RUSSELL MAKES TWO MORE VISITS TO FRANCE

In 1911, the big event was a visit by the Society’s president, Charles T. Russell. On April 14, he spoke to a group of over 100 at an assembly held in Denain, and the following day to 70 in Lens. Bible Students from Belgium were also present at these assemblies. Brother Weber and Alexandre Freytag, another Swiss brother who was beginning to play a prominent part in the direction of the work in the French-speaking countries, assisted Brother Russell on these occasions.

From December 1911 to March 1912, Brother Russell made a tour around the world. The Souvenir Notes covering that trip says: “From Rome we went on to Paris, and here met with the little class of International Bible Students in that great city.” Among the arrangements Russell made while on this trip was provision for the opening up in June 1912 of what was called the “French Office” in Geneva, Switzerland. It was responsible for directing the work in France, Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland. Brother Russell put Emile Lanz, a Swiss dentist living in Mulhouse, Alsace, in charge of this branch office. Lanz enlisted the services of Alexandre Freytag, who helped with the translating of the French Watch Tower.

RUSSELL AND RUTHERFORD IN PARIS

On August 31, 1913, Brother Russell again passed through Paris, holding a meeting in the Salle de l’Exposition d’Agriculture, rue d’Athénes, near the Saint-Lazare station. Some 70 brothers, including a few who had come from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, were present.