Ukubheka Emuva Eminyakeni Engama-93 Yokuphila

Njengoba ilandiswa uFrederick W. Franz

NGOSEPTEMBER 12, 1893, kwazalwa ingane yomfana eCovington eKentucky, engaseningizimu yomfula obhekene neCincinnati, eOhio. Uyise ojabulile, uEdward Frederick Franz, kanye nonina othokozile, uIda Louise ongowakwaKrueger ngokuzalwa, baqamba lendodana yabo bathi uFrederick William Franz.

Lokho kwakuwukuqala kokuphila kwami kweminyaka engama-93. Ubaba, owazalelwa eJalimane, wayethi ungoweSonto laseLuthela ngakho wenza ukuba ngibhapathizwe ngokuba umfundisi abeke isandla sakhe esimanzisiwe esiphongweni sami. K wagcwaliswa isitifiketi sokubhapathizwa, futhi sakhelwa kahle salengiswa odongeni lomuzi wakithi, kanye nezitifiketi zokubhapathizwa zabafowethu ababili abadala, uAlbert Edward noHerman Frederick. Kwaba ngemva kweminyaka engama-20 kuphela lapho ngathola khona indlela lomkhuba ongokwenkolo ongekho ngayo ngokombhalo.

Kwakuyilapho sesithuthele eGreenup Street lapho ngabona khona okokuqala inqola engadonswa ngamahhashi, imoto evulekile egitshelwa abantu ababili ishayelwa yenyusa umgwaqo. Eminyakeni elandelayo ngangizobona indiza okokuqala. Sabe sesihlala ngaseKrieger’s Bakery, lapho ubaba asebenza khona ebusuku njengombhaki. Wayefika ekhaya ekuseni alale. Khona-ke ntambama wayekhululeka ukuba abe nesikhathi nathi njengabafana.

Ngenkathi sengisebudaleni bokungena esikoleni, ngaqala ngokuthunyelwa esikoleni sangasese esiphethwe yisonto nasezinkonzweni zeSonto lamaRoma Katolika likaSt. Joseph, njengoba sasiseduze nemigwaqo i-12th neGreenup. Ngisayikhumbula indlu yokufundela. Ngesinye isikhathi u“brother” wenkolo owayenjengothisha wangibiza ukuba ngiye phambi kwekilasi futhi ngelule isandla sami ukuze ngamukele imivimbo eminingana ye-rula elingamasentimitha angaphezu kwama-30 ngenxa yokuziphatha kwami okubi.

Ngiyakhumbula futhi ngiya ebhokisini lasesontweni loku vuma izono elalingakhanyisiwe, ngikhuluma nompristi ovumisa izono emi ngemva kothango olwehlukanisayo, ngisho umthandazo ngekhanda ngivuma ukuthi ngingumfana omubi kangakanani. Emva kwalokho, ngehlela ealtare ngaguqa lapho njengoba umpristi efaka ucezu lwesinkwa emlonyeni wami, ngaleyondlela engamukelisa iSidlo senkosi njengemfundiso yesonto, lapho ayezibekela iwayini ukuze aliphuze kamuva. Lokhu kwakuyisiqalo sokuqeqeshwa kwami ngokwenkolo nenhlonipho yami ngoNkulunkulu okwakuzokhula eminyakeni eyayizolandela.

Emva kokuqeda kwami unyaka kulesosikole sangasese esiphethwe yisonto ngo-1899, umkhaya wakithi wathutha wawela uMfula iOhio waya eCincinnati, ku-17 Mary Street (manje ebizwa ngokuthi i-East 15th Street). Manje ngathunyelwa esikoleni somphakathi futhi ngafakwa esigabeni sesithathu. Ngazibonakalisa ngingumfundi ongalaleli, futhi ngiyakhumbula ukuthi, ngesinye isikhathi, mina nomfundi owayehlala edeskini elingakwesokunene sami sayiswa ehhovisi lika thi shanhloko ngenxa yokungaziphathi kahle. Lapho uThishanhloko uFitzsimmons wasiyala ukuba sigobe sithinte isihloko sezicathulo zethu ngenkathi esishaya ezinqeni imivimbo eminingana ngoswazi lomgonothi. Njengoba ungase ulindele, angiphumelelanga ekuhlolweni.

Kodwa ubaba wayengathandi ukuba ngichithe iminyaka emibili ebangeni elilodwa. Ngakho lapho kuvulwa izikole ngokulandelayo wangiyisa esikoleni saseLiberty Street, ehhovisi likathisha-nhloko uMnu. Logan. Wacela uMnu. Logan ukuba angibhalise ebangeni lesine. UMnu. Logan wangithanda, futhi wathi: “Ake sibone ukuthi yini umfana ayaziyo.” Emva kokuphendula imibuzo eminingana enzima ngendlela eyabonakala imanelisa, wathi: “Kubonakala sengathi ukulungele ukuba sebangeni lesine.” Ngalendlela, wangidlulisela ebangeni elilandela leli engangingaphumelelanga kulo. Kusukela lapho ngazinza futhi ngazimisela ngokungathi sína emsebenzini wami wesikole, angizange futhi ngiphinde ngihluleke.

Izici ezingokwenkolo zokuphila kwami kobuntwana nazo zashintsha. Ngandlelathize, abameleli beSecond Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati bathintana nomama, futhi wanquma ukuthumela uAlbert, uHerman, kanye nami kuSonto-skole walelosonto. Ngalesosikhathi, uMnu. Fisher wayengumphathi kaSonto-skole, futhi uBessie O’Barr osemusha waba uthisha wami kaSonto-skole. Ngalendlela, ngajwayelana kangcono neBhayibheli eliNgcwele eliphefumlelwe. Yeka indlela engajabula ngayo lapho uthisha wami kaSontoskole engipha isiboniselo sami siqu seBhayibheli eliNgcwele njengesipho sikaKhisimusi!

Ngazimisela ukuba nakanjani ekuphileni kwami ngifunde ingxenye yeBhayibheli usuku ngalunye. Lokhu kwaphumela ekubeni ngijwayelane kahle kakhulu naleyoncwadi engcwele. Futhi ithonya layo eliwusizo langivikela ekuhilelekeni ezinkulumweni nasekuziphatheni okubi kwalabo engangifunda nabo. Kwakungamangalisi ukuthi babengibheka njengohlukile.

Isikole Esiphakeme Nekolishi

Emva kokuphumelela kwami esikoleni esiphakeme sabancane (juniorhigh) ngo-1907, abazali bami bangivumela ukuba ngiqhubeke nemfundo yami ngingene eSikoleni Esiphakeme iWoodward, lapho umfowethu omdala, uAlbert, afunda khona unyaka. Njengaye, nganquma ukuthatha isigaba sezifundo zakudala. Ngakho-ke ngathatha isifundo sesiLatini—isifundo engasenza iminyaka eyisikhombisa eyalandela.

Kwabe sekufika isikhathi sokuthweswa iziqu entwasahlobo yonyaka ka-1911. Ngakhethwa ukuba ngibe isikhulumi sokuvalelisa sase Woodward High School emcimbini wokuthweswa kweziqu owawenzelwe ehholo laseCincinnati elikhulu kunawo wonke, iHholo Lomculo.

Ngalesosikhathi, zontathu izikole eziphakeme zaseCincinnati—iWoodward High School, iHughes High School, kanye neWalnut Hills High School—zahlangana ndawonye emcimbini wokuthwesa iziqu. Amaqoqo alezikole eziphakeme ahlala ePulatifomu enkulu ebheke ihholo elaligcwele lichichima. Inkulumo yokuvula yanikezwa isikhulumi sokuvalelisa saseWoodward High School. Isihloko engasikhethela lomcimbi sasithi “Isikole Nokuba Isakhamuzi.” Zontathu izikhulumi zahalaliselwa ngokufudumele. Manje ngase ngineminyaka eyi-18.

Abazali bami bangivumela ukuba ngiqhubeke nenkambo yami yemfundo, ngakho-ke ngangena eYunivesithi yaseCincinnati, ngathatha izifundo ezivamile zokwandisa ulwazi. Manje ngase nginqume ukuba umshumayeli waseHabe.

Ezifundweni zesiLatini ezaziqhubeka, nganezela isifundo solimi lwesiGreki. Yeka isibusiso okwaba yiso ukutadisha isiGreki seBhayibheli ngaphansi kukaProfesa Arthur Kinsella! Ngaphansi kukaDr. Joseph Harry, umlobi wezincwadi ezithile zesiGreki, ngafunda futhi nesiGreki sakudala. Ngangazi ukuthi uma ngifuna ukuba umfundisi waseHabe, kwakumelwe ngisazi kahle isiGreki seBhayibheli. Ngakho ngazimisela ngempela futhi ngaphumelela.

Ngaphandle kokutadisha isiGreki nesiLatini esikoleni, ngaba nesithakazelo sokufunda iSipanishi, engasithola sifana kakhulu nesiLatini. Ngangingacabangi ngalesosikhathi ukuthi ngangiyosisebenzisa kangakanani iSipanishi enkonzweni yami yobuKristu.

Iqophelo eliphakeme lokuphila kwami kwezemfundo kwakuyilapho uDr. Lyon, umongameli weYunivesithi, ememezela kubafundi ababehlangene ehholo ukuthi ngangikhethelwe ukuya eOhio State University ngiyobhala izivivinyo zokuncintisana nabanye ukuze ngizuze umklomelo woMfundaze kaCecil Rhodes, ngifanelekele ukwamukelwa eOxford University, eNgilandi. Omunye wengangincintisana nabo wangehlula kwezemidlalo, kodwa ngenxa yezinga eliphakeme enganginalo ezifundweni, bafuna ukusithumela sobabili eOxford University. Ngaqaphela ukuthi ngakwazi ukufinyelela izimfanelo zokuthola umfundaze, futhi, ngokuvamile, lokhu kwakuyoba okuthokozisa kakhulu.

“Leli Yiqiniso!”

Siyakhumbula ukuthi ngesinye isikhathi uJesu Kristu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Niyakulazi iqiniso, neqiniso liyakunikhulula.” (Johane 8:32) Ngonyaka owandulelayo, u-1913, umfowethu uAlbert wathola “iqiniso” eChicago. Walithola kanjani “iqiniso” uAlbert?

Ngomunye uMgqibelo ebusuku entwasahlobo ka-1913, uAlbert washeshe walala ekamelweni lokulala lase YMCA, lapho ayehlala khona ngenkathi esebenza eChicago. Kamuva, owayehlala naye wangena ngokuphuthuma ekamelweni ezochaza inkinga ethile. Ngalobobusuku wayemenywe emzini kaMnu. noNkk. Hindman, futhi indodakazi yabo uNora wayezoba nentombazane engumngane wakhe endlini. Amantombazane amabili ayemaningi kakhulu ukuba umngane ka-Albert abe yedwa nawo. Ngaphandle kokungabaza, uAlbert wasamukela isicelo. Phakathi nobusuku, umngane ka-Albert wayejwayelana kahle kakhulu nalamantombazane amabili. Kodwa uMnu. noNkk. Hindman babenake kakhulu uAlbert, bemxoxela ngezimfundiso zeWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

UAlbert wabe esengithumelela incwajana enesihloko esithi Where Are the Dead? eyayibhalwe udokotela waseScotland, uJohn Edgar, ilungu leBandla laseGlasgow le-International Bible Students. Okokuqala, ngayibekela eceleni incwajana. Khona-ke ngobunye ubusuku, nginesikhathi esincane ngaphambi kokuyozilolonga neqembu labaculi, ngaqala ukuyifunda. Ngayithola ithakazelisa kakhulu kangangokuba angikwazanga ukuyibeka phansi. Ngaqhubeka ngiyifunda ngenkathi ngihamba ibanga cishe eliyikhilomitha nengxenye ngiya esontweni laseHabe. Njengoba umnyango wesonto wawusahluthulelwe, ngahlala phezu kwezitebhisi ezibandayo ezakhiwe ngamatshe ngaqhubeka ngifunda. Kwafika umshayi we-organ, futhi, ebona indlela engangithatheke ngayo kulokhu engangikufunda, wathi: “Kumelwe kube okuthakazelisayo lokho.” Ngaphendula: “Yebo kunjalo!”

Njengoba ngangiwajabulela kangaka amaqiniso amasha engangiwafunda, kwafika umcabango wokuba ngibuze umshumayeli, uDr. Watson ukuthi wayeyibona kanjani lencwajana. Ngakho ngabo lobobusuku ngamnika incwajana ngabuza: “Dr. Watson wazini ngalokhu?”

Wayithatha incwajana, wayivula, wayesekhuluma ngokujivaza wathi: “Oh, lokho kumelwe kube okunye kwezinto zikaRussell. Wazini yena ngomlando womuntu nezehlakalo zomhla wokuphela?” Isimo sakhe sokwedelela sangethusa. Njengoba ngangithatha incwajana kuye futhi ngihamba, ngacabanga: “Anginandaba ukuthi ucabangani ngayo. Leli YIQINISO!”

Ngokushesha, ngesinye isikhathi evakashele ekhaya, uAlbert wangilethela imiqulu emithathu yokuqala yeStudies in the Scriptures, eyabhalwa uCharles Taze Russell. UAlbert wangijwayelanisa futhi nebandla lendawo labaFundi BeBhayibheli, elalihlanganyela kwamakhelwane wesonto laseHabe. Kwangijabulisa engangikufunda futhi ngokushesha nganquma ukuthi sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba nginqamule ubuhlobo neSonto laseHabe.

Ngakho kamuva, lapho uAlbert ephinda esivakashela, saya kwezinye zezifundo zangeSonto ebusuku zikaDr. Watson. Kamuva, mina noAlbert sehla saya lapho ayexhawulana khona nabefundisi abasebehamba. Ngathi kuye: “Dr. Watson, sengiyalishiya isonto.”

Wathi: “Ngazile! Ngazile! Ngokushesha nje lapho ngikubona ufunda leyanto kaRussell. Leyondoda, uRussell, ngeke ngiyivumele ukuba ingene kwami!” Wayesenezela: “Fred, awucabangi yini ukuthi kungaba ngcono sikhuphukele ekamelweni lemihlangano futhi sithandaze ndawonye?” Ngamtshela: “Cha, Dr. Watson, senginqumile.”

Ngalokho, mina noAlbert saphuma esontweni. Yeka umuzwa omuhle okwakuyiwo ukukhululeka ebugqilini besimiso senkolo esasifundisa amanga! Yeka indlela okwakukuhle ngayo ukungeniswa ebandleni labaFundi BeBhayibheli beZizwe Zonke, ababethembeke kakhulu eZwini likaNkulunkulu! NgoApril 5, 1914, eChicago, eIllinois, ngabonakalisa ukuzehlukanisela kwami—njengoba ukuzinikezela sasikubiza kanjalo—ngobhapathizo lwamanzi.

Angikaze ngizisole ngalokho, ngokushesha ngaphambi kwezimemezelo zeziphathimandla zemfundo ngokuqondene nomphumela wezivivinyo zoMfundaze kaCecil Rhodes, ngabhalela iziphathimandla incwadi futhi ngazazisa ukuthi ngase ngilahlekelwe isithakazelo emfundazeni waseOxford University futhi kumelwe zingikhiphe ohlwini lwabazowungenela. Lokhu bakwenza ngisho nakuba uprofesa wami wesiGreki waseyunivesithi, uDr. Joseph Harry, angazisa ukuthi ngangikhethelwe ukuwuthola.

Ezinyangeni ezimbili kamuva, noma ngoJune 28, 1914, kwabulawa uArchduke Ferdinand waseAustria-Hungary kanye nomkakhe eSarajevo eBosnia. Ngalo lolo suku olufanayo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli BeZizwe Zonke babesosukwini lwesithathu lomhlangano wabo omkhulu eMemorial Hall, eColumbus, eOhio. Esikhathini nje esingangenyanga kamuva, noma ngoJuly 28, 1914, impi yezwe yokuqala yawo wonke umlando wesintu yagqashuka. Thina baFundi BeBhayibheli sasilindele ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe zeminyaka eyizi-2 520 ngo-October 1 walowonyaka.

Ngemvume kababa, ngase ngiyishiyile iYunivesithi yaseCincinnati ngoMay 1914, emasontweni ambalwa nje ngaphambi kokuphela kwengxenye yesithathu yonyaka wami owelanywa owokugcina (junior classman). Ngokushesha ngahlela neWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society ukuba ngibe yicolporteur, noma iphayona, njengoba isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele sibizwa kanjalo namuhla. Ngalesosikhathi ngase ngihlanganyela ngokugcwele neBandla labaFundi BeBhayibheli BeZizwe Zonke laseCincinnati.

Kamuva ngaba umdala weBandla laseCincinnati. Ngakho lapho iUnited States of America ihileleka eMpini Yezwe I ingasohlangothini lwamazwe ayelwa neJalimane, futhi izinsizwa zijutshelwa impi, ngashiywa njengesikhonzi sevangeli.

Ukwazi UMzalwan’ URussell

Phakathi kwezenzakalo zokuphila kwami engibheka emuva kuzo ngentshiseko kwakuyizikhathi engaba nenjabulo yokuhlangana ngazo nomongameli wokuqala weNhlangano, uCharles Taze Russell. Okokuqala ngajwayelana ngokomuntu siqu naye ngosuku lwangaphambi kokubukiswa kokuqala kwePhoto-Drama of Creation eHholo Lomculo ngeSonto, ngoJanuary 4, 1914. NgalowoMgqibelo umdala weBandla laseCincinnati wahlangana nami ngaphandle kweHholo Lomculo futhi wathi: “UMzalwan’ uRussell ulapha phakathi, futhi uma uya ngemva kwesiteji uzombona.” Ngilangazelela kakhulu ngangena futhi kamuva ngazithola ngixoxa naye ubuso nobuso. Wayezele ukuzohlola amalungiselelo aleyo nkulumo yokuqala yePhoto-Drama of Creation.

Khona-ke ngo-1916 kwenzeka ukuba ashintshe isitimela eCincinnati futhi walibala lapho amahora amaningi. Mina kanye nomunye udade, njengoba sase sitsheliwe ngakho, saphuthuma esiteshini, lapho samthola khona enonobhala wakhe. Wayeze nokudla kwakhe, futhi lapho isikhathi sokudla kwasemini sifika, wakuhlanganyela nathi.

Lapho eqeda ukudla, wabuza ukuthi wayekhona yini owayenombuzo weBhayibheli. Ngabuza ukuthi kungenzeka yini ukuba uAdamu avuswe njengoba engazange aphenduke, ayeyisoni sangamabomu. Ecima iso lakhe, waphendula: “Mfowethu, ubuza umbuzo futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo uyawuphendula. Manje, uthini ngempela umbuzo wakho?”

I“The Finished Mystery”

NgoLwesibili, ngo-October 31, 1916, uCharles Taze Russell wafa, engakawukhiphi umqulu wesikhombisa wochungechunge lwakhe lweStudies in the Scriptures. Lapho esezofa, egibele isitimela esisuka eCalifornia, unobhala wakhe wambuza ngomqulu wesikhombisa, wamphendula: “Othile kuzomelwe awulobe.”

Ngonyaka owalandela, ngo-1917, umqulu wesikhombisa wavela njengokukhulunyelwa kwezincwadi ezingokwesiprofetho kaHezekeli nesAmbulo, kanye nencazelo enhle yencwadi yeBhayibheli yesiHlabelelo SeziHlabelelo. INhlangano yahlela ukuba lencwadi entsha isakazwe kakhulu. Ngakho-ke, yathumela amabhokisi alomqulu wesikhombisa kubantu abathile emabandleni aseUnited States. Amabhokisi amaningi athunyelwa ekhaya ku-1810 Baymiller Street, eCincinnati, eOhio, futhi agcinwa lapho sisalindele iziyalezo ezengeziwe ngokuqondene nendlela okuphakathi okwakuzosakazwa ngayo.

Kwakunamakhasi ayisishiyagalombili eThe Finished Mystery ayequkethe izingcaphuno zalokho abantu abavelele ababekumemezele ngokuqondene nempi. Ngenxa yokushoshozelwa yizinhlangano zenkolo zeLobukholwa, ezobuKatolika nezobuProthestani, uhulumeni waseUnited States waphikisana nakho, ngakho amakhasi 247-54 akhishwa. Ngemva kwalokho, lapho iThe Finished Mystery inikezwa abantu, bachazelwa ukuthi kungani lamakhasi engekho. Lesinyathelo asizange simanelise uhulumeni wase United States, futhi eshoshozelwa yizinhlangano zenkolo zalelozwe, wawuvala wonke umqulu wesikhombisa weStudies in the Scriptures.

Ngikhumbula ukuthi ngelinye iSonto ekuseni ngangisebenza emnyango ongemva kwendlu yakithi. Amadoda eza aqonda endlini, futhi owayewahola wangibonisa ibheji lakhe lensimbi elalisebhantshini futhi wafuna ukungena endlini. Ngakho ngaphoqeleka ukuwangenisa endlini phakathi ngiwabonise amabhokisi ayenezincwadi iThe Finished Mystery. Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, athumela iloli yawathatha wonke.

Kamuva sezwa ukuthi uJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli wesibili weWatch Tower Society, nabangane bakhe abayisithupha ababekhonza endlunkulu yaseBrooklyn bamangalelwa ngokuyiphutha ngokuthi baphazamisa umzamo wempi weUnited States. Bagwetshwa iminyaka engama-20 eNkantolo Yombuso yaseAtlanta, ngecala ngalinye kwamane ababethweswe wona, nokho, isigwebo sahlanganiswa. Impi yaphela ngoNovember 11, 1918, futhi ngoMarch 25, 1919, uMzalwan’ uRutherford nabangane bakhe bakhululwa ngebheyili. Kamuva bakhishwa ngokuphelele ecaleni. Incwadi iThe Finished Mystery nayo yakhululwa futhi yagunyazwa ukuba iphinde ihanjiswe ngokukhululekile.

Yeka indlela okwakuvuselela ngayo umoya wethu lapho iNhlangano ihlela ukuba sibe nomhlangano wethu wokuqala wangemva kwempi eCedar Point, esekuqaleni kwenhlonhlo yokuchitha amaholide ngaseSandusky, eOhio, ngoSeptember 1-8, 1919! Kwakuyilungelo elijabulisa kakhulu ngami ukuba khona kulowomhlangano.

Ukumenyelwa EBethel

Ngonyaka olandelayo ka-1920, uMongameli uRutherford wamukela isimemo sokubeka inkulumo yeningi eCincinnati, eOhio. Ngalesosikhathi ngangiphayona, futhi uMzalwan’ uRutherford wangicela ukuba ngimbhalele incwadi yesicelo senkonzo yasendlunkulu yaseBrooklyn.

Ngayithumela incwadi, futhi ngemva kokuthola impendulo enhle, ngagibela isitimela esiya eDolobheni laseNew York. NgoLwesibili ebusuku, ngoJune 1, 1920, ngafika khona futhi ngahlangatshezwa uLeo Pelle, umngane wami omdala waseLouisville, eKentucky, wangiyisa ekhaya laseBethel. Ngakusasa, ngoLwesithathu, ngabelwa ngokomthetho ukuhlala noHugo Riemer noClarence Beatty ekamelweni, ngaba owe-102 emkhayeni waseBethel yaseBrooklyn.

INhlangano yayisiqalise ifektri yayo yokuqala yokunyathelisa ku-35 Myrtle Avenue, lapho esakhiweni esingaphansi kwakunomshini wethu wokuqala wokunyathelisa werotary, esasiwubiza ngokuthi iBattleship (uMkhumbi Wempi) ngenxa yobukhulu bawo. Sasinyathelisa umagazini omusha weNhlangano onesihloko esithi The Golden Age—kamuva owabizwa ngokuthi iConsolation futhi manje iPhaphama! Njengoba omagazini babephuma embotsheni eyayiphansi futhi bedluliswa ngesimiso sezintambo ebhodini elitshekile, ngangibaqoqa, ngibalungisa futhi ngibabeka kahle ukuze kamuva basikwe futhi baphatheke.

NgoMgqibelo ekuseni, lapho umshini wokunyathelisa ungabakhiqizi omagazini, idlanzana lethu esingabazalwane lalibopha omagazini ngamaphepha ansundu anamagama namakheli abenze izikhokhelo. Khona-ke sasibavala ukuze ihhovisi leposi likwazi ukubasingatha. Ngaqhubeka ngenza lomsebenzi izinyanga eziningi kwaze kwaba yilapho uDonald Haslett, owayekhonza eMnyango Wamaphayona, ehamba eyoshada noMabel Catel. Khona-ke ngashintshwa ku-35 Myrtle Avenue ngaya ehhovisi leNhlangano ku-124 Columbia Heights ukuze ngikhonze eMnyango Wamaphayona.

Futhi, njengelungu leBandla laseNew York, ngabelwa ukuqhuba isifundo sencwadi ekhaya lomkhaya wakwa-Afterman endaweni yaseRidgewood eBrooklyn.

Amalungelo Omsakazo Nawomhlangano

Ngaqhubeka ngikhonza eMnyango Wamaphayona kwaze kwaba u-1926. Ngalesosikhathi, eStaten Island iWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society yayimise isiteshi sayo sokuqala somsakazo, iWBBR. Lokho kwakungo-1924. Ngaba nelungelo elijabulisayo lokukhonza ezinhlelweni zeNhlangano, nginganikezi nje kuphela izinkulumo kodwa futhi ngicula namasolo etenor, ngidlala ngisho nesigingci okuthiwa imandolin esasihambisana nopiyano. Futhi, ngangicula itenor yesibili emculweni wethu wabesilisa abane kuWBBR. Yebo, uMzalwan’ uRutherford, njengomongameli weNhlangano, wayeyisikhulumi esiyinhloko kuWBBR futhi wayenezilaleli eziningi.

Kwakungonyaka ka-1922 lapho umhlangano omkhulu we Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society wenziwa okwesibili eCedar Point, eOhio. Lapha uMzalwan’ uRutherford wasinxusa ngokunamandla kakhulu ethi “memezeleni, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi noMbuso wayo.”

Elinye lamalungelo ami engangiwazisa kakhulu ngawo-1920 kwakuwukukhonza noMzalwan’ uRutherford emhlanganweni wezizwe zonke eLondon, eNgilandi, ngo-1926. Lapho wanikeza inkulumo yakhe yeningi eHholo iRoyal Albert eLondon phambi kwezilaleli eziningi ngemva kokuba ngiculé isolo yetenor eyayihambisana neorgan eyaziwayo yasehholo.

Ngobusuku obulandelayo wakhuluma nezilaleli ezingamaJuda ngesithi “IPalestine YamaJuda—Kungani?” futhi ngacula isolo ethi “Induduzo Kini, Bantu Bami” kuyiMessiah kaHandel. Izinkulungwane ezithile zamaJuda zaba khona kuleyonkonzo ekhethekile. Ngalesosikhathi, sasisebenzisa ngokuyiphutha lezoziprofetho ezivela emiBhalweni yesiHeberu kumaJuda enyama, asokiwe. Kodwa ngo-1932 uJehova wavula amehlo ethu ukuba sibone ukuthi lezoziprofetho zazisebenza kuIsrayeli ongokomoya.

Futhi yeka indlela okwajabulisa ngayo ngami ukuba semhlanganweni waseColumbus, eOhio, ngo-1931 lapho uMzalwan’ uRutherford ekhipha ‘igama elisha’ elithi oFakazi BakaJehova, futhi sonke salemukela ngentshiseko! Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, wonke amabandla abantu bakaJehova kuwo wonke umhlaba alemukela ‘lelogama elisha.’—Qhathanisa noIsaya 62:2.

NgoLwesihlanu, ngoMay 31, 1935, ngangikhonza njengomqondisi weorchestra endaweni engaphansi kwepulatifomu uMzalwan’ uRutherford ayenikeza kuyo inkulumo yakhe eqopha umlando ngesAmbulo 7:9-17, esichazela ngokuqondile amalungu ‘esixuku esikhulu’ achazwe lapho. Isigaba esibizwa ngokuthi esamaJonadaba samenywa ngokukhethekile ukuba sibe khona, ngakho-ke isizathu saba sobala lapho uMzalwan’ uRutherford ebonisa ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu,” sasizokwenziwa “ezinye izimvu” ‘zikamalusi omuhle’ uJesu Kristu. (Johane 10:14, 16) Kwakuyisenzakalo esijabulisayo. Yeka indlela okwavusa amadlingozi ngayo kimi lapho ngakusasa, ngoMgqibelo, ngoJune 1, abangama-840 ababeze emhlanganweni becwiliswa emanzini ukuze babonakalise ukuzinikezela kwabo kuNkulunkulu ngoKristu benombono wepharadesi lasemhlabeni! Kusukela lapho kuqhubeke, isibalo ‘sezinye izimvu’ zikaKristu saqhubeka senza amalungu anciphayo ‘omhlambi omncane’ wabafundi abanjengezimvu abazelwe ngomoya bakaMalusi oMuhle, uJesu Kristu, sibe ubala.—Luka 12:32.

Nokho, lapho iMpi Yezwe II igqashuka ngo-1939, kwabonakala sengathi lokhu kwakusho ukuphela kokuqoqwa ‘kwesixuku esikhulu.’ Ngikhumbula uMzalwan’ uRutherford ethi kimi ngolunye usuku: “Nokho, Fred, kubonakala sengathi ‘isixuku esikhulu’ ngeke sibe sikhulu kangako.” Sasingakuqapheli ukuqoqa okukhulu okwakusengaphambili.

Ngo-1934 iNhlangano yangenisa igilamafoni ephathekayo, futhi izinkulumo ezazirekhodwe uMongameli uRutherford zasetshenziswa ekwethuleni izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Lapho izinkulumo zakhe, ezazihunyushelwe kuSipanishi, ziphuma, ngagxila ekuzisebenziseni ekufinyeleleni abantu abakhuluma iSipanishi abangomakhelwane befektri yethu eku-117 Adams Street. Khona-ke, ngezimpindelo, ngasiza abantu abathakazelayo ukuba bafunde iqiniso leBhayibheli, futhi ngalokho ekugcineni nganikwa ilungelo lokuhlela ibandla elikhuluma iSipanishi eBrooklyn. Ngiye ngaba seBandleni leSipanishi laseBrooklyn, lokuqala, kusukela laqaliswa.

Ukushintsha KukaMongameli WeNhlangano

Lapho uMzalwan’ uRutherford efa ngoJanuary 8, 1942, uNathan H. Knorr wamlandela ekubeni umongameli weNhlangano. Naphezu kwempi yezwe yesibili eyayidlanga, inkulumo yakhe yeningi ehlobo lika-1942 ngesihloko esithi “Ukuthula—Ingabe Kungahlala Njalo?” yashintsha umbono wethu ngekusasa eliseduze. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wavula iWatch Tower Bible School of Gilead ePulazini LoMbuso ngoMsombuluko, ngoFebruary 1, 1943, elalinabafundi abayikhulu ababenza ikilasi lokuqala. Ngaba nelungelo lokukhonza esimisweni emhlanganweni wokuvula. Abazalwane oEduardo Keller, uMaxwell G. Friend, u Victor Blackwell, noAlbert D. Schroeder bakhonza njengabafundisi.

Enkulumweni yakhe yokuvula, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wasazisa ukuthi iNhlangano yayinemali eyanele yokugcina isikole siqhubeka iminyaka eyisihlanu. Kodwa bheka, namuhla uJehova uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke uye wagcina isikole siqhubeka izikhathi eziphindwe kasishiyagalolunye kunalesosikhathi!

Kwakuyilungelo elikhulu ukusebenza noNathan H. Knorr. Angizange ngiqaphele lapho ecwiliswa ngemva kwenkulumo engayinikeza ababezobhapathizwa ngoJuly 4, 1923, ngaseMfuleni iLittle Lehigh ngaphandle kwedolobha lakubo laseAllentown, ePennsylvania, ukuthi wayezoba umongameli wesithathu weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

Ngenkathi uMzalwan’ uKnorr engumongameli, ngahamba kakhulu, ngikhuluma emibuthanweni emikhulu yabazalwane emhlabeni wonke—kuhlanganise naseLatin America naseAustralia—ngibakhuthaza ukuba bahlale bethembekile. Ngesinye isikhathi, ngo-1955, lapho umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wawuvinjelwe eSpain, ngaqhuba umhlangano oyimfihlo emahlathini angaphandle kweBarcelona. Umhlangano wethu wabazalwane bethu baseSpain wawuzungezwe abaseshi abahlomile, futhi amadoda athuthwa ngamaloli ayiswa endlunkulu yamaphoyisa. Lapho sagqunywa ejele futhi sabuzwa imibuzo eminingi. Njengoba ngangiyisakhamuzi saseMelika, ngazi shaya ongasazi iSipanishi. Futhi, odade ababili babeqile bayotshela izikhulu ezingamaNxusa aseMelika ngokuboshwa kwami, futhi nazo zathintana namaphoyisa. Befuna ukugwema ukwaziwa ezweni lonke nokuduma kabi, bagcina ngokusikhulula thina esivela kwamanye amazwe, futhi kamuva, nabanye abazalwane. Kamuva, isigejane sethu sahlangana ekhaya lezelamani zakwaSerrano futhi sajabula kakhulu ngokukhulula kukaJehova abantu bakhe. Ngo-1970 iSpain yabaqaphela ngokomthetho oFakazi BakaJehova. Namuhla sinehhovisi legatsha eduze kwaseMadrid, futhi ngalonyaka odlule iNhlangano eSpain yayihlanganisa abamemezeli boMbuso abangaphezu kwezi-65 000, namabandla kulo lonke izwe.

NgoJune 8, 1977, uNathan H. Knorr washona, eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni, futhi ngamlandela esikhundleni sokuba umongameli weNhlangano. UMzalwan’ uKnorr wayesekhonze iminyaka engaphezu kwama-35 njengomongameli, ngaphezu kwabo bobabili abongameli beNhlangano, uRussell noRutherford. Njengelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova, ngiye ngabelwa ukukhonza eKomitini Yokunyathelisa naseKomitini Yokuloba yeNdikimba Ebusayo.

Ngempela kuyilungelo elikhulu nenjabulo ukuqhubeka ngikhonza emahhovisi eNhlangano ku-25 Columbia Heights. Lokhu kudinga ukuhamba zonke izinsuku zomsebenzi phakathi kwamahhovisi ayinhloko nekhaya laseBethel—ukuzivivinya umzimba okuhle kakhulu ngomzimba ogugayo. Nakuba ngineminyaka engama-93 futhi ngingasaboni, ngijabula kakhulu ngokuthi uJehova uye wangibusisa ngempilo enhle, kangangokuthi angizange ngiphuthe ngisho nosuku olulodwa lomsebenzi ngenxa yokugula eminyakeni engama-66 ngiseBethel, futhi ngisakwazi ukukhonza isikhathi esigcwele. Ngempela kuye kwaba umusa waphezulu ngami ukuba ngibe lapha kusukela ngonyaka ka-1920 futhi ngibone ukukhula nokwanda kwenhlangano endlu nkulu yaseBrooklyn nakuwo wonke umhlaba.

Nginethemba eligcwele eNkosini yeNdawo Yonke uJehova uNkulunkulu, nakuMphathi wakhe oMkhulu weMpi, uJesu Kristu, onga phezu kwezindimbane ezingenakubalwa zamaserafi, amakherubi, nezingelosi ezingcwele zasezulwini, ngibheke phambili, njengoba ngiloba, kanye nezigidi zoFakazi engikanye nabo, kulokho iBhayibheli elibonisa ukuthi kusengaphambili: ukubhujiswa kweBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, kanye nempi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke eArmagedoni, okuyophela ngokunqoba koMbusi weNdawo Yonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu, okhona “kusukela phakade kuze kube-phakade.” Haleluya!—IHubo 90:2.

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Phakathi nendawo ngezansi nginezisebenzi zaseBethelengangikanye nazo ngo-1920

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NginoN. H. Knorr ngo-1961

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Nginikeza Inkulumo emhlanganweni waseJapane ngo-1978

Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi

■ Ingabe kufanele ukukhuluma ‘ngezwe elisha’ elizayo?

Lombuzo ungabuzwa ngokufanelekile, njengoba igama lesiGreki ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi “izwe” koʹsmos, ngokuyisisekelo lisho isintu, futhi uNkulunkulu ngeke enze uhlanga lwesintu olusha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, eBhayibhelini asiwatholi amazwi athi kai·nosʹ koʹsmos (ngokwezwi nezwi, “izwe elisha”).

Kodwa ukusebenzisa kweBhayibheli elithi koʹsmos kuvumela umKristu ukuba akhulume ‘ngezwe elisha’ lapho ebhekisela ePharadesi elizayo elibuyiselwe emhlabeni. IThe New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology iyaehaza: ‘Ibizo elithi kosmos kuqala lalisho ukwakha, kodwa ikakhuiukazi lisho uhlelo.’ Lesiehazamazwi sinezela ngokuthi leligama futhi linemiqondo ekhethekile, njengokuthi “umhlobiso,” “ukuqondiswa kokuphila emphakathini wabantu” ‘nezakhamuzi zomhlaba, isintu.’

EmiBhalweni yamaKristu yesiGreki, elithi koʹsmos ngokuvamile lisetshenziswa ngomqondo osho wonke umkhaya wesintu. Ngakho sifunda ukuthi “bonke bonile [okungukuthi, yonke inzalo engaphelele ka-Adamu], basilalelwe inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 3:19, 23) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe [koʹsmos] kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe-nokuphila okuphakade.” (Johane 3:16) Yebo, umhlatshelo kaKristu uvulekele wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo emkhayeni wesintu.