Monday, July 17, 2017
We need to identify
We need to identity T. B. Hewitt, an Ohio resident in 1901. He signed a memorial attendance report and is mentioned just the one time in The Watch Tower.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Revisions to current work
Comments are helpful; additional research would be stellar:
New Castle, Pennsylvania
The New Castle congregation had its
start in a book canvas by John Adamson. Writing to Russell in late June or
early July 1887, he said:
I am having grand
experiences every day. It seems impossible to get through New Castle. Yesterday
took 46 names and left in afternoon train for home. In no other town have I got
in so many books to the square, and I have excellent talks. Some careful thinkers
are investigating, and awakened sleepers by the dozen. Of course there are
bitter opposers, but as far as noted people are willing to investigate for
themselves, and I have fruit already and expect much fruit. You may increase
the order to here to 300 copies.
By
late 1889, a small congregation formed, the local newspaper reporting that “a
comparatively new form of religious belief has recently obtained among certain
people of this city.” They had, the newspaper claimed, “very decided and
definite opinions as to the date of the millennium.” They met in the office of Andrew
Lewis, [1834-1916] a dentist with offices at 2 Washington Street, “for the
study of the Bible and for prayer, and the discussion of the millennium.” They
claimed to have “Biblical authority” for believing the millennial reign of
Christ near at hand. Lewis came out of the
Methodist Church, where he had been “a charter member.” His obituary does not
mention his association with Watch Tower belief and implies that he died a
Methodist.
This may not be true. We’ve encountered other obituaries prepared by relatives
ashamed of Watch Tower adherence that omit or misrepresent. His last provable
year of adherence was 1891. His father’s funeral was conducted by a “Rev. [William
A.] Wallace” of the Millennial Dawn congregation.”
While
Adamson may have sewn the seeds, the congregation owed its existence to A. C.
Wise, once a United Brethren minister. United Brethren were a German speaking
church with doctrines similar to the Methodist Church. Their clergy were
untrained, and Wise was uncomfortable with public speaking. When speaking
briefly at a Bible Student convention in 1907, he remarked: “I have been placed
on this program without any consultation, and I am not engaged much in
addressing the public, but more from house to house on the great Plan." It
was through his house to house ministry that the New Castle congregation was
formed. The New Castle, Pennsylvania, Daily City News reported: “One Dr.
A. C. Wise, of Neshannock, Mercer county, [sic] is a leader in the new
doctrine, the theories of which he obtains from a book called ‘The Millennial
Dawn,’ for which he is agent.”
Wise
was no sort of doctor. The Daily City News appears to have ‘played it
safe’ by calling a clergyman doctor. Instead he was Aaron C. Wise, a farmer by
trade and an itinerant Brethren preacher with no discernable education. Wise
was on of the organizers of a United Brethren congregation in 1863. He left the
Brethren about 1886 or 1887 to spread the Watch Tower message.
He
was new to the work. In a letter to Russell dated to May 1894 he says he had
been in the work about five years.
That takes us to this period. He explained his view of ‘the work’ in that same
letter: “The work, as I understand it, is to find the ‘wheat’ class, and with
the present Truth intellectually seal them and thus separate them from Babylon.
In doing this, many DAWNS are sold to others who may not now appreciate them,
but who thus assist in bearing the expense of the laborers; and they will be
read by and by.” He reported lecturing “some and quite acceptably, but have no
ambition to make that a special work.”
Wise
loved humor, incorporating it into his evangelism. We cannot place as to time
or place the one example he left, but that seems not to matter. This was his
preaching method:
The Scriptures show us that having ... having thus
consecrated our wills, we may be able to be of service to our fellow beings, neighbors
and friends, and might by the Lord's grace, impress these precious things on
their hearts and minds. How many of these incidents have come to our attention
in our service of the truth! I remember working in a town where they said, “If
you will see a man down there he will talk the Scriptures to you.” And towards
evening I called on him, and this is what occurred. I am a little humorous in
my way of approaching people and I said, “I understand you are quite a teacher
of the Bible and understand it.”
“Yes.”
“I have come in to run you in a corner.”
“Every time you do you will get a five-dollar note.”
And I gave him a little talk on the divine plan of the
ages from the chart, and when I got through he says, “Do you believe that?”
“I certainly do.” And he had not a word to say. Thus
was I instrumental in impressing on his mind the great and glorious truth. I
did not see him afterwards, but I learned he came into the truth.
The
New Castle paper described Wise as “chuck full of the ideas of the book he is
selling.” It reported that he “succeeded in inculcating the doctrines pretty
deeply where he has been at work.” The paper said that a “J. C. McCombs” was “one
of the most zealous ‘Millennial Dawn’ disciples. McCombs, a shoemaker, was, the
paper said, “a deep thinking man and a member of the Methodist church” from
which he had withdrawn over doctrinal difference. City directories suggest that
this was Joseph A. McCombs who in addition to running a shoemaking business
owned other business as well. Nothing is firm here. There is a John C. McCombs
in the record, but he is listed as a railroad engineer.
The
Daily City News said the “object of the millennium expectants is not to
organize or to form any settle or distinct denomination, but the principles are
to be maintained and supported by individual rather than collective belief.” The
paper called the believers in New Castle “earnest and zealous in their
convictions.” By 1900 there were about 28,000 people in New Castle and about 40
adherents.
We need ...
A firm identity for W. A. Wallace, once a phrenologist, and then for a while a Millennial Dawn Colporteur in Pennsylvania and later in Ohio. Sometime in the 1890s he lived on Euclid Avenue in Allegheny. Anyone?
Update: Full name is William A. Wallace. He was born about 1836 according to the 1870 Census.
Update: Full name is William A. Wallace. He was born about 1836 according to the 1870 Census.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Here's what we have
We need help improving this. We need more detailed biography and a clearer identification of those mentioned here. We need to know if A. C. Wise was related to C. A. Wise. We have slight indication this is father and son. But dates conflict.
New Castle, Pennsylvania
The New Castle congregation had its
start in a book canvas by John Adamson. Writing to Russell in late June or
early July 1887, he said:
I am having grand
experiences every day. It seems impossible to get through New Castle. Yesterday
took 46 names and left in afternoon train for home. In no other town have I got
in so many books to the square, and I have excellent talks. Some careful thinkers
are investigating, and awakened sleepers by the dozen. Of course there are
bitter opposers, but as far as noted people are willing to investigate for
themselves, and I have fruit already and expect much fruit. You may increase
the order to here to 300 copies.[1]
By
late 1889, a small congregation formed, the local newspaper reporting that “a
comparatively new form of religious belief has recently obtained among certain
people of this city.” They had, the newspaper claimed, “very decided and
definite opinions as to the date of the millennium.” They met in the office of Andrew
Lewis, a dentist with offices at 2 Washington Street, “for the study of the
Bible and for prayer, and the discussion of the millennium.” They claimed to
have “Biblical authority” for believing the millennial reign of Christ near at
hand.[2]
While
Adamson may have sewn the seeds, the congregation owed its existence to A. C.
Wise, once a United Brethren minister. United Brethren were a German speaking
church with doctrines similar to the Methodist Church. Their clergy were
untrained, and Wise was uncomfortable with public speaking. When speaking
briefly at a Bible Student convention in 1907, he remarked: “I have been placed
on this program without any consultation, and I am not engaged much in
addressing the public, but more from house to house on the great Plan.”[3] It
was through his house to house ministry that the New Castle congregation was
formed. The New Castle, Pennsylvania, Daily City News reported: “One Dr.
A. C. Wise, of Neshannock, Mercer county, [sic] is a leader in the new
doctrine, the theories of which he obtains from a book called ‘The Millennial
Dawn,’ for which he is agent.”[4]
Wise
was no sort of doctor. The Daily City News appears to have ‘played it
safe’ by calling a clergyman doctor. Instead he was Aaron C. Wise, a farmer by
trade and an itinerate Brethren preacher with no discernable education. He was
new to the work. In a letter to Russell dated to May 1894 he says he had been
in the work about five years.[5]
That takes us to this period. He explained his view of ‘the work’ in that same
letter: “The work, as I understand it, is to find the ‘wheat’ class, and with
the present Truth intellectually seal them and thus separate them from Babylon.
In doing this, many DAWNS are sold to others who may not now appreciate them,
but who thus assist in bearing the expense of the laborers; and they will be
read by and by.” He reported lecturing “some and quite acceptably, but have no
ambition to make that a special work.”
Wise
loved humor, incorporating it into his evangelism. We cannot place as to time
or place the one example he left, but that seems not to matter. This was his
preaching method:
The Scriptures show us that having ... having thus
consecrated our wills, we may be able to be of service to our fellow beings, neighbors
and friends, and might by the Lord's grace, impress these precious things on
their hearts and minds. How many of these incidents have come to our attention
in our service of the truth! I remember working in a town where they said, “If
you will see a man down there he will talk the Scriptures to you.” And towards
evening I called on him, and this is what occurred. I am a little humorous in
my way of approaching people and I said, “I understand you are quite a teacher
of the Bible and understand it.”
“Yes.”
“I have come in to run you in a corner.”
“Every time you do you will get a five-dollar note.”
And I gave him a little talk on the divine plan of the
ages from the chart, and when I got through he says, “Do you believe that?”
“I certainly do.” And he had not a word to say. Thus
was I instrumental in impressing on his mind the great and glorious truth. I
did not see him afterwards, but I learned he came into the truth.[6]
The
New Castle paper described Wise as “chuck full of the ideas of the book he is
selling.” It reported that he “succeeded in inculcating the doctrines pretty
deeply where he has been at work.” The paper said that a “J. C. McCombs” was “one
of the most zealous ‘Millennial Dawn’ disciples. McCombs, a shoemaker, was, the
paper said, “a deep thinking man and a member of the Methodist church” from
which he had withdrawn over doctrinal difference. City directories suggest that
this was Joseph A. McCombs who in addition to running a shoemaking business
owned other business as well. Nothing is firm here. There is a John C. McCombs
in the record, but he is listed as a railroad engineer.
The
Daily City News said the “object of the millennium expectants is not to
organize or to form any settle or distinct denomination, but the principles are
to be maintained and supported by individual rather than collective belief.” The paper called the believers in New
Castle “earnest and zealous in their convictions.”
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.
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.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
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
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?
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?
Monday, July 10, 2017
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.
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
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Monday, April 17, 2017
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.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
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.
To be admitted you must email me at rm devienne [at] yahoo dot com. Explain who you are.
Decisions may take a few days.
Monday, April 10, 2017
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.
Special thanks to Jerome and Roberto who supported this blog in many ways. I appreciate our constant and faithful readers.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
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.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
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.
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.
Friday, April 7, 2017
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.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
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#
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/language-blog/91039581-132.html#
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.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
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”.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
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.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
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.
Friday, March 24, 2017
We need ...
We need the exact Watch Tower by date where Rutherford first condemns "Character Development." Anyone?
Thursday, March 23, 2017
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
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)
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Temporary Post ... VERY Temporary
This is in rough draft the first few paragraphs of current work. Tentative title for this chapter is Evangelical Voice. Usual rules. Do not copy elsewhere, though you may copy for your own use. It will change. Do not rely on this in this form. Do not share it with others. It will come down in a day or two.
We're posting it for comments. Your comments are valuable feedback. When there are no comments I doubt we've done well.
We're posting it for comments. Your comments are valuable feedback. When there are no comments I doubt we've done well.
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’s 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.
remainder of this post is deleted.
remainder of this post is deleted.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Suggestive Hints
Suggestive Hints to New Colporteurs made its first appearance in 1887. We have a much later edition, but we need to see the first edition. If you have one, or one much earlier than the 1912 edition, please scan it and send it to us.
Wrong title given above: This is what we're seeking:
VOL. IX. PITTSBURGH, PA., SEPTEMBER, 1887. NO. 1.
==========
R967 : page 1
HINTS ON SELLING DAWN.
Any one desirous of engaging in the
spread of the truth can find grand opportunities
and plenty of them, selling paper-bound
DAWN, VOL. I. The present price,
25 cents, brings it within the reach of all.
We state again that ten cents per copy is
allowed for expenses out of the Tract
Fund. According to your zeal, faith and
talents united, will be your success. Take
your sample book and make a trial before
ordering books. For particulars of how
to succeed in selling DAWN, write to us
for a copy of our Hints to MILLENNIAL
DAWN Canvassers, just printed. It will
be sent free by mail.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
The seal ...
From about 1870 to well into the 20th Century, envelope and advertising seals were commonly used in Germany. These copied official government seals used on correspondence. So it's not surprising to find that the Watch Tower society used them too. Here is an example found on the front end paper of Der Krieg von Harmagedon.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Arthur Pennock
The
10:30
Bible
study
of
Watch
Tower.
Millennial
Dawn
and
Old
Theology
readers
will
be
conducted
by
Arthur
Pennock
of
Taylor.
Any
one
is welcome. -- June 6, 1908, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News
from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Page 4
We need basic biography for Pennock. Anyone?
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Your observations wanted ...
Please read the article "To Communicate Forget Not" found in the August 1880 ZWT and give us your observations.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Readers in the UK ...
This is found in the University of Manchester Library. We need a scan or photocopy. Acquiring it from the USA is very expensive. If you live near Manchester or visit there, would you acquire this for us:
"Millennial dawn" : a word of warning, etc.
William John Macclure INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.
n.d.]
Available at Special Collections (Main Library) Christian Brethren Printed Collection (11323 )
There are a number of journal articles and booklets at the Manchester U. Library we'd like to see. Contact me if you're up to volunteering.
There are a number of journal articles and booklets at the Manchester U. Library we'd like to see. Contact me if you're up to volunteering.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Katherine Hankey
I posted a hymn she wrote and that met Russell's approval a ways back. Really two related hymns ... Based on her long poem, An Old, Old Story. Russell published the long poem entire as Old Theology Quarterly No. 7. This is often wrongly attributed to Maria Russell.
Russell published without attribution as did the American Tract Society. It was widely known, and neither the Watch Tower nor ATS saw a need to append a name.
Russell published without attribution as did the American Tract Society. It was widely known, and neither the Watch Tower nor ATS saw a need to append a name.
Hankey's poem as published by the American Tract Society
Copies show up on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Old-Old-Story-Published-By-The-American-Tract-Society-AM-Tract-Society-1872-/272571856256?hash=item3f768c7580:g:qqEAAOSwA3dYgT8r
Copies show up on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Old-Old-Story-Published-By-The-American-Tract-Society-AM-Tract-Society-1872-/272571856256?hash=item3f768c7580:g:qqEAAOSwA3dYgT8r
Old Theology Quarterly No. 7
You will notice that Russell altered wording as he did with many hymns and poems.
You will notice that Russell altered wording as he did with many hymns and poems.