Isahluko 7

Memezelani INkosi NoMbuso! (1919-1941)

“Ingabe niyakukholelwa ukuthi iNkosi yenkazimulo isiqalile ukubusa kwayo? Khona-ke phindelani enkundleni, O nina madodana kaNkulunkulu ophezukonke! Hlomani izikhali zenu! Yibani ngabasangulukile, phaphamani, khuthalani, nibe nesibindi. Yibani ngofakazi beNkosi abathembekile nabeqiniso. Qhubekani ekulweni kuze kube yilapho yonke iminonjana yeBabiloni isibhujisiwe. Memezelani isigijimi kuyo yonke indawo. Izwe kumelwe lazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu nokuthi uJesu Kristu uyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi. Lolu usuku olukhulu kunazo zonke. Bhekani, iNkosi iyabusa! Nina ningamanxusa ayo okumemezela. Ngakho-ke memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi nombuso wayo.”

LEYONKULUMO evusa amadlingozi eyayiqukethe ubizo eyabekwa uJ. F. Rutherford emhlanganweni wezizwe zonke eCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1922, yaba nethonya elikhulu kulabo ababekhona. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baphuma kulowomhlangano benesifiso esijulile sokumemezela uMbuso. Kodwa eminyakeni embalwa nje ngaphambidlana, ithemba lokuthi babezoba amanxusa okumemezela uMbuso lalibonakala limfimfa. UJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe abayisikhombisa babeboshiwe, futhi indima yabo yesikhathi esizayo enhlanganweni yayibonakala ingacacile. Zanqotshwa kanjani lezinkinga?

“Kunokuthile Engikwaziyo Ngomthetho Wabaqotho”

Kwahlelwa umhlangano ePittsburgh, ePennsylvania ngo-January 2-5, 1919, phakathi nesikhathi uMfoweth’ uRutherford nabangane bakhe ababeboshwe ngaso. Kodwa lona kwakungewona umhlangano ovamile—wahlanganiswa nomhlangano waminyaka yonke we-Watch Tower Society, ngoMgqibelo ngo-January 4, 1919. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayekuqaphela ukubaluleka kwalomhlangano. NgalowoMgqibelo ntambama wafuna uMfoweth’ uMacmillan futhi wamthola enkundleni yokudlala ithenisi yasejele. NgokukaMacmillan, nakhu okwenzeka:

“URutherford wathi, ‘Mac, ngifuna ukukhuluma nawe.’

“‘Yini ofuna ukuyikhuluma nami?’

“‘Ngifuna ukukhuluma nawe ngalokho okwenzeka ePittsburgh.’

“‘Ngisafuna ukuqedela lomdlalo lapha.’

“‘Ingabe awunasithakazelo kulokho okwenzekayo? Awazi ukuthi kukhethwa abaphathi namuhla? Ungase unganakwa futhi ukhishwe futhi siyohlala lapha kuze kube phakade.’

“Ngathi, ‘Mfoweth’ uRutherford, ake ngikutshele okuthile okungenzeka awuzange ukucabange. Lesi isikhathi sokuqala ngqá selokhu iNhlangano yasungulwa okungabonakala ngaso ngokucacile ukuthi ubani uJehova uNkulunkulu angathanda abe umongameli.’

“‘Usho ukuthini ngalokho?’

“‘Ngisho ukuthi uMfoweth’ uRussell wayeba phambili ngevoti futhi wayemisa abaphathi abahlukene. Manje njengoba kubonakala sengathi asinakuhlanganyela, isimo siba esihlukile. Kodwa, ukuba besikhululwe kusenesikhathi saya lapho kulowomhlangano webhizinisi, besizongena futhi samukelwe ukuba sithathe indawo kaMfoweth’ uRussell ngenhlonipho efana naleyo ayeyithola. Khona-ke bekungase kubonakale kungumsebenzi womuntu, hhayi okaNkulunkulu.’

“URutherford wamane wabonakala ejulile ngomcabango wayesehamba.”

Ngalolosuku kwaqhutshwa umhlangano onesimo esishubile ePittsburgh. “Esikhathini esithile kwaba nokudideka, ukuhlukana, kanye nezimpikiswano,” kukhumbula uSara C. Kaelin, owakhulela endaweni yasePittsburgh. “Abanye babefuna umhlangano uhlehliswe ngezinyanga eziyisithupha; abanye babengabaza ukuba ngokomthetho kokukhetha abaphathi ababoshiwe; abanye basikisela ukuba kukhethwe abaphathi abasha bodwa.”

Ngemva kwengxoxo ende, uW. F. Hudgings, umqondisi we-Peoples Pulpit Association,a wafundela izilaleli incwadi eyayivela kuMfoweth’ uRutherford. Kulencwadi wayethumela uthando nemikhonzo kulabo ababehlangene. Waxwayisa: “Izikhali zikaSathane eziyinhloko UKUQHOSHA, UKUFUNA UKUVELELA NOKWESABA.” Ebonisa isifiso sokuthobela intando kaJehova, ngokuzithoba wasikisela ngisho namadoda afanelekayo uma kwakungenzeka labo abanamasheya banqume ukukhetha abaphathi abasha beNhlangano.

Ingxoxo yaqhubeka isikhashana, khona-ke u-E. D. Sexton, owayekhethwe ukuba abe usihlalo wekomiti ekhethayo, wathi:

“Ngisanda kufika nje. Isitimela ebengiza ngaso sephuze ngamahora angamashumi amane nesishiyagalombili, ngoba besibhajwe eqhweni. Kunokuthile engifuna ukukusho futhi ukuze ngikhululeke kungcono ngikusho manje. Bafowethu abathandekayo, ngize lapha, njengani, nginezinto ebengizicabanga—ezisekelayo neziphikisayo. . . . Akukho sithiyo esingokomthetho esivimbile. Uma sifisa ukuphinda sikhethe abafowethu abaseNingizimu kunoma iziphi izikhundla bangahlala kuzo, kunoma yikuphi ukweluleka [kwezomthetho] engikutholile, angiboni futhi angitholi lutho olwanoma yiluphi uhlobo, oluphazamisa isici secala labo phambi kweNkantolo YoMbuso Wamazwe Ahlangene noma phambi komphakathi.

“Ngikholwa ukuthi indlela ezedlula zonke esingambonisa ngayo umfowethu othandekayo uRutherford ukuthi siyamazisa iwukuba siphinde simkhethe njengomongameli we-W[atch] T[ower] B[ible] & T[ract] Society. Angicabangi ukuthi umphakathi uyazibuza ngokuthi kuyini ukuma kwethu kulokho okuhlongozwayo. Uma abafowethu nganoma iyiphi indlela bephule umthetho abangazange bawuqonde, siyazi ukuthi izisusa zabo zinhle. Futhi phambi [kukaNkulunkulu] uMninimandla onke abazange baphule nowodwa umthetho kaNkulunkulu noma owomuntu. Singabonisa ukuqiniseka okukhulu kakhulu uma singaphinde sikhethe uMfoweth’ uRutherford njengomongameli weNhlangano.

“Angisiye ummeli, kodwa uma kuziwa ekuqashelweni ngokomthetho kwalesimo kunokuthile engikwaziyo ngomthetho wabaqotho. Ubuqotho buyinto efunwa uNkulunkulu. Angicabangi ukuthi kukhona okunye ukuqiniseka okukhulu kakhulu esingakubonisa kunokuba sibe nokhetho FUTHI SIKHETHE KABUSHA UMFOWETH’ URUTHERFORD NJENGOMONGAMELI.”

Nokho, ngokusobala uMfoweth’ uSexton wazwakalisa indlela abaningi ababekhona ababezizwa ngayo. Kwaba khona ukhetho; kwabalwa ivoti; futhi uJ. F. Rutherford wakhethwa njengomongameli, uC. A. Wise waba isekela likamongameli, kwathi uW. E. Van Amburgh waba ngumgcini-zimali ongunobhala.

Ngosuku olulandelayo uMfoweth’ uRutherford wangqongqoza odongeni lwesitokisi uMacmillan ayekuso wayesethi: “Veza isandla.” Wayesenikeza uMacmillan ithelegramu eyayithi uRutherford wayekhethwe kabusha njengomongameli. “Wayejabule kakhulu,” kukhumbula uMacmillan kamuva, “ngokubona lokhu kubonakaliswa kwesiqinisekiso sokuthi uJehova wayeqondisa iNhlangano.”

Ukhetho lwase luphelile, kodwa uMfoweth’ uRutherford nabanye abayisikhombisa babesaboshiwe.

“Ukunyakaza Ezweni Lonke” Ngenxa Yeziboshwa

“Emasontweni ambalwa edlule izwe lonke lanyakaza ngenxa yalabafowethu,” kwasho INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-April 1, 1919. Amaphephandaba athile ayenxusa ukuba kukhululwe uJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli kuzo zonke izingxenye ze-United States babonisa ukusekela kwabo ngokubabhalela izincwadi abahleli bamaphephandaba, amalungu omnyango kahulumeni, izigele, kanye nababusi, bebanxusa ukuba bathathe isinyathelo ngenxa yaleziboshwa eziyisishiyagalombili. Ngokusobala, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babengenakuphumula kuze kukhululwe abafowabo abayisishiyagalombili.

Ngo-March 1919, abaFundi BeBhayibheli e-United States babesakaza isicelo esibhalwe phansi ababecela kuso uMongameli uWoodrow Wilson ukuba asebenzise ithonya lakhe ekufezeni okunye kwalokhu okulandelayo ngenxa yabafowabo ababeboshiwe:

“OKOKUQALA: Bathethelelwe ngokuphelele, uma lokho kungenzeka manje, NOMA

“OKWESIBILI: Ukuba uyale uMnyango Wezobulungisa ukuba ungabaqulisi, futhi bakhululwe ngokuphelele, NOMA

“OKWESITHATHU: Ukuba banikezwe ibheyili ngokushesha ngesikhathi besalindele isinqumo sokugcina secala labo esizokhishwa izinkantolo eziphakeme.”

Phakathi namasonto amabili abaFundi BeBhayibheli bathola amasignesha angu-700 000. Nokho, lencwadi yokunxusa ayizange ifike kumongameli noma kuhulumeni. Ngani? Ngoba ngaphambi kokuba lokho kwenziwe, lamadoda ayisishiyagalombili akhululwa ngebheyili. Khona-ke, yini eyafezwa umsebenzi wokunxusa? INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July 1, 1919, yathi: “Buningi ubufakazi bokuthi iNkosi ibifisa ukuba lomsebenzi wenziwe, hhayi nje ukuze kukhululwe labazalwane ejele, kodwa ngenjongo yokufakazela iqiniso.”

“Siyanamukela, Bafowethu”

NgoLwesibili ngo-March 25, labazalwane abayisishiyagalombili basuka e-Atlanta beya eBrooklyn. Izindaba zokukhululwa kwabo zasakazeka ngokushesha. Kwakuyisenzakalo esithinta inhliziyo ngempela—abaFundi BeBhayibheli babuthana eziteshini zezitimela endleleni benethemba lokuthi bazobabona futhi babonise injabulo yabo ngokukhululwa kwabo. Abanye baphuthuma eKhaya LaseBethel eBrooklyn, elalivaliwe, ukuze bahlele idili lokubamukela. Emuva eBrooklyn, ngo-March 26, abazalwane banikezwa ibheyili ka-$10 000 umuntu emunye, base bekhululwa.

“Ngokushesha baphelezelwa abazalwane abaningi ukuya eKhaya laseBethel, lapho kwase kuhlangene abazalwane abaphakathi kwamakhulu amahlanu nayisithupha ukuze babemukele,” kubika INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-April 15, 1919. Egunjini lokudlela, kwakunoqwembe olukhulu olwaluthi, “Siyanamukela, Bafowethu.” Eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-50 kamuva, uMabel Haslett, owayekhona kulelodili lokubamukela, wakhumbula: “Ngiyakhumbula ngenza ama-doughnut ayikhulu, labazalwane ababonakala bewajabulela ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye bedla ukudla kwasejele. Ngisambona namanje uMfoweth’ uRutherford elula isandla ewathatha. Kwakuyisenzakalo esingenakulibaleka njengoba yena nabanye babelandisa ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo. Ngikhumbula noMfoweth’ uDeCecca owayemfushane emi esihlalweni ukuze bonke bambone futhi bamuzwe.”

NgoLwesibili ekuseni ngo-April 1, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wafika ePittsburgh, lapho amahhovisi endlunkulu ayesekhona. Nalapha, kwathi lapho abazalwane bezwa ukuthi uyeza, bahlela ukuba kube nedili, elaba khona ngalobobusuku eHotel Chatham. Nokho, izimo zasejele zamlimaza uMfoweth’ uRutherford. Iphaphu lakhe laba buthakathaka, futhi ngenxa yalokho, ngemva kokukhululwa kwakhe waba nohlobo olubi lwe-pneumonia. Ngakho, ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho ukugula kwakhe kwenza kwadingeka ukuba aye eCalifornia, lapho ayenezihlobo khona.

Ukuhlola ELos Angeles

Njengoba uMfoweth’ uRutherford nabanye base bekhululiwe, kwaphakama umbuzo, Kuthiwani ngomsebenzi wokumemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu? Phakathi nesikhathi labazalwane besejele, ngokuyinhloko ukuqondiswa kokuhlelwa komsebenzi wokufakaza kwakungasekho. IBrooklyn Tabernacle yayithengisiwe neKhaya laseBethel livaliwe. Amahhovisi endlunkulu ePittsburgh ayemancane, futhi imali yayinganele. Ngaphandle kwalokho, babengakanani ngempela ababenesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso? EseCalifornia, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wanquma ukuhlelela ukuhlola.

Kwahlelwa umhlangano eClune’s Auditorium eLos Angeles, ngeSonto ngo-May 4, 1919. Isihloko senkulumo umphakathi owawumenyelwe yona sasithi “Ithemba Isintu Esicindezelekile Esingaba Nalo.” Kodwa lenkulumo yayizobekwa uJ. F. Rutherford—indoda eyayisanda kukhululwa ejele. Ngokumemezela kabanzi ngamaphephandaba, uRutherford wathembisa ukuveza amaqiniso ngokuqondile, kuhlanganise nencazelo yezizathu zokumangalelwa ngokungemthetho kwabaphathi beNhlangano. Ingabe ukhona owayeyoba nesithakazelo sokuba khona?

Ukusabela kwakukukhulu. Eqinisweni, kweza abangu-3 500 bezolalela lenkulumo, futhi abanye abacishe babe ngu-600 kwadingeka baphindiswe emuva. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayehlabeke umxhwele! Wavuma ukuthi ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa wayezokhuluma phambi kwalabo abahlulekile ukungena ngenxa yokugcwala, futhi kwaba nabangu-1 500. Nokho, wayegula kakhulu kangangokuba wahluleka ukuyiqeda leyonkulumo. Ngemva kwehora kwadingeka kukhulume umngane wakhe esikhundleni sakhe. Nokho, ukuhlola eLos Angeles kwaba yimpumelelo. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayeqiniseka ngokuthi babebaningi abanesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso, futhi wayezimisele ukusibona simenyezelwa.

Phambili Nomsebenzi!

Ngo-July 1919, UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayesebuyile emsebenzini endlunkulu ePittsburgh. Izinto zenzeka ngokushesha phakathi nezinyanga ezimbalwa ezalandela. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kube nomhlangano wabaFundi BeBhayibheli owawuzoba seCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-September 1-8, 1919. Amahhovisi eNhlangano aphinde athuthelwa eBrooklyn futhi ayesesebenza ngo-October 1.

Yini ababezoyenza manje? Umsebenzi wabo wagcizelelwa ngokucacile emhlanganweni waseCedar Point. NgoLwesibili ngo-September 2, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wachaza: “Umsebenzi womKristu emhlabeni . . . uwukumemezela isigijimi sombuso weNkosi wokulunga, oyolethela yonke indalo ebubulayo izibusiso.” Ezinsukwini ezintathu kamuva, ngoLwesihlanu ngo-September 5, olwalubizwa ngokuthi uSuku Lwezisebenzi, uMfoweth’ uRutherford waqhubeka wathi: “Lapho esangulukile umKristu njengokulindelekile uyaye azibuze, Kungani ngisemhlabeni? Futhi impendulo edingekayo kumelwe ibe ukuthi, iNkosi ngomusa ingenze ngaba inxusa layo lokuyisa isigijimi saphezulu sokubuyisana ezweni, futhi nginelungelo nomsebenzi wokumemezela lesosigijimi.”

Yebo, kwakuyisikhathi sokuqhubekela phambili nomsebenzi wokumemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu! Futhi ukuze asize ekufezeni lokhu kuthunywa, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wamemezela: “Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNkosi sihlelele ukunyatheliswa kukamagazini omusha onegama nesihloko esithi THE GOLDEN AGE.” Labo ababeze emhlanganweni babengazi ukuthi i-Golden Age yayiyoba umagazini onikeza isibindi kangakanani.

“Lowomhlangano wokuqala wangemva kweMpi Yezwe I waba isikhuthazo esikhulu kithi sonke,” kukhumbula uHerman L. Philbrick, owaya emhlanganweni esuka ekhaya lakhe eBoston, eMassachusetts. Ngempela, umhlangano waseCedar Point washukumisela abaFundi BeBhayibheli esenzweni. Babekulungele ukuqhubekela phambili nomsebenzi wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle. Kwakunjengokungathi bavuka kwabafileyo.—Qhathanisa noHezekeli 37:1-14; IsAmbulo 11:11, 12.

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, kwakwenzeka izinto ezinkulu emhlabeni. Kwasayinwa iSivumelwano saseVersailles ngo-June 28, 1919, futhi saqala ukusebenza ngo-January 10, 1920. Sakuqeda ngokusemthethweni ukuhlaselwa kweJalimane eMpini Yezwe I, lesivumelwano sabuye senza kwakhiwa iNhlangano Yezizwe—inhlangano yezizwe zonke eyayiklanyelwe ukugcina ukuthula emhlabeni.

‘Memezelani INkosi NoMbuso’

Ngo-1922 abaFundi BeBhayibheli baphindela eCedar Point ukuze bathamele isimiso sezinsuku eziyisishiyagalolunye, kusukela ku-September 5 kuya ku-13. Kwakunenjabulo enkulu njengoba kwakufika izihambeli zizokwethamela lomhlangano wezizwe zonke. Umvuthwandaba walomhlangano wafinyelelwa ngoLwesihlanu ngo-September 8, lapho uMfoweth’ uRutherford ebeka inkulumo eyayithi “UMbuso.”

UThomas J. Sullivan kamuva wakhumbula: “Labo ababenelungelo lokuba khona kulowomhlangano basengabubona ngamehlo engqondo ubuqotho bukaMfoweth’ uRutherford lapho etshela abantu abambalwa ababengahlaliseki behambahamba ngenxa yokushisa ukuba ‘BAHLALE PHANSI’ futhi ‘BALALELE’ inkulumo noma sekunjani.” Labo abakwenza abazange badumale, ngoba leyo kwakuyinkulumo eyayiyingqopha-mlando uMfoweth’ uRutherford anxusa kuyo izilaleli zakhe ukuba ‘zimemezele iNkosi noMbuso.’

Izilaleli zasabela ngentshiseko enkulu. INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yabika: “Umuntu ngamunye kwababekhona wahlabeka umxhwele kakhulu ngeqiniso lokuthi, kusukela ngalesikhathi kuqhubeke, bonke abantu abazinikezele babenesibopho sokuba babe amanxusa okumenyezelwa kweNkosi nombuso.” AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baphuma kulowomhlangano benentshiseko evuthayo ngomsebenzi wokushumayela. Njengoba uDade Ethel Bennecoff, i-colporteur ngalesosikhathi eyayisondela eminyakeni engu-30 ubudala, asho: “Sashukunyiselwa ukuba ‘simemezele, simemezele, simemezele iNkosi nombuso wayo’—Yebo, sinentshiseko nothando okwengeziwe ezinhliziyweni zethu kunanini ngaphambili.”

Njengoba ukukhanya okungokomoya kokuqonda kwakuya kukhula, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baqala ukuqonda amaqiniso athile eBhayibheli avusa amadlingozi. (IzAga 4:18) Ukuqonda lamaqiniso ayigugu kwabanikeza ugqozi emsebenzini wabo wokumemezela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, kwadingeka balungise ukucabanga kwabo—futhi kwabanye lokhu kwakuwuvivinyo lwangempela.

“Amathemba Angazange Agcwaliseke Awaqali Osukwini Lwethu”

Incwajana ethi Millions Now Living Will Never Die, emuva ngo-1920, yathi: “Ngokuqiniseka singase silindele ukuba u-1925 abe isikhathi sokuba babuye [kwabafileyo] o-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobe kanye nabanye abaprofethi abathembekile bakudala . . . babuyele esimweni sokuphelela kobuntu.” Akukhona ukuvuswa kwamadoda athembekile akudala kuphela okwakulindelwe ngo-1925 kodwa abanye babenethemba lokuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe ayengase athole umvuzo wawo wasezulwini ngalowonyaka.b

Unyaka ka-1925 wafika wadlula. Abanye balilahla ithemba ababenalo. Kodwa iningi labaFundi BeBhayibheli lahlala lithembekile. “Umkhaya wakithi,” kuchaza uHerald Toutjian, lowo ugogo nomkhulu wakhe babebe abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngasekuqaleni kwalelikhulu leminyaka, “waqaphela ukuthi amathemba angazange agcwaliseke awaqali osukwini lwethu. Abaphostoli ngokwabo babebe namathemba afanayo angewona. . . . UJehova ufanelwe inkonzo yokwethembeka nodumo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umvuzo ukhona noma cha.”—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 1:6, 7.

Yiphi Inhlangano—EkaJehova Noma EkaSathane?

“Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe”—leso kwakuyisihloko esivusa amadlingozi esavela kumagazini ka-March 1, 1925 INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi). Saveza ukuqondwa okukhanyiselwe kwesAmbulo isahluko 12 abanye abakuthola kunzima ukukwamukela.

Izici ezingokomfanekiso okukhulunywe ngazo kulesahluko sesAmbulo zachazwa ngalendlela: “owesifazane” obelethayo (amave. 1, 2) ngokuthi “inhlangano kaNkulunkulu [yasezulwini]”; “udrako” (ive. 3) ngokuthi “inhlangano kadeveli”; futhi “umntwana wesilisa” (ive. 5) ngokuthi “umbuso omusha, noma uhulumeni omusha.” Kuthathelwa kulokhu, kunokuthile okwachazwa ngokucacile ngokokuqala ngqá: Kunezinhlangano ezimbili ezihlukene futhi eziphikisanayo—ekaJehova nekaSathane. Futhi ngemva ‘kwempi ezulwini’ (ive. 7), uSathane nabasekeli bakhe abangamademoni bakhishwa ezulwini balahlelwa emhlabeni.

“Sahlala phansi sasitadisha lesihloko ubusuku bonke kwaze kwaba yilapho ngisiqonda kahle,” kubhala u-Earl E. Newell, kamuva owaba ummeleli ojikelezayo we-Watch Tower Society. “Saya emhlanganweni ePortland, e-Oregon, sathola abazalwane bephazamiseke kakhulu futhi abanye babo babekulungele ukulahla INqabayokulinda ngenxa yalesihloko.” Kungani kwakunzima kangaka kwabanye ukwamukela lencazelo yesAmbulo isahluko 12?

Phakathi kokunye, yayihluke ngokuphawulekayo kulokho okwakukhishwe kuyi-Finished Mystery, ngokuyinhloko eyayiwukuhlanganiswa kwemibhalo kaMfoweth’ uRussell eyakhishwa ngemva kokufa kwakhe.c UWalter J. Thorn, owakhonza njenge-pilgrim elijikelezayo, wachaza: “Isihloko esasithi ‘Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe’ . . . kwakunzima ukusamukela ngenxa yencazelo yangaphambili yencwadi yesAmbulo kaMfowethu othandekayo uRussell, esasicabanga ukuthi iyona ewujuqu.” Khona-ke, kungakho abanye yabakhuba lencazelo. “Ngokungangabazeki lencazelo ingaba indlela yokuhlunga,” kuphawula uJ. A. Bohnet, elinye i-pilgrim, “kodwa abantu abaqotho ngempela okholweni bayokuma beqinile futhi bathokoze.”

Ngempela, abaqotho ngempela bayithokozela lencazelo entsha. Manje kwase kubacacela kangcono: bonke abantu kuphakathi kokuthi basenhlanganweni kaJehova noma ekaSathane. “Khumbula,” kuchaza isihloko esasithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe,” “siyoba nelungelo . . . lokuyilwela ngesibindi injongo yeNkosi yethu ngokumemezela isigijimi sayo, esinikeze sona ukuba sisimemezele.”

Njengoba iminyaka yawo-1920 neyo-1930 iqhubeka, kwalandela imisebe eyengeziwe yokuqondwa kweBhayibheli. Kwayekwa ukugujwa kwemikhosi yezwe kanye namaholide, anjengoKhisimusi. Kwalahlwa neminye imikhuba nezinkolelo lapho kubonakala ukuthi kunemisuka ehlambalaza uNkulunkulu.d Nokho, ngaphezu kokulahla imikhuba engalungile kanye nezinkolelo abaFundi BeBhayibheli baqhubeka bebheke kuJehova ukuze bathole ukwambulwa okuqhubekayo kweqiniso.

“Ningofakazi Bami”

“Ningofakazi bami, usho uJehova, mina nginguNkulunkulu.” (Isaya 43:12) Kusukela ngawo-1920, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bakuqaphela ngokwandayo ukubaluleka okukhulu kwalamazwi omprofethi uIsaya. Ngamakhasi e-Nqabayokulinda, kwadonselwa ukunakekela ngokuphindaphindiwe emthwalweni wethu wemfanelo wokufakazela igama likaJehova noMbuso wakhe. Nokho, kwaqoshwa umlando emhlanganweni owawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-1931.

NgeSonto ngo-July 26, emini, UMfoweth’ uRutherford wabeka inkulumo yeningi eyayithi “UMbuso, Ithemba Lomhlaba,” eyayisakazwa ochungechungeni olubanzi lwemisakazo eminingi, kwaba nezinye iziteshi ezingaphezu kwezingu-300 ezaphinde zasakaza lesigijimi kamuva. Ekupheleni kwenkulumo, uMfoweth’ uRutherford waxwayisa eLobukholwa ngokufunda izwi lesinqumo elintinyelayo elalinesihloko esithi “Isixwayiso Esivela KuJehova,” esasiqondiswe “Kubabusi Nakubantu.” Lapho ebuza ukuthi ziyalamukela yini izwi lesinqumo, zonke izilaleli ezazikhona zasukuma zamemeza, “Elethu!” Amathelegramu atholwa kamuva abonisa ukuthi abaningi balabo ababelalele emsakazweni nabo bamemeza bevuma.

Kusukela ngehora lokuqala, lapho inkulumo yeningi iphela, kuze kube ihora lesine, lapho uMfoweth’ uRutherford ephinda engena ehholo, kwakugcwele umoya wenjabulo. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayecele ngokukhethekile ukuba bonke ababenesithakazelo ngempela ekuzweni isixwayiso esiya kweLobukholwa bahlale ezihlalweni zabo ngehora lesine.

Ngehora lesine, uMfoweth’ uRutherford waqala ngokusho ukuthi wayebheka lokho ayezokusho njengokubaluleke kakhulu kuwo wonke umuntu owayemlalele. Izilaleli zakhe zazinesithakazelo esijulile. Phakathi nenkulumo yakhe wethula elinye izwi lesinqumo, leli lalinesihloko esithi “Igama Elisha,” elalethwa emvuthwandaba ngesimemezelo esithi: “Sifisa ukwaziwa futhi sibizwe ngegama, elithi, ofakazi bakaJehova.” Ababeze emhlanganweni ababejabule baphinde bagxuma bema ngezinyawo bamemeza ngokunkenenezayo bethi “Elethu!” Kusukela lapho base bezokwaziwa njengoFakazi BakaJehova!

“Umoya KaJehova Wasenza Saba Nesibindi”

Phakathi no-1927, abantu bakaJehova bakhuthazwa ukuba basebenzise ingxenye yosuku ngalunye lwangeSonto ekufakazeni njengeqembu. Ngokushesha kwaba nokuphikisa okungokomthetho. Eminyakeni embalwa, ukuboshwa kwaqala ukwanda—e-United States iyodwa kwaboshwa abangu-268 ngo-1933, abangu-340 ngo-1934, abangu-478 ngo-1935, nabangu-1 149 ngo-1936. Babemangalelwe ngamaphi amacala? Eqinisweni, ngamacala ahlukahlukene, kuhlanganise nokuthengisa ngaphandle kwemvume, ukuphazamisa ukuthula, nokuphula imithetho yesabatha langeSonto. Amaqembu endawo oFakazi ayengajwayelene nokusebenzelana nezikhulu zamaphoyisa nezinkantolo. Kanti nokuthola usizo lwezomthetho kuleyondawo kwakubiza kakhulu noma kungenakwenzeka ngenxa yobandlululo. Ngakho i-Watch Tower Society ngokuhlakanipha yamisa umnyango wezomthetho eBrooklyn ukuze inikeze izeluleko.

Nokho, ukuzivikela okunamandla kwezomthetho kwakungenele. LaboFakazi BakaJehova abaqotho babezimisele ukuphila ngokuvumelana negama ababelamukele. Ngakho, ekuqaleni kwawo-1930, nabo bagadla ngokuba bahlasele. Kanjani? Ngemisebenzi yokushumayela ekhethekile eyayaziwa ngokuthi imikhankaso yamaqembu. Izinkulungwane zezisebenzi zokuzithandela kulo lonke elase-United States zahlelwa ngamaqembu ahlukene. Lapho kwelinye idolobha oFakazi beboshelwa ukushumayela endlini ngendlu, iqembu lezisebenzi zokuzithandela ezivela kwezinye izindawo lalifika ngokushesha “lihlasele” idolobha, linikeza ubufakazi ngokugcwele.e

Leyomikhankaso yamaqembu yabaqinisa kakhulu oFakazi bakulezozindawo. Eqenjini ngalinye, kwakuba nabazalwane abafanelekayo ababeqeqeshelwe ukubhekana neziphathimandla. Kwakuyisikhuthazo esikhulu kubazalwane abahlala ezindaweni ezinezinkinga, mhlawumbe edolobheni elincane, ukwazi ukuthi babengebodwa ekumemezeleni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Kwakudinga isibindi esikhulu ukuhlanganyela emikhankasweni yamaqembu yawo-1930. Phakathi nenkathi yeNdlala Yemali, imisebenzi yayintuleka. Nokho, uNicholas Kovalak, Jr., owayengumbonisi ojikelezayo iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-40, uyakhumbula: “Lapho kufika isigijimi sokuba kuhlanganiswe indawo enenkinga, ‘umqondisi wenkonzo’ wayecela izisebenzi zokuzithandela. Abantu babetshelwa ukuba bangayenzi lenkonzo yokuzithandela uma besaba ukulahlekelwa imisebenzi. . . . Kodwa sasijabula njalo lapho abantu besabela bonke ngothi lwabo! UJohn Dulchinos, umbonisi waseSpringfield, eMassachusetts waphawula: “Ngempela, leyo kwakuyiminyaka evusa amadlingozi futhi iyizinkumbulo eziyigugu. Umoya kaJehova wasenza saba nesibindi.”

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, kwavela umsebe wokuqondwa kweBhayibheli owawuzoba nomphumela omkhulu emsebenzini.

Kuthiwani NgamaJonadaba?

Ngo-1932 kwachazwa ukuthi uJehonadaba (uJonadaba), umngane weNkosi uJehu, wayefanekisela isigaba sabantu esasiyojabulela ukuphila phakade emhlabeni.f (2 AmaKh. 10:15-28) AmaJonadaba, njengoba baziwa kanjalo, akubheka njengelungelo ukuba abangane bezinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe futhi ahlanganyele nazo ekumemezeleni uMbuso. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi, kwakungekho mzamo okhethekile wokubuthwa nokuhlelwa kwalabantu abanethemba lasemhlabeni.

Nokho, amaJonadaba anikezwa isikhuthazo sangempela ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-August 15, 1934. Isihloko esithi “Umusa Wakhe” sathi: “Ingabe owesigaba samaJonadaba kufanele azinikezele eNkosini futhi abhapathizwe? Impendulo: Ngokuqinisekile kufanelekile ukuba ongowesigaba samaJonadaba azinikezele ukuba enze intando kaNkulunkulu. Akukho muntu oyothola ukuphila ngaphandle kokwenza lokho. Ukucwiliswa emanzini kumane kuwuphawu lokuzinikezela ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu, futhi lokho ngeke kungafaneleki.” Abesigaba samaJonadaba bajabula kakhulu!

Nokho, babesazoba nenye injabulo eyengeziwe. Ngentwasahlobo elandelayo, omagazini abambalwa (besiNgisi) INqabayokulinda, kusukela kumagazini ka-April 1, 1935, babenalesimemezelo: “INqabayokulinda iyaphinda ikhumbuza abafundi bayo ukuthi kuzoba nomhlangano wofakazi bakaJehova namaJonadabag eWashington, D.C., ozoqala ngo-May 30 futhi uphele ngo-June 3, 1935.” AmaJonadaba ayelindele lowomhlangano ngokulangazela.

“Isixuku esikhulu,” esabikezelwa kusAmbulo 7:9-17, kwakhulunywa ngaso enkulumweni uMfoweth’ uRutherford ayibeka ntambama ngosuku lwesibili lomhlangano. Kuleyonkulumo wachaza ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sasakhiwa amaJonadaba osuku lwanamuhla nokuthi lamaJonadaba kwakumelwe abonise izinga elifanayo lokwethembeka kuJehova njengoba kwenza abagcotshiwe. Nokho, izilaleli zazijabule! Lapho ecelwa isikhulumi, amaJonadaba asukuma. “Kwaqale kwathula kwathi cwaka,” kukhumbula uMildred Cobb, owayebhapathizwe ngehlobo lika-1908, “kwase kuba nokumemeza kwenjabulo, nokuhalalisa okukhulu nokwathatha isikhathi eside.”

Lomsebe wokuqondwa kweBhayibheli waba nomphumela omkhulu emsebenzini woFakazi BakaJehova. “Sinentshiseko enkulu,” kuphawula uSadie Carpenter, umshumayeli wesikhathi esigcwele iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60, “saphindela emasimini ethu ukuze siyofuna abantu abanjengezimvu ababesazobuthwa.” Kamuva i-Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 1936 yabika: “Lesisambulo sashukumisa abazalwane futhi sabakhuthaza ukuba bavuselele imisebenzi yabo, futhi yonke indawo emhlabeni wonke kunemibiko ebonisa ukuthi kuyathokozwa ngokuthi abensali manje banelungelo lokuyisa isigijimi kwabesixuku esikhulu, futhi laba ndawonye besebenzela ukudumisa igama leNkosi.” Ukuze ibasize kulomsebenzi, incwadi ethi Riches, eyakhishwa ngo-1936, yayikhuluma kabanzi ngamathemba asemiBhalweni ngokuqondene nesixuku esikhulu.

Ekugcineni, amalungu azinikezele nabhapathiziwe esixuku esikhulu ayethola indawo yawo efanelekayo eceleni kwabagcotshiwe ekumemezeleni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu!

‘Ukushuka Isikhumba Sentombi Endala’

Ngawo-1930, isigijimi laboFakazi abashisekayo ababesimemezela sasihlanganisa ukudalulwa okuntinyelayo kwenkolo yamanga. Ithuluzi eliwusizo ngokuqondene nalokhu lakhululwa emhlanganweni kawonk’ uwonke woFakazi BakaJehova owawungo-September 15-20, 1937, eColumbus, e-Ohio.

NgoMgqibelo ngo-September 18, ngemva kwenkulumo yakhe yasekuseni, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wakhulula incwadi eyayinombala ompofu ethi Enemies. Yayilahla inkolo yamanga ‘njengesitha esikhulu, esihlala sizimisele ukulimaza isintu.’ Abathandi benkolo yamanga bachazwa ‘njengamanxusa kaDeveli, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bayaliqaphela leloqiniso noma cha.’ Lapho ethula lencwadi ezilalelini, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wathi: “Sizoshuka isikhumba sentombi endalah ngayo.” Izilaleli zakwamukela ngokuzwakalayo nangentshiseko lokhu.

Eminyakeni ethile igilamafoni yaba nengxenye ‘ekushukeni isikhumba sentombi endala.’ Kodwa ngokuqondene nomsebenzi wegilamafoni, kwaba nento engalindelekile emhlanganweni ka-1937. “Kulomhlangano kwethulwa umsebenzi wokusetshenziswa kwegilamafoni ephathekayo endlini ngendlu,” kukhumbula u-Elwood Lunstrum, ngalesosikhathi owayeneminyaka engu-12 kuphela ubudala. “Ngaphambili sasiyiphatha igilamafoni lapho siya enkonzweni, kodwa sasiyidlala kuphela lapho singeniswa endlini. . . . Emhlanganweni waseColumbus kwahlelwa ukuba kube nenhlangano ‘yamaPhayona Akhethekile’ ayezohola ekusebenziseni lesimiso sokudlala igilamafoni eminyango nokulandelela abantu abathakazelayo (ngalesosikhathi ababebizwa ngokuthi ama-‘back-call’) kanye nezifundo zeBhayibheli ngelungiselelo elalibizwa ngokuthi ‘isifundo esiyisibonelo.’”

Abantu bakaJehova baphuma kulowomhlangano bewuhlomele kahle umsebenzi wokumemezela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqinisekile babedinga sonke isikhuthazo ababengasithola. Igagasi elikhulayo lokushisekela ubuzwe ngawo-1930 labangela ukuphikiswa, kwezinye izimo ubudlova besixuku, okwakuvela kubantu ababezimisele ukuyekisa oFakazi BakaJehova ukuhlangana nokushumayela.

“Iqembu Lamasela”

Igagasi elikhulu lokuphikisa laqhamuka emaqenjini athile oMzabalazo WamaKatolika. Ngo-October 2, 1938, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayengagwegwesi lapho ebeka inkulumo ethi “UbuFascist Noma Inkululeko,” kamuva eyakhishwa njengencwajana futhi kwasakazwa izigidi zayo. UMfoweth’ uRutherford enkulumweni yakhe wabala izenzakalo eziningi zezenzo ezingemthetho ukuze abonise ukuvumelana ngasese okukhona phakathi kwezikhulu zomphakathi nabameleli beSonto LamaRoma Katolika.

Ngemva kokuveza amaqiniso, uRutherford waphawula: “Lapho abantu betshelwa amaqiniso ngeqembu elisebenza lembethe izambatho zenkolo ukuze lintshontshe amalungelo abo, iNdikimba Yesigaba Sabefundisi iyabhavumula futhi ithi: ‘Amanga! Bavaleni imilomo labo futhi ningabavumeli ukuba bakhulume.’” Wabe esebuza: “Ingabe akulungile ukukhuluma iqiniso ngeqembu lamasela eliphanga abantu? Cha! . . . Ingabe abantu abathembekile kufanele bavalwe imilomo futhi baphoqwe ukuba bathule kuyilapho leliqembu lamasela lonakalisa inkululeko yabantu? Ngaphezu kwakho konke, ingabe abantu kufanele bancishwe amalungelo abo abawanikezwe uNkulunkulu okuhlangana ngokuthula kanye nenkululeko yokukhulekela uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, nokukhuluma ngokukhululekile ngombuso wakhe nangalabo abawuphikisayo?”

Ngemva kwalokhu kusola okuntinyelayo, ukuphikisa okwakuvela emaqenjini oMzabalazo WamaKatolika kwabhebhetheka kulo lonke elase-United States. OFakazi BakaJehova balwa izimpi eziphathelene nezomthetho befuna inkululeko yokukhulekela kanye nelungelo labo lokumemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa isimo samane saba sibi njengoba izwe lalingenela impi. OFakazi BakaJehova babhekana nokuvinjelwa okungokomthetho kanye nokuboshwa emazweni amaningi eYurophu, e-Afrika, nase-Asia.

“Wonke Umuntu Wayefuna Ukuya ESt. Louis”

“Ngo-1941,” kukhumbula uNorman Larson, owayesanda kungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, “sonke saba nomuzwa wokuthi sasizobhekana nezinsuku ezinzima ezazisengaphambili njengoba kwakunempi eyayilwiwa eYurophu. Ngakho bonke abantu babefuna ukuya eSt. Louis.” Beyokwenzani? Phela, ukuze babe seMhlanganweni Ongokwasezulwini WoFakazi BakaJehova eSt. Louis, eMissouri, ngo-August 6-10, 1941! Futhi kweza “wonke umuntu.” Izindawo zomhlangano zazigcwele zichichima. Ngokokulinganisela kwamaphoyisa, kwaba khona inani eliphakeme labantu abangu-115 000.

Kusukela osukwini lokuqala, isimiso somhlangano sanikeza isikhuthazo esasifike ngesikhathi. Inkulumo kaMfoweth’ uRutherford yokuqala, eyayithi “Ubuqotho,” yazwakala njengenkulumo eyisihluthulelo yomhlangano. “Saqaphela ngokucace ngokwengeziwe kunanini ngaphambili ukuthi kungani uJehova ayevumela ukushushiswa okukhulu kanjalo kwabantu bakhe emhlabeni wonke,” kukhumbula uHazel Burford, owakhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-40, kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1983. Ibika ngalomhlangano, i-Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1942 yanezela: “Bonke babona ukuthi kwakunomsebenzi omkhulu wokufakaza phambi kwabo okwakumelwe wenziwe, nokuthi ngokwenza kanjalo babeyolondoloza ubuqotho babo, nakuba bezondwa yibo bonke abantu kanye nezinhlangano zezwe.”

Isenzakalo esishukumisa inhliziyo kulomhlangano saba ngeSonto ngo-August 10, ‘okwakuwuSuku Lwabantwana.’ Lapho kuqala isimiso sasekuseni, abantwana abangu-15 000—abaphakathi kweminyaka emihlanu kuya kwengu-18 ubudala—bahlangana enkundleni enkulu phambi kwendawo yesikhulumi nasendaweni ebekelwe eceleni lapho kupakwa khona omahambanendlwana izilaleli ezengeziwe ezazilalele zikhona. Njengoba uMfoweth’ uRutherford, ngalesosikhathi owayesanda kweva eminyakeni engu-70, eya endaweni yesikhulumi, abantwana bahalalisa futhi bashaya ihlombe. Wavayiza ngeduku lakhe, nabantwana bavayiza. Khona-ke, ngezwi elicacile nelinomusa, wakhuluma nazo zonke izilaleli ngesihloko esithi “Abantwana BeNkosi.” Ngemva kokukhuluma nazo zonke izilaleli isikhathi esingaphezu kwehora, waqondisa amazwi akhe kubantwana ababehlezi ezingxenyeni ezazigcinelwe bona.

Egxilisa ukunakekela kwakhe kulobobuso obuningi obuncane obuchachambile obabuphambi kwakhe, wathi: “Nonke . . . nina bantwana enivumile ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi eniye nathatha uhlangothi lwenu kuHulumeni wakhe ongokwaseZulwini ngoKristu Jesu nenivumile ukulalela uNkulunkulu neNkosi yakhe, sizani nisukume.” Abantwana basukuma bonke ngothi lwabo. “Bhekani,” kumemeza isikhulumi esinentshiseko, “ofakazi boMbuso abasha abangaphezu kwabangu-15 000!” Kwaduma ihlombe. “Nina nonke eniyokwenza konke okusemandleni enu ukuze nitshele abanye ngombuso kaNkulunkulu nezibusiso zawo, ngicela nithi Elethu.” Kwaba njengokuduma bememeza, “Elethu!”

Ukuze akulethe emvuthwandaba konke lokhu, uMfowethu’ uRutherford wamemezela ukukhululwa kwencwadi ethi Children, eyamukelwa ngokumemeza ngenjabulo nangehlombe elinjengokuduma. Ngemva kwalokho, isikhulumi, esiyindoda ende, sahlanganyela ekusakazeni amakhophi esihle alencwadi njengoba ujenga lwezingane olwaluqonde endaweni yesikhulumi lwaludlula kuso. Abaningi bakhala lapho bebona lokhu.

Kulezozilaleli zangaleloSonto ekuseni kwakunabantwana abaningi abaphila ngokuvumelana nokumemeza kwabo ngokuthi “Elethu!” ULaVonne Krebs, uMerton Campbell, no-Eugene noCamilla Rosam babephakathi kwentsha eyathola incwadi ethi Children kulesosenzakalo. Njengoba babesakhonza endlunkulu yeNhlangano ngo-1992, baye banikela ngeminyaka engu-51, 49, 49, nengu-48 yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele umuntu ngamunye. Abanye balabantwana bahamba bayokhonza ezabelweni zezithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe, kuhlanganise no-Eldon Deane (eBolivia), uRichard noPeggy Kelsey (eJalimane), uRamon Templeton (eJalimane), noJennie Klukowski (eBrazil). Ngempela, lesosimiso sasekuseni ngeSonto eSt. Louis saba nomphumela owahlala njalo ezinhliziyweni zabantwana abaningi!

NgeSonto ntambama uMfoweth’ uRutherford washo amazwi ambalwa okuvalelisa kwababeze emhlanganweni. Wabakhuthaza ukuba baqhubekisele phambili umsebenzi wokumemezela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Wathi kubo: “Ngizizwa ngiqiniseka ngokugcwele ngokuthi kusukela manje . . . labo abayokwakha isixuku esikhulu bazokwanda ngokushesha.” Wabanxusa ukuba baphindele ezingxenyeni zezwe ababevela kuzo futhi wathi “nenze okwengeziwe . . . nisebenzise sonke isikhathi eningasisebenzisa.” Wabe esesho amazwi akhe okugcina ezilalelini: “Nokho-ke, bafowethu abathandekayo, iNkosi inibusise. Ngeke ngivalelise manje, ngoba ngilindele ukubuye nginibone ngesinye isikhathi.”

Kodwa abaningi bagcina ngalesosikhathi ukumbona uMfoweth’ uRutherford.

Izinsuku Zokugcina ZikaJ. F. Rutherford

UMfoweth’ Rutherford waba nomdlavuza kapopopo futhi wayebuthaka empilweni ngenkathi esemhlanganweni eSt. Louis. Nokho, wakwazi ukubeka izinkulumo ezinhlanu ezinamandla. Nokho, ngemva komhlangano isimo sakhe saba sibi kakhulu, futhi waphoqeleka ukuba enze ukuhlinzwa kokufakelwa indunu. U-Arthur Worsley ukhumbula usuku uMfoweth’ uRutherford avalelisa ngalo emkhayeni waseBethel. “Wasitshela ukuthi wayezokwenza ukuhlinzwa okukhulu futhi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi wayezophila noma cha, wayeqiniseka ngokuthi sasizoqhubeka simemezela igama likaJehova. Waphetha . . . ngokuthi, ‘Ngakho, uma uNkulunkulu ethanda, ngizophinde nginibone. Uma kungenjalo, qhubekani nempi.’ Wonke umuntu wayekhala izinyembezi emkhayeni.”

UMfoweth’ uRutherford, owayeneminyaka engu-72, waphila ngemva kokuhlinzwa. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho wayiswa esakhiweni sokuhlala eCalifornia ayesethe ngokuthi iBeth-Sarim. Abathandekayo bakhe, kanye nezingcweti zezokwelapha babebona ukuthi wayengeke alulame. Eqinisweni, kwakudingeka ukuba abuye ahlinzwe.

Cishe phakathi no-December, uNathan H. Knorr, uFrederick W. Franz, noHayden C. Covington bafika bevela eBrooklyn. UHazel Burford, owayenakekela uMfoweth’ uRutherford phakathi nalezozinsuku ezidabukisayo nezicindezelayo, kamuva wakhumbula: “Bachitha izinsuku ezimbalwa behlola umbiko waminyaka yonke owawuzokhishwa kuyi-Yearbook kanye nezinye izindaba eziphathelene nokuhlela. Ngemva kokuba sebehambile, uMfoweth’ uRutherford waqhubeka eba buthaka, futhi cishe emasontweni amathathu kamuva, ngoLwesine ngo-January 8, 1942, wayiqeda ngokwethembeka inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.”i

Zamukelwa kanjani izindaba zokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRutherford eBethel? “Ngeke ngilukhohlwe usuku esezwa ngalo ngokushona kukaMfoweth’ uRutherford,” kukhumbula uWilliam A. Elrod, owayesebe ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel iminyaka eyisishiyagalolunye. “Kwakuyisikhathi sasemini umkhaya uhlangene uzokudla ukudla kwasemini. Isaziso saba sifushane. Akubanga nazinkulumo. Akekho owahlala wangasebenza ukuze azile. Kunalokho, saphindela efekthri futhi sasebenza ngenkuthalo kunanini ngaphambili.”

Lezo kwakuyizikhathi ezicindezela kakhulu koFakazi BakaJehova. Impi yayisimboze imbulunga yonke. Ukulwa kwakuqala eYurophu kuze kuyoba se-Afrika, nakuleyondawo eyayaziwa ngokuthi iSoviet Union. Ngo-December 7, 1941, esikhathini esingangenyanga nje ngaphambi kokufa koMfoweth’ uRutherford, ukuhlaselwa kwePearl Harbor yiJapane kwakwenze i-United States yahileleka empini. Ezindaweni eziningi oFakazi babeyizisulu zobudlova bezixuku kanye nokunye ukushushiswa okukhulu.

Yini eyayizokwenzeka manje?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 73]

“Izikhali zikaSathane eziyinhloko UKUQHOSHA, UKUFUNA UKUVELELA NOKWESABA”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 74]

‘Isiqinisekiso sokuthi uJehova wayeqondisa iNhlangano’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 75]

‘Baphuma ejele, hhayi ikakhulukazi ngokwenzuzo yabo, kodwa ngenjongo yokufakazela iqiniso’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 77]

“Umsebenzi womKristu emhlabeni . . . uwukumemezela isigijimi sombuso weNkosi”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 78]

‘Memezelani uMbuso ngentshiseko eyengeziwe nangothando kunanini ngaphambili’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 82]

‘Sifisa ukwaziwa ngokuthi ofakazi bakaJehova’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 83]

Yebo! amaJonadaba kufanele abhapathizwe

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 84]

‘Ukufuna abantu abanjengezimvu okusamelwe babuthwe’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 85]

URutherford wayengagunci lapho esola abaphikisi abangokwenkolo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 86]

Abantwana abangu-15 000 bathatha ukuma kwabo ngasohlangothini loMbuso

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 89]

‘Uma uNkulunkulu ethanda, ngizophinde nginibone. Uma kungenjalo, qhubekani nempi’

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 76]

“Indlu Yamakhosana”

UMfoweth’ uRutherford waba nohlobo olubi lwe-“pneumonia” ngemva kokukhululwa kwakhe ekuboshweni ngokungafanele ngo-1919. Ngemva kwalokho, wayenephaphu elilodwa kuphela elalisebenza. Ngawo-1920, elashwa udokotela, waya eSan Diego, eCalifornia, futhi udokotela wamnxusa ukuba achithe isikhathi eside ngangokunokwenzeka lapho. Kusukela ngo-1929 kuqhubeke, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wachitha isikhathi sasebusika esebenza endaweni yokuhlala eSan Diego ayeseyethe ngokuthi i-Beth-Sarim. I-Beth-Sarim yakhiwa ngemali eyayinikelwe ngokuqondile ngenxa yaleyonjongo. Isivumelwano, esakhishwa sonke kuyi-“Golden Age” ka-March 19, 1930, sadlulisela lesakhiwo kuJ. F. Rutherford futhi ngemva kwalokho kuyi-Watch Tower Society.

Ngokuqondene ne-Beth-Sarim, incwadi ethi “Salvation,” eyakhishwa ngo-1939, iyachaza: “Amagama esiHeberu athi ‘Beth Sarim’ asho ‘Indlu Yamakhosana’; futhi injongo yokuthola lesosakhiwo nokwakha leyondlu yayiwukuba kube nobufakazi obuphathekayo bokuthi emhlabeni namuhla kunabantu abakholelwa ngokuphelele kuNkulunkulu nakuKristu Jesu nasembusweni waKhe, futhi abakholelwa ukuthi amadoda athembekile akudala ngokushesha iNkosi izowavusa, abuye emhlabeni, futhi aphathe izindaba zomhlaba.”

Eminyakeni embalwa ngemva kokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRutherford, ibhodi yabaqondisi be-Watch Tower Society yanquma ukuyithengisa i-Beth-Sarim. Ngani? “INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi) ka-December 15, 1947, yachaza: “Isiyifeze ngokugcwele injongo yayo futhi manje isimane iyisikhumbuzo okubizayo ukusigcina; ukholo lwethu ekubuyeni kwamadoda asendulo iNkosi uKristu Jesu eyowenza abe amakhosana kuwo WONKE umhlaba (hhayi eCalifornia kuphela), alusekelwe kuleyondlu eyi-Beth-Sarim, kodwa lusekelwe esithembisweni seZwi likaNkulunkulu.”j

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 80, 81]

Ukusakaza Isigijimi SoMbuso

Eminyakeni emibili ngemva kokuba ukusakaza okuvamile ngomsakazo kuqalile, umsakazo wawusetshenzi-selwa ukudlulisela isigijimi soMbuso. Ngakho ngo-February 26, 1922, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wasakaza ngokokuqala ngqá emsakazweni, eCalifornia. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, ngo-February 24, 1924, isiteshi somsakazo se-Watch Tower Society i-WBBR, eStaten Island, eNew York, saqala ukusakaza. Ekugcineni, iNhlangano yahlela isimiso sokusakaza emhlabeni wonke sokusakaza izinhlelo zeBhayibheli kanye nezinkulumo. Ngo-1933 inani eliphakeme leziteshi ezingu-408 lalisakaza isigijimi soMbuso emazwekazini ayisithupha!

[Izithombe]

I-WBBR, eNew York, yayisetshenziswa i-Watch Tower Society kusukela ngo-1924 kuya ku-1957

Iqembu labadlali bezinsimbi zomculo be-WBBR ngo-1926

UJ. F. Rutherford ebeka inkulumo ethi “Bhekana Namaqiniso,” eRoyal Albert Hall, eLondon, eNgilandi, ngo-September 11, 1938; abangaphezu kwabangu-10 000 baminyana ehholweni (ngezansi), kuyilapho izigidi ezengeziwe zaziyilalele emsakazweni

Uhlelo lokuqala lwe-WBBR

Izisebenzi esiteshini i-2HD, eNewcastle, eNSW, e-Australia

Isiteshi somsakazo i-CHCY e-Edmonton, e-Alberta, sasingesinye seziteshi eziningana eCanada ezazingeze-Nhlangano futhi zisetshenziswa yiyo

Ukusakazela iFinland ngesiteshi somsakazo e-Estonia

Imishini yokusakaza esiteshini i-WORD ngase-Chicago e-Illinois; okwakungeseNhlangano futhi sisetshenziswa yiyo

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 87]

Ukushumayela Ngamagilamafoni

Ngo-1933, oFakazi BakaJehova baqala ukusebenzisa enye indlela entsha yokushumayela. Umshini othwalekayo othiwa i-“transcription machine” onesikhulisa-zwi wawusetshenziswa ekusakazeni izinkulumo eziqoshiwe zikaMfoweth’ uRutherford ezidlala ngesivinini sika-33 1/3-rpm, emahholo, emapaki, nakwezinye izindawo zomphakathi. Izimoto ezinemibhobho nemikhumbi nakho kwakusetshenziswa ekwenzeni isigijimi soMbuso sizwakale.

Ukusetshenziswa ngokuphumelelayo kwemishini ethiwa i-“transcription machine” kwaholela kwenye indlela entsha—ukushumayela endlini ngendlu ngegilamafoni engasindi. Ngo-1934 iNhlangano yaqala ukukhiqiza amagilamafoni aphathekayo kanye nochungechunge lwamarekhodi adlala ngesivinini sika-78-rpm aqukethe izinkulumo zeBhayibheli ezithatha imizuzu emine nengxenye. Ekugcineni, kwakusetshenziswa izingxoxo eziqoshiwe ezihlanganisa izihloko ezingu-92 ezihlukene. Sekukonke, iNhlangano yakhiqiza amagilamafoni angu-47 000 ukuze imemezele isigijimi soMbuso. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwagcizelelwa kakhulu izintshumayelo ezinikezwa ngomlomo zesigijimi soMbuso, ngakho umsebenzi wamagilamafoni waphela.

[Izithombe]

Ngemoto enombhobho phezulu egqumeni, isigijimi soMbuso sasingazwakala ebangeni elingamakhilomitha amaningi (ngenhla)

Ukusebenzisa umshini othiwa i-“transcription machine” eMexico (kwesokudla)

Umkhumbi onombhobho usakaza eMfuleni iThames, eLondon, eNgilandi (ngenhla)

Ukusebenzisa igilamafoni enkonzweni yasensimini (kwesobunxele)

Ukubonisa indlela yokusebenzisa igilamafoni edlalwa imiswe ngecala, ngo-1940 (kwesokudla)

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

UJ. A. Bohnet

[Isithombe ekhasini 88]

Kusukela ngo-1917, lapho uJ. F. Rutherford eba umongameli, kuya ku-1941, i-Watch Tower Society yanyathelisa izincwadi eziningi, kuhlanganise nezincwadi ezingu-24, izincwajana ezingu-86, kanye nama-“Yearbook” aminyaka yonke, kanye nezihloko ze-“Nqabayokulinda” kanye ne-“Golden Age” (kamuva eyabizwa ngokuthi i-“Consolation”)