Arp Tracts: Small but Effective

Guest post by Leroy

From 1887 to 1891 the Society produced millions of copies of a tract known as the Arp Slip, Arp’s Joy or the Arp tract. This little tract was very effective to convince people to read CTR´s books, in particular the first volume of the Studies in the Scriptures series, known at the time as Millennial Dawn or The Plan of the Ages¹. The tract was designed to be handed out to people outside of churches on Sundays, and also to be included in letters and in any other post sent by readers of Zion´s Watch Tower to friends, family, etc.²

By December 1887, two months after their first appearance, more than 100 thousand copies had been printed, and the goal was to print a million of them.³ Two months later, in February 1888, the TOWER mentioned the following:

 “Seeing the good results from the slips already distributed, it is proposed to deluge the country with them. Order all you can use. Labor while it is called day, for the night cometh werein no man can work.”⁴

There are many experiences that demonstrate the effect that these tracts had, such as that of S. O. Blunden, who went out one Sunday to distribute the tracts outside a church in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania. Church leaders were furious, with two of them threatening Blunden with arrest. Blunden ignored their threats and continued with his activity. One of the leaders grabbed him by the throat to try to drag him out, but Brother Blunden continued to distribute the tracts and warned the man that if he did not let him go, he might be the one to have him arrested. The man then stood between Blunden and the people and asked the people not to receive the tracts, to no avail. Failing to stop Blunden, he sent someone to the police office to bring in an officer and arrest the brother, arguing that there was a man "stopping people from going to church." The policeman came and arrested Brother Blunden, and then took him to the police station. There, without a trial or hearing, they set a $100 bond to let him go free. Brother Blunden expressed his happiness at having experienced something similar to what happened to Peter and John in Acts 4:1-21.⁵

Another brother reported: “The Arp slips have been scattered broadcast throughout this locality, and […] have caused a grand confusion. The nominal churches are denouncing us, and specially warning their congregations to not even allow a scrap of paper of any kind we may send out to come into their homes, and warning their children not to read anything of the kind.But […] it is only stimulating us to greater efforts, and we can already see some fruits of our labor.”⁶

A young Methodist, after reading the tract began to cry with emotion, bought the book The Plan of the Ages, and said that he could not believe the doctrines taught by the nominal church, such as universal damnation and eternal torment. Many others had similar experiences.⁷

Some had their own methods for distributing them: “I find it is a good plan to leave them in the seats in the R. R. depots. I notice the passengers read them carefully, and fold them up and put them in their pockets, which shows, I think, that they are interested.”⁸

Some even distributed them door to door, and came back a few days later to offer the Plan of the Ages.⁹

But, what, exactly were Arp Slips? What was their content?

Arp Slips were small single-sheet tracts measuring 7 cm wide by 34 cm long (2 ¾ × 13 ½ inches). On the front they contained Bill Arp's comments on the book The Divine Plan of the Ages, (hence the name) and on the back the poem "The Minister's Daughter" by John Greenleaf Whittier. There were several versions with slight modifications to the text accompanying Arp's comments. Below, you can see a photo of one of these tracts:

It reads:

“Let every man read, ponder and take comfort, for we are all prisoners of hope.”

“BILL ARP’S” JOY

UPON READING
     MILLENNIAL DAWN,
     THE
     “PLAN OF THE AGES.”

FOOD AND COMFORT FOR ALL THINKERS.

READ HIS COMMENTS.

[From Atlanta Constitution.]

A kind lady has sent me a book of 350 pages called “Millennial Dawn,” published by the Tower Publishing Co., in Pittsburg, Pa., which will, I believe, awaken the thinking world. I see that its sale is already over twenty-five thousand. It is impossible to read this book without loving the writer and pondering his wonderful solution of the great mysteries that have troubled us all our lives. There is hardly a family to be found that has not lost some loved one who died outside the church—outside the plan of salvation and if Calvinism be true outside of all hope and inside of eternal torment and despair. We smother our feelings and turn away from the horrible picture. We dare not deny the faith of our fathers, and yet can it be possible that the good mother and her wandering child are forever separated—forever and forever?
I believe it is the rigidity of these teachings that makes atheists and infidels and skeptics— makes Christians unhappy and brings their gray hairs down in sorrow to the grave—a lost child, a lost soul!

Let us see how many lost souls. The geographers give the world a present population of fourteen hundred million, of whom only one hundred and sixteen million are Christians,— that is, who live in Christian countries. Of these, only sixteen million are adult members of the church; and of these, about one million walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. That is a beautiful picture.—Only one million of truly good, pious Christian people in all the world, and thirteen hundred and ninety-nine millions who are elected to be eternally damned. Add to these figures one hundred and forty-two billions, who have already lived and died in the ages past, and if all these are damned, it does look like God’s plan of salvation was a miserable failure. He gets one soul for glory while Satan captures thousands.

This wonderful book teaches that trial is yet to come—that all are to rise from the dead when Christ comes, that He will offer His salvation to all people ; not only to the living, but to those who rise from the dead. His kingdom will be supported by the saints and by good people everywhere, and the mother will have another chance to reclaim her wandering child and bring him unto the kingdom. This wonderful book makes no assertions that are not well sustained by the Scriptures. It is built up stone by stone, and upon every stone is the text, and it becomes a pyramid of God’s love, and mercy, and wisdom. There is nothing in the Bible that the author denies or doubts, but there are many texts that he throws a flood of light upon that seems to uncover its dark and gloomy meaning. I see that editors of leading journals, and many orthodox ministers of different denominations, have indorsed it and have confessed to this new and comforting light that has dawned upon the interpretation of God’s book. Then let every man read and ponder and take comfort, for we are all prisoners of hope. This is an age of advanced thought and more thinking is done than ever before,—men dare to think now. Light—more light, is the watchword.   BILL ARP.

Another version of the tract has Arp´s comments abbreviated, and then comment by other people praising the book. They all have advertising information at the end on how to get the volume. Here you can see two other versions, front and back:

So, as we see, the tract basically contained Bill Arp's comments recommending the Plan of the Ages. The goal was to whet the appetite to read the publication. This was the type of tract that Russell preferred to use, and not a tract that explained a biblical subject in very few lines. The reason is that he thought that a biblical topic explained in a few words did not have the power to convince someone to change their belief, instead, a little treatise like the Arp Slip, could encourage that person to read a more profound publication like The Plan of the Ages, and then this could really help them accept the truth.¹⁰

Who was Bill Arp?

Major Charles Henry Smith, better known by his nickname "Bill Arp," was born in Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1826 and was a highly influential figure in the American South. He held various government posts but his best-known facet was as a writer, humorist and lecturer. He was a highly respected opinion leader and deputy editor of The Atlanta Constitution newspaper.

“A woman” (you'll see why I put this in quotes later) from Allegheny sent him a copy of Volume 1 of Studies in the Scriptures, and he was so fascinated by what he read that he decided to publish a column about it in The Atlanta Constitution. This was printed in the issue of July 24, 1887, which I show you below:

The column reads:

“THE MILLENIUM.

Arp Pleased with a Book He Has Been Reading,

THAT TELLS ON THE COMING OF CHRIST.

When Peace Will Reign on the Earth for a Thousand Years - Some Strange and Startling Figures.

So many have written to me to know where Baxter’s pamphlet on the millenium can be had that I must answer publicly and say, I do not know—nor do I know who sent it to me, nor where it was mailed. An old friend wrote me to send it to him and I sent it. I do know that it is no ordinary interpretation of the prophecies and that it contains many wonderful and startling facts. But a kind lady from Allegheny has sent me a book of 360 pages called the Millennial Dawn, Charles T. Russell, and published by the Tower Publishing compay (SIC) in Pittsburg, Pa., which is far more comprehensive, and will, I believe, awaken the thinking world. I is in paper cover, and worth I suppose, not more than fifty cents. I see that its sale is already over twenty-five thousand. It is impossible to read this book without loving the writer and pondering his wonderful solution of the great mysteries that have troubled us all our lives. There is hardly a family to be found that has not lost some loved one who died outside the church—outside the plan of salvation and if Calvinism be true outside of all hope and inside of eternal torment and despair. We smother our feelings and turn away from the horrible picture. We dare not deny the faith of our fathers, and yet can it be possible that the good mother and her wandering child are forever separated—forever and forever.

I believe it is the rigidity of these teachings that makes atheists and infidels and skeptics—makes Christains (SIC) unhappy and brings their gray hairs down in sorrow to the grave—a lost child, a lost soul.

Let us see how many lost souls. The geographers give the world a present population of fourteen hundred million, of whom only one hundred and sixteen million are Christians, that is, who live in Christian countries. Of these, only sixteen million are adult members of the church; and of these, about one million walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. That it is a beautiful picture. Only one million of truly good, pious Christian people in all the world, and thirteen hundred and ninety-nine millions who are elected to be eternally damned. Add to these figures one hundred and forty-two billions who have already lived and died in the ages past, and if all these are damned, it does look like God's plan of salvation was a miserable failure. He gets one soul for glory while Satan captures thousands.

This wonderful book teaches that man’s trial is yet to come—that all are to rise from the dead when Christ comes, and that He is coming soon—very soon—within a few years and will reign on earth a thousand years, and will offer His salvation to all people; not only to the living but to those who rise from the dead. His kingdom will be supported by the saints and by good people everywhere, and the mother will have another chance to reclaim her wandering child and bring him unto the kingdom. This wonderful book makes no assertions that are not well sustained by the Scriptures. It is built up stone by stone, and upon every stone is the text, and it becomes a pyramid of God's love, and mercy, and wisdom. There is nothing in the Bible that the author denies or doubts, but there are many texts that he throws a flood of light upon that seems to uncover its dark and gloomy meaning. I see that editors of leading journals, and many orthodox ministers of different denominations, have indorsed it and have confessed to this new and comforting light that has dawned upon the interpretation of God's book. Then let every than read and  ponder and take comfort for we are all prisoners of hope, This is an age of advanced  thought and more thinking is done than ever  before, men dare to think now. Light – more light is the watchword.

Still we have plenty to do besides thinking about the millennium. That may be a century off or it may be only a few years. Baxter says that a mistake of a hundred years was made in the number of years that the judges of Israel ruled and that all modern chronologists admit it, and that this is really 1987 instead of 1887, and that the 6,000 years since the creation of Adam have nearly passed. Mr. Russell says that 6,000 years must pass before Christ comes, and that they have nearly passed. But we have a good deal to do and need not be selling out or making white garments for we are not going to ascend up to heaven even if the millenium does come, Jesus Christ is going to descend down here and set up his kingdom, and we will have to live on and work on under a government where not a stain will mar the harmony of society, not a bitter thought nor an unkind word, not an  ache nor a pain nor any decay, nor the fear of it. The human form and feature will be perfect in its beauty, and-although human as it is—now will be of surpassing loveliness. Won't it be glorious to live at such a time and never die-no toothache nor backache nor lingering rheumatism, no empty sleeves nor crutches nor glass eyes nor bald heads; no quarreling about the State road and the convicts and prohibition and the pay of the jurymen. Why, if Mr. Baxter’s count is right, the general assembly needent lease the State road for more than ten years, for it will be run under a new regime, and one man will have no more privileges than another. Every man will have to do his share of work It will go mighty hard with some, I know, but maybe they will get used to it. Money won’t relieve a man, neither will his pedigree, but all will have to work for the common good. Mr. Russell says that the earth will have abundant room for the 260 billions who have died, and the one and a half billions who now live, and that they all can stand erect within the limits of Ireland, allowing two square feet of space for each. The earth will then yield her increase, and the desert will blossom as the rose, and waters shall  break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. With the help and power of such a king I reckon we can all get along if we deserve to. But if the time is near at hand our people had better begin to get used to some things. The rich and greedy had better begin to divide out a little along by degrees, The malicious and quarrelsome had better begin to cultivate the virtues of love and charity. The lazy had better rouse up and work a little. White folks had better quit cheating and darkies quit stealing, for it will be awful hard to stop all of a sudden. It will be safest anyhow for us all to live just like we knew the millenium was coming very soon, whether it comes or not. Let us have our lamps trimmed and burning.     

BILL ARP.”

From this column were taken the comments that came to form the Arp Slip, which helped many people to get closer to the truth, and in many cases, become Bible Students.

Apparently, Bill Arp did not adopt the faith that he admired so much, since his funeral was held in the Presbyterian Church, and was officiated by the Reverend T. J. Christian, of the Methodist Church.¹¹

Their use and promotion

(bottom part of the first edition)

The Arp Slip was first mailed to subscribers of Zion's Watch Tower free of charge as a supplement to the October 1887 issue. Explanation and recommendations on how to use the tract were given in the following issue:

“THE “ARP SLIPS,” of which samples were sent you with last TOWER, seem to meet with general approval. A sister greatly interested expresses the desire that these slips might be circulated generally among Christian people, believing that they would awaken new thoughts in many minds, and lead them to study God’s plan anew, and thus prove an entering wedge to let in the true light. She thinks an excellent plan would be, to distribute these slips Sundays, to church-goers, either as they go in or are dismissed after service. She donates fifty dollars to pay for printing and mailing these, to be used thus, the sum to be applied to some one state, leaving it for the publishers to decide which.

We think this an excellent plan. Should it become very general it will make quite a stir, by throwing cold water [truth] upon the “hell-fire teachings.” The ministers and officious members of churches, will doubtless try both arts and threats to stop those who engage in this crusade, but as the slips are free, and the sidewalks public, and the tract a religious one—calling attention to the genuine gospel, good tidings, there is no cause for either shame or fear. Since it is left to us to decide, and since “charity begins at home,”—the sister is a Pennsylvanian—we apply the above donation to the state of Pennsylvania, and accordingly invite all the friends of the cause in Penn’a., to send in their orders for as many as they will use according to the plan mentioned. Many can serve the cause we love, in this way, who cannot preach in any other manner. Take a boy or girl to help, where the congregations are large. The fifty dollars will print and stamp a great many as we now have electroplates to print from.

The above offer must not hinder all other readers from using these slips in a less extravagant manner among their friends, enclosing them with their letters, etc., etc. Order freely; we have them in packs of pounds, half-pounds, quarter pounds and two ounces. Order all you can judiciously use FREE.”¹²

This of course generated a lot of interest and orders started pouring in from all over the state of Pennsylvania. But of course, readers from other states didn't want to be left behind. The following month the TOWER announced that a brother named Weber had donated 40 dollars to distribute these tracts in Maryland and West Virginia,¹³ and the following month another donation would arrive for the state of Ohio.¹⁴ The success was so great that just a month later, in February 1888, Russell decided to use the money from the TOWER TRACT FUND to print enough tracts to flood the entire country, and it did.¹⁵

In addition to producing the tract as a loose leaf, it was printed in newspapers across the country, including, in addition to Arp's comments, the “response” of “Mrs. Lemuels”, as can be seen in this newspaper clipping from the Miami Republican:¹⁶

Comments from Mrs. C. B. Lemuels say:

“The truths set forth in the above described work so benefited me, so opened my eyes to God’s great, just, loving, wise plan, and so opened the Bible before me, that with others who have read and been caused to see, I have concluded to spend such means and strength as I possess in passing this cup of refreshing truth to other thirsty souls. To this end I am loaning this book, postage prepaid, to all who will promise a careful reading of it and to pay return postage. The above came voluntarily and unexpectedly from Mr. “Arp’s” pen after reading the book, sent him by me, and is well matched by hundreds of letters from people in every station of life. I want every intelligent, thinking man and woman to read the book, for as “Arp” truly says, “It is impossible to read this book without loving the author [Doubtless God through the writer was the real Author of the plan unfolded,] and pondering his wonderful solution of the great mysteries that have troubled us all our lives.”

Address           Mrs. C. B. Lemuels, Allegheny, Pa.”

During 1888, these advertisements signed by C. B. Lemuels appeared in many newspapers in the United States offering to lend the books to anyone who was interested, and many people approached the Bible Students because of this, but…

Who was C.B. Lemuels?

In those years there were many very devout women who were willing to give everything in order to make known the message of the Bible Students, and many of them in later times did so, as in the notable case of Gertrude Seibert or of the sisters persecuted in 1918, but the reality is that Mrs. C. B. Lemuels was not one of them, in fact, C. B. Lemuels never existed. She was a character created by C. T. Russell, who would represent his wife Maria, to attract more people to his message. Russell himself explained it in 1894:

“No wrong was done to any one by the use of the name; but, on the contrary, much good was accomplished. Many readers will remember seeing Mrs. C. B. Lemuels’ advertisements in different newspapers, all over the United States, offering to loan free of charge a book that would be very helpful to honest skeptics and infidels. Many of you first learned of the truth by this means. The book was The Plan of the Ages—DAWN, VOL. I, and the name Mrs. Lemuels represented Mrs. Russell. I esteemed that the matter would be better received from a lady than from a gentleman. I could have arranged for the use of Mrs. Russell’s name, or the name of some other sister, but reflected that a confusion of letters might result and prove inconvenient. Besides, I bring my own name as little into prominence as possible. This will be noticed in connection with everything I have published—the O. T. Tracts, the DAWNS, etc.

The name Lemuel is from the Hebrew and signifies Son of God. The initial letter C, stands for Christ, and B. for before; hence the whole name signifies, a son of God, after Christ. I consider the using of the name for a good purpose entirely proper and not a deception, in the proper meaning of that term; for it could make no difference to the party blessed whether the instrument of his blessing had the name of Smith, Brown, Lemuels or Russell. Indeed, our Lord was known by a variety of names, other than the name of Jesus, given by the angel. He is called also Immanuel, the Son of Man, the Redeemer, the Good Shepherd, Lord of Glory, Prince of Peace, Prince of Life, the Word of God, Lamb of God, the Just One, the King of Israel, Living Stone, the True Vine, Wonderful, Counsellor, Savior, Mediator, the Amen, the Alpha and Omega, the Second Adam, the Messiah. Our Lord and the Apostles and the Prophets, did not think it a deception to apply these various names and titles, nor do I. Had I used the name for a wrong purpose, the entire transaction would have been sinful; but as it is conceded that it was used for a good purpose the entire transaction is faultless. Many eminent writers for the press cover their identity under a nom de plume, and justly without reproach.” ¹⁷

Bill Arp's comments were used as publicity in various publications, for example in some issues of the Old Theology tracts and in the back pages of the volumes of Studies in the Scriptures, among others. The Arp tract in its entirety was translated into German in its tract format, but it was also translated into other languages in the form of advertising included in books.

What happened to the Arp Slip?

In November 1891, the TOWER announced that a new small tract was in the works to replace the Arp Slip¹⁸, and apparently it was, as that is the last mention in its pages of this small, but very powerful preaching tool.

Notes

1.     1.      Over time as the other volumes in the series came out, the title changed to The Divine Plan of the Ages, and the entire series became known as Millennial Dawn, and later the series name was changed to Studies in the Scriptures.

2. ZWT 11/1887 p. 1
3. ZWT 12/1887 p. 8
4. ZWT 2/1888 p. 1
5. ZWT 3/1888 p. 2 Extracts From Interesting Letters
6. ZWT 5/1888 p. 2 Extracts From Interesting Letters
7. ZWT 9/1888 p. 8 Extracts From Interesting Letters
8. Ibid
9. ZWT 12/1888 p. 8 A Suggestion to the Reapers
10. ZWT 6/1888 p. 1 About Tracts
11. The Atlanta Constitution, Aug 27, 1903, p3
12. ZWTw 11/1887 p. 1
13. ZWT 12/1887 p. 8 ARP Slips for W. VA. And MD.
14. ZWT 1/1888 p. 8 Extracts From Interesting Letters
15. ZWT 2/1888 p. 1 More Arp Slips
16. The Miami Republican, Jul 6, 1888, p. 3
17. ZWT 1894 4/25 pp. 35-54 Brother Bryan’s Grievances
18. ZWT 11/1891 p. 150 View From the Tower