Pastor Russell's Yacht

CTR and the Bible Student movement used every modern means available to spread the word. One of the lesser known and lesser successful methods was the use of a large yacht (using both sail and fuel) in New York harbor.

This is that story.

CTR had been on an extensive world tour which included the Holy Land and Egypt, parts of Europe and a final tour in Britain. He returned on the liner Lusitania at the beginning of June, 1910. According to the New York Times for June 4, 1910, he was made the gift of a two mast schooner for missionary work.

The description included a canvas banner with the name “Angel” and the inscription “God is Love.”

Several news outlets carried a picture of the vessel and its banner.

CTR described the event in the pages of The Watch Tower July 15, 1910, pages 231-232.

“Arriving at the pier early Friday morning, June 3d, we were warmly greeted, especially by the Bethel family…Our attention was drawn to a schooner yacht, "The Angel." As soon as possible we were taken on board of her. In a brief and neat speech the vessel was presented to us and the papers handed over. We replied briefly, expressing our appreciation of the gift and accepting it as Trustee for the Peoples Pulpit Association. We expressed a hope that the vessel might be used and blessed of the Lord in connection with the service of the Truth in New York Harbor. There is room on the deck for an audience of about one hundred and, in stormy weather, the cabin will accommodate about seventy. The vessel is fitted with sails and also with gasoline engines and an electric light plant.  Her outfitting was not quite complete at the time of presentation. It is hoped that she will be ready for service soon. The endeavor will be to use her for the preaching of the Gospel in various languages to the sailors from all parts of the world, to whom also literature will be freely supplied. The different evenings of the week will be divided amongst the various nationalities of the port, "The Angel" lying at some suitable dock convenient for those of the nationality to be addressed. Pray for the Lord's blessing upon this, another opening for the service of the Truth.”

The newspapers picked up the story and various details were added. The schooner yacht at 125 feet long was quite a substantial size. There was obviously a standard press release because the cutting below (originally from the New York Evening Journal) appeared in a number of different newspapers.

According to the Evening World (to which we will return later) the yacht in question started life as the Intrepid and was originally built for Lloyd Phoenix. Phoenix (1841-1926) had been a lieutenant in the US Navy and fought in the American Civil War. After the war he went into business and became Rear Commodore of the New York Sailing Club. There is still a trophy awarded in his name in the yachting world today. Over his career he owned three vessels called Intrepid.

From the New York Tribune for October 26, 1913:

Assuming the Evening World got it right, the vessel donated to CTR would probably have been the second incarnation, which dated from 1893.

From The Portland Daily Press for July 17, 1893:

Whatever its antecedents, in June 1910 CTR stepped off the Lusitania to be met by a welcoming committee and a schooner yacht, all 125 feet of her.

In the event, after all the initial publicity, not a lot happened. It is noted from CTR’s account that the vessel was not actually ready for use, and there do not appear to be any newspaper accounts of the craft being used as proposed.

In the cold light of day, a large yacht, albeit second-hand, might be viewed as somewhat ostentatious for CTR. The maintenance and docking fees would be expensive, particularly when compared with other forms of missionary service.

The vessel reappeared in the media in 1912.

In February 1912 New York was buffetted by gales, and a number of vessels were reported to be in difficulties. From the Brooklyn Times Union for February 22, 1912:

“Angel” had now been rebranded “Onward.” By May 1912 it had been rescued and moored at Pier 11, East River. The Evening World (referred to earlier) continued the saga in its issue for May 2, 1912:

As well as the vessel’s history, its future course was charted.

According to the story Onward was now bound up the Amazon River. The fanciful account links the boat to Pastor Russell – perhaps this was a scientific expedition to discover the origin of Miracle Wheat? Reading between the lines it would appear that Watch Tower and the vessel had simply parted company, and new owners with new plans had taken it over.

This was basically confirmed in the Daily Local News of West Chester, Pennsylvania, for May 20 1912:

Thus it was that Intrepid/Angel/Onward left the Watch Tower fold and sailed off into the sunset.