Separate Identity 2

As it stands now, almost finished, it has 597 pages. There are 149 illustrations, including many photographs that haven't seen the light of day in over a century. Among the photos are those whose names will be familiar and those who have never been profiled in a history of the Watch Tower. I haven't counted the footnotes. They are plentiful, and those interested should be able to follow our research trail.

As with the first volume, this book is very detailed, though it does not exhaust the subjects covered. I hope others will follow the trails outlined in this book.

While much needs to be done, we are at the end of the trail. I'm still looking at a March release date, though that is subject to change.

A. D. Jones

From The Guardian [London, England] June 10, 1882:

Zion's Day Star, a journal published at New York in the interests of the Millennium, makes the following editorial requests: “We suggest that you read carefully, -at least twice, most of the articles, and especially those on chronology and the Prophetic Time. Without this our readers can scarcely get the connections, and unless these are seen the force of the argument cannot be appreciated.” This advice, though perhaps salutary, and even needful, is not very complimentary to the lucidity of the writers or to the intelligence of the readers.

A. D. Jones and related ...

This appeared in the Christadelphia Advocate of January 1889 in response to an argument over the proper name for believers. [Depending on your browser, you may have to click on the image to see it entire.] While it is interesting to see the writer class the Watch Tower with other Age to Come groups, my problem in identifying the periodical "Good News." Can you help?

I'd love to have this as an original but

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1800-BENJAMIN-FARNHAM-Dissertation-on-the-PROPHECIES-Revelations-MILLENNIALISM-/282729421444

Way too expensive for me.

However, there is this:

https://books.google.com/books?id=VLJCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR1&lpg=PR1&dq=benjamin+farnham+prophecies&source=bl&ots=YzOmpXvam_&sig=ACfU3U1_Ha4uFT44Ha6e0c_r65IrAlxJ-g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj96-Pb3JLlAhVHsZ4KHTmyBroQ6AEwCHoECDAQAg#v=onepage&q=benjamin%20farnham%20prophecies&f=false

First Chapter

For COMMENT. Usual rules. You may take a copy for yourself. Rough drafts will change. Never rely on a rough draft. Not ready for proof reading. Delay that for later. But comments are helpful, even on a draft this raw.

Now is the time to comment. This comes down tomorrow. 

Note: If you have skipped the Introductory Essays, please return to them and read them. Doing so will put the remainder of this volume in context.

1. Foundation

            Russell wrote a flurry of letters to counter Barbour’s speculations. And having decided to start a new paper to give a voice to their established doctrine, he sought regular contributors.[1] We have profiled all of these but Albert Jones in volume one of this work. Jones came from a fairly well-off family and was a ‘clerk’ in one of Russell’s stores. Instead of being a mere clothing salesman, he seems to have had accounting and management responsibilities. We find him not much later opening a thriving clothing store of his own and pursuing other business interests.

the rest of this post has been removed.

Misc.

I owe several answers to their emails. Be patient, please. I'm experiencing work overload.

Do we know if P. S. L. Johnson's private papers still exist? Can you help locating them?

Some were interested in the Sermon Ledger Book. I now know that these were kept by Maria Russell, and that it is indeed in her handwriting. I also know that they formed the basis of some Watch Tower articles. Interesting, huh?

We've asked before, but do you have or can you locate personal letters by any Watch Tower adherent in any period. They do not have to seem 'historical' in nature. I would like scans, photocopies or,if you wish to part with them, originals.

Things that may seem irrelevant often provide clues to things that are.

We need a scan or photocopy of a single issue of a periodical held in the Harvard library. I have a mass of hospital and doctor's bills. If you want to pursue this in my behalf, email me, and I will send you details.

Mrs. Russell wrote many letters to subscribers and others, especially to women who sent in questions or comments. I need to see any of these that still exist.

I have some health issues now. But I am still working on chapter 1, the one unfinished chapter to volume 2.

The Russells and the Allegheny Cemetery

(reprinted)

by Jerome

Allegheny cemetery entrance (for the Russell family plot)

Plan of graves in the Russell family plot, Section 7, Lot 17

Owner: James G Russell. Size of lot: 300 (square feet).

Back row: 1. Mary Russell, 2. Charles T Russell, 3. James G Russell, 4. Sarah A Russell,

Front row: 5. Joseph L Russell, 6. Ann E Russell, 7. Joseph L Russell Jr., 8. Lucinda H Russell, 9. Thomas B Russell

This undated plan from the Allegheny cemetery records was drawn up after the last burial took place in 1897. The same document listed the names as above, and also gave the interment numbers and dates of burial.

You will note that for some reason this gives no details for grave number nine, but elsewhere in the document we find this was for interment number 4778, name: Thomas B Russell; date 8/11/55.

As will be seen from the dates and in the following article the numbering is not the order of burials. The graves were started from the right hand side of the plot and then worked across to the left side in two rows. The actual order of interments was:

4. Sarah A Russell 1846

3. James G Russell 1847

9. Thomas B Russell 1855

8. Lucinda H Russell 1858

7. Joseph L Russell Jr. 1860

6. Ann E Russell 1861

2. Charles T Russell 1875

1. Mary Russell 1886

5. Joseph L Russell 1897

But first, some background to the Allegheny cemetery.

As cities in America grew in the 19^th century, the problem of burying the dead became an issue, involving both public health and space. Town and city graveyards tended to be small, sectarian, and full. The rural cemetery or garden cemetery was a solution. It was designed to be a landscaped region that allowed the public to have parkland outside the city area, while also allowing the families of the rich to indulge in eye-catching memorial architecture. The latter seemed to work on the principle that, while you may not be able to take it with you, at least you could show the huddled masses you’d once had it! It also took the burial of the dead outside of church control.

The first rural cemetery in America was founded near Boston in 1831. Quickly others followed, including the one where most of CTR’s immediate family are buried, in Allegheny. The Allegheny model was chartered in 1844, and the grounds (originally one hundred acres of farmland) were dedicated to their new use on September 20, 1845. Other tracts of surrounding land were later purchased, so that a 1910 guide describes the cemetery as having grown to a little over 273 acres, divided into 39 sections.

Modern publications give a figure of around 300 acres, divided into 48 sections with fifteen miles of roadways. The area is carefully landscaped with well established trees, and is a haven for wildlife. Over 132,000 are buried there. Perhaps the most famous resident is Stephen Foster, the nineteenth century composer.

Although the cemetery location was chosen to be well outside the metropolis, inevitably the city encroached around it and then way beyond it. Today it is a very useful green space with some forestry, as well as a cemetery, in the middle of an urban area. It is located in the Lawrenceville neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, bounded by Bloomfield, Garfield and Stanton Heights. Its official address is 4734 Butler Street.

The original prospectus allowed for the purchase of individual graves or family plots. The prevailing sizes of the latter were 150, 225, 300, or 500 square feet each. A 150 square foot lot was for six graves, using wooden rough boxes only, a 225 foot lot was for eight interments and a 300 foot one for ten burials.

So finally we come to the Russell family.

We know that Charles Tays Russell (CTR’s uncle with variant spelling for the middle name) came to Allegheny and founded a business in 1831, assuming his obituary is accurate. He joined the Third Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, on 22 January 1834.

Other family members gravitated to the same area. His older brother James G Russell was in the New York area in the early 1830s, but is listed in the 1840 Pittsburgh area census. James Russell’s plans on moving to the Pittsburgh area included his extended family also staying there. Forever. Literally. He purchased a 300 square foot sized family plot in the brand new Allegheny cemetery, designed for ten interments. As it worked out, only nine family members would eventually use the site. The family plot is Section 7, Plot 17. Here is how it looks today. There are eight stones for a total nine graves, all laid flat on the ground.

Back row: Mary (no marker), Charles, James, Sarah

Front row: Joseph, Ann, Joseph Jr, Lucinda, Thomas

The first two interments were Sarah Russell in December 1846, followed a year later by James himself in December 1847.

There is a document in general circulation called the Relatives of Charles Taze Russell, originally produced by Robert Speel, a Russell descendant through Joseph Lytle Russell and his second wife Emma Ackley. This work could be called a labor of love, produced in the pre-internet age, and seems to draw a lot of early information from the Allegheny registers and the details found in Charles Tays Russell’s last will and testament. But there is one significent error in it. It lists Sarah Russell as the sister of James Russell, who bought the family plot. However, Sarah was not his sister, but his wife. This is not clear on the burial registers which give no details of familial relationships, but below is the small headstone that still survives for Sarah.

Sarah, wife of Jas. G Russell, died Dec 14, 1846.

This makes a lot of sense. James would purchase the family plot because first: he was the oldest in the family, and second: because his wife Sarah was dying or had died. James was born ten years ahead of Charles Tays Russell and seventeen years ahead of Joseph Lytle. As the oldest and to our knowledge the first-born, he would normally have taken the lead. However, he was to die comparitively young and hence disappears from the narrative before our CTR was even born.

Sarah Russell was originally Sarah Ann Risk from Faun, Ireland. Her father was an excise officer in the old country. She married James in the early 1830s and they reportedly lived first at Elmwood Hill, New York. Her sister, Margaret Risk married James’ brother Alexander. Alexander is outside the scope of this article in that his life in America was spent in New York and New Jersey. However, since his picture has survived and I have permission to reproduce it, here it is:

Alexander Grier Russell, an older brother of Joseph Lytle Russell.

Returning to the Allegheny cemetery, as indicated above it started with around a hundred acres of land and has grown to about three times that size today. But initially the take-up was small. In the first year, 1845, from the start in September to the end of the year there were only eight burials in total.

In 1846 there were only 29 new interments. These included Sarah Russell. One must assume that James had the pick of many potential family plots; his choice then being dictated partly by cost, but also by situation and outlook.  However, total interments were 67 that year, because there were also 38 re-burials. It was common in the early days to remove bodies from city cemeteries at the request of relatives, who wanted a more congenial final resting place for their whole family.

So by the end of 1846, a grand total of 75 burials or re-burials had taken place at the cemetery. Sarah died of consumption in the December; her burial registration number is 73.

Almost exactly one year later, in December 1847, James died. His burial registration number is 264. He was laid to rest next to Sarah in the top row of two on the plot, the one furthest from the roadway. James died of paralysis, so one assumes he suffered a fatal stroke at the age of 51.  Here is the small stone grave marker for James.

 

James G Russell.

So that made it two down, and eight places left to go in the family plot (only seven of which were eventually taken up).

By the time James died Joseph Lytle (sometimes spelled Lytel) Russell was living in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Daily Post newspaper started a regular column in 1843 listing the names of all those who needed to collect mail from the Pittsburgh post office. In the issue for Monday, October 16, 1843 (repeated in the following two daily issues) we find both Joseph L Russell and James Russell.

A month later in the issue for Saturday, November 18, 1843, we find the other brother, Charles T Russell, also being asked to collect his mail.

Joseph joined the same church as his brother Charles Tays, the Third Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, on March 7, 1845. And it was his branch of the family who would use the site next. The Allegheny Cemetery charter laid down strict legal provisions for inheritance of family plots – first to children (James and Sarah did not have any) then to parents (assumed to be long dead in the old country), and then to brothers and sisters.

In common with many in those unhealthy times, Joseph and his wife Ann Eliza were to lose three of their five children quite early on. Thomas, pictured on the left in the January 1, 1912 WT photograph was the first – he died of whooping cough and was buried in a row nearest the roadway in front of James and Sarah’s graves.

Thomas and Charles

The cemetery record states he died in August 1855 at the age of five years and three months. While not something to pursue here, it should be noted that the 1850 census returns suggest Thomas was born around January of 1850. That would make him five years and eight months when he died. It’s possible that the crabby handwriting and fading ink of the era caused someone at some point to confuse a three and an eight.

Thomas B Russell had been the firstborn, and was no doubt named after his maternal uncle, Thomas Birney, who lived in Pittsburgh. He was followed by Charles Taze Russell in 1852 (both Charles and Taze being an obvious nod to his paternal uncle, Charles Tays) and then Margaret Russell in 1854. Charles and Margaret survived to adulthood of course, and were finally buried side by side, but elsewhere.

Then a young daughter named Lucinda was born (probably a nod towards Thomas Birney’s sister Lucinda). She died from scrofula (sometimes spelled scrophula), a form of tuberculosis affecting lymph nodes in the neck, in July 1858 at the age of a year and a half. Lastly, there was a young son, Joseph Lytle Jr, who died of croup at the age of six months in April 1860. The family had been living and working in Philadelphia at this point, but it was still important to the family to bring the little bodies back to the Allegheny cemetery for burial in the family plot.

For the three children, three sad little gravestones survive, but they are very weathered and the memorial inscriptions on them have all but gone. On the one reproduced below you can just make out the figures 1857 and 1858, so this would be the grave marker for Lucinda.

Finally, after losing her three children, mother Ann Eliza died from consumption in January 1861. Her funeral took place from the home of her brother, Thomas Birney, in Pittsburgh. Her will, written just the month before, when she was no doubt very ill, lists her husband, Joseph Lytle, as “her agent in Philadelphia.” The notice of death in the Pittsburgh Gazette for January 26, 1861 calls her the wife of Joseph L Russell (of Philadelphia, PA).

Her grave stone survives, although it is worn in places. It reads:

ANN ELIZA

WIFE OF

JOSEPH L RUSSELL

DIED (indistinct) 1861

IN THE 39 YEAR OF

HER LIFE

There is an inscription at the bottom – probably taken from a scripture – but indecipherable today.

After Ann Eliza’s death, the family plot remained unused for nearly fifteen years. During this time, CTR and his sister grew to adulthood, and CTR started his spiritual journey in earnest.

Then, in 1875, the original Charles Tays died. His life story, such as we know it, is covered in an earlier article on this blog – The Other Charles T Russell. Charles Tays died of hepatitis in December 1875 and was buried in the family plot. The grave was positioned in the top row, next to James and Sarah, whose funerals had been 30 years before. Charles Tays’ grave stone is quite well preserved.

It reads:

IN MEMORY OF

CHARLES TAYS RUSSELL

A NATIVE OF

COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND

DIED

AT PITTSBURGH PA

DEC 28 1875

IN THE 70 YEAR

OF HIS AGE

Eleven years went by before the next interment. The extended Russell family who settled in Pittsburgh included an unmarried sister, Mary Jane Russell. Mary had been housekeeper for her brother, Alexander Russell, in New York after the death of his wife, but on Alexander’s death in the 1870s she moved to Pittsburgh to live. Joseph Lytle probably took over managing her care. When Charles Tays died, he left $3000 in a trust fund for Mary’s support. By 1886 the plan had gone awry and it was necessary to dip heavily into the capital to care for her. But within a week of the documentation being drawn up, Mary was dead. She died in September of 1886 and was buried in the top row next to her brother Charles Tays. No stone was provided.

There was only one more person who would share this final resting place, CTR’s father, Joseph Lytle. Joseph had re-married (his second wife being CTR’s wife’s sister) and they had one child, Mabel, who was to live until 1961. The family moved from Pittsburgh to Florida, but Joseph Lytle then returned to Pittsburgh shortly before his death, likely so he could die there. He was buried alongside his first wife and the three children who had died before them.

Joseph’s stone reads:

FATHER

JOSEPH L RUSSELL

BORN IN IRELAND

JULY 4 1813

DIED IN ALLEGHENY

DEC 17 1897

The inscription at the bottom reads: Blessed and holy are all they who have part in the first resurrection. They shall be Kings and Priests with God.

And that was it, as far as the Allegheny cemetery plot was concerned; a total of nine interments out of a possible ten. The years went by, it became forgotten, and grass encroached over the stones lying flat on the ground; until more recent times when the plot was rediscovered. The memorial inscriptions for Joseph Lytle and Charles Tays are in the best condition today, but of course they are the most recent.

So why didn’t CTR end up buried here with his family in the one remaining space?

I have no way of knowing how carefully to scale the chart of graves reproduced with this article may be, but if accurate, it might appear that squeezing in another interment could be problematic. Probably more to the point, CTR was involved in founding a new cemetery.

The Rosemont, Mount Hope and Evergreen United Cemeteries were founded on land purchased from what was called the Wiebel farm in 1905. One section in the Rosemont Cemetery was earmarked for Bible Student use. In his will, written in 1907, CTR directed that he be buried there. By the time of his death in 1916 the area was simply called United Cemeteries. His sister Margaret (or Margaretta) R Land was buried next to him in 1934.

But that needs to be the subject of another article.

Postscript

It should be noted that elsewhere in the Allegheny cemetery are other relatives of CTR. His maternal uncle Thomas Birney (from whose home his mother’s funeral was conducted) was also buried here in 1899. There is a family plot in Section 24, lot 46. In the same grave (grave 1) as Thomas (1830-1899) is Thomas’ wife Mary Ann Birney (1832-1906).

The Birneys had at least five children and two daughters never married. They are buried in this family plot, Eve Birney (died 1950) and Mary Birney (died 1953).

Volunteer?

I need a volunteer to transcribe an article written by Parish B. Ladd against The Plan of the Ages. Ladd was a 'free thinker', that is an Atheist. The article is ridiculing and a bit silly, downright factually wrong in places. I still need it transcribed. Anyone?

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069867/1910-07-24/ed-1/seq-2/#words=%22zions%2Bwatch%2Btower%22

Sample Packets

We need a clear scan or photo of the sample packed mentioned in an 1886 Watch Tower:

To this end, as an aid to such laborers we have prepared a large quantity of large printed envelopes, each containing a sample copy of the TOWER and a copy of “Food.” These can be distributed from house to house and called for and collected a few days later, at which time you could take subscriptions, or sell the sample packets, or have conversations, etc., as you may find possible and expedient. We need scarcely say to you that ZION’S WATCH TOWER is not a money-making enterprise. (Your own experience probably proves this.) It has never yet repaid the cost of paper and printing any year since it was started. Nevertheless, if you are dependent for your living on your daily labor, you must needs have some income, or you could not give your time in the manner suggested. To such we would say that the following provision is made for this contingency: --You may retain ONE-HALF of all the receipts obtained as described from NEW readers to go towards your support, your traveling expenses, and the support of any one dependent on you, returning to the Tract Fund any surplus you may be able to spare.

Another comment from an Advance Reader

I didn't ask his permission before posting this, so for now I'm leaving his name off this post. But herewith are his comments:

By reflecting about the very dense contents of the Introductory Essays, and in particular after my search for its references, I would like to insist that I am not only pleased but also deeply impressed by the wealth of books and articles that you patiently gathered, and whose references you provide so liberally, to prove, support and illustrate several important facts ignored so far or deliberately distorted, such as:

 

- the fundamental doctrinal differences of Russell versus the Adventists, and his constant, although always courteous, distancing from them ; 

 

- the long history of the multi-faceted and particularly widespread tradition of the premillenarianism in the English-speaking world, and the skills of many of its supporters ;

 

- the non-exclusivity, or should I say the banality, of Russell’s doctrines, his originality residing in his eclecticism (characteristic of the Christian who proves all things and hold fast that which is good), and his determination to give to his message the widest possible dissemination, devoting to it all of his talents, his time, his energies, his belongings.

How encouraging and reassuring it is to discover supporting evidence that some most disparaged and apparently awkward aspects of one’s faith, don’t drop out of the sky, but had already many adherents from all sorts of horizons and of countless times.

May I permit myself to wish you the best for your further invaluable works, and please accept, Dear Bruce, the expression of my deep gratitude, with my best greetings.

Not directly related to our subject

But I agree with this professor's approach to nonsense ...

Another comment on Separate Identity vol. 2

From Andrew G.

Bruce:

 

The book is not too long. It is the stories that matter. Don’t condense it. My own congregation history project is 700 pages and growing, and that goes from the 1890s to present. There are a few who think it is too long, and they won’t read it. That’s OK. I am trying to reach those who really want to understand the entire story. As for Jerome’s comment on the blog that he is disappointed that you have not yet included any stories about the separations after 1916, I think that story will be more clear because of the groundwork you have laid.

 

The stories that you provided, and the depth to which you have written them, are, as you point out, crucial to understanding Russell and his associates, and the separate identity the Bible Students created. Including the letters not included in the Reprints is also a fantastic addition to the story. I have nothing but good things to say about the entire series. I will do all in my power to help others gain access to these books.

 

I think in the past I had told you how my first introduction to the Bible was reading the 1879 – 1916 Watchtowers in the early 1970s. I was raised Roman Catholic, and I didn’t know much about the Bible. The brother who initially called on me let me sit at the Kingdom Hall for hours alone after he dropped me off on his way to work. I admired Russell immediately, and even at that early date, I despaired of ever learning more about him. The Society’s meager attempts to write about him left me hopefully frustrated. I never dreamed of having the opportunity to read a comprehensive work like yours, much less having the privilege of helping you, even if only in a small way. It is a shame that the WatchTower Society itself has not attempted a project of this sort, especially since they possess many times the resources you have and many more of the original sources needed for such a project.

 

For me, what drew me to Russell’s writing was his ideas of the permission of wickedness. I knew about five old Bible Students in the 1970s who had actually met Russell and heard him speak, and they almost always said they were drawn to him because he freed them from the fear of hellfire. I was a paperboy in the 1960s and 1970s, and reading the news made me wonder why God permitted wickedness. It consumed my thoughts for many years. When one of the old Bible Students lent me his copy of Food for Thinking Christians, Russell’s explanation electrified me. I can actually remember the EXACT sentence which moved me. It finally made sense that it was possible for both a loving God and evil to both exist. It drove me to read as much of his writing as I could.

 

Particularly fascinating to me was must have gone through his mind when he received dozens of letters each day telling him that he was an instrument of God, and that the writer felt that receiving literature was providential. How he retained as much humility as he did is astonishing. Including lots of letters of that type makes it easier to understand how he could have felt that way. I think including those letters gives the reader important insight into both Russell and those who read his work.

 

One thing I especially like about the book is how you give Russell and others the chance to express themselves in their own words. The extended quotations make your conclusions more rock solid and believable. You are right when you repeatedly say that if you have someone’s own words, it is much easier to figure out what they believed, and to better understand their actions.

 

Forgive me, but just one more thing. Yes, when Russell met people in person, he no doubt impressed them, but I really believe that one of the reasons why readers considered him the Faithful and Wise servant was because of his writing. I think he is highly underrated as a writer. Since you often have pointed out that nothing that he taught was of his own discovery (even though the combination of teaching was unique), why did readers think him to be the Wise Servant rather than someone else? I believe it was because of the way he wrote. I knew about another 20 old Bible Students in the 1970s who, although never having met Russell, told me that his writings changed the course of their life and the way they thought about God. They insisted they became different on the inside when they read his works. I suppose you could argue that since Russell’s writing were distributed much more widely than those of others who taught similar things, that this is the reason many came to see him at the Wise Servant, rather than someone else.

Question

I can published volume 2 as a single book, or as a part A and Part B both as aprox. 300 page books. Total cost will be about the same. But you will be able to buy Part A and B separately.

Your preference is? Explain.

Some preliminary thoughts on Separate Identity volume 2

As someone who has been proof reading Separate Identity volume 2 for Bruce I have been invited to make some personal comments. At the time of writing I have not proof read the Afterward and the first chapter is still to be completed.

My first thought is that the book is long. That is not a criticism, but you can’t really judge it on the same terms as a commercial production. A commercial production is designed to make money, through appealing to the largest group of people who may buy it. A commercial editor would have reduced the size, and even in academic publishing I believe would have done so. It wouldn’t then be the same book but just another book in the WT history shelves. Your length and detail make it unique, even if that may discourage some potential buyers.

That is NOT a criticism, because your aim IS to cover all the details, and so the discovered details dictate the length. The only way to do it is by self-publishing, which you are doing, but here the formatting and layout (spacing, using the right size type, etc.) is very important. I have made the odd comment or two on this in proof reading, and generally this is very good, but if you don’t get this right in a self-published book it makes the whole look amateur. And that detracts from the contents. So I hope your team of proof readers spot any glitches like this, and that you don’t add material without checking after they have all finished.

You have covered yourself to a degree in the introductions by saying there is some overlap in material in chapters. And obviously with two authors writing over years and not writing in chronological order (the fact that you still have to complete the first chapter illustrates this) means you can’t help this happening a bit. But adding an occasional “who we met earlier” “as discussed in chapter x” etc. shows the book has been proof read as a whole and you are “aware” of its total contents. I think that is important to support the “professional” feel.

What do I specifically like and what not?

Let’s take the potential negative first.

Attacking the work of other authors in the same field is fair game – but personally I believe it is good to give a right of reply if the author is still active. I know from correspondence that we may not fully agree on this, and that is fair enough, but I know in my own case an “authority” saw my proposed article, disagreed, we discussed it, and while they requested not to be given a credit, they at least thanked me for being frank and fair. That was important to me. My own rule of thumb is to let people know what you are going to say about them. Just in case.

And then there are the expressed concerns about the Society not sharing archival material. As someone who knows how the Society has been burned in the past I can sympathise with their caution at times, but they seem to be more helpful now. I hope this will continue.

What have I specially liked?

I am always happy about flesh on the bones with detailed life stories, be they of the good, the bad, or the ugly. So I really enjoy the life stories, the background to individuals, be they friend or foe.

The other aspect I specially liked is that the narrative is not just America based. Obviously America features prominently – Allegheny, CTR and all that – but a lot of books seem to be so America-centric it’s as if the rest of the world outside their bubble doesn’t exist. So the foreign language field at home and then abroad is an important section of this volume, and fills a gap generally unfilled (until the recent European series started appearing).

My overall feel of the book?

Those for whom it is intended will read it, study it and enjoy it. But they are a limited audience. Rachael used to get upset about poor sales and lack of financial incentive to continue. You might cover your costs, but will never make real money from this project. But as I often say, if you want to make money – get a proper job. We want the right kind of readers and to share knowledge – and we want others to be quoting our work. (This happened to me with my other “professional” writings and it’s very gratifying, although earning some money as well did not go amiss). I am sure this will happen and has already been happening with your series of books.

Perhaps the final overall comment I can make is a feeling of disappointment – but it is not your fault. My very special interest has always been in the fragmenting – from a theological point of view all the things that happened to those who left association with CTR and the early Watch Tower Society. I particularly enjoy the lunatic fringe, like the Koreshan Unity – the tale of Cyrus Teed’s coffin getting washed out to sea makes me laugh out loud. And Albert Delmont Jones ending up buried under the freeway like a gangster has a sort of poetic justice about it. But alas, none of that is in this volume 2.

It is reserved no doubt for volume 3.

I hope you live long enough to write it.

I hope I live long to read it.

Another letter from the Rutherford era -click image to see entire.

Comments from Advance Readers

Some comments from advance readers of volume 2 have been heartening. That's always pleasing. One reader thinks the book is too detailed and too long. If you want a brief summary, this book is not for you. Reread the Proclaimers book. My book IS full of detail, stories untold, and Watch Tower history as you have never read it before.

One reader thinks I was unkind to Zoe Knox. I reject that thought. In fact I praised her last book. I find the complaints a bit discouraging, but better to have them in advance than after publication. I can address reasonable complaints now.

I will not, however, condense volume 2. The detail alters the story as usually told. It clarifies issues. As we explain in the introductory essays, the chapters are stand alone essays, and there is some overlap. It is, I think, impossible to avoid that, given the very narrow date range covered by this book.

While writing, I was continually surprised by the 'stories' we uncovered. I hope you are as pleased to read them as I was to write them.

Complaints and negative comments are welcome from the limited number of advance readers. Please make them within the limits I noted above.

Another out of our era of inerest, but interesting ... click image to see entire.

Seeking Understanding

Students of the Bible have poured their lives and thoughts into understanding the Bible's prophetic message for centuries.

More on the photo ... from Bernhard

For a more up-to-date captioned photograph see more recent post on February 10, 2020

You may need to click the image to see it entire.

Bible Students on the Mount of Olives

In response to the previous post, here are the two photographs of the Bible Students on the Mount of Olives, taken in 1910.

The first comes from the September 1,1910 Watch Tower.

The second is a photograph which was reproduced in the 1910 convention report, facing page 45. There are several slight differences, the most obvious one being the missing hat in the back row.

The names of the party were given in the article in the convention report. Here are the opening two paragraphs.

Most of these are not well-known so difficult to identify. Obviously there's C T Russell with J F Rutherford in front of him. Just behind Rutherford is Andrew Pierson. The only child in the group is "Brother and Sister Ward and son" and one assumes that is Sister Ward next to the boy. Mary Rutherford is not in the group because she had left the party when they reached Paris.

One famous face that seems to be missing is Dr Leslie Jones, who produced the convention reports. Perhaps he took the photographs?

(With grateful thanks to Brian K who pointed me in the right direction for all the above information)

A Question from a Blog Reader. Can you help?

There are two photos of the bible students in front of Jerusalem one from the watchtower Sept 1, 1910, and one more. The difference is the brother at the back has his hat on in one and  not in the other. Is there any where I can find out who is in the photos, i.e. the sisters and of course the man in the hat? Many have said the child is Rutherford's son

Thank you for your time  agape R. L. 

Outside our current era, but still interesting

An interesting exchange from 1914

Sent in by a blog reader who noted the address in the last letter.

Now important

We've asked before for anti-Russell booklets published in his lifetime. We have some, we need more. There are many in the UK but we have no access. We have two published in Germany. If there are more we do not know the titles. Most German anti-Watchtower booklets are from the 1920s, and while I would love to have scans, they are not immediately important.

Eventually, assuming I live that long, I'll write a chapter about clergy opposition. It will appear in On the Cusp of Fame, which exists only as a brief outline. But one can hope and plan.

If you have anything like this, please contact me giving the title and author.

There is a 'sameness about these, and they're almost always ineffectual, but they are part of the story.

A special pioneer, once part of the writing staff, who read bunches of this material was bored silly by it. I tend to agree with that assessment. But I do need to see it to give this planned chapter enough detail to be worth reading. Anyone?

Another Winkler Letter to Translate

If you would, please. I cannot read this handwriting. You may have to click on image to see entire.

biographies

I need a good biography for G. Leferry aka Le Ferry, once a Baptist clergyman, but a convention speaker in the early 1900s. I don't have any details.

I need a good biography for S. A. Ellis of Birmingham, Alabama. He lived there about 1913. Again, I have no details.

Update: Stephen Allgood Ellis was born 27 Nov. 1849, in Alabama. He died in 1936. He was a professor, later teacher. The census records are not readable when they list his employer. I need the name of the college where he taught.

Anyone?

Rose Ball Hymn

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/a/r/k/harkvang.htm

For another project

I can't read this handwriting, and I can't translate this. Can you?

Von Zech again

His Die Ernte-Sichel: "Was der Mensch säet, das wird er ernten" is in the University of Basil library. I do not have access from the United States. Any of our blog readers who live relatively close? Please make a photocopy or scan and forward it to me. Since this was published in Philadelphia instead of Allegheny, I presume it is dated to after he left The Watch Tower.

Rutherford Letter - Click on image to see entire.

Outside of the era we're now considering, but interesting.

Von Zech

Von Zech published the German language version of Zion’s Watch Tower until about 1891, replacing it with Die Ernte-Sichel: Monatliche Zeitschrift zur Verbreitung der Erkenntnis und zur Förderung der Interessen wahren Christentums. (The Harvest Sickle: A Monthly Magazine for the Diffusion of the Knowledge and Promotion of the Interest of Pure Christianity.)

I need scans or clear photocopies of Die Ernte-Sichel published between 1891 and 1895. Can you help?

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