Charles Taze - you Naughty Boy!

Have you ever wondered what Charles Taze Russell would make of the religion he started if he came back today?

His first thought would probably be; What the hell happened to the big beard and no moustache look? I really liked that!

When handed a copy of a modern Watchtower magazine he would wonder where the Masonic imagery had gone that he liked to include on the front cover, including the Knights Templar logo of a cross in a crown and the Knights of Malta symbol.

At the Kingdom Hall he would glance at the noticeboard and realise his shoulder length hair is no longer acceptable and beards are a big thumbs down, yes even beards without a moustache.

He would also be disappointed that not only his predictions for Armageddon but also those of his successors have all failed miserably.  Still he would be relieved to find out that the 'light has got brighter' and there's now another 'new' thought on the subject.

The legal problems Jehovah's Witnesses have had in recent years will be familiar to Charles as he was no stranger to the courtroom.  In 1903 Charles wife, Maria Ackley, filed for legal separation on the grounds of her husbands infidelity (it's a good job disfellowshipping was still fifty years away or the history of the JW's could have been a lot different with their founder being shunned!)

Later the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published a cartoon lambasting Charles for his part in promoting so called 'miracle wheat', which he claimed would grow up to five times the size of normal wheat.  Of course it was a con but he used the early Watchtower magazines to promote it.  He tried to sue the newspaper for $100,000 - and lost.

In 1912 a Reverend JJ Ross published a pamphlet designed to expose Charles as unfit to lead a religious organisation.  In it he accuses Russell of; 

'never attending the higher schools of learning, knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historical theology, and is totally ignorant of the dead languages.'

Charles sued-again.  And lost again.  This time, in court and under oath he was asked if he knew the Greek alphabet to which he replied; 'Oh yes.'  After being quizzed on them he failed miserably and finally admitted he did not know the Greek alphabet.  This was just one of a number of embarrassing climb downs during the hearing.

I could be wrong but something tells me that Jesus would be unlikely to choose an adulterous, lying con artist with a self declared admiration for the Freemasons as the leader of Gods favoured religion.

It's amusing to read the Watchtower Societies descriptions of previous leaders such as Russell.  You genuinely wouldn't think butter would melt in his mouth if you believed their accounts.  The real historical facts would not be palatable to rank and file brothers and sisters.

After reading this you might think CT Russell was a dubious fellow however, compared to Judge Rutherford, Charlie was a virtual saint.