...false doctrine? Would Jehovah’s Witnesses want to associate with an organization that had a policy of selling books containing false doctrine in the past?
I believe that most JW’s would answer my first question, “No! Absolutely not!”
However, before answering my second question, please research the following in your own literature. If the older publications are not available at your local Kingdom Hall, many can be found in Watchtower archives online.
God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached (1973), says that the view that Charles Russell was the fulfillment of the "faithful and discreet slave" was "prominently featured in the book published in July of 1917 by People's Pulpit Association of Brooklyn, New York [Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, The Finished Mystery]...Such a book and religious attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man. Such a drift toward sectarianism was halted however...Later in the year 1927 ANY REMAINING STOCKS OF THE SIX VOLUMES OF STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES by Russell AND OF THE FINISHED MYSTERY were disposed of among the public. (pp 346-347)
(Now, I would have to ask—why not dispose of them in the garbage if they promoted creature worship? Why would the Society choose to “dispose” of these books by selling them to the public? But please continue…)
The Watchtower publication, "Then is Finished the Mystery of God," published in 1969 also stated that the Watchtower issue of Feb 15, 1927 "weakened any basis for forming a sect around Russell...Furthermore, years before this [1930], the book The Finished Mystery was allowed to go out of circulation." (pp 112-113)
God's "Eternal Purpose" Now Triumphing (1974) reproduces the "Chart of the Ages" fold-out included in Series I of the Studies in the Scriptures (The Divine Plan of the Ages), showing the Great Pyramid that was held out to be "God's stone witness" and was used to calculate dates. This book says, "despite the inaccuracies that are discernible in it today, this 'Chart of the Ages' served to show the line of sincere reasoning that was based upon the thought that the All-Wise, Almighty God has a 'plan.'" God's "Eternal Purpose" continues, saying that the Divine Plan of the Ages' "circulation ceased in the year 1929 C.E.” (pp 9-10)
(So, according to these accounts, any remaining stocks of Studies in the Scriptures were disposed of "in the year 1927," "years before 1930," and "in the year 1929.")
It is true that, according to the Watchtower Bulletin of December 1, 1927, special effort was made to "canvas for Studies in the Scriptures," and: "In the sale of Studies in the Scriptures colporteurs lead. They have disposed of 16,705, as compared with the class sales of 15,293." (p 3)
However, The Watch Tower of April 15, 1928 contained some interesting information: "Some complain that there are mistakes in the Studies in the Scriptures and therefore they should not be put out. This is wrong. The Studies in the Scriptures contain a statement of the divine plan, and those in present truth who have been in the truth for any length of time got their knowledge from the Studies in the Scriptures. Others will be able to do the same thing. Do not try to hide behind some excuse to hinder the service. Do with your might what your hands find to do and the Lord's blessing will continue with you richly." (p 105)
The Watchtower of November 1, 1929 contained a notice that, "The Society has decided to designate the week beginning November 10 as a special drive week for the sale of Studies in the Scriptures." (p 72)
Then the Watchtower Bulletin of November 1, 1929 printed a letter from "T.S." from Massachusetts stating: "I rejoice in the blessed privilege of having a part in this drive. It is a great privilege and blessing from the Lord to see his organization clearly, and our part therein. As is often the case, there are murmurings against the Studies drive. I hear them, and undoubtedly you do also. To my mind, those who take such a position do not clearly discern their proper position in the Lord's arrangement...When the Society, established by and used of the Lord, determines upon a policy or course of action, every one who is a part of the Society must of necessity recognize that he is then bound by that policy and charged with the responsibility of carrying it to a successful conclusion...Why any should take themselves so seriously as to practically say to the Lord that that which he provided for his people during the Elijah period is now unfit for food is beyond me..." (pp 1, 3)
An ad in the Oct 30, 1929 Golden Age, under the heading, "Can You Imagine Such a Thing?" advertised the "complete set of seven volumes of Studies in the Scriptures, written by Pastor C. T.
Russell...In the seventh volume you will find a complete index of all the scriptures quoted or explained throughout these seven books...Those who already have a set of these books may desire to purchase a set to give to some friend." (p. 96)
The Bulletin for Jehovah's Witnesses of December 1, 1932, in an article in the center of page 1, stated: "You will rejoice in learning that while there have been 70,956 fewer bound books placed than during the previous year, still during 1931 over 100,000 Studies in the Scriptures were included in the total and many of these books were given away by the foreign brethren."
The Watchtower Cost List dated February 1, 1962 contained on page 12: Studies, Cloth, Vol. 3; Studies, Keratol, Vols. 3, 4, 6; and De Luxe Studies, Vol. 4, each with three different costs per volume.
The Kingdom Ministry of July, 1967 contained an Announcement in the first column on page 3 that the Deluxe Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4 - English were out of stock.
(BTW, Vol
4 was titled “The Battle of Armageddon” and asserted on page 613 that the “faithful and wise servant” was one man).
Why did the Society claim in 1973 that any remaining stocks of the six volume Studies plus the 7th volume, The Finished Mystery were disposed of among the public in 1927, when it is obvious that some of these books were still being sold up until just six years prior to the publishing of this claim?
I believe that most JW’s would answer my first question, “No! Absolutely not!”
However, before answering my second question, please research the following in your own literature. If the older publications are not available at your local Kingdom Hall, many can be found in Watchtower archives online.
God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached (1973), says that the view that Charles Russell was the fulfillment of the "faithful and discreet slave" was "prominently featured in the book published in July of 1917 by People's Pulpit Association of Brooklyn, New York [Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 7, The Finished Mystery]...Such a book and religious attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man. Such a drift toward sectarianism was halted however...Later in the year 1927 ANY REMAINING STOCKS OF THE SIX VOLUMES OF STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES by Russell AND OF THE FINISHED MYSTERY were disposed of among the public. (pp 346-347)
(Now, I would have to ask—why not dispose of them in the garbage if they promoted creature worship? Why would the Society choose to “dispose” of these books by selling them to the public? But please continue…)
The Watchtower publication, "Then is Finished the Mystery of God," published in 1969 also stated that the Watchtower issue of Feb 15, 1927 "weakened any basis for forming a sect around Russell...Furthermore, years before this [1930], the book The Finished Mystery was allowed to go out of circulation." (pp 112-113)
God's "Eternal Purpose" Now Triumphing (1974) reproduces the "Chart of the Ages" fold-out included in Series I of the Studies in the Scriptures (The Divine Plan of the Ages), showing the Great Pyramid that was held out to be "God's stone witness" and was used to calculate dates. This book says, "despite the inaccuracies that are discernible in it today, this 'Chart of the Ages' served to show the line of sincere reasoning that was based upon the thought that the All-Wise, Almighty God has a 'plan.'" God's "Eternal Purpose" continues, saying that the Divine Plan of the Ages' "circulation ceased in the year 1929 C.E.” (pp 9-10)
(So, according to these accounts, any remaining stocks of Studies in the Scriptures were disposed of "in the year 1927," "years before 1930," and "in the year 1929.")
It is true that, according to the Watchtower Bulletin of December 1, 1927, special effort was made to "canvas for Studies in the Scriptures," and: "In the sale of Studies in the Scriptures colporteurs lead. They have disposed of 16,705, as compared with the class sales of 15,293." (p 3)
However, The Watch Tower of April 15, 1928 contained some interesting information: "Some complain that there are mistakes in the Studies in the Scriptures and therefore they should not be put out. This is wrong. The Studies in the Scriptures contain a statement of the divine plan, and those in present truth who have been in the truth for any length of time got their knowledge from the Studies in the Scriptures. Others will be able to do the same thing. Do not try to hide behind some excuse to hinder the service. Do with your might what your hands find to do and the Lord's blessing will continue with you richly." (p 105)
The Watchtower of November 1, 1929 contained a notice that, "The Society has decided to designate the week beginning November 10 as a special drive week for the sale of Studies in the Scriptures." (p 72)
Then the Watchtower Bulletin of November 1, 1929 printed a letter from "T.S." from Massachusetts stating: "I rejoice in the blessed privilege of having a part in this drive. It is a great privilege and blessing from the Lord to see his organization clearly, and our part therein. As is often the case, there are murmurings against the Studies drive. I hear them, and undoubtedly you do also. To my mind, those who take such a position do not clearly discern their proper position in the Lord's arrangement...When the Society, established by and used of the Lord, determines upon a policy or course of action, every one who is a part of the Society must of necessity recognize that he is then bound by that policy and charged with the responsibility of carrying it to a successful conclusion...Why any should take themselves so seriously as to practically say to the Lord that that which he provided for his people during the Elijah period is now unfit for food is beyond me..." (pp 1, 3)
An ad in the Oct 30, 1929 Golden Age, under the heading, "Can You Imagine Such a Thing?" advertised the "complete set of seven volumes of Studies in the Scriptures, written by Pastor C. T.
Russell...In the seventh volume you will find a complete index of all the scriptures quoted or explained throughout these seven books...Those who already have a set of these books may desire to purchase a set to give to some friend." (p. 96)
The Bulletin for Jehovah's Witnesses of December 1, 1932, in an article in the center of page 1, stated: "You will rejoice in learning that while there have been 70,956 fewer bound books placed than during the previous year, still during 1931 over 100,000 Studies in the Scriptures were included in the total and many of these books were given away by the foreign brethren."
The Watchtower Cost List dated February 1, 1962 contained on page 12: Studies, Cloth, Vol. 3; Studies, Keratol, Vols. 3, 4, 6; and De Luxe Studies, Vol. 4, each with three different costs per volume.
The Kingdom Ministry of July, 1967 contained an Announcement in the first column on page 3 that the Deluxe Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4 - English were out of stock.
(BTW, Vol
4 was titled “The Battle of Armageddon” and asserted on page 613 that the “faithful and wise servant” was one man).
Why did the Society claim in 1973 that any remaining stocks of the six volume Studies plus the 7th volume, The Finished Mystery were disposed of among the public in 1927, when it is obvious that some of these books were still being sold up until just six years prior to the publishing of this claim?