In 1912, Charles T. Russell, a leading Bible Student​—as Jehovah’s Witnesses were formerly known—​stopped in Manila on a lecture tour around the world. On January 14, he gave a talk at the Manila Grand Opera House on the subject “Where Are the Dead?” Literature was distributed to those in attendance.

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Early Seeds of Truth Sown

Charles T. Russell and his group visited the Philippines in 1912. Although they were the first official representatives from headquarters in Brooklyn to visit there, records indicate that two other Bible Students were already in the Philippines and were helping others to learn Bible truth. Louise Bell, from the United States, wrote:

“My husband and I went to the Philippines in 1908 and worked as teachers. We were the only Americans in the town of Sibalom. We ordered hundreds of pounds of Bible tracts from Brooklyn. They were shipped from New York to San Francisco, then across the Pacific to Manila, and from there by interisland boats to Sibalom.

“We distributed those tracts and talked to the local people as we had time and opportunity. We kept no record of hours or placements. Although the people were Catholics, many listened to us gladly. We were teachers with medical training, yet we were primarily messengers of the good news.

“We traveled on foot or horseback over bad roads. Sometimes we slept on woven bamboo floors and ate fish and rice from a common bowl.

“When Pastor Russell visited Manila in 1912, we sent him a telegram.”

Sister Bell attended Brother Russell’s lecture at the Manila Grand Opera House on the subject “Where Are the Dead?”

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Charles T. Russell and William Hall during their 1912 visit to the Philippines