Charles Taze Russell, also known as Pastor Russell, was an important religious figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania on February 16, 1852. Russell was raised a Congregationalist but later drifted away from organized religion. Through his own Bible study, he concluded that many mainstream Christian doctrines contradicted the Bible. This led him to found a Bible study group in Allegheny in the 1870s that eventually grew into the worldwide Bible Student movement. In 1879, Russell began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower magazine to promote his biblical interpretations. This magazine was the predecessor to what is now known as The Watchtower, the most widely circulated magazine in the world, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Russell rejected the concept of hellfire and the Trinity doctrine. He also had unorthodox views on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Russell believed that Christ died as a ransom to redeem all mankind from permanent death, not everlasting torture in hell. He thought the Trinity doctrine, which states that God is one being existing in three persons, was unscriptural. Russell believed that the holy spirit was not a person but God’s active force. His teachings on these matters were very controversial in his day.
Russell was by all accounts a tireless worker. He wrote prolifically, publishing thousands of pages of biblical commentary and giving countless public speeches. He traveled constantly to visit congregations of Bible Students and preach at larger conventions. Russell oversaw the production and distribution of millions of copies of books, tracts, and Bibles. He was also a pioneer in religious broadcasting, arranging to have his sermons distributed to radio stations across the United States in the early 1900s.
In 1884, Russell founded Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, which was later renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1909. This non-profit religious corporation, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, became the organizational structure to manage the worldwide Bible Student movement. Russell served as president until he died in 1916. The Watch Tower Society oversees the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses to this day.
Some key dates in Charles Taze Russell’s life:
- 1852 – Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania on February 16
- 1870 – Began Bible study group in Pittsburgh that grew into Bible Student movement
- 1879 – Launched Zion’s Watch Tower magazine, later The Watchtower
- 1881 – Published first volume of Millennial Dawn series of books, later called Studies in the Scriptures
- 1884 – Formed Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society
- 1908 – Moved Watch Tower Society headquarters to Brooklyn, New York
- 1916 – Died in Pampa, Texas on October 31
Early Life and Background
Charles Taze Russell was born on February 16, 1852 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which was later incorporated into the city of Pittsburgh in 1907. His parents, Joseph Lytel Russell and Ann Eliza Birney, were Presbyterians of Scottish-Irish descent. Russell was the second of five children. His father ran a clothing store in Allegheny.
When Russell was young, his family moved to Philadelphia. As a boy, he showed an interest in religion. By age 10, he was already trying to preach about God’s plan of salvation whenever he could find an audience. When Russell was 15 years old, his father’s store failed and the family moved back to Allegheny.
Although raised as a Presbyterian, Russell explored various denominations as a teenager. He tried attending a Congregational church but was discouraged by the lack of zeal. Russell also briefly associated with the Adventist movement led by Jonas Wendell, which predicted Christ’s Second Coming in 1873 or 1874. He rejected Adventist theology but retained an interest in the study of biblical chronology and eschatology.
As a result of his independent study of the Bible, Russell rejected some key teachings of mainstream Christianity, including the concepts of eternal torment in hell and the immortality of the soul. This led him to begin his own Bible study group in Pittsburgh when he was just 18 years old.
Bible Student Movement and Early Ministry
In 1870, at age 18, Charles Taze Russell formed a Bible study group in Pittsburgh with some friends who were also dissatisfied with established religious denominations. They called themselves Bible Students. Their goal was to examine the Bible free from any preconceived doctrines and traditions of men. Within a few years, Russell broke all ties with organized religion and devoted himself full-time to his ministry as a Bible Student.
Russell initially split time between managing his father’s clothing stores in Pittsburgh and Allegheny and his preaching work as a Bible Student. But in 1879, at age 27, he sold his business interests so he could dedicate more time to ministry activities. That same year, Russell launched the magazine Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, which was later shortened to Zion’s Watch Tower in 1880. The purpose of Zion’s Watch Tower was to disseminate Bible truth and help gather together other Bible Students. This humble 16-page monthly magazine grew to circulation of over 50,000 by Russell’s death in 1916.
In 1881, Russell published the first volume of a six-volume comprehensive biblical commentary entitled Millennial Dawn. These books were later renamed Studies in the Scriptures. Over the next 25 years until his death, Russell would write five more volumes of Scripture commentary covering numerous aspects of biblical doctrine, prophecy and chronology. Millions of copies of these books were distributed around the world, translated into dozens of languages. The Studies in the Scriptures series was highly influential in spreading Russell’s teachings to Bible Students worldwide.
In 1884 the legal entity Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in Pennsylvania. This non-profit religious corporation served as an administrative structure to disseminate Bible Student literature and coordinate evangelistic activity. Russell served as president until his death. In 1896, the society was renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Headquarters moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1908 under Russell’s oversight.
Russell traveled frequently to preach at Bible Student congregations across the United States and Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His global lecture tours helped unify and grow the Bible Student movement. Russell also promoted his message through pamphlets, books, a syndicated newspaper column, and innovative use of mass media. He arranged to have his sermons and lectures distributed to hundreds of radio stations and phonograph records. Russell embraced new technologies to spread the Bible truth as a true pioneer in religious broadcasting.
Some notable accomplishments during Russell’s ministry:
- Wrote a six-volume Bible study series entitled Studies in the Scriptures published from 1886 to 1904, totaling nearly 4,000 pages.
- Authored the widely-circulated book The Divine Plan of the Ages in 1886, explaining his beliefs about God’s plan for mankind.
- Started the Watch Tower magazine in 1879, which grew to circulation over 1 million by the time of his death.
- Formed the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1884 to support the worldwide preaching work.
- Opened overseas branch offices of the Watch Tower Society in London (1900), Hamburg (1903), and other cities to spread Bible truth globally.
- Traveled over 1 million miles and gave 30,000 public lectures that were heard by around 20 million people in seven tours from 1906 to 1912.
- Broadcast hundreds of phonograph records and radio sermons, helping to pioneer religious broadcasting.
The Bible Student movement grew rapidly under Pastor Russell’s dynamic leadership. By the time of his death in 1916, annual worldwide attendance at the Memorial (Lord’s Evening Meal) observance organized by Bible Students exceeded 90,000. There were about 1,200 U.S. and Canadian congregations, up from just a handful in the 1870s. Bible Students were actively preaching in over 40 countries. Russell’s work laid the foundation for what would become the modern-day Jehovah’s Witness organization.
Personal Life
In 1879, Russell married Maria Frances Ackley in Pittsburgh. They separated in 1897 and divorced in 1908. Maria Russell filed for divorce on grounds of mental cruelty. During divorce proceedings, she also alleged that Russell had engaged in immoral conduct with Rose Ball, a young woman who lived and worked in the Russell household. The judge ruled in favor of Pastor Russell, finding no evidence of improper behavior on his part.
After the divorce, Russell remained single the rest of his life. He maintained a busy schedule of writing, preaching, traveling and overseeing the expanding operations of the Watch Tower Society up until his death.
Charles Taze Russell died on October 31, 1916 during a cross-country preaching trip. He passed away at age 64 aboard a train near Pampa, Texas and was buried in Pittsburgh. His gravestone reads “Laodicean Messenger” in reference to his role as the messenger to the Laodicean church mentioned in Revelation 3:14.
The Watch Tower Society continued publishing Russell’s writings for years after his death. His funeral on November 5, 1916 at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh drew a crowd of over 2,500 mourners. Russell’s legacy lives on today through the global ministry of millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.
Beliefs and Teachings
Charles Taze Russell’s theological beliefs departed from mainstream Christianity in a number of ways based on his own biblical interpretation. Some of his most notable teachings included:
- Ransom sacrifice of Christ – Russell believed Jesus died as a ransom sacrifice to redeem mankind from permanent death, not everlasting torment in hell.
- Hellfire – He rejected the doctrine of hellfire and eternal torment of the wicked, believing the dead enter unconscious sleep until a future resurrection.
- Trinity – Russell viewed the Trinity teaching as unscriptural, arguing that the holy spirit was God’s active force, not a person.
- Second Coming – He predicted Christ’s invisible return in 1874 and the beginning of his millennial reign, tied to the ending of the Gentile Times in 1914.
- Soul – Russell denied the immortality of the human soul, asserting that humans do not have a soul, but are souls.
- Annihilation – He believed that the wicked and unbelievers will be eternally destroyed or annihilated, not tortured in hell forever.
- Earthly resurrection – Russell taught that only 144,000 go to heaven. Most people will be resurrected to paradise earth.
Russell’s unorthodox theological views were very controversial and often earned him the label of heretic from mainstream Christian churches. However, Russell insisted he was just trying to shed light on the truth of the Bible apart from long-standing traditions and creeds.
Pastor Russell also had unique interpretations of biblical prophecy. He connected biblical chronology and prophetic time periods to predict major eschatological events. Some of his main prophecies were:
- Christ’s invisible return and beginning of an earthly reign in 1874
- End of the Gentile Times and start of Armageddon in 1914
- Resurrection of all the righteous dead to heaven by 1918
Russell adjusted some details of his end time prophecies in the years leading up to 1914. But he firmly believed 1914 would mark the end of the current world system. When World War I began but Christ did not visibly appear as he expected, Russell admitted his chronology was in error but still thought Armageddon was imminent.
After Russell died in 1916, one of his associates Joseph Rutherford took over leadership of the Watch Tower Society. Rutherford made significant changes in doctrine and biblical chronology, moving more in the direction of modern Jehovah’s Witness teachings. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses have distanced themselves from many specific dates Russell predicted. But they still see 1914 as an important turning point in biblical prophecy, marking Christ’s invisible enthronement as king.
Controversies and Criticisms
As an outspoken religious leader with unorthodox beliefs, Charles Taze Russell stirred up a great deal of controversy during his lifetime. He faced frequent accusations of heresy from mainstream Christian clergy. Some of the major controversies surrounding Russell included:
- Divorce: Russell’s wife Maria divorced him in 1908 on grounds of mental cruelty, a scandalous development at the time.
- Miracle wheat: In 1911, Russell oversaw distribution of a special strain of wheat he called “Miracle Wheat” that supposedly yielded 4-8 times more per acre. However, agricultural experts debunked the claims and proved the wheat was no more productive than regular varieties.
- Prophecy failures: Russell’s prophecies related to 1874, 1878, 1881 and 1914 failed to come true as predicted, damaged his credibility in some circles.
- Doctrinal disputes: Many conservative Christians labeled Russell’s rejection of hellfire and the Trinity as dangerous heresy.
- Pyramidology: In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Russell promoted pyramidology, the study of dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Giza to predict biblical chronology and prophecy. This unconventional method was heavily criticized.
Russell was also involved in a number of legal disputes. In 1912, he sued a Presbyterian minister for libel after the minister called him a perjurer. The court ruled in favor of Russell and awarded him financial damages. Critics claimed Russell gave false testimony under oath during this trial, further damaging his reputation.
After Russell’s death, some prominent Bible Students accused the Watch Tower Society under Rutherford’s leadership of introducing false teachings contrary to Russell’s beliefs. Several Bible Student schisms developed where groups split and formed their own organized congregations separate from the main Jehovah’s Witness movement.
Jehovah’s Witnesses today acknowledge that Russell, while a prominent figure, was not infallible. They do not consider his writings to be inspired or his prophecies divine revelation. Watch Tower publications have even criticized some of Russell’s views, such as his reliance on pyramidology. However, Russell is still viewed as playing an important role in restoring biblical truth.
Legacy and Significance
Charles Taze Russell left an indelible mark on modern religious history. His life and ministry were significant in several ways:
- Founded one of the most prominent Christian denominations – Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Spread unique biblical interpretations worldwide through writings and global lecture tours.
- Printed and distributed millions of books, magazines, newspapers, and tracts.
- Sparked renewed interest in deeper biblical study free from church creeds.
- Pioneered religious radio and phonograph preaching.
- Influenced many other twentieth century Bible Students and restorationist groups.
- Predicted 1914 would mark significant events, a date still emphasized by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
At the time of Russell’s death in 1916, the Bible Student movement he founded had grown to around 100,000 associates worldwide with significant missionary activity in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. His Watch Tower Society was distributing more than 20 million pieces of literature a year. The groundwork was laid for the modern-day Jehovah’s Witness organization now reporting over 8 million members globally.
Many religious splinter groups also developed from former associates of Pastor Russell who accepted some but not all of his teachings. These include numerous independent Bible Student congregations that rejected the direction of the Watch Tower Society under Rutherford. Elements of Russell’s theology have been incorporated into the Christadelphians, Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, Dawn Bible Students Association, and other smaller Christian groups.
Although Charles Taze Russell died in 1916, reprints of his writings were regularly published by the Watch Tower Society for over 50 years after his death. His books such as Studies in the Scriptures and The Divine Plan of the Ages shaped the theology of generations of Bible Students and Witnesses. References to his teachings still appear occasionally in Watch Tower publications today, over 100 years after his death.
While Russell’s chronology and specific prophecies failed to come to pass, the date 1914 he predicted as the start of Christ’s invisible heavenly reign and the last days still plays a significant role in Jehovah’s Witness eschatology. Russell convinced his followers that the year 1914 would mark a pivotal turning point in biblical prophecy, a belief that lives on in the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.
