We need help with this ...

We need the full name of a Dr. A. Lewis of New Castle, Pennsylvania. He lived there in the 1880s and 1890s.

Update: Dr. Lewis is Andrew Lewis, a dentist from New Castle, PA. We still need biographical details.

We need the full name and biographical details of A. C. Wise [Not C. A. Wise], once a United Brethren minister, later a Watch Tower colporteur. There is an Arron C. Wise and an Alfred C. Wise who are both possibilities, but we are uncertain.

For the record ...

It is unlikely that we will use this material, but some of our blog readers may be interested. Paton published a book of poems by one of his adherents. It is available here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=liTSAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

"Bro. Stubbs"

Herewith is one of those mysteries we'd like to solve:

A letter from an O. R. to Paton appears in the February 15, 1911, World's Hope announcing the death of "Bro. Stubbs of Shelby," Michigan. Stubbs is not mentioned in early issues of ZWT, but Paton wrote that he "was among the first subscribers to the HOPE."

Can you help us put a first name to Stubbs?

An article by Dr. Schulz

• Nsukka Journal of History
• 
  
• Today at 2:05 AM

To B. W. Schulz

Message body

 

Dear Bruce,
I am happy to inform you that your article has been accepted for
publication in our journal. Congratulations. The edition would appear
in is volume 4, 2017 which will be out from press by early
September.We hope to receive more works from you.

 

Note: This article considers the earliest work in Liberia. - Rachael

Update

The invitation only blog is a failed experiment. I am reopening this blog.

Private blog ..

The private blog is up and running. The first post by Jerome is up. I'm still taking requests to read the blog.

The End II

Comments will close on April 19, 2017.

I am willing to entertain requests for the private blog from those who did not comment on this blog. There must be a compelling reason for me to admit you to readership. Though it seems unkind, I will not take applications from anyone in Korea or Russia, the source of many of our trolls. I have no way of differentiating you from a troll.

If you believe you can contribute to the private blog in some way - other than mere curiosity, email me at rm de vienne [at] yahoo.com

Additional note: While in operation, this blog had many readers. Despite repeated requests for comments, we had few. The desire to comment or the ability to contribute significant research is your key to the private blog.

Private Blog

I am reopening the private, invitation only blog. You must apply for access which is limited to those who have previously left comments on this blog. Not everyone who's left a comment will gain admittance. Having been invited to it before will not automatically see an invitation now.

To be admitted you must email me at rm devienne [at] yahoo dot com. Explain who you are.

Decisions may take a few days.

End

This blog does not serve the purpose for which it was intended. The number of deleted and disallowed comments is increasing because some blog readers cannot ‘play nicely.’ One called us liars. [I was beginning to believe you, but ...]

The immediate solution is to shut the blog down. I will start by disallowing further comments. There will be no more posts to this blog, at least for the foreseeable future. The blog as it is today will remain as a resource. But nothing new will appear here until volume 2 is finished.

Other than Bruce, our blog editors should remove themselves within the next week. This is not open for debate. It’s not your blog. It belongs to Bruce and me. Neither of us wants to deal with reader abuse.

Comments will close sometime next week.

Special thanks to Jerome and Roberto who supported this blog in many ways. I appreciate our constant and faithful readers. 

Communication - The Name of the Game

by Jerome

One of the keys I’ve found for researching history is to try to be a good communicator. That may mean sending dozens of expansive emails, or telephoning repositories and trying to befriend people the other end of the line.

Here are just a few examples as well as a review of some useful resources that others can use. It is not intended to be a scholarly article, more a series of personal experiences. As such I apologize in advance for a likely overdose of words like “I” and “me”.

Newspapers

Even today not all newspapers are online, and if they are, it is pot luck whether they are freely accessible or require you to take out a subscription. However, for the latter you can often sign up for a trial period and then hastily cancel. But a few years back there were two newspapers from the north of Scotland which had not made it onto internet databases. There was a debate on the subject of “future probation” between a Bible Student named Charles Houston and a local clergyman Donald Davidson that was mentioned in the pages of ZWT. (See ZWT reprints pages 1965, 1884 and 2278.) At the time the local papers wrote it all up in great detail, with a lot of local interest on both sides of the religious divide. I emailed the local library in Wick, Scotland, but got no response. So I telephoned and spoke at enthusiastic length to the librarian. He was most helpful and became quite hooked on this piece of local history. So he appointed a library assistant to - well, assist me. Over several months they painstakingly checked all the papers for me and scanned all the relevant bits and pieces. The results were several posts on this blog back in 2012 and a book on the subject that can still be obtained from Lulu. Just go to the Lulu site and punch in Houston-Davidson Debate.

That’s a blatant plug of course, but the download is free.

Internet sources

Never despise Google as a first port of call. For example, there is a family history site for the Paton family. They are a little wary of inquiries, but I managed to get in touch with a descendant of John H Paton who kindly sent me photographs of him, with permission to reproduce, and they have been on this blog. He also supplied a missing link in how the Almont Public Library obtained photocopies of Paton’s World’s Hope magazine. They had been offered to him for free several decades ago and he had turned down the offer. Which was a great shame. I am sure he would have shared them for free, whereas the library charged.

But do write to people and if you think there may be reticence there, be honest but speak soothingly and reassure them of your honorable intentions...

Libraries

Many are quite clued up now, which means they will only assist after a fashion for a fee. But as illustrated with the Houston-Davidson debate above, it doesn’t hurt to phone if an email doesn’t work. One of the available issues of A D Jones’ Day Star paper came from an exchange with an American library. I telephoned from UK using one of the companies that give you international calls for pennies and burbled enthusiastically away. And although the guy took my credit card, he photographed the paper and sent me the pdf and I never did get charged. About twenty-five years ago three missing years of Storrs’ Bible Examiner came my way on a free microfilm after a friendly correspondence with a college librarian. If only more libraries or library staff would be like that.

Ancestry

The beauty of genealogical sites, especially international ones like Ancestry, is that you can be put in touch with people researching the same family. Every time I find someone relevant to this blog I contact who appear to be living relatives. I am currently in dialog with descendants of Leslie Jones, the doctor who produced the convention reports and got involved in the Mena Film Company and their planned sequel to the Photodrama of Creation. A little while back there was debate over the early days of the Bible Students in Britain. A photograph captioned Tom Hart turned out to be his friend Jonathan Ling, but only because a descendant contacted through Ancestry sent other photographs, and there he was. So if you use Ancestry, do contact all those who have your quarry on their tree or on their interest list. Some will never reply, but many do.

Find a Grave

This is one of my favorite sites and I delve in under a different name quite regularly. That is not morbidity on my part, but accompanying records often supply key information Quite often those who have supplied the information for Find a Grave, or a photograph, can sometimes supply a lot more. It is pot luck what you may find, but the database is rapidly increasing. I discovered who had left association with the IBSA by seeing who conducted their funeral, which may outside the scope of this project, but of interest to me. Links from Find a Grave to Ancestry helped me produce an article three years ago on all the names inscribed on the pyramid monument by CTR’s grave, and who they were and what happened to them.

And again, we are back to the importance of friendly communication. I always contact the person who supplied the entry and also the photographer of the grave. And on every occasion barring one, they have got back to me. So there is information from a descendant on John A Bohnet, for an article that may one day see the light of day. I also solved what was a puzzle to me about Malcom, Joseph F Rutherford’s only son. Records seemed to suggest that he married more than once (consecutively not concurrently I hasten to add). But were these people actually his wives? The person who had taken individual photographs but not joined up the dots sufficiently for my liking very kindly went back to the cemetery for me and photographed the graves together.

Malcom Rutherford WAS married twice and is buried beside both of his wives. He survived them both. The markers from left to right are for Bobby (Pauline) Rutherford, first wife, Eleanor Rutherford (second wife) and then Malcom Rutherford “in loving memory”. Which begs the question as to who put up the markers for all three, including him? My photographer couldn’t help with that one, but there are always loose ends to research.

I said on every occasion barring one. There is one exception where I didn’t get a refusal, just no response. It may be that the photographer no longer visits that site. Or being gloomy, has maybe joined the site. I probably could have just reproduced the picture and given a credit to Find a Grave, but my old-fashioned rules made me uncomfortable with that. For those who want to see the photograph check out the entry for Caroline M (Bown) Jones (1858-1933) buried in Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh.

So who on earth was that?

Her gravestone says she was the wife of Albert D. Jones. Their son who only lived a week is buried there too, Albert D. Jones Jr. That is probably why the stone records the infamous Albert Delmont Jones name. Of course, our ADJ is not buried there. He dumped this wife for a society beauty, and she then dumped him when he lost his money. A third stab at matrimony had him tied with a con artiste who had a key role to play in the Fatty Arbuckle scandal. He ended his days destitute, and was buried in a potter’s field - which was subsequently covered by a freeway extension. Some mobsters who disappeared are reckoned to be buried under the freeway. In the case of Albert Delmont Jones that is literally true. Again, Find a Grave, and a detailed correspondence with a contributor, uncovered - if that is the right word - the story. It’s all been in this blog in times past.

As noted at the start, this was not intended to be a serious study in research methods. There are many who use resources and can probably find their way around them far better than I can. But sweet-talking people, being nice to them, showing an interest, and in many cases reassuring them - it’s amazing what may still be out there to find.

you can help by ...

You can help by recommending our books, especially Separate Identity vol. 1 to others and by posting reviews on Amazon USA and on international Amazon sites. Reviews on B and N, Google Books and similar sites help too.

Sales periodically slow. This seems to be seasonal, but its not always predictable. Our continuing work is driven by sales of existing books. Sales pays for research. Original research is often very expensive.

Please help.

ooops

When dealing with an abusive comment we think we may have marked more than one person's comments as 'spam.' If you try to post a comment and it does not appear in the comment trail, email me and we'll find a work around, unless, of course, you are the person Bruce meant to block. I cannot fix that.

Marginally relevant

One of our blog readers sent me this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And I can say without too much of a smile that I've introduced my share of classes with something similar.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/language-blog/91039581-132.html#

Facebook

We've asked before that readers not link to this blog through facebook. The message was clear, but apparently some still do not understand. Show some respect. Delete links to this blog from your facebook account. Today.

Return of the Very Temporary Post

I despair of receiving analytical comments. But at Bruce's request, here it is with some additions and revisions. Usual rules.

Evangelical Voice

            The Barbourite movement was narrowly focused, drawing almost entirely from non-Seventh-day Adventists, Age-to-Come believers and other Millinarians. Barbour saw those without a millannialist point of view as worldly and lost. He saw himself as God’s appointed voice for the Last Days. Paton believed he was divinely appointed, and he saw “advances” in spiritual insight as God’s special revelation to him. Both published tracts, Paton many more than Barbour who relied on the Herald of the Morning to further his ideology. The focus of both was narrow, and they didn’t seek a wider voice.           

            Russell’s view was more expansive. He believed God’s people were scattered in all of Christendom, and some were as yet unfound in non-Christian religions. Connecting good-hearted Christians with ‘truth’ was urgent because they were, he believed, in the time of final judgment, the harvest time of Jesus’ parables. To explain Zion’s Watch Tower’s mission, he quoted from the Millerite hymn Alarm:

"We are living, we are dwelling

In a grand and awful time;

In an age on ages telling

To be living is sublime."[1]

        post was deleted.

Roberto's analysis

With some English language assistance from Rachael:

            The article of ZWT February 1881, entitled “Lay up for yourselves treasures”, is a sequel of previous articles written by Russell about the obligation of the Saints, the Bride of Christ, to spread seriously and meaningfully the message. Bruce and Rachael have posted a previously “Temporary post … VERY temporary” to introduce us to the argument, and that article is the basis for my comments.

            Russell’s article is addressed to the regular readers and believers of ZWT, to encourage them to spread the “truth”, but I suspect, on the base of the previous article of Bruce and Rachael, it was also an (in)direct message to some leading characters of the movement, I suspect Paton and Allen. This suspicion came to me reading this:

Do I hear you say that the prize for which you are running is a heavenly one and that you are laying up your treasure in heaven? I am glad that when you hold these treasures up before your mind you recognize them all as earthly, which the moth and rust of time will soon destroy. I am glad if your hearts have not become so fond of these things, that you worship them and think them beautiful. But let me put it plainly: Would your neighbor judging from your daily acts not suppose that you are bending all of your energies for some of these prizes? Is he deceived, or are you, with reference to your real aim? Do not your actions, as well as his, speak louder than words--What is your real treasure-- the thing which you really love?

            Russell speaks of “daily acts” and “actions”, and that they “speak louder than words”. What are these acts and actions? He quoted a hymn, “All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my beings ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours.” In quoting the hymn he implicitly says that the Christian deeds should be in thoughts, words and doing, and at this point Russell reports his personal experience in thoughts, words, and doings for Jesus:

I found that I had three hours for my consecrated work … I daily spend one hour not in reading, but in earnest study. I searched and found daily spiritual food and my "daily bread" sometimes took two instead of one hour. How should I use my other hours? … my chief object should be to give spiritual help, or secondly, any temporal aid or comfort to those needing it.

            Russell made clear the point reporting to the readers two of his personal experiences in preaching: First he gave testimony to his next-door neighbor who had sickness and trouble, and then to a lady of whose deep piety and Christian character he had heard much, giving her WT tract n.1. Thus his time was spent from day to day, until the three hours were not enough. So we understand that in the mind of Russell, acts and actions were: studying the Bible and preach the truth 3, 4 hours every day.

            Russell states that his article is directed to the consecrated saints:

These five pictures represent persons who have consecrated all to God, who have covenanted to become dead to earthly aims, and ambitions and prizes, and have entered the list of those who will strive for "The prize of our high calling" and "seek for glory, honor and immortality"--the honor, the glory and the life promised only to the Bride--the overcomers, who keep their covenant.

            Russell underlined the necessity to increase the witnesses saying: “He (God) has given us many ways and opportunities of doing this. It may be spent in spreading the truth.” The rest of the article is an exhortation to evangelize. The exhortation was directed to every sort of Saints: the rich, the poor, mothers, housewives, etc. Every kind of Saint must spread the truth.

            In ZWT of April Russell was explicit again. He launched an appeal for 1.000 preachers, and published the article: “How to teach”. Paton in the same time published three articles: “Number Three, part 1”, “Number Three, part 2”, and “Foundation of the World”.

   

 

     

Adolphe Weber

Below are some scans sent in by Franco. In order, they are:

Portrait of Adolphe Weber

Postcard with Weber’s stamp

Weber’s copy of the book Deliverance (1926)

Close up of Weber’s signature from same

Letter about Weber’s background - born 1863, died 1947.

See also editorial comment after pictures

Editorial comment

For any who do not know Weber’s story, he came into contact with Zion’s Watch Tower while working as a gardener for CTR in Pittsburgh. He went back to Europe in the late 1890s to spread the message, and remained loyal to the Watchtower Society throughout his life. He died in 1947. For a fuller history of his life see the history of the work in France in the Yearbook for 1980.

Research on the wild side ...

            This is really fringe material, but we do need to know. I’m turning to our readers who are probably better at this particular research than we are. We have two lines of research, one fairly urgent, the other important later.

            There is slight evidence that the Russells [or just C. T.] had a son who died in infancy. Yes, I know, it seems improbable given the amount of research put into their life. But we need to confirm or deny this.

            The Internet repeats suggestions that Rutherford had a mistress or two. The ‘evidence’ never seems to reach the threshold of established fact. We need to know.

            We need solid research, even if it only concludes there is no evidence. On the supposed Russell child, we’d need to find a grave or death records that match. He would have died in 1880 or 1881. He might not be buried with the rest of the family. The name may only be “baby boy Russell.”

            I have several reasons for turning this over to our readers. I have a strong point of view on both of these issues. I’d rather the research proceed without a PoV clouding it. We do not have easy access to Allegheny County records, many of which perished in a fire. On the other hand, I do not want to turn this into the wild speculations found on controversialist sites.

Are you up to the challenge?

From Bruce:

We can dismiss the 'hairpin' story out of hand. There is no first hand confirmation of that story which is alternately set in Buffalo NY and in one of the Carolinas but with no firsthand documentation. If a hotel maid [supposedly also a Bible Student] found a woman's hairpin in his bed, there is a simpler explanation. Rutherford was experiencing hair loss. Quack remedies involved soaking your hair in an elixir or emulsion and wearing a cap. My grandfather, Rutherford's contemporary, used Lucky Tiger hair restorer in the vain hope that he could rescue his hair. [When it's gone, it's gone. Believe me, I know.] The cap was secured with "women's hairpins."

Jesus used the phrase 'eye is evil' for greed and evil supposition. If this happened at all, we can point to an evil supposition. Apparently no-one bothered to ask Rutherford about it. [Assuming it happened] But some were willing to believe an evil report when a simple explanation would do. 

This is similar to the photo that supposedly shows a drunk Rutherford that really shows a group of Witnesses sitting by a root beer dispenser common in the 1920s -1940s. They were used to make homemade root beer, using Hires Extract, and then to dispense it.

History is not sourced from "evil reports," but from provable events.

However, I second Rachael's request for additional research by our blog readers.

We need ...

We need the exact Watch Tower by date where Rutherford first condemns "Character Development." Anyone?

Last Year of Herald of the Morning

To answer Chris G.s question ...

Your opinion, thoughts, comments?

Please read the article entitled "Lay up Treasures for Yourself," found in the February 1881 Watch Tower. We are interested in your assessments.

F. L. Alexandre Freytag

from Franco

Alexandre Freytag was appointed by CTR as branch manager in Geneva, Switzerland. It did not end well. You will note that the caption to his photograph calls him “the faithful and prudent servant”.

Quoting from the 1980 Yearbook on the history of Bible Students/Witnesses in France:

FREYTAG PREPARES A TAKEOVER

Starting with the April 1919 issue, Freytag printed his name on the second page of each French Watch Tower, no longer as “manager” (gérant responsible  in French language), of the Geneva office,

but as “editor” (rédacteur in French language) of the Watch Tower.

As the official French edition of the Watch Tower represented less and less the English edition, some brothers in Switzerland took it upon themselves to publish a more accurate translation of the English-language Watch Tower. Thus there were for a time two French editions of the Watch Tower circulating among the brothers!

In August 1919, Freytag transferred a part of the Society’s literature stock and other property to his own address. Knowing that in January the Paris Congregation had informed Pittsburgh of what was going on, and that on March 25, 1919, Brother Rutherford had been released from prison, Freytag doubtless realized that the Society would certainly soon take action against him. So he began stowing away the property that he intended to keep for himself.

(above taken from 1980 Yearbook 1980 page 49 - The History of the Work in France)

Below is Freytag’s last Watch Tower.

At the bottom of page 2, Freytag put in this announcement:

NOTICE TO OUR DEAR READERS

The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, having taken our name, and publishing a newspaper that is titled the same as ours, now we prefer, to avoid confusion, to publish our newspaper under the name: "The Angel of the Eternal, the Kingdom Messenger of God"

Editorial note

Ultimately the Society took Freytag  to court on three occasions to finally recover the property he had taken (see 1987 Yearbook page 127, History of the Work in Switzerland). The movement Freytag formed  still exists in places like France (1980 Yearbook page 51) and Germany (1974 Yearbook page 85)