# The Soloon Association

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Posted by Kent [KENT] on October 27, 1999 at 09:47:24 {dPkPwxsNJEOJikFWJ7tMBSwZlMEBKg}:

# THE SOLON ASSOCIATION.

As I have said before, the Watchtower has been selling goods post order before. Used the magazines as sales channel. Here is the text of an add from the Watchtower 12/1/04, page 360:

> What the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY does for it's patrons in the matter of securing them wholesale rates on Bibles, etc., the SOLON ASSOCIATION does for its members in all lines of goods; and on many lines there is a still greater discrepancy between the wholesale and the retail prices than on Bibles. The managers of the Solon are well known to us as in every way honorable and reliable and we give this announcement without solicitation for the benefit of WATCH Tower readers, that they all (as well as the Bible House force) may benefit by the wholesale purchasing arrangement, affecting large savings in our purchases yearly. See notice on page 2.
> (W 12/ 1 /04, p. 360).

Who was behind The Solon Society? That is the most interesting question as we will see. In 1907 Charles Taze Russell testified in his divorce (appeal) case with wife Maria. He, as well as other headquarter's staff members, were asked questions about The Solon Society. And Russel seems to be a man who lied under oath. Why am I not surprised?

### The Testimony of Charles Taze Russell

Q. I believe you are interested in what is know as the Solon Society?
A. I cannot tell whether you believe it or not.
Q. Well, where was it organized?
A. I really do not remember anything about it.
Q. Is it not a fact that it was organized in the Watch Tower office?
A. No, sir.
Q. What is the Solon Society; what does it do?
A. I don't know anything about it.
Q. You have heard of it?
A. I have heard of the Solon Society, yes, sir; but I have nothing to do with it.
Q. Where is its office?
A. I do not know; I think it is in Cleveland.
Q. Did it ever have a branch office in the Bible House?
A. No, sir, not that I know of.
Q. Is the Watch Tower Society interested in the Solon Society, either directly or indirectly?
A. No, sir, neither directly or indirectly that I know of.
Q. Did you ever hear of a firm by the name of Logan, Land, and Whitehouse, that had quarters in the Bible House?
A. I have heard of such a firm . . . .
Q. Now, then, I will ask you the question, do you know this firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. I know parties that go by those names.
Q. Who were they?

Counsel for respondent again objects for the reason stated above; it is simply a fishing excursion that has nothing to do with this case at all.

A. I have no objection to answering the question. These three ladies are. assistants in the work of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
Q. And what business did they carry on in the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society building?
A. They didn't carry on any at all.
Q. None at all?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did they ever sign any papers in your behalf?
A. Not that I remember of.
Q. Have they ever held title for you in your behalf?
A. Not that I know of. .
Q. Did they not in fact organize this Solon Society?
A. I do not know.
Q. Was it organized at the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society building in the building?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. Well, you would have known of it if it had been?
A. I think so.
Q. Do you mean to say you have doubts in your mind as to whether or not these three girls could organize this Solon Society in your building and you not know it?
A. I think they did not; I do not know anything about it, I tell you, I do not know anything about it, and how can I swear to what I do not know.
Q. There was considerable inquiry made of this concern at the Bible House?
A. I do not know.
Q. Do you not know what goes on in that building?
A. I do not know everything.
Q. Never heard of any?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you ever have anybody ask you where this firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse were, where their office was, and where it had their office?
A. I don't think I did.
Q. Did they have a separate room in your building?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did they have desk room in your building?
A. No, sir.
Q. They paid no rent?
A. No, each of them had desks, and did no business so far as I know.

### The Testimony of Alice M. Land

Q. Where do you live?
A. At the Bible House, Allegheny City.
Q. And how long have you lived there?
A. About six years..
Q. I believe you are one of the assistants of Dr. Russell?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am engaged with the Society in the correspondence department.
Q. Have you always been employed in that department?
A. Well, I have been in various departments since I have been there.
Q. How many departments are there?
A. I hardly know how to enumerate them; the work is divided.
Q. How many employees are there, or how many people are there as assistants.
Objected to as immaterial, and the witness is instructed not to answer.
Q. Is there any other business carried on there in that building except the business of the Bible and Tract Society and the United States Investment Company?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. Then the building is devoted to the purposes of the society?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And the assistants live there and get their meals there and everything of that kind?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you know of a firm that did business over there by the name of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. I know the name of the firm.
Q. Now, who composed that firm?
A. I do not know just what individuals it was composed of; the only information I had was that I allowed my name to be used in connection with it; not that I was one of the firm, but just a company name, sort of a nom de plume which these gentlemen wished to use as a firm name.
Q. Now, you are Miss Land?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And then there were a Miss Logan and a Miss Whitehouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And the three of you work in the Bible House?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you three composed the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. No, we did not compose the firm; there were some gentlemen who used our names as a firm name, although we did not take any active part or did not constitute the firm and were not members of it.
Q. What business was this firm engaged in?
A. I understand it was formed for the purpose of purchasing goods at wholesale prices from the manufacturers for an association called the Solon Company or association.
Q. You did not take any part in the purchases or sale of these articles from the manufacturers?
A. No, sir, we knew nothing about the business.
Q. Did the firm have bill heads on which Logan, Land and Whitehouse were printed on them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was the Solon Society in existence at that time, or did it grow out of the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. No, I understood it was organized previously, and it was these men who organized the Solon Society that used our names.
Q. Was the Solon Society organized in the Bible House by men connected with the Bible House?
A. No, sir.
Q. Well, who was it that got you to permit your name to be used in that manner?
A. Mr. Russell was their representative. I understood Mr. Russell was a representative of several men, Mr. Kohne and Mr. Wadsworth, I guess, were the only two.
Q. How long did that company continue to do business?
A. I do not know; I knew very little about it after we consented to give the use of our names just as a firm name; we didn't keep track of the business and were not posted in any of their affairs.
Q. You of course did not know the reason why your names were used?
A. As I understood, the reason was that they wished to use our names they were unable as individuals or members of the Solon Association to get wholesale rates from the manufacturers and as the manufacturers wished to sell to firms only they wanted to form a firm and wished our names for a firm name, sort of a nom de plume.
Q. Who was it that attended to the purchases and sale of these articles?
A. I do not know; I suppose perhaps these gentlemen who represented the firm.
Q. Well, suppose someone would come into the Bible House and wanted to see a member of the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse, would they be referred to you or to someone else?
A. No one was ever referred to me.
Q. Did anybody ever inquire from you that they wanted to see the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. No, sir.
Q. And you don't know whether you ever had a rating under the name of Logan, Land & Whitehouse in the mercantile agencies or not?
A. I do not understand.
Q. Did you ever get any bills?
A. No, sir.
Q. For goods that had been purchased in your name?
A. No, sir.
Q. What kind of goods did these men purchase that used your name?
A. I don't know; I suppose any kind of household articles.
Q. I believe they issued a circular, or rather the Solon Society did, did it not, a journal?
A. Yes, they issued what was called a Solon Journal.
Q. As I understood you to say, Mr. Russell asked you to allow your name to be used this way?
A. He presented the matter to me at their request.
Q. And you have been carrying on quite an extensive business over there and not know it?
A. No, not that I know of; our names were merely used; we were merely nominal.
Q. Was your name ever used for the purpose of holding title to any real estate?
A. No, sir, not that I know of.
Q. Do you ever remember of signing deeds for any real estate put in your name?
A. No, sir, I never did.
Q. Are you an officer of any of these corporations that have their place of abode in this building?
A. No, sir.

### The Testimony of Gabrielle Logan

Q. Your name is Miss Logan?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where do you live Miss Logan?
A. Alpine Street, Allegheny.
Q. And are you one of the assistants to Mr. Russell?
A. An assistant in the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society office.
Q. How long have you been there?
A. Between five and six years.
Q. And what is your first name?
A. Bagrielle.
Q. And I believe you were the Miss Logan that was mentioned as a member of this firm of Logan, Land and Whitehouse?
A. My name was also used, yes, sir.
Q. At whose instance did you permit your name to be used for this purpose?
A. I believe Mr. Russell first mentioned it to me.
Q. Was there any particular reason for making you the senior member of the firm?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. Did you know anything about the business that was carried on under this firm name?
A. Very little.
Q. What business was it engaged in, if you know?
A. I don't know that I can tell you; Miss Land told you, it was for the Solon Association; they bought goods for people at wholesale prices.
Q. They bought goods for people at wholesale prices?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And they issued a paper of some kind?
A. Issued the Solon Journal.
Q. How long was this business carried on in the Bible House?
A. I do not know.
Q. Were the goods brought to the Bible House, do you know?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. What business is carried on in the annex to the Bible House?
A. I do not know.
Q. You have been in there, have you not?
A. I have been in the building, yes, sir.
Q. You have been in the annex?
A. Yes, sir. ''
Q. Well, what was in there?
A. I do not know; people live in there.
Q. Well, was there ever any actual dissolution of this firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse that you know of?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. You had bill heads printed?
A. I think so.
Q. Did you send out considerable literature?
A. I never sent out any.
Q. Well, these men that were the real owners of this firm, did they send out any that you know of?
A. I could not tell you.
Q. Did you ever sign deeds for property in your own name that did not belong to you?
A. No, sir.
Q. Has there ever been any real estate taken in your name in the interest of Mr. Russell or the society?
A. No, sir, not that I know of.
Q. Are you an officer in the United States Investment Company?
A. Yes, sir, I am treasurer.
Q. How long have you been treasurer?
A. I do not remember.
Q. Well, as treasurer of the United States Investment Company, did you ever sign any deeds?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How would you sign those deeds, would you write out your first name in full or not?
A. I do not remember.
Q. Is it not a fact that you always used your initial?
A. I do not remember.
Q. Were you also manager of the United States Investment Co.?
A. No, sir.
Q. Well, you signed some deeds there as manager of the United States Investment Co., did you not?
A. I think I signed something that was written after my name, but I do not understand it.
Q. And that something might have been manager?
A. It may have been.
Q. But you were not manager of the United States Investment Co.?
A. No, sir.
Q. And I suppose your name was used in the United States Investment Company about the same as it was used in the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. No, not exactly.
Q. You did not know anything about the affairs of the United States Investment Company?
A. Very little.
Q. You were paid a salary there, I suppose?
A. No, sir.
Q. You were not paid a salary?
A. No, sir.
Q. What compensation do you receive for your labor?
A. Simply my expenses.
Q. Who are the other officers of the United States Investment Company?
A. Mr. Williamson and Mr. Burgess.
Q. Did the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse keep any books to your knowledge?
A. Not to my knowledge.
Q. You say that they bought goods at wholesale prices, what did they do with the goods after they were bought?
A. They were delivered to the members of the society who wished the goods, they bought the goods through them.
Q. In other words they would take orders for the goods and deliver them direct?
A. That is what I understood.
O. Who was the active man who took these orders and purchased the goods and published this journal?
A. Mr. Wadsworth was the editor of the journal, and I believe the principal one in the association.
Q. And where was the journal published?
A. I think they had an office in Pittsburgh.
Q. Where was Mr. Wadsworth's office?
A. I do not know.
Q. Did he not have an office in the Bible House?
A. No, sir.
Q. And did you ever have any person call you to the telephone or call up at the place at the Bible House and want to see the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. I have heard inquiries, yes, sir.
Q. Were any inquiries made of you?,
A. No, sir.
Q. You have heard of inquiries made of other people in your presence?
A. Yes, incidentally.
Q. And did you ever appear in response to any of these inquiries? and say you were a member of the firm?
A. No, sir.
Q. To whom were those parties referred?
A. I could not tell you, I didn't pay any attention.

### The Testimony of Laura Whitehouse

Q. What is your full name?
A. Laura M. Whitehouse.
Q. I believe you are the junior member of this firm of Logan, Land and Whitehouse, that is correct, is it?
A. I do not know.
Q. How did you come to permit your name to be used in that manner Miss Whitehouse?
A. Well, I knew these gentlemen that belonged to the Solon Association, and I understood them to be thoroughly honest, honorable and reliable, and that there would be no responsibility upon myself, and so I permitted my name to be used in that way.
Q. And who asked you to give your name?
A. Mr. Russell broached the subject to me, but it was not compulsory at all; he didn't say that we had to or needed to; he just simply asked us if we would like to.
O. Who were these men you say that you trusted so thoroughly?
A. Mr. Wadsworth is one, and Mr. Koehne is another.
Q. They were members of your society, I believe; they were followers of Mr. Russell?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And did you have anything to do with the management of this firm at all?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know what business it is engaged in?
A. Yes, sir, it was for the purchasing of goods at wholesale rates for the Solon Association.
Q. Well, where did your firm have its office?
A. I do not know; it was somewhere in Pittsburgh I have never been there; I never was at the office and I do not know where it was; I understood it was somewhere in Pittsburgh, I think, on Fourth avenue, but I am not positive.
Q. Is it still in existence?
A. I do not know anything about it; I do not know whether it is or not.
Q. Did you ever get any mail?
A. No, sir, I never received any mail.
Q. Well, where was the mail addressed to when you first formed this firm?
A. I do not know, I never got any of it.
Q. Did you ever see any come in addressed to your firm?
A. No, sir, I never saw any.
Q. Did you ever have people come in the Bible House and inquire for the firm of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. I have no knowledge of any.
Q. Have you ever been present when they inquired of other people?
A. No, sir.
Q. Was any particular reason given for the use of your name in this manner by Mr. Russell?
A. No, I don't know, I don't remember.
Q. You do not remember?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know what kind of goods they purchased at wholesale prices?
A. All kinds of household goods, furniture, etc., and everything. I do not know anything much about it.
Q. And of course you never received any bills for any of these purchases?
A. No, sir.
Q. And never paid any?
A. No, sir.
Q. And never received any money in the name of the firm?
A. No, sir.
Q. These goods were sold to members of Mr. Russell's church?
A. Well, the way I understand it, was that it was sold to the members of the Solon Association.
Q. How were these men who purchased and sold these goods, paid, if you know?
A. I do not know.
Q. Are you an officer of any of these corporations?
A. No, sir.

### Testimony of Christina Weir

Q. Where do you live?
A. I live on Jackson street.
O. In the City of Allegheny?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long have you lived there?'
A. I have only lived there a few weeks.
Q. How long have you lived in Allegheny?
A. Six years.
Q. Were you at one time connected with the Bible House or Arch street, of Mr. Russell's?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. In what capacity?
A. I worked in the mailing and shipping department.
Q. And how long did you work there?
A. I worked there from November 1901 until November 1903. I was absent for about a year and then I worked from November, 1904 to the latter part of July, 1905.
Q. The year that you were absent, what were you doing?
A. I was in California.
Q. Engaged in the work of the society?
A. No, sir.
Q. During the time that you were there, what business, if any, was carried on in that building?
A. Publications and mailing and shipping Dawns, Watch Towers, tracts, Bibles, and Bible Helps.
Q. Any other business outside of that?
A. Not in the building.
Q. Well, in the Annex, what business was carried on there, if there was an annex?
A. During the year 1905, there was some business carried on there by the Solon Society.
Q. And what did that business consist of?
A. The buying and selling of goods at wholesale rates
Q. Selling then, I understand, to the subscribers to this Solon Journal, is that the idea?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where was this Solon Journal published or printed?
A. I believe it was printed in Pittsburgh
Q. Was or was it not sent out with the Watch Towers?
A. I saw it wrapped there during one issue in the same packages as the Watch Tower and taken over to the post office.
Q. Did you know a firm doing business in that building by the name of Logan, Land & Whitehouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. I believe that firm was composed of three young ladies who have testified here before?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And what business did that firm carry on, if any, and if you know?
A. It carried on the business of the Solon Society.
Q. Then the Logan, Land & Whitehouse firm was substantially the Solon Society? "r`
A. That was what I understood.

(Russell vs. Russell, Appeal, 1907, pp. 34-38, 90-104, 142-144.

It seems like the Watchtower leaders do have a looooong tradition of lying :)))

Kent

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