History of Jehovah's Witnesses

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Formative Influences
William Miller · N.H. Barbour Jonas Wendell
Presidents & Members
List of Jehovah's Witnesses C.T. Russell · M.G. Henschel J.F. Rutherford · F.W. Franz D.A. Adams · N.H. Knorr
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R. Franz · E.C. Gruss This box: view • talk • edit

The history of Jehovah's Witnesses dates from about 1870 when Charles Taze Russell began to lead a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally known as Bible Students, they experienced a major schism in 1917 as Joseph Franklin Rutherford began his presidency. Rutherford stressed 1925 as a date for Armageddon. Rutherford gave new direction to the movement and coined the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.

Following his death, Nathan Knorr took over the presidency of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Later, 1975 was heavily stressed as a possible date for Armageddon. In 1976, leadership of the Jehovah's Witness movement began to be directed by a Governing Body.

Contents 1 1870-1916 2 1916-1942 3 1942-1975 4 1976-Present 5 References 5.1 Further reading 6 External links

[edit] 1870-1916

Born into a Presbyterian family, Charles Taze Russell had nearly lost his faith until he came in contact with Advent Christian^[1] preacher Jonas Wendell^[2] (one of the spiritual heirs of the Millerites) in 1870. His faith restored, Russell organized a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adventist ministers George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology, which had originally been published by Christopher Bowen in 1861. Barbour (like Wendell) had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873^[3], and when that failed, revised the prediction to 1874.^[4] Soon after that disappointment, Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.^[5] Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine, Herald of the Morning.^[6] They jointly issued the book The Three Worlds^[7] which announced Christ's return in 1874 and the resurrection of the saints in 1875^[8], and predicted events for 1878^[9] and 1914^[10]. They differed from most Second Adventists in teaching that all humankind since Adam would be given a chance to live in a paradise earth^[11]. Russell broke with Barbour in July, 1879 over the concept of substitutionary atonement and soon began publishing his own magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence (now known as The Watchtower)^[12]. He retained Barbour's teaching that the "end times" had begun in 1799^[13], and that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874^[14]. 1878 became the date for Christ's being enthroned as king, the resurrection of the saints, and God's judgment of Christendom^[15][16]. 1914 was held as the ending date of a harvest period which would culminate in Armageddon^[17].

He became known as "Pastor Russell", and in 1881 formed the legal entity which developed into the non-profit organization: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (currently headquartered in New York City); in 1884 it was incorporated, with Russell as President. Over several years, many millions of copies of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence^[18] were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of the Millennium. There is, in addition, his six-volume work of Bible textbooks, originally entitled Millennial Dawn, but later renamed to Studies in the Scriptures^[19] They established the fundamental doctrines derived from their ten years of Bible study during the 1870s. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) Notably, in 1907 Russell predicted that Armageddon would culminate in the year 1914.^[20] In 1914 Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain. Beginning in January 1914, the Bible Students began public showings of the The Photo-Drama of Creation^[21], a multi-hour presentation covering the history of the Bible combining film, color slides and audio. Attendance in 1914 was over 9 million^[22]. Russell died on October 31, 1916 in Pampa, Texas during a cross-country preaching trip.

[edit] 1916-1942

According to Russell's Last Will and Testament, an editorial committee of five was set up to supervise the writing of the Watch Tower magazine following Russell's death on October 31, 1916.^[23]. On January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected second President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. New by-laws were passed at the same business meeting which strengthened the President's authority.^[24]Initially, the board of directors for the Watch Tower Society opposed this change, but in time Rutherford's closest associates stood by him.^[25] and ^[26]. Rutherford cites the new by-law: "the President shall always be the Executive Officer of the corporation and General Manager" in the first pamphlet. The four directors' version of the dispute was published in Light After Darkness and Facts for Shareholders. The June 20, 1917 meeting of the full board of directors tabled for one month a proposal to return control of the Society to the board.^[27]An attempted impromptu board meeting while Rutherford was away from headquarters was broken up by the police.^[28]Matters came to a head on July 17, 1917 when the book The Finished Mystery was published. ^[29] (which had been prepared without the board's consultation, and in violation of Russell's Last Will and Testament. It was titled as the final volume of Studies in the Scriptures) was released to the headquarters staff. At the same time, Rutherford announced he was dismissing the four directors from the board on the grounds that their election had not followed the corporation by-laws and was replacing them with new members.^[30] The reaction was as if a "bombshell had exploded!"^[31]Rutherford called for a democratic vote among the Bible Student community, most of whom were either unaware of the controversy, or unclear as to what it was about, gave its support to his administration.^[32]Dissension and schisms ensued in local congregations, however. New predictions were made for the years 1918 and 1925.^[33] and 1920.^[34]

The Watchtower Society's opposition to clergy support of World War I garnered prosecution by the United States federal government. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the "Espionage Act". They were released on bail in March, 1919 and the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.^[35]

Once released from prison Rutherford energized the Bible Students to preach. He inaugurated the magazine The Golden Age (now Awake!) in 1919.^[36]An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922.^[37]Early preaching campaigns included distribution of Rutherford's book Millions Now Living Will Never Die^[38] which predicted "end times" events for 1925.^[39]No more dates were suggested after the 1925 disappointment^[40]but Armageddon was still held to be imminent.^[41]The editorial committee was disbanded in 1931^[42] but had been superseded by Rutherford beginning in 1925.^[43]

Some who disagreed with the changes instituted by Rutherford left the movement and became known as the Associated Bible Students, or simply "Bible Students". In 1918 the Pastoral Bible Institute was founded and began publishing The Herald of Christ's Kingdom. By 1928, memorial attendance dropped nearly 75% from 1922, due to the previous power struggle and the failed predictions for the year 1925.^[44] A luxury villa was built by Joseph Rutherford in 1929 to house the biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected before Armageddon (in which Rutherford lived from 1929 until his death, and after which it was sold).^[45] On July 26, 1931, Rutherford presented a resolution at an assembly in Columbus, Ohio. Under the title "A New Name" he proposed that the group adopt the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" based on Isaiah 43:10-12.

In 1932 Rutherford abolished the offices of elder and deacon in the local congregations.^[46]Supplanting them was a Service Director appointed by the Watchtower Society and a Service Committee elected by the congregation which organized the local preaching activity.^[47] However, from 1938 onwards congregational elections were discontinued and all who would hold office in the congregation were appointed by headquarters.^[48]

Jehovah's Witnesses endured intense persecution under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, both as a religious group and individually.^[49] Unlike Jews, Sinti and Roma, persecuted and killed by virtue of their culture, Jehovah's Witnesses had the opportunity to escape persecution and personal harm by renouncing their religious beliefs. The courage the vast majority displayed in refusing to do so, in the face of torture, maltreatment in concentration camps, and sometimes execution, won them the respect of many contemporaries. These events are recounted in a documentary entitled Purple Triangles.^[50]

From 1925 to 1933, their eschatological beliefs underwent radical changes.^[51]By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence, his enthronement as king and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date for chronology.^[52] The 1878 resurrection date was changed to 1918^[53]and the teaching of the judgment of religious groups was moved to 1919.^[54]These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. They no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance.

Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942. His prolific writings^[55] were distributed in the millions by zealous Witnesses. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric and assertive preaching tactics. He coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket," heavily denouncing the Catholic Church and Christendom generally, modern Judaism, and national governments. Placards, information marches, sound cars,^[56] and radio broadcasts were some of the preaching methods employed. He opposed the League of Nations^[57] and Prohibition^[58]. Rutherford taught that saluting the flag was "contrary to the Word of God"^[59], which in the US drew mob violence against Witnesses as they preached and caused many Witness children to be expelled from public schools. Under his leadership, a legal staff was developed that battled successfully in both US and Canadian courts. At issue was their right to preach and their right to refrain from nationalistic ceremonies. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.^[60]

[edit] 1942-1975

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries as well as the Theocratic Ministry School to train preaching and teaching at the congregational level.

Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the leading theologian, and is believed to have been the principal translator of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures^[61]. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) and a Bible dictionary (Aid To Bible Understanding).^[62]The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.^[63]Membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership.

During the 1960s^[64] and early 1970s, many references appeared in Witnesses literature and assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975.^[65][66] While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.^[67] Approximately 20% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.^[68]

[edit] 1976-Present

The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1976 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams. However, doctrinal and organizational decisions since 1976 have been made by the Governing Body.^[69]The Writing Committee of the Governing Body now edits all Witness publications. Congregation affairs are under the direction of the Service Committee of the Governing Body. ^[70]

In 1995 changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.^[71] Throughout the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not die out before Armageddon came.^[72] The Witnesses' current teaching regarding the meaning of the term "this generation" is that it simply refers to those who saw the signs of Christ's presence. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.^[73]

Jehovah's Witnesses males are currently imprisoned in Singapore for refusal to participate in the compulsory National Service.^[74]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

Three official histories of Jehovah's Witnesses have been published by the Watchtower Society. The first two are out of print. The most recent one is available in many public libraries and on the Watchtower Library CD-ROM.

• Qualified To Be Ministers, pages 297-345 (1955)
• Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959)
• Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993)

Books by members:

• Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society by Marley Cole. This book received a positive review in the August 15, 1955 Watchtower: "Much of the material was gathered by personal interviews with witnesses, some of them being officials of the Society. Frequently in the news is something about the religion of President Eisenhower's parents. This book gives the facts often overlooked or concealed, with documentary proof that they were Jehovah's witnesses for many years." Cole was an active Witness and wrote the book in collaboration with Witness leaders. It was also distributed by the Watchtower Society. 229 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1955.
• Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan. PDF Version Macmillan provides a first-person account of the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the time of the writing of the book (1957). He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr (who wrote the book's introduction). - Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)
• A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation by Timothy White (pseudonym for Anthony Wills). The author, a life-long Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. Unfortunately, the book is extremely scarce but can be obtained by inter-library loan. 418 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1967.
• Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946 by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses—a black man and a white woman—in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. - Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0-8173-1228-5
• O'er the Ramparts They Watched by Victor Blackwell.
• Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of legal activities that led to expansion of religious freedoms in Canada. Referenced in the January 1, 1977 Watchtower, page 11 and the 1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 94. - Publisher: Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 0-7705-1340-9 (Canada, 1976)

Books by non-members:

• Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses by Alan Rogerson. Constable. 1969
• Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines. Read selections from: Google Book Search - Publisher: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3 (Canada, 1998)

[edit] External links

• http://www.watchtower.org - Official Website of Jehovah's Witnesses.
• Pastor-Russell.com run by the Bible Students
• Historical Publications Relating to Jehovah's Witnesses Sources & Articles Relating to Watchtower History, from a critical Catholic website
• Writing Their Faith into the Law of the Land: Jehovah's Witnesses, the Supreme Court and the Battle for the Meaning of the Free Exercise Clause, 1939-1945
• Purple Triangles: A Story of Spiritual Resistance - Thorough essay chornicling the persecution lodged against Jehovah's Witnesses by those opposed to their stand in Nazi Germany circa 1933-1945. This document analyzes the early history of this conflict and the endurance of the Bibelforscher (as Jehovah's Witnesses were known in this land at the time).