Note: More recent research has confirmed Rose's age on entering the Russell household and shows this article's main premise to be incorrect. Please see the article Rose and Charles Ball published on June 4, 2020. However, there are some things of value in the article below so it has not been deleted.
by Jerome
(reprinted)
Rose Ball and Ernest Henninges pictured in the front
row of a group photograph at a Bible Students convention in Chicago in August
1893. Rose was 24 and Ernest 22 at the time. They would marry a few years
later.
When
Maria Russell sued Charles Taze Russell (hereafter referred to as CTR) for a
divorce from bed and board, and accused him of improprieties with other females
in the household, it attracted front page headlines in Pittsburgh. It was just
the sort of story about a religious figure that the papers loved. Maria’s
accusations, although judged inadmissible by the judge, were still given
maximum publicity in the popular press.
There
were actually two accusations. One featured Rose Ball, a member of CTR’s
household who had been viewed as an unofficial adopted daughter; and the other
featured a servant girl, Emily Matthews. Rose had subsequently married, and at
the time of the court case in 1906 was living with her husband Ernest Henninges
on the other side of the world in Australia. Rose had been out of the country
for several years at this time, and since Maria’s accusations were not
publicised in advance, there was no way she could be called on to give evidence
for either side. However, the other accusation, one far less known, involving a
servant girl named Emily Matthews, was dealt with by the court. Emily still
lived in Pittsburgh, and when called as a witness under her married name Emily
Sheesly, testified clearly that no impropriety had ever occurred with CTR.
Maria’s counsel did not even bother to cross-examine her.
One
feature of the Rose Ball accusation that has continued to raise questions is
her age. Maria presented her as a fully grown woman; CTR presented her as a
much younger person towards whom he acted in a “fatherly” manner. There are
several schools of thought on this divergence. One is that CTR stressed his
fatherly concern for a young person in his household, because that was innocent;
although in today’s popular climate would likely backfire. Another school of
thought blames the discrepancy on Maria; that Rose’s age was inflated so that
her accusations would carry more weight in the popular climate that existed
then. Another interesting theory is that maybe Rose herself falsified her age –
one way or the other – to get into the Russell household. Or – looking at the
above photograph taken of Rose when she was 24 – maybe in her late teens she really
did just look young and dress young.
This
article presents another suggestion, where a simple misunderstanding over dates
could possibly resolve the inconsistency. I admit this relies on conjecture, but
I would ask that readers at least consider it.
Rose
was born on 19 March 1869 and died in Australia on 22 November 1950 aged 81.
Since 1909 she and her husband, Ernest Henninges, led a movement that broke
away from ZWT over the issue of the New Covenant. They published a journal
called The New Covenant Advocate, which ran from 1909-1953. Ernest was chief
editor until his death in 1939. Rose then served as editor until 1944 when she
handed over the reins due to advancing years. As the original adherents died
out, so the paper slowly declined until it ceased publication in 1953. However,
it ran for sufficient years to record Rose’s obituary in the issue for January
1, 1951. This is where her birth date comes from, allowing researchers to link
up with the correct Rose Ball from genealogical records. Rose was buried with
her late husband in Burwood cemetery, Victoria, but her name was never added to
his memorial inscription.
So
how old was Rose when she joined the Russell household? Most histories that
comment on the issue state that she joined his household in 1888. This statement
tallies with ZWT for February 15, 1900, which states that she had been a member
of the Watch Tower family for 12 years. This was written at the time she and
husband Ernest set sail abroad. I am speculating that, depending on how you
define matters, this date may be misleading.
Page
references below are from the original transcript of the April 1906 Russell vs
Russell hearing. (For any readers who have the Paper Book of Appellant, the
pagination is obviously different but the text is the same.)
Maria
claimed that Rose was 19 or 20 when she came to live with them (page 67).
Whereas CTR (page 135) states “she looked to be about 13 - I don’t know how old
she was” and later says “she was a very young looking woman”. Some of the worst
critics of CTR have chosen to accept Maria’s accusation, but then to ignore her
description of Rose in favour of CTR’s - simply so they can put the worst
possible spin on it and accuse him of child molestation.
However,
it is interesting to see how Maria’s claim is challenged by her own testimony.
On page 11 of the transcript there is a very strange exchange, which no-one ever
seems to have taken issue with:
Q How long had (Rose) been with you before this
trouble arose?
A She came to us in about 1884.
Q
That would be just about the time you moved on to Clifton Avenue?
A No, we moved on to Clifton Avenue in 1883. It
was about 1889 when she came, just shortly after we moved to Clifton Avenue.
Q Did she live with you?
A Yes Sir.
The
above exchange doesn’t make any sense; did the stenographer have an off-day?
Maria moved to Clifton Avenue in 1883, Rose joined them about 1884, or rather –
hasty correction - she joined them in 1889 just after they moved to Clifton
Avenue…
Did
Maria suddenly change her testimony mid-sentence? 1889 of course would make
Rose 19 or 20, which would fit Maria’s later allegation. But if Maria changed
her testimony, or just got muddled in her responses, it is a shame no-one
appeared to notice it on the day to query it!
The
matter is further confused by Maria stating (still on page 11) that “Rose lived
with us for about twelve years.” Since Maria ceased to be part of “us” in 1897,
that doesn’t fit the 1888 claim. Neither is any acknowledgement made of Rose’s
marriage to Ernest Henninges. According to Rose’s death certificate she was
married at the age of 25, which would be the mid 1890s. (However, one must be
cautious about dates on death certificates, since the one person who could
verify the information is no longer there to do so. Some internet sources give
the year 1897, but I have yet to see a marriage certificate.) However, whatever
year it was in the 1890s, the marriage would certainly have changed both Rose’s
name and status in the household.
The
possible truth of the matter is found in Maria’s earlier testimony on page 4.
When recounting her various homes, she states that she moved into Clifton
Avenue and lived there for ten years before moving to the Bible House in 1894.
So
according to Maria’s testimony, they moved to Clifton Avenue in 1884 (or with
her later statement on page 67 perhaps earlier in 1883), and shortly thereafter
Rose joined them. If that was the case, Rose joined them in 1883-84. The date
1884 for her joining the household is also given in a comprehensive thesis in
Spanish on Watch Tower hymnology, where Rose wrote the lyrics for several hymns
used by Bible Students.
With
an 1869 birth date that would make her aged about 14-15. CTR’s claim - I don’t know how old she was –
she was young looking – maybe about 13? – and with the styles of clothing worn
by young women of that age group – that could be more feasible than Maria’s
portrayal of a fully grown-up 19-20 year old.
But
twenty years or more on, with all the more important things to remember and all
that water under the bridge, it is quite possible for memory to play tricks on
exact years - so could the 1888 date in the July 15, 1906 ZWT be technically incorrect?
And could CTR have had more in mind her working at the new headquarters – Bible
House – rather than just living at his home – when talking of her joining the
“Watch Tower” family, rather than his personal family, in ZWT February 15,
1900? That might explain the apparent discrepancy.
When
living in Bible House, Rose played an active part in the affairs of the WT
Society. Both she, and her future husband, Ernest Henninges, were directors of
the Society at one point. It is reported that Rose became a Watch Tower Society
director in April 1892 and then Vice-President in January 1893 for a year,
remaining as a director thereafter until going abroad in 1900. (In reality
these were honorary positions needed to fulfil legal requirements). After she
and Ernest married, they eventually left America to start branches of the
Society in England and Germany before ending up in Australia. Rose would have known
all about the court hearing and Maria’s accusations because CTR published his
side of matters in ZWT in 1906, and she and Ernest still actively supported
CTR’s ministry until the rift over the New Covenant issue. (See for example
Henninges’ glowing Australian reports to his “dear brother” in the annual reports
in ZWT for both 1906 and 1907.)
Even
when, in late 1908, they chose to oppose CTR’s views on certain theological issues,
and then from 1909 propounded their views in a monthly journal, mentioning CTR
by name, they never used his personal conduct in their arguments. Rose could
have been the star witness had there been any truth in Maria’s accusations. And
what is overlooked – Emily, the other girl named, turned up in court
voluntarily and supported CTR’s account.
This
“explanation” of a discrepancy in the hearing is – I freely admit – just
speculation on my part.
Perhaps
I might be forgiven for throwing impartiality into the long grass to conclude
this article.
I
would like to describe another religious figure – one who is actually far
better known today that CTR. See if you can guess who this is.
He
was born in Britain, but after completing his education travelled to America.
While there, he was arrested for slander and given bail, but immediately
skipped the area and ultimately the country to escape the consequences. He also
left behind a young lady, having decided after casting lots (pieces of paper
taken out of a hat!) that he wouldn't stay around and marry her. Back in
England after another failed relationship, he eventually married a rich widow.
But one day she rummaged in his desk and found loads of affectionate letters to
other women, and stormed out of the house. He put a note in his diary that
basically said "Good riddance - I won't ask you back!" While separated
from this wife, he then took a woman of very dubious history on as his
"housekeeper". Unfortunately for him and his "housekeeper"
at a special meal with other ministers and dignitaries, he had the indignity of
his estranged wife bursting in and ranting about the "whore" he was
currently with - in front of everyone. Their ill-feeling towards each other was
so public, that when his estranged wife took sick no-body bothered to tell him
until after she was dead and buried.
This
makes CTR's and Maria’s misfortunes in matrimony appear quite paltry in
comparison.
Who
am I describing above? John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church.
The
point to be stressed is that - even if Wesley was 100% at fault in the above
account (and in fairness to him I have no way of knowing either way) would one
be right to judge the Methodist church on that slice of history? Would Wesley's
personal life ever be a good argument for or against the veracity of Methodism?
If anyone went down that road, I am sure that any rational person would view
them as prejudiced and unreasonable. And the fact that the above historical
details are not widely circulated shows that media of today shares that view.
So
whatever happened in the sad disintegration of the Russells’ marriage and the
bombshell Maria dropped without warning into an open hearing – any standard of
judgment should be based on the beliefs and teachings of the principals, and in
the context of the times.
But
over the issue of Rose’s age, the above is a possible explanation that may help
harmonise the varying accounts.
4 comments:
Thanks Jerome, great article. Those strange flip flops with the years by Mrs. Russell always puzzled me. Your explanation seems reasonable.
I always knew there was something about those Methodists. Thanks for the research.
It doesn’t add to our knowledge really, but having tried to follow the trail, here is a bit of information about Emily Matthews, witness in trial this article covers. Emily was born in England in 1866 and came to America in 1883. She became a live-in servant at the Russell household, but would have left at least by 1892. In that year she married Oliver (Chuck) Sheasley. (Slight variant spelling to that in the trial transcript). In the 1901 census the family are still living in Allegheny and he is a brakeman on the railroad. There the trail goes cold, apart from the fact that they had one son, Clarence Meade Sheasley, born in 1893. He had a war record in WW1 and lived until 1965.
I appreciated very much this article on Rose Ball.
This subject is presented from time to time by those who cannot
attack the truth with scripture, but try to do so by character assassination.
Your suggestion as to the conflicting testimony seems very well thought out, and logical.
This history is fascinating. Also, the Wesley anecdote brought the point home.
Thank you for your research.
John Tewell
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