Chapter
one considers Russell family antecedents and C. T. Russell’s childhood with
some reference to his business ventures. We draw heavily on Russell’s accounts
as scattered through the pages of the Watch Tower and Convention Reports,
public and church records.
Chapter
two takes us into his meeting with Wendell, Stetson and others. We provide
extensive biographies of Wendell and Stetson and more brief notices of others
Russell met between 1869 and 1874. We define the difference between Age-to-Come
(One Faith) belief and Adventism and explore which most influenced Russell’s
associates. Among those we profile and whose interactions with Russell and his
associates we explore are George Darby Clowes, John T. Ongley, and George W.
Cherry. We explore Stetson’s shift from Adventism to One Faith belief. Photos
of the hall Wendell first spoke in and the one in which Russell met him and
copies of newspaper notices and similar matters illustrate this chapter
Chapter
three considers interaction with Storrs. We present an extensive biography of
Storrs, emphasizing his shift from Millerite Adventism to Age-to-Come belief.
This discussion is drawn from contemporary records. We also consider the
Russells interactions with Eleazer L. Owen, Seventh-day Adventists and
Christadelphians. We detail the history of the One Faith congregation that grew
out of Wendell’s visit. We consider claims made about Russell’s view of William
Miller and his connections to other, non-Adventist millenarians.
Chapter
four considers the formation of the Bible Class, following the trail of their
doctrinal development and connecting it to contemporary persons and articles.
We discuss in some detail William Conley’s background, his connections to
Peters and others, and his doctrinal differences with Russell. We leave the
history of their separation and Conley’s shift to faith-cure advocacy to volume
two.
Russell describes their doctrinal development several times. Combining his various
statements we outline the salient points as: 1. End of the age; 2. Second
Probation; 3. Ransom and Atonement; 4. Parousia and Restitution; 5. Restoration
of the Jews; 6. World Burning; 7. Baptism; 8. Resurrection; 9. End-times
chronology and prophetic framework; 10. The Trinity; 11. Devil and Demons; 12.
Great Pyramid, and 13. Other doctrines including congregation “ordinances.” We
connect their study to contemporary events, discussions and articles in
journals we know they read or tracts by people they knew.
Chapter
five considers Russell’s introduction to the Barbourite movement. It profiles
the principals and discusses his meeting with Barbour in Philadelphia and his
meeting with Paton in Pittsburgh. There is some newspaper documentation of
Barbour’s activity in Philadelphia. This chapter presents a thorough biography
of Paton and biographies of those most prominent among Herald of the Morning
readers: Benjamin Wallace Keith; Samuel Howe Withington; Ira and Lizzie
(Elizabeth) Allen; Avis M. Hamlin. It ends with a consideration of the social
milieu and Russell’s commitment to the work.
Chapter
six considers in detail Barbour and Russell’s ministry up to the spring of 1878.
We explore newspaper articles detailing their first missionary trip. We discuss
their publishing ministry and some new doctrinal developments. They abandoned
belief in an earthly heaven in mid 1877, causing some considerable controversy.
We look at reactions to their ministry both from Adventists and from One Faith
believers, quoting from articles appearing in their journals.
Chapter
seven considers their ministry’s fruitage. We profile some who were prominent
in the following years. These include Caleb Davies; William Imre Mann; Joshua
Tavender; John Corbin Sunderlin; and Arthur Prince Adams. We draw on private
letters, church records and contemporary newspaper articles.
Chapter
eight considers the atonement controversy and separation. This exists as notes
only.
We
plan an additional chapter considering Barbour and Russell’s households, their
wives and other connections. This may be inserted between chapters six and
seven. An appendix on Russell’s supposed Masonic connections is ready. A second
appendix considering Russell’s preaching with evangelists connected to The
Restitution is partially complete.
A rough page count of volume one is 380 pages. That will change with edits.
12 comments:
Can we advice the news?
380 pages in A4 layout?
It will be 11 point 8 1/2 by 11 inches, similar to the Barbour bio. Don't advertise it yet. It won't be ready until sometime past January as things stand now.
Anyone out there want to volunteer to design the cover?
you can, however, link to this post.
I cannot volunteer to design the cover, but now you are going for a separate volume for the earliest years, have you decided on a title?
It could be your originally mooted title, "volume one" - or another specific title. The final title might influence the cover design.
I agree with Jerome, it is necessary the title to draw a pertinent and attractive cover
Fix well and clearly the meaning of the expressions "Age-to-Come" and "One Faith" for the foreign readers. I think it is basic point.
If the "Age to come" is a doctrine (or a belief) based on scriptures as Ephesians 2:7 or Mark 10:30, with a system of doctrines distincted from the adventist theory, what is the "One Faith"? A group of people believing in the Age-to-Come doctrine?
Roberto, you wrote, "fix clearly the meaning of the expressions Age-to-Come and One Faith."
I've forgotten. Didn't we post that chapter on the other blog? I think it makes the meaning perfectly clear ... Am I wrong?
No, you're not wrong.
The meaning of the "Age-to-Come" and "One Faith" are perfectly clear.
My doubt was about the "One Faith" meaning, but I was ... inattentive.
The meaning of the "One Faith" is well fixed at chapter two, subtitle "Defining the difference", paragraph that reads this way: "Russell had some interaction with most Age-to-Come groups... There were many indipendent congregations who disagreed on minor and sometimes major points of doctrine. because names were variable and changeable we will describe them most generally as One Faith".
It was my inattention, sorry.
I ask the permission to translate the list in an italian forum (3.426 members). I will quote you and I will add links to your blog.
Chapter six: "They abandoned belief in an earthly heaven in mid 1877"
Was that an Age-to-Come belief?
Most age to come believer saw the earth as man's natural home. They believed that any sojurn in heaven would be brief or indeterminate meant only to keep the saints safe during a time of trouble. Few of them saw the heavens as the place God intended for the little flock. They saw only a restored, edenic earth.
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