Charles Taze Russell, Watch Tower, the Masons, and the Occult

He cried as a lion: Lord, I stand continually on the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights. — Isaiah 21:8, World English

Isaiah 21:11-12 - The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? [12] The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. -- King James Version

Habakkuk 2:1 - I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. -- King James Version.

It is often claimed that the word “Watch Tower” and the illustration that Russell used on his magazine are of Masonic and/or heathen occult origins. From this, many  further imagine that this offers proof that Russell was a member of the Freemasons’ organization, or that Russell was highly influenced by the Freemasons’ organization, and/or that Russell was involved in some kind of alleged occult practices. Most of these claims are presented related the "Jehovah's Witnesses". We are not with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and we do not defend that organization. Charles Taze Russell was never a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. He believed that such organizations are formed under the influence of Satan and/or the demons. A video on Youtube claims: "The Watch Tower itself is a symbol of the occult." These leaves the impression that anyone who uses a watch tower illustration must be associated with "the occult".

In all the alleged proofs that have been presented to us, we find that any connection with the Freemasons or the occult has to be imagined and assumed, and then the assumed connection is presented as being fact. And yet the fact is that Russell was definitely never a member the Jehovah's Witnesses' organization, nor was he involved in any heathen occult practices. Evidently, what is being imagined and assumed is that the term Watch Tower itself is Masonic, and thus anyone who uses that term must be a Freemason, or be highly influenced by the Freemasons. 

Likewise, it evidently imagined the usage of Watchtower symbolism is itself of the occult, and thus anyone who uses this symbol must be involved with the occult. One of the alleged proofs is that the tarot cards make use of a tower. Evidently, the reasoning is that since the tarot card make use of a tower, then any tower must be demonic and of the occult. The reality is that such reasoning would make the Bible itself of the occult, since the Bible speaks approvingly of towers, and presents God's name as being a strong tower. (2 Chronicles 14:7; 26:4,9; 32:5;  2 Kings 9:17; 18:8; 2 Samuel 22:3,51; Nehemiah 12:38,39; Psalm 18:2; 61:3; 144:2; Proverbs 18:10; Song of Solomon 4:4; Isaiah 5:2; 21:8,11,12; Habakkuk 2:1) This kind of reasoning, if consistent, would make the sun, the moon and the stars and many of things God has created to be of the occult, since they are used in occult practices.

This is the same "witch hunt"-type logic that is used concerning Russell’s Biblical use of the cross and crown (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10) and the Christian armor (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:7; Ephesians 6:11-13) illustrations. In other words, what is being offered as proof is not the illustrations that Russell used, by rather what is being imagined and assumed concerning those illustrations.

Tarot Cards with Towers

The tower illustration that appeared on the cover of Russell's magazine is similar to the towers that existed on many castles that were constructed during what is often called the "middle ages", or as some prefer, "the dark ages". We do not know that in Isaiah's time that towers were designed in this way, but the illustration still shows the point of being watchful.

Concerning Isaiah 21:11,12, Russell stated:

It is the duty of the watchman on the walls of Zion to declare the whole counsel of God the bitter as well as the sweet. This duty we continually seek to perform. It is appropriate that the glories of the millennial epoch, foretold through God's word, should receive more of our attention than the darker picture of the night of trouble with which it will be introduced. It is appropriate also that we give, as the scriptures do, still more attention to the inculcation of the principles which go to form Christian character amongst the Lord's consecrated people, because these are essentials to their attainment of the glorious privileges and honors of the kingdom. 

-- "The Morning Cometh, and a Night Also", sermon, November 17, 1907.

So far we have not actually found any place wherein Brother Russell directly explained why he chose the name “Watch Tower” for his magazine, but, in application, Russell believed that the Bible should be a guide for what would appear in his magazine, which bore the name “Watch Tower”. The symbol of a Watch Tower evidently signifies watching and heralding information in connection with the Bible and its prophecies.

To this end, Russell presented in the pages of the Watch Tower the following (scriptural references have been expanded for search purposes):

THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS Journal is one of the prime factors or instruments in the system of Bible Instruction, or “Seminary Extension,” now being presented in all parts of the civilized world by the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY, chartered A.D. 1881, “For the Promotion of Christian Knowledge.” It not only serves as a class room where Bible Students may meet in the study of the divine Word, but also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s Conventions and of the coming of its traveling representatives styled “Pilgrims,” and refreshed with reports of its Conventions.

Our “Berean Lessons” are topical rehearsals or reviews of our Society’s published “Studies,” most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V.D.M.), which translated into English is, Minister of the Divine Word. Our treatment of the International S.S. Lessons is specially for the older Bible Students and Teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.

This Journal stands firmly for the defence of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now being so generally repudiated, — Redemption through the precious blood of “the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all.” (1 Peter 1:19; 1 Timothy 2:6.) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Peter 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to — “Make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which…has been hid in God,…to the intent that now might be made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God” — “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed.” — Ephesians 3:5-9,10.

It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the Holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken; — according to the divine wisdom granted unto us, to understand. Its attitude is not dogmatical, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made, to facilitate such testing.

At most, it appears that it was his belief that the Watch Tower magazine would be a sentinel to present truths to spiritual Zion as they are found and understood from the Bible itself.

Regardless, the idea that the word “Watch Tower” as Russell used it is of itself Masonic, or that the Biblical illustration of a Watch Tower is Masonic, or of the occult, is linked only by use of the spirit of human imagination. As we have stated before several times on this site, we have tens of thousands of pages of Russell’s works that abundantly attest that he was not a member of the Freemasons, nor that was "into the occult"; no one has yet presented any evidence -- except for what has to be either distorted, imagined and assumed -- that Russell was a Mason, or that he was being highly influenced by the Masons, or that he was practicing anything of "the occult".