The history of Jehovah's Witnesses dates from 1872 when Charles Taze Russell began to lead a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally known as Bible Students, they experienced a major schism in 1917 as Joseph Franklin Rutherford began his presidency. Rutherford stressed 1925 as a date for Armageddon. Rutherford gave new direction to the movement and coined the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931. Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... William Miller William Miller (1782 - 1849) was an American Baptist preacher, whose followers have been termed Millerites. ... Nelson H. Barbour, (1824-1905) a Millerite Adventist (see Millerites) born in Throopsville (misspelled Toupsville in a newspaper profile), a village near Auburn, New York. ... Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) was the person who succeded Frederick W. Franz as the president of Watchtower Society. ... Don A. Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Society, the most important of the Legal instruments of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Letter from Olin R. Moyle sent to J.F. Rutherford OLIN R. MOYLE Counselor 117 Adams Street. ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... James Penton, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta; Canada. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... Nickname: Motto: Benigno Numine (With the Benevolent Deity) Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Allegheny Founded November 25, 1758 Incorporated April 22, 1794 (borough)   March 18, 1816 (city) Government  - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area  - City 151. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Charles Russell in 1911 The name Bible Students is used by many segments of what has been termed the Bible Student movement, all of whom follow the doctrinal views of Charles Taze Russell. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Following his death, Nathan Knorr took over the presidency of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Later, 1975 was heavily stressed as a possible date for Armageddon. In 1976, leadership of the Jehovah's Witness movement began to be directed by a Governing Body. Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

1870-1916

Born into a Presbyterian family, Charles Taze Russell nearly lost his faith until he came in contact with Advent Christian^[1] preacher Jonas Wendell^[2] (one of the spiritual heirs of the Millerites) in 1870. His faith restored, Russell organized a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adventist ministers George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology, which had originally been published by Christopher Bowen in 1861. Barbour (like Wendell) had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873^[3], and when that failed, revised the prediction to 1874.^[4] Soon after that disappointment, Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.^[5] Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine, Herald of the Morning.^[6] They jointly issued the book The Three Worlds.^[7]They differed from most Second Adventists in teaching that all humankind since Adam would be given a chance to live in a paradise earth^[8]. Russell broke with Barbour in July, 1879 over the concept of substitutionary atonement and soon began publishing his own magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence (now known as The Watchtower)^[9]. He retained Barbour's teaching that the "end times" had begun in 1799^[10], and that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874^[11]. 1878 became the date for Christ's being enthroned as king, the resurrection of the saints, and God's judgment of Christendom^[12][13]. 1914 was held as the ending date of a harvest period which would culminate in Armageddon^[14]. Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Adventist (Advent Church). ... Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. ... Nelson H. Barbour, (1824-1905) a Millerite Adventist (see Millerites) born in Throopsville (misspelled Toupsville in a newspaper profile), a village near Auburn, New York. ... Substitutionary atonement is the act of restoring balances by substitution. ... The Watchtower is an illustrated religious magazine printed and published by Jehovahs Witnesses via their Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York and branch offices around the world. ...

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

He became known as "Pastor Russell", and in 1881 formed the legal entity which developed into the non-profit organization: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (currently headquartered in New York City); in 1884 it was incorporated, with Russell as President. Over several years, many millions of copies of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence^[15] were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of the Millennium. There is, in addition, his six-volume work of Bible textbooks, originally entitled Millennial Dawn, but later renamed to Studies in the Scriptures^[16] They established the fundamental doctrines derived from their ten years of Bible study during the 1870s. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) Notably, in 1907 Russell predicted that Armageddon would culminate in the year 1914.^[17] In 1914 Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain. Beginning in January 1914, the Bible Students began public showings of the The Photo-Drama of Creation^[18], a multi-hour presentation covering the history of the Bible combining film, color slides and audio. Attendance in 1914 was over 9 million^[19]. Russell died on October 31, 1916 in Pampa, Texas during a cross-country preaching trip. For the next ten years Russell continued to be viewed as the "Laodicean Messenger"^[20] and as the "Faithful and Wise Servant."^[21] Image File history File links Ctrussell2. ... Image File history File links Ctrussell2. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... A non-profit organization (abbreviated NPO, or non-profit or not-for-profit) is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit. ... WT-Logo The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, headquartered in New York City, is the corporate entity of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      In Christian theology, Christian eschatology is the... The International Bible Students Association is a corporation used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ...

1916-1942

According to Russell's Last Will and Testament, an editorial committee of five was set up to supervise the writing of the Watch Tower magazine following Russell's death on October 31, 1916.^[22]. On January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected second President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. New by-laws were passed at the same business meeting which strengthened the President's authority.^[23]Initially, the board of directors for the Watch Tower Society opposed this change, but in time Rutherford's closest associates stood by him.^[24][25] Rutherford cites the new by-law: "the President shall always be the Executive Officer of the corporation and General Manager" in the first pamphlet. The four directors' version of the dispute was published in Light After Darkness and Facts for Shareholders. The June 20, 1917 meeting of the full board of directors tabled for one month a proposal to return control of the Society to the board.^[26]An attempted impromptu board meeting while Rutherford was away from headquarters was broken up by the police.^[27]Matters came to a head on July 17, 1917 when the book The Finished Mystery was published. ^[28] (which had been prepared without the board's consultation, and in violation of Russell's Last Will and Testament. It was titled as the final volume of Studies in the Scriptures) was released to the headquarters staff. At the same time, Rutherford announced he was dismissing the four directors from the board on the grounds that their election had not followed the corporation by-laws and was replacing them with new members.^[29] The reaction was as if a "bombshell had exploded!"^[30]Rutherford called for a democratic vote among the Bible Student community, the majority of which supported his administration .^[31]Dissension and schisms ensued in local congregations, however. New predictions were made for the years 1918 and 1925^[32] and 1920.^[33] October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... July 17 is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Charles Russell in 1911 The Bible Student movement is a religious movement with premillennialist expectations, that sprang from the teachings and ministry of Pastor Charles Taze Russell in the 1870s, whose followers generally call themselves Bible Students. Following a schism after Russell’s death in 1916, several offshoot groups formed...

The Watchtower Society's opposition to clergy support of World War I garnered prosecution by the United States federal government. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the "Espionage Act". They were released on bail in March, 1919 and the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.^[34] The Espionage Act was passed by the 65th United States Congress on June 15, 1917, during World War I. This act made it a crime, punishable by a $10,000 fine and 20 years in jail, for a person to convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere...

Once released from prison Rutherford energized the Bible Students to preach. He inaugurated the magazine The Golden Age (now Awake!) in 1919.^[35]An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922.^[36]Early preaching campaigns included distribution of Rutherford's book Millions Now Living Will Never Die^[37] which predicted "end times" events for 1925.^[38]No more dates were suggested after the 1925 disappointment^[39]but Armageddon was still held to be imminent.^[40]The editorial committee was disbanded in 1931^[41] but had been superseded by Rutherford beginning in 1925.^[42] Cover of Awake! magazine Awake! is a general-interest magazine published by Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Joseph F. Rutherford

Some who disagreed with the changes instituted by Rutherford left the movement and became known as the Associated Bible Students, or simply "Bible Students". In 1918 the Pastoral Bible Institute was founded and began publishing The Herald of Christ's Kingdom. By 1928, memorial attendance dropped nearly 75% from 1922, due to the previous power struggle and the failed predictions for the year 1925.^[43] A luxury villa was built by Joseph Rutherford in 1929 to house the biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected before Armageddon (in which Rutherford lived from 1929 until his death, and after which it was sold).^[44] On July 26, 1931, Rutherford presented a resolution at an assembly in Columbus, Ohio. Under the title "A New Name" he proposed that the group adopt the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" based on Isaiah 43:10-12. Image File history File links Rutherford. ... Image File history File links Rutherford. ... Charles Russell in 1911 The name Bible Students is used by many segments of what has been termed the Bible Student movement, all of whom follow the doctrinal views of Charles Taze Russell. ... In the early history of Bible Students, a number of prominent brethren withdrew their support from the Watchtower Society after Judge Rutherford became the president of the Society, following the death of Pastor Russell. ... July 26 is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1932 Rutherford abolished the offices of elder and deacon in the local congregations.^[45]Supplanting them was a Service Director appointed by the Watchtower Society and a Service Committee elected by the congregation which organized the local preaching activity.^[46] However, from 1938 onwards congregational elections were discontinued and all who would hold office in the congregation were appointed by headquarters.^[47]

Jehovah's Witnesses endured intense persecution under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, both as a religious group and individually.^[48] Unlike Jews, Sinti and Roma, persecuted and killed by virtue of their culture, Jehovah's Witnesses had the opportunity to escape persecution and personal harm by renouncing their religious beliefs. The courage the vast majority displayed in refusing to do so, in the face of torture, maltreatment in concentration camps, and sometimes execution, won them the respect of many contemporaries.^{[attribution needed]} These events are recounted in a documentary entitled Purple Triangles.^[49] Sinti or Sinte (Singular masc. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ...

From 1925 to 1933, the eschatological beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses underwent radical changes.^[50]By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence, his enthronement as king and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date for chronology.^[51] The 1878 resurrection date was changed to 1918^[52]and the teaching of the judgment of religious groups was moved to 1919.^[53]These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. They no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance. the hersemen of the apocaleps, the entities that bring false peace, War, famine, pestilence, and death. ...

Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942. His prolific writings^[54] were distributed in the millions by zealous Witnesses. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric and assertive preaching tactics. He coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket", heavily denouncing the Catholic Church and Christendom generally, modern Judaism, and national governments. Placards, information marches, sound cars,^[55] and radio broadcasts were some of the preaching methods employed. He opposed the League of Nations^[56] and Prohibition^[57]. Rutherford taught that saluting the flag was "contrary to the Word of God"^[58], which in the US drew mob violence against Witnesses as they preached and caused many Witness children to be expelled from public schools. Under his leadership, a legal staff was developed that battled successfully in both US and Canadian courts. At issue was their right to preach and their right to refrain from nationalistic ceremonies. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.^[59] The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... This T-and-O map, which abstracts the known world to a cross inscribed within an orb, remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. ... The term Prohibition, also known as A Dry Law, refers to a law in a certain country by which the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or illegal. ...

1942-1975

New York headquarters of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries as well as the Theocratic Ministry School to train preaching and teaching at the congregational level. Image File history File linksMetadata Watchtower_headquarters. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Watchtower_headquarters. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is the name given to the missionary school of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... The following reflects the current beliefs and practices of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the leading theologian, and is believed to have been the principal translator of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures^[60]. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) and a Bible dictionary (Aid To Bible Understanding).^[61]The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.^[62]Membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership. Frederick William Franz - (September 12, 1893-December 22, 1992) was an important figure in the organization of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a modern-language translation of the Bible published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. ... Aid to Bible Understanding (1969) was the first doctrinal and biblical encyclopedia of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

During the 1960s^[63] and early 1970s, many references appeared in Witnesses literature and assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975.^[64] While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.^[65] Approximately 20% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.^[66]

1976-Present

The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1976 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams. However, doctrinal and organizational decisions since 1976 have been made by the Governing Body.^[67]The Writing Committee of the Governing Body now edits all Witness publications. Congregation affairs are under the direction of the Service Committee of the Governing Body. ^[68] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) was the person who succeded Frederick W. Franz as the president of Watchtower Society. ... Don A. Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Society, the most important of the Legal instruments of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

In 1995 changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.^[69] Throughout the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not die out before Armageddon came.^[70] The Witnesses' current teaching regarding the meaning of the term "this generation" is that it simply refers to those who saw the signs of Christ's presence. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.^[71]

Jehovah's Witnesses males are currently imprisoned in Singapore for refusal to participate in the compulsory National Service.^[72] National Service (NS) is the name given to the compulsory conscription in Singapore of all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents upon reaching the age of 18. ...

References

Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (75th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (132nd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... In its decision, Chaplinsky v. ... Holding The First Amendment prohibits public schools from forcing students to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as the President of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, the Legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 22 is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Further reading

Three official histories of Jehovah's Witnesses have been published by the Watchtower Society. The first two are out of print. The most recent one is available in many public libraries and on the Watchtower Library CD-ROM.

• Qualified To Be Ministers, pages 297-345 (1955)
• Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959)
• Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993)

Books by members:

• Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society by Marley Cole. This book received a positive review in the August 15, 1955 Watchtower: "Much of the material was gathered by personal interviews with witnesses, some of them being officials of the Society. Frequently in the news is something about the religion of President Eisenhower's parents. This book gives the facts often overlooked or concealed, with documentary proof that they were Jehovah's witnesses for many years." Cole was an active Witness and wrote the book in collaboration with Witness leaders. It was also distributed by the Watchtower Society. 229 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1955.
• Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan. Macmillan provides a first-person account of the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the time of the writing of the book (1957). He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr (who wrote the book's introduction). - Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)
• A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation by Tony Wills, (2006) 2nd edition. (The first edition was published under the pseudonym Timothy White.) The author, a life-long Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. 300 pages. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4 Publisher: Lulu Press.
• Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946 by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses—a black man and a white woman—in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. - Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0-8173-1228-5
• O'er the Ramparts They Watched by Victor Blackwell.
• Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of legal activities that led to expansion of religious freedoms in Canada. Referenced in the January 1, 1977 Watchtower, page 11 and the 1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 94. - Publisher: Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 0-7705-1340-9 (Canada, 1976)

Books by non-members: August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... A number of corporations are in use by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... The first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ...

• Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses by Alan Rogerson. Constable. 1969
• Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines. Read selections from: Google Book Search - Publisher: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3 (Canada, 1998)

External links

• Official website of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Historical publications relating to Jehovah's Witnesses Sources & articles relating to Watchtower history, from a critical Catholic website
• Writing Their Faith into the Law of the Land: Jehovah's Witnesses, the Supreme Court and the Battle for the Meaning of the Free Exercise Clause, 1939-1945
• Purple Triangles: A Story of Spiritual Resistance - Thorough essay chronicling the persecution lodged against Jehovah's Witnesses by those opposed to their stand in Nazi Germany circa 1933-1945. This document analyzes the early history of this conflict and the endurance of the Bibelforscher (as Jehovah's Witnesses were known in this land at the time).