When I was recently making a list of the reference books in my personal collection, I recalled that there was this  book that the witnesses were afraid of.  I was in my early twenties, and this fellow in the congregation had upset all the elders because he had read this book (Thirty Years A Watchtower Slave) and he tried to tell everyone he came across that the witnesses were wrong.  They couldn't disfellowship him because he had never been baptised.  I remember them "labeling" him in front of the congregation, saying he was "mentally deficient".  We were all warned to stay away from him.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with this man.  He was a good man with good and honorable intentions.  He and his wife had studied for awhile, and then he found that book.  That was it. His wife babysat for me and he showed me the book and tried to get me to read it, but I was afraid to even touch it.  Right now, I can't imagine being that "controlled", but I was.

Has anyone read that book?  I'm going to try and find it at the library as soon as I can. 

Thanks,

Sentinel

William J. Schnell

Published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan  1957 (First printing 1956)

The full title is Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave The Confessions of a Converted Jehovah's Witness.

"Dedicated to the memory of my Father, who while dying said to me, "Son, have we been wrong in our religion?"

If you need excerpts, I'd be glad to oblige.

Craig

 

 

Here's the url for the book by William Schnell:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-7387957-3331160

An elder gave me the book about 10 years ago!

Some think the book is written from bitterness, I prefer to think it sounds more remorseful than bitter, the guy had a lot to regret. A lot of WT history in it from the veiw of someone who lived through the Rutherford era.

Note that he wrote a second book entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses Errors Exposed."  Also available at Amazon.com.

Sentinel,

I read Schnell's book when it first came out. At that time, I thought his tone was too angry. I reread it again a few months back and did not perceive at as so angry as I did the first time.
I would not recommend it as the first thing to read for a JW fence sitter, but after someone is out and has a different perspective, I think it is an excellent book to read. I especially enjoyed Schnell's insider's view of the Rutherford era.

I am reading it now. There are times when I don't enjoy the tone but I can appreciate that this man sacrificed his life for the org only to find the extreme hypocracy that it turned into.

He seems to be a man with conviction. And he speaks loudly and very clearly of Rutherford's plan for the organization to become a huge publishing company rather than a religion.

Some fascinating comments in view of some of the things we are learning now. In fact the more I read the more I think he knew and saw exactly the changes occurring that gives us the org we now have.

I think those who read it now will see the clarity this man has concerning the direction the org was going. He nails it - well at least as far as I have read

  

An interesting piece of trivia RE: Schnell:

 

(Apparently when he still had the "blinkers" on)

 

 

 

 

  A CONTINUED TESTIMONY OF DIVINE APPROVAL

DEAR BROTHER RUTHERFORD:

            Having a part in this wondrous witness work has filled my

heart with joy and gladness.

            From my childhood days (I was fourteen when I started

witnessing) until now, I've experienced a guiding hand, lead-

ing me to better usefulness, equipping me with better tools

and teaching me to use them effectively to the praise and

honor of our Father's name. Through all these years I've

come to the realization of a great truth: that by constant

devotion to his service, in his witness work, we learn to love

our Father above everything else and to appreciate the great

truths which he gives us through The Watchtower, which truths

again lead us to increased devotion and usefulness.

            I cannot help but notice that we are privileged with more

light in one issue of The Watchtower now than we were in

one whole year fifteen years ago. Such is real cause for joy;

for we know that only those can follow the light who have

made use of previous instructions. It shows our Father's ap-

proval of our course of action. For that reason I am always

eagerly awaiting the next issue, as an appreciation and under-

stading of each Tower is a continued testimony to me that

I have still the approval of my Father; for it simply drives

me on with more pep.

            This work is the Lord's work, and all honor is due to him.

I feel so elated with it, and particularly because of its in-

creased effectiveness. During the past year I've had marvel-

ous experiences with one branch of it, namely, the radio work.

Your radio efforts are greatly blessed by the Lord. It's a

grand remover of lies and errors.

            One lady was so sorry she had been harsh to one of the

J. w's a year ago that she cried. She said that your lectures

had opened her eyes to what we're doing, and I placed ten

volumes with her, and was fed and treated like a king.

            The station in Athens, Ga., is doing great work. Due to

your broadcasts there, we placed over a hundred volumes in

four days in the business section. The books were taken be-

cause they liked the lectures. Your lectures reach people we

couldn't get at before. I worked in an exclusive section in

Anderson, S.C., one Sunday morning. I placed many books

with the people, and heard your voice in about twelve homes

while working. Needless to say, I didn't have to say much

to place books.

            I've had many more such experiences, but this letter is get-

ting too long. Just wanted to tell you why I am so happy,

and I do know that you'll be glad, too, to know. May the

Lord continue to bless you, my dear brother, for you certainly

have been a lot of encouragement to me.

                        Yours for kingdom service,

                                                WILLIAM J. SCHNELL, Pioneer. 

 

 

 

 

--- From The Watchtower August 15, 1935 page 256

 

               

It's mainly about wt rapid progress in germany under rutherford.  Many techniques that the wt first tried there were later also used in the US.  It's a great book!  It's not that big, but i heard that an earlier version of it that had more content.  Can anyone confirm or deny that?

SS

Nancee,

: It's not that big, but i heard that an earlier version of it that had more content.  Can anyone confirm or deny that?

The one that you can still buy is an abridged version.  I have both the abridged paperback and the original handbound copies.  The original obviously has more content.  Schnell does sound a bit off his rocker at times, particularly when he opined the the mark of the beast or 666 applied directly to the WT society.

As larc pointed out, the book is most valuable for Schnell's obversations about life in Bethel under JFR.  Little tidbits like about how Rutherford discovered he could make tons of money by selling convention badges are priceless.

Schnell was not a writer, and admitted as much. The book is not smooth and not polished, but is still well worth getting and reading.

Farkel