Russell and his associates never called themselves "Russellites"; this was a name given them by others, not a name that they called themselves. The Bible Students still exist today totally separate from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The only shares that anyone owned of the WTS were "voting shares"; no capital stock was ever issued to anyone, not to Russell or anyone else. However, for each contribution of $10.00 any contributor was entitled to one voting share. By 1915 there were nearly two hundred thousand shares, most of which I understand were owned by people other than Russell, and as it was written in 1915, though "it would be an easy matter to elect some other man as president, there never has been cast a vote against Pastor Russell."

The false statements appear to be based on Russell's use of a non-incorporated company called "United States Investment Company". This company was formed as a limited partnership by Russell around 1896 in Pennsylvania in which Russell put up the money for and capital was recorded in his name and two others. This may be where all the idea of Russell owning 90% of the Watch Tower Society has come from, although this company was not the Watch Tower Society, nor was it even a corporation. Russell evidently formed this company because some had objected to the Watch Tower Society's receiving and selling real estate and other items, so this "company" had been formed for that purpose, to take care of this in a business manner totally separate from the Watch Tower Society. Of course, this made it appear at least on paper that Russell had 90% interest in any property and assets owned by this company so his opponents saw this as reason to promote all kinds of wild speculations and false accusations, which evidently became twisted to what is stated in the Eagle story. In truth any profits that came from business activities of this company went directly to the Watch Tower Society. No one was receiving any secret profit from this company. This company had nothing at all to do with the sale of "Miracle Wheat", nor was this company a "holding company" for all monies of the Watch Tower Society.

No charge of incest, or any other sexual immorality, was ever brought into any court against Russell. Russell's wife did make a lot of insinuations, and hearsay statements supposedly said to Mrs. Russell implying that he had been inappropriately intimate with a foster-daughter that Mr. Russell and his wife were caring for, but in none of the statements was there any actual charge presented of adultery, or incest. The judge overruled their admission on the grounds that there were no proof, and also because of Mrs. Russell's statement that she was not bring a charge of adultery against her husband, thus all of this testimony was considered irrelevant, although that did not keep the Eagle from using this and twisting it to destroy the reputation of Russell as much as possible.

 

The Eagle, in its hatred for Russell, used this a form of attack against Russell. If this happened to anyone else but Russell (and I am sure similar things have happened to other speakers), it may have been thought of as a funny happening, but I doubt anyone would have given much greater thought to such an event.

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