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A Chronology of Jehovah's
Witnesses |
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(C) Timothy B. Kline |
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| YEAR |
EVENT |
PAGE |
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THE RUSSELL ERA |
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| 1852 |
Charles Taze Russell born, second
son of Joseph L. and Ann Eliza (Birney) Russell, at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania |
HS-5 |
| 1868 |
Russell, '…a consecrated child of
God for some years, and a member of the Congregational church and of the
Young Men's Christian |
HS-5 |
| |
Association, began to be shaken in
faith regarding many long-accepted doctrines. Brought up a Presbyterian
and indoctrinated from the |
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catechism and being naturally of an
inquiring mind, I fell an easy prey to the logic of infidelity as soon
as I began to think for myself. But that |
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which at first threatened to be the
utter shipweck of faith in God and the Bible was, under God's providence
overruled for good, and merely |
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wrecked my confidence in human
creeds and systems of misrepresentation of the Bible. |
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"Gradually I was led to see
that though each of the creeds contained some elements of truth, they
were on the whole misleading and |
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contradictory of God's word. Among
other theories I stumbled upon Adventism. Seemingly by accident one
evening I dropped into a dusty, |
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dingy hall where I heard religious
services were held, to see if the handful who met there had anything
more sensible to offer than the creeds |
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of the great churches. There for
the first time I heard something of the views of Second Adventism, the
preacher being Mr. Jonas Wendell, long |
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deceased. Thus I confess
indebtedness to Adventists as well as to other denominations. Though his
Scripture expositions were not entirely |
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clear, and though it was very far
from what we now rejoice in, it was sufficient under God to re-establish
my wavering faith in the divine |
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inspiration and to show that the
records of the apostles and prophets are indissolubly linked." [WT
7/1906] |
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In the evening, a 17-year-old
Russell happens upon "Pastor" Jonas Wendell's address and is
introduced to adventism. |
ST-19 |
| 1870 |
Charles Taze Russell and a group
from Pittsburgh and Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., begin systematic
study of the Bible. |
P-718 |
| 1872 |
Charles Taze Russell founds the
movement in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
CB-359 |
| 1876 |
January: Russell receives copy of Herald
of the Morning |
P-718 |
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Summer: Russell meets with N. H.
Barbour, editor of Herald of the Morning, in Philadelphia, PA |
P-718 |
| 1877 |
The book Three Worlds is
published, as a result of joint efforts of N. H. Barbour and Russell |
P-718 |
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Russell publishes booklet The
Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return, in Rochester, New York |
P-718 |
| 1879 |
May: Russell withdraws all support
from Herald because of Barbour's attitude toward the ransom |
P-718 |
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July: First issue of Zion's
Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence |
P-718 |
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July: Russell establishes Zion's
Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence magazine (monthly
publication). Russell is editor till 1916 |
HS-7 |
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Watch Tower magazine is
started |
MC-51,61 |
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Charles Russell marries Maria
Ackley |
MC-63 |
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Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of
Christ's Presence is established |
CB-360 |
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Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of
Christ's Presence is published. 6,000 copies |
ST-7 |
| c. 1880 |
Russell publishes his early views
in Food for Thinking Christians, spending a reported $40,000 of
his own money. |
HS-7 |
| |
Food for Thinking Christians
is published. |
CB-360 |
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Russell sends a representative to
England to begin the work there. |
|
| 1880 |
Russell sends J C Sunderlin to
England to open up a branch office for the distribution of literature in
that country. [WT 10/1881] |
HS-7 |
| 1881 |
First tracts published by Bible
Students |
P-718 |
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Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society is
organized. |
P-718 |
| 1884 |
December 15: Zion's Watch Tower
Tract Society is legally chartered in PA |
P-718 |
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Russell organizes and founds Zion's
Watch Tower Tract Society |
MC-61 |
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Zion's Watch Tower Society founded |
HS-7 |
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Zion's Watch Tower Society is
established. |
CB-360 |
| 1886 |
The Divine Plan of the Ages
is published |
P-718 |
| 1888 |
"By 1888 "the word"
was being preached throughout the United States and England and in such
distant places as China, Africa, India, Turkey, |
HS-7,8 |
| |
and Haiti." [WT 12/1888] |
|
| 1889 |
The Bible House is constructed on
Arch Street, in Allegheny, PA, as headquarters for the Society |
P-719 |
| 1891 |
First "Convention" of
Bible Students in Allegheny, PA (April 19-25) |
P-719 |
| 1893 |
Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of
Christ's Presence magazine becomes a bimonthly publication. |
HS-169 |
| 1895 |
First mention of "the
truth" in the [2/1895 WT] |
|
| 1897 |
Charles and Maria separate |
MC-63 |
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Russell and his wife, Maria,
separate |
HS-9 |
| 1900 |
First branch office is opened in
London, England |
P-719 |
| 1903 |
June: Maria Russell files for legal
separation |
MC-63 |
| 1906 |
April: The Russells go to court |
MC-63 |
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Russell writes of the experience he
had in founding the new movement. [WT 7/1906] |
HS-5 |
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Trial for legal separation begins
between Maria Russell and Charles Russell |
ST-26 |
| 1908 |
Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of
Christ's Presence magazine becomes The Watch Tower and Herald of
Christ's Presence. |
HS-169 |
| 1909 |
April: Headquarters of the Society
is moved to Brooklyn, NY |
P-719 |
| |
The Society is moved to Brooklyn,
New York, and incorporated as the People's Pulpit Association. |
HS-8 |
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First mention of J. F. Rutherford
in ZWT 1/1909 as having been appointed chairman by Russell |
HS-13 |
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Headquarters is moved to Brooklyn,
chartered under the name "Peoples Pulpit Association." |
CB-360 |
| 1912 |
April: WT prints an experience
concerning a Witness using the Ouija board to verify that the
organization is True (verify w/ WT May 1918) |
|
| 1913 |
Maria (Ackley) Russell sues Charles
Russell for divorce on four grounds |
HS-9 |
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a "cure for cancer was sold
only to those "in the truth." [WT 7/1913] |
HS-37 |
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OTHERS: 'The famed "Millenial
Bean' was an earlier offering--a bean seed which Witnesses were promised
would outgrow all other varieties. |
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'Later, the "Wonderful Cotton
Seed" was guaranteed to "revolutionize" the production of
cotton.' |
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'The Society has also sold through
the Companies a cure for appendicitis.' Santonine [WT 1/1912] |
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| 1914 |
January: First showing of
"Photo Drama of Creation" in NY |
P-719 |
| |
International Bible Students
Association incorporated in England |
HS-21 |
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The International Bible Students
Association is incorporated in England |
CB-360 |
| 1916 |
October 31: Russell dies at 64
years of age. |
P-719 |
| |
October 31: Charles Taze Russell
dies en route to Kansas |
HS-11 |
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Russell dies on a train in Texas |
CB-361 |
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The Rutherford Era |
|
| 1917 |
January: Rutherford is elected to
presidency of the Society |
HS-13 |
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January: Rutherford is elected as
president |
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January 6: Rutherford becomes
president |
P-719 |
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July 17: The Finished Mystery
is released |
P-719 |
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Four serving on the Board of
Directors display opposition |
P-719 |
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Many congregations split |
P-719 |
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July 17: The Finished Mystery
is released |
MC-85 |
| 1918 |
February 24: The discourse
"The World Has Ended--Millions Now Living May Never Die" is
first delivered in Los Angeles, CA |
P-719 |
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March 31: In Boston, MA, the talk
is entitled "The World Has Ended--Millions Now Living Will
Never Die." |
P-719 |
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May 7: Rutherford and close
associates are named in federal arrest warrants |
P-719 |
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June: Rutherford and seven others
begin serving their sentence in the Federal Penitentiary at Atlanta,
Georgia |
HS-17 |
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All but Giovanni De Cecca are
sentenced to twenty years on each of the four counts |
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Giovanni De Cecca is sentenced to
serve 10 years |
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Charges included 'conspiracy to
cause insubordination,' 'conspiracy to obstruct the recruiting and
enlistment services,' and the 'Espionage Act.' |
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America enters the World War |
ST-38 |
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May 7: Rutherford and seven others
are arrested on charge of sedition |
ST-38 |
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June 5: Trial begins |
P-719 |
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June 21: (One on July 10) they are
sentenced to a federal penitentiary |
P-719 |
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August: Brooklyn headquarters are
closed. Operations are transferred back to Pittsburgh for over a year |
P-719 |
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June 22: New York Tribune
publishes story on Rutherford and six others' sentencing to prison |
MC-90 |
| 1919 |
March 26: The Society's officers
and associates are released on bail |
P-720 |
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May 14: the court of appeals
reverses decision of the lower court and a new trial is ordered |
P-720 |
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Coming publication of the magazine The
Golden Age is announced |
P-720 |
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Bulletin is published for
field service purposes |
P-720 |
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March 26: Rutherford and others are
granted bail from prison |
MC-95 |
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March 25: Rutherford and seven
others are released |
ST-40 |
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March: Rutherford and the seven
others are admitted to bail from prison. |
HS-17 |
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May: a higher court orders a new
trial, but the matter is later dropped. |
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October: The Golden Age
magazine is founded. |
HS-169 |
| 1920 |
May 5: the government withdraws
from the case |
P-720 |
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Watch Tower Society undertakes its
own printing operations, in Brooklyn |
P-720 |
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May: Attorney General withdraws
case against Rutherford and six others |
MC-95 |
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Those involved in case: Joseph F.
Rutherford, William E. Van Amburgh, Robert J. Martin, Fred H. Robison,
George H. Fisher, Clayton J. |
MC-91 |
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Woodworth, A. Hugh Macmillan |
|
| 1922 |
February 26: Radio is first used by
J. F. Rutherford in California |
P-720 |
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The Watch Tower magazine
becomes the basis for study in the congregations, eventually replacing
Russell's Study in the Scriptures |
ST-41,42 |
| 1924 |
February 24: WBBR begins to
broadcast |
P-720 |
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The Society begins operating a
radio station as WBBR |
ST-42 |
| 1924 |
Rutherford announces his favor of
"the Prohibition Act." [11/1924 WT] |
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| 1928 |
Bible Students begin to be arrested
for breaking sabbath laws |
ST-45 |
| 1929 |
Rutherford officially condemns
Russell's interpretation of the Great Pyramid in Biblical chronology [p.
14--The Kingdom] |
HS-15 |
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Another schism develops in the
Society |
HS-15 |
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Rutherford was married to Mary, had
a son named Malcolm G. but little mention is made of either. |
HS-16 |
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In England, Witnesses form the
Junior Bible Students Company for child Witnesses, but by 1945 it ceased
functioning |
HS-120 |
| 1930 |
Beth-Sarim is built in San Diego,
California. |
CB-379 |
| 1931 |
The name "Jehovah's
Witnesses" is adopted |
P-720 |
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The name "Jehovah's
Witnesses" is adopted |
ST-48 |
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J. F. Rutherford suggest the name
for the Society become "Jehovah's Witnesses." |
CB-359 |
| c. 1932 |
Rutherford is "still
delivering talks" on the subject of the Rutherford's impending
predictions, including 1925 resurrection |
HS-55 |
| 1932 |
Arrangement for "elective
elders: is terminated for reasons given in Watchtower Aug 15 and
Sep 1 |
P-720 |
| 1933 |
Jehovah's Witnesses are banned in
Germany |
P-720 |
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Transcription machines are used by
Witnesses to broadcast Bible lectures |
P-720 |
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The use of portable phonographs
begin to be used by Witnesses |
ST-50 |
| 1934 |
Portable phonographs are used by
Witnesses to play short recorded Bible discourses |
P-721 |
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The name "Pioneer" is
introduced |
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| 1935 |
Meeting place is called
"Kingdom Hall" for first time |
P-721 |
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About 20,000 are present at the
international convention held in Washington, D.C. [Yearbook, 1935] |
HS-27 |
| 1936 |
London: An "Information
March" sets record by being six miles long |
ST-50 |
| 1937 |
120 Witnesses are jailed 24-48
hours before the Newark, New Jersey, convention begins. 66 are detained
until the convention closes, because |
HS-27 |
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"the city authorities
considered them an active threat to the peace." [p. 29 ---Armageddon,
Rutherford] |
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October: The Golden Age
magazine becomes Consolatation. |
HS-169 |
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Portable phonographs are introduced
by the Society |
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The expression "Religion is a
racket" is put into use by the Society. |
HS-152 |
| 1938 |
Theocratic arrangements replace
democratic procedures |
P-721 |
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The Society adopts the
"Theocratic" structure of rule |
MC-106 |
| 1939 |
Start of numerous bans of Jehovah's
Witnesses in 23 nations |
P-721 |
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February: The organization is
renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. |
MC-73 |
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Zion's Watch Tower Society becomes
"Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society" |
CB-360 |
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Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
incorporated in United States |
HS-21 |
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Jan and Feb: The Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Presence magazine becomes The Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Kingdom. |
HS-169 |
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March: The Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Kingdom magazine becomes The Watch Tower
Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom |
HS-169 |
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August 8: Olin R. Moyle is
dismissed as head counsel of the organization by the Board of Directors
"by reason of his unfaithfulness to the |
HS-25 |
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kingdom interests and to those who
serve the kingdom." The background of his
"unfaithfulness" seems to have been a letter which he wrote |
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to protest some faults in the
organization as he saw them." |
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Rutherford is reported to have made
over 109 different recordings, some translated into other languages. |
HS-57 |
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First usage of "the
theocracy" in the Society's literature. |
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| c. 1940 |
Rutherford takes to living at
Beth-Sarim, the West-coast headquarters of the Society, possibly because
of illness. He "left the actual work of |
HS-19 |
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the organization to Mr. N. H.
Knorr, the then vice president." |
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| 1940 |
Rutherford claims to have written
99 books and pamphlets in the previous twenty years. His writings have
appeared in 78 languages, and |
HS-18 |
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over 300,000,000 items have been
distributed. [pp. 3-4 ---Judge Rutherford Uncovers the Fifth Column]
After 1940 he published several more |
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pamphlets and at least one more
book. |
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A writer for the New York Evening
Post has the Society's twenty-five cent books appraised for actual
costs. The publisher estimates actual |
HS-39 |
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cost to be eleven cents. Rutherford
issues an angry response. The writer's name is Mr. Logan [p. 73] |
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| 1942 |
January 8: Rutherford dies in San
Diego, CA |
P-721 |
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January 8: Rutherford dies |
MC-107 |
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January 8: Rutherford dies, 72
years of age, at Beth-Sarim. |
CB-363 |
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January 13: N. H. Knorr becomes
third president of Society |
P-721 |
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January 8: at age 72, J. F.
Rutherford dies |
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Fall: Olin R. Moyle enters suit
against Rutherford and the other members of the Board of Directors for
libel. |
HS-26 |
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The Knorr Era |
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| 1942 |
Watch Tower Society prints the
complete Bible, King James Version, on its own press |
P-721 |
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January 13: Knorr is elected as
president |
ST-52 |
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Gilead School is established |
ST-54 |
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Spring: N. H. Knorr is elected to
president |
HS-22 |
| 1943 |
February 1: Watchtower Bible School
of Gilead holds its first class |
P-721 |
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April: Course in Theocratic
Ministry introduced (TMS) |
P-721 |
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Theocratic Ministry School
is established |
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February: The Watch Tower Bible
College of Gilead is founded at South Lansing, New York. |
CB-367 |
| 1944 |
Late 1944: Moyle suit is decided in
Moyle's favor; he is awarded $25,000 damages |
HS-26 |
| 1945 |
October 1: The Society's Board of
Directors is no longer selected by voters who qualify because of
monetary donations |
P-722 |
| 1946 |
Awake! Magazine replaces The
Golden Age and Consolation |
P-722 |
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Consolation magazine is
renamed Awake! |
MC-95 |
| 1950 |
August 2: New World Translation
of the Christian Greek Scriptures is released at a NY convention |
P-722 |
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The Society begins to release its
own Bible translation |
MC-73 |
| 1953 |
September 1: Witnesses begin to get
trained in house-to-house preaching |
P-722 |
| c. 1957 |
A Kingdom Ministry reveals
that 80,000 have left the organization since 1953 |
ST-56 |
| 1961 |
New World Translation of the
Holy Scriptures, the complete Bible in one volume, is released |
P-722 |
