Charles Taze Russell

Childhood

He is the second wire of Joseph L. Russell and Anne Eliza Birney, both of irlando-Scottish stock. The father held a store of articles of clothes industry in Allegheny (suburb of Pittsburgh) and its business thrived during the youth of Russell, from where creations of Succursale S.

The mother of the young Charles, Presbytérien, does not seem to have transmitted to her son a deeply religious nature; she ensured her first formation Chrétienne until she dies, Charles being only nine years old. The young man was educated, at the same time with the school and with Précepteur S, and started to work with the store of his father at eleven years.

Young person, it expresses a strongly religious spirit. Thus, a night, at two hours of the morning, Joseph Russell would have found his son absorptive in the study of a biblical agreement.

History

1868 : Time when, member of the church congregationalism and the Y.M.C.A. (Christian union of young People), Russell starts to feel his faith to stagger on many doctrines accepted for a long time.
1870 - 1875: At that time, with some friends of Pittsburgh and Allegheny also to the research of the Truth, they form a group which would be as a class where one would not study another thing only the Bible.
Until 1876, they are years of growth for the small group of Students of the Bible, they meet in Allegheny.
As of 1876 - 1877, in collaboration with Nelson Barbour, it announces the imminence of the Return of the Jewish people on his ground.
In 1877, it publishes “ Objet and manner of the Return of our Lord ”.
1878 : Publication of one little book of 164 pages, “ Food for considered Christians ”, published like issue of September 1881 in the Tower of Guard of Sion. 1.400.000 specimens are distributed free.
1879 : Marriage with Maria Frances Ackley (they will not have children).
In July 1879, following a major dissension with Nelson Barbour, it makes appear the first number of “ Zion' S Watch Tower & Herald off Christ' S Presence ”, by explaining this separation there. This newspaper, as of the first day, was presented in the form of supporting particularly the ransom for all.
In 1881, it publit the “ Figures of the Gate vault ” and with some friends, it founds The Watch Tower and Bible Society .
1886 - 1904: Publication of six volumes of Studies in the Writings :

the Divine Plan of the Old ones;
Time is Proche;
That Your Reign comes;
the Battle of Harmaguédon;
Reconciliation between God and the man;
News-Creation.

1890 : Publication of the book “ the Re-establishment of Israel ”.

Israel

It is interested in the Jewish hopes.

Very early, Pasteur Russell discovers that hundreds of texts referring to the promises made with the Jews were not achieved yet, and it ardently was interested in the history of the Jews, passed, present and future - but especially with their future . In 1892, it undertakes a voyage in the Holy Land; little then distinguished in the small Jewish colony the embryo simultaneous return from the Jews in the Promised land. But, since, of great changes were made towards the introduction of a policy and a government Jews.

A rectification necessary

Pasteur Russell is not, strictly speaking, the founder of the “Organization of the Témoins of Jéhovah”. This one adopted this name in 1931, whereas Pasteur Russell died in 1916.

It is in 1917 that Rutherford judge following an internal conflict, revokes four of the seven directors who are opposite for him. JF Rutherford, only candidate, had been elected before with the presidency of the company Watch Tower in January 1917, the voters not having the right to vote for a not-candidate as it was of front use, it is confirmed in this task with the election of January 1918, where only the voters authorized by the executive team of then were authorized to take share by the vote. Gradually, Rutherford gives up the use of the Études in the Writings . Imitated into that by its successors, it changes several beliefs, lesson and methods of Russell.

Death

October 16th 1916, Russell, then sick, and its secretary Menta Sturgeon started their last transnational round of speech in the west and the south-west of the the United States. After halts in the Michigan, the Illinois, the Kansas, the Texas and the California, Russell died on October 31st 1916 in a train with Pampa with the Texas, at the 64 years age. Its announcement of death appeared in the English edition of the Tower of Guard of November 15th 1916.

The funeral ceremony was celebrated with the Temple of New York like in Carnegie Hall of Pittsburgh. Its tomb, with Allegheny was a concession of the members of the Béthel. A biography succinte of Russell as its will were published in the Tower of Guard of December 1st 1916 (English) and May 1917 (French), and in the first volume of the Études in the Writings . Several newspapers reported its funerals.

During the ten following years, the Pasteur continued to be looked by its faithful as being the “messenger of Laodicée” and the “faithful and advised slave”.

Polemic

Among criticisms addressed to Russell, association information-sects in particular reproached him for having been freemason.

Note

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