Watchtower Symbols Similar to Freemasons

We are responding a video on Youtube entitled, "JW.ORG Watchtower Symbols Similar To Freemasons". Please note that we are associated with JW.ORG, and we are not responding to defend the JW organization. Since the video has much to do with Charles Taze Russell, however, we believe that all Bible Students should be concerned about what is being said about him. 

Bohnet's drawing,
reproduced from the 1919
Bible Students Convention Report

We are first presented with what is siad to be a picture of "Charles Taze Russell's pyramid." The picture displayed is NOT actually Charles Taze Russell's "pyramid", but rather it is the drawing of J. A. Bohnet which he presented to Joseph Rutherford a few years after Russell died. It was claimed that Brother Russell had authorized the construction of this pyramid in the lots owned by the Watch Tower Society in the United Rosemont Cemetery. However, in all the writings of Brother Russell, we have found no reference that speaks of the construction of a pyramid in the Rosemont Cemetery, nor has any written authorization by Russell ever been produced. See the 1919 Bible Students Convention Report.

The video refers to the Knights Templar. To be a member of the Knights Templar, one has to not only be a member of the Freemasons, but one has to profess to be a Christian. One has to also accept man's trinitarian creeds. Nevertheless, since the video is looking for similarities, the very fact that the  Knights Templar professes to be Christian and uses the Bible would produce similarities with works of all Christians. 

At any rate, the pyramid that was constructed in the Rosemont Cemetery was officially authorized by Joseph Rutherford, thus we refer the pyramid as Rutherford's pyramid, not Russell's pyramid. It should be obvious, however, the pyramid was constructed in connection with Russell's study of God's Witness in Egypt. Indeed, Rutherford's pyramid monument is a replica of the God's witness in Egypt, generally referred to as the "Great Pyramid", and that monument was definitely built to honor that "witness" in Egypt. Spaces were left for many names to be inscribed on that monument and a few were inscribed. However, since a very few years later Rutherford rejected the Great Pyramid as being God's witness in Egypt, most of the spaces for names were left blank.

Nevertheless, the fact that the Knights Templar used any "symbols" similar to that which Russell used does not mean that Russell used such symbolism to represent anything related to the Knights Templar or the Masons. Brother Russell used symbolism to represent many various scriptural truths, not to give support to the Knight Templar or the Freemasons. The Knights Templar claim to be Christian, and thus much of their symbolism also reflects Biblical symbolism.

Watch Tower   

The video presents a picture, evidently used by the Knight Templar, with has towers on the top front corners of the building, which could be referred to as towers. These resemble the towers that were found on many castles that were constructed in what is often called the "Middle Ages" in many alleged "Christian" countries. 

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, England

Nevertheless, Russell's usage of such a tower was to illustrate what is in the Bible; there is no genuine evidence of any connection with the Knights Templar, or the Freemasons. Indeed, anything that could be considered as "evidence" would have to be what is imagined and assumed, and then what is imagined and assumed would have to be further imagined and assumed to be fact.

The Cross and Crown Symbol

The video presents the following picture of a Knights Templar cross and crown illustration, and then falsely claims that the Watch Tower uses "the exact same image".  Here a copy of the picture presented in the video:

Nowhere is the Watch Tower or any of the publications of Russell's day have we found this exact same image. The cross and crown illustrations found on the Watch Tower were like this:

One should be able to see that while they are similar to that used by the Knights Templar, they are not exactly the same.

Nevertheless, Russell's usage of cross and crown imagery is simply based on the Bible. Similar cross and crown imagery has been used by many Christian denominations. At times, one can find pins or jewelry in Christian bookstores that contain similar cross and crown imagery. One can search the internet and find that various cross and crown images haves been used by almost all the major denominations of Christendom. Brother Russell's usage of a cross and crown is based on the Bible, not the Freemasons. Nevertheless, we do not know of any time that Brother Russell used the "exact same symbol" as shown of a Knights Templar pin.

Lamp Illustration of God's Word

The video next presents a picture taken from the cover of the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, which we reproduce below:

Even this picture appears to show the Bible below the lamp, thus signifying God's Word as being the lamp. However, we have not found anyplace that Russell used the exact same image, but he did use a similar "lamp" illustration of Psalm 119:106.

Nevertheless, Brother Russell's usage of such a symbol is simply based on the Bible, not the Freemasons.

Picture of lamp over a Bible
as found on the stem of Russell's books

***below needs to be edited

Armor of God   

This video presents a picture of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) illustration that appeared on the top right corner of Russell's Watch Tower. We reproduce this below:

It is claimed that this is also a Masonic symbol, as some of the Freemasons use such a symbol. We can find many different images sued by various Freemasons that have some kind of amory in it, but we have not found anything that is exactly the same as what appeared the Watch Tower illustration. At any rate, Russell's symbolism is based on the Bible, not the Freemasons or anyone else who may have used any similar illustration.

Of course, symbolism can mean different things to different people; such symbolism, of itself, is not necessarily "pagan"; otherwise one would have to claim the Bible itself is "pagan" because of the symbolism expressed therein. Furthermore, the usage of any symbol, of itself, does not necessarily represent "idol worship".

It would be silly to think that any and every floor that is checkered in design must be a "Masonic symbol."

Jehovah's Eye

Since the symbolism of Jehovah's eye is used in the Bible, then if one is to find fault with the usage of such, and if one is consistent, one should fault the Bible for using such symbolism. -- Psalm 33:18; see also Deuteronomy 11:12; 2 Chronicles 7:16; 16:9; Psalms 11:4; 32:8; 34:15; 94:9; Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 22:12; Ezekiel 7:4,9; Amos 9:8; Zechariah 2:8.

Jehovah's Witness in Egypt

There is nothing at all wrong with the scriptural realization of Jehovah's "witness" in Egypt (Isaiah 19:19,20), known generally as the "Great Pyramid" of Egypt, nor is there anything wrong of providing an illustration of the pyramid passages and one's beliefs concerning what these passages symbolize, in agreement with the Bible. The evidence that the Great Pyramid is indeed Jehovah's "witness" in the land of Egypt is extraordinary, to say the least.

A picture is presented of Paul preaching to the Athenians (9:13) and the focus is placed on an "owl" in that picture. I do not know who drew the picture, but Brother Russell stated that the pictures he used came from many different sources. Nevertheless, the picture of an "owl" is not out of place in Athens, as this was a common symbol used especially throughout the city of Athens to represent the goddess Athena. Whoever drew the picture probably had this in mind, as related to the worship of many idol gods. -- Acts 17:16,22,23.

See also our resource page on Charles Taze Russell and the Freemasons.