When was use of cross in illustrations abandoned?

by cabasilas 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  blondie

  Once again, the cross/crown symbol was removed from the WT cover in 1931. Have you found an illustration with Jesus on a cross after that year? I checked my books and nada after 1931. It is just that the explanation came out in 1936. The Bible Students used to wear a cross/crown pin and were asked to turn those in about that time (1928) as well.

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  yb75 pp. 148-149 Part 2—United States of America ***

  Another change in viewpoint involved the "cross and crown" symbol, which appeared on the Watch Tower cover beginning with the issue of January 1891. In fact, for years many Bible Students wore a pin of this kind. By way of description, C. W. Barber writes: "It was a badge really, with a wreath of laurel leaves as the border and within the wreath was a crown with a cross running through it on an angle. It looked quite attractive and was our idea at that time of what it meant to take up our ‘cross’ and follow Christ Jesus in order to be able to wear the crown of victory in due time."

  Concerning the wearing of "cross and crown pins," Lily R. Parnell comments: "This to Brother Rutherford’s mind was Babylonish and should be discontinued. He told us that when we went to the people’s homes and began to talk, that was the witness in itself." Accordingly, reflecting on the 1928 Bible Students convention in Detroit, Michigan, Brother Suiter writes: "At the assembly the cross and crown emblems were shown to be not only unnecessary but objectionable. So we discarded these items of jewelry." Some three years thereafter, beginning with its issue of October 15, 1931, The Watchtower no longer bore the cross and crown symbol on its cover.

  A few years later Jehovah’s people first learned that Jesus Christ did not die on a T-shaped cross. On January 31, 1936, Brother Rutherford released to the Brooklyn Bethel family the new book Riches. Scripturally, it said, in part, on page 27: "Jesus was crucified, not on a cross of wood, such as is exhibited in many images and pictures, and which images are made and exhibited by men; Jesus was crucified by nailing his body to a tree."

  Blondie
• 

  cabasilas

  But the 1932 booklet shows Christ on a stake.

  The official history states the explanation came in 1936. But, that doesn't make sense if the WT Society was publishing a picture of Christ on a stake in 1932.

  Is the official history wrong about the change being explained in 1936? Was there some sort of statement earlier? One would think there would be if they would publish a picture of Christ on a stake in 1932.
• 

  BluesBrother

  I cannot give a definitive answer, but I would accept Blondie's word on the matter

  "let god be true" (wt 1946 ) my friend has the 1952 version of the same book. both say Jesus was crucified on a cross.

  I have open here a copy of "The Truth shall Make You Free"(c1943), p 261 has an illustration of the three victims hanging on stakes , as in modern WT pictures, the text refers to "Jesus death on a tree" . It does however quote from the King James Bible as the NWT had yet to be produced . The scripture from John 19 reads "Shall I crucify your King?"

  So, with a stake, a tree and a crucifixion all on the same page, I wonder if the readers got confused?
• 

  blondie

  Did you look those earlier citations I got from the WT index?

  Also, my quotes show that it had been discussed and acted on in 1928 regarding the pins, and do you think the cross/crown disappeared from the cover of the WT in 1931 without the newly minted JWs noticing. Rutherford had mentioned it in his talks before 1931. I would be focusing more on that than illustrations in the WTS publications. The WTS was in control of what was in the publications. Now if they had told the rank and file in 1931 that they had to get rid of any crosses on the walls of their private homes....that probably would have prompted an article.

  By removing the cross from the WT publications starting in 1931, I would expect Rutherford was conditioning the rank and file for the article and book in 1936. You have to remember that this was during his conflict with the Bible Student elders (elected) that he little control over. Gradually, he removed their power by making their selection come from the top rather than from the congregation level. By 1938 he had completely consolidated his power over the congregations.

  That's my explanation. I would check the publications between 1928 and 1936 and you might find more said about the cross being pagan.

  Blondie
• 

  cabasilas

  True, the WT Society has done this sort of "conditioning" with other things. (Such as the demise of 1874 as the start of Christ's presence.)

  What I found interesting is that the Society would publish a picture of Christ on a stake in 1932. Perhaps the explanation for the change from cross to stake was mainly in lectures and did not get into print until 1936. I did a search of the Watchtower pdfs from 1928 to 1932 and started seeing a jump in uses of Christ dying on a "tree" in 1932 (the February 15th issue). Perhaps "tree" was the preferred term as they rejected the idea of Christ dying on a cross?

  I still wonder if there is some printed explanation before 1936. It just might be in something not generally available today (such as the Golden Age or a convention brochure).
• 

  blondie

  Here are some references from the WT Index:

  g36 11/4 72; g34 2/28 336; ; w37 232; en (Enemies) 187-188; ch (Riches) 27

  g = Awake, Golden Age, Consolation

  w = WT
• 

  cabasilas

  Thanks, Blondie, for those references.
  

  Here's a wild theory...and I emphasize it's only a theory.

  Could the rejection of Christ dying on a cross be connected to Rutherford's battle with the vestiges of Russellism in the movement?

  One example: Beards (said to often be grown in imitation of Russell) were shaved off in the late 20s and 30s. I remember reading that the German Branch manager (was it Balzereit?) shaved his beard off to please Rutherford.

  Could the change to a "tree" or "stake" have been partially related to Rutherford's rejection of Russell's "cross and crown" pins?

  Again, it's just a random thought.
• 

  blondie

  I thought that is what I said above:

  By removing the cross from the WT publications starting in 1931, I would expect Rutherford was conditioning the rank and file for the article and book in 1936. You have to remember that this was during his conflict with the Bible Student elders (elected) that he little control over. Gradually, he removed their power by making their selection come from the top rather than from the congregation level. By 1938 he had completely consolidated his power over the congregations.

  Blondie