Having at various times during past years
donated to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY all of my personal possessions except a
small personal bank account of approximately two hundred dollars, in the Exchange National
Bank of Pittsburgh, which will properly be paid over to my wife if she survives me, I have
merely love and Christian good wishes to leave to all of the dear members of the Bible
House Family-and all other dear colaborers in the Harvest work-yea, for all of the
household of faith in every place who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus as their
Redeemer.
However, in view of the fact that in donating the journal ZION'S WATCH TOWER, the OLD
THEOLOGY QUARTERLY and the copyrights of the MILLENNIAL DAWN SCRIPTURE STUDIES Books and
various other booklets, hymn-books, etc., to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, I
did so with the explicit understanding that I should have full control of all the
interests of these publications during my life time, and that after my decease they should
be conducted according to my wishes.
AN EDITORIAL COMMITTEE OF FIVE
I direct that the entire editorial charge of ZION'S WATCH TOWER shall be in the hands
of a committee of five brethren whom I exhort to great carefulness and fidelity to the
Truth. All articles appearing in the columns of ZION'S WATCH TOWER shall have the
unqualified approval of at least three of the committee of five, and I urge that if any
matter approved by three be known or supposed to be contrary to the views of one or both
of the other members of the committee, such articles shall be held over for thought,
prayer and discussion for three months before being published-that so far as possible the
unity of the faith and the bonds of peace may be maintained in the Editorial management of
the journal.
The names of the Editorial Committee (with such changes as may from time to time occur)
shall all be published in each number of the journal-but it shall not in any manner be
indicated by whom the various articles appearing in the journal are written. It will be
sufficient that the fact be recognized that the articles are approved by the majority of
the committee.
As the Society is already pledged to me that it will publish no other periodicals, it
shall also be required that the Editorial Committee shall write for or be connected with
no other publications in any manner or degree. My object in these requirements is to
safeguard the committee and the journal from any spirit of ambition or pride or headship
and that the Truth may be recognized and appreciated for its own worth, and that the Lord
may more particularly be recognized as the Head of the Church and the Fountain of Truth.
Copies of my Sunday discourses published in the daily newspapers covering a period of
several years have been preserved and may be used as editorial matter for The WATCH TOWER
or not, as the committee may think best, but my name shall not be attached nor any
indication whatever given respecting the authorship.
Those named below as members of the Editorial Committee (subject to their acceptance)
are supposed by me to be thoroughly loyal to the doctrines of the Scriptures- especially
so to the doctrine of the Ransom-that there is no acceptance with God and no salvation to
eternal life except through faith in Christ and obedience to His Word and its spirit.
If any of the designated ones shall at any time find themselves out of harmony with
this provision they will be violating their consciences and hence committing sin if they
continue to remain members of this Editorial Committee- knowing that so to do would be
contrary to the spirit and intention of this provision.
The Editorial Committee is self-perpetuating, in that should one of these members die
or resign, it will be the duty of the remainder to elect his successor, that the journal
may never have an issue without a full Editorial Committee of five. I enjoin upon the
committee named great caution in respect to the election of others to their number-that
purity of life, clearness in the Truth, zeal for God, love for the brethren and
faithfulness to the Redeemer shall be prominent characteristics of the one elected.
In addition to the five named for the committee I have named five others from whom I
prefer that selection should be made for any vacancies in the Editorial Committee, before
going outside for a general selection-unless in the interim, between the making of this
Will and the time of my death, something should occur which would seem to indicate these
as less desirable or others more desirable for filling the vacancies mentioned. The names
of the Editorial Committee are as follows:
WILLIAM E. PAGE;
WILLIAM E. VAN AMBURGH;
HENRY CLAY ROCKWELL;
E. W. BRENNEISEN;
F. H. ROBISON.
The names of the five whom I suggest as possibly amongst the most suitable from which
to fill vacancies in the Editorial Committee are as follows: A. E. Burgess, Robert Hirsh,
Isaac Hoskins, Geo. H. Fisher (Scranton), J. F. Rutherford, Dr. John Edgar.
The following announcement shall appear in each issue of THE WATCH TOWER, followed by
the names of the Editorial Committee:
ZION'S WATCH TOWER EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
This journal is published under the supervision of an Editorial Committee, at least
three of whom must have read and have approved as TRUTH each and every article appearing
in these columns. The names of the Committee now serving are: (names to follow.)
As for compensation, I think it wise to maintain the Society's course of the past in
respect to salaries-that none be paid; that merely reasonable expenses be allowed to those
who serve the Society or its work in any manner. In harmony with the course of the
Society, I suggest that the provision for the Editorial Committee, or the three that shall
be actively engaged, shall consist of not more than a provision for their food and shelter
and ten dollars per month with such a moderate allowance for wife or children or others
dependent upon them for support as the Society's Board of Directors shall consider proper,
just, reasonable- that no provision be made for the laying up of money.
I desire that the OLD THEOLOGY QUARTERLY continue to appear as at present, so far as
the opportunities for distribution and the laws of the land will permit, and that its
issues shall consist of reprints from the old issues of THE WATCH TOWER or extracts from
my discourses, but that no name shall appear in connection with the matter unless the same
is required by law.
It is my wish that the same rules apply to the German, the French, the Italian, the
Danish, and the Swedish or any other foreign publications controlled or supported by the
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY.
I will that a copy of this paper be sent to each one whose name has appeared above as
of the Editorial Committee or the list from whom others of that committee may be chosen to
fill vacancies and also to each member of the Board of Directors of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE
AND TRACT SOCIETY. This shall be done immediately on my death being reported so that
within a week, if possible, the persons named as of the Editorial Committee may be heard
from, their communications being addressed to the Vice-President of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE
AND TRACT SOCIETY-whoever may be holding that office at that time. The answers of those
appointed shall be to the point, indicating their acceptance or rejection of the
provisions and terms specified.
Meantime the remainder of the committee of at least three shall proceed to act in their
capacity as editors. It shall be the duty of the officers of the Society to provide the
necessary arrangements for these members of the Editorial Committee and to assist them in
their duties in every possible manner, in compliance with the engagements made with me
bearing on this matter.
I have already donated to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY all my voting shares
therein, putting the same in the hands of five Trustees, as follows: Sr. E. Louise
Hamilton; Sr. Almeta M. Nation Robison; Sr. J. G. Herr; Sr. C. Tomlins; Sr. Alice G.
James. These Trustees shall serve for life. In event of deaths or resignations successors
shall be chosen by the WATCH TOWER SOCIETY Directors and Editorial Committee and the
remaining Trustees after prayer for Divine guidance.
I now provide for the impeachment and dismissal from the Editorial Committee of any
member thereof found to be unworthy the position by reason of either doctrinal or moral
laches, as follows:
At least three of the Board must unite in bringing the impeachment charges, and the
Board of Judgment in the matter shall consist of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY'S
trustees and the five trustees controlling my voting shares and the Editorial Committee,
excepting the accused. Of these sixteen members at least thirteen must favor the
impeachment and dismissal in order to effect the same.
DIRECTIONS FOR FUNERAL
I desire to be buried in the plot of ground owned by our Society, in the Rosemont
United Cemetery, and all the details of arrangements respecting the funeral service I
leave in the care of my sister, Mrs. M. M. Land, and her daughters, Alice and May, or such
of them as may survive me, with the assistance and advice and cooperation of the brethren
as they may request the same. Instead of an ordinary funeral discourse, I request that
they arrange to have a number of the brethren, accustomed to public speaking, make a few
remarks each, that the service be very simple and inexpensive and that it be conducted in
the Bible House Chapel or any other place that may be considered equally appropriate or
more so.
MY LEGACY OF LOVE
To the dear "Bethel" family collectively and individually I leave my best
wishes, in hoping for them of the Lord His blessing, which maketh rich and addeth no
sorrow. The same I extend in a still broader sweep to all the family of the Lord in every
place-especially to those rejoicing in the Harvest Truth. I entreat you all that you
continue to progress and to grow in grace, in knowledge, and above all in love, the great
fruit of the Spirit in its various diversified forms.
I exhort to meekness, not only with the world, but with one another; to patience with
one another and with all men, to gentleness with all, to brotherly kindness, to godliness
to purity. I remind you that all these things are necessary for us, necessary that we may
attain the promised Kingdom, and that the Apostle has assured us that if we do these
things we shall never fail, but that "so an entrance shall be ministered unto us
abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
It is my wish that this, my Last Will and Testament, be published in the issue of THE
WATCH TOWER following my death.
My hope for myself, as for all the dear Israel of God is that soon we shall meet to
part no more, in the First Resurrection, in the Master's presence, where there is fulness
of joy forevermore. We shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness-
"Changed from glory unto glory."
(Signed)
CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL.
PUBLISHED AND DECLARED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WITNESSES WHOSE NAMES ARE ATTACHED:
MAE F. LAND;
M. ALMETA NATION;
LAURA M. WHITEHOUSE.
DONE AT ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE TWENTY-NINE, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN.