1917 Watchtower Bible Student Schism - A2Z.org

hrst came to Britain: in fact, I am of the opinion
he helped us over bere in many ways, but meantime
we do not lee any reason to agree with his
interpretation of the Scripturea regarding "the
steward."
"We daily remember you, dear brother, before
the Throne of Grace, having rome idea of the many
didculties that you have to contend with, and
how much you will need to use that wisdom
which cometh from above. May our loving
Father continue to guide and direct you in a11
your labors of love for his - - dear - children.
"Yourr in One Hope,
HARVEST SIFTINGS
";w.
0. WAEDSN."
NOT WANTED AGAIN . - IN ENGLAND
"Mancbester, June 80, 1917.
"MY DLAD BYOTHZ~ RUTHLPOOQD:-
"Grettings in our dear L.ord.
"The purpose of my writing at present is just
to give you somt idea of the influence our Brother
Paul Johnson exercised when on his Pilgrim trip
in Great Britain.
'The first time I came in contact with him was
at the Manchester Convention last New Year.
While I could see he was a brother of great ability,
yet I was not fully satisfied with his presentations,
particularly his inte retation and application of
the Parable of the l%enny. He evidenced great
loyalty to our dear Brother Russell, which pleased
me mu& Yet there wu ol I have proved since,
an over rtatement of just what were pur dear Pastor's
viewa. I met him later at Ghsgow and Abtrdeen,
and then finally spent two days with him
here in Manebester. There two days proved to be
raddening and just we'rrt to prove some of my
"'E ear 'er surpicions regarding his mental condition.
You are of course conversant with the fact of
his several claims which it is not necessary for me
to further detail, but my purpore is to write and
say that inrtud of his presence being a comfort to
the brethren it proved rather the reverse. Had
he been allowed to continue his tour further the
result must have been serious trouble in many
of the Churches. I can assure you that if it were
proposed for his return to Great Britain moJt of
the clases would rrqurst that he br not received.
If Brother Johnson feels he has a work to 'do in
this country it ,is certainly not the Lord's work
unless she has altered his many rtrange interpretations
and personal applications. He told us in
Manchester here that it was his sure belief that
Brother Russell had been exalted to the Lord's
right hand and that the left &d been reserved for
ANOTHER.
"You must understand the spirit in which I am
writing you thissnore and trust it may be helpful
for YOU at this me.
"your-'brother by His grace.
"JOHN J. COCBUN."
A letter from Brother Hemery, dated London, June
1817, says:
"Brother Johnson caxhe to us as if charged with
a special mission to comfort the British brethren.
It was quite apparent that he had a considerable
idea of his privilege, and also of his ability to do
this work It was strange to me that -his#.public
ministry was so unproductive. and that from almost
every point of view. He neither comforted
the public, nor, accept in the earliest part of his
ministry, the brethren amongbt whom he ministered.
His later claims put him out of the means
of being a help to the brethren, for they want to
be fait.hfu1 to the channel which the Lord has
given, and they could not understand anyone attempting
to set themselves up as the Lord's
channel, and yet in opposition to the main spokesman
for that channel. Brother Johnson might
think that I am speaking my own feelings wlren
I say thu, but I am putting these out of account,
and looking at the matter from the point of view
of the Lord's work as I ree it. I am very rure
that if I were to ask the representative brethren
of .lac coun,try, they would, with a unanimous
volce ray, Do not on any account send us
Brother Johnson.' His talenta were esteemed;
he himself was also esteemd until he put forward
his rtrange claims, and showed so clearly that
he had a desire for place and power. A rem
visit how, even if he were quite right in his attitude,
would be too near his former mistakes in
oint of time, and such a ministry would inevitably
E e received with suspicion, and would fail of itr
desired eliect"
OTHERS DISCOVERED IN CONSPIRACY
Early in the Spring of 1917 Brother Ritchie made a pilgrim
trip to the Northern States and portions of Canada. Re- .
orb be to come in that he was stating to rome of the
friends 8.Y' at a division was taking place at the Bethel Home.
and that had be been elected as an officer of Tnz WATCE
Tow= BIBU AND Turn Soamr he woufd have considered
himself a member of the Great Company Uass. These reports
came from numerous sources and were calculated to
disturb. I hd a personal talk with Brother Ritchie about
the matter in the presence of Brothen Van Amburgh and
Pierron. ke acknowledged that he had made such statemeats,
but promised to do so no more. But within a week
he violated that promise by making a similar statement to
Brother Hazletf A &on time before that, Brother Sturgeon
had nude a statement to me that it was generally understood
in the Bethel Home that I had used olitiul methods to
secure m election as President of the Zociety. Pressed for
nahes olrome rho said so, he gave the name of Brother
Ritchic On a certain morning at breakfast, while Brother
Pierson was redat I mentioned the matter publicly to the
frm*; and t!ercupon Brothers Pierson, Van Amburgh md
Macmrllan, who bad mt most of the voter at the convention,
each h turn made a statement that 1 had never so
much u spoken to them about the election prior thereto,
I take this ocusion to ray that there is no penon on earth
who can truthfully say that I ever asked them directly or
indirectly to vote for mc 1 hmagkb bd-d that whmsoever
was selected to &ot podtion wwtd k ldrctd by
the Lord, and I would mot permit rnrwa Ls be kdueuccd
by mytlung I should say.
Brother Sturgeon furthe allad & ~ I I ~ Wdrr I f~ct chr
some of the duses had deck4 W wunack, that
I ws creating an offica in them Cbmcb la flu to pin
Preslsgr and owe. I trig in 4nchep tr pmt otxt to the
brother that f hd no -re er hrtsntioa J. he
mentioned; that I am a ~owarkr by p ~~h%n, and hare
been for more than 25 years; bur I WM ammdor tor ~ v c d
years for Brother Russell, u$.h S*; u well u serving
many of the friends throughout the country In this same
oapacity.
For more than thirty years, the President of Ts: WAK~
Tom BIBU AND Truer Smm managed it6 rwrm ucelusively,
and the Board of Directors, .so-called, bad Little bo
do. This is not- said in criticism, but for the mron that
the work of the Society peculiarly requires the dksctitm of
one mind. There are so many small details that if 6eV8td
gersonr had to direct them, more than half ha h e wuid
e used in consultation. This was clearly dwmWmtd by
the Executive Committee. and it was found that it t d c h q
men two hours a day what one could do in a third of that
time, because of the time consumed in consultarion about
detailr, and these brethren on the committee worked in uraa
harmony at the same time.
In harmony with the expressed wishes of thq Shareholders
voiced by unanimous vote at the election m Pittsburgh,
January 6,1917, as the President of Tar .WATCH Tom BIBLE
AND Truer SOCIETY I have attempted to manage the affairs
thereof. How well I have succeeded it is not necessary for
me to say. On the 17th of July, 1917, I made a repoct to
the full Board of Directors as to what had been accomplished,
and'amongat other things pointed out how I had been enabled,
by the Lord's grace, to save the Society since the death of
Brother Russell more than S50,oOO. It will be readily understood
that this is not due to mismanagement on any one's
pn; but dter Brother Russell's death, he having peculiar
nowledgc of the affairs,' necessar~ly it was with difficulty
that anyone wotrld attempt to take them up. We found some
arrangements made with outside parties concerning certain
work, which parties attempted to repudiate conttacts or to