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"Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction"
A CONFIDENTIAL EXPLANATION BY THE
EDITOR OF
HIS PECULIAR TRIALS--THE WIDE SPREADING OF
UNTRUTH MAKES NECESSARY THIS STATEMENT OF THE TRUTH
----------
"LET NOT YOUR GOOD BE EVIL
SPOKEN OF"
----------
It is requested that this issue be
not
loaned or otherwise publicly circulated.
DEAR FRIENDS:--As your letters indicate, you
have rightly judged that I have recently passed through the most trying
experience of my checkered career as a servant of the Lord. And I may add that
one of the chief features of my present distress arises from my conviction that
my tribulations are by no means confined to myself, but pain and afflict all
the dear "Household of Faith" walking in the narrow way and in the
light of "Present Truth." I am grieved, indeed, that those for whom I
have pleasure in laying down my life daily should be caused any measure of
pain, hardship or other bitter experience on my account. And yet I know that
fiery trials must necessarily come to us all, to prove us, to test us, to
refine us, to make us ready for the glorious things to which we have been
called of the Lord.
I may further add that one of the chief
consolations of my time of sorrow has been your letters assuring me of your
sympathy, confidence and love. I was pleasantly astonished to find that many of
these letters were written by friends who only recently came into the knowledge
of the harvest message. I felt confident from the first that the well-established
ones, who had learned from past experiences to endure hardness as good
soldiers, would falter not in the presence of this attack, but I did greatly
fear for the new recruits among the soldiers of the Cross, those who knew
nothing of my past trials and difficulties from false brethren and who had less
opportunity for personal acquaintance.
It appears to be my duty toward the Truth to
give as briefly as possible an outline of the facts of the case leading up to
the present denouement. Gladly would I have kept silence before the Church as I
have opened not my mouth to the world; but I find my personal affairs so
closely linked with the "harvest work," that it becomes duty to let
all the members of the body of Christ with whom I am so closely riveted know
something of the facts, for their relief and comfort and
strengthening;--"that the ministry [of the good tidings of great joy] be
not blamed." This seems to be in accord with the Apostle's injunction,
"Let not your good be evil spoken of": Let the search-light of truth
disclose the fact that the Lord's people seek in everything to practise what
they teach! In a very special sense WATCH TOWER subscribers look to its Editor
as their Pastor; hence the propriety of making known to them everything necessary
to their peace.
There are some irregular readers who may not
have come in contact with the slanderous reports who may, just as well as not,
remain in ignorance of the whole matter. It has been my effort to hide my
troubles; but now this much seems due to my friends. For these reasons it has
seemed to be the Lord's guidance that a rehearsal of matters should appear in
this form intended only for friends, for private use amongst those whose minds
have been so poisoned as to need these details as an antidote. Moreover,
instead of giving full details I am herein confining myself to those features
of this trouble seemingly necessary to a reasonable comprehension of the facts.
Be assured that every word has been carefully and prayerfully weighed, to the intent
that so far as possible not a word shall be uttered in criticism of my wife
that does not appear to me to be absolutely necessary to even a brief outline
of the difficulty. Further, I have endeavored to use only kindly and moderate
language.
THE NECESSITY FOR THIS ISSUE
It was the receipt of the following (two)
letters that decided the Editor that it is his duty to the cause [R3808 : page 212] of
the Lord to make the statements of this Special Issue: May 10, 1906. My Beloved
Brother Russell:
My heart aches for you as I read your letter of
May 8th and note that you still love and cherish the memory of the one you have
lost, in spite of all the suffering which her blindness has brought upon you.
May God bless and help you, dear brother. It ought to be a comfort to you at a
time like this to know that there are probably not less than 10,000 of the
Lord's saints who daily make mention of you in their prayers at the throne of
grace. I have not failed to do this daily for the last 11 years, and how much
more just now when you are passing through such deep waters. I doubt if in the
entire history of Christ's Church there has ever been any one person who has
continually had so many saints to remember him daily in prayer as yourself.
In humility of heart, and realizing keenly my
own littleness and unworthiness, I now suggest to you what it seems to me to be
the Lord's will that you ought to do regarding this matter, and will first
point to the Word of God to sustain the opinion I shall express.
God rebuked Miriam, that there might be no
question in the mind of fleshly Israel regarding the one at fault; God reproved
Job's friends that they and others might know whom God approved; our Father has
explained particularly the circumstances which led to the [R3809 : page 212] imprisonment
of Daniel and Jeremiah, that their good names might not be evil spoken of.
With what particular care are all the facts
stated regarding our Lord's apprehension and condemnation! The possession of
the two swords, Pilate's admission of the Lord's innocence, and the bribing of
the soldiers who watched the tomb, have all been helps to many in accepting the
crucified One. Our Lord, himself, at all times, made it plain that neither his
motives nor his conduct were to be lightly impugned, as in his inquiry,
"Which of you convinceth me of sin?" and in his severe reproof of
those who accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. It is
true that he was silent at the time when to have spoken might have interfered
with his payment of the ransom, but he was never silent where his silence could
cast a cloud upon his mission or his message. One of the first things he did
after he arose from the dead was to remove the doubts of some as to the real
cause of his death.
Paul's defense of himself on many occasions will
instantly recur to your mind; his writings are full of explanations and
assertions of innocence, all made solely with a view to helping the
feeble-minded ones. Does he not set forth a principle in this matter when he
says, "Let not your good be evil spoken of"? Peter also seems to me
to include the same principle in the following texts: "For so is the will
of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men," and also, "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy
are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify
the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason [whether doctrinal or practical] of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil
of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good
conversation in Christ."
I believe that the force of Luther's message has
been weakened by the false statements made regarding his domestic life, which a
few words of explanation might have avoided. In the case of Mr. Dowie, I know
that most people take the view that the reason he makes no more defense of the
charges made by his wife is because he cannot. As this is not the case with
you, it seems to me that your duty in the matter is quite plain, even though it
will surely add to your suffering. O! how sorry I feel for you, and how eager I
am to do anything I can to help you, and yet I cannot avoid the conviction that
it is your duty to shoulder the additional burden of setting this matter right
in the eyes of the Lord's brethren. Here is a case in point: May 8, 1906. To
Dear Brother Woodworth,
"Perplexed, but not in despair; cast down,
but not destroyed." As one among the household of faith, I am constrained
to address you for personal information, because of your more active service,
facilities and knowledge of matters at Scranton, or Allegheny. Coming to the
subject: Have you seen the damaging, I had almost said damning, publication in
the Inter-Ocean, of April 25th, wherein in contempt as "Russellites"
is exposed the scandal relating to Bro. Russell? Right here, though I do not
pose for others, but for myself, the Editor deserves to be prosecuted for
slander in publishing such an article without further investigation, and I hope
he will be! But now, dear friend, what do you know, or think of it? Have you
any information that will throw any negative light upon this terrible question?
Incidentally, there has come to me indefinite information of some past
agreement between Brother Russell and his wife, as mentioned in I Cor. 7:1,
wherein, in marital relations, Brother Russell had resolved to an entire
consecration of soul and body to the work to which he was called. I can well
believe it of such a man, and if true, how absurd even the thought that he
would be guilty of the charge preferred against him. If it were possible to
admit the charge, David fell a thousand times lower, but in repentance became
the "Sweet Psalmist of Israel." Peter fell and Jesus prayed for him,
and he became the strength of the brethren, and was privileged to feed Christ's
lambs. Knowing as we do the consecration, the labor, self-renunciation, the Christ-like
spirit, nothing short of an angel from heaven or his own admission would
convince us. If guilty, he would well know that a mere social ostracism to
himself alone would not be the result, but a public ostracism of his teachings
and a lapsing of his influence. That the direst denunciation of Babylon even
now, true or not, will fall upon his work is to be expected. And yet the
monumental work of MILLENNIAL DAWN, establishing from the prophecies the
God-given "Plan of the Ages," will go down to posterity as certainly
as the epistles of Paul!
Looking at it in its best light, the question
will come up, Why is it permitted that after such a life consecration, its last
stages should be embittered and cast down? But what are we when we remember
that Paul and Peter were the victims of martyrdom, and our dear Redeemer was
crucified? Perjury, if not detected in a civil court of justice, may convict
any one, and it will undoubtedly be that, if the divorce comes to trial! I
thoroughly believe in Brother Russell's entire innocence, and I sincerely hope
and pray that our faithful followers may stand by [R3809 : page 213] him,
and that God may so overrule that the true Zion may be sustained and the
"New Creation" be more firmly established than ever. Please write me
soon.
Yours truly, in M. DAWN bonds,
DR. C. ALEX. GARNSEY.
Now, Dear Brother Russell, no tongue can tell
how I love my dear old brother, Dr. Garnsey. You may remember that he is the
dear old saint who came fully and gloriously into the Truth at 85 years of age,
through reading the set of 3 vols. of the DAWN which I sold him 8 or 9 years
ago, when I was carrying an advertisement in several religious papers. He is
now nearly or quite 95 years old, and you can see from his letter how great a
trial this matter is to him. It will not "sift" him out, for his
heart is far too full of love for the Lord and his Truth, and his brethren; but
surely a statement of the salient facts in this case could only prove helpful
to a dear brother situated as is Dr. Garnsey.
He should at least know that Mrs. R. has over
her own signature condemned in the most unsparing manner those who made some
years ago the very charge which has now been brought against you; he should
know that she has admitted that her only real grievance against you is that you
would not permit her to run the WATCH TOWER, but that you guarded it as your
stewardship; and he would be helped additionally if he could see a connected
statement of the whole history of her defection, somewhat after the manner of
that which you furnished me some years ago, and of which I still have a copy.
And what is true of Dr. Garnsey is true of many others.
My advice would be that you prepare at once a
new edition of "Harvest Siftings" and advertise it on the inside
front cover of the "WATCH TOWER" at say 10 cents per copy. In the
notice in the "TOWER" you would only need to say a few brief words
about the siftings and testings which are to be expected in our day, and
something like this, "This little book gives a brief resume of the more
important siftings which have taken place in the past, including our
experiences down to the month of April, 1906."
Such a book will reach automatically all who
ought to have it, and will reach the hands of very few others. It will be a
tower of strength to many now, and will disarm many of the foes of the Truth
after our work here is finished. And it would be a timely contribution to the
literature of the harvest period, anyway.
I have in my possession a large lot of
correspondence which would be valuable to
you if you think of getting out such a book. Your Brother in Christ,
CLAYTON J. WOODWORTH.
"ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS
ME"
THIRTEEN BLISSFUL YEARS
From 1871-1879, while engaged in mercantile
business, I was also engaged in promulgating "Present Truth." My
earliest efforts were in connection with Bible Classes in Pittsburgh and
Allegheny. Later I published a paper in New York State, to whose columns others
as well as myself were contributors. During 1877 and 1878 I travelled
extensively throughout New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan, West Virginia and Kentucky, leaving my several stores in the hands of
trusted representatives, visiting them for supervision occasionally.
In 1878 my associate who had been attending to
the paper fell from faith in the redemptive work of Christ, which led to a
controversy in the columns of the paper, he denying the ransom and I affirming
it, until it became evident that a paper divided against itself could not
stand. My associate seized and appropriated to himself the office outfit, type,
etc., which I had paid for. This led me to project our present journal, ZION'S
WATCH TOWER AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE, as a defense of the great
foundation doctrine of the Ransom and in general promulgation of the "meat
in due season." The starting of the paper was delayed until July, 1879,
and this left me for several months continuously at Allegheny, where, in
addition to the usual meetings, I conducted several series of meetings in the
interest of the public in [R3810
: page 213] this
vicinity. Considerable numbers were brought in contact with the Truth at this
time. Amongst others was a Maria Frances Ackley, who became my wife within
three months of her first attendance at these meetings, which was the beginning
of our acquaintance. The Truth seemingly appealed to her heart, and she assured
me it was what she had been seeking for many years--the solution of
perplexities of long standing. For thirteen years she was a most devoted and
loyal wife in every sense of the word.
THE LEAVENING INFLUENCE.
It was shortly after our return from a trip to
the Holy Land and the Pyramids, via Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland
and France, which was a most enjoyable and profitable experience to us both,
that Mrs. Russell seemed to come under a baneful influence of which I had no
knowledge at the time. During our absence on that trip the Adversary seemed to
have stirred up a spirit of strife, ambition and vain-glory amongst some who
had previously given every evidence of loyalty to the Truth. It appears that
"woman's rights" literature and anarchistic ideas were connected with
the matter. The bad fruit did not show itself at once. The leaven worked, and
resulted, as some of the older readers remember, in a conspiracy on the part of
several to injure the work, to overthrow it--apparently hoping to gather from
the wreck some fragments--to "draw away disciples after them." The
entire matter came upon me like an explosion, being carefully planned to this
end.
I was not aware of it at the time, but learned
subsequently that the conspirators endeavored to sow seeds of discord in my
wife's heart by flattery, "woman's rights" arguments, etc. However,
when the shock came, in the Lord's providence I was spared the humiliation of
seeing my wife amongst those conspirators. Indeed, when she got a proper view
of the situation, their perfidy quickened much of the loyalty in her which she
had felt during the preceding thirteen years. She was aroused and proved
herself a heroine in her defense of her husband and of the Truth, as many of
you will remember.
COPY OF MRS. RUSSELL'S LETTER,
PUBLISHED IN A SPECIAL
ISSUE OF "ZION'S WATCH TOWER,"--"A CONSPIRACY
EXPOSED," APRIL 25, 1894--NOW OUT
OF PRINT.
A letter by Mrs. Russell in answer to the
slanderers was published at that time at her wish. It read thus: To the Church
of Christ, Greetings!
I take this opportunity to speak in defense of
my [R3810 : page 214] husband
against the bold attack of our enemies in maligning his character and
misrepresenting our domestic relations. Our household is composed only of
ourselves and our esteemed and beloved helpers in the WATCH TOWER Office, all
of whom gladly bear witness to the tranquillity and happiness of our home, save
as intrusions of false brethren and busybodies occasionally disturb it.
Our home, so far from being a discordant one, is
the very reverse,--most happy. I could, indeed, pray for no greater earthly
blessing upon all of the dear saints than that their home-life might be as
peaceful and happy as ours. The liberty wherewith Christ makes free is enjoyed
by all who are of our household or in any way connected with the work; not the
liberty of anarchy, however, but of subjection to the Spirit and Word of God.
To the above answers of my beloved husband to
the charges of his slanderers I give my unqualified endorsement in every
particular. Although such calumnies are severe, and doubly hard to bear when
they come from those whom we had supposed to be friends, but who, we now find, have
been plotting these wicked deeds for several years, I
assure you all that God has sustained us and given us his peace through it all.
At first it came with almost the force and suddenness of an avalanche, both
upon us and upon the Allegheny Church; and although we feared for the stability
of some, we felt sure that it was permitted of the Lord for the purpose of what
he saw to be necessary sifting. But, thank God, the Church here has
weathered the storm well; and now letters from some of the stronger ones abroad, who
have received the libelous circulars, are coming in, expressing continued
confidence, and showing that Satan's arts are recognized; and these are further
encouraging our hearts and answering our prayers, though we are still
solicitous for many who are yet young in the Truth, and who may be unprepared
to withstand such a shock; for we well know that the time intervening between
receiving the slanderous report and this reply is one of suspense and severe
trial to all.
We reflect, however, that "The Lord knoweth
them that are his," and that he is able and willing to keep them from
falling; and that, as with Gideon's band, some must needs be turned back. Who
is on the Lord's side? --the Truth's side? "Who shall be able to
stand?"-- "Who shall ascend into the hill [the Kingdom] of the Lord?
or who shall stand in his holy place?" "He that hath clean
hands, and
a pure
heart; who
hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn [a solemn covenant] deceitfully."
Having committed our way unto the Lord, we are
not fretting ourselves because of the evil doers, whose time is short, but we
are trusting in the Lord, whose promises will in due time be
fulfilled--"He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy
judgment as the noonday" (Psa. 37);
and until such time we will try to be patient, and will count it all joy to be
esteemed worthy
to suffer reproaches
and afflictions for the name and cause of our beloved Lord.
"Oh! what are all earth's gilded toys,
Compared with heaven's eternal joys,
Or even to the feast now spread
For pilgrims through the desert led?"
In Christian love and fellowship with all who
love our Lord Jesus Christ and his Truth in truth and sincerity, and
who have no disposition to make merchandise of either the Truth or the
character of any of God's chosen instruments, I am
Yours in the faith and hope of the Gospel,
MRS. C. T. RUSSELL.
EXTRACT FROM AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
CHURCH BY
MRS. RUSSELL,
Published in ZION'S WATCH TOWER,
June 1894, relating to this same conspiracy:
"Mr. Adamson also told that my husband
forbids people to marry, and as a proof of this related how he once sent Mr.
Bryan a three days' journey into the country at an expense of twelve dollars,
in order to prevent a wedding. I answered that this statement is as untrue as
the others; that Mr. Russell never forbade any one to marry, and that not a
living being could truthfully say that he or she had been forbidden; but that I
knew that when his opinion was specially asked he
gave the Apostle Paul's advice, and as nearly as possible in his words, citing
them. (1 Cor. 7:25-35.)
And when I had given a truthful explanation of his proof, above
referred to, all saw that it was to my husband's credit that he spared neither
trouble nor expense in order to let a sister in Christ know something of what
he knew of the character of
the man she was about to marry; that, thus informed, she might the better judge
for herself whether or not he would make a desirable husband. Mr. Bryan, who
took that letter, and who brought it back undelivered, because too late to be
of service to the sister, knows the truth of the matter, while conniving with
Mr. A. at its misrepresentation of my husband's character and teachings. Anything to
down Mr. Russell's influence,--seems to be their motto.
"In the same connection, Mr. Adamson is
telling that Mr. Russell wrote to him shortly after he was married, telling him
that he should make his will so as to give what money he had to the Tract Fund,
and to be sure not to let Mrs. A. see that letter. They affirmed this story in
my presence, and said they had the letter in hand. I
denied it emphatically, well knowing my husband's disposition
to the contrary. I asked them to read the letter aloud to us all, but
they refused to do so, and this clearly showed to all present that the
statement was not worthy of credence. Only since my return home have I learned
the truth on the subject, as follows:
"Shortly after Mr. A.'s marriage, Mrs. A.,
it seems, declared that she 'was not going to race over the country after him,
like a mad dog.' In writing to Mr. Russell on the subject, Mr. A. said in
substance, 'What money I have was all consecrated to the Lord before I married;
and in the event of my death I do not intend that any of it shall go to Mrs.
Adamson or her folks: it shall go to the Tract Fund.'
"In his reply to that letter, my husband
urged that Mrs. Adamson be not ignored; that as a wife she
had a just claim upon him; that on general principles any woman he would call
his 'wife' deserved consideration as such, even if out of harmony on religious
subjects, as Mrs. A. then was, according to his representation. But he advised
that if Mr. A. decided to will any portion of
his effects to the Tract Fund, it would be wise, under the
circumstances he described, and to the interest of his domestic happiness, not
to inform Mrs. A. respecting [R3811
: page 215] it.
That is probably the letter they had in hand, and were afraid to read lest
their misrepresentations should be made manifest. Thus do falsehoods force the
truth to view.--Matt. 10:26.
"As illustrating the depth of wickedness to
which these men would stoop, under the influence of envy and ambition. I told
the Church how Mr. Adamson had written to Brother Wright (and we know not to
how many others), citing 1 Cor. 5:1-6without
comment, as applicable to my husband. Mr. Adamson could not deny the fact,
under the evidence, but protested that he had not intended any reflection upon
Mr. Russell's moral character. Some of the brethren present remarked that such
a charge would
have no weight with anyone who knew Mr. Russell or
who had ever looked into his face. In
telling what inference he did wish to give by the citation named, Mr. Adamson
replied that he meant to say that Mr. Russell is a "railer." But
since railers are not mentioned at all in the citation, but five verses further
down in the chapter, I showed that this is only one of the many cunning methods
of misrepresentation resorted to by these wicked men--because they do
not know any real crimes to lay to his charge. I
mention these items here, because no doubt they have been similarly misstated
orally or by letter to others; and to show that the same spirit that prompted
the misrepresentations of their first attack still controls them, and that
reconciliation with such people, under such conditions, would neither be
possible nor desirable, nor right, nor scriptural."
THE BAD SEED GERMINATED
The excitement connected with the conspiracy
against me above referred to temporarily hindered the sprouting of the bad seed
of so-called "woman's rights" and ambition, and temporarily Mrs.
Russell became very enthusiastic in my support. It was she who first called
attention to Matt. 24:45-47,
applying it to me in a meeting at Allegheny and subsequently in another meeting
with the New York Church. I demurred that I had not thought of the passage
thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although I could not
deny the force of the argument that it pointed out "that servant,"
and "fellow servants" and "the household," apparently
clearly and designedly distinguishing between these terms. Some little
objection was aroused by her interpretation and I urged great moderation in the
making of any personal application, suggesting that the WATCH TOWER rather than
its editor might be considered "that servant." As an evidence of Mrs.
Russell's position on the question I give a copy of a letter she wrote in
defense of her statement of the matter before the New York Church, as
follows:-- ALLEGHENY, Pa., Dec. 31, 1895. Mr. Geo. D. Woolsey,
Dear Brother in Christ:--Husband has shown me
your kind letter of Dec. 18, the spirit of which was much appreciated by both
of us. I am glad to note your frankly stated opinion as to the interpretation
of Matt. 24:45-51,
and I have carefully examined the arguments and Scriptures you have set forth.
Thinking you will be glad to know how I view the Scriptures you
mention, I
will proceed to tell you. I fully agree with the interpretation of Isaiah 52:7,
presented in the TOWER of Oct., 1881, which you endorse, the one in that case
being the Christ, Head and body, of which the living members constitute
"the feet."
I also agree that Rev. 16:15refers
to any one of the Church who complies with the conditions. The entire statement
gives evidence to this effect. It could not be understood otherwise. I also
agree that in the parables of the talents and pounds, as in all parables, the
thing said is not the thing meant, and that each one here mentioned, as in the
parable of the rich man and Lazarus, represents a class.
But when we come to Matt. 24:45-51it
appears to me to be a totally different case. Here are brought to our
attention--"that servant," "his fellow servants" and
"the household." Now, if the Lord wished to indicate a chief servant
of the Truth, and fellow servants assisting in serving the meat in due season
to the household of faith, he could not have chosen more precise language to
convey such a thought. And, on the contrary, to ignore such an order and
reasonableness in the account, to my mind throws the entire narrative into
confusion, making the "servants" (plural) and "that
servant" interchangeable terms.
If we should handle all Scriptures thus loosely,
it seems to me we could either prove or disprove anything according to our
preconceived ideas. It does not seem to me reasonable, nor a justifiable
interpretation of our Lord's testimony, to say that the entire household fed
itself, and that the Lord gave the meat in season to all together without using
any of the number as his agents or servants in the distribution. And if it be
conceded that there is a difference between "the household" and
"the servants" who minister the meat in due season to the household,
then it cannot be denied that our Lord's words also point out one of those
servants as specially intrusted with the meat in season and used in dispensing
it to the fellow servants and the household in general.
I notice that you do not analyze the text as I
do. If you see any way for making these three expressions, viz., "that
servant," "his fellow servants" and "the household,"
all mean the same thing without making nonsense out of the entire statement, I
hope you will favor me by pointing out how it can be done.
It seems to me, further, that the interpretation
which I suggest is the one, and the only one, which corresponds to the fulfilment.
We agree in the belief that the Lord is now present, that he assumed his office
of King in 1878, and that since that time his household has been richly fed
with meat in due season. It seems to me that in dispensing the food to the
household the Lord has not given it personally to each member, but from among
them he has chosen and used a number of servants, and that all of these
servants have been supplied with the meat in due season through one particular
servant-- "that servant." So, both from the construction of the
Lord's language, and from the facts before us which constitute their fulfilment
at the time indicated, viz., in these days of his presence, I can, so far,
reach no other conclusions than those I have stated.
However, my object in writing is not to urge my
convictions upon you. I merely state them for your consideration, believing you
will be interested in examining them, and that you will agree with me that
whatever God has expressed in his Word is worthy of [R3811 : page 216] our
most careful consideration, and is for our instruction and profiting.
With the greetings of the season, in which Bro.
Russell joins, Your Sister in Christ,
MARIA F. RUSSELL.
Letter from Mr. Joseph L. Russell (now
deceased), father of the Editor, relating to the same trouble:--
My Dear Son:--It is with love and sympathy in my
heart that I write you at this time, after having read the full account of your
trials and troubles amongst those whom you accepted as brethren in Christ. It
does seem almost incredible that those people could be guilty of such mean and
despicable conduct toward you, from whom they had received so many marks of
kindness. But, my dear son, these are some of the trials we all may
expect--especially those engaged in the "harvest" work. I am proud of
the noble defense you make in vindication of your conduct, and especially in
the cause of the Truth we all love so dearly. I feel confident that you will
come out of this trial brighter and more appreciated in your character and
works than you ever were before. The good Lord, who has been testing your
works, will promote you to still higher honors in his Kingdom. I pray that he
may bless you always and sustain you in every good word and work; and to him we
will ascribe all the praise forever. Amen.
But while confident that the outcome will be a
final victory for the Truth, it is very trying for one who has labored late and
early for the last twenty years for the cause of Truth, to have his supposed
friends turn against him and brand him as a liar and a hypocrite. Oh! it is
terrible! I often think of you and your many trials, which you seem to meet
very courageously. But with an approving conscience a man can stand considerable,
especially if the Lord is on his side to help and strengthen. Please extend to
your dear wife my hearty congratulations on her noble defense of her husband
and the cause of Truth during this trying ordeal. With love and congratulations
from us all, I remain, your loving father.
JOSEPH L. RUSSELL."
* * *
As matters began to settle down, the
"woman's rights" ideas and personal ambition began again to come to
the top, and I perceived that Mrs. Russell's active campaign in my defense, and
the very cordial reception given her by the dear friends at that time
throughout a journey (which she volunteered at that time to take, for the
express purpose of defending and vindicating me amongst those friends who had
been disturbed by the slanders circulated by those involved in the conspiracy),
had done her injury by increasing her self-appreciation. Instead of considering
the kind expressions of the friends as applying to her as a representative of
the WATCH TOWER, a representative of the truths it promulgates, and a
representative of her husband, as well as for her personal worth, the lady
appeared to credit all the demonstrations to the latter--as acknowledgments of
her personal abilities. Gradually she seemed to reach the conclusion that
nothing was just proper for the WATCH TOWER columns [R3812 : page 216] except
what she had written, and I was continually harassed with suggestions of
alterations of my writings. I was pained to note this growing disposition, so
foreign to the humble mind which characterized her for the first thirteen happy
years.
Gradually her interpretation of "that
servant" worked upon her mind. First she suggested that as in the human
body there are two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, etc., this might
properly enough represent the twain one--she and I as necessarily one in
marriage and in spirit and in the Lord. But the ambition did not stop here--(it
is a plant of thrifty growth). Within a year Mrs. Russell had concluded that
the latter part of the statement (viz., Matt. 24:48-51)
was not merely a warning, but that it would have actual fulfilment--that it
meant that her husband would fulfil this description, and that she in
consequence would take his place as "that servant" in dispensing meat
in due season. This was in 1896.
In harmony with this thought she concluded that her
individuality was not sufficiently prominent in the WATCH TOWER announcements
that she was the Associate Editor. She requested that her name thereafter
appear with each article that she wrote. I told her that this would imply the
erasure of her name as Associate Editor. She assented, saying that that did not
amount to much anyway, as nobody knew her articles. She also at this time
notified me that her articles must appear just as she would write them, without
corrections or emendations on my part.
To all these requests I agreed, telling her,
however, that I was afraid the WATCH TOWER readers would consider that I was
demeaning my wife in dropping her as Associate Editor, placing her instead as a
mere correspondent. Furthermore, I suggested that if I could make no editorial
corrections to her articles it would imply that some of them would not appear
in the WATCH TOWER, because where many corrections would be necessary it would
be easier to write the article myself. Those possessing back numbers of the
WATCH TOWER upon examination will find that Mrs. Russell's name as Associate
Editor first disappeared from the 2nd page of the TOWER in the issue of Nov.
1st, 1896. Fearing that this might be understood as some indignity to my wife I
referred to the matter in the Dec. 15th issue, page 301, the "Tract
Society's Annual Report," in these words: "The withdrawal of our
'associate editor' has been noted by some, so we explain now to all that this
was granted at her own urgent request. She prefers to appear as a correspondent
over her own signature, MRS. M. F. RUSSELL."
HELP-MATE CHANGED TO OPPONENT
Prior to this time my Sunday topics constituted
a considerable portion of the matter for the WATCH TOWER. Mrs. Russell took
notes of my Sunday afternoon discourses and later on wrote these out as TOWER
articles. This was, of course, a great saving of my time, and permitted me to
attend to other parts of the work, and justified my denominating her
"Associate Editor" of the paper. She notified me that I must not
expect such assistance further, that whatever she wrote would be for
publication over her own name. Apparently her thought was to impede the work,
and to force me to call upon her for larger and still larger contributions to
the columns of the paper--contributions which she had already stipulated must
be taken just as she wrote them, without the alteration of a word. Had this
program [R3812 : page 217] carried
out as she evidently intended it would have made her virtually the Editor of
ZION'S WATCH TOWER, and would have opened its columns to matter to which I
could not assent. Furthermore, I saw that this would be fostering in my wife an
ambition which sooner or later would work to her very serious injury and
perhaps to the entire cause of "Present Truth."
After making the matter a subject of prayer I
adopted the method of dictating my articles direct to a stenographer, and
enlarged the size of the WATCH TOWER from a 12-page to a 16-page journal. The
trend of events led me to see that in at least one instance in the past,
yielding to Mrs. Russell's importunity, I had failed in my duty in allowing an
article written by her, with which I did not agree, to appear in the WATCH
TOWER, thinking that it would do no harm and at the same time gratify her
wishes. In the WATCH TOWER issue for Feby. 1st, 1897, page 38, I corrected the
error in the "Question and Answer Column," item "Concerning the
Epistle of James." I quote from my answer as follows:--"The article
to which you refer last, as being in conflict with our general presentations,
was not an editorial article; nevertheless the Editor does not claim that his
negligence in the matter is a sufficient excuse. It is a part of his duty to be
critical, and to exclude whatever his judgment does not approve; and he now
promises that by the Lord's grace he will hereafter be still more careful of
his stewardship, to the end that ZION'S WATCH TOWER may ever speak as 'an
oracle of God.'"
Despite this distressing situation of antagonism
on the part of my wife the work continued to progress. Mrs. Russell's next move
was to so harass me as to make it almost impossible for me to proceed with the
work. I appointed a desk drawer in which I requested that she place any articles
she had to offer me. From this I made selections. That I might have no choice
in the selection of her articles, in Feby. '97 she removed all of those
articles except two. Neither of those two being acceptable, no articles of hers
appeared in the February 15th and March 1st issues. Mrs. Russell was indignant
at this, but I explained the situation.
It was at this time that she took ill of a
troublesome disease and required much of my attention, which was cheerfully
given at the expense of every other consideration, and with the hope that what
I believed was a discipline from the Lord might work out for her profit. I
thought, too, that my kind and incessant attentions would touch her heart and
restore it to its former tender and loving condition. I was mistaken, however.
Just as soon as she recovered health she called a Committee along the lines of Matt. 18:15-17,
specially with the object of having the brethren instruct me that she had an
equal right with myself in the WATCH TOWER columns, and that I was doing her
wrong in not according her the liberties she desired.
The Committee consisted of Bro. W. E. Page, of
Milwaukee, Wis., and Bro. M. M. Tuttle, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Mrs. Russell, with
them as her Committee, met me in my study. The entire matter was a great
surprise to me, for I had kept my troubles secret even from those nearest to me
in the home. I assured Mrs. Russell and the brethren that I was very glad
matters had taken this turn, and that my hope was that it would solve some of
my difficulties, because I had no doubt as to what their advice would be. Not
to center the difficulty exclusively upon the WATCH TOWER question, Mrs.
Russell had two other charges against me which were read first. One was that a
will I had drawn for my father at his request, and which expressed his wishes
fully, was not acceptable to my wife and her sister.
I explained to the brethren the kind of a will I
had drawn, and they told Mrs. Russell that it was such a will as most people
would consider excellent. She disagreed with them. I explained further that I
had advised my father to destroy the will and to make one that would suit his
wife's ideas, that his declining years might be as peaceful as possible. The
brethren were surprised that they should be asked to discuss a will no longer
in existence and the character of which was considered excellent.
Mrs. Russell's second charge was that I had not
treated her with sufficient consideration at a certain meeting in the Bible
House Chapel. I explained the affair to all: that the lesson for the Bible
study that evening was in Jude, respecting the Second Death, "twice dead
plucked up by the roots;" that Mrs. Russell had been granted more time by
far than any other person in the meeting to express her views respecting the
text, but that she took offense because I intimated that she was taking more
than her share of the time. I confessed that at heart I was solicitous lest she
should succeed in making clear her views on the subject, which I considered
unscriptural, and to which I feared she would be wedded more than ever after
expressing her opinion; but that I had no unkind intent respecting the matter.
I told them how Mrs. Russell had appeared ill-humored after the meeting, and I
had inquired the trouble and found that she felt offended, and that I then
assured her that I had no unkind intention in the matter, and that I was sorry
if I had offended her, and that if she would prefer to have it so I would make
the same expression to the Class on the following Sunday night. I explained
that she finally forgave whatever there was wrong in the matter that night; but
that she had brought it up four times subsequently, and I said, "Now,
brethren, this is the sixth time that Mrs. Russell has brought this matter up,
having forgiven it five times: I now ask her in your presence, the sixth time,
to forgive whatever she considered wrong in respect to that matter." The
brethren looked at Mrs. Russell in amazement, and she again said that she
forgave the matter.
Then came the real question for which they had
been called, one of them a journey of nearly 1,200 miles. When the
brethren caught the idea of the real object of their visit they were
astonished, and told Mrs. Russell kindly, but very plainly, that neither they
nor any other persons in the world had a right to interfere with Bro. Russell's
management of the WATCH TOWER: that it was his stewardship only, and that he
alone was accountable to the Lord for its management. Further, they suggested
that they considered Mrs. Russell had the grandest of all opportunities in the
world as my associate and co-laborer in the harvest work; they told her that
personally they could think of no higher honor, and advised her to take this
same view, that evidently was at one time her own view of the situation.
Mrs. Russell was chagrined, broke down and wept,
and left the room. Subsequently she was prevailed upon to see that since the
Committee had come at her request it was her duty to treat them with greater
respect[R3813 : page 218] and
to give some heed at least to their counsel. She returned to the study and
there stated herself in substance that she could not agree with their decision,
that she still had her own views, but that in deference to their advice she
would endeavor to look at matters from their standpoint. I then asked her in
their presence if she would shake hands. She hesitated, but finally gave me her
hand. I then said, "Now, will you kiss me, dear, as a token of the degree
of change of mind which you have indicated?" Again she hesitated, but
finally did kiss me and otherwise manifested a renewal of affection in the
presence of her Committee. It was hoped that this would be the end of the
matter. The crisis had been reached at about the Memorial season, but seemingly
through wise counsel the storm had passed without breaking in any public
manner.
BAD COUNSELLORS--FRESH DIFFICULTIES
Following this conference Mrs. Russell's
articles again appeared in the WATCH TOWER of March 15th, 1897, indicating my
own good faith in the adjustment of the difficulties, and earnest desire to
make use of my wife's co-operation as fully as possible. Some of Mrs. Russell's
relatives were evidently "evil counsellors," and the fruit quickly
began to manifest itself. At Mrs. Russell's request I appointed a weekly
meeting of "The Sisters of the Allegheny Church," with herself as its
leader, little thinking that this was to be a new method of attack upon me and
the interests of the work which I represented. A systematic endeavor was now
made to work up a spirit of opposition to me amongst the Sisters of the Church.
For months thereafter I could see that an evil influence was at work, but could
see no honorable way of correcting it, so secretly was everything done.
In the meantime I had some very trying
experiences with my greatly changed wife. I could see that herself and
relatives were working up some kind of a figurative "bomb" intended for
my destruction. My confidence was in the Lord, however, and I said nothing to
others until, on August 30th, I learned definitely that there was a movement on
foot amongst Mrs. Russell's party which was to culminate in some kind of
explosion on Sept. 12th. I acted promptly, but quietly, so that on Saturday
night, Sept. 4th, about 50 brethren gathered in the Bible House Chapel, none of
them knowing in advance that a meeting was to be held. I explained the
situation to all and found that some of them had more knowledge of the business
than I possessed. As the matter had passed from an individual affair to a
Church affair, I suggested that it would be the duty of the elders of the
Church to act, and that I was too closely identified with the matter to take any
active part in the investigation. Upon the unanimous expression of all present
it was decided that the proper procedure would be that a private meeting of the
consecrated believers of the Church should be announced for the next evening,
Sunday, Sept. 5th, at which the two sisters who had been circulating slanderous
and false statements (presumably received from Mrs. Russell) should be charged
with slander and false witness and asked to clear themselves by substantiating
their statements if they could.
One of these sisters had stated that they had
the women of the congregation already committed, and were wanting now to get a
few men into the matter, so that it would not appear so completely a woman's
affair. Her tale was that Bro. Russell was treating Sister Russell shamefully.
The other indicted sister had made similar charges. Without going into
particulars they had given the strongest kind of inferences, and
the Church eldership determined that it was time that such slanders should
cease, or that if they continued all of the congregation should know that they
were wholly without foundation or justification.
At the evening Church meeting Bro. M. M. Tuttle
presided, and the board of Church elders served as jury. The accused sisters
were asked specifically whether or not they had said such things. At first they
were disposed to deny the matter entirely, but witnesses to whom they had
talked were present and, called upon, gave their testimony. Neither could offer
any explanation or defense --neither had any foundation whatever for the
charges.
This is the meeting from which Mrs. Russell and
her sisters were excluded--because they had ignored the Church, declared they
were not of it, and did not attend its meetings for several months prior to
this meeting. It was a strictly private meeting of the consecrated believers of
the Church, and hence they had no right to be present. They were excluded
because it was recognized by the elders of the Church that had they been
present they would have created a scene, and would have hindered the
investigation for which the meeting was called. The two sisters who at that
meeting were shown to have been guilty of false witness and slander as charged
were, at my request, not condemned; the board of elders holding the matter over
pending a possible later apology to the Church for their wrong course. I took
this opportunity to briefly explain to the congregation present a little of the
trouble that surrounded me, as an explanation of the slanders which I knew had
been circulated. I took particular care to shield my wife as much as possible,
laying the principal blame on one of her sisters, whose evil influence I could
note at almost every turn of my affairs.
Following this I sought to separate my wife from
her evil counsellors in hope of recovering her. I sent those false friends
letters, warning them not to come to see my wife, etc., and gave my wife the
following letter which she put into the court record of the case:
ALLEGHENY, September 6, 1897.
My Dear Wife:--I send you a copy each of three
letters just sent as legal notices. [Accompanying were notices to Mr. J. L.
Russell, Mrs. J. L. Russell and Mrs. L. J. Raynor, "not to receive, harbor
or entertain my wife under your roof under any pretext whatsoever."] I
wish you, my dear, to know that these steps now being taken are in your
interest as well as in the interest of the Lord's cause. I desire to shield you
from what I believe has been a very pernicious influence upon you for some time
past. I do this in the hope that under favorable influences, and by divine
blessing, you may free your heart of the slime of misrepresentation which
others have poured over it, and that thus relieved you may realize your first love
for me, and that no one on earth so really loves you, or so genuinely desires
your advancement in all the graces of the spirit of Christ and in the service
of our dear Redeemer.
Come back to me, my dear! I promise that I will
do all in my power to make you as happy as you ever were, [R3813 : page 219] and
as much more so as lies in my power. Think, my dear, that God has already
favored you with a position as my queen and associate and helper that, in some
respects at least, is second to that of no lady in the world. And do, my dear,
remember that ambition is one of the foes of the people of God, that has snared
more of the bright ones than perhaps any other. Consider, I pray you, in time,
ere it be too late to retrace your steps, whether or not your present condition
of heart may not be a seduction of the great adversary.
Is not the situation sufficiently critical to
make you go very cautiously and prayerfully? Stop, I entreat you, and join me
in humble heart to seek afresh to know the will of our Lord and Master.
Remember how Satan fell and how our Lord proved himself worthy of his high
exaltation, and remember the Apostle's words: "Humble yourselves,
therefore, brethren, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time." Remember Miriam, and Korah, and remember the various conspirators,
and how they all have not only left Brother Russell, but also the Lord and the
Truth. Remember that the present matter is as humiliating for me as for you,
because if a wife is the glory of her husband, so any reflection, even against
her, is to his injury and shame. Remember, also, that I will be anxious to lift
up your head and influence in every proper manner, and will not glory over you
as a foe, but as one who has recovered a lost and highly-prized treasure.
And now, my dear wife, all that I could wish for
as respects my earthly life is that I may serve the Lord, his cause and his
people, amongst whom no one can hold so near and dear a place as you have held
and may again hold if you will. And next to my effort to serve and please the
Lord shall be my effort to serve and please you as my wife, if you will permit
it and co-operate to that end.
Finally, not in anger, nor in any other spirit
than that of love, and as my final move in your favor, and to help pull you out
of the fire of the present trial, I give this legal and formal notice, which I
shall be only too[R3814 : page 219] glad
to rescind absolutely.
Done in love, and as a despairing effort to separate
you from evil influences, and with a hope for speedy reconciliation and
annulment of this limitation, at Allegheny, Pa., this 6th of September, 1897.
C. T. RUSSELL.
NIPPED IN THE BUD
As a result, the entire conspiracy dissolved
like a pricked bubble. The Sisters of the congregation and others realized how
sadly they had been deceived in the name of the Lord and in the name of
righteousness. Mrs. Russell was completely overwhelmed with the defeat of her
scheme. I hoped the crisis had been reached and that the tide might turn in her
favor, in my favor, and in the favor of the Truth. I pointed out to my wife the
error of her course carefully, kindly, gently. I told her how wrong it was for
her to plot to do me injury, and pointed out that if, as she thought, the Lord
wished that she should supplant me as the Editor of the WATCH TOWER and general
overseer in this harvest work, he was abundantly able to carry out his purposes
and needed no evil assistance from her. I suggested that he could easily permit
me to be mangled or killed in an accident; that he could smite me with
paralysis or other disease; or by the merest touch of the brain he could
disorder my mind; and that thus he could cause everything connected with his
work to drop into her hands, for, as I assured her, my confidence in her had
been so great that in my will everything had been left to her care and
supervision. (This is so no longer. I have already transferred everything I possess
except my personal clothing to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY.)
Mrs. Russell afterward denied that she had
authorized any of the slanders or that any were uttered; but I pointed out that
the slanderers had confessed; and that if she were truly on my side, instead of
being angry with the fact of their exposure she would have manifested righteous
indignation for their false accusations. But still my hope was the recovering
of my wife to her former condition, and accordingly I forbade her relatives to
visit her, hoping that she would be benefited thereby. I invited to the home a
Sister Jones, her friend, a woman of great kindness and large experience, whose
influence I knew would be favorable. I opened to Mrs. Russell's mind a door of
hope by suggesting that if I could come to accept her declaration that she had
no sympathy with the slanders I would know well how to bring order out of the
confusion and restore her to the love and fellowship of the dear friends. She
demurred that since the exposure of Sunday night, Sept. 5th, it would be
impossible to heal the breach. I told her that it was only necessary for her to
convince me, and that I could do the rest; but that whatever we would do should
be done before Sunday, so that if harmony were effected we could at the
following Sunday meeting make an announcement of the fact to the dear friends
of the Church, which would set their hearts at rest.
On Friday night I drew up a paper representing
the re-established harmony, wording it as favorably as possible for Mrs.
Russell and her misguided friends. On Saturday morning she and Mrs. Jones, her
friend, were quite enthusiastic over the paper. We got several copies
typewritten and Mrs. Russell and I signed the paper, and she
and Sister Jones went out and got the other signatures. Mrs.
Russell's two sisters and one of the two persons who on the previous Sunday
night had been convicted of slander and false witness signed it with us, and on
Sunday afternoon I requested the consecrated ones to remain for a special service,
and to them I read the said letter, asking them that as many as desired to do
so would signify their participation in the spirit of the letter by a rising
vote. The dear friends were overjoyed and arose as one person, praising God for
his mercy in thus bringing order out of confusion. Here is
A COPY OF THE SAID LETTER
To the Allegheny Church, Bible House.
Dear Brethren and Sisters:--It is with praise to
God and with thankfulness of heart that we unite in a joint note to you all.
Since last Sunday we have sought earnestly through prayer divine aid in respect
to some matters which grieved us all, and have obtained help in time of need.
Investigation revealed the fact that our
troubles arose largely through the too free use of the tongue and the neglect of
the Scriptural rule of Matt. 18:15.
Many things had grown out of all semblance to their originals; and many of the
originals upon close investigation [R3814
: page 220] proved
to be mere fears which had no foundation in fact.
We are happy to tell you that all misstatements
and misapprehensions are mutually rescinded and forgiven, and supposed
grievances are all forever blotted out, while mutual love fills all our hearts
for our Lord and for all his Church.
Although the trial has been a severe one, we
trust that its present happy outcome may prove to be everlasting; and that some
lessons have been learned by us all respecting the need of charity, and the
close following of the Scripture rules laid down in Matt.
18:15by our Master.
We hope (D.V.) to meet with you next Sunday; and
are all resolved by the grace of God to more zealously strive to act and speak
kindly to one and all, especially to God's children; and if we know nothing
favorable to tell of one another we will abstain from such personalities
altogether.
(Original was signed by)
CHARLES T. RUSSELL,
MARIA F. RUSSELL,
LENA GUIBERT,
EMMA H. RUSSELL,
LAURA J. RAYNOR.
On the following day, Sept. 13, 1897, a copy of that letter
was sent to friends from nearby towns who had been present at the meeting of
September 4th, with the following one:
To the Friends who kindly visited us at
Allegheny on September fourth and fifth,
Greetings:--It gives us great pleasure to inform
you that our Heavenly Father has very graciously heard your prayers and ours in
the interest of all the parties concerned in the matters which caused us so
much distress. It appears that certain features of difficulty in the case,
which eluded our every effort to grasp, prove to have been in many respects
fears and misunderstandings and the results of these. In an altogether
unexpected manner the Lord has straightened out these troubles. The letter
following is a copy of the one in which the various parties interested have
joined heartily and gladly. I send it to you realizing that it will help to
bring rest and peace to your hearts as it has done to ours at Allegheny. The
entire Church here has been greatly troubled, not only for the past week but
previously, and after the reading to them of this letter yesterday all their
hearts rejoiced, and they unanimously joined in as parties to the letter as a
congregation. Many expressed the sentiment that the matter, although very
grievous, will prove a lesson of great value to us all.
"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform."
Individually I feel as though I had received a
great fortune, and appreciate each of the signatures more than I would $5,000,
and the second one many times that. Join with us all in giving thanks to our
heavenly Father for having delivered us out of so great a trial.
Your brother and servant in Him,
CHARLES T. RUSSELL.
Our hope was short lived. On the following
Sunday, when all was to have been harmony, the storm broke out afresh. One of
Mrs. Russell's sisters came in late and went out early, and Mrs. Russell
herself posed as wounded innocence, refusing to shake hands with some, calling
others traitors, etc. I made no further effort to secure her attendance at the
meetings, believing it would be better for all concerned for her to be absent.
THE DEPARTURE NOVEMBER 9, 1897
I put in two months more trying in every way to
recover my wife to her former condition. On November 9th, being called from the
city, I made arrangements for her to have a Sister's company until my return.
She accepted this, but subsequently left for Chicago without leaving me the
slightest information. I had no knowledge of her whereabouts for two weeks.
Chicago had then the largest congregation in the
"Present Truth" outside of Allegheny, and Mrs. Russell sought every
way to enlist the friends there by slanderous statements. So far as we are
aware only three came under the influence, as about eight had done in the
Allegheny Church.
Later on, finding that she accomplished nothing
there, she proposed to return to me at Allegheny. I refused to accept her
return unless she would acknowledge the error of her former course and pledge
herself to reasonable, proper, wifely conduct. I wrote her that in her
departure the Lord had granted me great deliverance, and that I felt that I
must require this guarantee for the future, otherwise it would seem to be
tempting Providence. In January, 1898, Mrs. Russell returned to Allegheny, to
the home of her sister; and herself, sisters and friends began a campaign of
vilification of every kind, regardless of the truth, going hither and thither
wherever they could find any one willing to hear them, bound on injuring me in
some manner. This lasted for about a year, at the end of which time my wife
gave me [R3815 : page 220] her
solemn assurance that she had ceased to bear false witness against me before
others, whereupon I gave her possession of a house which I owned facing the
parks, and furnished it for her in good style--a better home than she ever
before had--thinking to myself, I will overcome her evil with good; she shall
yet see the wrong of her course and appreciate my loving intentions. She
manifested some appreciation, sat on my knee and kissed me, and knelt with me
in prayer in that house. The house contains ten rooms, and she had considerable
income from renting some of these to lodgers. In hope that a change of
sentiment was in sight I visited her every Thursday evening for some five
times, when she said, "Husband, I have been fearful that the neighbors and
lodgers would think it strange to see you come here every Thursday." The
hint was sufficient; I discontinued attentions. The puerility of the situation
was ludicrous. The neighbors would see lodgers, men, going to and from the
house daily, hourly, but would be surprised to see the woman's husband come
once a week. I perceived that further quest for her affection was useless.
Afterward she merely requested me to come to see her when she desired some
repairs or additional furniture.
A FRESH ATTACK IN 1903
By 1903 Mrs. Russell had laid by in bank a
little sum of money which evidently was consecrated to the injury of her
husband. The opportune time for its use came, and with it she published a new
kind of tract--not[R3815 : page 221] to
stir up the pure minds of God's people, but the very reverse. It was an
endeavor to misrepresent me, to slander me. It purported to give letters which
I had written to Mrs. Russell and copies of her replies. It was declared
therein that I ill-used her, would not speak to her, and wrote her these
unpleasant epistles. I remembered well the time when she was with me when she
would not speak despite my every effort, and I remembered another time in which
she did everything to hinder my work, when I was obliged to tell her that my
time could not be used continually "discussing affairs." To save time
I wrote her several replies on my common manuscript paper.
The tract as a whole was a gross perversion of
the facts, and written expressly to injure the interests of the cause which I
represented. These were sent to all the WATCH TOWER addresses she could secure,
and bundles of them were sent to ministers in different towns where Pilgrim
services were announced in the WATCH TOWER columns, and a letter accompanying
each bundle requested ministers receiving it to get the tracts, to look up the
meeting of the MILLENNIAL DAWN people, and to have some person circulate these
tracts at those meetings. It was expected that ministers of various
denominations would be so antagonistic to MILLENNIAL DAWN and their author that
they would take pleasure in this scurrilous work; but to their credit be it
noted that not many of them accepted the proposition. Some wrote back declining
the service and characterizing the request as mean, despicable, insulting to
their manhood.
This was in the beginning of 1903, and led me to
conclude that my endeavor to help my wife was being taken advantage of by the
adversary as a means to do injury to the Truth to which I have consecrated life
and all. I concluded that assistance from me must stop, and put my sister in
charge of the residence, reserving however a room for Mrs. Russell and arranging
for her boarding. The result was a commotion, Mrs. Russell, her relatives and
roomers, created such a disturbance that my sister was obliged to call for the
protection of the police, while Mrs. Russell and her friends misrepresented
matters through the public press to the extent of their ability.
Since then, under the direction of the court,
Mrs. Russell has received from me $40.00 per month for her maintainance, and
her suit for divorce from bed and board with alimony has just come off. She has
been as separate from me as could possibly be imagined for years. No advantage
could accrue to her from a monetary standpoint that she did not already
possess. I must presume therefore that the motive back of this suit is revenge:
to have an opportunity of defaming me and scandalizing the Truth, as a
retaliation for my refusal to permit her all the liberties she desired in the
columns of ZION'S WATCH TOWER.
THE COURT RECORDS
Mrs. Russell's bill of complaint admitted that
there had been no cohabitation between herself and her husband, and her
attorney attempted to make out of this that she was deprived of one of the
chief pleasures of life. The Court would not permit this. The fact is that the
matter was in Mrs. Russell's own control. She did understand that her husband
preferred to live a celibate life, but she agreed and expressed the same as her
preference. She knew his teachings on the subject, as now expressed in DAWN,
VOL. VI., chap. 12--that neither the husband nor the wife may "defraud" the
other of reasonable marital rights.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mrs. Russell on
the witness stand and through her attorney attempted to give the impression
that her husband was very amorously inclined, "like a jelly-fish floating
around," "embracing all who would respond." She said that some
one had told her this thirteen years ago. Hear-say testimony
is not admissible in Court, but the precious object to be obtained was the
public branding of her husband as a "scalawag," so her attorney
smuggled this in by having Mrs. Russell swear that she had told it to
her husband ten years ago.
When the next day the husband took the witness
stand and swore that he had never used the language (and never had heard of it
before) all reasonable people concluded that only an idiotic person would make
such an uncomplimentary remark about himself. They concluded, too, that even an
ordinary woman, seeking a charge against her husband for thirteen years, could
imagine wonders and create the living and real in her own mind. This is the
most charitable view possible of such an oath. The Court ruled that the
testimony be stricken from the Court records.
Mrs. Russell charged an improper intimacy
between her husband and "Rose," who became a member of the Russell
household in 1888. The attempt of Mrs. Russell and her attorney to give the inference of
criminal intimacy was so manifest that the Court interrupted to inquire, if
criminal intimacy were charged, why it had not been made part of the plea and
why "Rose" had not been made co-respondent in the suit? Then both
Mrs. Russell and her attorney disclaimed any charge of criminal intimacy, but
meant that "Rose" had sat on Mr. Russell's knee and he had kissed
her. Mrs. Russell also swore that one night she entered "Rose's" room
and found Mr. Russell sitting near her bed and holding her hand. The attempt of
Mrs. Russell was not to state "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth," but conversely, to state a part of the truth in order to give
seeming foundation for evil surmisings, that would injure her husband's
influence among those who do not know him.
The next day Mr. Russell on the witness stand
explained that "Rose" and her brother "Charles" were
members of the family and office assistants--the former at Mrs. Russell's request.
"Rose" was quite childish in appearance, wore short dresses, and
looked to Mr. Russell to be about 13 years old. He did not know her age, but
another who knew her guessed that she was then only 10 years old. She may have
been older than 13 in
1888. The brother came first, and shortly after "Rose's" coming he
died.
It was some months later that Mr. Russell in the
WATCH TOWER office, hearing sobbing, turned to find "Rose" in tears.
Inquiring the cause, "Rose," still weeping, came over and sat on his
knee, and complained that Mrs. Russell had worked her too hard before she
started for the office; and that she felt weary and friendless. He told her
that all that was a mistake. He defended Mrs. Russell as not intentionally unkind
or unreasonable, and told "Rose" to do what she was able to do,
cheerfully, and then to explain her weariness, and that he was sure nothing
unreasonable would be asked. Then, suddenly drying her tears, "Rose"
kissed [R3815 : page 222] Mr.
Russell. Although surprised at all this Mr. R. did not resent it nor reprove
it; but rather reproved himself for not having been previously more fatherly.
That very night he talked with his wife about "Rose," and pointed out
that she was surely lonely since her brother's death, and that it would be a
duty to look after her interests more carefully.
Mrs. Russell agreed, and it was mutually
arranged that "Rose" thereafter should be considered and treated as
an adopted daughter. "Rose" was so informed in the presence of the
three, and invited to spend her evenings in the large study and reading room
with the Russells. This course was followed; and when "Rose" retired,
usually at 9 p.m., Mrs. Russell kissed her good-night and told her to
"pass the kiss along" to Mr. R. also. This custom continued several
years, until Mr. R. said to "Rose": "I think it best that I
should discontinue kissing you; you are now wearing long dresses and looking
more womanly, and Mrs. R. might get to feel jealous;--although she has never
said a word to that effect, I would not wish to give her the slightest reason
for so feeling." Mr. Russell declared that it was quite a while after his
discontinuance of his proper fatherly conduct toward "Rose" that Mrs.
Russell (having become alienated on account of not getting all the liberty she
desired in the WATCH TOWER columns) upbraided him for kissing "Rose."
As for Mrs. R.'s claim that she found her husband in "Rose's" room [R3816 : page 222] one
night, sitting near her bed and holding her hand, Mr. R. said that he had no
recollection of the occurrence, but that as he has a slight knowledge of
medicine he was called on by all the members of the family in cases of illness:
Mrs. R., her mother, her sisters and her sisters' children all were accustomed
to apply to Mr. R., who kept a free medicine chest, referring serious cases to
a regular practitioner. Mr. R. presumed the case in question was an emergency
call, and that he was counting "Rose's" pulse. The entire
"Rose" matter had a different appearance when the light of truth was
turned on it. The Court ruled out the "Rose" testimony, and ordered
it stricken from the Court records.
Mrs. Russell mentioned a person named
"Emily," a sister in Christ, who served as house-help in the Russell
family about 14 years ago. With her attorney's assistance Mrs. R. brought out
with dramatic effect that, Once she found Mr. R. in "Emily's" room
with the door locked! Again the whole truth was sacrificed under oath, and a
partial truth with false inferences went to the public.
On the witness stand next day Mr. R. explained
the entire matter. One morning "Emily" was sick, and he was called on
to see her and prescribe medicine. "Emily's" room contained a sink
and a pump used for the second floor refuse and water. The noise from the pump
made it difficult to hear, and Mr. R. turned the key in the door to prevent
confusion until he could hear what "Emily" had to say about her
condition--certainly less than a minute, probably not half a minute.
"Emily," now married, put upon the witness stand, swore that she had
no knowledge that the door was locked even for a moment, and that then and at
all times Mr. R.'s conduct toward her had been most exemplary.
Mr. Russell declared that he had no knowledge of
his wife's notice of the matter until years afterward (when endeavoring to
coerce him to grant her all the liberty she desired in the columns of the WATCH
TOWER) she mentioned it, saying that it would not sound well if told. Even
then, however, Mr. R. could not believe that at heart she meant it, or that she
would lend herself to so diabolical a misrepresentation, falsification, of
"thewhole truth."
Mrs. R. claimed bad treatment from her husband,
but produced no evidence to substantiate her claim. Her husband's principal
crime was that on one occasion (during 18 years of married life) when he was
going to Denver he neglected and refused to kiss her "good bye." Next
day, on the witness stand, Mr. R. corrected the statement, saying that his
journey was to New York City instead of Denver, and that he had explained to
his wife that her conduct at the time did not justify any special exhibition of
affection, and that he did not believe in giving hypocritical caresses.
Mrs. R. also claimed that her husband had opened
her mail. Mr. R. explained that by mutual consent this had been so for
years--their mail had been treated as common property, until (about six months
before she deserted him) Mrs. R. requested that she receive mail addressed to
her unopened. Her request was promptly thereafter complied with, much to her
inconvenience; for many TOWER readers used to write to Mrs. R., thinking to
save the Editor's time, their letters containing questions that needed to come
to him in the end.
Another of Mrs. R.'s complaints was that she was
asked to give an account of her use of moneys. Mr. R. explained that for
eighteen years he had asked no reports or explanations regarding money matters,
until about six months before Mrs. R. left him, when he asked her what she was
doing with moneys received from him other than for usual expenses. Was she
starting a bank account, or what? When she refused to tell him, he told her
that if she refused to report after using the money his only recourse would be
to inquire what she wanted the money for when she asked for it.
Another complaint was that Mr. R. had treated
Mrs. R. unkindly during a spell of sickness in the Spring of 1897; and that he
had cruelly told her that she was suffering a chastisement from the Lord. Mr.
R. explained that he surely did so consider her illness; but that knowing Mrs.
R.'s general opposition to him and anything he might say, he did not mention it
to her. However, fearing that Mrs. R. might miss a blessing from the illness,
he did hint his thought to her very special lady friend and confidant who
assisted in caring for her. As for his treatment of his wife during that
sickness, Mr. R. assured the Court that it could not have been more kind and
considerate. He explained that Mrs. R. had a contagious erysipelas that covered
every inch of her body from head to foot; that this required the aid of an
assistant in the day time to perform three processes of dressing the eruptions
(and who caught the disease); but that at night the ailment was much worse,
and, others being afraid, he himself performed the three-process treatment
twice every night. He thus spent four to five hours each night, and handled his
wife with extremest tenderness, hoping to win back the affection which her
ambition had crowded out. [R3816
: page 223]
Another fault charged by Mrs. R. against her
husband was that he would not speak to her for weeks at a time, but wrote her
letters. Some of those letters were put in evidence. Mr. R. explained that his
conduct was wholly misrepresented--that he uniformly treated his wife with the
utmost courtesy--that no wife in the world could have been better treated. He
explained that about the time Mrs. R. stopped reporting his discourses for the
WATCH TOWER she seemed bent on hindering him in his editorial work, and would
have wasted his entire time "discussing" her ideas, etc., if he had
permitted it: that to save his time he was obliged to
write, because her discussions were so unreasonable and interminable. One of
these letters, selected by Mrs. R. as the strongest against her husband, we
quote below from the Court record.
THE OBJECTIONABLE LETTER
Mrs. Russell's attorneys introduced a number of
letters which were really against her case, for they proved that Mr. R. had
tried in a variety of ways, as before stated, to recover her to her former good
self. The first of these which is here quoted is one from which Mrs. R.
extracted a few sentences for the pamphlet which she sent out in 1903. The
portion she quoted then is italicized here, that it may be seen how grossly the
quotation misrepresented the letter as a whole. It was written without the
slightest thought of it ever being used again, and no copy was kept by Mr. R.
The following is a copy of the original put in evidence in court:-- July 8,
1896.
My Dear Wife:--In reply to your proposition for
"a further discussion" of the matters which have recently been
alienating our affections, I reply: I must decline such a
discussion, for
two reasons, (1) It probably would only lead to a still wider breach, and (2)
As I told you before, I have no wish to discuss new grievances with one whose
judgment after 17 years of acquaintance is-- "a lack of confidence,"
and that I am devoid of love and justice.
For the past three years you have been gradually
forcing upon me the evidence that we both erred in judgment when we
married--that we are not adapted to each other, not capable of making each
other happy, as we agreed to do, and supposed we could do. The last month has
fastened this conviction upon me much against my will. I
am convinced that our difficulty is a growing one generally--that it
is a great mistake for strong-minded men and women to
marry. If they will marry, the strong-minded would
far better marry such as are not too intellectual and
high spirited, for there never can, in the nature of
things, be peace, under present-timeconditions, where the two are on an
equality. This
all the more convinces me of the wisdom of God's Book.
The convictions forced upon me during the past
month have been an extremely severe trial to me, for I have enough manhood to
make me crave the sympathy and love of true womanhood, which in many respects
you well represent, but by God's grace I feel strengthened to continue in the
"good fight of faith," upheld by his sufficiency.
You need not fear a transfer of my heart to any
other woman! As I have often told you, I never met as near my ideal as
yourself, and I never expect to. I conclude that I am adapted to no one, and
that no one is adapted to me--except the Lord! I am so thankful that He and I
understand each other and have confidence in each other.
This letter is not meant to be unkind. If
anything in it seems unkind please excuse it as not so intended. By and by we
will know each other better. Let us hope that it will reveal fewer rather than
more blemishes that now vex each other. With fond remembrance of every
kindness, and with very best wishes for your temporal and eternal future, I
remain
Yours truly, C. T. RUSSELL.
Another charge made by Mrs. R. against her
husband was, that he had isolated her from her sisters and friends and had sent
them insulting letters. Mr. R. explained that this prohibition was made in Mrs.
R.'s interest, when she had become his active enemy in cooperation with them,
in hope thus to reclaim her from her wrong course. He sent such letters on two
occasions: the first set in September were negatived by the reconciliation. The
second set, also filed by Mrs. R. as part of the Court's record, we quote
below:-- ALLEGHENY, Pa., Nov. 9, 1897.
My Dear Wife:--I think it but duty toward you to
give you a copy of a letter sent (yesterday) to four of your friends who
clearly manifest that they are my enemies. No one has knowledge of the matter
except [R3817 : page 223] Brother
Bohnet, who knows confidentially--because he prepared the
letters on typewriter.
As I have prohibited these persons from having
intercourse with you, I must, and now do, prohibit you from having intercourse
with them in any manner.
My hope, Dear, is that freed from this bad
influence you may "come to yourself" and take right and sensible
views of matters; peradventure the Lord may bless us again with happiness which
we once enjoyed together in our home life, and in our Christian fellowship and
cooperation in God's service. It gives me great pain to deprive you of what
seems to be your only pleasure, but my hope is that you may become weaned from
the love of those who hate me; and that not only to my comfort, but also to
your own present and everlasting welfare. Should these later manifest a change
of heart, I shall be very glad to have former relationship restored all around,
but until then it cannot be otherwise than mischievous, and cannot be permitted.
I have carefully weighed this matter for now about a month, and believe that my
course is the wise one, and in conformity with the Lord's will and Word; as I
will show you if you desire.
Permit me to add for your comfort that your
conduct last night and this morning is much more kind than formerly, and had
this manner been commenced sooner I would have waited still longer before
writing to your friends--my enemies.
With sincere love and sympathy,
Your husband, C. T. RUSSELL.
ALLEGHENY, Pa., November 8, 1897.
Mrs. __________:--Some time ago I addressed you
in regard to your influence upon my wife. I have since had some ground for hope
that both you and she had come to view matters in a different light, and that
your mutual conspiracy to do me injury had been repented of and [R3817 : page 224] abandoned.
And acting in good faith I made no further objection to your intercourse.
For a month past, however, I am reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that the great adversary is deluding your clique to
take some other lines for mischief--hoping for better success than last time. I
have been praying for you each and all, earnestly, that the Lord would open
your eyes to the enormity of your course; but I now conclude that it is my duty
toward my dear wife to isolate her from your pernicious influence; for such it
is, whether you are aware of it or not; and I hope and incline to believe that
you are not wilful, but blinded, in the matter; but that there be no chance for
misunderstanding, and that this notice shall be in every way a legal notice, I
must use great plainness of speech, and tell you that your influence, however
intended, is a wicked influence; for it has a wicked effect upon my dear wife.
So far from being a "peacemaker," as all who bear the name of Christ
should be, you are a mischief maker--a disturber of the peace. You have already
alienated from me the affections of my dear companion, who I believe was given
me by the Lord, so that she bears no resemblance to her former loving, generous
self. You have incited, or helped to incite in her, an evil, selfish
disposition, as contrary to the Scriptural definition of the spirit of love and
the character of our Lord, as it is contrary to her former beautiful character
under the influence of Divine grace. The laws of our State, not to mention the
higher laws of God, deprecate all such conduct and pernicious influence as
seeks to alienate and separate between husbands and wives.-- "What God
hath joined let no man (nor woman) put asunder"--either actually or in
spirit of mind.
Very reluctantly, therefore, I hereby give you
notice that you must not continue this baneful influence; and that to this end
you henceforth abstain from all intercourse with my dear wife--either personal
or otherwise-- that you shall not receive her into your home, nor visit her at
my home, nor meet her elsewhere, nor correspond with her either directly or by
proxy through others.
As it is with pain and reluctance that I thus
write to you--and only as a last resort in the defense of my home and in hope
that under Divine blessing my dear wife, being freed from such false sympathy
and evil encouragements, shall regain "the spirit of a sound mind" --the
holy spirit of love,--so, I shall be most glad to recall the restrictions here
placed upon you with reference to my wife. But nothing shall be construed as
revoking this notice except it be given in writing over my own signature. And
failure on your part to conform to this notice, absolutely, will justly lay you
liable for such heavy penalties as the Courts of Allegheny County may
prescribe.
Sorrowfully yours, etc. C. T. RUSSELL.
Other letters of similar import are parts of the
evidence, but the above will suffice as fair samples of the others.
JUDGE'S CHARGE--JURY'S VERDICT
The judge in the case as well as the auditors in
court, attorneys, etc., perceived clearly that Mrs. Russell's charges were
trumped up, that she had suffered no indignities at my hands; and the charge of
the judge was about as strong as it could have been made in my favor.
The jury was out about two hours and returned
with a verdict granting the divorce--much to the astonishment of all concerned.
In explanation of the verdict some of the jurors said, "We concluded that
there would be no hope for reconciliation, and that we would be doing a
kindness to both parties to decide in favor of a divorce."
My attorney has made a motion before the Court
that the jury's verdict be set aside as being opposed to the law and to the
evidence in this case. The court I am told may not reach a decision in the
matter for months; even then we all know a judge dislikes to so arbitrarily
deal with a jury's verdict, although the law gives him a right to do so in such
a case. I am not unwilling that my wife should have a divorce, but opposed it
because her plea was a false and slanderous one.
"THE CUP WHICH MY FATHER HATH
POURED,
SHALL I NOT DRINK IT?"
Whatever the Court may decide, however
untruthful, malicious, and paltry the evidence, the accusations have been
scattered broadcast through the land, the public know the untruth, and the
great majority will not know the truth in the present life. My conclusion is
that these things could not have happened: that
so far as the Lord's consecrated ones are concerned not a hair of their heads
can fall without divine notice and power to prevent. Hence, it seems quite
evident that for some reason it pleased the Lord to wound me and put me to
shame. My principal grief is on account of my friends; and yet we sorrow not as
others who have no hope. "We know that all things are working together for
good to them that love God--to the called ones according to his purpose."
How this bitter experience will work for good we
may not clearly see, but we can firmly trust. Perhaps it is intended as a part
of the shaking and sifting which is to separate everything that is shakable
from that which cannot be shaken. (Heb. 12:26-28.)
The unshaken ones undoubtedly will be drawn nearer to each other. We have every
confidence that though Satan desired to sift us as wheat and to discourage us
and to discredit us as the representative of the Lord, he shall not succeed
beyond what the Lord sees would be to his own glory or for our profit. As the
Master prayed for Peter we may be sure that all who are truly his have his
sympathy and backing. From numerous letters received I am sure that I have the
prayers of the Lord's dear flock, and I assure you all that my prayers ascend
for you and that I fully realize that it is your hour of trial also. May the
Church come forth from the furnace brighter and stronger and purer every way.
Respecting the influence of this matter upon the
world: it is hard to tell just what it may be. I have heard from many,
previously somewhat opposed or non-committal, whose indignation has been
aroused on my behalf, as they see in the testimony that my treatment of my wife
was most considerate under adverse conditions, even according to her own
testimony, when the facts were explained. Some of these have been brought into
closer sympathy with the Truth. However, as respects the mass of the world, we
know that they love not the light, and long for any excuse for opposing it, and
quite likely therefore a general effect may be the arousing of[R3817 : page 225] a
greater opposition than before on the part of some who will strive to use the
malicious statements and false charges of this case as though they were
true--thereby to crucify the Truth and all who stand firmly by it. Believing,
as we do, that the Harvest work must come to a close now within a few years, we
recognize that some experiences will be permitted to gradually narrow down and
finally end the opportunities for service of the Lord and the proclamation of
the Gospel call of the present time. We are expecting of course to suffer
somehow. We have pledged ourselves to the Lord to be faithful unto death. It is
not for us to determine in what our trials shall consist, nor how they shall
come, nor through whom. The Lord's grace is sufficient for us. His promise is,
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," even though he assures
that in this Harvest time the Adversary would deceive, stumble, if it were
possible, the "very elect," but it will not be possible, because "Greater
is he who is on our part than all that be against us."
We cannot undertake to publish all of your many
precious letters, in which sympathy and confidence have been so liberally
expressed, but we are preserving them all and can here give you a little taste.
We have heard from many others less directly--as congregations or [R3818 : page 225] through
the Pilgrim brethren or through a few words injected into business
correspondence. We have not had time to answer these precious letters as they
should have been acknowledged. Please accept this statement as my personal
reply to your communications, with my love and best wishes.
Your Brother and Servant in the Lord,
C. T. RUSSELL.
----------
SAMPLES OF INTERESTING LETTERS
DEAR BROTHER:--
At a special meeting of the Church at Scranton a
letter was read informing us that the jury has granted Mrs. Russell a verdict
of divorce, contrary to the instructions of the presiding Judge. Newspaper
clippings were also read showing that one of the charges against our dear
Brother was that of loose morals as regards the weaker sex. With these
clippings we had read to us a statement written by Mrs. Russell, printed in the
WATCH TOWER of June 11, 1894,
in which she unsparingly condemned similar charges made
by another defamer at that time. Her defense of her husband at that time, made
after a dozen years of celibate wifehood, was surely not without mental, moral
and physical proof of his absolute supremacy to any weakness of the kind
mentioned.
A letter was also read, signed by Mrs. Russell,
addressed to the Church at Allegheny, Sept. 12, 1897, withdrawing all claims of
grievances, real or imaginary, then existing between herself and husband, and
stating she would never again say an unkind thing against him. With this was
also read a letter over her signature, dated six days later, addressed to a
sister in this city in which she flatly contradicted both of these statements,
and showed that her promises of six days previous were quite false.
At our meeting we were informed that Mrs.
Russell at about this time stated verbally to this same sister that the only
real grievance she had against Brother Russell was that he would not permit her
to use the columns of the WATCH TOWER as she desired, and that if he would just
give in on this one point all their differences could be settled immediately.
We are neither surprised nor grieved at the
success of this latest and most successful effort to blacken the good name of
our beloved Brother Russell. We remember that for six thousand years demons and
men have not ceased to misrepresent the character of our loving Father in
heaven and that their treatment of him has been characteristic of that of many
of his most honored servants. We remember how Miriam and Aaron slandered Moses,
the conspiracies of Sanballat against Nehemiah, the false charges of Haman
against Mordecai, the unfounded accusations of Job's friends against him, and
the distress of David when he said, "I was a reproach among all mine
enemies, but especially among my neighbors."
We remember the misrepresentations which led to
the imprisonment of Jeremiah, the conspiracy against Daniel, the false
accusations which led to the death of Paul and the false testimony which led to
the crucifixion of our Lord as a malefactor, in spite of the fact that the
presiding Judge found no fault in him. We have not forgotten the word of our
Lord, that "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how
much more shall they call them of his household;" nor his further message,
"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
Understanding, as we do, that Mrs. Russell's
only real grievance against Brother Russell was that he would not surrender the
WATCH TOWER to her control, and blessed as we have been by the ministrations of
our dear Brother during the eight years in which Mrs. Russell has had nothing
to do with the work, we rejoice with him that he is counted worthy to suffer as
he now does. We are sure that this suffering is for Christ's sake, and remind
our dear Brother that "If when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God; for even hereunto were ye called."
Again we remind him, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are
ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." And again,
"Our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the
sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation."
We rejoice in our present privilege of becoming
companions of our dear Brother just now, "whilst he is made a gazingstock
both by reproaches and afflictions," and our only hope is that we, like
him, shall be so faithful to our Lord in this present time as to receive our
full share of the persecutions which he has promised, that in a little while
we, with him and all the faithful overcomers, may rejoice in the light of the
Lord's presence forever.
Yours faithfully,
THE CHURCH AT SCRANTON, PA.
----------
TO OUR BELOVED PASTOR:--
Realizing that you were passing through trials
severe, being publicly and falsely traduced, and learning through the press
that a verdict in favor of Mrs. Russell had been rendered, though the presiding
Judge in charging the jury indicated that her allegations were not established
by the evidence, the Church at St. Paul last evening voted unanimously that an
expression of sympathy and love be sent you. We realize that the nature of your
ordeal is what is to be expected, that false charges, false accusations will be
laid at your door. Was it not so with the great Head of the Church? And has he
not warned us that as he was so are we in [R3818
: page 226]the world. On the other hand we realize that "Greater is he
that is for us than all that are against us." Dear brother, he will not
give you one trial too many. He is too loving to cause you a single unnecessary
pain. Again it is demonstrated that your loving words of caution are timely,
that at this season of the year our great Adversary is specially active in
heaping trials in various ways on those who are endeavoring to walk in the
footsteps of the Master.
You have our prayers, dear brother, that you may
rise above these afflictions a yet brighter vessel, "meet for the Master's
use." May he strengthen you through every experience and be your wisdom in
every action.
With fervent Christian love,
ST. PAUL (MINN.) CHURCH.
----------
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
As I was going over one of the morning papers I
saw an article respecting the long-anticipated attempt to put you in a wrong
light before the world. My heart made quick response in a petition to the
throne of grace that the heavenly Father would direct your cause and your
course. I cannot fully realize what a trial this must be to you, but when I
think how I should feel if in a similar position, it enables me to measurably
gauge the intensity of your present bitter experiences.
It seems natural to find people questioning the
correctness of your interpretations, but when it comes to such a slandering of
your character and motives there seems something so diabolical about it that my
heart is almost overwhelmed. You have my prayers and my sympathy and my love
and co-operation in this trying time.
But since the good Lord allowed this case to be
put off so long he evidently intended the brethren should have time to be
strengthened to bear it; and by allowing Brother Weber to die meanwhile and
Brother Hay to be confined to hospital, you might be deprived of your witnesses
and your case thus make as poor a showing as possible before the world, and so
those who have accepted the Truth would be the more thoroughly tested. I
believe the Lord is seeking such as would unwaveringly cling to the Truth even
though the worst possible reproach might be cast upon it, and the greatest
possible persecution brought to bear upon its advocates. This may be the Lord's
method of shaking out some who are unworthy the Truth; so be patient, dear
Brother. Naught can harm his cause, and in a few more years the whole world
will understand you aright and your undeserved shame and dishonor will be
turned into joy. With Christian love,
Your brother and servant in the narrow way,
B. H. BARTON,--Pilgrim.
----------
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
May the dear Lord "comfort thee with the
comfort wherewith thou hast comforted us" so often. And while the
sentiment expressed in both the text and comment in "Heavenly Manna"
for February 16 seems to be your present experience, nevertheless I feel sure
the Father's loving care is over you now; and though we trust it is not the due
time for Zech. 13:7to
be fulfilled, yet, "Thy will be done."
Be assured, dear brother, of our prayers in your
behalf. In a way perhaps obscure to some not versed in the Truth, but quite
clear to the latter, your trial seems similar to that of our Head. And the
Father is "able to make all grace abound" toward his under-shepherd.
See 91st
Psalm.
God bless you and keep you even unto the end of
earth's stormy journey, and grant you and us all an abundant entrance into his
heavenly Kingdom is the [R3819
: page 226] earnest
prayer of your humble sister in the Beloved,
MRS. G. B.,--New York.
----------
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
We are in receipt of a copy of the Pittsburg Sun, giving
an account of the divorce proceedings entered by Mrs. M. F. Russell, and we
wish to assure you of our continued confidence and love. The charges, to our
minds, were so ridiculous that they did not have much effect upon us, but no
doubt some of the enemies of the Truth will be glad to have them to use against
you and the Truth you so loyally uphold.
We are aware, dear brother, that you have long
been the target of Satan's fiery darts, and that he will resort to means, fair
or foul, to injure your good name. How glad we are of the assurance that
"no weapon formed against you shall prosper," and that "he that
is for you is greater than all they that are against you." Whatever
suffering you may endure as a consequence of this experience is shared by the
fellow-members of the same Body: "If one member suffers all suffer,"
and we are glad it is so, for we all share with you the joys of the Truth and
its service.
Be assured, dear Brother, that we continually
remember you at the throne of heavenly grace, and not you only, but all the
members of the one Body, for we consider this a test for the whole Church in
the flesh. May the all-conquering power of the Lord rest upon you, giving you
grace and strength to sustain you in this hour of special trial, and may you
learn the lessons he wishes you to learn in connection with the matter.
Assuring you again of our continued confidence
and love, we remain,
Yours in the path of loyalty and hope of
royalty,
E. R., A. M. AND FAMILIES,--Texas.
----------
RESOLUTIONS OF THE ALLEGHENY
CONGREGATION
AND OTHERS
At the close of the regular meeting of the Bible
House Congregation, held in Carnegie Music Hall, Allegheny, on Sunday, May 6,
1906, the Boards of Elders and Deacons proceeded to the platform and requested
of Pastor Russell the privilege of addressing the congregation and conducting
the closing part of the service. They were accompanied by representatives of fourteen
different congregations from far and near throughout the country, all of whom
had come specially for the purpose of participating in the proceedings which
were to follow. Brother Russell was wholly taken by surprise, but yielded to
the request, backed, as it was, by the presence of forty-five representative
brethren.
The Boards of Elders and Deacons then presented
to the congregation a set of resolutions which they had previously unanimously
adopted and signed, and asked the friends present to express their sentiments
on the subject, either endorsing or disapproving the action of the Boards.
The entire congregation of 400 arose in
unanimous acceptance and unqualified approval of the resolutions. Following
this, the visiting representatives were introduced, and briefly stated, on
behalf of their home congregations, that similar resolutions had been adopted,
unanimously endorsing and loyally supporting Pastor Russell. These brethren
represented the churches of New York, N.Y.; Dallas, Tex.; Washington, D.C.;
Columbus, O.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Toledo, O.; Wheeling, W.Va.; [R3819 : page 227] Washington,
Pa.; Butler, Pa.; New Brighton, Pa.; and other places. Telegrams and letters
were read from Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, Ky.; Cumberland,
Md.; St. Paul, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Scranton, Pa.; Canton,
O.; Youngstown, O.; Dayton, O.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Altoona, Pa.; Brantford,
Canada; Hamilton, Canada; Johnstown, Pa.; New Albany, Ind.; Pottsville, Pa., and
other places, endorsing the Allegheny resolutions and advising that similar
resolutions had been adopted in those places. The text of the resolutions
adopted by the Allegheny Church follows:
The Boards of Elders and Deacons of the Bible
House congregation desire to place on record the sentiments they entertain in
regard to the reflections upon the character and reputation of their beloved
pastor, Charles T. Russell, which have within the past two weeks appeared
before the public through the trial of the suit brought against him for
divorce.
LONG BEFORE THE PUBLIC
Brother Russell has been before the public as a
preacher and teacher for the past 38 years, and as such has been subject to
public criticism continually, without the slightest word being uttered respecting
his character up to the present time. We have been ministered to by him, some
of us for 20 years, and others for less periods, down to the last year, and
have had many opportunities, both through our personal contact with him and
through the study of the literature of which he is the author, under God, as we
believe, to form an estimate of his character and to determine with far more
accuracy than the general public, which receives its information through
imperfect newspaper reports and biased court testimony, how much truth lies in
the accusations which were recently given publicity. We recognize that very
unkind and evil coloring has been given to some of our pastor's private affairs
which has no foundation in the facts as we know them, from the intimate
acquaintance with him and his affairs which we possess.
Upon consideration of all the circumstances
herein recited we hereby unite in a public declaration of our continued
confidence in and esteem for our beloved pastor and brother, Charles T. Russell,
recognizing him as the servant of the Lord, whose providence has placed him in
the position he has occupied for so many years, and still occupies, for the
dissemination of His Truth and the help of His people in the clearer
understanding of His holy Word. We highly appreciate the lofty sentiments which
withheld our pastor from going into details in public explanation of matters
which were dilated upon in the recent action, which would have vindicated his
course had he chosen to return railing for railing and evil for evil against
those who opposed him. At the same time we recognized with great pleasure the
justice displayed by the presiding Judge in the charge delivered to the jury,
which, if heeded, would have had the effect of producing a verdict exactly the
reverse of that which was rendered, and which would have cleared our pastor of
all the aspersions brought against him.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
While knowing the steadfastness and continued
faithfulness of our beloved pastor, we desire to encourage him by reminding him
again of the grace of our Lord sufficient to sustain and refresh him in the
entire matter, and to bring the chastening and refining effects out of the
ordeal which undoubtedly Divine Providence intended when permitting that he
should be subjected to the experience. We remember the assurance of the
Scriptures that "these light afflictions which endure but for a moment
work out a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of glory, while we look not
at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen, for the
things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are
eternal." While for the flesh it is extremely difficult to fulfil the
Apostle James' injunction, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers
trials, knowing that the trial of your faith worketh patience," we are
assured that the Lord will provide grace to carry out that ideal sentiment and
to display it more and more fully according as the need arises.
We remind our beloved brother further that, as
the Apostle Peter suggests, "Christ hath left us an example that we should
follow in His steps," and that the way which He has marked out for us is
one of humiliation, suffering, trial, until the Pilgrimage of this life is
finished and we are permitted to enter into the "rest that remaineth for
the people of God." Of our Lord it was said, "It pleased the Lord to
bruise Him; He hath put Him to shame;" and the Master Himself declared,
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as His Master, and the servant
as His Lord; if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much
more shall they call them of His household?"
HIS
LOYALTY TO THE TRUTH
The loyalty of our pastor to the truth, and
faithfulness in the interpretation of the Scriptures, have drawn out our love
to him and stimulated in us more and more the love of the Lord, the love of
righteousness, and the love for all who are in harmony with those principles.
We rejoice together in holding up the hands of him who has thus brought to us
spiritual refreshment, and in encouraging him to press on in the fulfilment of
the work which the Lord has committed to his hand, that he be not moved by the
various afflictions and fiery darts of the Adversary which may be directed
against him, but that [R3820 : page 227] having
complete confidence in the Lord's ability to perfect the interests of His own
cause and His own people he may abide faithful to the Lord in all things to the
end.
Dated this 5th day of May, A.D. 1906.
JOSEPH VERO. WM. BROSE.
E. F. ABBOTT. OTTO MENG.
R. H. BRICKER. CHARLES SPRINGER.
GEO. C. GARMAN. A. E. BURGESS.
BENJ. ROGERS. J. L. KIRKLAND.
J. D. WRIGHT. F. L. SCHEERER.
W. E. VAN AMBURGH. J. HUTCHINSON.
A. E. WILLIAMSON. R. H. HIRSH.
F. W. WILLIAMSON. J. H. GIESEY.
J. A. BOHNET. WM. MOORE.
EDWARD MAURER. J. H. BLACKMORE.
The two elders whose names do not appear are
those of Bro. M. L. Herr, absent on Pilgrim trip, and Bro. Wm. M. Wright,
absent "with the Lord."
W.T. R-3808a : page 211 - 1906r