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Introduction

Jehovah's Witnesses grew out of the 19th-century American Adventist tradition.

• Note: this article uses the term "Witnesses" for clarity throughout, even though the term was not widely used before 1931.

Charles Taze Russell ©

1880s: organised by Charles Taze Russell

It was organised by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), who came from a Presbyterian family in Pittsburgh. He was fascinated by religion from his school days, and discovered Adventist beliefs when he was 17.

In 1875 Russell was introduced to the idea that Christ had returned invisibly to earth in 1874, and soon decided to devote his life to faith. He started Bible study groups and a religious publishing company.

Pastor Russell, as he was often called, launched the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879.

The group continued to preach, convert and publish its magazine and as the membership rose it expanded into neighbouring states.

By 1880 there were scores of congregations around the United States and the following year the Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed.

In 1884 it was incorporated, with Russell as president, and the name was eventually changed to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

Followers of the movement called themselves Bible Students at that time.

1890: first hymn book

In 1890 the Witnesses published Poems and Hymns of the Millennial Dawn which included over 300 hymns and a number of poems.

1900s: growth

By 1909 the work had become international, and the society's headquarters were moved to its present location in Brooklyn, New York.

Printed sermons were syndicated in newspapers, and by 1913 these were being printed in four languages in 3,000 newspapers in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Russell predicted that the anointed would be called to heaven by 1914, although he later amended this date.

Joseph F Rutherford ©

1916: J F Rutherford takes over

After Russell's death in 1916 the movement was led by Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1869-1942).

Rutherford made big changes in the organisation's staff and certain changes to its doctrines. This led some followers to split from the movement and form their own groups.

1916: Witnesses persecuted for wartime pacifism

During the First World War, Witnesses in Britain, Canada and the USA suffered from government action against people who refused conscription into the military forces.

Rutherford and seven of his colleagues were sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to promote draft evasion during a time of war.

The convictions were overturned a year later, but the experience hardened Rutherford's heart against public institutions and he referred to politics, commerce, and religion as "the three chief instruments of the Devil".

Rutherford thought deeply about a key passage in Romans 13, and concluded that the proper interpretation of the passage no longer required Witnesses to cooperate with secular law unless those laws were in accordance with God's laws.

The relationship between the Witnesses and the civil authorities deteriorated further as a result.

1920s: organisational changes

Rutherford introduced what he called "Theocratic Government" to the organisation.

This downgraded democratic elections as a way of choosing local elders, and brought in a highly centralised structure, obedience to which was considered obedience to God.

Rutherford focussed the movement on missionary work, and soon every member who wanted to keep their status had to take part in visiting non-members to try and convert them.

1931: a new name

In 1931, to reflect its greater emphasis on the public witness of missionary work, the movement adopted the title "Jehovah's Witnesses".

1930s and 40s Germany: Persecution by the Nazis

Witnesses had been unpopular in Germany in World War I and this continued.

The Nazis were very hostile to the Witnesses, and punished them under conscription and other laws.

The Witnesses, who had initially tried to reach an accommodation with the German Government to keep the freedom to do their missionary work, were intransigent. They refused to give the Nazi salute, and refused to salute the swastika (regarding that as idolatry).

By the second half of World War II over 50% of German Witnesses had been sent to concentration camps. Overall, one in four German Witnesses died during the Nazi period.

1940s US and UK: Resistance to conscription

The Witnesses resisted conscription into the Allied forces in World War II. In America they refused at that time to accept any alternatives on the grounds that enforced civilian work was also conscription.

Witnesses suffered badly for taking this stand. Some were beaten up, others tarred and feathered, while yet others lost their jobs. Many went to jail: Witnesses made up 75% of those imprisoned as conscientious objectors in the USA.

Nathan Knorr ©

1942: Nathan Knorr takes over

Rutherford was followed as President of the Watch Tower Society by Nathan Homer Knorr (1905-1977).

Knorr was an organisation man, a natural backroom boy who worked hard to make the movement a more efficient missionary machine. The movement grew greatly in numbers during his leadership.

Knorr strengthened the educational work of the Witnesses by setting up the Theocratic Ministry School in each congregation and introducing a range of textbooks and educational products to help members carry out doorstep ministry more effectively.

Knorr advanced the movement's work outside the USA by opening the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead, a training college for missionaries planning to work overseas.

1961: Bible translation

In 1961 the Witnesses published the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, their preferred edition of the Bible. A translation of the New Testament had appeared in 1950.

1962: Compromise with secular authority

In 1962 the Witnesses revised their attitude to secular authority and re-adopted an earlier interpretation of Romans 13 that allowed them to obey all civil laws that did not directly clash with God's laws. This had limited practical effect in comparison with the previous understanding, as most secular laws were already viewed as in accordance with God's laws.

1971: Governing Body takes on a more administrative role

In 1971, the Governing Body began meeting weekly to enable it to more effectively supervise the work of Jehovah's Witnesses. An annual rotation of the chairmanship of the Governing Body began. Previously, the president of the legal corporation served as the regular chairman.

1975: the world doesn't end

In 1966 the Witnesses advanced the date of 1975 as marked in Bible chronology and many extrapolated this as meaning that the end of the current system of things (or some other event that would change the course of history) would probably come in 1975.

When it didn't, the movement suffered a setback and membership declined for three years, but growth was soon resumed.

Shortly after this the religious views of those at the top levels of the movement were investigated, and a few senior members left.

Frederick W Franz ©

1977: Frederick W Franz

Knorr was succeeded as president of the Watch Tower Society by Frederick William Franz (1893-1992), who was a considerable Bible scholar, as well as an organisation man. Franz is thought by many to be one of the scholars behind the Witnesses' edition of the Bible, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, though the identity of the translators has remained anonymous.

1992: Milton Henschel

Milton George Henschel (1920-2003) became president of the Society in 1992, having been a worker for the movement since 1934 and a member of the Governing Body since 1971. He died on March 22 2003, aged 82.

2000: reorganisation of legal corporations

In October 2000 the movement restructured its legal corporations. The Governing Body was completely separated from the Watch Tower Society corporate presidency and board of directors.

Instead of being run by a single corporation, whose directors were members of the Governing Body and whose President was controller of the movement, the Witnesses separated religious and administrative functions. The Governing Body now concentrates on spiritual matters, and several not-for-profit corporations divide the various administrative tasks (and legal responsibilities) between them. The management and workers of these corporations are all volunteers and are all Jehovah's Witnesses.

Milton Henschel stood down as President of the Watch Tower Society but remained on the Governing Body until his death in March 2003. Since 1971, the Governing Body has not had a permanent head, but has a rotating chairman.

2004: Persecution in Russia

For some time Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia had found their freedom restricted. This was exacerbated in June 2004 when a Moscow court banned the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city. This ban led to increased harassment of Witnesses in other parts of Russia as well. The decision of the Moscow court has been appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.