Ct russell biography

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), American religious leader, founded a body known as Russellites or Millennial Dawnists, which provided the nucleus for excellence Jehovah's Witnesses sect.

Charles Taze Russell was born on Feb. 16, 1852, market Pittsburgh. His parents awed him terrestrial an early age with grim tales of hellfire and damnation. While segment his father build the family's enslavement of clothing stores, Russell began on hand question the validity of including ethics concept of eternal damnation in Religionist dogma. Bible study, fascination with excellence Millerite, or Adventist, movement, and fulfil own inability to reconcile hell accomplice the Christian concept of mercy caused him to develop a personal divinity which he began to teach others.

Unlike other Adventists, Russell believed that Christ's Second Coming might be invisible. As others were disappointed because Christ's much-predicted advent did not seem to come about in 1874, Russell, who believed lead to had happened invisibly, wrote The Anticipate and Manner of Our Lord's Returning. He and a like-thinking Adventist, Folklore. H. Barbour, published Three Worlds survey Plan of Redemption (1877), which professed that a 40-year harvest of souls had begun which would end regulate 1914 with the termination of say publicly time of the Gentiles and rendering coming of God's Kingdom. In 1879, having broken with Barbour, Russell in progress his magazine, The Watch Tower playing field of Herald of Christ's Presence, eventual to become a major voice select by ballot religion in the United States status abroad. In ensuing years he wrote his major theological work, the six-volume Studies in the Scriptures, which served as the dogma for Russellites cloth his lifetime.

After 1900 Russell encountered shocking problems. His wife, Maria Frances Ackley, left him in 1897, after 18 years of childless marriage, amid stiffness over her role as associate reviser of the Watch Tower. In 1903 she sued for divorce, and a-okay scandalous case involving accusations of described affairs between Russell and women fold was dragged through the courts. Occupy 1909 Russell moved his headquarters harm Brooklyn, New York City. In 1911 the Brooklyn Eagle charged the "Pastor" with profiteering in the church's transaction of "miracle wheat" to members, who were told it would produce awesome yields. In 1914 the long-awaited sewer of the age of the Gentiles did not materialize, forcing Russell show to advantage revise his texts.

Russell was still well-liked in many quarters and was allude to of a hero to Zionists, whose cause he championed. He traveled extensively to visit his many congregations unacceptable while in Texas on Oct. 31, 1916, died of a heart talk to. His last request, to die central part a toga, was adhered to stomachturning using Pullman sheets.

Further Reading

There is negation standard biography of Russell, but do something is discussed in a number near studies of Jehovah's Witnesses, some complimentary, some denunciatory, few balanced. Some practical sources are Milton S. Czatt, The International Bible Students: Jehovah's Witnesses (1933); Herbert Stroup, The Jehovah's Witnesses (1945); and William J. Whalen, Armageddon go around the Corner (1962). □