"RUSSELLISM"

     Russellism had it's origin with a man named Charles T. Russell, in Pittsburg, PA; where it's founder was born on February 6, 1852.  He was known to his followers as "Pastor Russell".  He first brought his tenets under the name of "MILLENNIAL DAWN", but later brought them out under the title of "STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES".  His writings were mostly un-scriptural and anti-scriptural, although there was just enough truth in them to make them doubly deceptive.

     Pastor Russell died in Tampa, FL on November 1, 1916 at the age of 64 years.  At his funeral services, J. R.  Rutherford delivered the oration, and proved himself to be quiet apt, with such complimentary remarks as:  "Our dear brother sleeps not in death but was instantly changed from the human to the divine nature and is now forever with the Lord."  Of course, Judge Rutherford was rewarded by being placed in the limelight which had been occupied by Russell.  But, like others, instead of being like angels, as they styled themselves, Rutherford also died.  Thus it was again that the "little flock" was disturbed as to who would be the "Queen Bee", but eventually they settled on a Mr. Knorr. On January 13, 1942, just five days after the death of Judge Rutherford, Nathan Homer Knorr was elected to be the societies third president.  Today, the leadership of this group is in the hands of "older and more spiritually qualified men".

     While Russell was the head of the movement, in 1879, he married a woman by the name of Maria Frances Ackley. However, in 1897, she and he parted ways.  In 1913 Mrs. Russell sued her husband for divorce on the grounds of "his conceit, egotism, domination, and improper conduct in relations to other women".  The courts of Pennsylvania ruled that he tried to perpetrate fraud upon his wife and denied his plea of being penniless.  It later developed that he had transferred $ 317,000 to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, of which he was president, seemingly with the intent to avoid paying alimony.  His wife obtained her divorce from him on account of his unmanly conduct and gross familiarity with other women.  Open court testimony concerning his character recorded him saying of himself:  "I am like a jellyfish; I float around here and there; I touch this one and that one, and if she responds, I take her to me, and if not, I float to others."

     Russell sued Mr. J. J. Ross, pastor of the James Street Baptist Church of Hamilton, Ontario, publisher of a tract about Russell entitled:  "SOME FACTS ABOUT THE SELFSTYLED PASTOR, C. T. RUSSELL."  In the trial, which took place in 1913, Russell was further proved to be a perjurer.  When he was asked by Ross' lawyer whether he knew the Greek alphabet, Russell replied, "Oh, yes."  When he was further asked to identify the Greek letters on the top of a page of the Greek New Testament which was handed him, he was unable to do so, finally admitting that he was not familiar with the Greek language.  Russell had previously claimed to have been ordained by a recognized religious body.  Mr. Ross' lawyer also pressed him on this point, finally asking him point blank:  "Now, you never were ordained by a Bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of living men?"  Russell answered, after a long pause:  "I never was."  In this trial Russell's deliberate perjury was established beyond a doubt, and the real character of the man looked up to by his followers as an inspired religious teacher was clearly revealed.

     Today the writers of the articles of the greater publications of the group are unknown.  This was not true in Russell's day.  He made well known that he was the author of the books containing his doctrines.  He believed his heresy to the extent that he was willing to defend it in open debate!  In February of 1908, in the city of Cincinnati, OH, Pastor Russell engaged one of our brethren in debate, lasting one week. But be it said to their good judgment and sense, that they have been very careful about having others with our brethren.  It was not until 1931 that this group got it's modern name, THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.  There are numerous other bits and pieces of history that would perhaps be interesting for us to consider, but these will give us a little background as to where they came from, and the following will give us some insight as to where they are going...

     Let us notice some of the many areas wherein JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES have violated the Bible with their doctrines.
I. WITNESSES TEACH:  THAT THEIR WORKS ARE INSPIRED.  "No doubt they (Scriptures) have for centuries served the divine purpose of concealing truth until due time for it to be understood; and even then, from all except the special class of consecrated ones for whom it was intended" (Russell, STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, VOLUME II, PAGE 142).
THE BIBLE TEACHES:  "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35).  If this be true (and it is), why do they say the truth has been concealed from all but a few???
"Search the scriptures..." (John 5:39).  Why do we need Russell's works if eternal life is in the scriptures???

II. WITNESSES TEACH:  THAT ONE CANNOT HAVE THE TRUE LIGHT WITHOUT THE HELP OF "STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES", FIRST CALLED "MILLENNIAL DAWN".  "If any one lays "Scriptural Studies" aside, even after he has become familiar with them, even after he has read them for 10 years, and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for 10 years, our experience shows that within 2 years he goes into darkness" (WATCHTOWER, September 15, 1910, Page 298).  "If the six volumes of Scripture Studies are practically the Bible topically arranged, with Bible proofs given, we might not improperly name the volumes -- The Bible in arranged form.  That is to say, they are not merely comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself" (ibid.)
THE BIBLE TEACHES:  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (II Timothy 3:16).  "Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a lamp unto my path..." (Psalm 119:105).  Where is the need for a book claiming to give light about the Bible and truth in general?  We have all light and truth in the Bible.

III. WITNESSES TEACH:  "Death means non-existence" (Rutherford, RECONCILIATION, page 296).
THE BIBLE TEACHES:  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).  If death means non-existence, what is there to kill after the body?  Jesus said the soul...

(Space is gone for now, but we plan to continue these thoughts in a future issue.  Information for this study was gleaned from various sources.  I am sure that some or even most was published in a book by L. G. Tomlinson on various religious errors.  It is being offered to aid our readers with the "visitors" who come calling from time to time.  Keep this and the following articles in this series and use them well.  Tim Smith).

VOLUME XIX                May 19, 1996           Number 20

HOSPITAL NEWS:  Melissa Sorrell is in SAMC.

ELDERS APPRECIATION:  The elders wish to express their appreciation for a donation to the cemetery from Lucille R. Dooley in the amount of $ 100.00 in memory of Willie Mae Nowell.

APPRECIATION:  We thank each who participated in the fish fry.  It was very enjoyable.

HOMECOMING AND GOSPEL MEETING:  We should begin preparing for our annual Homecoming and Gospel Meeting which takes place the third week of July.  Our speaker this year is Bill Beck of Elba, AL.

BELLVIEW (PENSACOLA) LECTURESHIP:  This years Bellview Lectures will be held June 8-12 on the theme:  PREACHING GOD DEMANDS.  I am to speak on Wednesday, June 12 at 2:00 P.M. on the assigned subject: PREACHING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.
 

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