1917_An Open Letter to the People of the Lord.pdf

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE 'PEOPLE OF THE LORD

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

.. . : .

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. .

DEAR -BR~THREN

IN THE LORD

sistance as we can in harmony with Matt. 18: 15-17, and Bro;

Russell's comments thereon in Volume 6. We cannot all meet'

Loving greetings in the Master's Name!

and give these questions our united attention; but we can

.. .

Following we preserlt a copy of a petition which we have

urge that an impartial committee hear the matter and. present,

their findings, decision and recommendations to the Share-.

sent to Bra. Rutherford and the four deposed Directors of

the Society. This petition has been prepared after prayerful

holders' meeting in Pittsburg, which is as near a full assembly,

anti careful consideration and with an earnest desire to see

of the Church in the flesh as it is possible to have.

the tlistressing controversy which has shocked and grieved

The suggestion may be made that such a comn~itteecould'

us, ant1 IIO doubt all of you, settled in a just and equitable

be appointed and a hearing had at the ~ittsburgaeeting in

manner.

January. A little reflection, however, will convince that this

&lost of the undersigned reside in Brooklyn and the imme-

would be impossible. Sufficient time could' not be devoted,

diatc vicinity and have had abundant opportunity -to view .the

there for an orderly and thorough hearing.,.,Unless this com-

influence of these unsettled questions here in our mitte; is appointed the Januav meeting ad has

mitlst. Wk have seen this controversy grow until it now se-i- to thoroughly investigate these questions, which. are of such;

eusly tllreatens the harmony of the New York City Ecclesir; importance to us as the Lerds people,

we have seek1 a growing coldness and lack of sympathetic information we need to intelligently, expeess the,Lord's choice:

understa~~tling

developing amongst brethren we feel sure

for Directors and Officers, and His mind'on.other matters

possess the spirit of .the Lord, and we have heard of similar

which. may come before the Convention.;. . , , ,

. .

cotlrlitiolls elsewhere. Our hearts are grieved beyond measure

Do yo, wish to help in securing a fair. hearing 3nd

by 'these conditions. What shall we do?

ment of this controversy? You ,can dq so if: you-will. . ~2 . - ,

The issues, are not so clear that we. can

alltl ljLlt these

of our minds. It is im-

judge as to.. The .proposed "straw vote" to be taken.on,-NOV. 2.1,; 1917,.

require us, unless refuse to .V@e forany pf thpse whp:

are concerned in this controversy, tg.:cast;j~,r.~votes..for~,

wcers

of ,the,sm.iety ,if

dilrer wit11 .'tlie present managemen'of the - Society .to accept elected, will occupy positions a8 general ,ipverseers of ,the

the sll&est ions 111ade by some who 'superficially view the 'mat- Church throughout the, world), :who are-,lying :under; serioasi

ter, .II~~;~~I~,,

11s ~vho

know the character of .the brethren who

brethren as ,~i.~~t~~~,

.that "they have gone out of. the ~r&" ; that they charges, which .should prevent-their - being elected as,.Elders.:

are ,~ol,l~osetl

ClranneSn etc, we know to. the

in local- congregation; .until these are heard afid disposed.:

of. This would not be in harmony with-good:orderaccordihg;

that tl~e~llbt~e

the Lord and are endeavoring toserve Him and

. . . . . . .

, . ..

to the ~~~d

word.

. .

tlaily. The real election comes in January; the.'"s&al"' vote", qn

Wllal lllet~call be done to decide the importarlt pri~~ciples Nov. 21 is not necessary;-nor, under .the circumstancts;:'doew!

involvetlanti to bring tllis great controversy to an end?. How it Seem wise. Instead of taking partin this-vote-at that time

we suggest .to the friends that-they present.in their.local meet-:,

can icrr assist our brethren to rightwhat is wrbng ind become ing a resolution a petition toBrother, Rutherford:

abl<to ,seain clwell together in purity and unity andso to be- and the deposed Directors for the appointment of an Invcstiga-.

conle reco~lciled to one another? How can we-take our. stand tion Committee, as is proposed below.., .If this resollition.,js::

as tile Lord's people 'in an effort to thwart the eirident inten. passed, see that a COPY is forwarded to Brooklyn. If you wish ..

tion oE oi~r.AdLersary

to distract our.minds from "the.better

to further show your approval of this actiotl, seftd.;a.personcrl':

request to Bro. Rutherford and tlleother brethren, .. . . 1.: ..,

thinss'9-t'l~e Lord's word and the service of the Truth? Will

~h~ ~~~d may use this means toenable allj

to,

this, be accomplished by closing our eyes and ears to the come to an amicable understanding and. agreement, by

trouble and permitting prejudice or ignorance to sway us to away all evil, in fact as well asin,thought;. and, by righting;

one side or the othe;, and thus "jz'dge 'the

hear it"P We are ccbnvinced,.dear.brethren, the course . fhc brethren on ,both sides, whom we dearly love .in the.

which will have the Lord's approval and accomplish His Will Lord:and. w-hose welfare we seek;and to the graat..relief, =om-,

b to follow His Word and "hear" these questions which have fort:and blessing of His people eyerywhere;

before.we

so make it possible f?r~:love.tooperate effectively i

in us-all. This will, we' think; tend to clear thereputations of

arise11 between.,our

. .

brethren and render an impartial decisicjh.

g~danceand blessing. and aneverLincreasing measure:.of His-

Spirit!' we are . .. --

With much love and praying for YOU and..us .all the.loi&';

T~ it seems clear that both sides of.this contrdirer+y:ha?je

appealed tlye case:.for settlement to the Lord's :people-in 'gen-

,. ,

., :,.

. ,. .

.,.

, . Your brethrenin the L&&' ,.

. , , .. . .

era]. !We.'havea responsibility, therefore, to render 'iuch

(For signatures see following petition)

l..

injlrrio~~s

the

possiblc €0~

His.~lebljle,

A PETITION TO BRO. RUTHERFORD AND THE FOUR DEPOSED DIRECTORS OF

THE W. T. B. & T. SOCIETY

The undersigned, together with many others throughout the

world, have been greatly distressed by the controversy which

has arisen among the Directors and Officers of the Society as

constituted at the time our dear Brother Russell left us about

a year ago and since, and which has involved the good reputa-

tion of all of you and a number of other brethren whose stand-

ing among the Lord's people has been good heretofore. It

seems to us the great need at this time is to seek the Lord's

instructions and, acting in harmony therewith, use your best

and united efforts to secure a just, impartial hearing and

settlement of the inatters which have troubled, and which con-

tinue to distress, the Lord's people throughout the world, and

even threaten the unity of the congregations in some places.

The necessity for prompt action looking toward such a hear-

ing of the persons and matters under criticism is especially

apparent in view of the near approach of the annual election

of Directors and Officers of the Society; and that owing to the

several publications which have been sent out by the parties to

this controversy, the reputations of all have been impaired;

and at present it is impossible for many, including the under-

signed, to harmonize the statements of these opposing papers.

as they are quite contradictory. This very fact puts all of

you at a disadvantage as respects the coming election. Some

of the friends are disposed to place the greater confidence in

the publications of Brother Rutherford, and are thus preju-

diced against the other brethren; while the reverse is true of

other -friends, who have greater confidence in the statements

of the deposed Directors and others.

Such a condition, and especially that we and the other

friends throughout the world should nominate and elect as

Directors and Officers of the Society brethren now lying under

such serious charges, as all of you are, seems to us the reverse

of good order in the Church, as outlined in the Lord's Word

and Brother Russell's expositions in Volume Six. The Direc-

tors and Officers of the Society surely occupy as responsible

a position in the Church as an Elder in a local congregation,

practically the only difference being that the Elders' sphere is

local, while the representatives of the Society have a general

.charge as respects the oversight of the Church throughout

the world. The character requirements of these officers of

the Society should, then, be quite as stringent as if they were

,being elected as Elders in a local congregational electlon

Brother Russell points out in Volume Six, page 418, that

slander against an Elder of a congregation is a slander against

,the congregation electing him. It is apparent to all that seri-

.ous charges have been brought against all of you and other

representatives of the Society; and thus the entire Church

has become involved and has a responsibility regarding the

hearing and judging of these.

We are aware that the claim of all of you, no doubt, is that

your circulation of uncomplimentary statements about the

other side was not slander and evil-speaking, as it would have

been, had you taken this course as elders of some local con-

gregation. We presume that your thought in publishing these

statements which have so shocked the Church, was that you

had used every effort to settle matters amicably among your-

$elves without avail, and that you were in these papers appeal-

ing the case to the Church in general, whose officers, in a

sense, you were. However, instead of clearing the question,

these papers have made it more confusing to the friends, in-

cluding ourselves. They contain numerous contradictions one

of the other. A question which comes with great force to us

is, How are we.under these circumstances to judge righteous-

ly in this matter and express the Lord's -choice in our votes

for Directors and Officers of the Society? We would not

wish to have any serving in that capacity who do not possess a

large degree of the Lord's Spirit, or who are guilty of mis-

representation and falsehood. Consider the matter from-our

standpoint, Jaying all personal feelings aside. Can yo11 not

see our dilemma? And will you not help us out of it ant1 to

take part in the election in an intelligent manner inltl thus

express, as nearly as we are able to do, the mind of the- Lord?

How can we arrive at the truth as respects the questions

and persons involved in this controversy, and how can we be

informed as to how best to carry forward the worlc which

was so ably started and supervised for many years by the

Lord's special servant, our dearBrother Russell? We be-

lieve this could be -accomplished by the appointment ofa

representative committee of Brethren, Shareholders of .the

Society, to hear the evidence regarding the matters under con-

troversy, including the activities of the Society and its Oliicers

during the past year; that to this committee (chosen as Iiere-

after outlined) should be givenfull information as to the

.Society's financial ' condition, organization, legal sfatr~s,rela-

tion to the People's Pulpit Association, the foreign Brauches-

in fact,-as to all matters necessary to a thorough understand-

ing of the Society's work and its sphere of activity, as a

channel of Truth organized by Brother Russell for the carry-

ing forward of the work which he, in the Lord's providence,

initiated arid was made responsible for; and that this commit-

tee, after hearing all matters arid ascertaining the trllill as

respects the contradictory statements which.have been pub-

lished, should make a full report to the assembled Share-

holders at Pittsburg on January 4, the day before the elec-

tion of Directors and Officers is to take place.

Our desire in suggesting this course is that we and all of.

the Lord's people may have our minds set at rest respecting

the difficulties which have arisen in the last few months, that

the breach between the brethren concerned rnay be healed,

and that the Shareholders shall have such information, 110th

a's to the activities of the past year, the present state of the

Society, and the possibilities of the future, as will enable them

to wisely plan for the.continuance'of. the work, and elect as

Directors and Officers, brethren whose reputations are clear

of such ,stains as are now upon the reputation of many of

those who have been.prominent and efficient in the worlc of

the Society in the past. ~.

, In harmony with the above, weresp.ectfully request that you

arrange for an Investigation Committee to .be composed -as

follows :

Brother Rutherford,to choose thiee (3) members:

The four deposed Directors to choose three (3) 'me?~~beri.

These six (6) brethren to electyanother. - , . . .

The seven (7) thus constituted to choose by election the

remaining members of the committee, which we suggest num-

DEAR BRETHREN

ber in all, 15. (This is suggested as a reasonably large com- esp~cially the Shareholders, to hear the matter witheut

mittee to hear and report on such important matters, and prejudice, and in the fear of the Lord to render their decision,

seems in harmony.with Brother Russell's views on a similar and to report the same, together with their recommendations,

question,namely, the committee constituted to hear and judge to the Shareholders' meeting in Pittsburg on January 4.

charges against any member of the Editorial Committee of the That this committee be called together as quickly as pos-

Watch Tower, which would approximate that number.) sible, so that ample time may be had for the hearing and

That these brethren be chosen because of their known careful weighing of all evidence presented, and the formulat-

-soundness in the Truth, faithfulness to the Lord's work and ing of their report and recommendations.

possession of a good -measure sf IIis Spirit; that they be With Christian love .and praying for you and us all the

charged both by the principals in the controversy and those Lord's guidance and blessing,

whom they would represent namely, the Church in general and

Your brethren in the Lord,.

E. 0. KUEHN

E. NICHOLS

E. B. RAETERY

GENEVIEVE

SANFORD

C. R. NICHOLS

FLORENCE

ROGERS

' H: F. ROCKWELL

M. A. THOMSON

JULIUS GRAEVES

. .

H. W. NEWMAN

H. CLAYROCKWELL

CHARLOTTE

GRAEVES

LILLIAN CURTIS

MRS. H. W. NEWMAN

E. KERR

VIOLACURTIS

W. A. RENGELLY

MARION F. MASON

EMILYM. SINNOCK

A. E. BURGESS

C. SOLL

I. MAITLAND

LAURA W. BURGESS

E. M. BAUER

FRANCESL. MAITLAND

GEORGEAVERY

J. SHAW

~SABEL M. PAINE

J. S. AVERY

J. SHEPFIELD

MINN~EM. EIBEL.

PERCY

M. CAMEROK

GRACEALEXANDER

F. CLARK

G. NELSON

J. M. BERRY

FREDL. MASON

EDITH M. READ

A. -E. HAZEL

E. CHRISTIE

FRED.G. MASON

M. ALICEBANKS

HANNAHA. PATTEN

MARTINFISCHER

SAMUELLEVINE

NIEL MCNAUGHTON

MARTHATHOMAS

CORAA. KUEHN

E. MCXAUGHTON

EVELYNPANTING

IDAMILLS

S. GV. MONAHAN

JAMESA. PANTING

- ANNIE H. ESTWICK

K. BELL

. M. REID

HATTIEHENDERSON

E. MCKAY

GWENDOLYN

WALLAOE

RUTH HENDERSON

W. A. LANGILLE

ELIZABETHSTANARB

J. L. COOKE

M. S. PERROW

MARYE. BARCVS

W. J. HOLLISTER

F. S. BARRET

EMMALANDRUM

.A. HOLLISTER

EMILY J. MASON

JOHANNAW. COOK

J. SHAW

M. J. MORRISON

MARIA C. LUNDQUIST

MARGARET

HOLDEN

J. YAMASOCKEY

ELIZABOLTE

F. RAFTERY

S. M. HAWN

JOHANNASARGENT

PRUDENCE

RAFTERY .

MARIAROBERTS

W. L. SARGENT

C. C. HARRISON

GEORGEROBERTS

ALVINAKLUDAS

E. V. DYER

LOISE GAFFELNIN

F. C. KLUDAS

M. DAHL

M. CARLSON

TILLIEB. PHILLIPS

EDITH HOSKINS

M. E. WEST

EMILELAVEALLE

COREYMITCHELL

C. H. WEST

ELIZA A. MARVIN

NORMA G. MITCHELL

F. A. LINNELL

EDNAMARVIN

MRS. C. C. BEALE

J. PERROW

JOHNDAHLSTROM

MRS. W. GREGORY

M. E. PERROW

HILMADAHLSTROM

HARRYEHLERS

L. LIMPER

Jos. HOLDEW

V. S. COBB

MARIOXCAMP

A. LAS~ANE

G. M. BRAND

E. M. FIELD

CHAS. R; COATES ,

DOROTHYN. COOKE

MARYHYNDMAN

RETHA E. DALTON

MABELCOOKE

ELIZABETH

HA^

J~HANNE

OLSENKJETSAA

C. W. M. HARRISON

H. M. COMER

MRS. F. GREENVILLE

MARIEANDERSON

F. GREENV~LE

SCOTTCHAPMAN

EMMACOMER

E. T. Bms

SARAH S. C. CHAPMAN

W. J. MASON

BENJ. BOULTER.

SOPHIEGREBE

\Y. REDWOOD

RUTH I. GALBRAITH

G. H. SHOLL

F. H. WEST

CLARARAFTERY

D. E. BRIDGE

G. L. WILEY

LIBERTAMICHAELS

SUSIE M. COATES

LUELLARAMBO

MINNIE REIMANN

MARGARET

BIRD

BENJ. MCCLELLAN

JAMESH. BUCKMAN

MINNIES. BUCKMAN

THEO.WALLACE

C. E. JONES.

WARNER

W. S. BARCUS

WM. J. COOK

Mi. A. HALI.

I~A

LAURA

READ

CORA

GRACE

J ~HN

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