by Jerome
The
book God’s Kingdom Rules discusses on page 56 the stand that Bible Students
took towards warfare during WW1. While the command not to kill was paramount in
their minds, they also wished to be obedient to their understanding of the “higher
powers (superior authorities)” of Romans 13. On that basis, some were prepared
to join the army and wear a uniform. Of course, wearing a soldiers’ uniform,
carrying a weapon, but then firing to miss, would be a difficult situation to
be in, but this was the basic advice CTR gave in Volume 6 of Studies in the
Scriptures, The New Creation, pages 594-595:
"We would consider it not amiss...to request a transference to the medical or hospital department, where our services could be used with full consent of our consciences; but even if compelled to serve in the ranks and fire our guns we need not feel compelled to shoot a fellow man."
This
background may help some modern readers to understand the picture at the top of
this article. This is General William Preble Hall, in full military uniform,
wearing his medals. Hall was a Bible Student. The photograph is taken from a
convention report for 1911; a convention where Hall was a featured speaker.
So
who was this man? What was his background and connection with the Bible
Students?
Hall
came from a military background. He was born in 1848. He graduated from West
Point in 1868 and served principally on Western Frontier duty until the
Spanish-American war. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General. The following comes
from the volume Who Was Who in America 1897-1942, page 507. (Spelling and
abbreviations used have been preserved)
“Served
principally on frontier duty until Spanish war; was in fight with Apaches at
Whitestone, MT, Ariz., July 13 1873; Big Horn and Yellowstone Exped, 1876. And
in action at Indian Creek, WY July 17, 1876, and combat of Slim Buttes, Dak.,
Sept. 9-10, `876; attacked by Indians while in command of reconnoitering party
near camp on White River, CO, Oct 29, 1879, and while going rescue a brother
officer was surrounded by about 35 warriors; awarded Congressional Medal of
Honor for most distinguished gallantry on that occasion’ Adj. Gen Dep Puerto
Rico 1899-1900. Was mem. Dept. Div. army, and distinguished marksmen teams.
1879-92, and won medals upon all these teams, shooting, carbine, and revolver.
Retired June 11, 1912.”
The
reference to Big Horn calls to mind the death of General Custer. From anecdotal
evidence (letter from Russell Kurzen of WT headquarter staff dated Jan 23,
1995) “One day before the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Custer told Hall to
scout the Indians, so he came within one day of dying with Custer and his men.”
The same source said that Hall had a reputation for kindness and fairness to
the Indians, often seeing to it that their needs were met out of army supplies.
(Hall served as a Quartermaster at different stages of his career.)
(The words "anecdotal" and "evidence" probably don't belong together in the last paragraph. For an interesting discussion of this disputed account see the comments - Jerome)
So
how did General Hall become a Bible Student?
Hall
relates his experience in a letter to ZWT for June 1, 1905. In September 1904
while attending the World’s Fair at St Louis, he had picked up two tracts
published by the Watch Tower, and was moved to write off for the first volume
of Millennial Dawn. He soon obtained the other volumes and his letter shows his
full commitment to the message.
By
1907 CTR was highlighting Hall’s example in sharing his faith. In a convention
talk “To Colporteurs and Harvest
Workers” CTR singled out Hall for praise in visiting all the
people he knew in Washington with Bible Student tracts. In CTR’s estimation
this took more courage than fighting on the battlefield.
In 1908, Hall was one of those listed who had taken “the vow”.
By
1911 Hall was giving the address of welcome at the Mountain Lake Park,
Maryland, convention, before introducing J F Rutherford as convention chairman.
It
was at this convention that a world tour was announced to investigate foreign
missions. CTR and six companions made the tour and reported back in a special
issue of the Watch Tower for April 1912. General Hall was one of the group, and
in the photograph in the Proclaimers book on page 420, he is third from the
left, just behind CTR who is seated. When the tour visited the Philippines, where
Hall still knew some US military personnel, he gave a talk on "The Bible
and Christianity from the Standpoint of a Soldier."
In
July 1912 at a convention in Washington D.C. Hall led a session which the
convention report headed Lake of Hell-Fire Officially Repudiated, which presented
an anti-Hell resolution for adoption.
In
1915 J F Rutherford produced his booklet Great Battle in Ecclesiastical
Heavens. In the character witnesses, Hall features prominently. His testimonial
to CTR (dated April 3, 1915) takes up most of page 52 in the original American
printing, signed W P Hall, Brigadier General, US Army, and then Hall’s own
photograph takes up the whole of page 53.
After
CTR died, comments on warfare and patriotism in the book The Finished Mystery resulted
in eight well-known Bible Students being arrested and sentenced to long prison
terms in 1918. They were released after around nine months in 1919.
With
his background, one might wonder how Hall dealt with this. However, it appears he
continued as a Bible Student in loyal association with the IBSA. He died in December
1927 and his obituary was published in the Society’s Golden Age magazine for
February 8, 1928, page 302. Probably written by Clayton J Woodworth, it reads:
General
Hall Passes On
GENERAL
William Preble Hall, retired, former Adjutant General of the United States
Army, and well known to Bible Students in all parts of the world, has passed
on, at the age of 79 years.
General
Hall, awarded a Congressional medal of honor for distinguished gallantry in
action in one of Colorado’s many Indian wars, in 1879, was also brave is his
defense of the truth. He was neither afraid nor ashamed to distribute tracts in
his home neighborhood, one of the most exclusive in Washington, D.C.
Though
always to some extent influenced by his early military training, he
nevertheless took his stand on the Lord’s side and was a meek and faithful
worker in the service work, doing with his might what his hand found to do. He
toured the world with Pastor C.T. Russell on the foreign mission investigation
and was the chairman of the Bible Students’ convention in Scranton in 1920. He
was a brother greatly beloved by all who knew him.
(end
of obituary)
Hall
was buried in Arlington National cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia, Section
1, Lot 653. If you check the name “William Preble Hall” on the Find a Grave
site, you can see his grave marker, along with a bit more biographical
information, including family details which this article has not covered. The Find
a Grave article does not mention his Bible Student connections. However, Hall also
gets his own article on Wikipedia. This does provide information about his
religious background along with some more photographs.
