Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Sweden
We know that the Watch Tower message made it to Sweden via personal letters from America by 1882. But we have very sparse documentation, and we have no documentation from the Swedish side. Can you help?
I should add that our current research interest is in the period up to about 1890. Research shows person to person contacts between immigrants to America and family in Europe. But we have little detail. We need detail. Some scrap must be out there somewhere. Anyone?
Bible Students in Wales during the time of Charles Taze Russell
The caption reads Photo Drama of Creation - Drill Hall Merthyr - October 10th - 17th, 1915
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries, England, Scotland,
Ireland (just the northern part since 1921) and Wales. When the Bible Student
message came to the United Kingdom and groups of supporters formed, it appears
that Wales was the last to be reached in any meaningful way.
The first mention of Wales in the pages of ZWT was in 1891. CTR visited
the UK and spoke in London and Liverpool, to an audience of about 150 at both
places. The report in the November 1891 ZWT mentioned the Liverpool audience
included some from Wales. Geographically that would probably be individuals from
North Wales. (Before communications increased, North and South Wales were
almost like different countries, with a different dialect, and even today, to
travel from one to the other, it is usually quicker to go through England.)
In 1900 the British Branch was established, and as reported in ZWT for
May 15, 1900 this was the benefit of the friends from England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales.
The December 15, 1904 report from the UK, written by Jesse Hemery, gave
some specific information about progress in the UK including Wales. Hemery
wrote that congregations in England, Scotland and Ireland had increased over
the last seven years from four to forty. By his estimate that would mean only
four established congregations in 1897, but now forty in 1904. None of these
were in Wales, but Hemery wrote: “You
will be glad to know that Wales is now getting its share of the harvest
blessing: several colporteurs have been working in South Wales”.
There was a great religious revival in Wales in 1904-1905, the results
of which were felt for many years thereafter. How much this contributed
towards, or even hindered, the progress of the Bible Student message is an interesting
question.
In 1906 American Benjamin Barton made a Pilgrim visit to Britain. He visited
all the congregations and groups he could in Britain, and for the first time, a
group in Wales was mentioned. Cardiff received a visit in the August. This then
was the first documented congregation in Wales.
The 1906 report, written as usual by Hemery (in ZWT January 1, 1907),
states that “considerable work has been done in Wales and Ireland, in both of
which there is now a considerable and growing interest.”
In 1907 A E Williamson made a similar Pilgrim visit and his itinery
(found in ZWT for June 15, 1907) included Cardiff, and also Bangor in the north
of Wales.
In 1909 (WT November 15, 1909) a letter in support of the Vow was
published from “we the undersigned members of the ‘Ecclesia’ in Cardiff”. It is
signed by fifteen.
Things really took off in Wales after a visit by CTR in 1911. He
visited Wales twice, speaking at South Wales venues in Newport, Cardiff,
Swansea and Llanelli. There would normally be existing groups of Bible Students
or at least committed individuals already in places to pave the way and
organize events and publicity. So we can assume that along the South Wales
industrial areas there were now several regular gatherings in place. Fifteen
hundred attended a meeting in Cardiff at the Park Hall theater. Russell would
later comment in the December 15, 1911 Watch Tower “the truth is making good
progress in Wales.”
In conjunction with his visits in 1911, a South Wales newspaper, The
Weekly Mail started printing Russell’s sermons each week, and this would extend
the outreach of the message up the Welsh valleys, supported by the colporteurs.
So by World War 1 there is anecdotal evidence - but strong anecdotal
evidence - that there were established congregations in places such as Newport,
Cardiff, Pontypridd, Abersychan (Pontypool), Merthyr Tydfil, Beaufort (Ebbw Vale),
and Clydach (Swansea).
What about literature in the Welsh language?
The first documented evidence of Welsh language literature is in WT
November 15, 1911, which mentions free literature being available in 23
languages, including Welsh. This would be copies of Bible Students Monthly or
People’s Pulpit.
This was probably produced more for an American audience. According to
the Wales-Pennsylvania project, at one point one-third of the population of
Pennsylvania was Welsh - people who left Wales to take their skills in coal mining,
slate quarrying and iron working to industrial centers like Pittsburgh in the
19th century. Even today there are 200,000 people of Welsh ancestry
in the State. So there were Welsh Bible Students in America from very early on,
and no doubt some of these sowed seeds with relatives back in the old country. For
one particularly example see an old article on this blog about William Hickey,
who originally came from Tredegar, South Wales. He was attending meetings with
CTR way back in the 1870s.
Paradoxically, the large numbers who became adherents in South Wales probably
didn’t speak or read much Welsh, because genetically they were not Welsh. Vast
numbers of English from Somerset, Gloucestershire and the Midlands flocked into
South Wales during the Industrial Revolution, and as the iron ran low in places
like Merthyr, Spanish iron and Spanish workers were imported along with it. In WT
May 15, 1911, CTR even commented, “Cardiff has largely an English population. The
proportion of Welsh faces, both at the public address and the address to the
friends, was comparatively small.”
In 1915 the Photodrama of Creation came to South Wales. It was shown in
Merthyr Tydfil in October 1915 and a surviving photograph is at the head of
this article.
It is interesting that Merthyr saw the Photodrama before Cardiff did.
However, for a long stretch of its history Merthyr was the largest town in
Wales, with its huge iron works. Cardiff was the port at the end of the canal,
and later the railway, to export the riches of the valleys.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Swedish literature
from Franco
Below are some pages from the booklet What Say the Scriptures About Hell? published in the Swedish language in 1903. (Click on the pictures to enlarge if you need more detail).
The booklet credits August Lundborg as publisher, and Fritiof Lindkvist as translator. For Lundborg's history see the history of Sweden in the 1991 Yearbook. He is also mentioned in the Proclaimers book. For Lindkvist's history see the history of Norway in the 1997 and 2012 Yearbooks.
Welsh
This is a personal historical request. Has anyone
ever come across a Welsh translation of Tabernacle Shadows? The received story
is that the Millions booklet was the first Watch Tower publication produced in
Welsh. (I donated my copy last year to a Welsh translation office). But very
many years ago I visited an elderly lady in Wales in a tumbledown cottage who
had been associated with the Bible Students since before the First World War. I
have a memory of seeing a Welsh Tabernacle Shadows and asking her about it. But
it had belonged to her late husband and she couldn’t give any more information.
Unfortunately for posterity, I wasn’t interested in Welsh at the time but in
obtaining some Photodrama of Creation postcards from her, which I duly did.
Later I learned that, on her death, the cottage was raised to the ground - it
was in danger of falling down anyway - and everything thrown away. A sad story,
too often repeated as other collectors can no doubt confirm.
I know the activities of the Bible Students only
really reached Wales about 1903 and the first known congregation in Wales dates
from 1906. BUT, American States like Pennsylvania were full of Welsh immigrants
who had gone over to work the coal, the iron and the steel. If such a volume
ever existed it would likely have been produced - officially or unofficially -
in America.
Friday, February 17, 2017
In Germany
In an interview with the New York Sun in August 1881, A. Bergner suggested that there were 'probably' Watch Tower adherents in Germany. Can we verify that the Watch Tower message had reached Germany by that year?
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Can you add detail to this?
From chapter on early work in the UK
Sheffield
Bender
contracted with Clarkson & Company: Advertising Contractors to circulate Food
for Thinking Christians. In turn, they advertised in the October 14, 1881,
Sheffield newspapers for fifty boys to circulate Zion’s Watch Tower
tracts. Sheffield was an industrial city with a population of 284,508. If the
tract generated interest we do not know it. As was true of the rest of the
United Kingdom, the congregation in Sheffield grew slowly. We know of an
evangelist active in Sheffield in 1890. In 1903, they reported seventeen at the
Lord’s Supper. We do not have more details.
Hudson's Bible Students in Britain associates a John Green with Sheffield. Who was he?
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Mr. Schulz asked me to repost this ...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Rules
Calling me at home to "discuss" my book is a no-no. This blog exists as a
forum for you to ask your questions and make your comments. I will not
engage with you over the phone; I will not debate the merits of your
theology or mine via the phone either. You most certainly may not call
me or Miss de Vienne. There is nothing you have to say that can't be
said in an email or blog post.
If you have comments or questions, you may post them here or use the email given on this blog. We will not respond to questions about our personal life. Our religious beliefs are not the subject of this forum. Watchtower history is. That this blog is named "truth history" should give you enough of a clue as to where I stand on most issues.
You will not find your chances of engaging me in dialogue improved by using as a reference the name of a person whom I neither trust nor respect. It is very unwise to name drop. You may not like my reaction if you do.
I don't know how I can make my position clearer. I am only interested in an accurate presentation of Watch Tower history. Our research and writing forwards no agenda except a clear and accurate presentation of history as it can be known.
As heartless as it may sound, I'm not interested in your beliefs, complaints, or theological speculations. Both Rachael and I have our own. We share them in other contexts. This blog is about history -- accurately presented, well researched history. We are not interested in polemics and we're not interested in your theological views. All are welcome here as long as they behave. Consider it our “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Unfortunately, I am not able to provide copies of the references we used, except on a very limited basis. I am - to put it bluntly - old. I'm in declining health, and I have limited funds. I do not have enough money to return long distance calls, and I find calls to my home to be rude and intrusive. As a young man, my long term goal was to grow up to be a cranky old man. I finally made it. I’m not going to spoil it by taking your uninvited telephone calls.
To recapitulate (because some people just don't get it the first dozen times): 1. Do not call my house. 2. Do not call Rachael's house. 3. If you have comments or questions, post them on this blog. 4. Do not presume that I agree with you. I probably don't. 5. If it isn't about 'truth history,' I don't want to hear it. 6. We're not a resource for your unfounded, poorly researched, ill considered polemics. Don’t ask. That’s not why we're here.
My resources and stamina are limited. I usually cannot make photocopies, even if you offer to pay. I tell my students that they must do their own research. If I make my students do that, guess what I’m going to tell you. ...
Posted by
B. W. Schulz
at
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
If you have comments or questions, you may post them here or use the email given on this blog. We will not respond to questions about our personal life. Our religious beliefs are not the subject of this forum. Watchtower history is. That this blog is named "truth history" should give you enough of a clue as to where I stand on most issues.
You will not find your chances of engaging me in dialogue improved by using as a reference the name of a person whom I neither trust nor respect. It is very unwise to name drop. You may not like my reaction if you do.
I don't know how I can make my position clearer. I am only interested in an accurate presentation of Watch Tower history. Our research and writing forwards no agenda except a clear and accurate presentation of history as it can be known.
As heartless as it may sound, I'm not interested in your beliefs, complaints, or theological speculations. Both Rachael and I have our own. We share them in other contexts. This blog is about history -- accurately presented, well researched history. We are not interested in polemics and we're not interested in your theological views. All are welcome here as long as they behave. Consider it our “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Unfortunately, I am not able to provide copies of the references we used, except on a very limited basis. I am - to put it bluntly - old. I'm in declining health, and I have limited funds. I do not have enough money to return long distance calls, and I find calls to my home to be rude and intrusive. As a young man, my long term goal was to grow up to be a cranky old man. I finally made it. I’m not going to spoil it by taking your uninvited telephone calls.
To recapitulate (because some people just don't get it the first dozen times): 1. Do not call my house. 2. Do not call Rachael's house. 3. If you have comments or questions, post them on this blog. 4. Do not presume that I agree with you. I probably don't. 5. If it isn't about 'truth history,' I don't want to hear it. 6. We're not a resource for your unfounded, poorly researched, ill considered polemics. Don’t ask. That’s not why we're here.
My resources and stamina are limited. I usually cannot make photocopies, even if you offer to pay. I tell my students that they must do their own research. If I make my students do that, guess what I’m going to tell you. ...
First Watch Tower in Italian and French
by Franco
Below is the first Watch Tower issued in the French and Italian languages. The date is October 1903 and the content is the same.
The second issue for both languages is dated January 1904. The French is reproduced first and then the Italian.
The French magazine was to become a monthly publication and the Italian a quarterly.
We need to see the ...
We need to see the German language material noted in the final footnote. I thought we had that, but, if so, I cannot find it in our research folders. Anyone have a good, readable scan?
Note: We have received this. Thanks.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Von Zech
O. von Zech published a short-lived English language periodical starting in 1903. It's title was Witness to Prophecy. I can't locate any copies. Can you?
If you have this, we'd like a scan
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bibelforscher-und-Bibelforschung-uber-das-Weltende-Funf-Vortrage-uber-die-sog-/332107751056?hash=item4d532a1e90:g:hfMAAOSw5cNYjmjL
Very, VERY temporary post
I'm posting this for helpful comments. We like the 'well done' comments, and do make them. But we want to further this research with additional information. Can you contribute to our understanding?
Usual rules. Copy for own use. DO NOT SHARE IT. Remember, this is developing research and may change.
Usual rules. Copy for own use. DO NOT SHARE IT. Remember, this is developing research and may change.
Foreign Language Fields Within the United
States
In late 1882, a reader
requested a German language tract “setting forth the glad tidings.” Notice of
it appeared in the December Watch Tower. Russell called for “a German
brother with the necessary ability” to translate the October 1882 issue, a
missionary issue, into that language. He also remarked that “a Swedish
translation is also much called for. ... Here is a place in the harvest field
for someone.”[1] Financial problems delayed
the work in both languages. Russell explained:
The Fund is in debt over $2,500, and of
course no further work can be undertaken by the Fund until this debt is paid.
We regret this exceedingly, and partly because in our last issue we held out a
hope to some, who have long desired it, that we would soon issue the October Tower in German and in Swedish.
The remainder of this post was deleted.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
1881
The earliest reference to Watch Tower adherents in Germany appears in a New York City newspaper in 1881, four years before von Zech started writing to family and friends in Germany. We have no further information. I'm at a loss. I do not know how to follow this trail. Do any of our European readers know something more? Are you ambitious enough to look?
Our thanks ...
Stellar contributions either in the comments sections or through posts. Specific thanks to:
Stéphane. One of her comments went to spam. I dug it out and posted it today. Sorry for the delay. Your work is appreciated.
Franco. Franco sends us interesting things. You see them in blog posts. More to come. Thanks, Franco.
Paul. Thanks for the links to German language material.
Stéphane. One of her comments went to spam. I dug it out and posted it today. Sorry for the delay. Your work is appreciated.
Franco. Franco sends us interesting things. You see them in blog posts. More to come. Thanks, Franco.
Paul. Thanks for the links to German language material.
A New Year postcard
from Franco
Postcard dated November 10, 1911 sent by the brothers of San
Germano Chisone (Italy) on the occasion of the new year.
Recipient: Adolphe Weber, Les Convers (La Chaux-de-Fonds) Suisse
The postcard reads:
San Germano 1 ° -1 ° -1912
Love from all of us Clara Cerulli, A.Cerulli.
Joyful year your sister Fanny [widow of Lugli Balmas]
Loving greetings from your brother Remigio [Cuminetti]
Good year Amelie Soulier, Cesarine Bounous
Receive a warm greeting from your brother F.S. (François Soulier)
Blanc Lorenzo
Malanot Marie
Bounous Henriette
(written vertically) B. Magdelaine
Albertine Lantaret
Colossians III
Love from all of us Clara Cerulli, A.Cerulli.
Joyful year your sister Fanny [widow of Lugli Balmas]
Loving greetings from your brother Remigio [Cuminetti]
Good year Amelie Soulier, Cesarine Bounous
Receive a warm greeting from your brother F.S. (François Soulier)
Blanc Lorenzo
Malanot Marie
Bounous Henriette
(written vertically) B. Magdelaine
Albertine Lantaret
Colossians III
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Asking for the moon:
We know that Otto von Zech wrote to his relatives in Germany, sending them tracts and writing persuasive letters. These probably do not exist, and if they do, I have no clue how to locate Zech family letters.
Any of our German readers want to pursue this?
Postcard from F H Robison to A Weber
Supplied by Franco
(the correct spelling is Robison)
This postcard dated 11 April 1912 was written in German by
Brother Robison to Brother Weber during a return trip to America after a tour
in Europe.
"Lieber Bruder Weber: grüsse aus Irland. Die Reise
des Comitees ist jetzt heimwärts gerichtet. Bald sind wir da. Deiner in
Christo J.H.Robinson"
Translation:
Dear Brother Weber, greetings from Ireland, the journey of
the Committee is now directed homeward, and soon we will be there, Yours in
Christ, F H Robison.
(Editorial note: this was the return journey from the tour
made by C T Russell and others investigating foreign missions. See Watch Tower
for April 15, 1912)
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Work in the UK - VERY temporary post
We've returned to this while we wait on documents to arrive. Minor changes and updates. Usual rules. Do not share it. Copy for your own use. Realize it may change. Do not post elsewhere. It will not be up long. Some comments would be good. You can do that, right?
This post deleted.
This post deleted.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
We would like to have ....
We would like to have these, but, alas, can't afford them ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Das-Sektenwesen-unter-besonderer-Berucksichtigung-der-ernsten-Bibelforscher-Ent-/332090515882?hash=item4d522321aa:g:If8AAOSwo4pYd~dG#shpCntId
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Die-ernsten-Bibelforscher-entlarvt-durch-Dr-med-Rudolf-Fisch-Neue-Bearbeitun-/302200930276?hash=item465c943fe4:g:WK8AAOSw4DJYgR51
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Die-Internationale-Vereinigung-Ernster-Bibelforscher-Loofs-Friedrich-/371849669966?hash=item5693f7ad4e:g:~TcAAOSw5cNYiprI
If you have them, a scan would be nice.
We need
There are several German language anti-Russell and anti-Bible Student booklets, mostly from the 1920s. We need any from before 1910. Do you know of any?
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Posting this for Dr. Schulz
We read a large amount of commentary on Witness and Bible
Student history. Many of those who write about these groups lack understanding
of evidentiary value.
The best
evidence is contemporary to the events. But not all contemporary documents have
the same value. For instance, there are many contemporary comments on the
election of J. F. Rutherford and the expulsion of dissenting directors. That
many writers say the same thing does not mean that each is of the same quality.
Some simply repeat what they heard or read. None of this is evidence at all. It
is gossip. Gossip might be noted by a historian, but it is not evidence. An
ethical historian will prune the evidence down to first hand observations. Of
these, those that have a point of view become suspect. Why did they say what
they said? is an important question. In a controversy, you will find differing
points of view. A historian must balance what is said against motive.
Contemporary
newspapers are first hand material, but they’re subject to point of view and
motive. Nineteenth century papers are notoriously full of lies and fakery.
Never take a newspaper article at face value. Ask if it rationally represents
events as other testimony represents it.
Original
letters and diaries are excellent evidence. But does the content defend
someone? Why? Is the defense rational? Does it support other evidence?
Best
evidence, aside from being contemporary, has verifiable detail. Suspect documents
that lack detail.
Secondary
evidence is only important because it gives an overview of current views of the
subject. It is not an important contribution to the historic narrative. If one
relies on it, he is probably gravely misled.
In this
subject area books by Gruss and others become irrelevant. They are secondary,
even tertiary sources. Citing them usually does not further quality research.
Assess each
evidentiary document using these criteria: 1. Is it contemporary? 2. Is it by a
participant? What is their point of view? Why do they approach the matter as
they do?
I hope this
helps some of our email correspondents.
An Italian postcard
from Franco
From the 1982 Yearbook pages 129-130
“Now let us go back to the end of World War 1. Shortly
after 1918, Brother Marcello Martinelli, who had come to a knowledge of the truth in the United States, returned to Italy. He was a native of Valtellina, one of the beautiful
valleys in the Rhaetian Alps leading down to Lake Como, and he covered this
territory a number of times with the Kingdom message. In 1923 he became a
"colporteur," and joined Brother Remigio Cuminetti in the
Pinerolo area.”
In 1923 the
two men sent a postcard to Fanny Balmas.
Fanny
Balmas was the widow of Lugli Balmas, who lived at San Germano, Chisone,
Gondini fraction (see 1982 Yearbook page 119). The postcard (reproduced below)
is dated August 21, 1923.
Translation:
Susa,
Tuesday, August 21 (1923)
Our
beloved sister in the Lord
That His
kindness will always be increased. We came here last night after a very good
trip 70 Km.We are discreetly housed. Today we will try ground. May the Lord assist us with his grace and
blessing for the great merits of the Redeemer, and bless both those who are dear to us and who fight with us in
spirit.
The
address is: Trattoria degli Alpini Susa Turin.
Greetings
and kisses from your dear Marcello (Martinelli) and humble brother Remigio
(Cuminetti).
Psalm 121
French tracts
from Franco
L'ETUDIANT DE LA BIBLE for November 1915 (The Bible Students Monthly in French)
LE JOURNAL POUR TOUS for October 29, 1916 (Everybody's Paper in French)
Editorial note: it is interesting to see that while the title Everybody's Paper was generally phased out in America in 1913, the title was still being used in France in this 1916 issue advertising The Photodrama of Creation.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Can we attach this to Zion's Watch Tower.
It is unlikely because of the date, but it is not impossible. Anyone want to pursue this research?
Chater was a Brethren writer. There is no ZWT connection.
This one is slightly more possible. Can we say definitely one way or the other if this was connected to Zion's Watch Tower:
Hucklesby was also a Brethren Preacher. No Watch Tower connection.
Chart Talks
We need to know the date of the earliest Chart Talks in the UK. Anyone?
We need someone who subscribes to this: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/account/subscribe to search "Zion's Watch Tower" for advertisements appearing in Sheffield newspapers in 1881 for boys to circulate tracts. Anyone?
Friday, February 3, 2017
On Rachael's Personal Blog
You may be interested in a photo on Rachael's personal blog:
http://wardancingpixie.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-perils-of-research.html
http://wardancingpixie.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-perils-of-research.html
French Millennial Dawn
This is the first edition of Divine Plan of the Ages in French. Released in 1897, both hard cover and soft cover.
With grateful thanks to Franco.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Never ever ...
Never underestimate the importance of what may seem merely interesting, even trivial. One of the recent letters posted here changed a paragraph in a key chapter for volume 2. The change is only by two sentences, but we may add more later.
Send us your stuff. We usually post it. Thanks to everyone who has sent material recently.
And thanks to the person who pointed us to some letters from the 1930s. We can't use those now, but assuming we don't die before we get that far, they will be important later.
Send us your stuff. We usually post it. Thanks to everyone who has sent material recently.
And thanks to the person who pointed us to some letters from the 1930s. We can't use those now, but assuming we don't die before we get that far, they will be important later.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Elie Jerville
Elie Jerville was a French Bible Student who was well-known
in his day. Franco has kindly sent some correspondence Jerville received
between 1909-1914.
He is reportedly mentioned in the French edition of Watch
Tower in July 1910 (attending a meeting) and March 1911 (speaking at the funeral
of J B Tillman). There is also a letter from him in the standard American issue
of Watch Tower for June 15, 1916 (reprints page 5915). Under the heading
LETTERS FROM FRENCH BRETHREN Jerville wrote:
In accordance with the invitation of dear Brother Russell in
his wonderful and comforting article on "Divine Love," published in
the last July French TOWER, I am intending to write to him.
May the God of all grace and peace be with each of you in
your activity for the Lord's cause, till by and by above we shall sing an
everlasting alleluia to the honor and glory of our great Creator!
ELIE JERVILLE, Corporal at Bailleul.--Northern France.
Jerville survived the war, but appears to have left
fellowship with the parent Watch Tower/IBSA after the death of CTR.
In reverse order, there is a letter written by CTR to
Jerville in 1914. Dated 22 July 1914, there is an error in the address, the
city is not Rouboix but Roubaix, but the letter obviously reached its
destination.
Prior to this letter, Jerville received a postcard dated March 23, 1913,
which is signed by three names, Weber, Boillet and Freytag.
Prior to this postcard, Jerville received a postcard , dated February 6,
1909, signed by (Adolphe) Weber.
I am afraid that I failed all my exams in the French language very many
years ago, but some enterprising reader might like to copy the cards, increase
their size to make them readable and translate for us.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Switzerland
from Franco
In French-speaking Switzerland, in 1914-1915, postcards were distributed or mailed to potentially interested parties. One side featured a landscape picture, while the other side was an invitation to attend a "religious conference", at a given time and location.
Some examples of these materials are below:
Monday, January 23, 2017
From Franco
Invitation to attend first Italian Convention.
Click on image to see entire.
Franco sent this photo too. Same convention:
Click on image to see entire.
Franco sent this photo too. Same convention:
The Rules
It’s time I restate the rules. This
is a history blog. It is not social media. It exists solely to provide a
platform for research sharing and discussion. Do not sell your products or
services through the comment trail.
All parties are welcome here. I do
not allow personal invective or disputes about doctrine. There are other forums
for that. Use those. This is not a forum for social, cute, interesting stories.
It is only a history blog. However, Rachael has a mostly neglected personal
blog that often posts interesting stories. You have one to tell, contact her.
There is no promise from her to publish it.
We are open to questions, but it is
unlikely we can accept research requests. The most you will get from us, if we
don’t have a ready answer, is posting your question on the blog.
This blog thrives on comments. If
you find it interesting, say so. Never presume we know what you know.
We are open to short articles by
others. They must be well researched, footnoted and factual. We do not accept
an article that is only a quotation from an old Watch Tower. Those are rejected
out of hand. We expect an article that informs. We are willing to work with you
if English is not your first language, and you need grammar or structural help.
Rachael has complained before about
Korean trolls. We still get Korea Telecom visits, but they cannot post. If you
come here to troll or spam, you will not find a welcome home.
A blog is not the best resource. If
you find something here you wish to use, consult the original source. We often
note those. Citing a blog in a footnote is usually not best practice. If you do
cite this blog use the usually accepted format.
You can throw what ever temper
tantrum you wish in email. I will block your comments here if you attempt to
use our blog to vent your spleen against a religion, individual or group.
We expect that those who read this
blog and our books are adults with adult capabilities. If you find something in
an article here or in one of the books that piques your interest and we did not
footnote a general comment, assume some responsibility and research it.
We only footnote original sources or
authors we quote. We do not footnote every general comment. We write to an
American academic standard. That includes our footnotes. We do not write to
give every misguided polemicist a voice. You want to read their work? You
explore on your own. I’m not your mother, and neither is Rachael. We expect you
to use sound judgment and to have a sense of self-responsibility.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Wishful Thinking
We have one or two reactions of the 1881 failure of expectations. Do you have more? Probably do not exist, but we're asking anyway.
Andrew Pierson
The comment trail for the post on General Hall discussed how Andrew Pierson, who was briefly vice-president of the Watch Tower Society, ended his days in sympathy with a non-IBSA group, who reported on his funeral.
Pierson was a horticulturist by trade or profession, much like an earlier director of the Society, Henry Weber.
When Andrew Pierson died he made the news in the New York post. Two cuttings are below. One shows that George Fisher took his funeral. When the PBI magazine reviewed the funeral, they omitted to say who conducted the service. Maybe thereby hangs a tale. Probably of most interest is the second cutting, which suggests Pierson's beliefs in the early 1920s, somewhat akin to the Millions campaign.