Igice cya 6

Igihe cyo kugeragezwa (1914-1918)

“Tuzirikane ko turi mu gihe cyo kugeragezwa. . . . Haramutse hagize impamvu ituma umuntu areka Umwami n’ukuri kwe, akareka no kwitangira umurimo w’Umwami, ubwo impamvu yaba yaramuteye gukorera Umwami si ugukunda Imana abivanye ku mutima, ahubwo haba hari indi mpamvu yabiteye. Ashobora kuba wenda yariringiraga ko igihe gisigaye ari gito cyane; akumva ko hasigaye gusa igihe gito cyo kwitangira uwo murimo. Niba hari ubyumva atyo rero, iki cyaba ari cyo gihe cyo kureka kumukorera.”

AYO magambo yasohotse mu Munara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 1 Ugushyingo 1914, yari aziye igihe rwose. Imyaka yo kuva mu wa 1914 kugeza mu wa 1918, yabaye ‘imyaka y’ibigeragezo’ ku Bigishwa ba Bibiliya. Ibigeragezo bimwe byaturutse imbere muri bo, ibindi bituruka hanze. Ibyo bigeragezo byose byibasiye Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, byagombaga kugaragaza niba mu by’ukuri ‘bakunda Imana mu mitima yabo.’ Ese bari gukomeza kubera indahemuka “Umwami n’ukuri kwe,” cyangwa bari kureka kumukorera?

Bari biteze ibintu bidasanzwe

Ku itariki ya 28 Kamena 1914, ni bwo igikomangoma François Ferdinand wategekaga Otirishiya na Hongiriya yapfuye arashwe. Urwo rupfu ni rwo rwabaye imbarutso y’Intambara Ikomeye (yaje kwitwa Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose). Urugamba rwatangiye muri Kanama 1914, igihe u Budage bwagabaga igitero ku Bubiligi n’u Bufaransa. Ku muhindo wo muri uwo mwaka, intambara yari imaze koreka imbaga.

Mu gitondo cyo kuwa gatanu tariki ya 2 Ukwakira 1914, umuvandimwe Russell acyinjira mu cyumba abagize umuryango wa Beteli bafatiragamo amafunguro i Brooklyn, ku cyicaro gikuru cy’umuryango wa Watch Tower, yaravuze ati “ibihe by’amahanga birarangiye, igihe cy’abami babo kirarangiye!” Abari aho barishimye bidasanzwe. Abenshi muri bo bari bamaze imyaka bategereje ibyari kuba mu wa 1914. Ariko se iherezo ry’ibihe by’amahanga ryari gutuma haba iki?

Mu gihe Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose yacaga ibintu, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bo bari biteze ko iyo ntambara yari kuzateza akaduruvayo ku isi hose, maze ubutegetsi bw’isi bwose bugahirima. Nanone hari ibindi bintu bari biteze byari kuba muri uwo mwaka. Alexander H. Macmillan wabatijwe muri Nzeri 1900, yaravuze ati “bamwe muri twe twari twizeye rwose ko twari guhita tujya mu ijuru mu cyumweru cya mbere cy’Ukwakira.”a Macmillan yibuka uko byagenze muri icyo gitondo Russell yavuzemo ko ibihe by’amahanga birangiye. Uwo muvandimwe yaravuze ati “twari twishimye bitavugwa kandi ntibyari kuntangaza iyo dutangira kuzamuka tujya mu ijuru icyo gihe Russel akimara kuvuga ayo magambo. Ariko nyine si ko byagenze.”

Mu kinyejana cya 19, abayoboke benshi ba William Miller hamwe n’andi matsinda atandukanye y’Abadivantisiti bacitse intege, kubera ko hari itariki bari biteze ko Umwami Yesu yari kuzagarukiraho ariko ntibisohore. Bite se ku Bigishwa ba Bibiliya bifatanyaga na Russell? Ese haba hari bamwe bari bashishikajwe gusa no guhita bajyanwa mu ijuru, aho gushishikazwa n’urukundo bakunda Imana n’icyifuzo bafite cyo gukora ibyo ishaka?

‘Ese muvandimwe Russell, wowe ntibyaguciye intege?’

Umuvandimwe Russell yateraga inkunga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya yo gukomeza kuba maso no gukomeza gukora umurimo w’Umwami, niyo iherezo bari biteze ritari kuza vuba nk’uko babitekerezaga.

Ukwezi k’Ukwakira 1914 kwarangiye C. T. Russell na bagenzi be bakiri ku isi. Ukwezi k’Ukwakira 1915 na ko kwarangiye bagihari. Ese Russell ntiyacitse intege? Umunara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 1 Gashyantare 1916, waranditse uti “ushobora kuba wibaza uti ‘none se muvandimwe Russell, wavuga iki ku gihe tuzambikirwa umubiri w’umwuka? Ese kuba ibintu twari twiteze bitarabaye nk’uko twari tubyiteze, wowe ntibyaguciye intege?’ Twagusubiza tuti ‘oya, ntibyaduciye intege. . . . Bavandi, ababona ibintu nk’uko Imana ibibona ntibacibwa intege n’uburyo ihitamo gukora ibintu. Ntitwifuzaga ko Imana ikora ibintu nk’uko dushaka. Bityo rero, tumaze kubona ko ibyo twizeraga ko byari kuba mu Kwakira 1914 bitari ukuri, twashimishijwe n’uko Umwami atahinduye umugambi we ngo akunde adushimishe. Kandi natwe ntitwifuzaga ko abigenza atyo. Icyo twifuza ni ugusobanukirwa imigambi ye n’ibyo ateganya kuzakora.”

Mu kwezi k’Ukwakira 1914, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ‘ntibagiye kubana n’Umwami’ mu ijuru. Icyakora Ibihe by’Amahanga byo byarangiye muri uwo mwaka. Mu by’ukuri, hari byinshi Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bagombaga gusobanukirwa ku birebana n’uwo mwaka wa 1914. None se hagati aho bari gukora iki? Bagombaga kubwiriza. Umunara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 1 Nzeri 1916 waranditse uti “twibwiraga ko umurimo w’isarura wo gukorakoranya itorero [ry’abasutsweho umwuka] wari kurangira mbere y’uko Ibihe by’Amahanga birangira; ariko ntibyari bihuje n’ibyo Bibiliya yigisha. . . . Ese kuba uwo murimo w’isarura ukomeje turabyicuza? Ntibikabeho! . . . Bavandimwe dukunda, icyo twifuza muri iki gihe ni ugushimira Imana cyane kubera ukuri guhebuje yatumenyesheje kandi ikaduha inshingano yo kukumenyesha abandi, kandi tukarushaho kugira umwete wo gufasha abandi kumenya uko kuri twamenye.”

Ese hari ibindi byinshi byagombaga gukorwa mu murimo w’isarura? Umuvandimwe Russell we ni ko yabibonaga. Ikiganiro yagiranye n’umuvandimwe Macmillan mu muhindo w’umwaka wa 1916, kirabigaragaza. Russell yatumyeho Macmillan ngo amusange aho yakoreraga kuri Beteli y’i Brooklyn, aramubwira ati “umurimo urimo uriyongera cyane, kandi uzakomeza kwiyongera kuko umurimo wo gutangaza ubutumwa bwiza bw’Ubwami ugomba gukorwa ku isi hose.” Russell yamaze amasaha atatu n’igice asobanurira Macmillan icyo Bibiliya ivuga ku murimo ukomeye wari ubategereje.

Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari bahuye n’ikigeragezo kitoroshye. Ariko Umunara w’Umurinzi wabateye inkunga ntibacika intege. Icyakora igihe cy’ibigeragezo cyari kitararangira.

“Biragenda bite?”

Ku itariki ya 16 Ukwakira 1916, umuvandimwe Russell n’umunyamabanga we Menta Sturgeon, bafashe urugendo berekeza mu duce two mu burengerazuba no mu majyepfo y’uburengerazuba bwa Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, bagiye gutanga disikuru zari ziteganyijwe. Icyakora icyo gihe Russell yari arwaye arembye. Baciye muri Kanada batangirira iyo gahunda mu mugi wa Detroit, muri leta ya Michigan. Nyuma yaho abo bagabo bombi bagiye muri leta ya Illinois, iya Kansas n’iya Texas, bagera muri leta ya Kaliforuniya, aho Russell yatangiye disikuru ye ya nyuma ku cyumweru tariki ya 29 Ukwakira, mu mugi wa Los Angeles. Nyuma y’iminsi ibiri, ku gicamunsi cyo ku wa kabiri tariki ya 31 Ukwakira, ni bwo Charles Taze Russell yapfuye afite imyaka 64, agwa muri gari ya moshi ahitwa i Pampa, muri leta ya Texas. Itangazo ry’urupfu rwe ryasohotse mu Munara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 15 Ugushyingo 1916.

Abagize umuryango wa Beteli babyifashemo bate, igihe bumvaga itangazo ry’uko umuvandimwe Russell yapfuye? A. H. Macmillan wajyaga asimbura Russell igihe yabaga adahari, yibuka uko byagenze igihe yasomeraga abagize umuryango wa Beteli ubutumwa bwo kubika urupfu rwe. Yaravuze ati “mu cyumba cyo kuriramo hahise humvikana amajwi y’agahinda. Bamwe baraturitse bararira. Nta muntu n’umwe wariye muri icyo gitondo. Bose bari bababaye cyane. Igihe cyo gufata amafunguro ya mu gitondo kirangiye, wabonaga abantu bari mu matsinda mato mato bajujura, bibaza bati ‘biragenda bite?’ Ni nk’aho nta kazi kakozwe uwo munsi. Ntitwari tuzi icyo tugomba gukora. Byaradutunguye cyane, nyamara Russell yari yarabaye nk’uduteguza. Ni iki twari gukora? Urupfu rw’umuvandimwe Russell rwaratubabaje cyane. Mu minsi mike yakurikiyeho, twibazaga cyane uko amaherezo byari kugenda. Mu myaka yose twamaranye na Russell, twabonaga ari we ‘wari ugize umuryango wa Watch Tower Society.’ Umurimo twakoraga wari ushingiye ku cyifuzo yari afite cyo gukora ibyo Imana ishaka.”

Nyuma y’imihango y’ihamba yabereye mu nzu yitwa The Temple i New York na Carnegie Hall mu mugi wa Pittsburgh, yashyinguwe mu mugi wa Allegheny mu kibanza cya Beteli, nk’uko yari yarabisabye. Ibyaranze ubuzima bwa Russell n’ibyo yifuzaga ko bikorwa nyuma y’urupfu rwe, byasohotse mu Munara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 1 Ukuboza 1916 no mu bitabo byacapwe nyuma by’umubumbe wa mbere w’igitabo cyasobanuraga Ibyanditswe (Études des Écritures).

None se ni iki cyari kigiye gukurikiraho? Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ntibiyumvishaga ko hari umuntu washoboraga gusimbura umuvandimwe Russell. Ese bari kuzakomeza gusobanukirwa Ibyanditswe, cyangwa ubumenyi bari bafite bwari guhagararira aho? Ese aho ntibari bagiye guhinduka idini rishingiye kuri Russell gusa? Russell we ubwe yari yaragaragaje neza ko yifuzaga ko umurimo ukomeza gukorwa. Ni yo mpamvu nyuma y’urupfu rwe hari ibibazo bikomeye abantu bibazaga: ni nde uzajya agena ibikwiriye kwandikwa mu Munara w’Umurinzi no mu bindi bitabo? Ni nde uzasimbura Russell akaba perezida w’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society?

Ubuyobozi buhinduka

Mbere y’uko umuvandimwe Russell apfa, yari yarasize yanditse ko hagombaga gushyirwaho Komite Ishinzwe Ubwanditsi igizwe n’abavandimwe batanu. Iyo komite ni yo yari kujya igena ibikwiriye kwandikwa mu Munara w’Umurinzi.b Nanone abagize inama y’ubuyobozi yagenzuraga ibikorwa by’umuryango wa Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, bashyizeho Komite Nshingwabikorwa yari igizwe n’abavandimwe batatu: A. I. Ritchie, W. E. Van Amburgh na J. F. Rutherford. Iyo komite ni yo yagenzuraga ibikorwa byose bya Watch Tower, ariko na yo ikagenzurwa n’abagize inama y’ubuyobozi.c None se ni nde wari kuba perezida mushya wa Watch Tower? Uwo mwanzuro wari kuzafatirwa mu nama ngarukamwaka y’abanyamuryango ba Watch Tower Society yari kuba nyuma y’amezi abiri, ku itariki ya 6 Mutarama 1917.

Ikintu cya mbere iyo Komite Nshingwabikorwa yihutiye gukora, ni ugufasha Abigishwa ba Bibiliya gukomeza kunga ubumwe, kandi ibatera inkunga yo gukomeza kugira umwete ntibacike intege. Umunara w’Umurinzi wakomeje gusohoka, urimo ingingo Russell yari yaranditse mbere y’uko apfa. Ariko uko itariki y’inama ngarukamwaka yagendaga yegereza, umwuka mubi watangiye gututumba. Hari bamwe batangiye gushakisha amajwi kugira ngo umukandida wabo azabe perezida. Abandi bo kubera icyubahiro kidasanzwe bahaga umuvandimwe Russell, basaga n’abashishikajwe cyane no kwigana imico ye, mbese basa nk’aho batangiye kumusenga. Icyakora, abenshi mu Bigishwa ba Bibiliya bari bashishikajwe no gukomeza gukora umurimo Russell yari yaritangiye.

Uko amatora yagendaga yegereza, ikibazo cyakomeje kuba cya kindi: ni nde uzasimbura Russell ku mwanya wa perezida? Umunara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 15 Mutarama 1917 watangaje ibyavuye mu nama ngarukamwaka, urandika uti “umuvandimwe Pierson yavuze amagambo yihariye agaragaza agaciro yahaga umuvandimwe Russell n’urukundo yamukundaga. Yongeyeho ko abavandimwe bo mu gihugu hose bamwoherereje inyandiko zimuhesha uburenganzira bwo gutora mu izina ryabo umuvandimwe J. F. Rutherford ngo abe ari we uba perezida, kandi avuga ko na we yemera icyo cyifuzo yagejejweho.” Izina rya Rutherford rimaze gutangwaho umukandida kandi rikemerwa, nta wundi wigeze yiyamamariza uwo mwanya. Icyo gihe “umunyamabanga na we yaratoye nk’uko bisabwa n’amategeko, maze abari muri iyo nama bose bemeza ko umuvandimwe Rutherford ari we utorewe kuba perezida.”

None se ko amatora yari amaze kuba, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bakiriye bate ibyavuye muri ayo matora? Umunara w’Umurinzi wakomeje ugira uti “abavandimwe bo hirya no hino barasenze cyane basaba ko Umwami yabayobora kandi akayobora ayo matora. Ayo matora arangiye, buri wese mu bari bahari yari anyuzwe kandi yishimiye ibyavuyemo, kuko bemeraga ko Umwami ari we wayoboye amatora kandi ko yashubije amasengesho yabo. Abari aho bose bari bunze ubumwe.”

Icyakora ubwo ‘bumwe’ ntibwamaze kabiri. Benshi bari bishimiye perezida mushya, ariko si bose.

Perezida mushya akomeza imirimo

Umuvandimwe Rutherford yari yariyemeje kudahindura imikorere y’umuryango w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, ahubwo yashakaga gukomeza kugera ikirenge mu cya Russell. Abasuraga amatsinda y’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari bahagarariye Watch Tower Society bariyongereye bava kuri 69 bagera kuri 93. Umurimo wo gutanga inkuru z’Ubwami, rimwe na rimwe wakorwaga ku cyumweru imbere y’insengero kandi ugakorwa buri gihe ku nzu n’inzu, warushijeho gutera imbere.

“Umurimo wo kuragira umukumbi” wari waratangiye mbere y’urupfu rwa Russell, wongewemo imbaraga. Uwo wari umurimo wo kwita ku bantu bashimishijwe, nk’uko Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri iki gihe basubira gusura abashimishijwe. Kugira ngo umurimo wo kubwiriza urusheho gutera imbere, perezida mushya wa Watch Tower Society yashyize imbaraga mu murimo w’abapayiniya (icyo gihe bitwaga abakoruporuteri). Umubare w’abapayiniya wariyongereye bava kuri 372 bagera kuri 461.

Umunara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 15 Ukuboza 1917 waranditse uti “umwaka wa 1917 watangiye udatanga icyizere.” Nyuma y’urupfu rwa C. T. Russell wasangaga abantu bahangayitse, bafite impungenge ndetse bamwe bafite ubwoba. Icyakora raporo yasohotse mu mpera z’uwo mwaka yabateye inkunga, kuko yagaragaje ko umurimo wo kubwiriza wateye imbere. Byaragaragaraga ko umurimo wagendaga neza kandi ukaguka. Ese ibyo bishatse kuvuga ko Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari batsinze ikigeragezo cy’urupfu rwa C. T. Russell?

Bagerageza kwigarurira ubuyobozi

Abantu bose si ko bemeraga perezida mushya. C. T. Russell yari atandukanye cyane na J. F. Rutherford. Bari bafite imico itandukanye kandi bari barakuriye mu mimerere itandukanye. Kwiyumvisha iryo tandukaniro hari abo byagoye. Bumvaga ko nta muntu n’umwe wasimbura umuvandimwe Russell.

Hari ndetse bamwe, cyane cyane ku cyicaro gikuru, bangaga umuvandimwe Rutherford. Kuba umurimo warateraga imbere kandi akaba yarakoraga uko ashoboye ngo akurikize gahunda zashyizweho n’umuvandimwe Russell, nta cyo byari bibabwiye. Ahubwo nyuma y’igihe gito bakajije umurego. Bane mu bari bagize inama y’ubuyobozi ya Watch Tower Society bageze n’aho bashaka kwambura Rutherford ubuyobozi. Ibyo byaje kugera aho rukomeye mu mpeshyi yo mu mwaka wa 1917, igihe hasohokaga umubumbe wa karindwi w’ibitabo byasobanuraga Ibyanditswe (Le mystère accompli).

Umuvandimwe Russell yapfuye atarangije kwandika uwo mubumbe wa karindwi, nubwo yabyifuzaga. Nyuma y’urupfu rwe, Komite Nshingwabikorwa ya Watch Tower Society yashyizeho abavandimwe babiri, ari bo Clayton J. Woodworth na George H. Fisher, kugira ngo barangize kwandika icyo gitabo cyasobanuraga Ibyahishuwe, Indirimbo ya Salomo n’igitabo cya Ezekiyeli. Cyari gishingiye ku bisobanuro umuvandimwe Russell yatanze kuri ibyo bitabo byo muri Bibiliya, hongerwamo n’ibindi bisobanuro. Inyandiko yuzuye yandikishijwe intoki yemejwe n’abari bahagarariye Watch Tower Society, maze iracapwa ishyikirizwa abagize umuryango wa Beteli kuwa kabiri tariki ya 17 Nyakanga 1917. Icyo gihe hatanzwe n’itangazo ridasanzwe rivuga ko ba bavandimwe bane barwanyaga umuvandimwe Rutherford bari mu bagize inama y’ubuyobozi bakuweho, kandi ko umuvandimwe Rutherford yashyizeho abandi bane bo kubasimbura. Abantu babyakiriye bate?

Babaye nk’abakubiswe n’inkuba! Ba bavandimwe bane bakuwe mu myanya yabo bahise bahaguruka, bamara amasaha atanu bigaragambya imbere y’abagize umuryango wa Beteli, banenga imikorere y’ubuyobozi bwa Watch Tower Society. Abatari bake mu bagize umuryango wa Beteli bashyigikiye abari bigometse. Uko kwigomeka kwamaze ibyumweru runaka, ari na ko abo bari bigometse bavugaga ko bashaka “guhirika” icyo bo bitaga “ubuyobozi bw’igitugu.” Icyakora, umuvandimwe Rutherford yari afite impamvu zifatika zatumye afata uwo mwanzuro. Kubera iki?

Nubwo abo bavandimwe bakuwe mu myanya yabo bari barashyizweho n’umuvandimwe Russell, ntibari baremejwe n’amatora akorwa n’abanyamuryango ba Watch Tower Society mu nama yabo ngarukamwaka. Ubwo mu rwego rw’amategeko, abo bane ntibari bujuje ibisabwa kugira ngo babe mu bagize inama y’ubuyobozi. Rutherford yari abizi ariko ntiyari yarabivuze. Kubera iki? Ntiyashakaga kugaragaza ko aje guhindura ibyo umuvandimwe Russell yasize akoze. Icyakora bimaze kugaragara ko abo bantu bakomeje kwigomeka ku buyobozi, Rutherford ashingiye ku bubasha yaheshwaga no kuba yari perezida, yabasimbuje abandi bagombaga kwemezwa n’inama ngarukamwaka yari kuba muri Mutarama 1918.

Ku itariki ya 8 Kanama, abo bavandimwe bigometse hamwe n’abari babashyigikiye birukanywe kuri Beteli kubera akaduruvayo batezaga. Nyuma yaho, batangiye gukwirakwiza ibitekerezo byabo byo kwigomeka, batanga za disikuru kandi boherereza abantu amabaruwa muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, muri Kanada no mu Burayi. Ibyo byatumye mu mpeshyi yo mu mwaka wa 1917, amatorero atari make y’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya acikamo ibice bibiri. Kimwe cyari kigizwe n’abakomeje kubera indahemuka ubuyobozi bwa Watch Tower Society, ikindi kigizwe n’abashutswe n’akarimi karyoshye ka ba bandi bigometse.

Ariko se ba bavandimwe bakuwe mu myanya yabo, ntibari kujya mu matwi abari gutumirwa mu nama ngarukamwaka, kugira ngo bigarurire ubuyobozi bw’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society? Kubera ko Rutherford yatekereje ko bishoboka, yabonye ko byaba byiza abajije icyo amatorero yose abitekerezaho. Ibyo byatanze iki? Nk’uko byagaragajwe na raporo yasohotse mu Munara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 15 Ukuboza 1917, abagombaga gutora bagaragaje ko bashyigikiye J. F. Rutherford hamwe n’abo bakoranaga mu nama y’ubuyobozi. Ibyo kandi babigaragarije mu nama ngarukamwaka.d Abari bigometse basigaye baririra mu myotsi.

None se byagendekeye bite ba bandi bigometse hamwe n’ababashyigikiye? Nyuma y’inama ngarukamwaka yabaye muri Mutarama 1918, abo bantu bigometse na bo baretse gukorana n’umuryango w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, bahitamo no kuzajya bizihiza Urwibutso ukwabo, bahereye ku itariki ya 26 Werurwe 1918. Ubwo bumwe bwabo ntibwateye kabiri kuko batatinze gucikamo ibice. Umubare wabo wakomeje kugenda ugabanuka, baracogora, bagera n’aho bazimangatana burundu.

Mu by’ukuri nyuma y’urupfu rw’umuvandimwe Russell, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bahanganye n’ikigeragezo gikaze cy’ubudahemuka. Tarissa P. Gott wabatijwe mu mwaka wa 1915, yaravuze ati “abenshi mu bavandimwe twabonaga bakomeye mu buryo bw’umwuka, baritangiye gukorera Umwami, batangiye gusubira inyuma. . . . Nubwo twabonaga ari ibintu bidakwiriye, byarabaye kandi byaratubabaje. Ariko naratekereje nti ‘ese uyu muryango si wo Yehova yakoresheje kugira ngo adukure mu bubata bw’amadini y’ibinyoma? Ese ntitwasogongeye tukamenya ko agira neza? None se tugiye twajya he? Ese aho ntitwaba dukurikiye umuntu runaka?’ Kubera ko nta mpamvu n’imwe twabonye yo gukurikira abahakanyi, twakomeje gukorana n’uwo muryango.”—Yoh 6:66-69; Heb 6:4-6.

Bamwe mu bari barigometse, barihannye maze bongera kwifatanya n’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Abandi benshi, urugero nka mushiki wacu Gott, bakomeje gukorana n’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society ndetse n’umuvandimwe Rutherford. Kubera ko bamaze imyaka myinshi bahurira mu materaniro no mu makoraniro, byatumye bakomeza kurangwa n’urukundo kandi bunga ubumwe. Ntibigeze bemera ko hagira icyabatandukanya.—Kolo 3:14.

Umwaka wa 1918 wagiye kugera Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bamaze gutsinda ikigeragezo cyaturutse hagati muri bo. Ariko se bari no gutsinda ibigeragezo noneho biturutse hanze?

Bagabwaho ibitero bikaze

Mu mpera z’umwaka wa 1917 kugera mu ntangiriro z’uwa 1918, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bagize ishyaka ryinshi batanga igitabo gishya (Le mystère accompli). Mu mpera z’umwaka wa 1917, amacapiro yari amaze gucapa ibitabo 850.000. Umunara w’Umurinzi wo ku itariki ya 15 Ukuboza 1917 waranditse uti “uretse Bibiliya, nta kindi gitabo kizwi cyakwirakwijwe cyane kandi mu gihe gito nk’uwo Mubumbe wa Karindwi.”

Icyakora abantu bose ntibishimiye icyo gitabo. Cyari kirimo amagambo adaca ku ruhande yibasiraga abayobozi b’amadini yiyita aya gikristo. Ibyo byatumye abayobozi b’amadini basaba leta guhagarika ibitabo by’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Kubera ibitotezo batezwaga n’abayobozi b’amadini, mu mwaka wa 1918, icyo gitabo gishya (Le mystère accompli) cyabuzanyijwe muri Kanada. Nanone ibitotezo byibasiraga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, byarushijeho gukaza umurego.

Ku itariki ya 15 Werurwe 1918, umuryango wa Watch Tower Society wasohoye Inkuru y’Ubwami No 1 kugira ngo ushyire ahagaragara ibyo bitotezo byaterwaga n’abayobozi b’amadini. Yarimo ubuhe butumwa? Yarimo ingingo igira iti “Kutihanganirana kw’amadini: Abigishwa ba Pasiteri Russell baratotezwa bazira kubwira abantu ukuri.” Munsi y’umutwe uvuga ngo “Ibyo Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bakorerwa ni nk’ibyakorwaga mu ‘bihe by’icuraburindi,’” hasobanuwe uburyo batotezwaga muri Kanada n’uko babuzwaga kubwiriza. Ni ba nde bari inyuma y’ibyo bitotezo? Iyo Nkuru y’Ubwami ntiyatinye gutunga agatoki abayobozi b’amadini, ibita “agatsiko k’abantu bakomeje kwinangira bakora uko bashoboye bakabuza abantu gusobanukirwa Bibiliya, kandi bakababuza kumva inyigisho zo muri Bibiliya, uretse izibaturutseho gusa.”e Mbega ubutumwa bukaze!

Abayobozi b’amadini babyakiriye bate? Bari baratangiye gutoteza umuryango wa Watch Tower. Ariko icyo gihe noneho bwo bari barubiye! Mu itumba ryo mu mwaka wa 1918, ibitotezo bikaze byibasiye Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bo muri Amerika ya ruguru n’abo mu Burayi. Ibitotezo by’abayobozi b’amadini byageze ku ntego ku itariki ya 7 Gicurasi 1918, ubwo Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika zasohoraga manda zo gufata J. F. Rutherford na bagenzi be. Hagati mu wa 1918, Rutherford n’abandi bavandimwe barindwi bakoranaga, bafungiwe muri gereza yo mu mugi wa Atlanta, muri leta ya Jeworujiya.

None se ko Rutherford na bagenzi be bari bafunzwe, byari kugenda bite ku birebana n’imirimo yakorerwaga ku cyicaro gikuru?

Ntibyabujije umurimo gukomeza

I Brooklyn, hashyizweho Komite Nshingwabikorwa kugira ngo izibe icyuho cy’abo bavandimwe. Icyo abavandimwe bashyizweho bari bashyize imbere, kwari ugukomeza gusohora Umunara w’Umurinzi. Aho Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari hose, bari bakeneye guterwa inkunga mu buryo bw’umwuka. Igishimishije, ni uko muri icyo gihe cyose ibitotezo byamaze, nta nomero n’imwe y’Umunara w’Umurinzi yigeze isiba gusohoka.f

Byari byifashe bite ku cyicaro gikuru? Umuvandimwe Thomas (Bud) Sullivan waje kujya mu Nteko Nyobozi, yaravuze ati “nagiye gusura Beteli y’i Brooklyn mu mpera z’impeshyi yo mu mwaka wa 1918, igihe abavandimwe bari bafunzwe. Abavandimwe bari bahagarariye umurimo kuri Beteli, wabonaga nta bwoba bafite kandi bataciwe intege n’ibyabaye. Ahubwo bari bafite icyizere kandi biringiye ko Yehova yari gutuma abagaragu be batsinda. Nashimishijwe no kwifatanya ku mafunguro yo kuwa mbere mu gitondo, no kumva raporo zatanzwe n’abavandimwe bari basuye amatorero mu mpera z’icyumweru. Twarushijeho gusobanukirwa neza uko ibintu byifashe. Abavandimwe bari bafite icyizere, biringiye ko Yehova azayobora umurimo bakora.”

Icyakora hari ibindi bibazo bari bahanganye na byo. Icyo gihe Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose yacaga ibintu. Abo bavandimwe baje kubura impapuro na nyiramugengeri yo gucana, kandi byari mu byo bakeneraga cyane mu kazi ku cyicaro gikuru. Kubera ko icyo gihe umwuka wo gukunda igihugu wari wogeye cyane, abantu bangaga cyane Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, bakabafata nk’abagambanyi. Muri iyo mimerere igoye cyane, gukomeza gukorera i Brooklyn byasaga n’ibidashoboka. Ibyo byatumye Komite Nshingwabikorwa, imaze kubiganiraho n’abandi bavandimwe, igurisha aho Beteli y’i Brooklyn yakoreraga (Ihema ry’ibonaniro ry’i Brooklyn), nuko Beteli iba irafunzwe. Ku itariki ya 26 Kanama 1918, Beteli yimukiye aho yahoze mu mugi wa Pittsburgh, ikorera mu nzu yarimo ibyumba by’ibiro (hagati ya Federal street na Reliance street).

Icyakora abavandimwe ntibacitse intege. Mushiki wacu Martha Meredith asobanura uko byari bimeze agira ati “twe twari i Pittsburgh twishyize hamwe, maze twiyemeza gukomeza umurimo kugeza igihe abavandimwe bacu bari kuzavira muri gereza. Icyo gihe Beteli y’i Brooklyn yimuriwe i Pittsburgh, kandi wasangaga abavandimwe bahugiye mu murimo wo kwandika no gucapa ingingo zo mu Munara w’Umurinzi. Iyo babaga barangije, twahinaga amagazeti tukayohereza.”

Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bahanganye n’ibigeragezo bikaze kuva Ibihe by’Amahanga byarangira ku muhindo wo mu mwaka wa 1914. Ese bari gukomeza gutsinda ibigeragezo? Ese koko bakundaga Imana babikuye ku mutima? Ese bari gukomeza kubera indahemuka “Umwami n’Ukuri kwe” nk’uko Russell yabivuze, cyangwa bari kubireka?

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 68]

Rutherford yasabye abigometse kuva kuri Beteli

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 62]

‘Bamwe muri twe twaribeshyaga’

Uko ukwezi k’Ukwakira 1914 kwagendaga kwegereza, bamwe mu Bigishwa ba Bibiliya bari biteze ko Ibihe by’Amahanga nibirangira, Abakristo basutsweho umwuka bari guhita bahabwa ingororano yabo mu ijuru. Ibyo bigaragazwa n’ibyabaye mu ikoraniro ry’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, ryabereye mu mugi wa Saratoga Springs, muri leta ya New York, ku itariki ya 27 kugeza ku ya 30 Nzeri 1914. A. H. Macmillan, icyo gihe wari umaze imyaka 14 abatijwe, yatanze disikuru kuwa gatatu tariki ya 30 Nzeri. Yatangiye disikuru avuga ati “birashoboka ko iyi ari yo disikuru ya nyuma ntanze kubera ko turi hafi kwigira iwacu [mu ijuru].”

Icyakora nyuma y’iminsi ibiri (kuwa gatanu tariki ya 2 Ukwakira), Macmillan yagarutse i Brooklyn, aho abari bitabiriye ikoraniro bagombaga kongera guhurira, nuko batangira kumuvugiraho batera urwenya. Icyo gihe C. T. Russell yari yicaye ku meza, maze atanga itangazo rigira riti “hari ibigiye guhinduka kuri gahunda yo ku cyumweru [tariki ya 4 Ukwakira]. Ku cyumweru saa yine n’igice za mu gitondo, umuvandimwe Macmillan ni we uzatanga disikuru.” Abantu babyakiriye bate? Nyuma yaho Macmillan yaranditse ati “abari aho bose bakubise igitwenge, kuko bibukaga ya magambo nari navuze ku wa gatatu turi i Saratoga Springs nti ‘iyi ni yo disikuru ya nyuma ntanze’!”

Macmillan yakomeje agira ati “ubwo rero nagombaga gutegura icyo nzavuga. Nasomye muri Zaburi ya 74:9 hagira hati ‘amabendera yacu ntitwayabonye; nta muhanuzi ukiriho, kandi nta n’umwe muri twe uzi igihe bizamara.’ Ubwo noneho ibintu byari byahindutse. Muri iyo disikuru nagerageje kwereka abateze amatwi ko bishoboka ko bamwe muri twe twibeshyaga dutekereza ko twari guhita tujya mu ijuru ako kanya, kandi nsobanura ko tugomba guhugira mu murimo w’Umwami kugeza igihe we ubwe azagenera igihe abagaragu be yemera bazajyanwa iwabo mu ijuru.”

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji 67]

J. F. Rutherford yari muntu ki?

Joseph Franklin Rutherford yavukiye ku isambu y’iwabo ahitwa Morgan County, muri leta ya Missouri, muri Amerika, ku itariki ya 8 Ugushyingo 1869; ababyeyi be bari Ababatisita. Afite imyaka 16, se yamwemereye kwiga amashuri makuru, ariko amusaba kuzajya yiyishyurira kandi agahemba umukozi wari kumusimbura ku mirimo yakoraga mu isambu yabo. Kubera ko Rutherford yari azi kwiyemeza nubwo yari muto, yagujije incuti ye amafaranga, nuko ajya kwiga mu mashuri makuru kandi abifatanya no kwiga ibijyanye n’amategeko.

Rutherford arangije kwiga, yamaze imyaka ibiri yimenyereza akazi mu biro by’umucamanza E. L. Edwards. Afite imyaka 20, yabaye umukarani w’inkiko zo mu karere ka cumi na kane k’inkiko zo muri leta ya Missouri. Ku itariki ya 5 Gicurasi 1892 yahawe icyemezo kimwemerera kuba umucamanza muri leta ya Missouri. Yamaze indi myaka ine ari umushinjacyaha mu rukiko rwo mu mugi wa Boonville, muri leta ya Missouri. Nyuma yaho, hari igihe yigeze kuba umucamanza wihariye mu karere ka munani k’inkiko zo muri leta ya Missouri. Ni yo mpamvu yaje kwitwa “Umucamanza” Rutherford.

Birashishikaje kumenya ko kugira ngo Rutherford abone amafaranga y’ishuri, yajyaga ku nzu n’inzu agurisha ibitabo by’inkoranyamagambo. Ako kazi ntikari koroshye kuko hari ababyangaga. Hari n’igihe yari apfuye igihe yagwaga mu mugezi wahindutse barafu, yagiye kugurisha ibitabo ku masambu yo mu biturage. Yiyemeje ko namara kuba umwavoka, hakagira umuntu winjira mu biro bye agurisha ibitabo, yari kubigura. Kandi koko ni ko byagenze, kuko yemeye imibumbe itatu y’ibitabo byasobanuraga Ibyanditswe (“L’Aurore du millenium”) yahawe n’abapayiniya babiri baje mu biro bye mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 1894. Nyuma y’ibyumweru runaka, yasomye ibyo bitabo maze ahita yandikira Watch Tower Society ibaruwa, ayibwira ati “jye n’umugore wanjye twasomye ibi bitabo dushishikaye cyane, kandi tubona ko ari impano twohererejwe n’Imana. Ni umugisha twagize kuba twarabibonye.” Joseph F. Rutherford yabatijwe mu wa 1906, maze nyuma y’umwaka umwe aba umujyanama mu by’amategeko w’umuryango wa Watch Tower.

[Agasanduku/Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 69]

“Nta bandi bantu ku isi bumva bemerwa n’Imana”

Ku itariki ya 21 Kamena 1918, J. F. Rutherford na bagenzi be bahamijwe icyaha cy’ubugambanyi barengana, maze bakatirwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20. Ese bumvise bameze bate? Mu ibaruwa (iri hasi aha) Rutherford yandikiye muri gereza ya Raymond Street iri i Brooklyn, muri leta ya New York, ku itariki ya 22-23 Kamena, yaravuze ati “birashoboka ko nta bandi bantu ku isi bumva bemerwa n’Imana kandi bishimye, nk’abavandimwe barindwi ubu bafungiye muri gereza. Bazi neza ko ari abere batigeze bagambirira ikibi, kandi bishimira kubabarana na Kristo bazira ko bamukorera mu budahemuka.”

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 70]

Bibasiwe n’ibitotezo by’abayobozi b’amadini

Hagati mu mwaka wa 1918, J. F. Rutherford na bagenzi be barindwi barafunzwe bazira ibitotezo byaturutse ku bayobozi b’amadini. Ariko abo umunani si bo bonyine bibasiwe n’ibyo bitotezo. Imyaka mike mbere yaho, C. T. Russell yari yaribasiwe n’abayobozi b’amadini ndetse n’itangazamakuru. Icyo gihe Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ni bo bari batahiwe. Igazeti ubu yitwa “Nimukanguke!” (“L’Age d’or”) yo ku itariki ya 29 Nzeri 1920, yasohotsemo raporo isobanura mu buryo burambuye amarorerwa yakorerwaga abavandimwe bo muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika. Ibyari bikubiye muri iyo raporo byari nk’ibyakorwaga n’Urukiko rwa Kiliziya mu binyejana bya kera.g Dore zimwe mu nkuru zari zirimo:

“Ku itariki ya 22 Mata 1918, ahitwa i Wynnewood, muri leta ya Oklahoma, Claud Watson babanje kumufunga nyuma bamushyikiriza agatsiko kagizwe n’abanyedini, abacuruzi n’abandi, baramukubita bamusiga ari intere; bategetse umwirabura kumukubita ibiboko, yakongera kuzanzamuka akongera akamukubita. Hanyuma bafashe godoro bayimumenaho, bayimusiga ku mutwe hose no mu musatsi, barangije bamumenaho amababa.”

“Ku itariki ya 29 Mata 1918 ahitwa i Walnut Ridge, muri leta ya Arkansas, W. B. Duncan, ufite imyaka 61, Edward French, Charles Franke, Griffin n’umugore witwa D. Van Hoesen barafunzwe. Hari agatsiko k’abantu bamennye urugi rwa kasho bari bafungiwemo, babasohoramo babatuka mu mvugo nyandagazi kandi iteye ishozi, babakubita ibiboko, babasukaho godoro n’amababa, maze babirukana mu mugi. Duncan yategetswe kugenda ibirometero 42 n’amaguru kandi yarokotse ku kaburembe. Ibyo Griffin yakorewe byatumye ahuma, ndetse nyuma y’amezi make akurizamo no gupfa.”

“Ku itariki ya 30 Mata 1918, . . . ahitwa i Minerva, muri leta ya Ohio, S. H. Griffin yabanje gufungwa hanyuma ashyikirizwa agatsiko k’abantu bari barubiye. Nyuma yaho minisitiri yamumaranye iminota cumi n’itanu amutuka, nyuma akubitwa inkoni nyinshi, baramutuka, bamutera imigeri, baramuribata. Bamukangishije kumunyonga no kumuroha mu mazi, bamwirukana mu mugi. Bamuciriye amacandwe, bakamutega akitura hasi, bakamujomba umutaka, bamuhatira kugenda urugendo rw’ibirometero hafi 8 n’amaguru kugera i Malvern. Bongeye kumufata bamufungira i Carrollton kugira ngo adakomeza guhohoterwa. Nyuma yaje gusubizwa iwabo n’abayobozi b’inyangamugayo kandi b’intwari basuzumye ibitabo yatangaga, maze bagasubiramo kenshi bati ‘twabonye uyu mugabo ari umwere.’”

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 64]

Charles Taze Russell yapfuye ku itariki ya 31 Ukwakira 1916, afite imyaka 64, ari muri gari ya moshi i Pampa, muri leta ya Texas; ibinyamakuru byinshi byagize icyo bivuga ku mihango ye y’ihamba

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 66]

J. F. Rutherford yari umugabo w’ibigango, ufite uburebure bwa metero 1,88 n’ibiro 102

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 69]

Gereza y’ahitwa Raymond Street i Brooklyn, muri leta ya New York, aho Rutherford na bagenzi be bafungiwe mu gihe cy’iminsi irindwi bakimara gukatirwa

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 71]

Thomas (Bud) Sullivan yasuye icyicaro gikuru mu wa 1918, kandi yaje kuba umwe mu bari bagize Inteko Nyobozi y’Abahamya ba Yehova