It is commonly known by Jehovah's Witnesses, the marriage of Pastor C.T.Russell and his wife Maria (Moe-rye-uh) was an uneasy one.
The marriage itself was founded on a weird interpretation of "virginity" and "purity" as only an obsessive-compulsive
Puritan fanatic might find agreeable. The two of them were not to share a bed (or physical relations.)
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So, why marry at all? "A husband of one wife" is a qualification in the New Testament, you see.
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Maria was well-educated, bright, talented as a writer, editor and extremely useful to Russell's literary output and presentation.
Russell's first two volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures were co-authored with Maria.
The Watch Tower Society fairly rested on Maria's capable shoulders.
Let me give you a quotation from my new science-fiction novel, THE MONORAILS OF MARS concerning this:
"Maria, having access to her husband’s ledger knew all details. Rumors abounded she was leveraging consent. Gossip certainly could not stand as proof. Still—the word was out Maria Russell had been given far too many privileges for a woman as Director in the Tower Society, Secretary and Treasurer; as Associate Editor and regular contributor to the published writings. Elder’s wives looked up to her as an educated and enlightened female. Could there be any worse example for Christian wives than success and achievement in a Pastor’s spouse? "
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Russell wanted all the credit all the glory and all the attention.
He deeply resented Maria asking to be treated like any other contributor. Why? He wanted to muzzle her, re-write what she wrote and deny her credit.
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With that premise in mind I direct you to the PDF of a circular letter (pass it around) pamphlet which gives the details of these conflicts.
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WARNING! The formality of the language in the early years of the 1900's takes some getting use to.
I suggest you skip to about page 3 and read it out loud.
THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING material I've read in a long time.
After being married to Pastor Russell for 17 years, Maria gives him a tongue-lashing that is among the
most impressive, delightful, full-scale intellectual achievements of this or any other age! I'd go so far as to say
this pamphlet is the equivalent of the Atom bomb on Hiroshima.