Spirit-Begotten Consecrators

PT December 1937, Page 189--The Truth of itself did not beget of the Spirit; it did so only when God by a direct act of His will (Jas. 1: 18) empowered it so to do in each individual case. Hence, God willing it from Pentecost until 1878 in the case of all true consecrators, all such were Spirit-begotten. God not willing it for some from 1881 to 1914, the Truth did not beget such of the Spirit; and since God wills it for none since Oct., 1914, the Truth begets none of the Spirit since then.

This reference says nothing about Youthful Worthies from 1878-81. And, it was published within one year of E4.

Were the most of those who consecrated between April, 1878, and Oct., 1914, Spirit-begotten?

PT March 1945, Page 48--"We think that they were probably not in a majority among the consecrators; for none were Spirit-begotten between April, 1878, and Oct., 1881; and between Oct., 1881, and Oct., 1914, only such were Spirit-begotten as were needed to take the places of those whose crowns lapsed. Since the Youthful Worthies..."

Please see the complete reference for Youthful Worthy details. It separates the dates (as listed in the question) for when non-Spirit-begotten consecrated did not exist (1878-81) and could begin to exist (1881). This meaning can be easily verified by backing up only 70 pages to PT November 1944, Page 174 where it says: "St. Paul's words in 1 Cor. 2: 5-16 denying that the unbegotten of the Spirit are able to understand the deep things are limited to the time of the general call, during which to be Spirit-begotten and to be consecrated meant the same thing, hence all the consecrated were then Spirit-begotten, which was not the case before the call to the high calling opened. Hence, after the general call ceased St. Paul's pertinent words do not apply universally."

This lines up properly with the reference in E4 on page 469 (questions on the Youthful Worthies): "What St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 2: 14 does not contradict this; for between Pentecost and 1881, to which time alone his words are limited, all the consecrated were New Creatures; hence during that time the term New Creature and the term consecrated applied to the same persons and were interchangeable."

Question (March-April, 1963, Page 30)—After 1914, did not the truth on the Epiphany Court unfold beyond Bro. Russell’s expectations?

“… although Bro. Russell taught that consecration is always in order … and therefore understood that there would be some consecrators between the Ages … and though he saw Epiphany matters quite clearly in many other respects, he did not recognize that there would be more than one class in the Court in the Epiphany. This is not at all to his disparagement …, for the due time had not yet come for it to be understood more clearly.”

“After 1914 arrived, … the Lord made clear (through Bro. Johnson) that there was not only one class—the Great Company— but three classes in the post-1914 Court, during the Epiphany in its narrow, 40-year sense, as follows: (1) the unconsecrated tentatively justified (including many of them who came in from 1914 onward), who would not be remanded from the Court until 1954 (instead of 1914, as Bro. Russell had expected), (2) the Great Company, remanded from the Holy, and (3) the non-Spirit-begotten consecrated—the Youthful Worthies—who never had been in the Holy.”

If the current Executive Trustee’s “present view” is correct, then why did the Lord not make clear through Bro. Johnson or Bro. Jolly (who wrote the above reference) that there was a Youthful Worthy CLASS already in the court in the Parousia (pre-1914)? And wouldn't they discuss going from two classes to three classes?

A new standing or an old standing?

Standing is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as the status with respect to rank, reputation, or position in society or a profession. In PT July-August 1961, Bro. Jolly applies this definition in the same fashion to the opening of two NEW classes.

Page 58: "Furthermore, after 1914 another completion—the ending of the Parousia in its narrow or restricted sense (the reaping period) and the close of the door of entrance into the High Calling—and another concomitant beginning—the beginning of the Epiphany period in its first lapping beginning and the opening of a new standing, i.e., Youthful Worthiship, for all new consecrators after 1914—began to be preached from the Scriptures and the Parousia Messenger's teachings by Bro. Johnson and others who joined him."

One paragraph later: "... the beginning of the Basileia (as a stage of our Lord's Second Advent) in its first lapping beginning and the opening of a new standing (i.e., as Consecrated Epiphany Campers) for all new consecrators after 1954—has been preached from the Scriptures and the Epiphany Messenger's teachings."