In the early history of Bible Students, a number of prominent brethren withdrew their support from the Watchtower Society after Judge Rutherford became the president of the Society, following the death of Pastor Russell. The first Bible Student Convention held independent of the Watchtower Society took place on July 26-29, 1918, in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

In November, a few months later, two to three hundred people attended the second convention in Providence, Rhode Island. It was at this meeting that the Pastoral Bible Institute (PBI) was formed to resume Pastor Russell’s pastoral work independent of the Society.

Magazine

December 1918 saw the first issue of The Herald