Home Movies

by Jerome

For some time I have been working my way through a visual search of the St Paul Enterprise newspaper (later named the New Era Enterprise) for Rachael. Some of the published life stories (and obituaries) in this paper take us back as far as the 1880s, and in a few cases even link up with early letters in ZWT. As a spin-off though, there is a lot of other interesting material to be found. Although more recent than the general timeframe of this blog, I found the following item which certainly interested ME.

The Cedar Point, Ohio, convention of 1922 is an historical milestone for the Bible Students who later adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. What is not generally known is that a short “home movie” was produced of the proceedings and sold commercially thereafter.

Above is an advertisement that appeared in the New Era Enterprise newspaper on October 3, 1922. According to the pitch, anyone could purchase the film for home viewing, and perhaps see if they could spot themselves amongst the audience.

The film was made to be shown for home audiences with the Kinemo equipment. We know that the first three films made for this system - basically travelogs linked to J R Rutherford’s visit to Egypt and the Holy Land - have survived, even if currently unavailable. But has anyone out there still got a reel of film about Cedar Point, Ohio, in 1922?

There is an element of good news and bad news about these kinds of film. The good news is that film produced to be shown in private homes was generally not on nitrate stock. Unless stored under very specific conditions, nitrate tends to crumble to dust, unless it goes up in flames first. But safety film, although not having the translucent properties of nitrate, can survive a lot longer.

The bad news is that the Kinemo system used one of the very first “amateur” film sizes - 17.5 mm. Basically this film size started life as 35 mm stock split down the middle, and even then, different manufacturers had different ways of organizing the sprocket holes. It was only commercially available for a short time and was soon superseded when Kodak popularised 16mm and Pathé 9.5 mm. Ultimately 8 mm became the standard amateur gauge for home viewing.

So even if someone had the film, they would have great difficulty projecting it without very ancient equipment - and probably not just any 17.5 equipment, but specific Kinemo equipment. That is assuming Kinemo equipment still existed in working order and wouldn’t automatically chew up the product and spit it out in bits.

But back to the good news - many of the classics of the silent screen have only survived to our day because someone had the forethought to produce copies for these smaller sized film stocks that had the capacity for survival. In many cases, film archives have re-photographed them frame by frame to preserve them for modern audiences.

No-one is going to say that Cedar Point, Ohio, is a classic lost film. But does ANYONE know if it is still out there? Somewhere? The Instructo Cinema Service Company of Chicago must have sold a few at the time.

S. D. Rogers - 1887

We can attach this ad to Rogers through his letter to Russell:

Grand Rapids, Mich.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I will tell you briefly of my

efforts here. Have been here two weeks and have been working

in the business part of the city nearly all the time. I have sold

300 DAWNS--nearly half of them being Vol. II. When here two

years ago, I sold only about 35 in the business part of the city.

The increase, I think, is owing somewhat to the interest formed

by hearing of the book; but perhaps more directly by a better

presentation of its merits. It requires considerable tact,

earnestness and experience to interest business men in a

religious work. Though if once interested the influence is apt to

be good, as they are generally at the head of practical and

representative families.

The principal object now, I think, is to find the "sheep" and

minister unto them; but in doing this, we can do good unto all,

as we have opportunity. I have not yet decided whether it will be

well to canvass the whole city again now. If the exceedingly

warm weather continues it will perhaps be better to work in

smaller towns for a while.

It is interesting to note the way in which the truth and harmony

brought out in DAWN is being circulated and found out. Being

good tidings, they who find it go and tell their own brother,

sister or friend. These likewise go and tell others, even as it was

when the Savior was first discovered among men. And how

blessed are they who are permitted to publish these things!

I greatly enjoyed the "View" in last TOWER. Truly, the Elisha

class will be more numerous than that of the Elijah. And though

the former class will be highly favored, I am striving and hoping

to be one of the overcomers. In considering the subject I have

been interested in trying to trace the import and typical meaning

of 2 Kings 2:10--where we read "If thou see me taken from thee;

but if not, it shall not be so." Will it be that the Elisha class will

need to know, or see, when the Elijah class is taken from them

in order that they may inherit a "double" portion of the spirit?

[This would seem to teach that it will be only such as keep in

fellowship with the Elijah class, such, therefore, as will know

them and realize that they are being exalted, who will constitute

the Elisha class and be inspired to fresh zeal and redoubled

earnestness in the service of the truth from a realization of the

facts.--EDITOR.]

With Christian love to you and Sister R. and others of them that

are His, I remain, Yours in service, S. D. ROGERS.

We get many more visits

We get many more visits than a few months ago. This is good. Comments are few and far between. This is not so good. The recent visitor map:

More Adamson

Once we identified Adamson's peculiarly phrased sermon topic and paired that with the places we know he lectured, we found these advertisements:

Indianapolis 1884

Wheeling, West Virginia 1884

W. E. Richards - as it now stands

            W. E. Richards was born in Illinois in March 16, 1861, and with his family moved to Ohio sometime before 1870. As a youth he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. By the time he appeared in the pages of Zion’s Watch Tower, he was married with children. Writing to Russell in February 1892, he recalled his youthful interest in the Bible and his desire to preach: “From a child I have read the Scriptures, and all other books that I thought or hoped would make plain to my understanding the truth, as I was hungry to know and anxious to teach it.”[1] By the mid-1880s he was “quite active in the M. E. (Methodist Episcopal) church at Akron, Ohio.” His “great ambition was to become a Methodist minister.”

To pay for his education he sold his home and bought a store. Someone advised him that a store could be sold for cash more quickly than a house could, but the advice was poor, and he lost all he had. “Just as I seemed to be defeated,” he later recalled, “a man came to the store room and called my attention to a book, saying ‘it will unfold to you the deep things of God.’ He glanced at it, “and saw that it referred to earth’s dark night of sin to terminate in the morning of joy.”

            He described the Watch Tower evangelists as “some old gentleman, with a serene countenance.” Richards said that “he had learned that I was quite a Bible student, and that he had a book that would unfold some of the deep things taught in the Scriptures.” The Watch Tower evangelist seems to have handed Richards a folder advertising The Plan of the Ages. Two of those differing in content and format exist, but which he saw is irrelevant. He was intrigued and wanted to know more:

By his tactfulness he got my attention quickly, and glancing over the outline of its contents, and noting its purpose … I became very anxious to learn what it meant and began the study carefully and prayerfully. As I learned from it, I began to tell others and to loan the books to others who professed to be sanctified … .

I tried to persuade them to get acquainted with the message, but my books were returned unread. One said he would like to burn my books and decided I was beside myself. [ie: insane] I usually replied by asking whether I should prefer the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, or the teachings of men who could not prove what they taught from the Scriptures, and asked them why pope and preachers ignored what was taught by Christ … and teach that we did not die, in accord with Satan’s lie of Gen. 3:4, and asked them what Christ meant when he said: “marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” …. [2]

The date of his initial interest is uncertain, though it seems to have been before his marriage in 1887. Though John B. Adamson was working in Ohio in this era and the description matches his age, we do not know who the serene gentleman was. Other aged believers worked through the American Midwest. We’re left with guesswork. Richards purchased the book, and it altered his belief system. He shared his newly found beliefs. The result was disappointing:

Seeing more real gospel or glad tidings in a brief glance and all in accord with a God of love, and in accord with reason and by examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so, ... [I] found it all in accord and began to tell others about it. My own father was one of the first, and he said, ‘Be careful my boy and do not run the risk of losing your never-dying soul. I also delivered the message to fellow members of the M. E. [Methodist Episcopal] Church, but they were afraid of it; they were taught fear of life in fire.[3]

            Richards wanted to meet Russell and traveled from Ohio to Allegheny City to do so. He “called at the then small office and study room and met a comparatively young man with real black beard and a sublime face, reminding me of the face of pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ, and said to myself and other friends, that I saw the most Christ-like face I ever looked at, and I have been endeavoring to live in accord and teach such a wonderful Gospel ever since.”[4]

            While sharing the Watch Tower message with fellow Methodists and meeting rejection for it, he remained within the Methodist Church, reluctant to sever pleasant associations. He finally left Methodism in 1892, sealing with a letter what had been the case for several years. He explained to Russell:

After having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for about twenty years, I have to-day sent to the pastor a letter of withdrawal. I have hesitated long to take the step, as it is a coming out from pleasant associations, and fellowship with many who are apparently perfectly honest in their belief; but it is also a coming out of Babylon or confusion. My prayer has been, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do;” and now, with an honest desire to do God's will, and to walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Master, I have taken the step. ...

I preach the truth wherever opportunity affords; and if circumstances would permit, I would gladly go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all having hearing ears; but it is not my privilege so to do. Occasionally I have the opportunity to teach it to individuals.

I ask that you will remember me at the throne of grace, that I may be led by the spirit of Christ into all truth, that I may be enabled, by his grace, to walk worthy of the gospel wherein we are called, that my will may be fully submitted to God's will and that I may soon be buried with him in baptism; and, being filled with the spirit of Christ, that I may be permitted to go forth bearing the precious seed (truths) of the Lord.[5]

            Richards remained an active evangelist, working mostly locally in Pennsylvania and Ohio through 1917. We know little about him after that. He spent his last years as a farmer, dying June 17, 1932.

---

[1]               “Out of Darkness into his Marvelous Light,” Zion’s Watch Tower, March 1, 1893, page 78.

[2]               Voices of the People: What our Readers Say, The St. Paul, Minnesota, Enterprise, November 20, 1917.

[3]               Letter from Richards to editor of St. Paul, Minnesota, Enterprise, March 6, 1917.

[4]               Letter from Richards to editor of St. Paul, Minnesota, Enterprise, March 6, 1917.

[5]               Letter from Richards to Russell, Zion’s Watch Tower, March 1, 1893, page 78.

William Ellsworth Richards

For rough draft of his bio. see the recent long post. We need a photo. Anyone?

A note from a blog reader

One of J. P. Martin's sons, Homer, and Homer's wife Clara, were very well-known Jehovah's Witnesses in the Dayton congregation, both of them professing to be anointed Christians.  They later lived at an address on Illinois Avenue, in east Dayton.  I lived in the Dayton area when I was growing up, and I was acquainted with several Witnesses who knew them, including the Witness who purchased their house after their death (they both spent their last years in nursing homes due to dementia).

Because you've probably never seen one ...

von Zech's magaine, The Harvest Sickle. 

Adamson

Temporary Post

We're combining parts of several chapters into one. This is work in progress, unfinished, and it will change. Don't repost it anywhere. Don't rely on it. However, I want you to see where we are going, what current work is. 

The Russell myth is that the Watch Tower movement was Adventist. We show in this chapter the beliefs and denominational origins of Watch Tower evangelists. You will note that they were not Adventists.

I'll take this down in a day or so. If you copy it for personal use or to further our research, please do not share it off this blog.

New Workers Enter the Field

            Mostly ignored by historians are adherent’s the efforts to spread the message through the religious press. Finding examples from the period before The Plan of the Ages was published is difficult. Most believers addressed doctrine and did not reference Russell or his associates or any of their publications. This is not surprising since affiliation was fluid and loose. Many – most in this period – who read and circulated Zion’s Watch Tower saw sectarian organization as a “mark of Babylon.”

            An article by G. W. Cone entitled “Is Christ on the Throne of David” appeared in the November 30, 1882, issue of American Christian Review, a Disciples newspaper not generally read by One Faith or Adventist believers. A copy was passed on to John B. Cox of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and he wrote a lengthy reply. His review was published in the January 4, 1883, issue. He refuted Cone’s contention that the kingdom promises were fulfilled during Jesus’ lifetime, referencing the Emphatic Diaglott’s rendering of Colossians chapter one and citing an many other verses to prove future, literal fulfillment. He concluded by saying: “We have an abundance of evidence to show that Christ is not yet seated on the throne of David, but is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High, and in the fullness of time will descend from heaven and take the Throne of David and rule the nations of the earth.”

            A debate followed with Cone asserting Whitbian views and Cox reaffirming pre-millennialism. In the February 1, 1883, issue, Cox focused on the earthly nature of Christ’s kingdom: “It will at once be seen that if the Church is the Kingdom, then the Kingdom is flesh and blood. This theory of the Church-Kingdom is contrary to teachings of the apostle Paul.”

            Substituting ridicule for scriptural reasoning, Cone wrote a blustering reply which filled nearly the entire front page of the February 15^th issue. He sneeringly referred to the Millenarian (and Watch Tower) conception of Christ’s kingdom as the “imaginary kingdom established in Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital” and the twelve apostles as the cabinet. He assigned cabinet posts to the various apostles. The editors of the Review tired of the debate, but Cox was allowed one last reply which was published in the March 29, 1883, issue. Cox refocused the debate on the Bible’s message. “The kingdom of God and of his Christ is too sacred and important a subject for us to indulge in joviality,” he wrote. Mildly rebuking Cone for resorting to ridicule, Cox restated Millenarian belief: 

This post has been deleted. Thanks for looking.

Both Bruce and I have ...

This letter from Adamson to Russell appears in the April 1886 issue of Zion's Watch Tower. Adamson says he wrote letters to the newspapers in and around Binghamton, New York. Our only access to these is through fultonhistory.com. You can't view them by issue there, only through search terms. We couldn't locate Adamson's letters or articles. Can you?

Not in Reprints:

Binghamton, N.Y., March 15, 1886.
DEAR BRO. RUSSELL: We are still here, and enclose a list of
names and report. I think my course of lectures closed auspiciously
as I could think, if not wish.

Some told me that if the series did no other good, it at least softened
the attitude of the fiery dogmatic Free Methodists, who expect to
run away with all that dare try conclusions with them. At the
meeting yesterday they showed, as a result of my answers to their
questions at the stand and in the papers, that they were better
disposed and had "changed their minds," both as to methods and as
to denying all except tradition. At first they knew everything. The
congregation increased, and many expressed regret that the lectures
closed. The last lectures were received with great warmth and
expressions of benefits received. I stay till to-morrow to have
conversations with parties to-day. You see work is plenty for the
willing. Surely I begin to see why the Lord sent me this way. Mrs.
A. joins in kind remembrance, sympathy, and prayers for all saints,
but especially for you, dear Bro. and Sister Russell. In Christ,
J. B. ADAMSON.

Solving Puzzles

by Jerome

This article takes us away from the time period being currently researched, but is an example of how sometimes puzzles CAN be solved. That can only be encouraging in our present search for names to go with faces, or more likely faces and details to go with incomplete names. The material is slightly expanded from an article on the now defunct blog 2, where it might have been read by about three people.

I like solving mysteries. The photograph above has raised questions for many years. The two women sitting on a swing seat or hammock are the subject of a photograph in a photo album that dates from 1909. The simple question is - who are they?

The cover of the photo album was reproduced on blog 1 some time ago. It is an album of various scenes around the United Cemeteries. This was an amalgamation of three cemeteries in Ross Township, Allegheny. The Society founded the cemetery on farming land, next to an existing graveyard, and this is where Charles Taze Russell was subsequently buried. The cover of the album is reproduced again below.

The middle picture is of John Adam Bohnet who looked after the cemetery, and who later supervised the building of the pyramid on the Society’s plot. The bottom picture is of the main farm house and cemetery office. Familiar old pictures of CTR’s grave and the pyramid show this building from a different angle in the background, looking down the hill.

The rest of the photograph album shows various views of the surrounding landscape. But it does include the picture of the two women on the swing seat or hammock which appears to be taken from the farm house looking up the hill.

So who were they?

The wonders of the internet and sites like Ancestry have finally yielded the probable answer. In the 1910 census of Ross Township there are four people living on the property. Their names are given below:

So there are Edward Hollister, Head, Male, White, aged 66. His wife, Jane, aged 62. His daughter, Clara, aged 28. And then Adam J Bohnet, Boarder, aged 52. Further along the same line we get their occupations. Hollister is Cemetery Superintendent, his wife is not officially employed, his daughter is the book-keeper for the business, and finally, John Adam Bohnet (rendered here as Adam J Bohnet, just to make life difficult for researchers). Bohnet is specifically Cemetery Superintendent for United Cemeteries.

The women therefore are mother and daughter, Jane and Clara Hollister.

At some point the Hollister family moved on, because Bohnet is afterwards given sole credit as cemetery manager. There are pictures of him supervising at the time of CTR’s funeral, his bald head clearly recognisable. Shortly thereafter the newspaper, St Paul Enterprise, contained advertisements from him asking for help - manual help from men and also clerical help from women, to run the business. However, if any responded their employment was only short-lived because the bulk of the land was sold off in 1917, and the Society only retained ownership of certain sections.

It is interesting to note that the Hollister family, Edward, Jane, and Clara (who subsequently married J C Jordan) were all eventually buried in the United Cemeteries. (Edward in 1920, Jane in 1933 and Clara in 1958). However, it is significant that none of them were buried on the Society’s plots.

But it IS nice to put names to faces.

Last Ditch Effort

We still need a firm identity for the "Brother and Sister McCormack" mentioned in

C. T. Russell: View from the Tower, Zion’s Watch Tower, July 1882, page 1.

William & Mary

We need someone who lives reasonably near to visit William & Mary University for some documentation. Otherwise we will have a 50 dollar fee plus scan/photocopy fees for something that may be of marginal value.

Horace Randle

After separating from Russell, Randle published from London a paper entitled Good New for the Coming Age. Does anyone have copies?

Worldcat says at least one copy is in the British Library. Anyone?

We need more information on this man

SCHUTZ, John 

The funeral of Mr. John Sheetz[sic] who died at the Western Maryland hospital, Cumberland, last Wednesday night, took place Sunday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church on Broadway.  A presentative from Zion’s Watch Tower and Bible Society of Pittsburgh, conducted the services.  Interment was made in Allegheny cemetery.
The Evening Times, Wednesday, August 19, 1908

The Biographies

            I’ve been posting many brief biographies; I should probably explain why we’re pursuing these. The current mythology that passes for history suggests that early believers were all poor, disenfranchised, marginally educated, and probably Adventists of some sort. The early influence of Zion’s Watch Tower is also questioned, even by its friends. The best way for us to analyze this is to examine the issue in detail.

            So ... we’re examining all the newspaper articles and letters to Russell we can find. If we can put a name to a letter, so much the better. But even the anonymous letters have detail. They tell us what the writer’s previous religion was. (Often Methodist; almost never Adventist.) The biographical details, minor though they seem, tell a better, more accurate story than the myth that floats around the Internet.

Hatton Turner

We need more information. Who is this man? Can we tie him to Zion's Watch Tower?

Maps

Bernard is making maps that show early meeting places and places were believers lived. We're working on 1880-1882. If you can add to the list, please do. We need the source of your information.

Never Ever ...

            Our blog visitors are important to us. Some of you help us as you can. Many of you are repeat visitors, sometimes viewing the blog several times a day. Comments help. Even a question helps, because it can point the way to further research. Most of our visitors are well-behaved. Sometimes we get one that is not.

            The recent Korean troll is an example. All of his comments were marked spam and we no longer see them. In the last few months we had a semi-regular visitor who wanted to insult a religion. He left of his own accord; at least he no longer comments. He’s welcome to comment as long as he keeps it within blog rules. This is a history blog and not open to disputatious comments or insults. Apparently his feelings were hurt by the reminder, and he’s gone. We’re not responsible for your personal angst, peevishness, or rude behavior, and you may not bring it here.

            In the last few months a Russian visitor has emailed me privately, asking questions. I’ve pointed him to answers. But this is a really good place to say that I don’t do basic research for others. I don’t have time. If you want to know what we have to say about Watch Tower history, buy our books. Now ... back to our Russian visitor. He signs himself Vlad.

            Vlad thinks that because I’m a woman and Mr. Schulz’ name comes first on our books, I know less; I’m less capable and pretty much inadequate. So he wanted to email Mr. Schulz. I reminded him that Mr. Schulz is not taking emails. His health is fragile and he’s old.

            Vlad has an agenda. He’s a nominal Witness who believes 1914 is not the date of Christ’s parousia. (I’m sympathetic. But I’m not a Witness trying to sway others to change doctrine.) Vlad wanted Mr. Schulz to agree with him, thinking that because we write independent research he must hold similar opinions. Vlad wrote to Bruce anyway. My cousin answered him.

            Vlad shouldn’t expect further assistance with his research, not because he has views contrary to Witnesses, but because of the sexism and lack of respect for Mr. Schulz’ health issues.

            My screen name may be frivolous, but I am an exceptionally well qualified researcher. I have two bachelors degrees (history, education); two masters degrees (history, education) and a PhD (history). I’m a certificated teacher, with the “Highly Qualified” designation and board certified. What’s between my legs does not make me a second rate researcher, hardly more than a secretary.

            My frivolous blogger name derives from a novel of mine published in 2007. It’s out of print. But some of you have read it. I created the name to comment on the Miss Snark writer’s blog.I see no need to change it.

            My last thought on this matter is, Never, ever peeve a Pixie.

Recent Visitor Map

Help!

I want to bring this back to the top. Bernard, who contributes much to our work, needs help finding “Le Petit Inventeur,” a French language periodical. William I. Mann’s photo and a brief biography appears in the 1930 issues. Copies are in a Paris Library. Anyone in France willing to search for it?