Isahluko 6

Isikhathi Sokuvivinywa (1914-1918)

“Masikhumbule ukuthi sisenkathini yokuvivinywa. . . . Uma kukhona noma isiphi isizathu esingabangela noma ubani ukuba ashiye iNkosi neQiniso laYo futhi ayeke ukuzidela ngenxa yeNjongo yeNkosi, khona-ke akulona nje uthando ngoNkulunkulu olusenhliziyweni olubangele ukuba abe nesithakazelo eNkosini, kodwa okunye; cishe ukwethemba ukuthi isikhathi sifushane; ukuthi ukuzinikela kwakungokwesikhathi esithile kuphela. Uma kunjalo, manje yisikhathi esikahle sokuyeka.”

LAWOMAZWI, avela ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-November 1, 1914, ayefaneleka kakhulu. Ngempela, iminyaka esukela ku-1914 kuya ku-1918 yaba ‘inkathi yokuvivinywa’ kubaFundi BeBhayibheli. Olunye uvivinyo lwaluqhamuka ngaphakathi; olunye ngaphandle. Nokho, lonke lwavivinya abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngezindlela ezembula ukuthi babenalo yini ngempela ‘uthando ngoNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo.’ Ingabe babeyobambelela ‘eNkosini naseQinisweni laYo’ noma babezoyeka?

Amathemba Amakhulu

Ngo-June 28, 1914, u-Archduke Francis Ferdinand wase-Austria-Hungary washaywa inhlamvu yombulali. Lokho kubulawa kwabangela ukugqashuka kweMpi Enkulu, njengoba iMpi Yezwe I ekuqaleni yayibizwa kanjalo. Ukulwa kwaqala ngo-August 1914 lapho iJalimane itheleka eBelgium naseFrance. Ngekwindla yalowonyaka, kwase kuqalile ukucekela phansi.

“IZikhathi Zabezizwe ziphelile; amakhosi azo abusile”! Washo njalo uMfoweth’ uRussell njengoba ayengena endlini yokudlela endlunkulu ye-Watch Tower Society eBrooklyn ekuseni ngoLwesihlanu, ngo-October 2, 1914. Injabulo yayiyinkulu. Abaningi kulabo ababekhona babebheke phambili ku-1914 iminyaka eminingi. Kodwa ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe kwakuyolethani?

IMpi Yezwe I yayidlangile, futhi ngalesosikhathi kwakucatshangwa ukuthi impi yayiyoholela esikhathini senxushunxushu yembulunga yonke eyayiyophumela ekupheleni kwalesimiso sezinto esikhona. Kwakunamanye amathemba ngokuqondene no-1914. U-Alexander H. Macmillan, owayebhapathizwe ngo-September 1900, kamuva wakhumbula: “Abambalwa kithi babecabanga ngokungathi sína ngokuthi sasizoya ezulwini phakathi nesonto lokuqala langalowo-October.”a Eqinisweni, ekhumbula isikhathi sasekuseni uRussell amemezela ngaso ngokuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe, uMacmillan wavuma: “Sasishukumiseke ngempela futhi ngangingeke ngimangale uma sasingaqala ukunyuka ngalowomzuzu, leso simemezelo sibe uphawu lokukhuphukela ezulwini—kodwa-ke akuzange kube njalo.”Amathemba angazange agcwaliseke ngokuqondene nokubuya kweNkosi uJesu ngekhulu le-19 ayebangele abalandeli bakaWilliam Miller abaningi kanye namaqembu ahlukahlukene ama-Adventist ukuba alahle ukholo. Kodwa kuthiwani ngabaFundi BeBhayibheli ababehlanganyela noRussell? Ingabe abanye babekhangwe umcabango wokusindiswa kwabo siqu okwakuzofika ngokushesha kunokuba nothando ngoNkulunkulu nesifiso esinamandla sokwenza intando yakhe?

‘Mfoweth’ URussell, Anizange Nidumale?’

UMfoweth’ uRussell wayekade ebakhuthaza abaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuba bahlale belindile futhi bazimisele ukuqhubeka emsebenzini weNkosi ngisho nakuba izimo zazingase zingafinyeleli umvuthwandaba ngokushesha njengoba kungenzeka babelindele.

U-October 1914 wadlula, futhi uC. T. Russell nabangane bakhe babesekhona emhlabeni. No-October 1915 wadlula. Ingabe uRussell wayedumele? Ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-February 1, 1916, wabhala: “Ungase ubuze, ‘Kodwa, Mfoweth’ uRussell, ucabangani ngesikhathi sokuguqulwa kwethu? Ingabe anizange nidumale ngokuthi akuzange kufike ngesikhathi ebesethemba ukuthi kuyofika ngaso?’ Siphendula sithi cha, asizange sidumale. . . . Bafowethu, thina esinesimo sengqondo esiqondile ngoNkulunkulu asidunyazwa yinoma imaphi amalungiselelo aKhe. Besingafisi ukuba kwenzeke eyethu intando; ngakho lapho sithola ukuthi besilindele into engafanele ngo-October, 1914, khona-ke sajabula ngokuthi iNkosi ayizange ishintshe iCebo laYo ukuze lifanelane nathi. Besingafisi ukuba yenze njalo. Simane sifisa ukuqonda amacebo nezinjongo zaYo.”

Cha, abaFundi BeBhayibheli abazange ‘bayiswe ekhaya’ ezulwini ngo-October 1914. Nokho, iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaphela ngalowonyaka. Ngokusobala, abaFundi BeBhayibheli kwakudingeka bafunde okwengeziwe ngokubaluleka kuka-1914. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, yini okwakumelwe bayenze? Umsebenzi! Njengoba INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-September 1, 1916, yakubeka: “Sasicabanga ukuthi umsebenzi wokuVuna wokubuthela ndawonye iBandla [labagcotshiwe] wawuyophela ngaphambi kokuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe; kodwa akukho lutho eBhayibhelini olwalusho njalo. . . . Ingabe siyazisola ngokuthi umsebenzi wokuVuna usaqhubeka? Ngokuqinisekile akunjalo . . . Isimo sethu sengqondo samanje, bafowethu abathandekayo, kufanele sibe esokumbonga kakhulu uNkulunkulu, ukukhulisa ukwazisa ngeQiniso elihle asinikeze ilungelo lokuba silibone futhi saziwe ngalo, futhi sandise intshiseko ekusizeni abanye ukuba balazi leloQiniso.”

Kodwa ingabe kwakusenokwengeziwe okwakumelwe kwenziwe emsebenzini wokuvuna? UMfoweth’ uRussell ngokusobala wayecabanga kanjalo. Ingxoxo aba nayo noMfoweth’ uMacmillan ekwindla ka-1916 iyakuveza lokhu. Ebizela uMacmillan egumbini ayefundela kulo eBethel yaseBrooklyn, uRussell wathi kuye: “Umsebenzi wanda ngokushesha, futhi uyoqhubeka wanda, ngoba kunomsebenzi womhlaba wonke okumelwe wenziwe ekushumayeleni ‘ivangeli lombuso’ kulo lonke izwe.” URussell wachitha amahora amathathu nengxenye ebonisa uMacmillan lokho ayekubona eBhayibheli okwakuwumsebenzi omkhulu owawusengaphambili.

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babedlule ovivinyweni olunzima. Kodwa ngosizo lwe-Nqabayokulinda, baqiniswa ukuze banqobe indumalo. Nokho, inkathi yovivinyo yayingakapheli.

“Kuzokwenzekani Manje?”

Ngo-October 16, 1916, uMfoweth’ uRussell nonobhala wakhe uMenta Sturgeon baqalisa uhambo lokufundisa olwaluhlelwe kusengaphambili oluya ezingxenyeni ezisentshonalanga naseningizimu-ntshonalanga ze-United States. Nokho, uRussell wayebangwa nezibi ngalesosikhathi. Loluhambo lwaqala lwabayisa eDetroit, eMichigan, ludlula eCanada. Khona-ke, ngemva kokuma e-Illinois, eKansas, naseTexas, lamadoda amabili afika eCalifornia, lapho uRussell abeka khona inkulumo yakhe yokugcina ngeSonto ngo-October 29, eLos Angeles. Ezinsukwini ezimbili kamuva, lisanda kuthambama nje ngoLwesibili, ngo-October 31, uCharles Taze Russell owayeneminyaka engu-64 ubudala washonela esitimeleni ePampa, eTexas. Isaziso sokufa kwakhe savela ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-November 15, 1916.

Waphatheka kanjani umkhaya waseBethel lapho kumenyezelwa ngokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRussell? U-A. H. Macmillan, owayeba umsizi kaRussell ehhovisi uma uRussell engekho, kamuva wakhumbula isikhathi sasekuseni afundela ngaso umkhaya waseBethel ithelegramu: “Kwezwakala ukuquma kulo lonke lelogumbi lokudlela. Abanye bakhala ngokuzwakalayo. Akekho owadla ngalolosuku ekuseni. Bonke babephatheke kabi kakhulu. Ekupheleni kwesikhathi sokudla babuthana ngamaqembu amancane bekhuluma futhi benyenyeza, ‘Kuzokwenzekani manje?’ Mncane umsebenzi owenziwa ngalolosuku. Sasingazi ukuthi kwakumelwe senzeni. Kwakungalindelekile neze, kanti uRussell wayezamile ukusihlomisela lokho. Yini esasizoyenza? Okwakukubi kakhulu kwaba ukushaqeka kokuqala ngenxa yokulahlekelwa uC. T. Russell. Ngalezozinsuku ezimbalwa zokuqala sasingaqiniseki ngekusasa lethu. Kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe uRussell wayebe ‘iNhlangano.’ Umsebenzi wawugxile ekuzimiseleni kwakhe okunamandla ekuboneni intando kaNkulunkulu yenziwa.”

Ngemva kwenkonzo yomngcwabo eTemple eNew York naseCarnegie Hall ePittsburgh, uMfoweth’ uRussell wangcwatshwa e-Allegheny, endaweni yomkhaya waseBethel, njengokwesicelo sakhe. Umlando omfushane wokuphila kukaRussell kanye nencwadi yakhe yefa kwakhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 1, 1916, kanye nasezinhlelweni ezalandela zomqulu wokuqala we-Studies in the Scriptures.

Kwakuzokwenzekani manje? Kwakunzima ukuba abaFundi BeBhayibheli bacabange ngomunye owayengathatha indawo kaMfoweth’ uRussell. Ingabe ukuqonda kwabo imiBhalo kwakuzoqhubeka, noma kwakuzokuma lapho kwakukhona? Ingabe babeyoba ihlelo eligxile kuye? URussell ngokwakhe wayekwenze kwacaca ukuthi wayelindele ukuba umsebenzi uqhubekele phambili. Ngakho ngemva kokufa kwakhe, kwaphakama imibuzo ethile esobala: Ubani owayezoqondisa okuzobhalwa ku-Nqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi? Ubani okwakufanele alandele uRussell esikhundleni sokuba umongameli?

Ushintsho Ekuphatheni

Encwadini yakhe yefa uMfoweth’ uRussell wayebhale ngelungiselelo leKomiti Yabahleli eyakhiwa abantu abahlanu eyayizonquma okwakuzobhalwa ku-Nqabayokulinda.b Ngaphezu kwalokho, ibhodi yabaqondisi be-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society yenza amalungiselelo eKomiti Yabaphathi eyakhiwa abantu abathathu—u-A. I. Ritchie, uW. E. Van Amburgh, noJ. F. Rutherford—eyayizophatha wonke umsebenzi weNhlangano, ngaphansi kokulawula kwebhodi yabaqondisi.c Nokho, ubani owayezoba umongameli omusha? Lesosinqumo sasizokwenziwa emhlanganweni olandelayo waminyaka yonke weNhlangano, ezinyangeni ezicishe zibe zimbili kamuva, ngo-January 6, 1917.

Ekuqaleni, iKomiti Yabaphathi yenza okusemandleni ukuba igcine izinto zihamba kahle, ikhuthaza abaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuba bahlale bekhuthele futhi babe nesibindi. INqabayokulinda yaqhubeka inyatheliswa, inezihloko uRussell ayezibhale ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe. Kodwa njengoba umhlangano waminyaka yonke wawusondela, isimo saqala ukushuba. Abanye babekade benza ukukhetha okuncane ukuze benze umuntu abamthandayo akhethwe ukuba abe umongameli. Abanye, ngenxa yokuthi babemhlonipha ngokujulile uMfoweth’ uRussell, babonakala bekhathazeke ngokuzama ukulingisa izimfanelo zakhe futhi bakhe uhlobo oluthile lokukhulekela okugxiliswe kuye. Nokho, abaningi babaFundi BeBhayibheli ngokuyinhloko babenesithakazelo ekuqhubekeni nomsebenzi uRussell ayezinikele kuwo.

Njengoba sasisondela isikhathi sokhetho, umbuzo wawusasele, Ubani owayezolandela uRussell esikhundleni njengomongameli? INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-January 15, 1917, yabika ngomphumela womhlangano waminyaka yonke, ichaza: “UMfoweth’ uPierson, ngamazwi afaneleka kakhulu okwazisa nothando ngoMfoweth’ uRussell, wathi, njengomuntu owayephethe amaphepha okuvota wayamukele izwi elivela kubazalwane ezweni lonke elisho ukuthi bavotela uMfoweth’ uJ. F. Rutherford ukuba abe uMongameli, wabuye wathi uvumelana ngokugcwele nalokhu.” Ngemva kokuba igama likaRutherford selikhethiwe futhi lamukelwa, akubange kusaba nokunye ukukhetha, ngakho “uNobhala wabala amaphepha okuvota njengoba eqondisiwe, futhi uMfoweth’ uRutherford kwamenyezelwa ukuthi ukhethwe ukuba abe uMongameli yiso sonke isiGungu ngokuvumelana.”

Njengoba ukhetho lwase lunqunyiwe, wamukelwa kanjani umongameli omusha? INqabayokulinda okukhulunywe ngayo ngaphambili yabika: “Abazalwane yonke indawo bathandaza ngobuqotho becela isiqondiso seNkosi endabeni yokhetho; futhi lapho seluphelile, bonke abantu babenelisekile futhi bejabule, bekholelwa ukuthi iNkosi yayiqondise imicabango yabo futhi yaphendula imithandazo yabo. Kwakunokuvumelana okuphelele phakathi kwabo bonke ababekhona.”

Nokho, lokho “kuvumelana okuphelele” akuzange kuhlale isikhathi eside. Umongameli omusha akazange amukelwe ngemfudumalo yibo bonke.

Umongameli Omusha Uqhubekela Phambili

UMfoweth’ uRutherford, wayengathambekele ekushintsheni ukuqondiswa kwenhlangano, kodwa ekuqhubekeni endleleni eqhubekela phambili eyayiqaliswe uRussell. Abameleli beNhlangano abajikelezayo (ababaziwa ngokuthi ama-pilgrim) bandiswa kusukela kwabangu-69 kuya kwabangu-93. Ukusakazwa kwamapheshana esihle eNhlangano kwandiswa kwenziwa ngezinsuku ezithile zangeSonto phambi kwamasonto futhi kwenziwa njalo enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu.

“Umsebenzi wokwalusa,” owawuqaliswe ngaphambi kokufa kukaRussell, manje waqhutshekiselwa phambili. Lona kwakuwumsebenzi wokulandelela, owawufana nomsebenzi wokwenza izimpindelo manje owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ukuze enze umsebenzi wokushumayela ube nomfutho owengeziwe, umongameli omusha weNhlangano wandisa umsebenzi wama-colporteur. Ama-colporteur (abanduleli bamaphayona anamuhla) andiswa kusukela kwangu-372 kuya kwangu-461.

“Unyaka ka-1917 waqalisa ngombono odumazayo,” kusho INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 15, 1917. Yebo, ngemva kokufa kukaC. T. Russell, kwakunezinsolo, ukungabaza, kanye novalo. Nokho, umbiko wokuphela konyaka wawukhuthaza; umsebenzi wasensimini wawandile. Ngokusobala, umsebenzi wawuqhubekela phambili. Ingabe abaFundi BeBhayibheli babedlule kolunye uvivinyo—ukufa kukaC. T. Russell—ngempumelelo?

Imizamo Yokulawula

Akubona bonke ababemsekela umongameli omusha. UC. T. Russell noJ. F. Rutherford babengamadoda angafani nhlobo. Babenobuntu obungafani futhi babenezizinda ezihlukile. Kwakunzima kwabanye ukwamukela lokhu kungafani. Ezingqondweni zabo, kwakungekho muntu ‘owayengasivala ncamashi isikhala sikaMfoweth’ uRussell.’

Eqinisweni abambalwa, ikakhulukazi endlunkulu, babemcasukela uMfoweth’ uRutherford. Iqiniso lokuthi umsebenzi wawuqhubekela phambili nokuthi wayenza konke okusemandleni ukulandela amalungiselelo ayenziwe uRussell labonakala lingabahlabi umxhwele. Ngokushesha ukuphikisa kwanda. Amalungu amane ebhodi yabaqondisi beNhlangano aze azama ngisho nokuyekisa uRutherford ukuphatha. Isimo sashuba ngehlobo lika-1917, lapho kukhululwa i-Finished Mystery, umqulu wesikhombisa we-Studies in the Scriptures.

UMfoweth’ uRussell akakwazanga ukukhipha lomqulu ngesikhathi esaphila, nakuba ayethemba ukwenza kanjalo. Ngemva kokufa kwakhe, iKomiti Yabaphathi yeNhlangano yahlela ukuba abazalwane ababili uClayton J. Woodworth noGeorge H. Fisher, bahlanganise lencwadi, eyayikhulumela isAmbulo, IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo, noHezekeli. Ngokwengxenye, yayisekelwe kulokho okwakubhalwe uRussell ngalezincwadi zeBhayibheli, kwase kwenezelwa okunye ukukhulumela kanye nezincazelo. Umbhalo wesandla ophelele wagunyazwa izikhulu zeNhlangano ukuba unyatheliswe futhi ukhululwe emkhayeni waseBethel ngesikhathi sokudla ngoLwesibili ngo-July 17, 1917. Kuso lesosehlakalo, kwenziwa isimemezelo esishaqisayo—abane ababephikisa babegudluziwe, futhi uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayemise abane ukuba bavale izikhala zabo. Kwaba yini ukusabela?

Kwaba sengathi kuqhume ibhomu! Abaqondisi abane abagudluziwe basebenzisa lelithuba bavusa impikiswano eyathatha amahora amahlanu phambi komkhaya waseBethel ngokuqondene nokuphathwa kwezindaba zeNhlangano. Abaningi emkhayeni waseBethel bavumelana nalabaphikisi. Ukuphikisa kwaqhubeka amasonto athile, labaphazamisi besongela ngokuthi “bazogumbuqela ubushiqela obukhona,” njengoba babekubeka kanjalo. Kodwa uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayenesizathu esizwakalayo salesinyathelo ayesithathile. Kanjani?

Kwacaca ukuthi nakuba labaqondisi abane abaphikisayo babekhethwe uMfoweth’ uRussell, lokhu kumiswa kwakungazange kuqinisekiswe ngevoti amalungu enhlangano emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke weNhlangano. Ngakho-ke, bobane babengewona nhlobo amalungu asemthethweni ebhodi yabaqondisi! URutherford wayekwazi lokhu kodwa akazange akusho ekuqaleni. Ngani? Wayefuna ukugwema ukunikeza umqondo wokuthi wayephambana nezifiso zikaMfoweth’ uRussell. Nokho, lapho kucaca ukuthi abakuyeki ukuphikisa kwabo, uRutherford wasebenzisa igunya lakhe wenza okwakuwumthwalo wakhe wemfanelo ukuba akwenze njengomongameli ukuba afake abanye abane esikhundleni sabo abakukhethwa kwabo kwakuzoqinisekiswa emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke olandelayo, owawuzoba ngo-January 1918.

Ngo-August 8, laba ababengabaqondisi abanganelisekile kanye nabasekeli babo bahamba emkhayeni waseBethel; babecelwe ukuba bahambe ngenxa yokuphazamiseka ababekubangela. Ngokushesha baqala ukusakaza ukuphikisa kwabo ngokukhuluma obala nangomkhankaso wokubhala izincwadi kulo lonke elase-United States, eCanada, naseYurophu. Ngenxa yalokho, ngemva kwehlobo lika-1917, amabandla amaningi abaFundi BeBhayibheli ahlukana aba amaqembu amabili—ababethembekile eNhlanganweni nababanjwa kalula yinkulumo ethophayo yalabaphikisi.

Kodwa ingabe kwakungenzeka ukuba labaqondisi abagudluziwe, lapho bezama ukulawula inhlangano, bazame ukuthonya labo ababezoba semhlanganweni waminyaka yonke? Ecabangela ukuthi kungaba nokusabela okunjalo, uRutherford waba nomuzwa wokuthi kufanele kuhlolwe wonke amabandla. Waba yini umphumela? Ngokombiko owakhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 15, 1917, labo ababevota babonisa ukumsekela kwabo okukhulu uJ. F. Rutherford nabaqondisi ababebambisene naye! Lokhu kwaqinisekiswa emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke.d Imizamo yabaphikisi yokuzama ukulawula yayihlulekile!

Kwenzekani ngabaphikisi nabasekeli babo? Ngemva komhlangano waminyaka yonke owawungo-January 1918, laba abaphikisayo bazahlukanisa, bakhetha ngisho nokugubha iSikhumbuzo, ngo-March 26, 1918, bebodwa. Noma ibuphi ubunye ababujabulela babungobesikhashana, futhi ngokushesha nje bahlukana phakathi baba amahlelo ahlukahlukene. Ezimweni eziningi amanani abo ancipha futhi umsebenzi wabo wancipha noma wema ngokuphelele.

Ngokusobala ngemva kokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRussell, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babhekana nokuvivinyo lwangempela lokwethembeka. Njengoba uTarissa P. Gott, owayebhapathizwe ngo-1915, akubeka: “Abaningi balabo ababebonakala beqinile, bezinikele kakhulu eNkosini, baqala ukujika. . . . Konke lokhu kwakubonakala kungalungile, kodwa kwakwenzeka futhi kwakusiphatha kabi. Kodwa ngazitshela lokhu: ‘Akuyona yini lenhlangano uJehova ayisebenzisa ekusikhululeni ebugqilini benkolo yamanga? Ingabe asizange sibuzwe ubuhle bakhe? Uma sekumelwe siyishiye manje, sizoyaphi? Ngeke yini sigcine sesilandela umuntu othile?’ Asizange sisibone isizathu sokuba sivumelane nezihlubuki, ngakho sahlala.”—Joh. 6:66-69; Heb. 6:4-6.

Abanye ababehoxile enhlanganweni kamuva baphenduka babuye bahlanganyela nabaFundi BeBhayibheli ekukhulekeleni. Iningi, njengoDade Gott, laqhubeka libambisana ne-Watch Tower Society noMfoweth’ uRutherford. Uthando nobunye okwakubahlanganisa kwakwakheke phakathi neminyaka eminingi yokuhlangana ndawonye emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu. Babengeke bavumele noma yini ukuba igqashule lesosibopho sobunye.—Kol. 3:14.

Ngo-1918 abaFundi BeBhayibheli babesinde ovivinyweni olwaluvela ngaphakathi. Nokho, kuthiwani lapho ukuphikiswa kuvela kulabo abangaphandle?

Izisulu Zokuhlaselwa

Ngasekupheleni kuka-1917 kuya ku-1918, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bayisakaza ngomfutho incwadi entsha ethi, The Finished Mystery. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1917, abanyathelisi babematasa benyathelisa uhlelo lwe-850 000. INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 15, 1917, yabika: “Ukuthengiswa koMqulu Wesikhombisa akunakuqhathaniswa nokuthengiswa kwanoma iyiphi incwadi eyaziwayo, ekhishwe ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngaphandle kweBhayibheli.”

Kodwa akubona bonke abakujabulela ukuphumelela kwe-Finished Mystery. Lencwadi yayikhuluma ngabefundisi beLobukholwa ngendlela ehlaba kakhulu. Lokhu kwabacasula abefundisi kangangokuba banxusa uhulumeni ukuba avale izincwadi zabaFundi BeBhayibheli. Ngenxa yalokhu kuphikiswa okwakugqugquzelwa abefundisi, ekuqaleni kuka-1918, i-Finished Mystery yavalwa eCanada. Ngokushesha ukuphikiswa kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli e-United States kwakhula.

Ukuze idalule lokhu kucindezela okwakugqugquzelwa abefundisi, ngoMarch 15, 1918, i-Watch Tower Society yakhulula ipheshana elithi Kingdom News No. 1. Sasithini isigijimi sayo? Isihloko esasithatha izinhlu eziyisithupha ububanzi sasifundeka kanje: “Ukungabekezelelwa Kwenkolo—Abalandeli BakaMalusi uRussell Bashushiselwa Ukutshela Abantu Iqiniso.” Ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Indlela AbaFundi BeBhayibheli Abaphathwa Ngayo Ifana ‘Neyenkathi Yobumnyama’” kwavezwa amaqiniso ngoshushiso nokuvinjelwa okwase kuqalile eCanada. Babengobani abagqugquzeli? Lelipheshana alizange ligudle iguma ekukhombeni kubefundisi, abachazwa ngokuthi “isigaba samadoda anenkani esiye sazama ngendlela ehleliwe ukuvimbela abantu ukuba baqonde iBhayibheli nokucindezela zonke izimfundiso zeBhayibheli uma zingavezwa yiso.”e Yeka isigijimi esinamandla!

Abefundisi basabela kanjani kulokho kudalulwa? Base beluqalile kakade uthuthuva ngokumelene ne-Watch Tower Society. Kodwa manje lwaba lubi kakhulu! Entwasahlobo ka-1918, igagasi loshushiso olunobudlova ladedelwa kubaFundi BeBhayibheli eNyakatho Melika naseYurophu. Ukuphikisa okugqugquzelwa abefundisi kwadlondlobala ngo-May 7, 1918, lapho kwakhishwa izimvume ezivela kuhulumeni wamazwe ahlangene wase-U.S. zokuba kuboshwe uJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe abaseduze. Phakathi no-1918, uRutherford nabangane bakhe abayisikhombisa bazithola besejele lamazwe ahlangene e-Atlanta, eGeorgia.

Kodwa njengoba uJudge Rutherford nabangane bakhe babeboshiwe kwenzekani ekusebenzeni kwendlunkulu?

Ukugcina Umsebenzi Uqhubeka

Emuva eBrooklyn kwamiswa iKomiti Yabaphathi ukuze inakekele umsebenzi. Lokho abazalwane ababemisiwe ababekhathazeke ngakho ngokuyinhlokko kwakuwukugcina INqabayokulinda isakazwa. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli yonke indawo ngokuqinisekile babesidinga isikhuthazo esingokomoya ababengase basinikwe. Eqinisweni, phakathi nayo yonke ‘inkathi yokuvivinywa,’ akukho nowodwa umagazini INqabayokulinda ongazange unyatheliswe!f

Sasinjani isimo endlunkulu? UThomas (Bud) Sullivan, kamuva owaba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wakhumbula: “Ngaba nelungelo lokuvakashela iBethel yaseBrooklyn ekupheleni kwehlobo lika-1918 phakathi nokuboshwa kwabafowethu. Abafowethu ababenakekela umsebenzi eBethel babengenalo nakancane uvalo noma indumalo. Eqinisweni, isimo sasiphambene nalokho. Babenethemba futhi beqiniseka ngokuthi ekugcineni uJehova uyokwenza abantu bakhe banqobe. Ngaba nelungelo lokuba segunjini lokudlela ekuseni ngoMsombuluko lapho abazalwane ababethunyelwe ezabelweni zangempela-sonto benikeza imibiko yabo. Babethole umbono omuhle ngesimo. Kuzo zonke izimo abazalwane babeqiniseka, belindele ukuba kube uJehova oqondisa imisebenzi yabo ngokwengeziwe.”

Nokho, babhekana nezinkinga eziningi. IMpi Yezwe I yayisaqhubeka. Kwakuntuleka iphepha namalahle, okuyikhona okwakudingeka kakhulu emsebenzini wasendlunkulu. Njengoba ukushisekela izwe kwakukukhulu, iNhlangano yayizondwa kakhulu; abaFundi BeBhayibheli babhekwa njengamambuka. Ngaphansi kwalezimo ezinzima, kwabonakala kungenakwenzeka ukuqhubeka nemisebenzi eBrooklyn. Ngakho iKomiti Yabaphathi, ngemva kokubonisana nabanye abazalwane, yathengisa iBrooklyn Tabernacle futhi yavala iKhaya LaseBethel. Ngo-August 26, 1918, imisebenzi yaphindiselwa ePittsburgh esakhiweni samahhovisi esasisemigwaqweni uFederal noReliance.

Nakuba kunjalo, kwakunesimo esihle. UMartha Meredith wakhumbula: “Thina esasisePittsburgh sahlangana futhi sanquma ukuthi sizogcina umsebenzi uqhubeka abazalwane baze baphume ejele. Ngalesosikhathi ihhovisi laseBrooklyn lalithuthelwe ePittsburgh, ngakho abazalwane babematasa bebhala izihloko ezazizokhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda futhi bezinyathelisa. Lapho omagazini INqabayokulinda sebekulungele ukuhanjiswa, thina odade sasibasonga bese sibathumela kubantu.”

Abafundi BeBhayibheli babeye babhekana nezilingo ezinzima kusukela iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaphela ekwindla ka-1914. Ingabe babeyoqhubeka bemile? Ingabe babenalo ngempela ‘uthando ngoNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo’ noma cha? Ingabe babeyobambelela ngokuqinile ‘eNkosini naseQinisweni laYo,’ njengoba uRussell ayexwayisile, noma babeyoyeka?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 68]

URutherford wacela abaphikisi ukuba bahambe eBethel

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 62]

“Abanye Bethu Baye Bajaha Kakhulu”

Njengoba u-October 1914 esondela, abanye babaFundi BeBhayibheli babelindele ukuthi ekupheleni kweZikhathi Zabezizwe, njengamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya, babeyothola umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. Okubonisa lokhu isenzakalo esenzeka emhlanganweni wabaFundi BeBhayibheli eSaratoga Springs, eNew York ngo-September 27-30, 1914. U-A. H. Macmillan, owayebhapathizwe eminyakeni engu-14 ngaphambili, wabeka inkulumo ngoLwesithathu ngo-September 30. Wathi kuyo: “Cishe lenkulumo yeningi ngeyokugcina engiyibekayo ngoba ngokushesha sizoya ekhaya [ezulwini].”

Nokho, ezinsukwini ezimbili kamuva (ngoLwesihlanu ngo-October 2), uMacmillan wathola ukugcona kokumdlalisa eBrooklyn, lapho ababeye emhlanganweni kwakumelwe babuye bahlangane khona. Esesihlalweni sakhe enhloko yetafula, uC. T. Russell wamemezela: “Kunezinguquko esizozenza esimisweni sangeSonto [October 4]. NgeSonto ekuseni ngo-10:30 uMfoweth’ uMacmillan uzosibekela inkulumo.” Kwaba yini ukusabela? UMacmillan kamuva wabhala: “Bonke abantu baqhuma yinsini, bekhumbula lokho engangikusho ngoLwesithathu eSaratoga Springs—‘inkulumo yami yeningi yokugcina’!”

“Nokho,” kuqhubeka uMacmillan, “ngalesosikhathi kwadingeka ngibe matasa ngithole okuthile engizokusho. Ngathola iHubo 74:9, ‘Izimpawu zethu asiziboni; akusekho-mprofethi; akakho kithina owaziyo ukuthi koze kube-nini.’ Manje lokho kwakushintshile. Kuleyonkulumo ngazama ukubonisa abazalwane ukuthi mhlawumbe abanye bethu babeye bajaha kakhulu ngokucabanga ukuthi sasizoya ezulwini ngokushesha, futhi okwakumelwe sikwenze kwakuwukuhlala simatasa enkonzweni yeNkosi ize inqume ukuthi kunini lapho izinceku zayo ezamukelekayo ziyoyiswa khona ekhaya ezulwini.”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 67]

Isizinda SikaJ. F. Rutherford

UJoseph Franklin Rutherford wazalwa abazali abangama-Baptist epulazini eMorgan County, eMissouri, e-U.S.A., ngo-November 8, 1869. Lapho uJoseph eneminyaka engu-16 ubudala, uyise wavuma ukuba aye ekolishi, uma nje ayezozikhokhela futhi ezokhokhela nesisebenzi esasizoqashwa ukuze sithathe indawo yakhe epulazini. Lensizwa enokuzimisela, uJoseph yaboleka imali kumngane wayo futhi yakwazi ukuya ekolishi kuyilapho ifundela ubumeli.

Lapho eseqede imfundo yakhe yasesikoleni, uRutherford wachitha iminyaka emibili eqeqeshwa uMahluleli u-E. L. Edwards. Ngesikhathi eneminyaka engu-20 ubudala, waba intatheli esemthethweni yenkantolo ezinkantolo ze-Fourteenth Judicial Circuit eMissouri. Ngo-May 5, 1892, wanikezwa izincwadi ezazimgunyaza ukuba asebenze njengommeli eMissouri. Kamuva uRutherford waba umshushisi eBoonville iminyaka emine, eMissouri. Kamuva, ngezikhathi ezithile wayeba umahluleli okhethekile e-Eighth Judicial Circuit Court eMissouri. Yingakho aziwa ngokuthi u-“Judge” Rutherford.

Ngokuthakazelisayo, ukuze akhokhe imali yesikole, uRutherford wayethengisa ama-“encyclopedia” endlini ngendlu. Kwakungewona umsebenzi olula—wayekhahlamezwa kaningi. Kwesinye isenzakalo wacishe wafa lapho ewela emfuleni owawubandisa okweqhwa lapho ehambela amapulazi. Wanquma ukuthi lapho esengummeli uma kufika noma ubani ehhovisi lakhe ethengisa izincwadi, wayeyozithenga. Njengoba ayeshilo, wamukela imiqulu emithathu ye-“Millennial Dawn” kuma-“colporteur” amabili ayefike ehhovisi lakhe ekuqaleni kuka-1894. Emasontweni ambalwa kamuva wazifunda lezincwadi futhi ngokushesha wabhalela i-Watch Tower Society incwadi, athi kuyo: “Mina nomkami othandekayo sizifundile lezincwadi sinesithakazelo esikhulu kakhulu, futhi sicabanga ukuthi kuvela kuNkulunkulu futhi kuyisibusiso esikhulu ukuthi sibe nethuba lokuba sizithole.” Ngo-1906, uJoseph F. Rutherford wabhapathizwa, futhi ngemva konyaka waba umeluleki kwezomthetho we-Watch Tower Society.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 69]

‘Abekho Abantu Emhlabeni Abathandwa Kakhulu’

Ngo-June 21, 1918, uJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe abambalwa abaseduze bagwetshwa iminyaka engu-20 ejele, bemangalelwe ngamanga ngamacala okubopha uzungu. Babezizwa kanjani? Encwajaneni ebhalwe ngesandla yomhlaka-June 22-23 (eboniswe ngezansi), evela ejele elalikuRaymond Street eBrooklyn, eNew York, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wabhala: “Cishe emhlabeni namuhla abekho abantu abathandwa kakhulu nabajabule kakhulu ukudlula abazalwane abayisikhombisa abasejele njengamanje. Bayaqaphela ukuthi abanacala nakancane lokona ngamabomu, futhi bayajabula ngokuhlupheka noKristu ngenxa yokumkhonza ngokwethembeka.”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 70]

Izisulu Zoshushiso Olwalugqugquzelwe Abefundisi

Phakathi no-1918, uJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe abayisikhombisa babeboshiwe—izisulu zokuphikisa okwakugqugquzelwe abefundisi. Kodwa labobantu abayisishiyagalombili kwakungebona bodwa ababeyizisulu zenzondo enjalo. Eminyakeni yangaphambili kwakunguC. T. Russell owayebe yisisulu esiyinhloko sokuhlaselwa abefundisi nabamaphephandaba. Manje nabaFundi BeBhayibheli ngokwabo base beyizisulu. I-“Golden Age” (manje eyi-“Phaphama!”) ka-September 29, 1920, yakhipha umbiko ocacile noningilizayo ngokushushiswa ngobudlova abakukhuthazelela e-United States. Wawufundeka njengokuthile okuvela ekuQulweni Kwamacala Ezihlubuki.g Kwahlanganiswa ukulandisa okulandelayo:

“Ngo-April 22, 1918, eWynnewood, e-Oklahoma, uClaud Watson waqale waboshwa wayesekhululwa ngamabomu ukuba abhekane nesixuku esasinabashumayeli, osomabhizinisi kanye nabanye abambalwa abamgingqa phansi, babangela ukuba ashaywe ngumuntu onsundu, kuthi lapho esathi uyaphaphama, aphinde amshaye. Babe sebemthela ngetiyela bamnameka izimpaphe, behlikihla itiyela ezinweleni zakhe nasesikhunjeni sasekhanda.”

“Ngo-April 29, 1918, eWalnut Ridge, e-Arkansas, uW. B. Duncan, oneminyaka engu-61 ubudala, u-Edward French, uCharles Franke, uMnu. Griffin noNkk. D. Van Hoesen baboshwa. Kwangena isixuku ejele esasisebenzisa ulimi olubi nolungcole kakhulu, sabashaya, sabathela ngetiyela, sabanameka izimpaphe futhi sabaxosha edolobheni. UDuncan waphoqwa ukuba ahambe [amakhilomitha angu-42] ngezinyawo aye ekhaya lakhe futhi wasinda ngokulambisa. UGriffin waba impumputhe futhi ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva wafa ngenxa yalokho kuhlaselwa.”

“Ngo-April 30, 1918, . . . eMinerva, e-Ohio, uS. H. Grif-fin waqale waboshwa wayesekhululwa ukuba abhekane nesixuku, wayeseshunyayezwa umfundisi imizuzu eyishumi nanhlanu, wayeseshaywa ngokuphindaphindiwe, wathukwa, wakhahlelwa, wagxotshwa ngezinyawo, wasongelwa ngokulengiswa nokuminziswa, waxoshwa edolobheni, wakhafulelwa, wakhelwa ngokuphindaphindiwe, wahlohlolozwa ngesambulela ngokuphindaphindiwe, wenqatshelwa ukugibela izinto zokuhamba, wahamba [amakhilomitha angu-8] eya eMalvern, e-Ohio, waphinde waboshwa, wagqunywa ejele ukuze aphephe eCarrollton futhi ekugcineni wayiswa ekhaya izikhulu ezinesibindi futhi ezithembekile, okwathi ngemva kokuhlola izincwadi zakhe, kaninginingi, zathi, ‘Asimtholi enecala lomuntu.’”

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 64]

Ngo-October 31, 1916, uCharles Taze Russell owayeneminyaka engu-64 ubudala washonela esitimeleni ePampa, eTexas; amaphephandaba amaningi abika ngomngcwabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 66]

UJ. F. Rutherford wayebonakala enesizotha, engamamitha angu-1,88 ubude futhi engamakhilogremu angu-102 isisindo

[Isithombe ekhasini 69]

Ijele elalikuRaymond Street, eBrooklyn, eNew York, lapho uMfoweth’ uRutherford nabangane bakhe abambalwa abaseduze babeboshwe khona izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngokushesha ngemva kokugwetshwa kwabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 71]

UThomas (Bud) Sullivan wavakashela indlunkulu ngo-1918 futhi kamuva wakhonza eNdikimbeni Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova