E6, Merariism, P125

The channel doctrine is wrong because it makes its adherents over-reverence a good institution, which has been put to bad uses, and therefore fail to scrutinize its teachings and policies with sufficient care to secure themselves from great blunders, wrong policies and consequent spiritual dangers (Ps. 146: 3). In justification they allege that it is the Lord's concern to keep the channel pure; and thus they fail to watch properly; and leave themselves open to accept rather unquestioningly and credulously what "the channel" offers them. Such an attitude is tempting God (Matt. 4: 7), who guarantees no such thing, but disapproves of it by exhorting us to be sober and vigilant, and to prove all things (1 Pet. 5: 8, 9; 1 Thes. 5: 21; 1 John 4: 1). This course produces in its adherents a spirit similar to that of the members of the Catholic Church, a worshipping of messengers, a failure to test their teachings and a swallowing of error and a blind obedience. The channel doctrine is wrong, because it makes God's people subject to an institution to which they should not be subject (1 Cor. 7: 23). In practice this doctrine has made the bulk of the Society adherents as subject to it as the adherents of the papacy are to it. The same line of argument is used in each case; "to be out of harmony with the channel is to be out of harmony with the Lord." This thought has spread the spirit of fear among its adherents. They fear to get out of harmony with the Society lest they lose their crowns and opportunities of service and fellowship. Thus they fear properly to weigh its teachings and policies, thereby encouraging priestcraft. These considerations make them subject to a business corporation with a spirit of servile fear unbecoming to Priests of God.

A Letter of General Interest, PT July-August, 1957

My Dear Bro. Jolly: Grace and peace! First, I wish to say that I feel that I owe you an apology for the way in which in the past I handled with you the things which I then thought to be error on your part . . I would love to be on the Divine spirit plane with Jesus and the other 143,999 Divine beings, I making the full number--144,000; however, I now see that it cannot be. Bro. Johnson was the last Priest and star-member combined. Am I sorry? No! God knows best. If I am a Good Levite, I will be before the Throne with a Great Multitude.

The Scripture which says, "Let no man take thy crown," was applicable only until the end of the Parousia. Before it ended I had a chance to get into the Little Flock; I could then say, "We are all called in the one hope of our calling," but now that Scripture does not apply. I now see that whatever my desires are respecting the Little Flock, the Epiphany Messenger was the last Priest, making up the 144,000. The Lord's statement on Abel and Zacharias proves it. Even Bro. Russell, without knowing it, proved it in Z5256, pars. 11, 12.

And what shall my attitude be toward the Lord and toward the kingdom? Just as strong and faithful as if I were certain of Divine nature. Can we think that the angels in heaven are regretting the fact that they are not cherubim? Are they sad because they were not created equal to Michael? No! a thousand times no! I believe that those who refuse to see the truth on the subject of the Church's glorification are in some cases led partly by their imperfections, and will remain covered by Christ's robe of righteousness until and if they prove to Him that they no longer deserve that covering.

You have done a good work in exposing the errors of the sifters. Surely these controversies between Truth and error will help to manifest all who know and love the Truth. Thanks to you for The Present Truths and the other literature. Kindly send me The Millennium book. If you publish this, please give my name; it may help some of my associates, etc.

Your brother by the grace of the Lord, W.V.A. Franklin, Cal.

Those Who Were, and Those Who became... E7 Pgs. 313, 314

We rejoice that God opened their eyes to see the Parousia Truth and to consecrate; but even if this had taken place during the last 33 years of the Parousia time,: i.e., from Oct., 1881, up to Oct., 1914, it would not necessarily imply that they were offered the high calling; for, as our Pastor shows (F 156, 157), and as the Bible proves, after the general call ceased only certain ones of the consecrators were Spirit-begotten, and the rest became Youthful Worthies, to be associated with the Ancient Worthies as princes during the Millennium (Vol. IV, Chap. V). But since the reaping ended, i.e., since the Epiphany began, nobody is any more favored with the Spirit-begettal. It is the misfortune of such consecrators that, ignorantly indeed, they, against God's Word as now due, applied to themselves the Parousia promises that then applied to a limited number of the consecrators only, and that no longer, during the Epiphany, apply to anybody; but if their hearts are right, the Lord will show them that the Youthful Worthies' hope is theirs, and that He did not "slam the door close in their face" but closed it when due, which left many outside who wanted to come in, but could not (Luke 13: 24-27).