Please Understand

I'm really ill. I have nearly 200 unanswered, unread emails. Contact me if you must, but please only do so if urgent until I post otherwise.

ALSO,

Lulu.com, my printer, has had a major, self-inflicted failure, and it appears that sometime this year I'll migrate my books to another publisher. I will need help with this. Let me know.

The Photo - UPDATED

An earlier post presents a photo with the speculation that it may be Joseph Russell. Mike C. replied in  the comments trail that it was Henry Weber. I agree with mike. Herewith is Weber's photo as it appears in Separate Identity vol. 2. Compare photos, and I think you will agree.

Henry Weber in 1885

Photo is misidentified on web page.

The original shows this to be someone else. Not Weber.

Can we establish this?

Is the man who wrote as O. F. L'Amoreaux, and who claimed to be Chair of Languages at Wheaton College really Oscar F. Lumry?

A possible new photograph of Joseph Lytle Russell?

All readers here will be familiar with the portrait of Joseph Lytle (sometimes Lytel) Russell that was taken in the 1850s. It appeared to be the only picture in existance. Because of potential copyright issues with some sources we are reproducing as our main picture below a line drawing of Joseph.

Drawing by BK and AG as found in Separate Identity volume one, 
reproduced with permission.

But now a possible second picture may have been discovered, taken much later in Joseph’s life.                                                                                                
Eagle-eyed collector, Zions Herald, noticed a portrait picture on the wall on the right in this picture of the Pittsburgh Bible House parlor. Whose picture was this?

The original glass negative of this photograph is owned by Brian. The grain as seen below was on the original 5 x 7 inch glass plate negative. Using 12,800 dpi scanning and some Photoshop manipulation, he was able to rescue the picture below.

  

How does it compare with the early known photograph of Joseph? Both Bernhard and Brian have made careful comparisons of faces. But as the original sitters are seen from different angles, along with the passage of time and the camouflage of a rather bushy beard, conclusive identification is difficult. There has been quite some discussion before posting this and the end result still has to be that we don’t really know. But here is one of the grids to attempt to line up key features.

What does seem apparent is that the picture from the parlor has someone holding a volume of Millennial Dawn. Comparing the covers of the editions of Millennial Dawn from that era, the most likely candidate in the photograph is volume 4, The Day of Vengeance. If this is so, then this book was published in 1897 (announced in September, official forward dated October) and it was on December 17 of that year that Joseph Lytle, now back in Pittsburgh, died.

Ultimately, the key question to ask is: if this is not Joseph Lytle, who else could it be? This person was important enough to CTR that he chose to have their framed photograph on his wall. None of the male members of his family supported him. Nearly all his early associates eventually chose different paths, and anyway, their pictures and identities have been well established. It is none of them. The person in the photograph is in the right age group.

Bernhard has suggested that it might be a picture of Henry Weber, the well-trusted Vice President of the Society from 1892-1904 (his death). There is only one photograph of Weber we know, which is taken from the 1900 book American Florist (Henry was a horticulturist). Although published in 1900, we don’t know when the photograph was taken.

But in 1897, the year for the Millennial Dawn volume, Weber was 62 and Joseph Lytle 84. What age best fits the picture on the parlor wall? I obviously WANT it to be JLR. What do others readers think?

In MY book we have here a new photograph of Joseph Lytle Russell.

Possibly…

(With grateful thanks to Zions Herald, Brian and Bernhard, whose discussion on what started life as just a throwaway query has been most interesting. To paraphrase a phrase from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, like Topsy it just growed.)

Useful?

Some of you will find these useful:

https://ia802809.us.archive.org/34/items/jewish-hopes-russell-1910/Jewish%20hopes%2C%20by%20C.%20T.%20Russell%2C%20edition%20of%201910.pdf

https://archive.org/details/poemshymnsofdawn00russ/page/n6/mode/2up

Hemery Archive

I received a notification that my inbox was so full it would shortly not accept new mail unless I went through it all and deleted stuff. I did a reverse order shuffle to find emails from way back that never got deleted at the time. There were even some from Bruce from 2008. But what has prompted this post now was an email from a reliable source in India (!) from 2005, about a mouth watering cache of material that had apparently been recently sold on eBay.

The story as told to me was as follows:

Apparently the library of Jesse Hemery appeared on the market only a few months back. If I have the story correctly it was bought as part of a job lot of second hand clothes etc by a lady who deals in that sort of thing. It  seems Jesse Hemery's trunk was full of most interesting items including and original Three Worlds, about 115 letters from Russell, mostly handwritten, 50 or 60 from Rutherford and a few from Knorr, various photos and numerous other books including Horae Apocalypticae etc. Had a lot of interest, and it finally went for 34,000 GBP. There cannot be many who would pay that kind of money. Do you have any ideas? Apparently included were the following:

178 letters from Pastor C T Russell mostly written in hand from about 1900 to 1916 . Some are typed, paper very aged in some, some splitting where badly opened. Some deal with Bible Students Conventions in London, Glasgow, The new London Tabernacle, The London Opera House Photo Drama show, Travel to London by steam ship. Most are of practical rather than theological content.

74 letters from J F Rutherford, mainly typed and signed from a variety of locations. In NY, California, etc. Most again are practical. Bible Student Conventions at Alexander Palace, Royal Albert Hall, travel arrangements. Radio broadcasts from London. BBC monopoly etc.

12 letters from NH Knorr typed but signed - general admin at Craven Terrace post War.

200 Miscellaneous  copies of the Outlook for the London Company,  Judge Rutherford and ‘Empire news’, His Majesties Aliens Dept letter re deportation of American A Schroeder, letters from various UK Bible Students groups non WT Society enclosures. Letters from European Offices of Society 1920 – 1950. Letters from Scottish brethren Minna and John Edgar.

Maybe 60 Photos - various of Russell at conventions around UK?  With Hemery, similar with Rutherford. Photos of Craven Terrace inside and Elders.

Books, Booklets various Old Theology, Golden Age, Towers, Convention reports – random selection about 90 items, paperback Plan of the Ages – cream cover (signed as gift by Russell).

Audio Angelophone Hymn record – broken/cracked

Non Society material - Books by various authors: Elliot (Horae Apocalypticae), Barton (God’s Covenants),  Barbour (Washed in his blood.), Henry Drummond (Dialogues on Prophecy), Morton Edgar (Prayer and the Bible, etc

Hemery books! – Revelation Unfolded, The Second coming of Jesus Christ - 1950’s. He seems to have left the Society by this time.

 (end of list)

The big question is where did it all go? Has any of it surfaced on the internet in the collecting world since then? Or has someone got this all lined up as part of their pension fund?

Photodrama memorabilia

A few items from Tom's collection.

On Amazon now

I make more money if you buy from lulu.com. But if you must, volume 2 is now on Amazon. Some [hopefully very positive] reviews would be welcome.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1678009245/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

The Cincinnati Daily Star - April 28, 1877

Catching up ... and

I've caught up with about half of my emails, starting with the oldest unread. I'm still on meds that make me woozy and sleepy. I walk somewhat better. Remain patient.

I'm trying to arrange a photocopy from the Wisconsin Historical Society. I may need a volunteer to make it, when everything calms down and the virus is a reduced threat. All three universities with a presence here are closed. All the schools are closed. The post office main counter is closed. But the pollution had dropped out of the air, except for occasional blowing dust from plowed fields.

I'm housebound anyway. And now I learn I was exposed to someone with symptoms ... Such an interesting time in which to live. If those John the Revelator describe as ruining the earth go away, it should heal fairly rapidly. I think the lock downs show this. I'm surprised how clear one of our rivers has become. It's usually very muddy, full of runoff from farmers' fields. So very interesting.

Anyway, I'll report the volunteer request later, when and if it become necessary and it's safe to visit the library.

My Thanks ... and

I'm still not able to function fully after my fall. Be patient if you're expecting a reply to an email.

My thanks to ZionsHerald who made the links work, and who has assumed coding responsibilities.

I need any material relevant to Nelson Barbour you may have. Send it even if you think I probably have it. Please.

C. B. Downing

I'm still restricted in movement, mostly bound to a chair. But there is this:

From the Chinese Recorder, 1911, page 529

In Memoriam. — Miss C. B. Downing

            Miss C. B. Downing died at the New Missionary Home at Chefoo, July 22nd, 1911, at the age of 82. Her early home was at St. Johnsbury, Vermont. In 1857 she joined the mission to the Choctaw Indians under the care of the Presbyterian Board, in what is now known as Oklahoma. At that time it required six weeks of tiresome travel to make the journey from Pittsburg, Pa., a journey which can now be made within two days. Miss Downing taught in the school for Indian girls until the work was stopped by the civil war in 1861. Miss Downing returned north and became a teacher in what is now the Women's College at Blairsville, Pa.

            In 1866 she came to China in a sailing vessel around the Cape of Good Hope, and settled at Chefoo, where she has spent forty-five years, with the exception of one year spent in America on furlough. As soon as suitable buildings could be erected and arrangements made a girls’ boarding school was opened under her special care. At that time there were no Christian families from which to draw pupils.

            When non-Christians were asked to send their daughters to school, the questions often asked were: Can girls learn to read and write? What good would their education accomplish? Gradually prejudice gave way and many happy Christian homes and efficient teachers and Bible women have been the fruit of this school.

            After some years, in consequence of failing health, she gave up the school and opened her home to missionaries and all needing rest and change. In early years she excelled as a conversationalist. Her humor, ready repartee and geniality helped to lift people out of despondency and take more hopeful and cheerful views of life.

            For several years Miss Downing, as strength permitted, assisted in teaching in the Anglo-Chinese School. Not a few of the young men who learned to speak English well owe much to the skill and faithfulness of her teaching. She also did much to help this school financially.

            She helped many of her pupils and Chinese friends to secure comfortable homes of their own rather than live in rented houses.

            The past few years of her life were spent in the beautiful new missionary home overlooking the sea. She assisted most liberally in getting this home established, believing that missionaries living in less favored parts of the country needed when weary in body and mind some health resort, in order to be always at their best and be able to do successful work.

            She was always ready to help any in sorrow or in need.

            A wave of sorrow swept over many hearts when the news of her death was heard.

            'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.'

Hunter Corbett. Chefoo, August 3rd, 1911.

The St. Johnsburry, Vermont, Caledonian

Jan 11, 1878

Delays

I woke up this morning to about 100 unread emails. It will be a while before I can answer everyone. If you're expecting a reply, be patient.

I fell, hurting myself rather badly. I'm not doing much of anything, and answering emails is low on my list. Doctor put me on a narcotic pain pill, something they're very cautious about these days. It knocks the pain back, but leaves me on the woozie, unfocused side.

A. P. Adams

Some of you may find this useful

https://archive.org/details/songsofspiritout00adam/page/70/mode/2up

Latest Review of Separate Identity vol 2

Posted on publisher's web site:

Stéphane

            I want to paint the portrait of the book and tell its qualities as I judge them, without unveiling if possible the treasures of its contents, nor the discoveries and the surprises waiting there for the reader.

            The 2 volumes of Separate identity, and a third one under preparation, constitute the first real reference work of historians addressing the birth and the first decade of the Watch Tower movement, from the double point of view of its doctrinal evolution and its progressive rise and turbulent development.    .

            The works of Herodotus are entitled Histories, of a Greek word meaning inquiry or investigation : for the first time ever, it is to such a work of investigation, a patient, comprehensive, in-depth as well as objective and impartial work, that the two historians Rachael de Vienne (until her death last year) and Bruce Schulz devote themselves, since over 15 years.

           This innovative work not only brought to light novel discoveries, but standing as a true work in progress, the research, as it went along and was enriched with new elements, sprang up, opening new pathways to explore, requiring new developments (some of them important enough to necessitate a supplementary third volume).

It inaugurates a new decisive step of the research into the history of the Watch Tower — the movement and the magazine —, characterized by an increased granularity (or level of detail) of several orders of magnitude.

            Thanks to their rigorous method, and their attention to telling details, Schulz and de Vienne’s research stands out from the works of previous authors who wrote about this period of the Watch Tower history, whose works are often mostly superficial, patchy, and simply rehashing earlier works, or accommodating to the recourse to second or even third-hand sources — when not downright biased or polemical.

            They also stand apart from the official history works published by the Watchtower Society, which are as a rule insufficiently documented, despite their custody of the archives of the movement, and sometimes inaccurate, and notoriously rushed, due to the lack of time or thinking imposed by editorial constraints (short deadlines, apologetical pretensions).

            It took historians almost 140 years to submit the issues of the first years of the Watch Tower, for a start, to a close and systematic reading, followed by a classification and a sound analysis. Rather than their heavily redacted Reprints that omit not only a vast amount of items rejected as irrelevant, but also a number of important contributions, — either for having been penned by redactors having dissented in the meantime, or for dealing with doctrines no longer finding favor, — the original issues of the magazine offer to the investigator, besides in-depth articles on doctrinal topics and debates, a rich palette of announcements of any kind, of news echos, of travel, mission and even accounting reports, together with an abundant “Letters to the Editor” section. No serious study should skimp on, sweep, dispense with, avoid, obviate this invaluable collection of facts, it is the non disposable starting point of any research worthy of the name.

            Not only did the authors exploit this corpus as the basis of their work, especially in Volume 2 of Separate Identity, but they extended their review to the innumerable papers, newspaper articles, discourses, tracts, and to the 6 volume collection, that flowed from the prolific pen of Charles Russell.

            Then, to resituate the teachings of Russell and his followers, as well as their progressive elaboration, they confronted them systematically with those of the dissenting groups or of groups related by a community of doctrine, through an examination of their respective writings.

            They particularly committed themselves to unscramble Charles Russell’s investigations in the perilous field of the final ends’ chronology, but they have above all deepened the analysis of the dual concern which is at the centre of his message, — focused on the merits of the Ransom by Jesus Christ, — as well as the contradictory reactions it had to elicit, either of fierce rejection, or of enthusiastic reception : viz. the blasphemous lie of the eternal torment reserved to almost all humans, in total contrast with the bright perspective of the times of the “restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began“ as heralded by St. Peter in his founding speech of Christianity at Pentecost.

            To describe the sequence of events that shaped the life of the movement, its growth, its evangelism and its trials and tribulations, and to place them in the context of the time, they performed a multitude of cross-checks with an abundant harvest of documents, often never seen before, gained after a tireless hunt for newspaper articles, narratives, books, yearbooks, catalogues, family genealogies, obituaries, official papers, not to forget an array of old photographs… this monumental documentary base not having benefited from any access to the official archive held by the Watchtower Society, except for a handful of documents made available in dribs and drabs, and one single photograph — a proof, if needed, of the independence of the research and its lack of sponsoring.

            A similar approach was followed to reconstruct the biographies of as many people as possible mentioned in the movement’s documents, even when they appear under a simple name: first-day followers, collaborators, propagandists, missionaries, traveling speakers, occasional correspondents, up to and including opponents of the movement.

            The outcome of this untiring hunt for documents and original sources followed by their exploitation (classification, analysis, interpretation), results in a voluminous data set made of a myriad of details. Thanks to the talent of the authors, the synthesis of this accumulation of well established facts, being anything but rebarbative, blends into a harmonious whole of a teeming richness.

            As can be seen by consulting its table of contents, Volume 2 articulates on 16 chapters that fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle providing a picture of the movement and its evolution seen from various angles : foundation and beginnings of the movement, segregation from the mainstream churches, organization into congregations, launch and funding of a huge publishing ministry, starting and extension of the evangelism, expansion of the field of activity to the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Africa, as well as the European Marches of the Ottoman Empire.

            The narrative, full of life, at times even thrilling as an adventure novel, interweaves with a portrait gallery presenting a variety of characters, often endearing, sometimes heroic, less frequently unsympathetic, and more than a few particularly colourful.

            The book opens with two prefaces where each of the authors begins by expressing a more personal view — and lets show through his or her own style — about their intentions, their expectations, their working method, the obstacles encountered, their opinion about the current state of research, and specifically the irreducible discrepancies between Russell and the Adventists. These exordia introduce a very elaborate monograph by Rachael de Vienne that broadens the project horizon, situating the characteristic teachings of the movement within the wider context of the history of Christian doctrines.

            The book ends with a To-be-followed : in an Afterword, it evokes the crisis that shook the movement around the year 1881, and led it to affirm its specificity by assuming a separate (organizational) identity, — thus reaching the conclusion of the research —, defering the detailed development of the circumstances to a third and final (?) volume of the series.

            Last but not least, Volume 2 incorporates no less than 1813 notes, and quite as many references, an eloquent invitation to plunge into the original sources, and why not, pursue the research…