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Charles Taze Russell was born in 1852 and passed away in 1916. He is described as been a restorationist minister. The restorationist movement was an American religious movement which began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A number of ministers became disillusioned with the various denominational institutions. These ministers looked to the scriptures for authority rather than the creeds and central authorities of the differing denominations. They sought Christian unity through the scriptures.
- Pastor Russell was the founder of the bible student movement. Pastor Russell was a prolific writer. He began publishing the journal "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879. In 1881 he co-founded Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society. Between 1886 and 1904 he released a six-volume Bible study course, first entitled "Millennial Dawn," and later called "Studies in the Scriptures.
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After Pastor Russell's death and a hostile takeover, Joseph Rutherford assumed leadership. By 1931 over three-quarters of those associated with the movement had left. At that time those who remained associated with the Watch Tower Society became known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Even though the society has maintained that the bible students disappeared, this is far from the truth. Bible student independent ecclesias are located all over the world.
To Learn More about Pastor Russell, Visit the Bible Student Library (Look under the history section of the Bible Student Library)