In statistics from 2013, around 9,500,000 Americans declared they were of Polish descent. That was around 3% of the American population. Various factors, including Poland being a political football for so much of its history, resulted in large numbers leaving for other lands, particularly America. It was not surprising that many of Polish ancestry would accept the ZWT message in America, and would then send the news back to relatives in the Old Country.
The 1994 Yearbook
covers the history of Poland and makes the point that around the year 1914 “of
all the foreign-language groups of Bible Students in the United States at that
time, those of Polish origin were among the largest and most active.”
They were to set up
their own legal corporation in America, which later merged with the Watch Tower
Society.
Here are some photographs of the Golden Age magazine in Polish (Złoty Wiek) sent to me by correspondent Franco originally. They are typical of the period. The Polish edition of Golden Age started in 1925, and these examples are from c. 1926.
As noted in the comment
trail, although the regular Golden Age magazine started in the Polish language
in 1925, there was at least one attempt to produce a copy in 1920. Thanks are
due to correspondent Benek who sent the following scans of this issue.
Curiosity.
ReplyDeleteThe Polish Golden Age began to appear regularly on March 15, 1925 (it has 16 pages). But I do have one issue of this journal dated November 10, 1920 (it has 32 pages). This is the equivalent of the English Golden Age on October 1, 1919.
I do not know if there were subsequent issues of the Polish journal in the years 1920-1921. This is a mystery to me. The fact is that in 1921 there was such an announcement in the Polish Watchtower:
„These brothers and friends who have subscribed and sent money for the Golden Age are asked to ask us whether we should return the money or send other literature in return” (Polish The Wathtower January 1, 1921 p. 2 – „Ci bracia, oraz przyjaciele, którzy prenumerowali i nadesłali pieniądze na Złoty Wiek, proszeni są zwrócić się do nas z żądaniem czy mamy zwrócić pieniądze, czy też w zamian wysłać inną literaturę”.
So the following information from the Yearbook is probably not completely complete:
*** yb94 p. 188 Poland ***
They also shared in the field service, making good use of the Golden Age magazine (now Awake!), which began publication in Polish in 1925.
By the looks of it there was one issue in 1919, which must be a real collectors' item, but it obviously could not be sustained. And then in 1925 a regular issue began.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned 1920, not 1919. Maybe it was a practice number? Later, in the 1920s, there was a break of 2-3 months once or twice. Due to illness and the lack of translators.
ReplyDeleteAs with the Polish Golden Age, it was with the Polish Watchtower.
ReplyDeleteThe journal "regularly" was published from 1915 (monthly):
*** yb94 p. 176 Poland ***
And by 1915, The Watch Tower was being printed regularly in Polish each month.
But I do have a brochure from 1908 that indicated that the Polish monthly magazine, Watchtower, could be purchased! But I don't have it.
Here are significant words from other sources that confirm this:
1909
Extra copies of the Polish TOWER may be used for distribution; these will not be ready for two months. (The Watch Tower January 1, 1909 p. 226).
1915
GREEK AND POLISH “WATCH TOWERS” (...) Our Polish friends, too, are preparing for themselves regular issues THE WATCH TOWER in Polish – translations from the English edition. Sample copies on application (The Watch Tower August 1, 1915 p. 226).
Sorry.
ReplyDeletePlease correct it:
The Watch Tower January 1, 1909 p. 2
The Polish Golden Age, unlike the English one, had many illustrations.
ReplyDeleteHe had many reprints from brochures and books, and he had translations of American articles.
It was issued in Switzerland:
*** w20 October p. 4 ***
Brother Rutherford established a literature depot in the town of Ramallah, near Jerusalem. He then returned to Europe and established the Central European Office and arranged for literature to be printed there.
But in 1936, a ban on the Golden Age was introduced in Poland! So the title of the journal was changed:
*** yb94 p. 199 Poland ***
When “Złoty Wiek” (The Golden Age) was banned, the brothers changed the name to “Nowy Dzień” (New Day).
See p. 199 for an illustration of the title page of the magazine.
*** yb94 pp. 198-199 Poland ***
The last issue of The Golden Age was dated September 1, 1936. On October 1 of that same year, it was replaced by a new magazine printed in Warsaw. Entitled Nowy Dzień (New Day), it continued to publish articles that exposed corruption and religious hypocrisy and that upheld Bible truth. It was printed in Warsaw until the outbreak of World War II.
Polish Awake! however, it was only published in 1960 (only 14 issues in 10 years, in 1960-1969, i.e. an average of 1 issue per year).
But in the USA, a monthly magazine has been issued for Poles living in the USA since 1959.
Consolation was not issued at all.
Thanks for the article Jerome and for the interesting comments Benek.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Gerry.
ReplyDeleteI will write something else about Poles.
Polish pilgrims in the USA in 1923
In 1923, there were 138 pilgrims in the USA.
Of these, 45 are foreign-language pilgrims.
The most numerous were American pilgrims - 93.
Polish - 11.
German - 11.
Pilgrims of other nationalities - from 1 to 5.
This is described in The Watchtower December 15, 1923 p. 374.
Benek, can you take pictures of the Golden Age November 1920 magazine?
ReplyDeleteIf Benek can do this and send me the scan back-channel we may be able to post it as an addenda to the article.
ReplyDeleteI sent 3 pages for Jerome.
ReplyDeleteThe history of Polish volumes
ReplyDeleteThe entire series of Studies in the Scriptures was published in Polish in the USA in 1919.
But it was different with volume I.
He could already exist in a shortened version (5 chapters) in the years 1907-1908.
One of the Polish brochures from 1908 (Świtanie Dnia Sądnego 1908 p. 4 - Dawning of the Day of Judgment) stated that 5 chapters of volume I were published in the occasional Polish Watchtower.
This booklet is excerpted from Volume I and What Say the Scriptures About Our Lord's Return — His Parousia, Apokalupsis and Epiphania (1900). I have this brochure dated 1908.
Words from the Yearbook:
*** yb94 p. 176 Poland ***
At first they had to use whatever literature was available in English and German. But the work of sharing Bible truth with fellow Poles was greatly helped in 1909 when the Watch Tower Society published Polish tracts for free distribution. A condensed Polish edition of material from Studies in the Scriptures also appeared that year.
The English Watchtower states:
1909 (January) - 1910 (February) – condensed
The Watch Tower January 1, 1909 p. 2 - We now have a condensed edition of the “Plan of the Ages” in Polish, which may be had for ten cents per copy.
The Watch Tower April 1, 1909 p. 4372 (reprint) - in Polish, condensed edition, one vol., 10 cents.
See The Watch Tower February 15, 1910 p. 50 (p. 4563, reprint).
1910 (April) - one vol.
The Watch Tower April 15, 1910 p. 126 - and Polish, one vol.
I have my own oldest version of the Polish volume I from 1914 (PDF) and the paper version from 1917.
Remaining volumes from 1919 (first Polish editions).
The last Polish editions of the volumes – 1925.
Wow, wow, wow - big thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you Jerome and JB.
ReplyDeleteSome explanation for the scans.
On the editorial page (2) it was written:
This journal is published in English every second Wednesday on 35th Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. by WOODWORTH, HUDGINGS, AND MARTIN. C. J. WOODWORTH .......... Editor It is translated into Polish and sent every second Wednesday p. 4033 W Warren Ave., Detroit, Mich., U. S. A. by the Publishing Company, the administrator of which is M. KOSTYN.
Who was M. Kostyn?
In January 1921 Kosyn was a corporate vice president in Detroit. He was a JFR deputy in that corporation.
The Polish Watchtower quotes the words of JFR:
"Since it is impossible for me to be present at the Society's office in Detroit, its leadership will remain in the hands of the vice-president, our dear brother M. Kostyn" (Polish The Watchtower January 15, 1921 p. 32).
Later Kostyn was a pilgrim for Polish and Ukrainian congregations because he was of Ukrainian descent.
These are fascinating details Benek. Put these together into a coherent article and you would have a fascinating glimpse into the early Polish field in the US.
ReplyDeleteOut of interest, do we have any knowledge of the 11 Polish brothers and 1 sister who were arrested at the Chicago Polish group on 24 April 1918? I’m searching for names, pictures and details as well as possible contemporary press reports. It’s a long shot I appreciate, but someone might know this?
Thank you Gerry for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteI will look in the Polish Watchtower if there is anything about the arrest of these brothers.
Sometimes there are some additions in the publications in different languages that are not found in the most important English Watchtower. It is understandable.
In the Polish edition of the Golden Age, issue 1, March 15, 1925, it was written (p. 2):
"FROM THE PUBLISHERS.
After the trial issue has been issued, we inform our Dear Readers that due to technical difficulties we are starting the publishing house "Złoty Wieka" on March 15, 1925 and that we are giving this issue free of charge for a closer acquaintance with the content of our magazine. (...) "The Golden Age" was published in 1920 in Brooklyn, America. Over the past 4 years, the magazine has built up a large circle of readers that now include all English-speaking countries and wide circles in Europe. (...)
The Polish "Golden Age" will be published twice a month with 16 pages".
It is strange that the number from 5 years ago was called a trial number.
The Polish one from 1920 appeared in Brooklyn, and the one from 1925 in Switzerland.
Or maybe in 1925 there was another trial number?
It is not known why it is written that the Golden Age began to appear in 1920, since it was published in English from 1919 to October 1 (7 issues).
From January 1, 1926 to March 15, there was a break in the publication "Due to the sickness of the editorial staff, there was an involuntary break in our publishing house." (written on April 1).
Around 1930, an "specimen number" (occasional) was issued, with no date of issue.
The Polish Golden Age was published twice a month, that is 24 copies a year (16 pages each). English was published every 14 days, i.e. 52 copies a year (32 pages each).
Information for Gerry.
ReplyDeleteIn the Polish The Watch Tower there is nothing about arrest on April 24, 1918. On the subject of the arrest of students there is only an article that is in the English The Watch Tower of May 1, 1918, pages 6243-6246, Reprint.
Many thanks indeed for looking at the Polish editions Benek. I think I already have the reference you mention, but will check it out.
ReplyDeletePolish tracts and brochures in the USA
ReplyDeleteWords from the 1909 Yearbook:
*** yb94 p. 176 Poland ***
At first they had to use whatever literature was available in English and German. But the work of sharing Bible truth with fellow Poles was greatly helped in 1909 when the Watch Tower Society published Polish tracts for free distribution. A condensed Polish edition of material from Studies in the Scriptures also appeared that year.
The English Watchtower states:
1908 - Polish literature
The Watch Tower April 1, 1908 p. 98 – FRIENDS NEAR POLISH CHURCHES We have some Polish literature for those who desire to serve the Polish of their vicinity. Write us, saying how many of these churches you could serve and the attendance at each).
1904-1907 - tracts
The Watch Tower September 15, 1907 p. 274 - POLISH tracts for free circulation amongst your friends, we can now supply.
The Watch Tower September 1, 1904 p. 258 - POLISH TRACTS can now be supplied to all who have special opportunities for using them. They are published by our Society, although our name and address does not appear on them, because of prejudice of Catholics against everything like Bible Societies.
I know only one title of the Polish brochure advertised in 1908: Co jest karą za grzech? (What is the penalty for sin?).
This brochure may be the equivalent of an English treatise:
1889, The Old Theology (Bible Students’ Tracts)
No. 1—Do the Scriptures Teach That Eternal Torment Is the Wages of Sin?
1901, No. 53—The Scriptures Clearly Teach the Old Theology That Death Is the Wages of Sin, and Not Eternal Torment:
As I mentioned, the Polish edition of The Watchtower in the USA appeared regularly every month from 1915. Earlier, from 1908 at least, it was published periodically.
ReplyDeleteComparison of the English, German and Polish editions of The Watch Tower in the USA. 1915-1917 and edition:
..............................1915........1916........1917
The Watch Tower (24 issues) 1,272,000; 1,128,000;. 1,211,000
German Watch Tower (12 issues) 24,000;... 24,000;...25,000
Polish Watch Tower (12 issues)..24,000;.. 17,000;...19,000
(The Watch Tower December 15, 1917 p. 6184, reprint).
On Wikipedia, in the entry about Jehovah's Witnesses, there are scans of two title pages of the Polish Watchtower:
No. 2 from 1915
November 1917
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Awiadkowie_Jehowy_w_Polsce
And here are the title pages of The Watchtower in other languages:
German 1897
Italian 1903
French 1903
Swedish 1904
Finnish 1912
Poland 1915
Greek 1917
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stra%C5%BCnica_Zwiastuj%C4%85ca_Kr%C3%B3lestwo_Jehowy#Historia
Polish corporation in Detroit
ReplyDelete*** yb94 p. 178 Poland ***
At the beginning of 1919, they set up a legal corporation especially to care for the needs of the Polish-speaking congregations. They registered it in Detroit, Michigan. Its Polish name, Strażnica—Towarzystwo Biblijne i Broszur, means “Watchtower Bible and Brochure Society.”
In July 1921, JFR became president of the Detroit corporation.
He could not be in Detroit permanently.
Therefore, E. J. Coward was appointed its representative.
A well-known and valued person:
*** w19 October p. 2 1919—One Hundred Years Ago ***
In his prison cell, Brother Rutherford worried about the future of the organization. He knew that some brothers felt that it would be best to elect someone else to be president. Acknowledging this, he had written a letter to those assembled, recommending Evander J. Coward for president.
Here is a report from the Polish Watchtower:
"E. J. Coward. President's representative
Detroit, Mich., July 2, 1921 ” (Polish The Watchtower July 15, 1921 p. 216).
"Since it was impossible for Brother Rutherford to stay permanently in Detroit, he sent a representative in the person of E. J. Coward to help and serve Polish brothers as well as Czecho-Slovak, Lithuanian, Russian and Ukrainian" (Polish The Watchtower February 1, 1922 p. 41).
This was the case until the Detroit branch was closed in 1922.
Polish Society Corporation
ReplyDeleteIn what languages did it publish literature?
Some people think it was just a Polish corporation.
In early 1921, the importance of the Polish corporation in Detroit was greatly raised, and it began to print in other languages as well.
Here are the words from the Polish Watchtower:
“To All Congregations.
Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Czecho-Slovak and Russian jobs.
Due to the fact that the main office in Brooklyn NY does not have enough space for foreign-language work, this privilege of accepting Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Czech-Slovak and Russian brothers for cooperation was given to the Polish brothers, by order of the main office, which has general supervision over all work, all divisions, wherever they are, all over the world. This does not mean that the Polish brothers are to carry out this work separately on their own behalf; but having their printing machines and a fixed place, and in addition as a legal incorporacy, they can, in today's relations, do easier and cheaper work for the branches mentioned” (Polish The Watchtower February 15, 1921 p. 64).
The 1922 Year Book International Bible Students Association (pp. 41, 45, 52) mentions their affiliation with a Detroit corporation when discussing these countries and work.
This is my last historical post about Polish beginnings in the USA. I will write some supplements if there are any questions and Jerome wants to publish it.
Fascinating, thank you for the research
ReplyDeleteRead about Polish congregations in France in the 1920s and 1930s here (comments): https://jeromehistory.blogspot.com/2021/10/french-songbooks.html
ReplyDeleteYb 1925 (pp. 34-35) reported that a "Polish office" was set up in Bern, Switzerland, where the Polish Golden Age and brochures are to be published.
ReplyDelete