Personal Life of C.T. Russell

The following are the two excerpts from ‘The Brooklyn Daily Eagle’ on the life of C.T. Russell the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

Family Life: “Russell married Maria Ackley in Pittsburgh… The society progressed amazingly under the joint administration of husband and wife, but in 1897 Mrs. Russell left her husband. Six years later on 1903, she sued for separation. The decree was secured in 1906 following sensational testimony and ‘Pastor’ Russell was scored by the courts”.

He lied under oath in a court. He swore that his wife had not divorced him, and was not paying alimony to his wife. Later when the lawyer cross examined him, he admitted that he did divorced his wife and awarded alimony to his wife.

Miracle wheat Scandal: “After the ‘work’ had been well started here, ‘Pastor’ Russell’s Watch Tower publication advertised wheat seed for sale $1.00 a pound. It was styled ‘Miracle Wheat’ and it was asserted that it would grow five times as much as any other brand of wheat. Government departments investigated the wheat. The ‘Miracle wheat’ was found to be low in the Government tests”. 

Court cases:

1. His Greek knowledge: Here is the transcript of the cross examination made in the case related to his knowledge of Greek. In the beginning he claimed that he knew Greek alphabet and later accepted that he was not familiar with the Greek language. 

Question: (Attorney Staunton) – “Do you know the Greek alphabet?”

Answer: (Russell) – “Oh Yes”.

Question: (Staunton) – “Can you tell me the correct letters if you see them?

Answer: (Russell) – “Some of them, I might make a mistake on some of them”.

Question: (Staunton, showing a book) – “Would you tell me the names of those on top of the page, page 447 I have got here?

Answer: (Russell) – “Well, I don’t know that I would be able to”.

Question: (Staunton) – “You can’t tell what those letters are. Look at them and see if you know?”

Answer: (Russell) – “My way–” (he was interrupted at this point and not allowed to explain)

Question: (Staunton) – “Are you familiar with the Greek language?”

Answer: (Russell) – “No”.

1. His ordination: He claimed that he was ordained and tried to misguide the court. But when asked to answer the question directly he accepted that he was never ordained.

Question: (Ross’ Lawyer) – “Is it true you were never ordained?”

Answer: (Russell) – “It is not true”.

Question: (Counsellor Staunton) – “Now, you never were ordained by a bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of men living?”

Answer: (Russell, after a long pause) – “I never was”.

1. His scholastic standing: Rev. J.J. Ross reported C.T. Russell’s educational qualifications after the court as follows.

“But now what are the facts as they were brought out by the examination on March 17, 1913? As to his scholastic standing he (Russell) had sworn that what was said about it was not true. Under the examination, he admitted that at most he had attended school only seven years of his life at the public school, and that he had left school when he was about fourteen years of age…”

Adoption of the name ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’

C.T. Russell founded a society in 1896 and named it as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It is known in various names like ‘International Bible Students Association’, ‘The Watch Tower Society, and Brooklyn Tabernacle’.

After Russell’s death in 1916, J.F. Rutherford became the second president of the society to increase his control over the movement, and eliminate the connection with Pastor Russell.

He gave the name ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society by taking the name from Is 43:10 “You are My servant witnesses”, say the Lord, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me’.

The society received the title ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ at a convention held in 1931 from the hand of the then president J.F. Rutherford, and they continue to have the same name today.