Ukukhangela Emva Kwiminyaka Engama-93 Yokuphila
Ngokubaliswa nguFrederick W. Franz
NGOSEPTEMBA 12, 1893, eCoyington, kwelaseKentucky, ekwicala elingezantsi komlambo ongaphaya kweCincinnati, eOhio kwazalwa usana oluyinkwenkwe. Uyise owaye onwabile, uEdward Frederick Franz, nonina ochwayitileyo, uIda Louise née Krueger, bamthiya lo nyana wabo igama elinguFrederick William Franz.
Eso yayisisiqalo seminyaka yam engama-93 yokuphila. UBawo, owayezalelwe eJamani, wayezibabaza engohamba iCawa yaseLuthere yaye ngoko wandisa kumfundisi ukuba andibhaptize ngokundibek’ isandla sakhe esithiwe nkxu emanzini ebunzi. Isiqinisekiso sokubhaptizwa sabhalwa saza safakwa kwisakhelo (frame), saxhonywa eludongeni lwendlu yasekhaya, kunye neziqinisekiso zokubhaptizwa zabakhuluwa bam ababini uAlbert Edward noHerman Frederick. Kuphela kwaba semva kwama-20 eminyaka endathi ndafunda ngendlela isithethe sonqulo esinjalo esingavisisani ngayo nezibhalo.
Kwakuxa sasifudukele eGreenup Street endathi ndabona okokuqala inqwelo eyayingatsalwa ngamahashe, yayiyinqwelo-mafutha evulekileyo eyayinezihlalo ezibini, neyayiqhutywa inyuka ngendlela. Kwiminyaka kamva ndandiza kuqala ukubona inqwelo-moya. Sandula ke sahlala kufutshane nomzi wokubhaka kaKrieger, apho ubawo wayesebenza ebusuku njengombhaki. Wayefika ekhaya kusasa aze alale. Andule ke ngenjikalanga akhululeke ukuba adle imbadu nathi makhwenkwe.
Xa ndafikelela kubudala bokuya esikolweni, okokuqala ndasiwa kwisikolo esiphantsi kwecawa nesineenkonzo zonqulo lwecawa yamaRoma Katolika eseSt Joseph, ekubeni sasikufuphi nesitrato seshumi elinesibini neGreenup Street. Ndisalikhumbula kakuhle igumbi lokufundela. Ngesinye isihlandlo “umzalwana” wecawa owayesifundisa wandibizela ngaphambi kwabafundi waza wavula isandla sam ukuze andibethe imivumbo eliqela ngerula ebude buziisentimitha ezingama-30 ngenxa yesenzo esibi endandisenzile.
Ndikwakhumbula ndisiya kuma kumkhumbi wasecaweni owawukwindawo emnyama ekumiwa kuwo xa kuvunywa izono, ndithetha nomfundisi ndingaphaya kwekhusi, ndize nditsho umthandazo ocengcelezwayo ndivuma ukuba ndandiyinkwenkwe enentlondi kunene. Emva koko, ndaya phambi kwesibingelelo esasikhuselwe ngeentsimbi ndaza ndaguqa apho njengoko umfundisi wayefaka iqhekeza lesonka emlonyeni wam, ngaloo ndlela endityisa umthendeleko njengoko kwakufundiswa oko ecaweni, ngoxa yena wayezigcinele iwayini ukuze ayisele kamva. Esi yayisisiqalo soqeqesho lwam olungokwesithethe sonqulo sokuhlonel’ uThixo esasiza kukhula kwiminyaka elandelayo.
Ngowe-1899, emva kokugqiba kwam unyaka omnye kwisikolo esiphantsi kwecawa, intsapho yakowethu yafudukela eCincinnati ngaphesheya koMlambo iOhio, e-17 Mary Street (ngoku ebizwa ngokuba yiEast 15th Street). Ngoku ndasiwa kwisikolo sikawonke wonke ndaza ndafunda kwibanga lesithathu. Ndaba ngumfundi ongaphulaphuliyo, yaye ndikhumbula ukuba, ngesinye isihlandlo, mna nomnye umfundi owayehlala kwidesika engasekunene kwam sathunyelwa kwiofisi yenqununu ngenxa yokuziphatha kwethu kakubi. Apho eofisini inqununu uFitzsimmons wathi masigobe size sibambe incam yezihlangu zethu ngeminwe ngoxa yena wayesikatsa kanobom ezimpundu imivumbo eliqela ngoswazi olukhiwe emthini wesundu. Njengoko usenokulindela, ndalitshona elo banga.
Kodwa ubawo wayengathandi ukuba ndichithe iminyaka emibini ndifunda ibanga elinye. Ngoko xa ixesha lokubuyela esikolweni kunyaka olandelayo lathi laqalisa, wandisa kwisikolo esiseLiberty Street, saya kwiofisi yenqununu uMnu. Logan. Wacela uMnu. Logan ukuba andibhalise kwibanga lesine. UMnu. Logan wabonakalisa ububele kum, waza wathi: “Masikhe sibone oko kwaziwa ngumfana.” Emva kokuba anelisekile ziimpendulo zam kwiqela lemibuzo yovavanyo, wathi: “Kubonakala ukuba ukulungele ukuba kwibanga lesine.” Ngale ndlela, wandinyusela ngokwakhe kwibanga elilandela elo ndandingaliphumelelanga. Ukususela ngoko ukuya phambili ndazinza ndaza ndazibhokoxa kumsebenzi wam wesikolo, yaye andizange nditshone kwakhona.
Indlela endandilujonga ngayo unqulo ebuntwaneni bam nayo yaguquka. Ngezizathu endingazaziyo, abameli beCawa yeSibini yamaRhabe yaseCincinnati badibana nomama baza bathetha naye, yaye wagqiba kwelokuba mna noAlbert noHerman asise kwisikolo seCawa yaseRhabe. Ngelo xesha, uMnu. Fisher wayengumphathi wesikolo seCawa, yaye uBessie O’Barr oselula waba ngumfundisi-ntsapho wam kwisikolo seCawa. Ngale ndlela, ndaqhelana neBhayibhile Engcwele nephefumlelweyo. Hayi indlela endaba nombulelo ngayo xa umfundisi-ntsapho wam kwisikolo seCawa wandinika iBhayibhile Engcwele eyeyam njengesipho seKrisimesi!
Ndagqiba kwelokuba ukufunda inxalenye yeBhayibhile suku ngalunye ndikwenze ummiselo ebomini bam. Oku kwabanomphumo wokuba ndiqhelane kakhulu naloo ncwadi ingcwele. Impembelelo yayo ephilileyo yandigcina ndikude ekubeni ndibandakanyeke kwintetho nehambo embi yabo ndandifunda nabo. Kwakungamangalisi ukuba babendijonga njengomntu owahlukileyo.
Kwisikolo Semfundo Ephakamileyo NakwaNokholeji
Emva kokugqiba kwisikolo samabanga aphakathi ngowe1907, abazali bam bandivumela ukuba ndiqhubeke nemfundo yam nokuba ndiye kwiSikolo seMfundo ePhakamileyo iWoodward, apho uAlbert, oyinkulu yasekhaya, wayefunde unyaka omnye khona. Njengaye, ndagqiba ekubeni ndenze izifundo zoncwadi lwesiGrike nezesiLatini kunye nomculo. Ngoko ndenza izifundo zesiLatini—zifundo ezo endaqhubeka nazo iminyaka esixhenxe elandelayo.
Lafika ke ixesha leziphumo kweso sikolo ngentlakohlaza yowe-1911. Ndanyulwa ukuba ndimele abafundi esasigqibe kunye ngokuthi ndinikele intetho yokwahlukana nesikolo iWoodward kwitheko elaliqhutyelwa kweyona holo inkulu yaseCincinnati ebizwa ngokuba yiMusic Hall.
Ngeli xesha, zozithathu izikolo zemfundo ephakamileyo zaseCincinnati—iWoodward, iHughes neWalnut Hills—zazihlanganisene ukuze zibhiyozele elo theko. Amagqala esikolo semfundo ephakamileyo ayehleli kwiqonga elikhulu ejonge kwiholo eyayizele imi ngeembambo ngabaphulaphuli. Intetho yokuqalisa elo theko lokuthi ndlela-ntle yayabelwe umfundi wesikolo saseWoodward. Umxholo endathi ndawukhethela eso sihlandlo wawusithi “Isikolo Nokuba Ngummi.” Zozithathu izithethi zaqhwatyelwa izandla. Ngoku ndandineminyaka eli-18 ndisidla ubomi.
Abazali bam bandivumela ukuba ndiqhubele phambili nemfundo, ngoko ndaya kwiYunivesithi yaseCincinnati, ndenza izifundo zeliberal arts. Ngoku ndandisele ndigqibe ekubeni ndibe ngumshumayeli waseRhabe.
Ngoku ndongeza izifundo zesiGrike kwezo ndandiqhubeka nazo zesiLatini. Hayi indlela ekwaba yintsikelelo ngayo ukufundiswa isiGrike seBhayibhile nguNjingalwazi uArthur Kinsella! Ndakwafundiswa noncwadi IwesiGrike samandulo nguGqr. Joseph Harry, owayengumbhali weencwadi ezithile zesiGrike. Ndandisazi ukuba ukuba ndandifuna ukuba ngumfundisi waseRhabe, ndandimele ndifunde isiGrike seBhayibhile. Ngoko ke ndazibhokoxa ngamandla ndaza ndafumana amanqaku enza ukuba ndiphumelele.
Ukongezelela ekufundeni isiGrike nesiLatini esikolweni, ndaba nomdla wokufunda iSpanish, endathi ndafumanisa ukuba siyelele gqitha kwisiLatini. Ngelo xesha andizange ndiyithelekelele indlela endandiya kuthi ndisisebenzise ngayo iSpanish kubulungiseleli bam bobuKristu.
Isiganeko esandivuyisayo kubomi bam baseYunivesithi sasingethuba awathi uGqr. Lyon, ongumphathi weYunivesithi, wenza isaziso kubafundi ababehlanganisene eholweni, sokuba ndandinyulelwe ukuya kwiYunivesithi yeSizwe yaseOhio ukuya kubhala iimviwo zokukhuphisana nabanye ukuze ndifumane ibhaso lokufunda felefele likaCecil Rhodes, nto leyo eyayinokundenza ndifanelekele ukwamkelwa kwiYunivesithi yaseOxford, eNgilani. Omnye wabafundi ababezigqatsele olo nyulo wandigqwesa ngokubhekisele kwimidlalo yeembaleki, kodwa ngenxa yokuba wayengandishiyi kakhulu ngamanqaku, bagqiba kwelokuba sithunyelwe kunye kwiYunivesithi yaseOxford. Ndavuya kuba ndandizifikelele iimfaneleko zokuzuza elo lungiselelo lokufunda felefele, yaye, ngokucacileyo, oku kwakuyinto eyonwabisa gqitha.
“Le Yinyaniso!”
Siyakhumbula ukuba ngesinye isihlandlo uYesu Kristu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Naniya kuyazi inyaniso, yaye inyaniso iya kunikhulula.” (Yohane 8:32) Kunyaka owawungaphambi kwalowo, ngowe-1913, umntakwethu uAlbert wafumana “inyaniso” eChicago. Wayeyifumene njani “inyaniso” uAlbert?
Ngobunye ubusuku bangoMgqibelo kwintlakohlaza yowe-1913, uAlbert wayeye kulala kwangethuba kwigumbi elikhulu leYMCA elilala abasebenzi, apho wayehlala khona ngoxa wayesebenza eChicago. Emva koko, iqabane lakhe awayehlala nalo kwelo gumbi langena lidubulekile ukuza kuchaza ingxaki ethile. Ngobo busuku iqabane lika-Albert lalimenyelwe kwikhaya likaMnu. noNksk. Hindman, yaye intombi yabo uNora wayeza kutyelelwa ngugxa wakhe oyintombazana kwikhaya lakhe. Iqabane lika-Albert lalingenakukwazi ukubutha namantombazana amabini lilodwa. Echwayitile, uAlbert wavuka ngokukhawuleza waza waya apho. Ebudeni baloo ngokuhlwa, iqabane lika-Albert lalixakekile lincokola ngobuhlobo nezo ntwazana zimbini. Kodwa uMnu. noNksk. Hindman babencokola noAlbert, bemazisa iimfundiso zeWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
Wathi ke uAlbert wandithumelela incwadana ethi Where Are the Dead? ebhalwe ngugqirha waseScotland, uJohn Edgar, olilungu leBandla laBafundi BeBhayibhile Bezizwe Ngezizwe laseGlasgow. Kuqala, ndayibeka nje ecaleni le ncwadana. Kwathi ngenye ingokuhlwa, ndixhakamfula ithutyana endandinalo ngaphambi kokuya kwindawo esasidla ngokuqhelisela umculo kuyo ndaqalisa ukuyifunda. Kangangendlela le endayifumanisa ivus’ umdla ngayo ndandingenakuyibeka phantsi. Ndaqhubeka ndiyifunda ngoxa ndandithe chu umgama omalunga nemayile ukuya ecaweni eRhabe. Ekubeni umnyango wecawa wawusatshixiwe, ndahlala phantsi kwizinyuko zamatye ndaza ndaqhubeka ndiyifunda. Umdlali wohadi weza naye, ephawula indlela endandizike ngayo koko ndandikufunda, wathi: “Makube yinto ebangel’ umdla leyo.” Ndaphendula ndathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo injalo!”
Ekubeni ndandizinandipha kangako iinyaniso ezintsha endandizifunda, ndacinga ukuba ndibuze umshumayeli, uGqr. Watson, ukuba wayecinga ntoni na ngale ncwadana. Ngoko kwangaloo ngokuhlwa, ndamnika le ncwadana ndaza ndambuza ndathi: “Gqr. Watson, wazi ntoni ngale ncwadana?”
Wayithabatha le ncwadana, wayivula, waza wasineka wathi: “Makube yenye yeencwadi zikaRussell le. Wazi ntoni yena ngezifundo ezingeziganeko zokuphela kwehlabathi noluntu?” Ndamangaliswa ngenene sisimo sakhe sengqondo esizele likratshi. Njengoko ndandithabatha incwadana ndize ndihambe, ndathi ngaphakathi: “Andikhathali nokuba uthini na ngayo. Le YINYANISO!”
Kungekudala, xa uAlbert wayetyelele ekhaya njengesiqhelo, wafika endiphathele imiqulu yokuqala emithathu yeStudies in the Scriptures, eyayibhalwe nguCharles Taze Russell. UAlbert wakwandiqhelanisa nebandla lasekuhlaleni laBafundi BeBhayibhile, ekwathi kanti lihlanganisana kanye kufutshane necawa yaseRhabe. Kwandichwayitisa oko ndandikufunda yaye ngokukhawuleza ndagqiba kwelokuba lalifikile ixesha lokuba iphele into esasisithi Mkhonzi ngayo necawa yaseRhabe.
Kamva, xa uAlbert wayesityelele kwakhona, saya kwesinye sezifundo zikaGqr. Watson zangecawa ebusuku. Emva koko, mna noAlbert sehla saya kufika apho wayebulisa khona amarhamente akhe awayehamba. Ndathi kuye: “Gqr. Watson, ndiyayishiya icawa.”
Wathi: “Bendiyazi loo nto! Bendiyazi loo nto! Ukususela ukuba ndikubone ufunda laa ncwadi kaRussell. Loo ndoda leyo, uRussell, andinakumvumela aluthi cakatha olwakhe unyawo kweyam indlu!” Waza wongezelela wathi: “Fred, akuqondi ukuba kubhetele sinyuke siye endlwini yecawa enditshintshela kuyo impahla size sithandaze kunye?” Ndamphendula ndathi: “Hayi, Gqr. Watson, sele ndifikelele ezigqibeni.”
Ngoko mna noAlbert saphuma ecaweni. Enjani ukuzuka imvakalelo ekwaba yiyo ukukhululeka kubukhoboka benkqubo yonqulo eyayifundisa ubuxoki! Hayi indlela ekwaba kuhle ngayo ukusiwa kwibandla laBafundi BeBhayibhile Bezizwe Ngezizwe, ababenyaniseke kunene kwiLizwi likaThixo! NgoAprili 5, 1914, eChicago, eIllinois, ndafuzisela uzahlulelo lwam ngokubhaptizwa emanzini.
Andizange ndizisole ngokwenza oko, kungekudala ngaphambi kokuba amagunya emfundo enze izaziso ngokuphathelele iziphumo zeemviwo zelungiselelo likaCecil Rhodes lokufunda felefele, ndabhalela abasemagunyeni incwadi ndibaxelela ukuba ndandiphelelwe ngumdla wokuya kwiYunivesithi yaseOxford nokuba mabalicime igama lam kuluhlu lwababezigqatsile. Oku ndakwenza nakubeni unjingalwazi wam owayehlohla isiGrike eYunivesithi, uGqr. Joseph Harry, wayesele endazisile ukuba ndandinyulelwe ukulifumana elo lungiselelo.
Kwiinyanga ezimbini kamva, okanye ngoJuni 28, 1914, kwagetyengwa iTshawe elalongamele iOstriya neHungary, uFerdinand kunye nowakwakhe eSarajevo eseBosnia. Ngaloo mhla ukwamnye, aBafundi BeBhayibhile Bezizwe Ngezizwe babekumhla wesithathu wendibano jikelele yabo kwiHolo yesiKhumbuzo, Columbus, eOhio. Kwinyanga nje enye kamva, okanye ngoJulayi 28, 1914, kwaqhambuka imfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala kuyo yonke imbali yoluntu. Thina Bafundi BeBhayibhile sasilindele ukuphela kwamaXesha eeNtlanga awayeqhube kangangeminyaka engama-2 520 ngo-Oktobha 1 waloo nyaka.
Ngokuvunyelwa ngubawo, ndayishiya iYunivesithi yaseCincinnati ngoMeyi 1914, kwakusele nje iiveki ezimbini ukuba kuphele ikota yam yesithathu njengomfundi osemtsha kwibanga endandikulo. Ngokukhawuleza ndenza amalungiselelo neWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society okuba ndibe ngumthengisi weencwadi okanye uvulindlela, njengoko umlungiseleli wexesha elizeleyo onjalo ebizwa ngolo hlobo namhlanje. Ngelo xesha ndandisele ndinxulumana ngokukhutheleyo neBandla laseCincinnati laBafundi BeBhayibhile Bezizwe Ngezizwe.
Kamva ndaba ngumdala weBandla laseCincinnati. Ngoko xa elaseUnited States kwathi kwafuneka ukuba liye kuncedisa aMazwe Amanyeneyo kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi I, naxa abafana bathi babizelwa emkhosini, mna ndayekwa njengoko ndandijongwa njengomlungiseleli wevangeli.
Ukwazi UMzalwan’ URussell
Phakathi kweziganeko ezenzeka ebomini bam endikuthandayo ukucinga ngazo lixesha endathi ndaba novuyo lokudibana nomongameli wokuqala woMbutho, uCharles Taze Russell. Ndaqala ukuqhelana naye ngosuku lwangaphambi komboniso oshukumayo obalaseleyo ekuthiwa yiPhoto Drama of Creation owawuqhutyelwa kwiMusic Hall ngeCawa, ngoJanuwari 4, 1914. Ngaloo Mgqibelo umdala weBandla laseCincinnati wadibana nam ngaphandle kweMusic Hall waza wathi: “UMzalwan’ uRussell uphaya ngaphakathi, yaye ukuba uya emva kweqonga unokumbona.” Ndangena eholweni ngokungxama ndaza emva koko ndazifumana sendithetha naye ubuqu. Wayeze kuhlola amalungiselelo okuboniswa okokuqala kwePhoto Drama of Creation.
Kwandula ke ngowe-1916 kwenzeka ukuba akhwele uloliwe owayeza kumbeka eCincinnati waza wachitha iiyure eziliqela phambi kokuba afumane omnye. Sakuxelelwa ngoko, mna nomnye udade ngokukhawuleza saya kwisikhululo sikaloliwe, apho samfumana ekunye nonobhala wakhe. Wayeziphathele isidlo sasemini, yaye kwathi kwakufika ixesha laso, wasabela nathi kweso sidlo.
Sakusigqiba eso sidlo sasemini wabuza ukuba kwakukho ubani onombuzo weBhayibhile na. Ndabuza ukuba kwakunokwenzeka na ukuba uAdam avuswe ekubeni wayengumoni ongenakuguquka, nowathi wona ngabom. Eqhwanyazisa iliso lakhe, waphendula wathi: “Mzalwana, ubuza umbuzo uze kwangaxeshanye uwuphendule. Khawutsho, ubusithini kanye umbuzo wakho?”
“The Finished Mystery”
NgoLwesibini, umhla wama-31 kuOktobha we-1916, uCharles Taze Russell wafa, engawubhalanga umqulu wesixhenxe kungcelele lwemiqulu yakhe ethi Studies in the Scriptures. Xa wayekukhuko lokufa, kuloliwe ovela eCalifornia, wathi wabuzwa ngunobhala wakhe malunga nomqulu wesixhenxe, waphendula wathi: “Kuya kunyanzeleka ukuba ubhalwe ngomnye.”
Ngomnyaka olandelayo, ngowe-1917, umqulu wesixhenxe wabakho uxubusha ngencwadi kaHezekile neSityhilelo, ncwadi ezo ezinesiprofeto, kwaza kwabakho nenkcazelo ethandekayo yencwadi yeBhayibhile ethi Ingoma Yazo Iingoma. UMbutho waceba ukuhanjiswa okukhulu kwale ncwadi intsha. Ngokuvisisana noko, wathumela iibhokisi zalo mqulu wesixhenxe kwabathile emabandleni kulo lonke elaseUnited States. Ezinye iibhokisi ezininzi zazithunyelwa ekhaya kwa-1810 Baymiller Street, eCincinnati, eOhio, zize zigcinwe ngoxa kusalindelwe imiyalelo engakumbi yokusasazwa koko kwakungaphakathi kwazo.
Kwakukho amaphepha asibhozo encwadi ethi The Finished Mystery awayenezicatshulwa zoko kwakubhengezwe ngokugxekayo ngabantu ababalaseleyo ngokuphathelele umlo. Phantsi kokuxhokonxwa ziintlangano zonqulo lweNgqobhoko, eyamaKatolika neyamaProtestanti, urhulumente waseUnited States wabonakalisa inkcaso, ngoko amaphepha asusela kwelama-247-54 ale ncwadi akrazulwa. Emva koko, xa iThe Finished Mystery yayinikezelwa ebantwini, babechazelwa isizathu sokuba la maphepha angabikho. Urhulumente waseUnited States akazange aneliswe yile nkqubo yaye ngokuxhokonxwa ngokubhekele phaya ziintlangano zonqulo zale ndawo, wawubhangisa wonke umqulu wesixhenxe weStudies in the Scriptures.
Ndikhumbula ukuba ngenye intsasa yangeCawa ndandishumayela kwigumbi elingasemva kwindlu yethu. Ndabona amadoda esiza ngendledlana esecaleni kwendlu yethu, akufika inkokeli yawo yakhulula iqhosha elisebhatyini, yandibonisa ibheji yayo ekhazimlayo yaza yafuna ukungena endlwini ngegunya. Ngoko ndandinyanzelekile ukuba ndiwangenise ngaphakathi ndize ndiwabonise iibhokisi ezaziqulethe imibhalo yeThe Finished Mystery. Emva kweentsuku ezimbalwa, bathumela ilori baza bazithabatha bemka nazo zonke.
Kamva safumanisa ukuba uJoseph F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli wesibini weWatch Tower Society, kunye nezinxulumani zakhe ezikhonza kwikomkhulu laseBrooklyn ngokuphosakeleyo batyholwa ngokuphazamisana nemigudu yemfazwe kwelaseUnited States. Basiwa kwiNtolongo yaseAtlanta apho bagwetywa iminyaka engama-20 ngesimangalo ngasinye kwezine ababetyholwa ngazo, noko ke, babeya kunkantsa iminyaka engama-20 ngazo zone ezi zigwebo. Imfazwe yaphela ngoNovemba 11, 1918, kwaza ngoMatshi 25, 1919, uMzalwan’ uRutherford nezinxulumani zakhe bakhululwa ngebheyile. Kamva bahlanjwa ngokupheleleyo etyaleni. Incwadi ethi The Finished Mystery yayekwa ukubhangiswa yaza yagunyaziswa ukuba ihanjiswe ngokukhululekileyo kwakhona.
Hayi indlela esahlaziyeka ngayo ngokomoya xa uMbutho walungiselela indibano yethu yokuqala yasemva kwemfazwe ngoSeptemba 1-8, 1919, eCedar Point, ndawo leyo eyakhiwe kwincam yosingasiqithi oyindawo yabakhenkethi kufutshane neSandusky, eOhio! Kwakulelona lungelo livuyisayo kum ukubakho kuloo ndibano.
Ukumenyelwa EBheteli
Kunyaka olandelayo, ngowe-1920, uMongameli uRutherford wamkela isimemo sokunikela intetho yesidlangalala eCincinnati, eOhio. Ngelo xesha ndandikhonza njengomthengisi weencwadi, yaye uMzalwan’ uRutherford wandimema ukuba ndimbhalele ileta ndenze isicelo senkonzo yaseBheteli kwikomkhulu eBrooklyn.
Ndayithumela le leta, yaye emva kokufumana impendulo endamkelayo, ndanduluka ngololiwe ukuya kwisiXeko saseNew York. Ngobusuku bangoLwesibini, umhla woku-1 kuJuni, ngowe-1920, ndafika apho ndihlangatyezwe nguLeo Pelle, umhlobo wam omdala owayevela eLouisville, eKentucky, waza wandisa kwikhaya laseBheteli. Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngoLwesithathu, ndabelwa ukuba ndihlale noHugo Riemer noClarence Beatty kwindlu encinane eyakhiwe eluphahleni, ndisiba ngowe102 kumalungu entsapho yaseBheteli yaseBrooklyn.
UMbutho wawakhe umzi-mveliso wawo wokuqala wokushicilela e-35 Myrtle Avenue, ekwathi kwigumbi elingaphantsi lesi sakhiwo kwafakwa umatshini wethu wokuqala wokushicilela oyirotary, nesawubiza ngokuba yiBattleship ngenxa yobukhulu bawo. Sasivelisa iphephancwadi elitsha loMbutho elithi The Golden Age—kamva ekwathiwa yiConsolation yaye ngoku ekuthiwa yiAwake! (uVukani!) Njengokuba amaphepha ayenyuka aze aphumele kumngxuma osemgangathweni aze adluliselwe kwiplanga elinamacingwana nelaliwagqithisela kwitafile endandiwaqokelela kuyo, ndandiwalungelelanisa ndize ndiwenze imfumba ukuze asikwe kakuhle alungiselelwe ukuthunyelwa kamva.
Ngentsasa yangoMgqibelo, xa umatshini wokushicilela wawungasebenzi kakuhle, mna nabazalwana abaliqela sasiwasongela amaphephancwadi emaphepheni amdaka ngebala anamagama neekhelingi zabo barhumelayo. Emva koko sasiwatywina ukuze iposofisi iwathumele. Ndaqhubeka ndisenza lo msebenzi kangangeenyanga eziliqela de uDonald Haslett, owayesebenza kwisebe elinyamekela imicimbi yoovulindlela wahamba waya kutshata noMabel Catel. Ndathi ke ndatshintshwa e-35 Myrtle Avenue ndasiwa kwiofisi yoMbutho ese-124 Columbia Heights ukuba ndiye kusebenza kwiSebe Elinyamekela Imicimbi Yoovulindlela.
Kwakhona njengelungu leBandla laseNew York, ndabelwa ukuqhuba isifundo sencwadi kwikhaya lentsapho yakwa-Afterman kummandla waseRidgewood eBrooklyn.
Amalungelo Okusebenzisa Unomathotholo NaweNdibano
Ndaqhubeka ndisebenza kwiSebe Elinyamekela Imicimbi Yoovulindlela de kwangowe-1926. Okwelo xesha, iWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society yayimisele isikhululo sayo sokuqala sikanomathotholo, iWBBR, eStaten Island. Ngoko kwakungowe-1924. Ndaba nelungelo elivuyisayo lokukhonza kwiinkqubo zikanomathotholo woMbutho, ndandingaphelele nje ekunikeleni iintetho kodwa ndandikwacula ndingaphelekwa mntu ngetenala, ndide ndidlale ngesixhobo somculo esihambisana nepiyano esibizwa ngokuba yimandolin. Ngokubhekele phaya, ndacula ibhasi kumculo weWBBR owawuculwa ngamadoda amane. Kakade ke, njengomongameli woMbutho, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wayesisithethi esibalaseleyo kwiWBBR yaye wayephulaphulwa ngabantu abaninzi.
Kwakungonyaka we-1922 ekwathi kwabakho okwesibini indibano jikelele yeWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society eCedar Point, eOhio. Kule ndibano uMzalwan’ uRutherford wasikhuthaza ngamandla esithi, “mbhengezeni! mbhengezeni, mbhengezeni uKumkani nobukumkani bakhe!”
Elinye lamalungelo am endiwaxabisa gqitha endajizekwa ngalo kwiminyaka yee-1920 yayikukukhonza noMzalwan’ uRutherford kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe eLondon, eNgilani, ngowe-1926. Apho, kwiRoyal Albert Hall, wanikela intetho yakhe yesidlangalala kwinkungu nelanga yabaphulaphuli emva kokuba ndandicula ndingaphelekwa mntu ngetenala ndincediswa luhadi lwaseholweni olutsho kamnandi.
Ngobusuku obulandelayo uMzalwan’ uRutherford wathetha ngombandela othi “Palestine for the Jews—Why?” ebhekisela kubaphulaphuli abangamaYuda ndaza mna ndacula, kungekho undiphelekayo, ingoma ethi “Comfort Ye, My People” (Bathuthuzeleni Abantu Bam), ekwiAlbum kaHandel ethi Messiah. AmaYuda angamawaka ayekho kuloo ndibano ikhethekileyo. Ngelo xesha, sasisebenzisa ngempazamo iziprofeto zeZibhalo zesiHebhere njengezizaliseka kumaYuda okwemvelo nalukileyo. Kodwa ngowe-1932 uYehova wasivula amehlo ethu ukuze sibone ukuba ezo ziprofeto zazisebenza kuSirayeli wokomoya.
Hayi indlela ekwakundichwayitisa ngayo ukubakho kwindibano eyayiseColumbus, eOhio, ngowe-1931 xa uMzalwan’ uRutherford wadlulisela ‘igama elitsha’ elithi amaNgqina kaYehova, yaye sonke salamkela ngehlombe! Ngokukhawuleza emva koko, onke amabandla abantu bakaYehova emhlabeni jikelele alenza elawo elo ‘gama litsha.’—Thelekisa uIsaya 62:2.
ULwesihlanu, umhla wama-31 kuMeyi, 1935 wafika ndikhonza njengombhexeshi weqela elikhulu labadlali bezixhobo zomculo ababehleli kwindawo abadlalela kuyo engezantsi kweqonga ekwathi kulo uMzalwan’ uRutherford wanikela intetho yakhe ebalaseleyo nengenakulibaleka yeSityhilelo 7:9-17, ezichaza ngokuchanileyo izinto ezibonisa ukuba lilungu ‘lesihlwele esikhulu’ esichazwe apho. Abo babizwa ngokuba ludidi lukaYonadabhi bamenywa ngokukhethekileyo ukuba babekho, yaye isizathu soko saye sacaca xa uMzalwan’ uRutherford wabonisa ukuba “isihlwele esikhulu” sasiza kubunjwa ‘zezinye izimvu zomalusi olungileyo’ uYesu Kristu. (Yohane 10:14, 16) Kwakusisihlandlo esichwayitisayo. Hayi indlela okwachukumisa intliziyo ngayo kum xa ngosuku olulandelayo, ngoMgqibelo, umhla woku-1 kuJuni, abantu abangama-840 babo babeze endibanweni bafuzisela uzahlulelo lwabo kuThixo ngoKristu ngokuthi bantywiliselwe emanzini benethemba lomhlaba oyiparadisi! Ukususela ngoko ukusa phambili, inani ‘lezinye izimvu’ zikaKristu liye laqhubeka lisanda kakhulu kunelo linciphayo lamalungu ‘omhlambi omncinane’ abafundi ababumvu nabazelwe ngomoya boMalusi Olungileyo, uYesu Kristu.—Luka 12:32.
Noko ke, ukuqhambuka kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II ngowe-1939, kwaba ngathi kuthetha ukunqunyanyiswa kokuhlanganiswa ‘kwesihlwele esikhulu.’ Ndikhumbula ngeny’ imini uMzalwan’ uRutherford esithi kum: “Uyazi, Fred, kubonakala ngathi ‘isihlwele esikhulu’ asizi kuba sikhulu kangako.” Sasingaqondi ukuba sasisalindelwe kukuhlanganisa okukhulu okwakuseza kwenziwa.
Ngowe-1934 uMbutho waqalisa ukusebenzisa igramafoni ephathwayo, yaye iintetho ezirekhodiweyo zikaMzalwan’ uRutherford zazisetyenziswa ekuthetheni ngoncwadi lweBhayibhile olwaluhanjiswa. Xa iintetho zakhe ezirekhodiweyo eziguqulelwe kwiSpanish, zathi zakhutshwa, ndazisebenzisa gqitha ukuze kufikelelwe abantu abathetha iSpanish ababehlala kufutshane nomzi-mveliso wethu e-117 Adams Street. Ndandula ke, ndanceda abantu abanomdla ngokubatyelela ngokuthe rhoqo ukuba bafunde iinyaniso zeBhayibhile, yaye ngokwenjenjalo ekugqibeleni ndaba nelungelo lokuseka iBandla lokuqala labantu abathetha iSpanish eBrooklyn. Ndiye ndakhonza kwibandla lokuqala labavakalisi abathetha iSpanish eBrooklyn, ukususela ekusekweni kwalo.
Ukunyulwa Komnye UMongameli WoMbutho
Xa uMzalwan’ uRutherford wathi wafa ngoJanuwari 8, 1942, uNathan H. Knorr waba ngumongameli woMbutho. Phezu kwayo nje imfazwe yehlabathi yesibini eyayigquba, intetho yakhe yesidlangalala awayinikela ngehlobo lowe-1942, eyayinomxholo othi “Uxolo—Ngaba Lunokuhlala Luhleli?” yayiguqula imbono yethu ngekamva elalingekude. Kungekudala emva koko, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wavula iSikolo seBhayibhile seWatchtower saseGiliyadi kwiFama yoBukumkani ngoMvulo umhla woku-1 kuFebruwari, 1943, kukho ikhulu labafundi ababebumba udidi lokuqala. Ndaba nelungelo lokuba nenxaxheba kucwangciso ngesihlandlo sokunikezelwa kwaso. Abazalwana abakhonza njengabahlohli kweso sikolo yaba nguEduardo Keller, uMaxwell G. Friend, uVictor Blackwell noAlbert D. Schroeder.
Kwintetho yakhe yokuvula, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wasixelela ukuba uMbutho wawunayo imali yokusigcina esi sikolo sisebenza kangangeminyaka emihlanu. Kodwa okumangalisayo kukuba, namhlanje uYehova uThixo uSomandla uye wasigcina esi sikolo sisebenza kangangeminyaka eyiphindaphinda kasithoba loo minyaka mihlanu!
Kwakulilungelo elikhulu kakhulu ukunxulumana noNathan H. Knorr. Ndandingacingi ukuba wayeza kuba nguMongameli wesithathu weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society, xa wayentywiliselwa emanzini emva kwentetho endandiyinikela kwabo babeza kubhaptizwa ecaleni koMlambo iLittle Lehigh ngaphandle nje kwedolophu yakowabo iAllentown, esePennsylvania, ngoJulayi 4, 1923.
Phantsi kokongamela kukaMzalwan’ uKnorr, ndahamba iindawo ezininzi, ndithetha kwiindibano ezinkulu zabazalwana emhlabeni jikelele—kuquka elaseMzantsi Merika neOstreliya—ndibakhuthaza ukuba bahlale bethembekile. Kwesinye isihlandlo esinjalo, ngowe-1955, xa umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova wawubhangisiwe eSpeyin, ndaqhuba indibano ngokufihlakeleyo ehlathini ngaphandle kweBarcelona. Indibano yethu nabazalwana baseSpeyin yayijikelezwe ngamapolisa axhobileyo nafihlakeleyo, yaye amadoda akhweliswa ezilorini aza asiwa kwikomkhulu lamapolisa. Apho savalelwa saza sancinwa. Ndazenza ongasaziyo iSpanish, njengoko ndandingummi waseMerika. Kwakhona, oodade ababini babebalekile baza baxelela uNozakuzaku waseMerika ngokubanjwa kwam, ukusuka kwabo apho baya kuxelela amapolisa. Bezama ukuphepha ungquzulwano phakathi kwamazwe awahlukahlukeneyo nokungaxhaswa kwabo ngabantu, ekugqibeleni basikhulula thina basemzini kwaye, kamva, bakhululwa nabanye abazalwana. Emva koko, abaliqela kuthi bahlanganisana kunye kwikhaya labazalwana bakwaSerrano baza bavuya kakhulu ngenxa yokuba uYehova ebakhulule abantu bakhe. Ngowe-1970 amaNgqina kaYehova avunywa ngokusemthethweni eSpeyin. Namhlanje sineofisi yesebe ekufutshane neMadrid, yaye kulo nyaka uphelileyo intlangano eSpeyin yaba nabavakalisi boBukumkani abangaphezulu kwama-65 000, yaye kukho amabandla kwelo lizwe lonke.
NgoJuni 8, 1977, uNathan H. Knorr wafa, ngaloo ndlela egqiba ikhondo lakhe lasemhlabeni, yaye yaba ndim owangena ezihlangwini zakhe. UMzalwan’ uKnorr wakhonza njengomongameli ngaphezulu kweminyaka engama-35, thuba elo elide ngaphezulu kwelo labongameli ababini boMbutho abamandulelayo, uRussell noRutherford. Njengelungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova, ndiye ndabelwa ukukhonza njengelungu leKomiti Yokupapasha neleKomiti Yokubhala yeQumrhu Elilawulayo.
Kulilungelo nolonwabo olukhulu ngenene ukuqhubeka ndikhonza kwiiofisi zoMbutho e-25 Columbia Heights. Oku kufuna ukuba ndisoloko ndihamba ngeenyawo ukusuka kwikhaya laseBheteli ukuya kusebenza eziofisini—nto leyo engumthambo owulungele ncam umzimba owalupheleyo. Nangona ndinama-93 eminyaka ubudala yaye ndingasaboni kakuhle, ndivuya kakhulu kuba uYehova eye wandisikelela ngokuba sempilweni entle, kangangokuba andizange ndibe nalo nosuku olunye ndingasebenzi ngenxa yempilo kangangeminyaka engama-66 yokukhonza eBheteli, yaye ndisakwazi ukuba nesabelo kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ngenene nguThixo oye wandibabala ukuze ndibe lapha ukususela ngowe-1920 ndize ndibone ukukhula nokwanda kwentlangano kwikomkhulu eliseBrooklyn nasehlabathini jikelele.
Ndinentembelo ezeleyo kuMongami weNdalo Iphela, uYehova uThixo, neNganga-Mikhosi yakhe, uYesu Kristu, owongamele umkhosi ongenakubaleka weeserafi, iikerubhi nezithunywa zezulu ezingcwele, yaye ngokubhala oku, ndijonge phambili ndawonye nezigidi zamaNgqina angoowethu, kwinto ethi iBhayibhile iseza kwenzeka: ukutshatyalaliswa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu, ebubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki, nakwimfazwe yemini enkulu kaThixo uSomandla eArmagedon, eya kuthi ifikelele incopho yayo ngokona koyisa kukhulu koMongami Wendalo Iphela, uYehova uThixo, onguThixo “ukususela kuwo amaphakade ukusa kuwo amaphakade.” Haleluya!—INdumiso 90:2, Byington.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 24]
Ndikunye nabasebenzi baseBheteli abangoowethu ngowe-1920
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 25]
Ndikunye noN. H. Knorr ngowe-1961
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Ndinikela intetho eJapan ngowe-1978