by Fernando 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
A search of wt lib 2010 produces 16 hits for "Robison" of which some refer to Frederick H. Robison.
This website has an independent biography:
http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/FaithfulLaborers/co_laborers.html#robison
In case of link-rot someone may want to copy the biography and paste below?
F. H. ROBISON, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Robison, of Oakland, California, was born February 3, 1885, at Greenwood, Indiana, and it was there that he spent his youth, graduating from high school at the age of fourteen. It was about this time that God touched his heart and he became a believer, affiliating with the Disciples of Christ. Gratitude to God filled him with a desire to dispense the gospel. He entered Franklin College to continue his education and there further displayed an aptitude for languages in the study of New Testament Greek.
Being a gifted student, an earnest seeker after truth, he loved the Word and soon advanced beyond the average, being compelled to look for independent doors of opportunity. Problems presented themselves for solution. Finally he decided to leave the place of his birth. He went to Canada and took out a claim in the Rainy River district of Ontario. He resided there about one year, teaching part time and part time employed in the immigration service. He returned to Indiana in 1904 and entered Butler College in Indianapolis, remaining there until the opening of Winona Technical Institute, also in Indianapolis, and enrolled there as a student of lithography that he might be equipped not only for his present need, but to have the knowledge of a trade, for use in the missionary field. It was his purpose to carry the gospel to Japan independently.
With a year's instruction at the John Herrin Art Institute in Indianapolis and some knowledge of chemistry to his credit, he made splendid progress and in less than two years accepted a position as poster artist in one of the largest lithographing houses in the United States, located at Cleveland, Ohio. He became one of their foremen in charge of artists. It was while in this position that he pursued the reading of Pastor Russell's works, having become slightly interested during his sojourn in Canada. During all this time his linguistic talents were being exercised more or less in the attainment of a knowledge of Spanish, French and German, as well as New Testament Greek. After reading Pastor Russell's works, he employed a Japanese friend to translate some of the literature into Japanese, still thinking of the foreign mission field, but later abandoned this to become a home missionary, as a colporteur for Pastor Russell's works.
After about one year in this new field of endeavor, he prepared for secretarial service and was called to the headquarters of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, then located in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. It was there that he met Miss Almeta Nation, to whom he was married in 1909. He became private secretary to Pastor Russell and held that position until after the Society's offices were transferred to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909, when he was made secretary in charge of the foreign work.
As private secretary to Pastor Russell he accompanied him on a trip around the world with a committee sent to investigate foreign missions. Japan was one of the places visited.
As secretary, of the foreign work he had a good opportunity for pursuing the study of languages and could translate twenty-three in all, giving discourses in German, Greek, and English. He made week-end pilgrimages in and about New York City, addressing both public and private gatherings.
While acting as secretary to Pastor Russell, he was handed a copy of Dr. Bullinger's Apocalypse to read and report the gist of its contents. In response to an inquiry by Pastor Russell after reading, he replied "Dr. Bullinger seems to think that the book of Revelation is for the Jew." Pastor Russell replied, "He may be right."
When the first installment of the CONCORDANT VERSION was issued it fell into the hands of members of the Society, and several called the attention of Headquarters to it. As the plates of the Emphatic Diaglott were worn out, they were looking for something to replace it, and Brother Robison was delegated to call on the Concordant Publishing Concern in Los Angeles, with a view to placing it on the Society's list of literature. When he came it was immediately explained to him that the CONCORDANT VERSION could not, in any way, be changed to suit the views of the Society, but must be held strictly to the facts in the original. At this his face brightened with a radiant smile, as he replied, "That is just what we want!" So it was arranged that a special edition should be published for their use, without notes of any kind. During the ensuing visit as he had presented Brother Knoch with a copy of a small volume on the Revelation, he was given a copy of Dr. Bullinger's book on The Chief Musician. This was chosen because it was of a neutral character, so that he should not be able to say that he had been unduly influenced during his visit. But he was not at all sectarian, and he became much interested in Dr. Bullinger's writings, echoes of which appeared in his articles in the Watchtower. He became vitally concerned with the CONCORDANT VERSION, and suggested that we call the notations above the line superlinear, and those below sublinear, in order to avoid the confusion which interlinear was causing. As he became more and more interested in the truth, his position became precarious. At last, he sent a characteristic post card, announcing the crisis which severed his relations with the International Bible Students Association.
Brother Robison was one of four men designated in the will of Pastor Russell to be co-editors of the Watch Tower, the official organ of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He held this position until the spring of 1922 when he resigned and went to Washington, D. C., to accept secular work as a commercial artist in the art department of the Washington Post. He afterwards served the government and later became art director for the American Automobile Association, with headquarters in Washington, D. C.
Brother Robison was never a "Russellite" nor a "Societyite." It was because of this that his opportunities to serve on the editorial staff of the Watch Tower were cut short and he was compelled to seek new fields of endeavor.
After resigning from his commission as co-editor of the Watch Tower and elder of the New York congregation, in response to many inquiries as to why he left the Society, he published in blanket form his reasons therefor. He also wrote "Are Bride and Body Identical?" published by the Concordant Publishing Concern, which has been circulated quite widely among those who have had International Bible Students Association teaching, and some very helpful articles from his pen have appeared in UNSEARCHABLE RICHES. Many have been enlightened as a result of his ministry and among them are former readers of the Watch Tower who are now rejoicing in the truths recently recovered by means of the CONCORDANT VERSION.
Brother Robison conducted an independent Bible study class in Washington, D. C., sponsored by some of his friends. He also served on the faculty of the Columbia Bible Training School, conducting studies in the life and epistles of Saint Paul until returning to New York to seek employment in the fall of 1931. The current business depression took its toll in unusual demands on the splendid vitality that had been his for so many years. The Commercial Art Service in New York City, by whom Brother Robison was employed, made contracts for more rush work than was their custom under normal conditions. So many jobs of a nature requiring long hours and continuous application were faithfully executed by our beloved brother that the strain was too great for his already overtaxed heart. He contracted a heavy cold while on a job of the nature just mentioned, and because no one in his office understood it sufficiently well to carry it to a successful completion, he got up out of bed to return to the task. He finished it so that delivery could be made on scheduled time. It cost him his life.
In this last effort of Brother Robison is revealed one of his characteristics. He was honest, conscientious, and faithful in any task assigned him even at great inconvenience to himself. It was his endeavor to "do all things as unto the Lord." One of his favorite poems was, "Not I but Christ."
Another one of his characteristics, which so few possess, was magnanimity. He was sympathetic. The things in others that often pained his sensitive nature were endured patiently. Often he would be heard to remark about such people: "Well, what can we expect? They have not got it to give." Those who knew him intimately appreciated his friendship. Friendships meant much to him. He was a lover of children. His sense of humor was keen and will be remembered by many.
Pneumonia and pleurisy developed, and after six days and nights of suffering, Brother Robison fell asleep. His faithful wife, an osteopathic physician, gave him constant attention, and she has been very brave. A service was arranged for six o'clock p. m. Sunday, April 17 (the same day), and, although the opportunity for notifying his friends was limited, a number of beautiful floral offerings were received, and those in attendance were sufficient to comfortably fill the undertaking parlors. The response of these friends to the needs of Sister Robison in her sorrow was greatly admired and appreciated. The following day the body was shipped to Indianapolis accompanied by Sister Robison, where it was taken to Greenwood.
After services in the Christian Church, attended by his parents and other near relatives and friends, he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in a most beautiful spot, with the birds he loved so much singing overhead, not far from where he and his sister used to play.
Good night, dear brother, your work here must have been finished. While you are resting we will console ourselves with the blessed thought that our communion has only been commenced. This is not the end. Your splendid powers will yet find congenial exercise in the service of your Lord, quite unhampered by the hindrances that fetter all who are faithful in His service. Your sympathies will be satisfied by seeing all the barriers between those you love broken down. We have not lost you but for a brief and weary night, and we will meet again in the morning. So we will not say good bye, but good night, knowing that you are asleep in the care of Him Who will not fail to wake you, in immortal glory, when He comes to call His own.
Interesting. I never heard of the guy, before. I notice that concordant publishing also used the term 'the truth' in a somewhat similar way the wt does. Wonder if the wt got the idea from them. Their list of bibles sounds like they would useful to a bible student. Thankyou.
S
Anyone interested in Fredrik Homer Robison may want to read “Color And Character: A Contemplation Of The Four Divine Qualities” published on LULU.com. It is a compilation of articles Robison wrote for The Golden Age in 1920 and 1921 and includes a biography of the man. It seems Robison had synesthesia and did not realize that most people did not perceive the world quite the same way he did.
