service in hi cause.

            In the years following that mournful time of desolation we have watched with joy the coming of the Great Reconstructor, Christ Jesus, to aid and revive Zion’s visible representatives. As Jehovah’s chief servant in the mighty work to follow, he raised up and strengthened the fallen ones. He awakened them to their responsibilities as Jehovah’s commissioned Servants, and set before them the terms of their commission. Then energized by the spirit of the Lord and strong in  the power of his might, those who love the Lord have been used by him in a mighty work of reconstruction which has increased yearly. The ‘ancient ruins’ have been rebuilt, the ‘desolate places of former times’ raised up; the organization has been strengthened and prepared to carry the worship of Jehovah to the uttermost parts of the earth. Rejoicing in the majestic and onward march of the reconstructors, the question presents itself, Who will join therein as a full-time pioneer?

            The opportunities to share in this mighty forward action are without limit. The way was never more favorable to engage in unrestrained reconstruction activity. It shall continue and increase until the true worship of Jehovah shall be carried on in every land; therefore there is no limit to the number of pioneers that can be used at present. Undoubtedly, many who are now considering the prospects of taking up full-time activity as reconstuctors feel that as soon front and is [missing text]

Research Help?

 I need a list of all Watch Tower References (1879-1925) to the Brethren Churches. This includes Dunkards. 

Please. Anyone?

ALSO

Many Brethren booklets refuting Russellism were published in Britain. I need a bibliographic list. 

Selena Barto or Lena Guibert. Which?

     Maria Frances Ackley Russell was one of five children who lived to adulthood. Her siblings included Laura Raynor, Emma Russell, Lemuel Ackley, and then a query raised in various writings – was the final name Selena Barto or Lena Guibert?

     Did Selena or Lena change her name? Why the confusion? A close look at the records that now exist can clear this up.

     First, the correct name of Maria’s sister WAS Selena Barto. Selena Ackley (1846-1929) married Baptist minister Charles Edward Barto (1841-1883). He was an agent of the American Tract Society, headquartered in Philadelphia, which specialised in evangelising Native Americans. He died of “apoplexy” in his early 40s, leaving Selena a widow with two small children. She never remarried. She spent much of her life in the Pittsburgh area, but did own property near Chicago where her brother, Lemuel, was a lawyer. It was in representing her in a Chicago court in a financial claim against a police officer that the officer drew a gun and killed Lemuel in 1921.

     We know Selena Barto was the correct name because she is mentioned by that name in her mother’s obituary from 1901, and is also mentioned by name in her mother’s last will and testament. From the Pittsburgh Post for 4 October 1901:

     There does not appear to be any evidence that Selena (here: Salina) had any specific interest in the affairs of the Bible Student movement, unlike her three sisters, Maria Russell, Emma Russell, and Laura Raynor.

     As for the mysterious Lena Guibert, she appears just once in Zion’s Watch Tower in the special 15 July 1906 issue, where CTR explains the complexities of his conflict with Maria. Before they separated, there were various accusations, and at one point, CTR had a document prepared, which was signed by all those involved, retracting accusations made against him. This was read to the congregation as an apology and reprinted on pages 219-220.

     The five signatories of the document are listed below:

     It seems to have been assumed that since CTR mentioned his problems with Maria and “her sisters,” Lena Guibert must have been one of those sisters. However, when the background to the document is carefully checked, CTR plainly says on page 219:

(quote)

“Mrs Russell’s two sisters and one of the two persons who on the previous Sunday night had been convicted of slander and false witness signed it with us, and on Sunday afternoon I requested the consecrated ones to remain for a special service, and to them I read the said letter.”

     Emma and Laura were the two sisters. So Lena would have to be one of the two other persons who had entered the controversy in the class.

     So who was she?

     Lena (or Lina) Guibert appears in records like street directories for Pittsburgh in this era, and was a member of the Allegheny class that met at Bible House. In 1917-1918, she is listed as the next of kin for her son Albert Daniel Guibert on his draft registration card. His address then was in Cedar Avenue, Pittsburgh, formerly Allegheny. Using his history as the reference, we find his mother’s maiden name was Marlina (Lena) Hartman. She had been married to a Civil War veteran, Peter Guibert, and had three children by him, including Albert Daniel. The marriage failed, and Peter (originally from France) married again and had a second family.

     So Lena (Lina) Guibert was a member of the Allegheny Bible class, and was probably separated or even divorced from her husband Peter at the time, which may have made her sympathetic toward the accusations Maria made.

     So we have two different people here. But the one who was Maria’s sister was Selina Barto.

Research Help - Please

 “Revered Doctor” Isham Fuller Tanner (1848 – 1923) is quoted in Separate Identity vol. 3. He was active in California late in life. I need some biographical information. Most important is education. What seminary or college awarded him his doctor of divinity degree? 

J. F. Rutherford spoke in Pasadena, California in the late teens. When exactly? 

Can you help?

Partial Chapter for comments

 Rough draft only. Comments welcome. Stay on topic. This will come down soon. 

Outside Pressure and Identity

 

            Sociologists tell us that to endure, groups must be cohesive. The basis for cohesion is a clear set of values and goals.  Some sociologists see this as a revelation from the late 19^th Century. It is, in fact, a common observation repeated through centuries of human history. An example is Benjamin Franklin’s “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately.” Probably apocryphal, this aphorism reflects this. To endure, a group opposing the dominant order must clearly define their values and beliefs. There must be a shared understanding and a clearly stated record of beliefs. This created a shared identity.

            Lewis Coser wrote that conflict with those out of the group tends to create unity.[1] He suggested that external conflict tends to unite a group. Fredrick Bushee wrote that opposition “promotes ... unity within opposing groups. ... Just as an individual must concentrate his attention and energies in combat, so a group must centralize and organize all its resources for a conflict. ... In a normal group minor differences disappear in the face of danger from without.”[2]  Georg Simmel suggested that opposition promotes unity within opposing groups. Minor differences disappear “in the face of danger from without.”

            Sociology, for all its many faults, presents here an easily observable ‘truth.’ Most of those who have written about Watch Tower faith, especially those writing about Jehovah’s Witnesses fail to consider the effect on group mentality of constant opposition. The motive behind anti-Russell opposition was the same as that for the Catholic Inquisition, though in most cases laws restrained violence. (Most cases of violence occurred after Russell’s death.) Nevertheless, Russellism was, from clergy viewpoint, dangerous and should be destroyed.

            Clergy and lay writers saw souls at risk, but they also feared loss of authority and power. Typically, they rejected the idea that Watch Tower faith was the one true religion: “To them ... there is but one true religion which is correct in every point. With one sweeping gesture all other religions ... are swept aside and branded as being false and of the devil.” Osul T. Haarland, a Lutheran Clergyman and the author of those words, branded the claim as “preposterous” and “Russellism” as “vile and nefarious,” not a Christian religion. Haarland saw Watch Tower faith as the greatest danger to traditional churches:

remainder of this post has been deleted.

Flatbed copy?

 I need a flatbed scan of this. Can you help?

Need some research assistance.

Updated

I need a more complete biography of Lizzie Avirett of El Paso, Texas. Her proper given name was Elizabeth. Her maiden name was Booth. 

"When Elizabeth Lizzie Booth was born on 18 January 1855, in Round Rock, Williamson, Texas, United States, her father, Dewitt Clinton Booth, was 25 and her mother, Malvina Boyce, was 17. She married Thomas J Avirett on 28 April 1872, in Burleson, Texas, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. She lived in Rockdale, Milam, Texas, United States in 1880 and El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States for about 10 years. She died on 22 April 1933, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 78."

To what religion was she attached? Can we find a photo?

When did Joseph marry Emma?

     

     Because of the lack of official records, it is not always easy to trace marriages in 19^th century Pennsylvania. We know CTR married Maria Ackley on 13 March 1879 and his sister Margaretta had earlier married Benjamin Land on 24 June 1873 because there are newspaper reports for these events.

     As the marriage of Benjamin and Margaretta has not yet, to my knowledge, been published on the internet, below is the newspaper cutting from The Pittsburgh Commercial for 25 June 1873:

     The Rev. J.M. Crum was from the Plymouth Congregational Church.

     But when Joseph Lytle Russell married Emma Hammond Ackley, the sister of his son’s wife, there do not appear to be any extant newspaper announcements.

     However, we can narrow down when the event happened, and a recent newspaper discovery narrows matters down even futher, prompting this article.

     The starting point is the 1880 census which took place in Pittsburgh on 14 June 1880. It was intended to be a snapshot of events as they were on 1 June 1880. In this document, Joseph and Emma are not yet married. This is well over a year after CTR and Maria were married.

     It is not the clearest of writing but it shows four people living together in Cedar Avenue.

     *This is difficult to read. It looks a bit like Sister (step) but the correct relationship to the head of the household, CTR, should be Sister-in-Law and later also Step-Mother.

     Joseph L has shaved a few years off his age. He was approaching 68 at this point, but only admits to 60.

     According to this census return, at the beginning of June 1880 Joseph L and Emma are living at the same address but are still not married.  So their marriage would have to be after the date of the census.

     The next month, July, we have now found a reference to them in a news item about the latest vacation hot-spot, Chautauqua Lake. This location would feature later in Watch Tower history with a convention held there (see 1910 Convention Report) but in 1880 it was a vacation destination easily accessible by the railroads from places like Pittsburgh and Allegheny. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for 27 July 1880 carried a list of visitors to the attractions.

     A transcript reads:

CHAUTAUQUA CHAT.

Crowding Toward the Lake—Life at Point Chautauqua.

Special Correspondence of the Commercial Gazette.

Point Chautauqua, July 26.—Travel to the lake is increasing, the railroad trains are well filled, and the steamers, both large and small, are constantly plying on the waters of this beautiful lake.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny are well represented here, the following being a few of them: Dr. D. W. Riggs and sisters, Mrs. W. Jarvis, Prof. J. F. Carey, Wm. Yagle and wife, A. Johnston and wife, H. Samson, Rev. J. S. Wrightnour, Mrs. H. D. Reymer and daughter, H. Myers and family, John Hays and wife, D. P. Chapman, J. M. Stoner and wife, W. Shallenberger, J. L. Russell and wife, C. B. Priji, James E. Porter, Mrs. J. C. McCullough and daughter, Charles W. Anderson, Cyrus Pershing, Miss Lida McEldowney, Miss Kate Dickson and Rev. J. S. Hutson and wife.

The head clerk of the Grand Hotel informed me, last evening, that the house was full. And why should it not be? The splendid structure, its tasteful furnishings, its excellent table, its beautiful location and its home-like character, render it specially attractive and popular. The cottages, too, in which excellent accommodations can be obtained at low rates, are rapidly filling up.

     We note that the visitors from Pittsburgh and Allegheny include J L Russell and wife. Why would a Pittsburgh merchant leave his business to go on vacation by rail 120-130 miles away? A probable answer would be that this was Joseph and Emma on their honeymoon.

     We can reasonably give their wedding date then as at some time in July 1880.

     This all fits with other evidence. They were to have one daughter Mabel who was born in September 1881. This information is on her marriage certificate when she married Richard Packard on 30 June 1903. If born in September 1881 then Mabel would have been conceived sometime around December 1880.

     It would be interesting to discover who conducted the marriage ceremony for Joseph and Emma, but that information remains allusive. We know that John H Paton conducted the wedding service for CTR and Maria, because one of the newspapers provides the information. Although the 1880 census still lists CTR as a merchant, by now Zion’s Watch Tower had been published for a year so he was increasingly becoming known as a minister of religion. Maybe CTR conducted the wedding for his own father? 

The Last Will and Testament of Maria Frances Russell

 

     Strictly speaking, Maria Francis Russell had no real connection with the Watch Tower Society once she separated from her husband, CTR. But in view of her attitude, actions and concerns, looking at her situation by the end of her life is useful to know.

     Maria was a school teacher who married a wealthy merchant. She believed the message he taught through Zion’s Watch Tower magazine and for a number of years actively supported his mission. He gave her fulsome praise and thanks in the original forward of his first major work, The Plan of the Ages.

 

     Around this time the Russells lived in a large house on Clifton Avenue. They had a live-in servant and a gardener, and the house was big enough to shelter CTR’s sister and her children when they needed help, and later to take in Charles and Rose Ball.

     But in the interests of CTR’s work and mission, in 1894 they moved into an apartment on the top floor of the newly built Bible House.

Photograph by the author

     This was no doubt very convenient and likely saved great expense. While not cited as a reason for the marriage breakdown in the 1890s, it would not have helped as their paths diverged on how they saw their respective roles in marriage.

     Maria left the family home in 1897 and never went back. On the financial front she then claimed to have written half of the first three volumes of Millennial Dawn (Studies in the Scriptures) and virtually all of volume four by herself. She circulated a booklet attacking CTR in which she basically demanded royalties. CTR saw this as a direct threat to his religious work. His view was that, while she had undoubtedly helped in various ways, the subject matter was his and his alone. While financial arrangements for her support were eventually worked out, she never did get any royalties. However, it could be said that neither did CTR, because the whole point was to put everything back into the work of the Watch Tower Society.

     For a fuller description of the issues, see old post at:

https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2025/07/maria-russell-and-millennial-dawn.html

     But money was much in Maria’s thoughts. When CTR died the papers reported her hiring legal counsel to try and challenge his last will and testament.

     With that background in mind it is interesting to travel forward 20 years in time after CTR’s death to see how Maria made out. This is where her last will and testament made in 1936 is of note.

     She bought a home in St Petersburg, Florida, with her sister Emma in the early 1920s. Emma had been married to CTR’s father, and again financial disputes had come to the fore when Emma’s husband died, and bequests were made to his children as well as to her. When Emma died, Maria inherited her estate.

     So below is a transcript of Maria’s last will and testament. There is just one sentence which could not be transcribed with 100% certainty, but it does not affect the contents of the will.

     It details all her property, the house and parcels of land, various cash bequests, the writing off of money previously loaned to others, and personal effects. The main beneficiary was her niece, Mabel Packard, Emma’s daughter, who looked after her at the end.

(transcription)

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.

I, MARIA F. RUSSELL, of the County of Pinellas and State of Florida, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory and desiring to leave instructions for the disposition of such property as I may die seized of, hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament, expressly revoking all former wills, testaments and codicils by me heretofore made.

ITEM ONE.

It is my desire that as soon after my death as is consistent that my executrix, hereinafter named, shall pay all of my just debts. I direct that my body shall be placed beside that of my sister, Emma H. Russell, in the lot that we jointly owned in Royal Palm Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida.

ITEM TWO.

The residence where I now reside was owned jointly by my sister, Emma H. Russell, and myself, and since her death I have had the use thereof. To my niece, Mrs. Mabel R. Packard, I give, devise and bequeath in fee simple, my undivided half interest in said property, which is located at 516 - 14th Avenue, N. E. in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, and otherwise described as follows: to-wit:

Lot 9, Block (?), North Shore addition, according to the map or plat thereof on file and of record in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pinellas County, Florida.

I also give, bequeath and devise unto the said Mabel R. Packard all of the household furniture contained therein.

At this time the said Mabel R. Packard is indebted to me in the sum of Fourteen Hundred ($1400.00) Dollars, evidenced or to be evidenced by a mortgage upon the house and lot on Jackson Street in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. I desire and instruct that such indebtedness as may exist from the said Mabel R. Packard to myself at the time of my death shall be cancelled, and if a mortgage has been placed upon said property in my favor I desire that same be satisfied of record by my executrix hereinafter named.

ITEM THREE

I give, devise and bequeath unto James Russell Packard and John Alden Packard, share and share alike, the following described property, to-wit:

The west half (W ½) of East half (E ½) of Southwest quarter (SW ¼) of Section 33, Township 1 South, Range 3 East, in Jefferson county in the State of Illinois.

ITEM FOUR

(?) ...hereinafter is intended to pay the following sums in cash...(?)...named persons, to-wit:

This first sentence for ITEM FOUR is virtually illegible in the original.

Readers here might like to have a try at deciphering this.  Based on standard language in wills of this period, the delights of AI produced these two alternative suggestions:

To be paid, equivalent in cash, by my Executor to each of the following persons, to‑wit:

I give and bequeath the following legacies, bequests, and sums of money to the following named persons, to-wit:

To my niece, Mrs. Laura E. Fritz, of Arlington, Illinois, the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars.

To Mrs. (?) White, St. Petersburg, Florida, the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars.

To my great-nephew, James Russell Packard, the sum of Seven Hundred ($700.00) Dollars.

To my great-niece, Mildred Packard, the sum of Four Hundred ($400.00) Dollars.

To my great-nephew, John Alden Packard; the sum of Four Hundred ($400.00) Dollars.

To my niece, Selina G. Raynor of Belleview, Pa., the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars, and my beaded purse.

To Mrs. Estella Floding of Arlington Heights, Ill., my gold watch.

I direct that if there be additional funds in cash after the above bequests have been paid, I give, devise and bequeath to my niece, Mrs. Mabel R. Packard, Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars.

In the event that the cash remaining to my estate is not sufficient to pay the above bequests in full, my executrix is instructed to decrease the bequests proportionately, and in the event that the cash remaining to my estate is more than sufficient to pay said bequests, I instruct my executrix to increase the same proportionately.

ITEM FIVE.

I give, devise and bequeath the following personal property as follows:

To Mrs. Laura E. Fritz three bead pins.
To Mrs. Howard G. Raynor my sable fur cloak.

And to little June Packard my amethyst ring.

ITEM SIX.

All other property of which I may die seized and possessed or to which I may be entitled, I give, devise and bequeath the same to James Russell Packard and John Alden Packard, share and share alike.

ITEM SEVEN.

I nominate and appoint my niece, Mabel R. Packard, as executrix of my estate. I desire that she qualify and be commissioned as such executrix without bond. I give unto her full power and authority to manage, sell and dispose of any property I may die seized and possessed of without order of court, and to carry out the terms and directions herein contained. In the event that the sale of any property shall be necessary, I hereby give her authority to sell and dispose of same at public or privatesale, and to execute any deeds, conveyances, bills of sale or other instruments necessary to effectuate the same as fully and completely and lawfully as I could do were I in life. I request my executrix to be diligent in the execution of this trust and to close my estate at the earliest possible moment and at the least expense.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of April, A.D. 1936.

Maria F. Russell (Seal)

We, the undersigned, at the request of Maria F. Russell, have signed our names hereto as witnesses to what she declared is her last will and testament, and at her request she signing in our presence and we signing in the presence of each other and in her presence on the day and year above written.

     Maria died in 1938 and as requested she was laid to rest next to her sister in the Royal Palm Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida.

     The house still exists. While modest by the standards of some in the area, the last time it was on the market it still sold for over one million dollars.

     I think it is fair to say that by her own terms of reference, ultimately Maria did not do TOO badly.

Your observations?

This post will be deleted in not many days. So, if you are going to comment, do so now. 

Outside Pressure and Identity

             Sociologists tell us that to endure groups must be cohesive. The basis for cohesion is a clear set of values and goals.  Some sociologists see this as a revelation from the late 19^th Century. It is, in fact, a common observation repeated through centuries of human history. An example is Benjamin Franklin’s “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately.” Probably apocryphal, this aphorism reflects this. Remainder of post has been deleted.

A wedding

     Charles Taze Russell and Albert Delmont Jones must have been quite close at one time. Here in January 1878 we have CTR attending Jones' wedding and serving as an Attendant. Of course, with Jones, this marriage was to be the first of several. From The Portsmouth Times (Ohio) for 19 January 1878:

Australia - 1938

 Beyond the era we usually consider, but it's interesting.

Annie needs this for her research

 If you have a scan, please forward it to me.

Zoller, J. (1960). The Teachings and Evolution of Doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses as Found in Watchtower Literature from 1879-1960 (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ottawa).

Ann Eliza's will

 

     When checking the internet for information about CTR’s mother, Ann Eliza Russell, there is conflicting information about her death in genealogical research sites. Some say she died in Pittsburgh and others that she died in Philadelphia.

     What is not in dispute is that she was buried in the family plot in the Allegheny Cemetery on Sunday 27 January 1861 just two days after her passing on Friday 25 January. Also that her business was then based in Philadelphia.

     The notice of death in the Pittsburgh Gazette for Saturday 26 January 1861 states that she died on the Friday afternoon at 2.30. The funeral would be from her brother’s home the next day, Sunday. While she could have died in Philadelphia, the note of the exact time of death in the newspaper suggests she died at her brother’s home. Although a continuous rail link from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh did now exist, the train part of the journey alone would have taken 13-15 hours. It all indicates that Joseph, Eliza and the children had no proper base in Pittsburgh at the time, and also suggests that her brother Thomas and his family helped care for her in her final days.

     Supporting the idea that she spent her final days in Pittsburgh is her last will and testament. It was prepared on 18 December 1860.

     The will states that she was “of Pittsburgh” and that her husband was now doing business as her agent in Philadelphia. While not conclusive on its own, it does suggest she was preparing the will in Pittsburgh and that Joseph was not with her on the day.

     The wording of the will shows it was not written at home with neighbors called in as witnesses. This was professionally prepared by a law firm, and the contents and wording suggest that her brother, Thomas, may have been with her, since much of the document features his role as executor. She obviously knew she was seriously ill and the will was to put her affairs in order and make provision for Joseph and the children. Although the attorney who prepared the will is not named (which apparently was quite common) the two who signed as witnesses, Jas. R. Reed and Thos. N. Murray, are listed in Thurston’s Pittsburgh Directory for 1860-1861 as clerks. The inference is that James and Thomas were law clerks, working in the same office, and were simply called in to witness Ann’s signing. Again, this supports the location as Pittsburgh.

     As noted above, in the will she is presented as the business owner, and Joseph is called her agent in Philadelphia. The point of the will was that she had assets in her own right, likely inherited. The main thrust of the document was to settle outstanding debts still hanging over them from their 1855 business failure. This would help Joseph back on his feet financially.

     Below is a transcript of the complete text of the document as written, with original spelling and capitalization preserved as closely as possible.

I, Ann Eliza Russell of Pittsburgh Allegheny County Penn. wife of Joseph L. Russell, who is now doing business as my agent in the City of Philadelphia Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament.

1st I give and devise to my Brother Thomas Birney of the City of Pittsburgh, his heirs and assigns, in trust for the uses hereafter mentioned, All the lands owned by me in the state of Iowa, and County of Franklin, viz The North East Quarter of Section No Eight (8) in Township No Ninety One (91), North of Range No twenty (20) west of the Fifth principal Meridian containing One hundred and sixty acres or thereabouts. To sell the same at as early a date after my decease, as in his opinion a fair price can be realized therefor; and on receiving the proceeds thereof or within a reasonable time thereafter to appropriate the same as follows To wit:

2d To appropriate to his own use such amount as will be a reasonable compensation for his trouble and expense in effecting sale thereof and maki distribution, as also to the amount of One hundred and fifty dollars additional, for money at sundry times heretofore by him advanced to me or my husband.

3d The rest and residue of the Proceeds arising from sale of the land aforesaid to be appropriated to payment or pro rata discharge of the debts due by my said husband or owing by him at the time of his failure in the year AD 1855, so far as may be made known to him the said Thomas Birney or his heirs, within twelve months from effecting sale as aforesaid. And for the purposes aforesaid I hereby nominate and appoint the said Thomas Birney my sole Executor, with full power to sell, execute and deliver a Deed or deeds for said described land without the intervention of any Court or order therefrom.

In witness whereof I hereto set my hand and seal this 18th day of December Anno Domini 1860.

Ann Eliza Russell

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Testatrix as her last Will in our presence who at her request in her presence have hereunto signed our names as witnesses. 

Jas. R Reed

Thos. N Murray

Sworn June 11 1861

     It should be noted that the debts settled included money loaned by Thomas Birney in their time of need at the time of their 1855 disaster.

     Joseph and the children came back to Pittsburgh to stay and build up a substantial dry goods business, both in Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, and Federal Street, Allegheny. CTR grew up and expanded the businesses. The rest as they say is history.