The 1917 Watch Tower Bible Student Schism (Documents)

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THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM

one thing, sometimes another.

But no matter. It is ours to show forth the praises of God. And some few will hear, and will take knowledge that we have been with Jesus and learned of him. Thus they may be led to God.

While this holy Spirit proceeds from the Word of God and from the lives of God's children, it does not come to them without divine assistance in the matter. For instance, while studying the Word of God, we may be in touch with the spiritual channel of heavenly communion—namely, prayer; by which the child of God may tell the Father of his feelings, sentiments, etc., even as God through the Bible tells his children his sentiments. Thus we receive an increase of the holy Spirit through the act of prayer. In our appeals for forgiveness, etc., we are reviving in our minds the Spirit of God; and this holy Spirit comes to us more richly as a further comfort and assistance in the good way. We call to mind the divine assurance, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that reverence him"; and so we come to the throne of heavenly grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need. As therefore the needy one comes, he receives more of the holy Spirit.

There is still another means by which the heavenly Father gives his children of his holy Spirit, and that is through his providences. While we know not, of ourselves, the things we should ask for as we ought, we know from his Word that we may always ask for more of his holy Spirit and the fruits and graces thereof. But we may not at first realize how these can best be cultivated in our hearts. We have the instruction in the Bible that we are to put on meekness, selfcontrol, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness. Yet while we know this, there is something more that we need

experiences in life which will bring these things before our minds so that they may be better appreciated by us and we may get more of the holy Spirit out of these injunctions of Holy Writ. For instance, we shall have special trials, and thus learn what real patience is, and why we should exercise patience. And so with meekness. The Lord may permit us to stumble into some trial by which we may be led to see our lack in this respect; and we may come to study more carefully the quality of meekness, to see the holy Spirit of meekness as presented in the Bible. And thus with self-control, gentleness and love.

So God is giving us more of his holy Spirit by bringing the instructions of the Bible forcefully to our attention through painful experiences. These experiences are supervised by the Lord, by his holy Spirit, or power, as a part of the means by which we are to attain the necessary heart and character development—that thus we may be rounded out and become rich in all the heavenly fruits and graces.

"O holy Spirit, Messenger of God.

Come, fill our hearts and minds with rich intent! Illuminate. instruct. and guide our wills.

That they may with thy mind be fully blent.

"By words divine that point the heavenly way, By discipline's hard hammer, or by strain

Of heavenly music winged with pleading prayer, By sunshine bright or dreary days of pain,

'Lead thou us on! This narrow, rugged path We cannot keep alone; but led by thee,

Each earthly bond is loosed, and we are free!"

CONVENTION AT PITTSBURGH

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Convention of Bible Students at Pittsburgh, January 6 and 7, was a season of blessed fellowship. When the Society began to make arrangements for the annual election of its officers, required by the charter to be held at Pittsburgh, on January 6, it was thought well to have a convention in connection therewith, and a two-days' convention was then arranged.

This was the first convention held by the Society since the death of Brother Russell. As was expected, the spirit manifested by the friends in attendance was excellent, giving evidence that all had been living very near to the Lord. The attendance on Saturday, the 6th, averaged about 600, and sessions were held in Carnegie Hall, North Side, Pittsburgh. The addresses by Brother Ritchie and Brother Hirsh were much enjoyed by the friends.

The Sunday meetings were held at the Lyceum Theater, opening at 9:45 a.m., with the Bethel service and followed by a praise and testimony meeting. At 11 o'clock there was an address by Brother Macmillan, Chairman of the convention; about a thousand of the friends were in attendance at this time. In the afternoon Brother Rutherford delivered an address to about 1,500, about 500 of the public being present. Excellent attention was given, and a good proportion of cards received from those who had heard the truth for the first time.

The evening address by Brother Van Amburgh was greatly appreciated and was followed by a love feast, participated in by about 500.

Saturday was the day specially set apart for the election of officers to serve the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY for the ensuing year. Much interest was centered in this election by friends throughout the world. Brother Russell had held the office of President from the organization of the Society, in 1884, to the time of his death. Approximately 150,000 votes were represented in person and by proxy. The session was opened by Vice-President Brother A. I. Ritchie with devotional services. He stated that the first work would be the appointment of a Committee on rules and regulations. As it would take a little time for the Committee to complete its work, four o'clock in the afternoon was set to hear its report. It was nearly five when the Chairman called the meeting to order. The report of the Committee was read and adopted by the convention.

The next order of business was the nomination and election of a President. Brother Pierson, with very appropriate remarks and expressions of appreciation and love for Brother Russell, stated that he had received word as proxy-holder from friends all over the land to the effect that he cast their votes for Brother J. F. Rutherford for President, and he further stated that he was in full sympathy with this and therefore

would place his name in nomination. This was seconded by various brethren from Pittsburgh, Boston, Cleveland, Washington, Pa., New York, and other cities. There being no further nominations, a motion was made that the rule of balloting be suspended, and that the Secretary of the convention be directed to cast the entire vote for Brother J. F. Rutherford. Thereupon the Secretary cast the ballot as directed, and Brother Rutherford was declared the unanimous choice of the convention as President of the Society for the ensuing year.

Nominations for Vice-President were then called for, and Brother A. N. Pierson and Brother A.I.Ritchie were nominated, both nominations being seconded by various brethren. The counting of the ballots showed that Brother Pierson received the larger number of votes.A motion then made the election of Brother Pierson as Vice-President of the Society unanimous.

The friends everywhere had prayed earnestly for the Lord's guidance and direction in the matter of the election; and when it was concluded, everyone was content and happy, believing that the Lord had directed their deliberations and answered their prayers. Perfect harmony prevailed amongst all present.

There was but one nomination for Secretary-Treasurer, and the Chairman was requested to cast the vote of the convention for Brother W. E. Van Amburgh, who was declared elected.

A resolution was passed to the effect that while the President is the Executive Officer and General Manager of the Society's work and affairs, both in America and all foreign countries where the Society has branches, he might appoint an Advisory Committee from time to time to advise and consult with him concerning the conduct of the affairs of the Society. It was understood that this resolution was passed at the suggestion of Brother Rutherford, to the end that the President might have certain ones upon whom he might call at any time for aid and advice in the weightier matters pertaining to the affairs of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

Following the election Brother Rutherford, addressing the meeting, said in part:

"Dear friends, I cannot let this occasion pass without saying a few words to you. My heart is full to overflowing. You will bear me witness that I have not in any way sought the office of President of this Society. Up to this hour I have not discussed it with any one. I have purposely avoided doing so, believing that the Lord would accomplish his purpose. What has been done here today I feel that the Lord has directed, and I humbly bow to his will. To him alone is due all honor and glory.

"The WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as his channel through which to make known the glad tidings to many thousands, which glad tidings the whole world soon shall know.

It is a great privilege to be one of its officers. I am mindful of the great responsibility resting upon the one who attempts to fill the office of President. I am especially mindful of my inability to measure up to the full requirements.

"One who follows a great man in office always finds it a more difficult task to fill the office than it was for his predecessor, due largely to the fact that his acts are measured by the high standard set and maintained by the great man who preceded him. Brother Russell was truly a great man, because especially fitted for the use to which the Lord put him. No one can fill his place. While I am fully conscious of this fact, yet I realize that through Christ Jesus who strengtheneth me, I can do all things that it is his will I shall do. I will therefore attempt, by his grace, to continue to make known the glad tidings of Messiah's kingdom, which Brother Russell did as no other man has done since the days of the Apostle Paul. The policies which Brother Russell inaugurated I will attempt to carry forward. Brother Russell was deeply convinced that there is a great work yet to be done; that the Jordan must be smitten; that the people must know of the kingdom message, and that the Lord will use his people to give much of this knowledge to the world before

the kingdom is fully established. No doubt there is yet much work for you and for me to do.

'In the performance of the duties of President I shall feel more keenly than ever that I am your servant. It is my desire to serve faithfully. I will need, and therefore ask, your united prayers, deep sympathy and unqualified co-operation. I believe that I shall have such. You will have my prayers and love and sympathy.

"The year past has been a very eventful one. The year opening may be even more eventful. Let us feel therefore not in the least discouraged. He who has thus far led us will continue to lead us. Let us have brave hearts, ready minds and willing hands, trusting implicitly always in the Lord, looking to him for guidance. He will lead us to certain victory. Renewing our covenant with him today, united in the holy bonds of Christian love, may we go forth proclaiming to the world, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 'He that reapeth receiveth wages.' Let us do our part in the reaping faithfully while the opportunity is here. Be strong, be brave, be loyal! May his blessings be upon you who are here and upon the Lord's children everywhere! Thanks be to God that he has permitted us to be members of such a favored company!"

FIRST DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS

[This article was a reprint of that entitled "We Have Found the Messiah," published in issue of January 1, 1905, which please see.]

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS

[This article was a reprint of that entitled "Witnessing for Jesus," published in issue of December 15, 1904, which please see.]

DESTRUCTION OF THE TWIN MONARCHS

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."—Romans 6:6.

The Apostle Paul in his epistles represents the world as being under an evil reign of Sin and Death. (Romans 5:12, 14, 17, 21; 6:12; 1 Corinthians 15:26.) He presents the matter as though these were Twin Monarchs. Sin and Death have been reigning over the world for six thousand years. Sin binds and fetters mankind, and finally turns them over to Death. Under their blighting reign thousands of millions have gone down into the tomb, mentally, morally and physically degraded.

It is not in our power to destroy these great monarchs. They can be destroyed only by the One who has been given all power. This great One can rescue all mankind from Sin and Death and lift them out of their misery and degradation up to purity and life and happiness. Eventually he will fully destroy these great enemies. Then Sin and Death will be no more.

CALLING OUT THE VOLUNTEER CORPS

During this Gospel age God is calling for a volunteer corps of brave soldiers, who have his Spirit and will fight a good fight against sin—a good fight on the side of truth and righteousness. These are called into this great warfare. Whoever is following Jesus, the great Captain, is a soldier in this special corps of volunteers. These are the chosen band of Gideon. We who have answered the call are expected to show our loyalty to our great Leader and Head.

We must first make a full consecration of our lives to God, in order that we may be begotten of his holy Spirit and become new creatures. It is our love for God and for righteousness that leads us to hate iniquity and to walk in the footsteps of our Leader, Christ Jesus. After having been as aliens adopted into God's family, begotten as sons, as members of the body of Christ, we have a new relationship to him, and any sympathy for sin would be so much of disloyalty to our Captain. Hence we are bound, as true soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Gideon, to fight a good fight against sin.

Our old man, our human nature, which otherwise would have been made just and perfect in the Millennium, we have surrendered voluntarily to a sacrificial death, just as Jesus surrendered his human nature. This old man of ours is covered by the imputed merit of Jesus Christ. Our Lord says, "Now ye are clean." The Apostle in enumerating the works of the flesh practised by the world, says, "And such were some of you, but ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified." The new creature is that which is begotten of

the holy Spirit and is to develop to completion, and the creature that must be killed is the old man. Much of our battle with the giant sin is within. And not only so, but we must remember that our old man, justified, is our sacrifice. But while we are laying down this sacrifice, consuming it day by day, the merit of Christ's righteousness covers our flesh, so long as we are loyal to God. And we must keep this sacrifice on the altar until it is completely consumed.

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Our Lord was crucified in conjunction with the divine arrangement. He did not die a sinner, but he died as the Redeemer of men. And so our human nature goes down into death, not as a sinner, but as a justified creature, by God's arrangement. The Word declares that we are to be dead with Christ, to suffer with him, to be crucified with him. This does not mean that our new minds are being crucified. It means that as our Lord as a man was crucified as a sin-offering for the world, so we as his members have died as men, sharing in this crucifixion of Christ. We are already reckoned dead; but the natural process is now going on, and will not be consummated until these bodies have been actually laid down in death.

So the sufferings of Christ, the crucifixion of Christ, in this larger sense of the word, have been in process all through this Gospel age. The sufferings being completed, the glory and honor and the change to the divine nature promised to the "more than conquerors" will take place, and the purchase-price for the world will be applied.

What is the end of this crucifixion of each member of the church with his Lord? The Apostle states it in our text. It is in order that the body of sin may be destroyed. Sin once ruled within us. But he has been dethroned. His power over us has been destroyed. Sin is the great giant that has been ruling the world for six thousand years, in conjunction with Death. These giants have made a terrible reign of suffering, but they are about to be vanquished. The church is now suffering with Christ. And if we faithfully suffer with him unto the end, we shall reign with him and bring about the destruction of sin and death, which will be accomplished in his Millennial reign.—Romans 5:17; Revelation 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; Daniel 7:22; Psalm 149:6-9.

"That henceforth we should not serve sin." We as the Lord's people are delivered from this reign of sin. We are no longer under bondage to sin. God counts us as having passed from death unto life, from sin unto righteousness. We

ARVEST SIFTINGS

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."—Ephesians 6:12

THE EVIL ONE AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO DISRUPT THE SOCIETY

CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF FACTS BY REQUEST

To International Bible Students scattered throughout world:

DEAR BRETHREN IN CHRIST:—

In this hour of sorrow, mingled with joy, we think of the words of St. Peter, so appropriate at this time: "Beloved,

concerning the fire among you that is to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you." (1 Peter 4:12.)

Time and again our dear Pastor warned us of this coming time, and now it is here. In THE WATCH TOWER under date of 1897, page 44, he said:

see that you have no prejudice or feeling, either for or against; and that you do not form any distinct opinion until you have read all this statement. In order for you to understand, it will be necessary for me to speak of

Who then, will be able to stand? The Lord answers, Everyone whose heart is perfect.—2 Chron. 16:9.

"Fiery trials are therefore to be expected by all of the Lord's people, especially in this day of the Lord. As surely as we are sons of God we shall have them; and when they come we should promptly recognize their mission to us and see that we are exercised by them unto godliness, sobriety and deep and fervent piety."

Seeing the activities of the Adversary, and that a great trial was coming, I had hoped and prayed that the Church might be spared from it if it be the Lord's will, but evidently it is His will that the fire shall burn out all dross; that only the refined gold shall remain. I assure you, dear brethren, that in making this statement I have no unkind feeling toward anyone. As I search my heart I am sure it is perfect toward

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY

"WHEREAS, the President of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY has this day made a statement in writing before the undersigned, who are now members of the Board of Directors, setting forth his acts done and performed since the death of Brother Russell, and his election as President;

all. The Lord is my judge. I feel, under the circumstances, that I owe it to you to take you into my confidence and make a plain statement of the facts, and then let each of you judge as to what seemeth good, and may the Lord guide you in hearing. I ask each one of you to be calm, watching and praying while you read, and

"AND WHEREAS, it is the sense of this Board that the President should prepare and publish, for the benefit of the Church at large, a statement of facts concerning his said activities;

"AND WHEREAS, it is well known that opposition has arisen against the President;

"AND WHEREAS, we have heard a statement at length by Brothers Rutherford, Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright, Ritchie, Macmillan, Van Amburgh, Bacuerlein and others;

"AND WHEREAS, it appears from the facts brought before us that Brothers I. F. Hoskins, R. II. Hirsh, A. I. Ritchie and J. D. Wright have not been legally members of the Board of Directors of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY for more than six months prior thereto, and are not now members thereof; and the necessity having arisen for a full and complete Board of Directors; and the President, acting under the power and authority conferred upon him by the terms of the Charter and the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, has appointed four members to complete said Board;

"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the undersigned members of the Board of Directors, do hereby express our hearty approval of the acts and conduct of our President and General Manager and Executive Officer of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, which dutips we desire him to continue; and we take this occasion to express our utmost confidence in him as a brother and servant in the Lord, and to commend him, with loving prayers and assurance of our support, to all who love our dear Pastor Russell and who believe that he was sent to be the guide of the Church to the end of her way.

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President be, and he is hereby requested to prepare a full statement of the facts leading up to the conditions now existing in the work at Brooklyn; and a full statement of the necessity arising for the appointment of members of the Board of Directors and why the same is done; and such other facts as may be necessary in this connection for the good and welfare of the Church at large; and that said statement be published if deemed necessary.

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we believe that our dear Brother Rutherford is the man the Lord has chosen to carry on the work that yet remains to be done in Pastor Russell's name and in the name of the Lord; and that no other in the Church is as well qualified as he to do this work; or could have received at the Lord's hand greater evidences of His love and favor;

"In the name of the Master of the Harvest, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!

"Brooklyn, New York. July 17th, 1917."

"A. N. PIERSON,

"W. E. SPILL,

"W. E. VAN AMBURGH,

"J. A. BOHNET,

"A. H. MACMILLAN,

"GEO. H. FISHER."

the brethren involved by name, even if it is painful so to do. Brother Russell long warned us that the evil spirits would exercise great power in the closing hours of the Church's pilgrimage, and I am wondering if they are the cause of this fearful trial. He will make it clear in due time. Read Rev. 7 comments in Vol. 7 of SCRIPTURE STUDIOS.

That you may understand why I was led to appoint four members of the Board of Directors in order to save the Society's money from being tied up by law suits and its work wrecked, both of which have been threatened, it is needful that I relate to you some things that have occurred since I became your President. To do this, I am impelled to tell you what occurred in Great Britain with reference to Brother Johnson, whom I have loved very dearly. Some of the four brethren hereinafter mentioned, members of the Bethel Family, acting under advice of a lawyer who is not too friendly toward the Truth, and under the advice of another who is not a lawyer, have been about some of the classes making derogatory statements against the President, Secretary and Treasurer and others of the Society with a

view to creating a sentiment in the minds of the friends against these brethren. They have done this while traveling at the expense of the Society and as its representatives. Since they have made it public and disturbed the minds of many of the friends, it becomes my duty to you to make a statement of the facts.

EPITOME OF FACTS HEREINAFTER ESTABLISHED

That you may intelligently follow the evidence hereinafter set forth, I first give a brief outline of what the facts prove:

(1.) That Brother P. S. L. Johnson was sent to Europe last November to do pilgrim work for the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY and, in order to procure a passport, was given a letter of authority which he understood in fact limited him to preaching the Gospel and ascertaining by inquiry certain facts about the work there and reporting them to the Society; that for some cause he overstepped his authority; that he charged several brethren with disloyalty to Brother Russell; that he discharged, without authority, two of the managers of the Society's London office and compelled them to leave the London Bethel.

(2.) That the Executive of the Society appointed a commission of five able brethren of Great Britain to go to London and ascertain the facts and report; that Brother Johnson attempted to unduly influence this commission before it met; and being unable to do so, he repudiated it and refused to appear before it; that he was recalled from England by cablegram.

(3.) That Brother Johnson announced in various places in England that he was the "Steward" of the "Penny" mentioned in the Lord's parable (Matt. 20:8), and claimed all the powers and authority that Brother Russell possessed; that he had a well-laid plan to take full control of all the Society's work in Great Britain and to establish a new WATCH TOWER there; that he announced to the friends in Great Britain that he should have been the Society's President but declined to accept.

(4.) That when the commission met in London for the purpose of examining into the facts, Brother Johnson then repudiated the action of the Shareholders in electing the President of the Society at Pittsburgh, January 8, 1917, and ignored the President and began to communicate with Brother A. I. Ritchie and, through him, to appeal to the Board of Directors.

(5.) That when he was resisted by Brother Hemery, the remaining manager in the London office, Brother Johnson, together with an accomplice, got possession of the keys and forcibly took possession of the London office, the Society's mail, opened the safe and extracted therefrom a large sum of money belonging to the Society and then instituted a law suit in the High Court of Chancery in London, in the name of the Society by himself as special representative, against the manager of the London office and against the Bank where the Society's funds were deposited and tied up the money in the Bank; that this law suit was decided adversely to Brother Johnson, and his solicitor was required by the High Court to pay the cost, and that later Brother Hirsh and allies and at the instance of Brother Johnson tried to have the Society pay Brother Johnson's solicitor in the case, but failed.

(6.) That everything at the Brooklyn office was moving smoothly, with no discord, until Brother Johnson demanded of the Society's President that he be returned to England and, being refused, then exercised his influence over Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright and Ritchie and induced them to believe that the President was ignoring them. He influenced them to ask for a meeting of the Board of Directors to give him the third hearing about what he did in Europe; that when the President refused to call a meeting for that purpose, then he advised them to set aside a by-law which the Shareholders had passed and which the Board of Directors had passed, and take away from the President all of the authority and turn it over to these four brethren.. Brother Johnson, on the 25th day of July last, admitted that the trouble hereinafter described was the result of the refusal of his demand for a re-hearing with a view to his being sent back to England.

(7.) That the other four brethren, acting under the advice of Brother Johnson, began a systematic campaign amongst the brethren, charging that the President is ignoring Brother Russell's will and going contrary to the precedent established by Brother Russell. That a plan was outlined by them and they, acting under the advice of Brother Johnson and the lawyer, set about to influence some of the prominent brethren against the President and bring pressure to bear upon him to surrender his authority of the Society to these four brethren. That they outlined a course exactly parallel to that pursued by Brother Johnson in England, and openly stated that if the President and the PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION resisted their action that they would resort to the courts of law and tie up all the money of the Society, so that it could not be used, and that they would either run the Society or wreck it; and that their wrongful action was prevented by the President.

BROTHER JOHNSON GOES TO ENGLAND

Brother Russell had arranged last Fall for Brother Johnson to visit Europe, and those left in charge after Brother Russell's departure thought well to carry out his wishes and send him. Brother Johnson called at the State Department at Washington, and the Bureau of Citizenship in New York for information concerning passports. Returning he informed the Committee that it was necessary for him to have credentials showing that it was imperative that he visit the foreign countries in the interests of the Society; otherwise the government, because of the war, would not grant the passport. Myself and Brother Johnson together prepared a letter to present to the State Department, with the understanding that it was for the procuring of a passport. When it came to the signing of the letter Brother Van Amburgh, the Secretary, refused to sign, because it granted sweeping authority to Brother Johnson. Then it was explained in the presence of Brothers Van Amburgh, Ritchie and myself, and Brother Johnson, that the only purpose of the letter was to enable Brother Johnson to procure a passport, and that his authority would really be the same as any other pilgrim or lecturer. Brother Ritchie then remarked to Brother Johnson that it would be well for him to inquire at the Society's offices he visited in Europe and get all the information he could about the manner of conducting the work, to all of

which Brother Johnson agreed. It then became necessary for him to have a letter of introduction to the London office, and of course this had to be written consistent with the other letter, because the Government of Great Britain would examine all of his papers when he arrived at the border, and anything inconsistent would probably result in sending him out of the country, hence we wrote a similar letter to the London office with the same understanding.

TROUBLE BEGINS IN ENGLAND

About the 5th of February a cablegram was received from Brother Johnson, reading as follows:

"Situation intolerable. Shearn, Crawford, dismissed. Appealing to you. Withhold answer pending my mail."

About the same time another cablegram was received from Brothers Shearm and Crawford, as follows:

"Astounding developments, office and Tabernacle. Please defer all judgment."

The INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, organized under the laws of Great Britain, has a council of five members, Brothers Hemery, Shearn and Crawford constituted the members in England, while Brother Russell and myself were the two members here. The same three brethren above mentioned were the managers of the London office, conducting the work there.

Knowing that Brother Johnson had no authority to discharge Brothers Shearn and Crawford, and being doubtful of the situation, I sent the following cablegram to Brother Johnson:

"Have contending sides sign agreed statement of facts and send for my decision."

Then in a few days I left for California. Some time after I reached Los Angeles I received information from Brothers Crawford and Shearn, also from Brother Johnson, that the two brothers mentioned had been discharged from the London office and the London Bethel. I appointed five able brethren in Great Britain as a commission to investigate, and then sent the following cablegram:

"Shearn, Hemery, Crawford, Johnson, London:

"Shearn, Crawford dismissal absolutely without authority. Restore them immediately. Must have fair trial before my commissioners. Show cable commissioners. Report awaited."

The next day I received a cablegram dated Liverpool, February 24, 1917, and reading as follows:

"Rutherford, Watch Tower Society,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

"Surprised at cablegram. Have you not received my letters second, eleven, twenty-one, January? Shearn, Crawford, leading sixth sifting. Ezekiel Nine Beware. Cablegram campaign engineered Crawford, Shearn, Ezra Nehemiah Mordecai experience type mine here. Since January Twenty-eight am Steward Matthew, Twenty, eight. Shearn, Haman then hanged on gallows for me. Was then given Esther Eight, Two Fifteen powers like Russell's. Crawford, Sanballat, Shearn, Tobiah, Guard Senior, Gishen. Will you be my right hand? Must keep my hands on.

(This, and subsequent cablegrams sent out by Brother Johnson cost the Society hundreds of dollars for their transmission.)

Within the next two or three days I received the following cablegram from Brother Hemery, dated London, Feb. 26th :

"Johnson claims full control everything. I resist as your representative. Dispute with co-managers his, not mine. Los Angeles cable has attention. What are Johnson's powers?"

On the 27th of February I cabled Brother Johnson as follows:

"Your work finished London; return America, important."

Believing from the information that I had, and from the language used by Brother Johnson in his cablegram, in which he stated that he was "steward" with all powers formerly held by Brother Russell, I was convinced that his mind was deranged and that he was disturbing the work in Great Britain. Thereupon I cabled from Los Angeles to Brother Hemery as follows:

"Johnson demented. Has no powers. Credentials issued to procure passport. Return him America. Sympathy."

A cablegram dated London, March 7, 1917, addressed to Brothers Ritchie and Van Amburgh, was received from Brother Johnson, which is as follows:

"Society's interest demand I retain powers Board, not executive committee, gave me. I appeal Board through you against Rutherford's repudiating Board's representative. He is subject Society. Society's representative subject to it as against him. Letter follows. Continue letter appointment and credentials. Increased injury otherwise. Congregation unanimously voted me confidence appreciation against Shearn, Crawford. Rutherford's committee approves me. Disapproves him. Bethelites approve dismissals. Acted harmonious with my powers. I protest in God's name to Board through you."

Later, Brother Hemery, learning of this cablegram, sent the following, dated London, March 18th, addressed to Brother Rutherford:

"Understand Johnson cabled untruths Ritchie. Hope soon report his collapse."

The following cablegram was received from Brother Hemery, dated March 14th, London, addressed to myself:

"Johnson rampaging. He [and] Housden seizing mails and cash. Hasten sealed cancellation authority. Cormack two others sympathize with him. Solicitor recommends Johnson's forcible ejection. Have placed embargo on bank."

After the commissioners were appointed and Brother Johnson learned that they were to go to London to investigate the facts and report, he visited each one of them personally and tried to influence them in his behalf and against the others. This fact is proven by the following letters from Brother Crawford:

"Lancaster Gate, London, W., England. MR. J. F. RUTHERFORD

and The Executive Committee.

and The Executive Committee, WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, Brooklyn, N. Y.

"DEAR BRETHREN IN THE LORD:

" . . . . Briefly, the circumstances are as follows. About a month or so before our dear Brother Russell passed beyond, the Elders of the London Tabernacle realizing that the arrangements then existing in the Tabernacle were not giving complete satisfaction to the members of the Congregation-unanimously agreed to call a meeting and inquire into all the circumstances which lay at the root of the trouble. ...

"Shortly after, word came that Brother Johnson was on his way, and we wondered if by chance he had been charged by Brother Russell with the expression of his mind on the matter. When Brother Johnson arrived, however, he knew nothing of the correspondence and at once set about, as he thought, to set things in order in the Tabernacle. We all wished him God speed and gave him every assistance possible. Judge, then, of my surprise when, a few days later, I found all the eleven Elders condemned by Brother Johnson, and myself with two other brethren of the Office staff charged by him on the following three counts: (1) With attempting to deceive Brother Russell. (2) With concealing the real purpose of the Resolution. (3) With having an evil motive in signing same.

"At first I did not take the matter seriously and tried to believe that Brother Johnson surely did not mean to brand all the eleven Elders of the Tabernacle as hypocrites, etc., without any proof or hearing whatever, and the three. brethren of the Office as even worse.—1 Tim. 5:1, 19. . . .

"The situation that was created became impossible, because, in the first place, neither of the three involved were conscious of any sin or evil motive nor had they wronged any one either by word or action; secondly, to relinquish Eldership meant to expose two of them (myself included) to the probable operation of the Military Act, a step which, to every reasonable mind would surely seem wrong. Brother Johnson's reply to this point was that having committed this sin I must now bear the consequences; in the third place, this procedure was altogether contrary to the policy advocated by Brother Russell—whose recommendation was that the Pilgrims and Office workers who represented the Society as lecturers should be Elders either in a home Church or in the Tabernacle.

"A few days later Brother Johnson came to London, when I had a further word with him and endeavored to point out how unreasonable his attitude was. . . .

"Your brother and servant in the Anointed.

"W. CRAWFORD."

Also the following letter written ten weeks later will be of interest:

"42 Selborne Rd., Ilford E., April 3, 1917. "DEAR BROTHER RUTHERFORD:

"Doubtless Brother Johnson informed you that he dismissed me and my wife from the office and home and instructed us to leave the premises immediately. As I had no time to make any arrangements and Brother Johnson threatened to put my furniture out or have it used if not removed at once, I was forced to have it taken to the above address to be stored.

"I am sorry to say that Brother Jolinson seems to be going from bad to worse. To my mind he is either under the influence of spiritism or else has temporarily lost his balance of mind.

No sane man would act or do the things that he has done during the last month or so. For no cause whatever but merely evil surmising on his part he has denounced me for hours in the Tabernacle, telling them that I was dead spiritually and no longer a brother, etc., etc. He has also gone to my wife when I was absent on more than one occasion, telling her the same ridiculous story and tried to separate us. Once he gave her such a talking to in this way that when I came in I found her weeping and almost in hysterics.

"Brother Johnson has been telling the classes that he is the steward of the parable of the Penny and that he would have been the president only he refused to allow his name to go forward for nomination.

"A peculiar delusion of his which he has been preaching to the classes is, Brothers Shearn and Guard and I are fulfilling certain types recorded in Nehemiah, Chap. 2:4 and 6. He says that I am "Sanballat," Brother Shearn, "Tobish," and Brother Guard "Geshem."

"The classes here are in sore straits through his visits. He seems to have unsettled nearly every class he visited. The brethren have been much relieved however by the receipt of your cable and are glad to know that his doings did not represent the Society.

"Brother Johnson, however, does not now acknowledge your authority to counsel his dismissal and says that can only be done by the Executive Committee. He refused to allow either Brother Shearn or me to be reinstated.

"Now just a word about the Commission of Inquiry. It was very kind of you to make this arrangement and I much appreciate your efforts to have justice done. I would like however to make a few remarks regarding the members of the Commission and how the inquiry was carried out. It was no fault of the members of course that they had all been interviewed by Brother Johnson and their minds influenced to some extent by Brother Johnson's views of things. Brother Johnson had spent several days in Brother M. Cloy's home trying to convince him of his views of things, and indeed was there when your cable of instructions was received.

"Yours by His grace, "W. CRAWFORD."

BROTHER JOHNSON WRITES BROTHER HEMERY

We also quote a letter addressed to Brother Hemery, written and signed by Brother Johnson. This letter appears as an Exhibit in the High Court of Justice in the case wrongfully instituted by Brother Johnson in the name of the Society against the London managers. The document follows:

"1917 W. No. 541.

"IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION MR. JUSTICE EVE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY VS-

-VS-

HEMERY AND OTHERS

"This is the Exhibit marked 'J. H. 4,' referred to in the Affidavit of Jesse Hemery sworn herein this 22nd day of March, 1917, before me,

"A. S. JACKSON, "A Commissioner of Oaths.

"A. J. Greenop & Co. Bush Lane House, Cannon Street, London, E.C., 4."

"BIRKENHEAD, 24th February, 1917. "Mr. J. Hemery,

34 Craven Terr.. London, W.

"BELOVED BROTHER HEMERY:

"Grace and peace. Glad to receive your letter. Will answer it first, and then give you something else.

"Re a further trip. I had better remain at London from the time of my arrival there until the following Thursday or Friday then go to Glasgow, with possibly a day off at Manchester. I will wait and see what Manchester develops next week. On the way back, so far as I can see, I would like an appointment at Edinburgh so as to set matters clearly before the Edinburgh Church. Everywhere I go I am now giving an account of this trouble. This must be done to circumvent the mischief that they are already working. They are working on quite a campaign, and this we must frustrate. Shearn is spreading the report that I have interfered with his success in the Military matter. As to whether I will have appointments after Edinburgh or not will depend on what developments. Keep your eyes open, please, for sore spots. These are the places to which I wish to go.

"Re food: I wish, dear Brother, that you would follow my suggestion on this line. I am speaking very advisedly when I say it is imperative that staple articles be gotten and stowed in a safe place, safe from men and from rats. Please let them be bought at different places. I would suggest, the making of a false ceiling as a receptacle, and let it be lined throughout with tin, as a safeguard from rats. Wheat is the special thing needed, and monkey nuts. The famine will be very sore shortly, and the prices very heavy. You will notice Elisha calls attention to the famine, and that is what I have in mind. You will remember that I told you when I came at first, that there would be this condition shortly, and now I know it is at the very doors and therefore suggest that it be done immediately; for the good of the family. I have a way of answering questions that would be perfectly right, and will secure the food. Will tell you about this when I see you.

"Thanks for information about Sister Annie, and the adoption. I understand your letter to mean that I wont even have to go to Court to have it settled—that our agreement before the Bethel family made it binding and legal; am glad.

"Re Brother Shearn's furniture: I think you did very well on what you have bought. However, the balance of his furniture must leave the house as soon as possible. We will wait for indications and so, for the present, will let the furniture stand as it is.

COMMISSIONERS INTERVIEWED BY BROTHER JOHNSON

"I trust Sister Cormack has returned, and thank you for what you have done re Elders and Deacons. Re Brother Cormack: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will do as you suggest; we must put an end to grasping for power on the part of everybody concerned. I will write him today on this line, sending the letter to the office.

"Thank you for the Manchester matter. I have it under advisement; also Brother Smedley. I am going to dictate a form letter to all of the eight brethren who furnished me names, asking them to come to Bethel for a Conference with me, March 3rd at 2 p. m. I am going to lay the whole position before them. Brother Rutherford has appointed four of these eight as a Committee to investigate; Brother Housden is the fifth member of the Committee.

"Re the six Elders elected who signed the Resolution: You will notice in Esther that on the 1st day that the Jews stood for their lives, which, I understand, would refer to last Sunday, the ten sons of Haman are spoken of simply as slain and that in the 2nd day they were hanged up. This 2nd day I understand, will be March 4th. At that time, since they are the sons of Haman, the Agagite (an Agagite represents a sinfully ambitious person), I am sure that everyone of those brothers were ambitious, and their ambition moved them, along with other things, to sign that Resolution; and I will therefore, after proving this point, recommend their dismissal. This process will be their hanging.

First, however, we will settle the matter with Shearn and Crawford, but the whole thing will be settled March 4th and after that there will be joy and rejoicing on the part of the faithful and many new ones will come into the Truth to take the places of others. I increasingly fear that Brother Cormack is the son-in-law of Sanballat, and what you write me only strengthens that fear. If that proves to be true I will 'chase him from me.'

Thanks for the cablegram from Brother Rutherford. He is undoubtedly the victim of a cablegram campaign, engineered by Shearn and Crawford. This morning I sent Brother Rutherford a long cablegram telling him that I was antityping Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, and that on the 28th of January, after hanging up Brother Shearn on the scaffold that he had prepared for me, I was appointed by the Lord according to Esther 8: 2, 15, the Steward referred to in Matt. 20: 8. I asked him to be my right hand man. I expressed astonishment at his cablegram, and inquired whether he had not received my letters of Jan. 2nd, 11th and 21st; told him that Haman represented Shearn in Esther, and Tobish represents him in Heb., while Crawford was represented by Sanballat, and Geshem represented Guard Senr. I trust this will change his attitude, for he is evidently becoming excited. I told him I could not keep hands off. Now, my beloved Brother Hemery I will be responsible for everything. I think you see enough to see what the Lord has been, and is, doing for me. I believe that you consider that my deductions from these Books are correct. Everything that unfolds from them makes it all the clearer to my mind, that the Lord has given me the proper light on the books. I did not mention in my cablegram to Brother R., and that again by forgetting, that the congregation unanimously voted confidence in me, and approval of what I have been doing for them against Shearn and Crawford. Seemingly the Lord permitted this forgetting again in order that you, as Chairman and Brother Seeck, as Secretary, might convey the news. We have been somewhat too inactive with cablegrams and have allowed the other side to keep the wires hot. However, the Lord is on our side against all them that rise up against us. I notice from THE TOWER, that Brother Rutherford is in Santa Barbara, on the 25th. I trust my cablegram reaches him. I think the Lord is going to let him mix things up quite thoroughly, until He shows him who has been His choice as Brother Russell's successor. Brother Rutherford wrote me that the Executive Committee is not in existence any longer. I am wondering how this is. Seemingly from this, he is acting wholly alone as the authority. It may be all right, but I do not understand it. I think Brother Rutherford will come to see the position properly in a very short time. My cablegram this morning ought to open his eyes.

"Re the Elders and Deacons: I had better see the Elders and Deacons together for part of the time, and then the Elders alone the rest of the evening. What do you think of Brother Dingle as an Elder and speaker in the Tabernacle? Please let me have your opinion. Have you any other recommendations? According to Neh. there will be twelve Elders in that congregation, and not eighteen. Notice the passage that speaks of Ezra arising with six priests on each side. This is at the water gate, which I understand to refer to the Elders. One after another of these gates are becoming clear to my mind. I have nearly all of them now, and will have them all, I believe, in due time.

"Am not at all well. My brain is quite weary, and the Lord, seemingly in compassion for me, has arranged but one meeting a day for me until this trip is finished. Annie is a great help to me, I am sure that the Lord has given her to me to give me much needed relief. If this relief would not have been forthcoming, I am satisfied I would have had a repetition of my 1910 breakdown, but

"I send the family, the associate managers, your wife and yourself, much Christian love. The Lord bless and keep thee.

the Lord will sustain me to finish the work that he has given me to do.

"Your brother and servant,

"P. S. L. JOHNSON."

SUIT INSTITUTED WITHOUT AUTHORITY

When Brother Johnson was unable to influence the Commissioners he remained quiet for a day or two, and then suddenly it occurred to him to deny that I had been elected President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He began to cable Brother Ritchie; and write him letters, and then proceeded to forcibly take possession of the mails and money in the London office, and employed a lawyer and instituted a suit in the High Court of London in the name of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and against Brothers Crawford, Hemery and Shearn, and the bank where the Society's money is kept, and tied up all the funds of the Society. Brother Hemery thereupon cabled me as follows:

"Johnson applying court Friday next for injunction restraining bank. Cable us instructions immediately."

I immediately cabsed Brother Hemery to oppose Injunction and in reply received from him the following cablegram:

"Am consulting Greenop. Please cable him direct to oppose injunction and take necessary steps, restraining Johnson's interference as not representing Society any capacity."

Thereupon I cabled Mr. Greenop, London solicitor for the Society, as follows:

"Resist Johnson's injunction. Does not represent Society. Restrain him."

On March 24th Brother Hemery cabled me:

"Johnson business frazzled. Situation normal. Most money received. Deposits safe. Johnson's supporters repented. He left Bethel suddenly by upper room window."

On the same day Brother Hemery wrote me in detail a letter, of which the following is a copy:

LETTER FROM OUR LONDON MANAGER "24 March 1917

"24 March, 1917.

"MY DEAR BROTHER RUTHERFORD:—

"At last I am able to write to you with some measure of satisfaction with reference to this sad business which has been the subject of so many cablegrams exchanged between yourself and us in London. . .

"The immediate situation is this, as my telegram would indicate. Johnson's rebellion, and his attempt to seize the whole of the British work, and its funds in bank deposits, has failed, though the matter of the injunction is not yet out of the High Court because of the question of costs. Judge Peterson adjourned the hearing of the Motion until next Friday. But the case will not again come into the Court. On receipt of your cablegram of the 10th, in which you instructed me to take full possession, I, knowing something of Johnson's mind, immediately got in touch with the bank to safeguard the deposit of £800. I was none too soon: he was there immediately after me, endeavoring to use his letters from head office to gain control of the money. We fought for it. At last he issued an injunction through the High Court for a claim on the money, and against the bank for withholding it. The writ was returnable yesterday. However, when the case came before the judge yesterday, Johnson's counsel said, after reading my affidavit, that he did not propose to proceed with his motion; but we here, trying to protect ourselves, had made a little slip, and thus gave them a chance to haggle over the costs for the action, and this is all that remains to be settled as far as the motion is concerned. This will mean that the bank account here stands in the names of Brothers Shearn, Crawford and my own, and this arrangement will suit very well until any further readjustment needs to be made according to whatever you may decide to do.

"Now I must tell you how the immediate events developed. After your telegram giving cancellation of all Johnson's activities, he was quiet for twenty-four hours or so, then suddenly blossomed out with the statement that the election of the President of the Society was absolutely out of order. He asserted his right to sit at the head of the table in the Bethel family, and in order to make sure of his right, he went and sat in the Chair before the family assembled. I refused to acknowledge him as having the right to represent you, and said to the family that this was open rebellion. I called upon them to give no adherence to the rebellion against your authority as representing the Society. To my surprise most of the brethren stayed with Johnson, and they continued to handle the work. That morning Johnson raved at me for a couple of hours and dismissed me half a dozen times or more. His insistence, and his mouthing, made some of the brethren think that he was the person in authority, and they had, unfortunately, listened to his claim of being the antitype of many Scripture characters and, as they now say—for they have repented—they seemed to have lost their reasoning faculties. It was about the middle of the week when I began to discern the true inwardness of the situation, that Johnson was not merely intending to take control of the office in the meantime, but that he had an ulterior purpose in mind: gaining the whole control of the British field, of its resources, and running a separate Watch Tower. Looking back I can see many things which show the working of his mind, but which he carefully hid. I tried to rally the family, but three brothers stayed by him, enabling him to carry on the execution of of the orders, while Brother Cormack preferred, as he said, to be neutral, though his neutrality gave him a good deal of intercourses with Johnson and none with me. I demanded of them a statement of the monies received and expended, but was refused this. In the meantime I was in constant communication with our solicitors, Messrs. Greenop, doing everything to safeguard the financial side of our work, and felt quite assured that, though we might have some present difficulties, the sum could never be handled by Johnson. Brothers Shearn and Crawford, as members of the Council of I. B. S. A. and as associates in the work, were called in...

"Last Saturday I called together in the city a few of the Elders and Deacons of the London Church, and told them the situation. They immediately began to take steps to relieve the situation, and from Sunday night last, we have had someone in the house all the time. A plan we had for the beginning of the seizing of the mails on Monday morning, failed through an act of treachery, but we began on Tuesday morning, and since then every letter delivered has come through my care. Johnson was furious. He, and Brother Housden with him, spent much time in meditating over the situation. I asked again for the money and statement, believing that the money was safe in the safe. As refusal was made, it seemed necessary to take some more stringent measures, for we had found it impossible to do anything in the way of arresting Johnson for lunacy.

SOCIETY S FUNDS TAKEN FROM SAFE

"So on Wednesday both Brothers Johnson and Housden having gone to bed rather early, Johnson's door was held while Brother Cronk, one of our Elders, and I went up to Housden's room and demanded the keys. Two helpers were nearby, and on Housden's refusal to hand them over, they were taken out of his pocket, though without any violence, for he made no resistance. On going down to the safe, I found the money gone. They had scooped a deposit of £50 in gold which we had by us, about £40 which had been given to the relief of the Military situation, and which was neither the Society's, nor the Church's money, and a good sum of about £150 besides, the takings during the days when they held the mail. Besides this sum there was a cheque

of £350, a donation, and which I believe we shall yet save to ourselves, though at the moment there is a little doubt. Housden refused to say where the money was, and we had to talk to him pretty plainly. He promised however, that he would not aid Johnson any more. We had spoken to him about the possibility of the police coming in. I should here tell you that the day before, Brother Dingel, who had his head twisted with Johnson's talk, saw the folly of the situation, and apologized and repudiated Johnson's position. He, feeling some responsibility, had gone up to Brother Housden's room to plead with him. The window-blind was up, Brother Dingle switched on the electric light, and got so busy talking with Housden, that neither of them noticed that they were breaking the lighting regulations. About 11.30 p.m. the door bell rang, and I went down to see what was the matter. A constable was at the door wanting an explanation of this violation of the very stringent London lighting regulations. He insisted upon seeing those who were responsible, and I had to take him upstairs. You can imagine the situation! Here was a constable appearing at the bedroom door immediately after our talk about the constable coming. However, that matter was soon over, and the constable went away, knowing nothing, of course, of our conversation.

LEAVES BETHEL THROUGH UPPER WINDOW

"About 6 o'clock in the morning Brother Johnson's foot began pounding on the door, and he had not a great difficulty in driving away the bit of wood that had been wedged against it to keep him within bounds. It had been his habit of late to go wandering about the house between two and four in the morning, evidently seeing if his possessions were safe, for he is a very suspicious character. Brother Cronk, who was sleeping in along with another brother, spoke to Johnson, told him he could go into the bathroom if he wanted, but he must remember that he could not have things his own way, and that a constable had been up to see Brother Housden the night before. Of course this was a blit or bluff to help to keep Johnson within bounds. He went up to Housden's room, and when he found that Brother Housden would not come out to him, he began to think there was something wrong with 34, Craven Terrace. Instead of going into the bathroom, he hastily dressed himself, left his baggage open, got out on the balcony, and then the milk deliverers saw the ludicrous sight of a man in a tall hat and frock coat and, as they said, with goloshes only, letting himself down from the balcony into the street. It the matter were not so serious, the ludicrous side comes on this, because it was only the fear for his skin, impelled by an evil conscience, that made him do this foolish thing. The front door was loose, he could have walked down and walked out. We wondered what had become of him, but one or two strange telephone messages through the day assured us that he was standing by the speaker endeavoring to get some knowledge of his friend, Brother Housden. He turned up at the Court yesterday, and saw his failure written large across the happenings at the Court. Afterwards he said he was willing to go back to America, and Brother Housden expressed his readiness to go also, putting it as if he thought he should go to take care of Johnson, but, as I believe, with the fear in his heart that this embezzlement of the money might bring serious consequences to him.

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