Biography of C.T. Russell  

    Jehovah's Witnesses, in general, know very little about the founder of
   the Watchtower Society. These days, Charles T. Russell is considered
   just one of many faithful men whom God has
   used to proclaim His truth.
    
    In fact the Society feels that he doesn't
   deserve individual recognition and
   honor for his work. Therefore, they claim
   never to have published a biography of Pastor
   Russell.

   The Society maintains that they avoid giving
   honor, or even credit to individuals for their
   particular work. To honor a man,especially to
   acknowledge literary credit, is the essence of
   "creature worship"! It is declared:

          "Our publishing work is not done to
          glorify any men or to give
          them a name of prominence before this world, depending upon the name of men
          in order to induce a study of God's Word with the aid of the Watch Tower Society's
          publications. We avoid all kinds of creature worship and anything that would stimulate
          to creature worship. In harmony with this endeavor the Society does not identify the
          writers of the various books, booklets, magazines, or articles that it publishes. They
          prefer to remain anonymous, not because of their educational background but in
          order that the students of the literature may concentrate on the truths and the
          facts presented instead of upon the identity of the writer and being
          influenced by who he is."

                            

     In their book of the history of Jehovah's Witnesses we read a
    conversation between John, a Jehovah's Witness, and Lois, a
    prospective convert. Lois asks:
                          
          But, is it true you have never published a biography of
          Pastor Russell?

          "John: That's right. Jehovah's Witnesses admire the qualities
          he possessed as a man, but were we to give the honor and
          credit to Pastor Russell, we would be saying that the works
          and success were his; but Jehovah's witnesses believe it is
          God's spirit that guides and directs his people." (Jehovah's
          Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, 1959, p. 63.)

                   
   This statement is a complete distortion of
   the truth and is easily proven to
   be so.

   Does the History Book
   Contradict Itself?

   Very few Witnesses are aware of the fact that
 "The Biography of Pastor Russell" was published by
the Society during the years 1923 through 1927.
   Interestingly, mention is made of the 1926 edition
in their own history book! It is referred to both in
footnotes and the Index. In fact, in the Index, we find
Russell, Charles Taze" what appears to be a
contradiction. They list "biography of, 16, 17: and
then next., "biography of, never published by
the Society, 63."
            
    How can they logically claim there is a biography
 and then deny that? But, after a little analysis, several
things become clear and what seems at first to be a
contradiction, then disappears. We observe these
facts:

      1. The Biography of Pastor Russell as published in late editions
        of his, The Divine Plan of the Ages (mentioned on page 17 of the
        history book), is not under discussion on page 63 of the history book,
        where the denial about a biography is made. What is under discussion?
        Simply this--that the Society would never give honor and credit to
        Pastor Russell! And as proof of that policy they claim no biography
        was ever published. In fact, the point about a biography was clearly
        secondary to the claim about no "honor or credit" given to Russell.
        The history book does not intentionally cover up the publication of a
        biography. This may be a mistake, not a coverup. The statement is
        actually only a by-product of the coverup about "honor and credit"
        to Russell.

       2. It becomes apparent that in their zeal to disavow giving "honor and
         credit" to Russell that they unwittingly utilized a statement from a man
         who was not an authority on the history of their movement. The claim
         of not publishing a biography is based on a quotation from George
         Swetam's, Where else but Pittsburgh! This book merely gives a brief
         account of Russell's career.

       3. Given the history of their attempts to hide their printing of a
         Biography it's no wonder that we read . . ."After funeral services
         at The Temple in New York and at Carneigie Hall in Pittsburgh,
         Brother Russell was buried at Allegheny, in the Bethel family plot,
         according to his request. A brief biography of Russell along with
         his will and testament was published in The Watch Tower of
         December 1,1916, as well as in subsequent editions of the first
         volume of Studies in the Scriptures"

      For a complete (with photocopies) account, please see the book.
        Who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave. MAGANANI, 1992

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