"Russell recommended his followers read the book, Angels and Women. He personally supervised its editing and said it was beneficial because it throws light on certain Biblical subjects."
On another site we find the following:
"This book Angels & Women was a book written by a friend of Russells. She claims to have listened to beautiful music and then was impelled to write the book. It is said a "spirit" "dictated" the novel to her, as he desired to return to God's organization."
The author continues:
"I found the actual scan of Russell giving a Review of the Book in the Golden Age July 30th, 1924 pg. 702.
What are the facts?
The fact is that the book titled "Angels and Women" did not exist while Russell was alive. Brother Russell never mentioned such a book, nor did he write any advice to anyone to read that book. The reference to "God's organization" in the quote above is evidently in reference to "organization" as used by the JWs. Russell himself did not believe in such an organization.
In 1878, a book by the name “Seola,” written by Mrs. J. Gregory Smith (pen name), was published. The author's real name was Ann Eliza Smith. We have no evidence that Mrs. Smith was associated with the Bible Students, and we have not found any record of any friendship that existed between Russell and Mrs. Smith. The book was evidently written as a fiction novel, although some made an assertion that Smith claimed to have written it in under the influence of the spirit world. We have not read this book (nor do we indeed to read it), but although we have found no such claim from Mrs. Smith that she wrote the book under the influence of spirits. Nevertheless, if what is reported to be in the book is true, then it may have been that she was indeed either knowingly or unknowingly under the influence of the demons. It is reported that Mrs. Smith would probably not have had the knowledge presented in the book except by such an influence. At any rate, some have claimed that Mrs. Smith wrote the book through what is often called “automatic writing,” which is a form of spiritism in which a spirit actually does the writing through a human being.
In 1924, another book was published by the A.B. ABAC Company, of New York, entitled “Angels and Women,” which is based on the earlier book by J. G. Smith. As far as we have been able to determine, contrary to what is being stated on several sites, this book was never published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, nor by the International Bible Students Association.
From what we have read, we conclude that this later book was not exactly the same as the book “Seola,” but rather the book “Angels and Women” is an revised version of the earlier book. We are still not sure who edited this later book, but there is a reference to a “Bible Student” who was “a personal friend of Pastor Russell.” This comes from a review of the book as presented in The Golden Age magazine (this magazine was not printed in Russell’s day, nor is this "review" attributed to Brother Russell), thus the “Bible Student” was probably actually a follower of Rutherford and Rutherford’s new teachings and organization. Below is the "review" as presented in The Golden Age, July 30, 1924 p. 702:
We present the following quote from The Golden Age, December 3, 1924:
Of course, Rutherford himself had been a personal friend of Russell’s before Russell died, but we know that after Russell died, Rutherford rejected and often misrepresented what Russell taught and said. One author, Ken Raines, claims that a JW told him that the revisor was “Ed Brenisen,” who was indeed a follower of Rutherford, and what became the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” leadership.
Below are links to both books as found on archive.org:
While we cannot be certain what happened while Russell was alive that he did not write about, there is nothing in any of the writings of Russell that speaks of a book called "Seola" nor of “Angels and Women” Indeed, the revised book, "Angels and Women" did not exist in the days of Russell. There is no evidence at all from Russell's writings that Russell personally supervised its editing, as claimed. Indeed, we cannot be certain that Russell ever actually read the book, Seola. However, although we cannot be certain, it is possible that Russell did come across a copy of the book “Seola,” written by Mrs. J. G. Smith, and it is also possible that he might have suggested that some of his co-workers might read the book to see how it might relate to the Bible. He may have desired their feedback concerning the book. We highly doubt that Russell actually thought of revising such a book for publication, although we believe that it might have been possible that he had thought of writing an publication related to the Biblical account of the angels who married women before the Flood of Noah's day. Without actually having been there, we cannot actually know what may have happened.
We do know that Russell several times in his writings showed how the demons will present truths in order to get people to accept a greater lie. Thus, he could have had this in mind regarding this book, if he had read it. If he did not read it but only read about the book, he may have requested some to read it in order to inform him of its contents. We do not find any thing written by Russell in which he was “recommending” or that he endorsed the book Seola to his readers, or that he gave approval to this book, or that he thought of revising the book for publication. Nevertheless, he often sought to get the opinion and suggestions from others concerning if and how such items might be related to the Bible. Since Brother Russell never mentioned that book in his writings, we believe it possible that Russell decided against any use of the book.
However, those who claim that he recommended the book, Angels and Women, are obviously in error. The only book that he could possibly have recommended to his associates would have been the book, “Seola,” since the later revision did not exist in his time. Additionally, those who claim that the review of the book, Angels and Women, that appeared in The Golden Age was written by Russell are also obviously in error. Surely, however, if he had endorsed or gave approval to the book Seola, there would be some record of such a recommendation in his writings, but there is no such recommendation. We could find no mention of either book in the Bible Students DVD Library. As a whole, we would say that Bible Students have nothing to do with either book.
We do know that Russell several times in his writings showed how the demons will present truths in order to get people to accept a greater lie. Thus, he could have had this in mind regarding this book, if he had read it. If he did not read it but only read about the book, he may have requested some to read it in order to inform him of its contents. We do not find any thing written by Russell in which he was “recommending” or that he endorsed the book Seola to his readers, or that he gave approval to this book, or that he thought of revising the book for publication. Nevertheless, he often sought to get the opinion and suggestions from others concerning if and how such items might be related to the Bible. Since Brother Russell never mentioned that book in his writings, we believe it possible that Russell decided against any use of the book.
However, those who claim that he recommended the book, Angels and Women, are obviously in error. The only book that he could possibly have recommended to his associates would have been the book, “Seola,” since the later revision did not exist in his time. Additionally, those who claim that the review of the book, Angels and Women, that appeared in The Golden Age was written by Russell are also obviously in error. Surely, however, if he had endorsed or gave approval to the book Seola, there would be some record of such a recommendation in his writings, but there is no such recommendation. We could find no mention of either book in the Bible Students DVD Library. As a whole, we would say that Bible Students have nothing to do with either book.
The Golden Age, in 1924, claims that Russell personally supervised the editing of the later edition, and wished that it be published at an opportune time. However, we do not put much faith in what was being said by the leadership of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1924, since there were many statements being made after Russell died that have been proven untrue. Nothing from Russell's day gives any testimony at all that Russell supervised any editing or revisions of that book.
Some have claimed that the Foreword in the book, Angels and Women, was written by Charles Taze Russell. Again, Russell usually put his name in the Forewords that he wrote to any book. We do not find his name in the Foreword of the book, Angels and Women.
Some have claimed that the Foreword in the book, Angels and Women, was written by Charles Taze Russell. Again, Russell usually put his name in the Forewords that he wrote to any book. We do not find his name in the Foreword of the book, Angels and Women.
References (We do not necessarily agree with all the conclusions and/or statements made by these authors):
Seola (Wikipedia)
The Golden Age’s Review and Endorsement of "Angels and Women,”
Ken Raines
“Anne Eliza Smith”, article in Wikipedia:
If anyone has any actual facts related to this, feel free to contact us.
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