Guest post by Bernhard
In the early history of the Bible Students Association (I.B.S.A.) we often encounter the term “Newspaper Syndicate” in its writings. But what exactly was this “Newspaper Syndicate?” When was it founded? Who worked in it, and what results did it achieve?
Essentially, the term "Newspaper Syndicate" is another name for a press association, such as the American Press Association of New York.The purpose of such an association is to sell content such as articles, columns, photos, etc. to various newspapers and magazines, or to ensure that desired content is published and paid for.
Publishing religious sermons in newspapers, for example, was naturally very effective. Firstly, because it allowed for an incredibly large readership worldwide, and secondly, it saved the high printing costs and the time required by many people to disseminate all the content, even though various sermons and advertisements were not free and consumed considerable sums of money.
Charles Taze Russell was aware of the influence of newspapers. He stated in 1912: “Few indeed are those that realize the opportunities and the power of the Press in this the twentieth century. So great is this power that the generally accepted opinion of a nation upon a subject may be completely reversed within a month. This was not so fifty or one hundred years ago. Under former conditions it would have taken a century to crystallize public opinion on such a matter as the recent Dr. Cook and Commodore Peary North Pole controversy. This case was, through the Press, placed on trial before the “Tribunal of Public Opinion,” and consequently was readily settled, furnishing an excellent example of how the people of the whole world take knowledge and settle matters in this our day. ... Thus is manifested an unprecedented opportunity for the Press. Will it be grasped? Yes! The Newspapers at present constitute the only channel through which the solution of this mighty problem can be speedily disseminated among people. The Daily and the Weekly Press of the present day are the sole source of information for millions of families, and these families assuredly will, through the Press, learn a harmonious, complete and satisfactory explanation of heretofore incomprehensible doctrinal questions.“
The Bible Students “Newspaper
Syndicate” was founded by Charles T. Russell in New York in 1908 to contact
national and international newspapers to regularly provide them with his
sermons and weekly Bible studies, as well as to advertise various lectures and
events related to the International Bible Students Association. However,
long before the syndicate was founded, Russell's sermons were published weekly
in newspapers.
The December 1, 1904, issue of the Watch Tower announced that sermons by C. T. Russell were appearing in three newspapers. The next issue of the Watch Tower, under the heading “Newspaper Gospelling,” reported: “Millions of sermons have thus been scattered far and near; and some at least have done good. If the Lord wills we shall be glad to see this ‘door’ keep open, or even open still wider.” The door of “newspaper gospelling” did open still wider. In 1908 sermons were being published in eleven newspapers.
Wherever C. T. Russell traveled, gave lectures, or attended conventions, he telegraphed a sermon (about two newspaper columns long) to the “Newspaper Syndicate” which then distributed the sermon to many daily newspapers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Initially, the sermons appeared only in English; from 1912 onward, they were also published in German and Swedish.
In Watch Tower, April 15, 1909, this newly founded “Newspaper Syndicate” is introduced: “Another item: In the interest of the work we have contracted with a Newspaper Syndicate, giving it a general control of the sermons,- to say -which newspapers may have them and which may not, the terms, etc. This Syndicate will handle the sermons for profit, nevertheless at a low price. Be assured that Brother Russell makes no profit by the sale of the Gospel. In view of this we advise that our friends hereafter refrain from any effort to have the sermons published in any newspaper-contenting themselves with the encouragement of the papers publishing these sermons will be sent to us.“
In the article “The Newspaper Syndicate’s
idea“ (Watch Tower 1912, p.36) we can
read: “For the benefit of our readers we remark that Brother Russell is very
anxious to co-operate with the Newspaper Syndicate which handles his weekly
sermons. While he retains fullest liberty in respect to the subject matter of
his discourses, he yields other points considerably to the Syndicate’s wishes. This
will account for his greater care in his clothing, his more frequent use of
cabs and parlor cars. The Syndicate insists that Brother Russell’s personality
has much to do in placing his sermons far and near. And Brother Russell is glad
to yield to the Syndicate’s business judgment, because he desires that his
Gospel message shall be heard the world around.“
In 1913, it was reported that clergymen were resisting the publication of Russell's sermons in newspapers. Russell wrote: “Divine providence is still favoring the presentation of the Gospel in the public press. The efforts of the enemies of the Gospel of the kingdom to misrepresent our teachings and to prejudice editors and publishers against them have not prevailed. In this also we perceive that He that is for us is mightier than all they that be against us. The day may come when the truth will be crushed to the earth by slander and misrepresentation, but that day has not come yet. Indeed, in quite a number of instances the editors, although worldly men, have appreciated the situation, despised the unjust principle manifested by some preachers in their opposition, and have given space and prominence to our message. The latest figures given us by the Newspaper Syndicate which handles the Sermons and Bible Study Lessons in the United States and Canada show 1,424 papers publishing weekly. About 600 papers in Great Britain, South Africa and Australia publish weekly. This in round figures represents 2,000 newspapers. How many millions of readers are thus reached by these papers we know not, nor can we tell how many of those reached are reading and being influenced. We do know, however, that the whole world is waking up, and that the truths we are presenting are gaining adherents and exerting influence everywhere.“
The December 15, 1914, issue of the Watch Tower reports that the spread decreased: As our readers are aware, Pastor Russell's sermons and weekly Bible studies have for several years been very widely published in the secular newspapers. The number publishing is not so large as formerly; nevertheless, we are probably reaching more people than ever, by reason of inserting the sermons in metropolitan newspapers – in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Baltimore, Washington, Los Angeles. … The difference between the two services is that in the smaller cities the sermons are published strictly as news, the newspapers paying for the stereotyped plates twenty-five cents per column weekly. It is the business with these, conducted by a newspaper syndicate, that has fallen off considerably. The number now publishing the sermons, etc., regularly, is about one thousand.
The Lecture Bureau
This “Newspaper Syndicate,” newly founded in 1908, had its lecture bureau in the Metropolitan Building, New York, in room 3040. The building was located at 1 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. From March 1916, the office of John G. Kuehn of the Mena Film Company was also located in room 6078 in the same building. Several people were members of both the newspaper syndicate and the Mena Film Company.
The department consisted of journalists, reporters, typists, and photographers.The office was headed by George Chester Driscoll. At the same time, there were three permanent staff members (Isaac Page Noll, George Minor Huntsinger, and Dr. Leslie Whitney Jones), as well as several outside assistants and photographers.
 |
| Reporter, director and travel manager |
Driscoll was the person responsible for
Russell's public funding, activities, and travel arrangements. For
twenty years (from 1897) he was in special newspaper syndicate work. In 1908 he organized and became manager of
the Pastor Russell Lecture Bureau, which syndicated Russell’s sermons through
the American Press and other newspaper Associations in America and also in
foreign countries, through which Russell’s sermons were published in over 4000
newspapers. He supervised the publicity of Russell’s various Foreign campaigns,
and as publicist preceded the Foreign Investigations Committee as well as
arranging for the advertising etc., in connection with the public meetings
which Russell addressed on that tour. He was Russell’s special advertising
manager in connection with the Photo Drama publicity.
In 1915 he became president and manager of the Pyramid Film Company, in 1918 he became a director of the Mena Film Company and in 1919 he became a manager of the Kinemo Kit Corporation and worked as Moving Picture Producer. In 1920 he travelled with J. F. Rutherford, A. H. Macmillan, A. R. Goux and D. W. Soper to Palestine and Egypt. Some movies were made for the Kinemo Company.
After one year’s service in America Hollister was manager of the Pastor Russell Lecture Bureau of Great Britain (in 1910), Africa and Australia. In 1912 Russell gave him the management of translating the first Volume and other messages which were subsequently disseminated in Japan, China and Korea and other countries, necessitating much travel and work in these countries. For this reason he was made Foreign Director in the Mena Film Company. He became the Watchtower Representative of Japan and the far east. Hollister arrived in Australia in late 1913 and spent several months of the following year in Australia and New Zealand.
William James Hollister and his wife went together with Robert Reuben Hollister in 1913 to China and Japan.
Huntsinger, of Independence,Kansas, was recognized asone of the best court reporters in the country. He was one of the few stenographers who could take notes while speakers spoke quickly. He died in 1915 after an illness of three years from tuberculosis.
Jones of Chicago, was originally a medical doctor. Since 1905 he produced the “Souvenir Convention Reports.“ Jones was also involved in the Mena Film Corporation and became a director of this Company. He was also a member of the Foreign Investigation Committee on the World Tour in 1912. He had charge of several Trans-Continental Special Train Parties. He died in a road accident in 1946.
Noll worked together with Jones, Huntsinger and Driscoll in the “Newspaper Syndicate.“ Noll reported on the Russell-Troy debate in 1915. In 1919 he became a director of the Kinemo Kit Corporation and the Pyramid Film Company.
He was one of the official photographers in the time of Russell and Rutherford. He was a member of the Cleveland class, Ohio. In 1919 he was a cinematographer of the Kinemo Kit Corporation. Together with Rutherford, A. H. Macmillan, A. Goux and G. C. Driscoll he visited Palestine and Egypt in 1920.
She served also as secretary in the “Newspaper
Syndicate.“ She was married to John Frank Stephenson. The “Ming Yu Bao,” The Chinese Recorder, March 1913, page
134-135, wrote: “We have received two copies of a paper called “Bible Study,”
and inside one is a letter signed “Bible Study Club, V. Noble, Secretary”
addressed to “Fellow-servant in a foreign field,” and reading in part as
follows: - “We proffer you our little journal free on receipt of a postal card
request. Even postage included, the expense will not be a serious item to us”!
This is followed by the intimation that on the reverse side ofthe letter will
be found a place for the addresses of missionaries, which may be entered on the
subscription list, ad libitum, but only at their request.”The Continent, a
Presbyterian journal noted for opposing Russell and The Watch Tower, sent
someone to visit the Bible Study Club offices located in the Metropolitan
Building in New York City.The magazine reported: “The office to which Mr. (sic! Mrs.)Noble invited correspondents
to write is occupied by a business concern of an entirely different character,
which reports that “Mr. Noble” simply receives mail at that address. This firm
disclaims all connection with him. On a corner of the glass in the door is the
revealing line, “Pastor Russell Lecture Bureau.” (Bruce W. Schulz, A Separate
Identity, Organizational Identity Among Readers of Zion’s Watch Tower:
1870-1887).
For a period of time
Russell's sermons were published weekly in more than 2,000 newspapers, with a
combined circulation of 15,000,000 readers ; and in all
about 4,000 different newspapers published his sermons. Some idea of the scope
of his work can be understood from the words written in The Continent, a publication not friendly to him: ”His writings are
said to have a greater newspaper circulation every week than those of any other
living man; greater, doubtless, than the combined circulation of the writings
of all the priests and preachers in North America; greater even than the work
of Arthur Brisbane, Norman Hapgood, George Horace Lorimer, Dr. Frank Crane,
Frederick Haskins, and a dozen other of the best known editors and syndicate
writers put together.” (Harp of God, p. 239)
So
Brother Russell became the greatest syndicate writer of
his day. Many came to a knowledge of the truth by means of these published
sermons.
After Brother Russell died, another effective method of spreading the good news began to be used. On April 16, 1922, Joseph F. Rutherford made one of his first radio broadcasts, speaking to an estimated 50,000 people.
