The sun., 1916-11-01
'PASTOR" RUSSELL
DIES ABOARD TRAIN
Stricken With Heart Disease
in Texas While En- Route
From Coast.
HAD
Followers i'm Brooklyn Cannot
Credit News of His
Death.
HAD

CASApiAS, Tex, oct. 31.-Charles
Taze Russell. known as Pastor Russell.
an independent minister. editor OF the
watch Toircr and author or studies on
Scriptures. died this afternoon on an
Atchison. Topeka and Santa re tram
On route from Los Angeles to New YORK.
Heart disease was given as the cause.
Pastor Russell complained OF feeling
III after leaving Los Angeles, his sec
rotary said. ard gradually grew worse.
The end came while the train was
stopped at Pampa, Tex, near here. The
body Is being sent to Kansas city. Mo.
The news of Pastor" Russelfs death
was received with incredibly last night
by the $50 workers and Bible students
at the minister's Community House on
Columbia Heights. Brooklyn.
az can't believe that the pastor Is
dead" said A.. II. Macmillan. Brooklyn
representative Of the preacher. I'VE
would surely have heard from Pastor
Menta Sturgeon. who was travelling
with him on his tour
Mr.. MILAN said that Pastor"
Russell was on n short trip through the
South and West, preaching In half a
dozen cities. ard was to have returned to
preach in his New York Temple, on West
S!xty-third street, near Central Park
West, on November 5.
Collapsed Three Tines In Day.
When asked whether he had heard Of
any recent Illness OF the preacher Mr..
Macmillan admitted that he had heard
tina he had collapsed three times last
Tuesday while speaking in San Antonio.
For more han a quarter OF a century
"Pastor" Russell stood "a unique figure
among the ministers of all creeds and
sects He belonged to no denomination
ard subscribed TO the tenets OF no re-
ligion. bas!ng his preaching only on the
Bible. His activities had frequently at
tracted to him widespread publicity and
on several occasions he had sued news
papers for defamation OF character as
the result OF articles printed concerning
him.
In 1914 his sermons were printed in
400 ~ewspaper throughout the coun-
try, together with his picture. The
money for this huge amount OF advertis-
ing was derived. according to his assist
ants, from the sale of his books. a set OF
six entitled Studies In Scriptures" and
from voluntary donations.
Born In 1859.
"Pas.or" Russell was born in Pitts
burg on February l6. 1852. the son OF
Joseph l.. and Anna Eliza Russell. He
was educated chiefly by private tutors
and never attended a theological semi
nary. When a young man he had
charge OF several mems furnishing stores
IT. Allegheny, Pa, hut in 1875 he left this
business and established the Watch
Toteer. a religious paper. He then be-
gan to preach his doctrine. declaring that
there was no he'll other han that suf-
fered on earth. The following year he
married Maria Francis .Achley In Pitts
burg. She was greatly interested in the
work. and helped him to run the Watch
2oirer.
In 1851 the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society WAS Incorporated with thu
pastor" rs its president. He continued
his religious work with the support OF
his wife for thirteen years. Then thu
two disagreed. and in 1897 separated
Mrs, Russell in 1903 began action for q
separation. and in 1906. after sensational
testimony. secured a decree. Litigation
concerning the a.imony WAS settled II
1909, when he paid s6.o3s to his wife
who is now living in Avalon. Pa.
IL was in 1903 also that the pastor
moved TO Brooklyn. One ncident of tn,
preachers career was the sale Of Mi
racle Wheat" calculated to produce fave
times as much as any other brand o.
wheat, at 81 a pound.
The Watch Toicer advertised this seed
and members of the Pastors" society
praised it in glowing words. The pro-
ceeds of the sale were to go TO the Wdtcl
Toper and to be expended for the pub
~lication OF the Pastors" sermons.
The Brooklyn Eagle paid so much un'
fattering attention TO Miracle Wheat
that the Pastor sued the paper for libel
hu, the case was decided In favor Of tn
newspaper.
Since the outbreak Of the European
war the followers of the preacher hav'
tet forth the claim that he predicted tn
present war.
The annual report OF the Tract Societ,
for 1912 showed that Sl69.234.23 ha
been received, but only partly reveale
the income of the Pastors" activities
Some of this money was from donor
who wished TO leave their money in hi
hands, since the end OF the world wa
near.
In 1911. the Pastor went on a tou
around the world to inspect missions an
TO preach HIS doctrine. Pastor Russo
also wrote and caused to be produced !
his New York Temple a photo-dram
called "creation." which. it Is said, DIRE
nearly 1000. 900 persons to see 1t.
The "Pastor" last appeared In publ!
prints in July last when he was sent q
the request OF the Canadian immigratio
authttSIes fromFanada across the borde
on ~ ground that he was making &C
dresses harmful to recruiting.