Many Bible student ecclesias base their class study meetings on the six volumes of Scripture Studies and Tabernacle Shadows. This method started about 1890 in Baltimore, Maryland, being introduced by a Br. Rahn. A lengthy article starting at page 1866 in the Reprints discusses this history in detail, with specific suggestions on the conduct of these studies, on page 1868.

To supplement these volume studies a series of study outlines on character topics appeared in the pages of Zion’s Watch Tower in 1905 and 1906. These were introduced specifically for the purpose of class study, and were so used by Br. Russell in the Allegheny ecclesia. Lengthy prefatory remarks appear on Reprint page 3518, introducing and recommending these studies for Sunday ecclesia use. We quote in part from this article:

“For some time past we have been receiving letters inquiring how little gatherings of the Lord’s people can use the hour of their Sunday gatherings most profitably. Some of these letters are from brethren chosen as elders or leaders, saying that they are quite incapable of getting up a ‘sermon,’ and find it impossible to prepare even a Bible study in an attractive and interesting form, though the dear brethren, full of love for the Truth, do not complain, but rather encourage them.

“Other letters are from those who take no public part and who, while sympathizing with their meeting-leaders in their endeavors to imitate nominal church purveyors, are wishing and praying for the opening of some ‘door’ of help which will make the ‘assembling of themselves’ more profitable to all.

“It was in response to this ‘cry’ of the Lord’s people that we prepared the WATCH TOWER Bible, in the margins of which, in addition to the Scripture references, we gave DAWN and TOWER references. In the front of that Bible, which so many of you possess, we have some suggestions on ‘Berean Bible Study,’ and in the back part we gave extended references and also a Topical Index. It was our hope that these would meet the requirements, but we find that they do not. Many of the Lord’s earnest ones have so long been used to ‘swallowing’ whatever was offered them as spiritual nutriment that they had never learned how to feed themselves at the Father’s table. Others who knew how to get at the food properly found their time so consumed in the ‘things needful’ and pressing that they had little time to prepare lessons of a profitable kind for themselves or others, even after the matter had been outlined as in the Topical Index.

“Appreciating the needs, we requested some of the ‘pilgrim’ brethren to give examples of these Berean Studies at the various places visited. However, even this did not serve the purpose, because the visits of the ‘pilgrims’ being few and more like those of the apostles of old, the friends begrudged the time of even one service—particularly since it requires several meetings of the Berean type to demonstrate its value and arouse the proper enthusiasm.

“Now as meeting all these requirements we are having prepared Outline Lessons for each month of this year, beginning with March. One peculiarity about these lessons is that they do not teach, but merely question, and refer the student to the Scriptures and the WATCH TOWER publications bearing thereon. Thus thought is stimulated and the Truth the more clearly impressed.

“The thirty questions of the March Lesson following might serve for thirty Sundays; but having so much good food we can afford to fare sumptuously and take several questions for each meeting. As to how many, would depend somewhat on the number in attendance, and how accustomed they are to analytical study, and how expert the leader of the meeting. It might be well for the classes to appoint several of the seemingly capable brethren to lead in turn, that the most able in this respect might be discerned. These will probably be found amongst those you have already chosen as Elders.”

The remainder of the introductory remarks contain suggestions as to how these meetings should be conducted, recommending the use of a single topic—thirty questions in this case—for a one-month period.

Three months later, on page 3572, Br. Russell notes the following:

“Word reaches us that the dear friends who have adopted these studies are growing more and more interested in them. They open up so thorough a study of the topics and give all opportunity to participate that they supply more ‘meat,’ more spiritual nourishment, than can generally be obtained in the same time.

“We recommend these studies for one of the meetings you usually have or for a new meeting if those now held are all too good to be displaced. Something of this kind is surely needed to refresh the mind along lines already partly understood.”

Evidently the different ecclesias were having practical difficulties in the conduct of these meetings, and Br. Russell appends some more suggestions concerning how they should be led.

In his next reference to these studies, on page 3769, he stresses the need to hold the discussion to the specific question being considered, so as to avoid the redundancy of material that will be covered in later questions.

He also emphasizes that the cited material be on hand at the meeting, appropriately marked for quick reference and also that “The leader should STUDY the entire lesson and each member of the class should STUDY the portion or question assigned to him or her.” (The capitalized emphasis are those of the article.) We might suggest further that the whole ecclesia also STUDY the entire lesson in order to prepare them for better participation in the class discussion.

On page 3800 he reports, after fifteen months of these studies appeared in the Towers, that “we are hearing good reports of blessings from the use of these Berean Studies in the Scriptures.”

Br. Russell then evidently responds to inquiries regarding their conduct suggesting that one leader be assigned for a three-month period, and that this leader be one who can well summarize the discussion for the benefit of the entire study group. After mentioning that the Allegheny church uses these studies on Sunday evening, he closes by reemphasizing that the cited material be marked for easy reference and be on hand at the meeting, and that ample time for discussion be allowed after the reading of the references and before the closing summary. He also stresses anew that the discussions be held firmly to the discussion under consideration.

This series of outlines were discontinued after October 1, 1906. The following month the original Towers (though not the Reprints) contained monthly questions on Tabernacle Shadows. By 1908, the Towers were including the questions for Volume 5 of Scripture Studies.

In recent years, it has come to our attention that many ecclesias have been using these questions for class study and therefore the publishers have decided to make them available as a separate work book. Since they are to serve as a tool for study, rather than for reading or research, it was decided to make them available bound, or unbound on punched 8½” × 11″ paper.

It is with the hope that these studies will prove profitable to many brethren that the publishers have undertaken this present printing.

CHICAGO BIBLE STUDENTS
Book Republishing Committee—2005