Most JWs can't even go back as far as 1975... and most who came into the 'truth' in the last 20 years or so probably don't have any idea what 1919 is about either. That is truly a lamentable situation.
This post is about that... If you think it is too far in the past to be of importance then i suggest you do read this:1919 is stated as the year Jesus selected The International Bible Students under J.F. Rutherford as his sole chosen vessel. That is a huge claim to make and must be able to withstand all questioning. The burden of proof is with the modern day Jehovah's Witnesses. Can it stand up to scrutiny?
This is a big claim that in 1919, Jesus had inspected all the religions of Christendom and found the 'international bible students' to be the only ones to be truly his followers and bestowed upon them the term 'Faithful and discreet slave'.
Below are a few references from watchtower magazines to illustrate the teaching. Please go look up the articles...for the sake of brevity i will only post the sections that are strictly pertanent. Naturaly they are talking about themselves as the 'faithful slave'.
Watchtower of 1/15 2008;
"When Christ inspected the “slave” in 1918, he found those anointed ones on earth to be faithful in providing spiritual “food at the proper time.” Hence, Jesus, the Master, was pleased thereafter to appoint them “over all his belongings.”
Watchtower of 3/1 2004:
A “Slave” Who Is Both Faithful and Discreet
“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics?”— Since Jesus is now in heaven, how has he arranged for us here on earth to receive our spiritual food supply?
3
“Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Yes, there would be a “slave” who had been assigned to provide spiritual food, a “slave” who would be both faithful and discreet.
6 The only reasonable conclusion, then, is that Jesus was referring to a group of Christians as “the faithful and discreet slave.” Can there be such a thing as a composite slave?
The “Slave” 19 Centuries Later
16 What about today? When Jesus’ presence began in 1914, did he find a group of anointed Christians who were faithfully dispensing food at the proper time? He certainly did. This group could be clearly identified because of the fine fruitage that it was producing. (Matthew 7:20) History since then has proved this identification to be correct.
18 Yes, when the Master arrived, he found his faithful slave conscientiously feeding the domestics as well as preaching the good news. Greater responsibilities now awaited that slave. Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:47) Jesus did this in 1919, after the slave had passed through a period of testing. Why, though, did “the faithful and discreet slave” receive greater responsibilities? Because the Master had received an increase in his belongings. Jesus was given the kingship in 1914.
watchtower 10/1 2005
16 Revelation chapter 14 goes on to describe further events that are to take place in the hour of judgment. Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, is mentioned first: “Another, a second angel, followed, saying: ‘She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!’” (Revelation 14:8) Yes, from God’s viewpoint, Babylon the Great has already fallen. In 1919, Jehovah’s anointed servants were set free from the bondage of Babylonish doctrines and practices, which have dominated peoples and nations for millenniums. (Revelation 17:1, 15) They could henceforth devote themselves to promoting true worship. Global preaching of the good news of God’s Kingdom has taken place since then.—Matthew 24:14
Revelation book of 1988:
Chapter 12 para 18,19:
In 1919 Jesus fulfilled his promise and recognized the small band of genuine anointed Christians as his “faithful and discreet slave.” ....... Jehovah has strengthened his servants for this privilege, boosting their little power into dynamic energy sufficient for a gigantic global witness.—Isaiah 22:20, 22; 40:29.....
19 From 1919 onward the anointed remnant, following Jesus’ example, launched into a vigorous campaign of declaring abroad the good news of the Kingdom.
Chapter 25 para 25:
24 What a shock for those persecutors! The corpses of the two witnesses were suddenly alive and active again. It was a bitter pill for those clergymen to swallow, the more so since the Christian ministers whom they had schemed to put in prison were free again, later to be fully exonerated. The shock must have been even greater when, in September 1919, the Bible Students held a convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. Here J. F. Rutherford, recently released from prison, stirred conventioners with his talk “Announcing the Kingdom,” based on Revelation 15:2 and Isaiah 52:7. Those of the John class began once again to “prophesy,” or preach publicly. They advanced from strength to strength, fearlessly exposing Christendom’s hypocrisy.
25 Christendom tried again and again to repeat her triumph of 1918. She resorted to mob action, legal maneuvering, imprisonment, even executions—all to no avail! After 1919 the spiritual domain of the two witnesses was out of her reach. In that year Jehovah had said to them: “Come on up here,” and they had ascended to an elevated spiritual state where their enemies could see them but could not touch them.
3 You may ask, ‘Since religion still exercises great influence in the earth, why does the angel announce that Babylon the Great has fallen?’ Well, what resulted after 539 B.C.E. when ancient Babylon fell? Why, Israel was freed to return to its homeland and restore true worship there! So the restoration of spiritual Israel in 1919 to a radiant spiritual prosperity, which continues and expands to this day, stands as evidence that Babylon the Great fell in that year.
OK. Enough to show the claim of being the 'faithful and discreet slave' and that the proof is in the preaching, the spreading of the good news of Christ, the abandoning of 'Babylonish teachings'. And that this occured when Jesus made inspection from 1914 and ending in 1919.
So. it is very clear that Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as The sole channel of God. Selected in 1919 by Jesus. The 'evidence' is the monumental preaching work they have accomplished and the fact that the other religions can no longer silence them.
The real 1919
What though was the world of 1919 like? It is very easy to gloss over history with statements in publications of modern times. When Jesus inspected the churches of christendom in 1919 looking for his 'faithful and discreet slave, what did he find? How did he spot the international bible students out of all the others? What was the 'fine fruitage that was being produced'?
Going on the old saying, 'self praise is no recomendation' i will discount the jailing and release from prison of Rutherford as a prophetic fullfilment and as a proof that this event somehow was a sign of Jesus' blessing. This is because other religions also have significant events concerning their leaders that deal with 1914 and 1919 too. Lets stick to the cold hard facts of history.
The preaching work is pretty obvious as the fruitage that is talked about here, and the 'feeding', or dissemination of bible truths to as many as possible.
Lets then do some comparisons then, as there were also other people doing similar things and see what makes the bible students stand out enough for Jesus to notice them above the rest.
Who should we look at? What other groups can we consider even came close? Let the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society tell us themselves...
Proclaimers book chpt 1:
Influence of Others
Russell referred quite openly to the assistance in Bible study he had received from others. Not only did he acknowledge his indebtedness to Second Adventist Jonas Wendell but he also spoke with affection about two other individuals who had aided him in Bible study. Russell said of these two men: “The study of the Word of God with these dear brethren led, step by step, into greener pastures.” One, George W. Stetson, was an earnest student of the Bible and pastor of the Advent Christian Church in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
The other, George Storrs, was publisher of the magazine Bible Examiner, in Brooklyn, New York. Storrs, who was born on December 13, 1796, was initially stimulated to examine what the Bible says about the condition of the dead as a result of reading something published (though at the time anonymously) by a careful student of the Bible, Henry Grew, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Storrs became a zealous advocate of what was called conditional immortality—the teaching that the soul is mortal and that immortality is a gift to be attained by faithful Christians. He also reasoned that since the wicked do not have immortality, there is no eternal torment. Storrs traveled extensively, lecturing on the subject of no immortality for the wicked. Among his published works was the Six Sermons, which eventually attained a distribution of 200,000 copies. Without a doubt, Storrs’ strong Bible-based views on the mortality of the soul as well as the atonement and restitution (restoration of what was lost due to Adamic sin; Acts 3:21) had a strong, positive influence on young Charles T. Russell. [note: Storrs also was an Adventist]
Yet, another man who had a profound effect on Russell’s life also caused his loyalty to Scriptural truth to be put to the test.
Time Prophecies and the Presence of the Lord
One morning in January 1876, 23-year-old Russell received a copy of a religious periodical called Herald of the Morning. From the picture on the cover, he could see that it was identified with Adventism. The editor, Nelson H. Barbour, of Rochester, New York, believed that the object of Christ’s return was not to destroy the families of the earth but to bless them and that his coming would be not in the flesh but as a spirit. Why, this was in agreement with what Russell and his associates in Allegheny had believed for some time! Curiously, though, Barbour believed from Biblical time-prophecies that Christ was already present (invisibly) and that the harvest work of gathering “the wheat” (true Christians making up the Kingdom class) was already due.—Matt., chap. 13.
Russell had shied away from Biblical time prophecies. Now, however, he wondered: “Could it be that the time prophecies which I had so long despised, because of their misuse by Adventists, were really meant to indicate when the Lord would be invisibly present to set up his Kingdom?” With his insatiable thirst for Scriptural truth, Russell had to learn more. So he arranged to meet with Barbour in Philadelphia. This meeting confirmed their agreement on a number of Bible teachings and provided an opportunity for them to exchange views. “When we first met,” Russell later stated, “he had much to learn from me on the fulness of restitution based upon the sufficiency of the ransom given for all, as I had much to learn from him concerning time.” Barbour succeeded in convincing Russell that Christ’s invisible presence had begun in 1874.
In the August 1878 issue of Herald of the Morning, there appeared an article by Barbour that denied the substitutionary value of Christ’s death. Russell, who was nearly 30 years younger than Barbour, could see that this was, in fact, denying the essential part of the ransom doctrine. So in the very next issue (September 1878), Russell, in an article entitled “The Atonement,” upheld the ransom and contradicted Barbour’s statements. The controversy continued in the pages of the journal for the next few months. Finally, Russell decided to withdraw from fellowship with Mr. Barbour and discontinued further financial support to the Herald.
C. T. Russell, though, felt that to withdraw from the Herald was not enough; the ransom doctrine must be defended and Christ’s presence must be proclaimed. Hence, in July 1879, Russell began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Russell was the editor and publisher, with five others originally listed as contributors to its columns. The first issue had a printing of 6,000 copies. By 1914 the printing of each issue was about 50,000 copies.
It is therefore no secret that the greatest influences on Russell were in fact all Adventists. In fact the split from partnership with Adventist Barbour was only on one doctrine. They were in agreement obviously on everything else. After the split, he started his own magazine. It is therefore a logical follow-on that if he and Barbour had not parted, the two of them would have grown an Adventist style religion.
Thus, it is most logical that the only real contenders for comparison is the Adventist faiths up to 1919. How different were they that Jesus would pick one over the other?
Proclaimers chpt 22
The actual number who were then sharing in that work, however, was small. Some who had fearfully held back during 1918 became active again, and a few more joined their ranks. But the records that are available show that in 1919 there were only some 5,700 who were actively witnessing, in 43 lands.
The criteria must be what the Jehovah's Witnesses use as proofs. Again, as it was between 1914 and 1919.
Proof 1) The dispensing (feeding) of Bible truths to multitudes: Done by publication and meetings.
Jehovahs Witnesess;
Zions Watchtower and herald of Christs presence published from 1879. (has had a few name changes)
The Golden age published from 1919. (Became Consolation, and now called Awake!
Russells sermons were published in many newspapers.
Regular meetings of 'companies' to discuss the teachings of the International Bible Students as they were then called.
Adventist;
Barbours "herald of the morning".
The Adventist Review was founded by James and Ellen White in July 1849 as The Present Truth, but the name was changed to The Advent Review and then Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (with variations) after being combined with the Sabbath Herald publication. The name was changed to Adventist Review in 1978. Throughout its history it has been commonly referred to as the Review.
Many Adventists were prolific in writing pamphlets as well.
Meetings to discuss bible truths. Indeed this was how C.T.Russell's interest was re-kindled.
Proof 2) Growth: Significant increase in numbers
Jehovahs Witnesses:
Proclaimers chpt 22:
The actual number who were then sharing in that work, however, was small. Some who had fearfully held back during 1918 became active again, and a few more joined their ranks. But the records that are available show that in 1919 there were only some 5,700 who were actively witnessing, in 43 lands.
Adventist:
Under White's guidance the denomination in the 1870s turned to missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 1880; rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members in 1901. By this time operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses.
Proof 3) Preaching: Reaching out to non believers and other regligions.
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Brother Rutherford was inclined, not to change the direction of the organization, but to continue in the forward-moving pattern established by Russell. Traveling representatives of the Society (known as pilgrims) were increased from 69 to 93. Distribution of the Society’s free tracts was accelerated on occasional Sundays in front of the churches and regularly in the house-to-house ministry.
The “pastoral work,” which had been started prior to Russell’s death, was now stepped up. This was a follow-up work, similar to the return-visit activity now carried on by Jehovah’s Witnesses. To further revitalize the preaching work, the Society’s new president expanded the colporteur work. Colporteurs (forerunners of today’s pioneers) were increased from 372 to 461. (proclaimers book 1993)
This work of course, was built on the 'pattern' left by Russell. It included international and national preaching tours, supporting missionary work and establishing branches in other countries.
Adventist:
In this current issue we spotlight the pulpit ministry of the pioneers of our faith. The intent is to show how our Seventh-day Adventist pioneers sought every opportunity at the pulpit to present our distinctive message and to prepare a people for the Lord. Whether it was at a worship service, funeral service, church dedication, in the territories of unbelievers, in homes, etc., the early pioneers found ways to proclaim the unvarnished Word.
Ellen G. White (1827–1915) In addition to being a prolific writer, E.G. White was also known for her public speaking, speaking to crowds of varying sizes—the largest on one occasion being about 20,000 people.
Roswell F. Cottrell (1814–1892) . His discourse, “Sermon Preached to the Seneca Indians” is believed to be the earliest Sabbathkeeping Adventist sermon that has survived. Published in the May 14, 1857, issue of the Review and Herald, the sermon is also believed to the first attempt by a Sabbathkeeping Adventist to share his faith with members of any American Indian tribe.
John N. Andrews (1829–1883) became the denomination’s first official overseas missionary in 1874. Andrews preached his sermon on Sunday afternoon, April 20, 1879, to an overflow crowd of about 5,000 people during the dedication of the “Dime” Tabernacle in Battle Creek, Michigan. He took his text from the mottoes on the windows of the church.
Stephen N. Haskell (1833–1922) was an evangelist and administrator. He pioneered many missionary activities for the church. For example, in 1885 he led the group that was sent to open denominational work in Australia and New Zealand. In 1887, with three Bible instructors he began SDA work in London, England. He made a world tour on behalf of missionary work in 1889–1890, visiting western Europe, southern Africa, India, China, Japan, and Australia. Haskell was also responsible for the organization of the first SDA church of African-Americans in New York City (1902).
Alonzo T. Jones (1850–1923) In 1888, these two men stirred the General Conference session in Minneapolis with their preaching on righteousness by faith. For several years thereafter, they preached on that subject from coast to coast. Ellen White accompanied them on many occasions. (copyright adventist affirm on line magazine)
Proof 4) Free of Babylonish teachings: The abandoning of false teachings.
Jehovah's witnesses:
Abandoned hellfire, trinity, immortal soul, once saved always saved etc. 're-discovered' truths like ressurection, atonement, ransom sacrifice, the remnant, christs return etc.
Adventists:
Also had abandoned hellfire, trinity, immortal soul, once saved always saved etc. 're-discovered' truths like ressurection, atonement, ransom sacrifice, the remnant, christs return etc .
What does the record show?
It shows that up to 1919, including the special years of christ's inspection (1914 to 1919) both groups were essentially the same!
BOTH GROUPS were publishing bible based magazines, books and tracts. BOTH GROUPS were teaching others in new found 'truths' in small and large groups. BOTH GROUPS were active in the preaching of the Gospel, Missionary work, travelling preaching tours and converting from other religions of 'Christendom'. BOTH GROUPS had abandoned many of the core 'false' teachings of mainstream Catholic and protestant religions. BOTH GROUPS were now teaching loudly the same 'new found' truths they felt were long hidden... and... BOTH GROUPS had a major upheaval in those years, the IBSA lost Russell in 1916 and felt tested by Rutherfords imprisionment and release in 1919, the SDA lost White in 1915 and had a church crises in 1919!
Now, here-in is a delema for the Jehovah's Witnesses of today:
proclaimers book 1993 chpt 5:
C. T. Russell used the Watch Tower and other publications to uphold Bible truths and to refute false religious teachings and human philosophies that contradicted the Bible. He did not, however, claim to discover new truths.
From the latter part of the 18th century, many ministers and Bible scholars had been exposing the false teachings of the immortality of the soul and eternal punishment for the wicked. This exposé had been thoroughly reported in the book Bible Vs. Tradition, by Aaron Ellis, originally published in England and then in the United States in 1853 by George Storrs. But no one at that time did more than C. T. Russell and his associates to make this truth known.
Who says so? Says that no-one did more than Russell? Why, the Jehovah's Witnesses naturally! (And the saying 'self praise is no recomendation' springs to mind here.) BUT, it is more important to let the facts of history tell the story, not revisionist history. The above information plainly tells the story. Russell and the Bible Students did no more than the others, in fact they did considerably LESS.
Thus the record shows that in reality, there was no way Jesus could have picked them above the others of the time.
Now i will discuss some other theological and delemas that their unprovable claim raises.
The Witnesses have from time to time published their 'history' in an attempt to show that they have never been perfect and are on path of continued enlightenment. Doing so however also raises questions and reasonings that quite frankly they would rather go away. An example of this is below from the 1955 watchtower. Please read it and then my comments.
Watchtower 1 /1 1955:
Courageously and vigorously Jehovah’s surviving remnant of anointed witnesses took hold of the task of restoring true worship, genuine Christianity, which had been overshadowed by Babylonish false religious thinking from the time the last of Jesus’ apostles died, about A.D. 100. The collective system of Christendom’s apostate clergy, as the “man of lawlessness,” had long kept the peoples in gross darkness. Though Jehovah’s people from the 1870’s to 1918 had gradually changed over much of their basic religious thinking from the corrupt teachings of the Babylonish religion of apostate nominal churches, yet to a great degree they still were held in restraint by tainted bonds of false conceptions and practices inherited from the pagan traditions adopted by Christendom. For example, up to and including their 1918 troubles these witnesses of the Most High God still trusted excessively in so-called “character development,” indulged in considerable creature worship, accepted earthly political governments as the “superior authorities” ordained of God (Rom. 13:1, NW), and thus were held in fear of man, particularly civil rulers. Also they celebrated some pagan holidays, such as Christmas, they used the symbol of the cross as a sign of Christian devotion, the name of Jehovah they had in the background, and organizationally they continued to practice the democratic style of local congregational government. Generally, everyone did what was considered right in his own eyes. The gathering together of the anointed ones under the Watch Tower Society from many parts of the earth in those days resulted in a loose association of Christians longing for still greater restorations.
In 1919 and thereafter all this began to change for a brilliant, divinely blessed future. The anointed witnesses as a loosely united community came to life again after the almost fatal blow from the Gentile governments in 1914-1918, the facts of which were fully examined in our previous part (8) of this history. As a restored Christian community they immediately confessed their sins of compromising, also their taints of false religion. They repented of their former course, expressed a desire to change their ways and prayed for Jehovah’s forgiveness. Organizationally they remembered their sins, such as compromisingly cutting out pages 247-253 of The Finished Mystery, their seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures, to please would-be censors, The Watch Tower encouraging its readers to set aside May 30, 1918, as a day of prayer and supplication as requested by the American Congress on April 2 and as proclaimed by President Wilson May 11, their tendering of compliments to governments of this world, and their dabbling in nonreligious enterprises. As a body they confessed, “We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.” “Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.” (Ps. 106:6; Isa. 42:24, AS) The stirring Watch Tower articles of August 1 and 15, 1919, entitled “Blessed Are the Fearless,” dispelled the grip of the “fear of man” restraining the faithful remnant and they began to go forth as a forgiven people, a cleansed organization, a new nation freed from the Devil’s old-world organization. They rejoiced that now the brief interval of Jehovah’s displeasure was ended, that his anger was turned away from them, and that their service to him in the future would be acceptable
On the surface this seems very humble, even slightly contrite, acknowledging that although they had done so much they were still tainted with things like Christmas. They point to 1919 as the time of change. This time was of course from when Rutherford and his companions were released from prison in 1919 and began rebuilding the faith. The release from prison is seen as the 'sign' that Jesus had chosen!
So, that means that 1914 to the time of imprisionment in 1918 was the inspection period. It was the things Jesus saw in that time that convinced him to choose the bible students above all others. We have already seen that there actually was no difference in the 4 crucial things offered as 'proofs' by the Witnesses. This brings me to looking further at what the above 1955 article is refering to, the wrong things that they were still bound to.
During the 'inspection time' the International Bible students also:
Predicted that Armageddon would occur in 1914 (Zion's Watch Tower 1894 July 15):
CAN IT BE DELAYED UNTIL 1914?
Seventeen years ago people said, concerning the time features presented in MILLENNIAL
DAWN, They seem reasonable in many respects, but surely no such radical changes could occur
between now and the close of 1914: if you had proved that they would come about in a
century or two, it would seem much more probable.
What changes have since occurred, and what velocity is gained daily! "The old is quickly passing, and the new is coming in." Now, in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain. We see no reason for changing the figures-- nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. We see no reason for changing from our opinion expressed in the View
presented in the WATCH TOWER of Jan. 15, '92. We advise that it be read again. The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914.
President C.T. Russell was basing teachings on the Pyramids of Egypt. A teaching not changed until 1929! (Watchtower 1881).
It has an entrance passage downward to a pit representing the "broad road to destruction." From this a passage starts upward-- representing the Law dispensation. This in due time enlarges and becomes a "grand gallery," seven times as high, still leading upward, representing the Gospel Age. Thirty-three inches from the beginning of the grand gallery R224 : page 6
is a well, representing the death and resurrection of Jesus. From this well there is another downward passage-way which connects with the entrance passage near the pit, and seems to
teach the restoration of all R225 : page 6 men from the "horrible pit" of death, through and on account of Jesus' death.
The "grand gallery" measures 1874 inches long at the top, 1878 inches long at a groove cut in its sides about midway between bottom and top and 1881 inches, at the bottom. (The upper end
wall impends or slants forward). Now notice how aptly these three distinct dates (1874, 1878,1881,) are marked by the pyramid, in ending the grand gallery, and see how ably it supports the teaching of the Bible, viz: that the gospel favors and privileges have been ending during these seven years--and will entirely cease this year. Two other ways, in which the Pyramid corroborates scripture, are these: At the top of the "grand gallery"-- just where it
measures 1874 inches, there is an opening or passage-way which seems to say, something might go out or come in here. For some time we thought this might represent the "change," or
catching away of the church as spiritual beings; but it would have been due in 1874 and no translation took place; then it must mean something else. It seems very plain and clear to us
now that that opening can mean nothing else than what the Prophets have taught us, viz: that there the Bridegroom came a spiritual being. It fits, as all the other parts of that wonderful
structure fit and harmonize with the Word. Secondly, we are claiming that our Lord's presence here, is to be to many in the nominal church "a stone of stumbling," and this too finds its illustration in the Pyramid, for at the upper end of the "Grand gallery" a huge block of stone juts out into the pathway and further progress becomes impossible, unless the traveler climbs with difficulty to its level. So we find it; many are stumbling, and the progress of all seems to depend on their recognizing the present one.
Watchtower jan 1915: SERIES III.,
"Thy Kingdom Come," considers prophecies
which mark events connected with the "Time of the End,"
the glorification of the Church and the establishment of the
Millennial Kingdom; it also contains a chapter on the Great
Pyramid, showing its corroboration of the dates and other
teachings of the Bible: 384 pages, in embossed cloth, 35c. (1s.
6d.) India paper edition, 75c. (3s. 1-1/2d.)
Right through to his death, Russell was teaching this. The teaching of the pyramid was taken as truth for another 13 years under Rutherford and was not abandoned until 1929.
They celebrated Christmas, New Years and birthdays. Still celebrating Christmas in 1926!
As early as 1881, the watchtower was telling its readers that christmas was a renamed pagan celebration. In 1904 they still promoted it in the watchtower of Dec 1 1904 Russell wrote:
Even though Christmas is not the real anniversary of our Lord's birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate - "Christmas day."
However they still celebrated it as late as 1926. What an interesting old photo this is:
Caption: Bethel Xmas Morning 1926.
They prayed for victory in war and honored the flag.-[ Watchtower 1918 June 1 p.174;
Watchtower may 15 1917:
DISPLAYING THE AMERICAN FLAG
Suppose the city or state officials should issue an order requiring, or even requesting, that all persons display the American flag. What should we do? We answer, We think it would be right to display the flag in obedience to such order or request. The American flag was adopted as an emblem of liberty. It is the national emblem. While some have insisted that it now represents war, this is hardly in keeping with the facts. It may represent war to those who desire war, but to those who love liberty and peace, the flag represents liberty and peace. However that may be, the displaying of the American flag can do injury to no one. If commanded or requested to display the flag, it should be done, out of respect to the Government under which it is the privilege of Christians to live. If an American was the guest of the British. Government and
was requested to display the British flag and refused to do so, it would be showing disrespect to the British Government, his host. If a Christian, who is an alien amongst all earthly governments, should, while journeying amongst them, be requested to display a flag of the country whose benefits he is enjoying, and refuse to do so, such refusal would be failing to show the proper respect to such government. Recognizing that the Government of the United States has been the special refuge of Christian people from intolerable persecution; that it was founded as an asylum of religious liberty and freedom of speecb, every one in America should take pleasure in displaying the American flag---especially when requested to do so. It does not mean that by putting a flag on your house you would want to go to war.
They taught that the white race was superior and blacks could change their skin color in the new system.-[Watchtower July 15 1902 p.215;Watchtower 1904 February 15 pp.52-53]
Supported the league of nations in 1919;
Watchtower, Vol. 7, February 15, 1919, page 6389, par. 2.
"We cannot but admire the high principles embodied in the proposed League of Nations, formulated undoubtedly by those who have no knowledge of the great plan of God. This fact makes all the more wonderful the ideals which they express. For instance, it has been made plain by President Wilson and the advocates of his ideas that the proposed League of Nations is more than merely a league to enforce peace. They would not have us consider it to exclusively from the standpoint of politics or of military relations. It should be considered as fully from the economic and social points of view. The President's idea seems to be that the League of Nations which he proposes would stand for world service rather than mere world regulation in the military sense, and that the very smallest of nations shall be participants in its every arrangement. In other words, his idea undoubtedly is that the league shall not be established merely for the purpose of promoting peace by threat or coercion; but that its purpose, when put into operation, will be to make all nations of earth one great family, working together for the common benefit in all the avenues of national life. Truly this is idealistic, and approximates in a small way that which God has foretold that he will bring about after this great time of trouble."
In the above issue, the Organization publicly admired the principles of the proposed league. They then had the audacity to critisize the Federal council of churches of christ for supporting it 4 months later!
They served in the military. Not changed till 1939!
Zion's Watch Tower 1898 Aug. 1 p.231: (see also jv p.191)]
Question. I was surprised to note your advice to any who might be drafted into the army. Would not your advice seem like compromising to avoid trouble?
Answer. It is proper to avoid trouble in a proper manner. It is proper to compromise when no principle is involved, as in the case mentioned. Notice that there is no command in theScriptures against military service. Obedience to a draft would remind us of our Lord's words, "If any man compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." The government may compel marching or drilling, but cannot compel you to kill the foe. You need not be a good marksman.
Question. You suggested in a recent WATCH TOWER that, if drafted and in the army, we need not shoot to kill. Would such a course be right? Would it not be fraudulent?
Answer. No; it would be quite right to shoot, not to kill. You forget, perhaps, our provisos, which were that we explain our conscientious scruples against war, and seek to be excused; if not excused, that we seek non-combatant positions, as nurses, etc.; but if compelled to go a mile or many miles as a soldier, we still need not kill anybody.
Proclaimers page 191:
as World War II gathered momentum in Europe, a significant article in The Watchtower of November 1, 1939, helped them to appreciate the meaning of Christian neutrality. Followers of Jesus Christ, the article stated, are obligated before God to be wholly devoted to him and his Kingdom, the Theocracy. Their prayers should be for God’s Kingdom, not for the world. (Matt. 6:10, 33) In the light of what Jesus Christ disclosed as to the identity of the invisible ruler of the world (John 12:31; 14:30), the article reasoned, how could a person who is devoted to God’s Kingdom favor one side or the other in a conflict between factions of the world? Had not Jesus said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world”? (John 17:16)
So, when Jesus inspected them in the war years it was still fine to be in the armed forces! In fact it was not until 20 years later that they changed their minds.
These present a challenge to the reasoning of the Jehovah's Witnesses in 4 ways:
1) If the teachings were correct then in 1919, when Jesus chose the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Jesus would have to abandon them now because their belief system is totally reversed. Almost ALL of the teachings, understandings and dates of C.T.Russell that Jesus must have approved of in 1919 were abandoned after J.F.Rutherford took over.
2) If the teachings are correct now, they were therefore wrong then, and thus Jesus could not have chosen them back in 1919.
3) KA book cpt 11:
...the remnant of the “chaste virgin” class looked ahead with intensifying interest to that critical date, October 1, 1914. These were a class of Christians separated from this unclean world and fully “consecrated” to God through Christ, and they had symbolized their “consecration” to God by water immersion.
If they were separated from the unclean world as of 1914, how was it that jesus accepted them in 1919 when they were still part of the worldly uncleaness? The christmas, birthdays,armed service, league of nations, Pyramids, the flag. Why, if Jesus had accepted them BY 1914, did they need to cleanse themselves later?
4) The Watchtower society taught that they were already chosen back in 1875! From the finished mystery page 344:
"THE WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the lord has used it as his channel through which to make known the glad tidings". And when was it incorporated? 1875! 
So, did the 'lord' choose them in 1875? If so there was no need for Jesus to choose them in 1919. If he had to choose them in 1919 then they were lying in the 1917 book. Jesus would not choose a religion that lies would he?
It was not until the 1929 book 'prophecy' by J.F.Rutherford that it was mentioned as the year of choosing. Rutherford was in fact gearing up to change the name of the bible students to 'Jehovah's Witnesses. In his revisionist look into the past, he needed a year and event he could tie in to assure the 'friends' of God's blessing on them all. The year was 1918/19 and the event was his imprisionment and release 10 years before.
Now, i don't care what answer you have as to the changes or the reasons for them, new light, whatever. IT DOES NOT MATTER.
The Watchtower Society cannot have it both ways. They can't have been chosen in 1875 and 1919. They can't have been right in 1919 and then change beliefs. They can't be right now and have been chosen in 1919.
Sorry kids, you have been lied to.
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