Later just called "The Witness".
[Founded by Ross in 1870 as The Northern Evangelistic Intelligencer, the magazine changed its name to The Northern Intelligencer in 1873, later The Northern Witness in 1875, and after Ross passed the editorship to J. R. Caldwell in 1876, it became The Witness in 1887 (an overdue reflection of its broadening influence), with the editorship passing on to Henry Pickering in 1914 at a monthly circulation of 16,000. It was long regarded as the principal Brethren review worldwide, and saw its monthly circulation climb to 30,000 by 1941 at the end of Pickering’s editorship.] From http://impact59.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/donald-ross-soteriological-retrospective-dec09.pdf
The numbering is curious, as 20 volumes of the original series were issued, before in 1891 commencing the 'New Series'. After 21 volumes of the N.S., in 1912 began the 'Enlarged Series'. This only lasted two years though, before in 1914 switching back to the original numbering and that year thus being volume 44!
The Witness merged with The Harvester in 1980.
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in the introduction to the 1977 volume, the then editor G.C.D. Howley wrote
I feel it right to inform our readers that this will be the final year of my editorship of The Witness. For some time I had believed the time was coming near when I should resign this responsibility, my decision being reached last summer, the publishers being informed last August. My resignation will take effect from the end of 1977.
Since my illness and the loss of my leg, the task of seeing the magazine through has become more difficult, much detailed work being essential all the time. Having reached my decision, I am happy to believe this to be right in the sight of God.
My introduction to the editorship arose from my close friendship with the late Mr. J. B. Watson, for whom I undertook many tasks to help him, increasingly as his health declined. In November 1952, while in Sydney, Australia, I received a cable from the publishers inviting me to become Associate Editor with Mr. Watson, and with a request that I reply by return. In such circumstances, I could do no other than agree to serve in this capacity for the sake of my friendship with the editor, and to regard this as a call from God to the task. Immediately on our return home in June 1954, I began at once to share in the work, visiting Mr. Watson twice every week and helping him to carry the burden of editorship until his death in August 1955.
At the beginning of 1871, The Northern Evangelistic Intelligencer was published in Aberdeen, with Mr. Donald Ross as its editor. In 1874 Mr. Ross moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, and in 1876 he left this country to engage in evangelistic work in America. Mr. J. R. Caldwell succeeded him as editor, the name of the magazine being changed to The Northern Witness, and in 1887 the name was changed to The Witness. Mr. Caldwell continued as editor until increasing years caused him to resign in July 1914, when Mr. Henry Pickering became editor, though for some time beforehand he had given help to Mr. Caldwell editorially. Mr. Pickering died in January 1941, when Mr. Watson succeeded him in this responsibility, and continued until his death in 1955. Thus the editorship was held by Mr. Ross for about six years; by Mr. Caldwell for nearly thirty-eight years; by Mr. Pickering for about twenty-six years; while by the end of this year I shall have had editorial responsibility for about twenty-five years.
I am happy to commend to you all my dear friend and colleague Mr. John Polkinghorne, Dip.Th., who has been Associate Editor during the past three years, and who will take over the full editorship from January 1978. Though professionally a Civil Servant with the Customs and Excise, he has dedicated himself for many years to the ministry of the Word of God, his gifts as expositor and teacher being evident to all who read his articles in this magazine. We will work closely together during this year, and after my resignation I have been requested to continue my monthly Touchstone articles, which I look forward to doing.
James, Below is the information you requested on your Great Grandfather:
With Christ.
James R. Hood, Kilmarnock, [1st February 1932] through a chill caught in the floods which developed into flu. Saved in 1897 under the preaching of John Harper, with whom he kept up a close friendship until he was called Home by the sinking of the Titanic. Associated with the Bank Assembly, New Cumnock (which he was instrumental in starting), where he was superintendent of the Sunday School and leader of a large Bible Class of young men and women. Removed to Kilmarnock in 1917, where he met with believers in Wellington Hall, and later Masonic Hall. Had a rare gift for open-air preaching, which he constantly engaged in. Took keen interest in a practical way in missionary work, and was particularly interested in work among the Jews. Frequently gave lantern lectures on such subjects as "The Covenanters" and "Hymns and Hymn Writers." Well known and well beloved. "The Witness" 1932
FAREWELL.
The pedigree of The Witness goes back to 1871, when Mr. D. Ross launched The Northern Evangelistic lntelligencer. In 1875, the name changed to The Northern Witness and in the following year Mr. J. R. Caldwell became the editor. He changed the name to The Witness In 1887 and continued as editor until 1914. Mr. Henry Pickering took over the task, then to be succeeded in 1941 by Mr. J. B. Watson, who was followed in 1955 by Mr. G. C. D. Howley. When Mr. Howley retired in 1978, the present editor assumed the mantle. Incidentally, the price was one (old) penny per copy until 1917, when it went up to 2d., which was the price it held until after the last war. The present price of 30p is thus 72 times the original one! Another sidelight is that the editorial survey was for many years headed 'The Witness Watchtower'—a title which would cause some confusion now.
So. After 110 years of service to the people of God, The Witness fades away. What the Kaiser and Hitler and the big depression of the thirties failed to do, the present inflation has done. Since this note is more of the nature of a funeral address than an inquest, we will not enquire too closely into causes. But the figures suggest one thing worth saying: if everyone who read The Witness had bought their copy, it might have remained financially viable. In law, of course. a person who buys a magazine may give or lend ii to anyone he chooses. But morally the position Is different. Maybe as we discuss the future, this is a point to be borne in mind.
Happily, there is to be a future. From January 1981, The Harvester, published by Paternoster Press and probably known to most of our readers, will incorporate The Witness. The editor is a good friend of mine, Mr. F. Roy Coad. He has asked me to take responsibility for a section of biblical articles. In it, Prof. F. F. Bruce's expositions of John's Gospel will continue and in themselves, will justify the subscription. Mr. H. L. Ellison's series 'How and Why' is now complete, but he has already commenced writing on 'Sidelights from the Old Testament' in The Harvester and will continue to do so. Papers are in hand from several contributors, among them Dr. David Brady and Dr. David J. Clark, so that the fare promises to be rich.
Inevitably, some things have to fall by the wayside. We have to say 'Goodbye' to our veteran contributor, Dr. T. Wilkinson Riddle, with thanks for his many entertaining and searching papers. Dr. J. Keir Howard's 'Question and Answer' feature will cease, but we hope he will appear in another capacity. 'Mainly for Women' as such is not to continue, but again, we expect to see something from Mrs. Barbara Baigent in the months ahead. Space forbids to mention all the material we have on hand which we may never now be able to print. In apologizing to writers, we feel sure that they will appreciate that this thing is beyond our control.
It remains for me to express my thanks to the various people who have helped me in my short tenure of office. Let us start with all the authors who have sent me scripts, all the reviewers who have read and commented on books, everyone who has written letters, all too few of which I have been able to publish, and the folk who have sent me news of people and events. Our thanks are due further to the printers and to the staff of the publishers for their unfailing courtesy and patience. To Messrs. Pickering and Inglis, we owe the additional debt of their keeping The Witness going, as a service to Christian people, long after it had ceased to be profitable. Nor least, must we forget the readers who have been loyal through thick and thin. Above all, we thank God for the opportunity to serve Him in this way and for His guidance and encouragement throughout. The editorial task is a lonely one at times and the buck always stops at your desk, but the Lord's presence has been very real.
We hope that our readers will at least give the new-look Harvester a chance. Its ethos differs from The Witness, inevitably, but it has much to, offer. It has its own traditions, built up over almost fifty years. Among what I have always regarded as its special strengths are its News Pages, which give information on many Christian workers; and its provision for reader participation—one of the features introduced by Mr. Coad when he took over from Dr. Tatford. Not only is there a Readers' Forum but also a monthly question from Prof. Bruce for anyone to answer. In addition, Peter Cousins regularly answers questions with his particular aplomb. If we may be pardoned for thinking that there is no substitute for The Witness, we would suggest that the revised Harvester will do much to fill the gap.
So we say farewell and commit you to the Lord and His grace.
G. J[ohn] P[olkinhorne].
"The Witness" Dec. 1980
