In the Brochure “Centennial of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania” published by the Watchtower Society in 1984.
Under the subheading: Watch Tower Society Takes Over a Work Already Begun
It reads:
THE Watch Tower Society did not create the Bible Students, nor did it begin the work of disseminating Bible truths and preparing men for the return of our Lord. The Society was formed to expand the work already begun by Charles Taze Russell and his associates.
It’s interesting to note that the Watch Tower Society DID NOT create the Bible Students. It admits that the Bible Students existed BEFORE the founding of the Watch Tower Society. However, it can be noted that the Jehovah’s Witnesses were founded by the Watch Tower Society, some 15 years AFTER Russell’s death. Showing he had nothing to do with the sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor is he responsible for their beliefs and practices.
In the same brochure it states:
Through a search of the Scriptures, Russell and several likeminded friends came to understand that God purposed to redeem mankind from death through the ransom sacrifice of his only-begotten Son, Christ Jesus. He also came to see that the object of the Lord’s return was not to destroy but to bless all families of the earth by means of God’s Kingdom, and that the manner of the Lord’s presence would be invisible as a spirit in heaven, not visible in the flesh.—Genesis 12:3; 22:18.
These are of course half-truths. It is true that Russell and the Bible Students believed in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus as a means to redeem mankind. That is no longer the case in regards to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They believe salvation comes only through their narrow view of salvation. One MUST be a member in good standing within the Jehovah’s Witness community to survive Armageddon and enter into the new earth.
Russell and the Bible Students taught and still believe that the opportunity for salvation does not come NOW, but during the Kingdom reign of Christ. While the adversary is in the abyss, the world of mankind will come to know what Jehovah has done for them through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It will be a worldwide educational study, where mankind will grow in grace, knowledge and perfection. This is the separating work of the sheep and the goats.
To inform others of this timely information Russell and his associates published, in 1873, the booklet The Object and Manner of the Lord’s Return. Four years later a book was published entitled Three Worlds or Plan of Redemption. In 1879 Russell, along with fellow contributors, began publishing the Watchtower magazine under the title Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.
There is no evidence that the Object and Manner booklet was published in 1873. It was first published in 1877.
This magazine was published to keep to the fore the doctrine of the ransom and also the blessings to come to mankind as a result of it. The printing of the first issue was 6,000. Russell pledged that, in connection with the publishing of this magazine, they would not beg for money but depend entirely on voluntary contributions. This principle was also applied to all meetings, which were advertised with the slogan “Seats Free—No Collections.”
That certainly is not the case today. Despite the Society no longer publishing, they are constantly reminding their members of contributing to the worldwide work. It’s not a volunteer work, it’s a voluntold work.
So from the date of its incorporation in 1884, the Watch Tower Society was to work closely with the Bible Students, a true society of ministers.
Interestingly, after the death of Russell, the majority of the board of directors ousted and the Society began to teach contrary to the beliefs of the Bible Students, the roles changed. The Society was calling the shots and the Bible Students had to fall in line. When they refused and abandoned the Society to function as they did pre-1884, the Bible Students were labeled the “evil slave class” and those who stayed were given the name Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Meetings were held regularly by these Bible Students. They were not content to meet just once a week like many of Christendom’s churchgoers. In addition to holding public talks on Sundays, they met in smaller groups in homes at other times during the week. A basic procedure was put into operation for meetings that, apart from public lectures, all in attendance share in the discussion and also have pencil and paper for making notes. This method of conducting meetings continues down to the present time.
Bible Students still function this way. Meeting several times a week for studies. These studies are not question and answers, but are roundtable discussions, examining the scriptures.