Spiritual Leader? Where Stated? March 12, 2004

In the General Convention minutes, you will notice nothing stated about the Executive Trustee being a "Spiritual Leader". Those who attended voted unanimously for this brother to hold this office, strictly for business only. See PT 2004, pages 19 and 20:

Minutes of the Florida Convention Business Meeting March 12, 2004

BE IT RESOLVED by this General Convention of the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement held in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on March 12, 2004 with all delegates thereto in convention assembled, that, due to the demise of Pastor Bernard W. Hedman while acting as Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M., Pastor Ralph M. Herzig, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, be appointed as Pastor Bernard W. Hedman's successor as Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M., with the following powers:

(1) To continue, manage and conduct in the name and on behalf of said L.H.M.M., its business and affairs, as he may deem to be appropriate, requisite or advisable to be done or performed;

(2) To receive, hold in charge and expend, for the objects and purposes of said L.H.M.M., any and all monies and other assets thereof;

(3) To borrow from time to time on behalf of and for the purposes of said L.H.M.M., any sums of money he may deem advisable upon the monies or other assets of said L.H.M.M., including its real estate;

(4) To invest or reinvest any monies, assets or property of said L.H.M.M. as he may deem advisable and proper;

(5) For and in the name of said L.H.M.M., to buy, sell and convey real estate in fee simple to any person or persons and for such sum or sums as he shall deem proper, without any liability on the part of the purchaser to see to the disposition of the purchase money, and further with power to mortgage the whole or any part of any real estate owned or subsequently acquired by said L.H.M.M.

(6) To grant, bargain and sell any messuages, tenements, hereditaments and real estate whatsoever, or any part or parcel thereof, for any sum or price as to him shall seem proper;

(7) To manage all lands, messuages, tenements or hereditaments freehold or leasehold or otherwise, owned and/or occupied by said L.H.M.M.;

(8) To enter into, accept, terminate and vary leases or tenancies thereof; and

(9) To grant, accept, terminate and vary leases and tenancies thereof, and to demand and receive all rents due or to become due to said L.H.M.M. from any person, persons, partnership or corporation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Pastor Ralph M. Herzig shall have the power to designate an attorney, agent or representative, with full power to do everything requisite and necessary in furtherance of the L.H.M.M.'s activities, and with full power of substitution and revocation in such duties or actions as Pastor Ralph M. Herzig shall deem necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Pastor Ralph M. Herzig shall have the power to delegate certain of his duties to such person or persons as he may designate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, for effectually removing any possible doubt which may arise as to the true meaning or as to the construction or application of the powers aforementioned, that the L.H.M.M. hereby declares that the same are intended to extend and shall in all cases extend to any other matters or transactions not previously mentioned or defined which in the course of the general business of said L.H.M.M. as aforesaid may by Pastor Ralph M. Herzig be deemed to be requisite or advisable to be done or performed.

RESOLUTIONS FOR TEMPORARY SUCCESSION

WHEREAS, Ralph M. Herzig, the incumbent Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M. does not deem it advisable at the present time to propose anyone to be duly elected to succeed him as Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M. at the time of his demise, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed advisable to make a provision for the temporary carrying on of the normal functions of the L.H.M.M. without interruption in the event of said incumbent Executive Trustee's demise at a time when no succeeding Executive Trustee of the

L.H.M.M. shall have yet been duly elected and is then capable of serving in that capacity,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Pastor Ralph M. Herzig shall have the power, and is hereby invested so to do, to designate in writing, a Pilgrim or an Auxiliary Pilgrim of the L.H.M.M. to act as Temporary Executive Trustee with the powers hereinafter enumerated until a succeeding Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M. is duly elected, and qualified, and it is

FURTHER RESOLVED, that Ralph M. Herzig shall have the power and is hereby invested so to do, to designate in writing, a Pilgrim or an Auxiliary Pilgrim of the L.H.M.M. to act as alternate Temporary Executive Trustee with the same powers as the Temporary Executive Trustee in the event that the person designated as Temporary Executive Trustee is unable or incapable of acting as Temporary Executive Trustee for any reason whatsoever, and it is

FURTHER RESOLVED that the following shall be the powers and duties of the Temporary Executive Trustee:

FIRST: To announce the death of the incumbent Executive Trustee and to assist his family to arrange for his funeral.

SECOND: To arrange for the election of a succeeding Executive Trustee, which election shall take place within four months from the date of the death of the incumbent Executive Trustee, and which election shall be held either at:

(a) A special business meeting called for the purpose of electing a succeeding Executive Trustee at a general convention which had already been scheduled before the demise of the incumbent Executive Trustee, if in the opinion of the Temporary Executive Trustee there is adequate time to provide for an election at such general convention.

(b) A special business meeting of a special general convention called and arranged for by the Temporary Executive Trustee.

THIRD: In the interim between the demise of the incumbent Executive Trustee and the election of a succeeding Executive Trustee, the Temporary Executive Trustee shall exercise all the necessary powers to carry on the work of the L.H.M.M. without interruption; provided, however, that the expenditures of money by the Temporary Executive Trustee shall not exceed $150,000.00.

FOURTH: That otherwise the powers of the Temporary Executive Trustee shall be the same as the powers as those of the Executive Trustee as enumerated under paragraphs (1) through (9) above and the three additional resolutions immediately following paragraph (9) above.

Spiritual Leader? Where stated in Polish?

See PT 2004 Pages, 19 and 20

Minutes of the Florida Convention Business Meeting March 12, 2004

12 MARCA 2004 R.

ZE WZGLĘDU NA śmierć Bernarda W. Hedmana dnia 30 stycznia 2004 r. zostało zwołane Zebranie Gospodarcze na konwencji w Jacksonville we Florydzie w dniu 12 marca 2004 r. o godz. 3:00 po południu celem wybrania nowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego Świeckiego Ruchu Misyjnego Epifania. Przewodniczącym tego zebrania był br. Leon Snyder z Grand Rapids w Michigan, a br. Thomas Cimbura z Lino Lakes w Minnesocie pełnił funkcję sekretarza. Br. Snyder wygłosił przemówienie otwierające zebranie, które składało się ze wstępu oraz informacji, w kontekście których odbywało się niniejsze zebranie. Ponadto podał on sprawozdanie ze Specjalnego Zebrania Interesowego, które odbyło się 8 lutego 2004 r. w Zajeździe w Chester Springs w Lionville w Pensylwanii. Zebranie to odbyło się dzień po Nabożeństwie Żałobnym Bernarda W. Hedmana. Uczestnikami tego zebrania byli m.in. trzej (3) Pielgrzymów oraz ośmiu (8) Pielgrzymów Pomocniczych ze Stanów Zjednoczonych oraz po jednym

(1) przedstawicielu z Niemiec, Polski i Wielkiej Brytanii. Obecne także były trzy (3) siostry nieuprawnione do głosowania jako obserwatorki. Br. Snyder stwierdził, iż celem tego zebrania było zbadanie dokumentów pozostawionych przez br. Hedmana co do następstwa na funkcji Opiekuna Wykonawczego ŚRM Epifania. W swoich komentarzach br. Snyder omawiał werset Żydów 7:7 oraz odczytał fragmenty artykułów Teraźniejszej Prawdy przynależnych do tematu wyboru Opiekuna Wykonawczego i Dyrektora. Następnie br. Snyder odczytał dokument br. Hedmana z 1996 r. zatytułowany „Pełnomocnictwo” oraz nieopatrzony datą „Dodatek” do „Pełnomocnictwa”. Godne uwagi jest to, iż w obydwu tych dokumentach br. Ralph Herzig został wymieniony przez br. Hedmana jako Tymczasowy Opiekun Wykonawczy, a br. John Davis został wymieniony jako kolejny Tymczasowy Opiekun Wykonawczy. Warto także podkreślić, iż „Pełnomocnictwo” miało być używane na wypadek niesprawności, niemożności lub choroby br. Hedmana, a dodatek miał wejść w życie dopiero po śmierci br. Hedmana. Następnie br. Cimbura odczytał niewiążącą uchwałę braci uczestniczących w Specjalnym Zebraniu Interesowym, jakie odbyło się 8 lutego 2004 r. Uchwała brzmi jak następuje: Proponujemy, by br. Ralph Herzig został zarekomendowany Kościołowi Powszechnemu jako Opiekun Wykonawczy i Dyrektor Świeckiego Ruchu Misyjnego Epifania z wszystkimi uprawnieniami, jakie posiadał poprzedni Opiekun Wykonawczy i Dyrektor.

(Patrz Present Truth, styczeń-luty 1986 r., strona 13, kolumna 2, (1) do strony 14, kolumna 1, dwa paragrafy u góry strony)”. Zgodnie z powyższą uchwałą br. Cimbura odczytał następującą szczegółową Uchwałę (zauważ, iż z pewnymi poprawkami) podającą br. Ralpha Herziga jako nowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego ŚRM Epifania. MIANOWANIE RALPHA M. HERZIGA Zostaje uchwalone przez niniejszą Konwencję Generalną Świeckiego Ruchu Misyjnego Epifania, która miała miejsce w Jacksonville Beach na Florydzie w dniu 12 marca 2004 r. ze wszystkimi delegatami w tym celu zebranymi na konwencji, aby ze względu na zgon pastora Bernarda W. Hedmana działającego jako Opiekun Wykonawczy ŚRM, pastor Ralph M. Herzig z Pittsfield w Massachusetts, został wyznaczony jako następca pastora Bernarda W. Hedmana na stanowisku Opiekuna Wykonawczego ŚRM z następującymi uprawnieniami:

(1) Kontynuowania zarządzania i prowadzenia w imieniu i na rzecz wymienionego ŚRM jego interesów i spraw, tak jak może on to uznać za właściwe, pożądane i wskazane;

jakichkolwiek funduszy oraz innych jego aktywów;

(3) Pożyczania od czasu do czasu w imieniu oraz dla celów rzeczonego ŚRM jakichkolwiek sum pieniędzy jakie może uznać za wskazane pod zastaw kapitałów lub innych aktywów rzeczonego ŚRM włączając jego nieruchomości;

(4) Inwestowania i reinwestowania wszelkich kapitałów, aktywów lub własności rzeczonego ŚRM według tego, co uzna za wskazane i właściwe;

(5) Nabywania, sprzedawania i przekazywania na rzecz i w imieniu rzeczonego ŚRM wszelkich nieruchomości jako pełną nieograniczoną własność, jakiejkolwiek osobie lub osobom za taką sumę lub sumy, jakie uzna za właściwe bez jakiegokolwiek prawa ze strony nabywcy do kontrolowania tego, w jaki sposób cena kupna zostanie rozdysponowana, a następnie posiadania pełnomocnictwa do oddawania w zastaw całości lub części jakiejkolwiek nieruchomości posiadanej lub później nabytej przez rzeczony ŚRM.

(6) Nadawania tytułu własności, negocjowania ceny i sprzedaży jakichkolwiek zabudowań, posiadłości, własności dziedzicznych i wszelkich nieruchomości lub jakiejkolwiek ich części za dowolną sumę lub cenę jaką będzie uważał za właściwą;

(7) Zarządzania wszystkimi gruntami, zabudowaniami, posiadłościami lub własnościami dziedzicznymi posiadanymi na własność lub dzierżawionymi, które są w posiadaniu oraz/lub są zajmowane przez rzeczony ŚRM;

(8) Zawierania, akceptowania, wypowiadania i zmieniania umów dzierżawnych lub czasu ich trwania; oraz

(9) Oddawania, przyjmowania, wypowiadania oraz zmieniania dzierżaw i czasu ich trwania oraz żądania i przyjmowania należnych czynszów lub czynszów, które będą należne w przyszłości na rzecz rzeczonego ŚRM od jakiejkolwiek osoby, osób, spółek lub firm; oraz UCHWALA SIĘ DALEJ, iż pastor Ralph M. Herzig będzie upoważniony do wyznaczenia pełnomocnika lub przedstawiciela z zupełną władzą załatwiania wszelkich spraw wymaganych lub koniecznych w związku z prowadzeniem działalności ŚRM oraz pełną władzą powoływania i odwoływania z takich obowiązków lub czynności odpowiednio według uznania pastora Ralpha M. Herziga; oraz

UCHWALA SIĘ DALEJ, iż pastor Ralph M. Herzig będzie miał prawo do zlecania pewnych swych obowiązków osobie lub osobom wyznaczonym według własnego wyboru; oraz

UCHWALA SIĘ DALEJ, aby skutecznie usuwać wszelkie możliwe wątpliwości, jakie mogłyby powstać w odniesieniu do rzeczywistego znaczenia bądź interpretowania, bądź zastosowania wyżej wymienionych pełnomocnictw, iż ŚRM niniejszym oświadcza, iż mają się one rozszerzać i we wszystkich przypadkach będą się rozszerzać na wszelkie inne kwestie lub transakcje nie wymienione lub nie określone uprzednio, których wykonanie lub załatwienie podczas prowadzenia spraw rzeczonego ŚRM może zostać uznane przez pastora Ralpha M. Herziga za konieczne lub wskazane.

UCHWAŁY DOTYCZĄCE TYMCZASOWEGO NASTĘPSTWA ZWAŻYWSZY na to iż, Ralph M. Herzig, urzędujący Opiekun Wykonawczy ŚRM, nie uważa obecnie za wskazane zaproponować kogokolwiek, by został należycie wybrany na stanowisko jego następcy jako Opiekuna Wykonawczego ŚRM na wypadek jego śmierci, oraz ZWAŻYWSZY na to, iż jest wskazane, aby podjąć postanowienie w sprawie przejściowego kontynuowania normalnych funkcji ŚRM bez przerwy w wypadku śmierci aktualnie urzędującego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, gdy jeszcze nie będzie należycie wybranego następnego Opiekuna Wykonawczego ŚRM, który byłby w stanie usługiwać w tym charakterze, DLATEGO TERAZ UCHWALA SIĘ, iż pastor Ralph M. Herzig będzie miał prawo, a niniejszym zostaje do tego upełnomocniony, wyznaczyć na piśmie pielgrzyma lub pielgrzyma pomocniczego ŚRM do działania w charakterze Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, z uprawnieniami wymienionymi poniżej, do czasu

właściwego wyboru i wykwalifikowania następnego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, oraz

DODATKOWO UCHWALA SIĘ, iż Ralph M. Herzig będzie miał prawo, a niniejszym zostaje do tego upełnomocniony, wyznaczyć na piśmie pielgrzyma lub pielgrzyma pomocniczego ŚRM do działania w charakterze kolejnego Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, z tymi samymi uprawnieniami co Tymczasowy Opiekun Wykonawczy, na wypadek gdyby osoba wyznaczona do pełnienia funkcji Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego nie była w stanie lub byłaby niezdolna do działania w charakterze Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego z jakiegokolwiek powodu, oraz PONADTO UCHWALA SIĘ następujące uprawnienia i obowiązki Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego:

PO PIERWSZE: ogłosić śmierć urzędującego Opiekuna Wykonawczego i pomóc rodzinie zorganizować jego pogrzeb.

PO DRUGIE: poczynić przygotowania do wyboru następnego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, który to wybór winien nastąpić w ciągu czterech miesięcy od daty śmierci urzędującego Opiekuna Wykonawczego i odbyć się albo na:

(a) specjalnym zebraniu interesowym zwołanym w celu wyboru następnego Opiekuna Wykonawczego na generalnej konwencji, która została zaplanowana jeszcze przed śmiercią urzędującego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, jeśli zdaniem Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego jest wystarczająco dużo czasu, by uwzględnić wybór na takiej konwencji generalnej.

(b) specjalnym zebraniu interesowym specjalnej generalnej konwencji, zwołanej i zorganizowanej przez Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego. PO TRZECIE: Tymczasowy Opiekun Wykonawczy, w okresie pomiędzy śmiercią urzędującego Opiekuna Wykonawczego i wyborem następnego Opiekuna Wykonawczego, będzie wykonywał wszystkie swoje

uprawnienia konieczne do prowadzenia działalności ŚRM bez przerwy, jednakże z tym zastrzeżeniem, iż wydatki pieniężne Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego nie przekroczą 150.000,00 dolarów.

PO CZWARTE: Uprawnienia Tymczasowego Opiekuna Wykonawczego w innych okolicznościach będą takie same jak uprawnienia Opiekuna Wykonawczego wymienione powyżej w paragrafach od jeden do dziewięć i w trzech dodatkowych uchwałach bezpośrednio następujących powyżej po paragrafie dziewiątym.

What Poor Reasoning!

Below are two examples of poor reasoning. You will notice similarities to today.

E5 Pg. 171-172

Example #1: There are two statements in the article from which J. F. R. and others have inferred the dates, but quite erroneously. One of these statements is to the effect (p. 264, col. 2, pars. 2, 6) that the end of the wrath on Israel was April, 73, and that the parallel of this date was April, 1918. This statement is true, but does not refer at all to the reaping; rather it refers to the burning of the chaff; and of course completing the burning of the chaff in Fleshly Israel cannot be paralleled with completing the reaping of the wheat in Spiritual Israel. People who blunder into such an inference are not safe guides. They surely will lead others into the ditch! The second statement from which the inference was drawn that April, 1878, and April, 1918, respectively witnessed the beginning and ending of the reaping, is that made on there being no garner until Pentecost, 33 A.D. (p. 264, col. 2, par. 1). The reasoning that produced this inference is the following:Since there was no garner until Pentecost, 33 A.D., there was therefore no reaping until then! hence there was no reaping until Pentecost, 1878, the parallel time in the Gospel Harvest; and since the Gospel reaping lasts 40 years, the reaping must have ended in 1918!

What poor reasoning! In it the reaping process is confounded with the garnering process…

Example #2:

PT. 2006 Page 21

The emphasis put forth in this writing is that the Youthful Worthies came forth as a class in 1881. Therefore, since their existence as individuals must logically precede their arrival as a class, it must have been in1878.

In light of all the Truth concerning the Youthful Worthies. What poor reasoning!

Bro. A. Gohlke's India Trip Report

...On Jan.15, more brethren came from Mysore, some who formerly were with the dawn group but who have from the Scriptures, reason and facts become convinced recently that the door of entrance to the High Calling closed in 1914, that God is now selecting the Spirit enlightened, non-Spirit-begotten consecrated ones, etc...

PT. 1978 Pg. 30

The Current Executive Trustee is not Qualified

Bro. Johnson's stern warning to JFR and other Levites for changing the dates of "that Servant":

E5 Pg. 173

...In the Lord’s name we serve these Levites notice to refrain from further presumption and fraud in tampering with the priestly writings of "that Servant." They are not qualified for the work of correcting them, and do it at their peril (Lev. 10: 1, 2)!

(55) In fixing this date, 1918, the Society leaders caused much disappointment to thousands of the brethren; and their and others’ fixing wrong dates, we are satisfied, will produce further disappointments.

(56) Statements in "Pastor Russell’s Sermons" (pp. 287, par. 1, and 289, par. 3) are cited by not a few as a proof that our dear Pastor taught that the reaping began in 1878 and ended in 1918. We reply that in the book of sermons printed late in 1917 by the Society these dates will be found on the pages cited above; but not in the sermon as our dear Pastor published it. The sermon in question was first published in 1908, and correctly gave the dates 1874 and 1914 as the beginning and end of the Harvest. Our Pastor never changed those dates in that sermon. They were changed after his death, seemingly to palm off as his certain time features that he never taught, thereby misleading many, even as was done by the interpolated verse, 1 John 5: 7. The one responsible for this change has much to answer for. Such a course cannot but arouse distrust that other misleading changes have been made, or may yet be made, in his writings...

Letters of General Interest PT. 1969 Pg. 32

Dear Bro. Jolly:...

Thank you for the Vow and Morning Resolve cards. The lighter background makes them easier to read. We enjoy the P.T. and B.S. with their many citations from the Bible and the Truth writings. The advancing Truth fits the former Truth like "hand and glove."

Your Sister by His grace, E.F., Ohio

Changed Work for Little Flock after 1914

PT. 1969 Pg. 71-74

...God evidently knew that by the Fall of 1914 enough prospective Little Flock members to finally fill up the entire 144,000 were Spirit-begotten, and that they would make their calling and election sure; and that therefore it would not be necessary to beget any more individuals of the Spirit after the Fall of 1914 to take the places of others who had lost their crowns, as had been the case from 1881 to 1914.

CHANGED WORK FOR LITTLE FLOCK AFTER 1914

It is evident that the remaining Little Flock members did not in the Fall of 1914 or shortly thereafter begin the eagerly-anticipated and joyous work of blessing all the families of the earth, nor have they yet begun it. The symbolic olive tree has failed to bring forth fruitage as yet in blessing the world in the Kingdom. Instead, God had another work for them to do first. As mentioned above, the time since 1914, the Time of Trouble, or Epiphany period, is God's special time for the cleansing and development of the Great Company class (2 Tim. 4: 1; Rev. 7: 14) and for the development of the Youthful Worthies as a class...

...For example, the Priesthood set forth the truth on the door of entrance into the High Calling closing with the setting in of the Time of Trouble in 1914, and that those consecrating thereafter would not have any hope of Little Flockship, but rather of Youthful Worthiship...

Both the new creatures and the Youthful Worthies receive the Holy Spirit, though the latter are not now begotten to a new nature by it. The Holy Spirit's witness to both is very similar (E Vol. 15, pp. 652-654). Therefore, in the case of those consecrating from 1881 to 1914, it was (and still is) not evident (except in rare cases) whether they were Spirit-begotten, and therefore are new creatures, or not Spirit-begotten, and therefore are prospective Youthful Worthies. Hence there was no Youthful Worthy class as such before 1914. But in the case of those consecrating after the closing of the door of entrance into the High Calling, in the Fall of 1914, it is evident that none of the 144,000 crowns has been available for them and, accordingly, that none of them is Spirit-begotten; hence from then on the Youthful Worthies came into existence as a class.

"The advancing Truth must agree with the past Truth. It does not repudiate the formerly received Truth, but makes it clearer and brings out further details that project the same Truths into greater elaborations" (E 5, p. 32)

Attacks on Advancing Tabernacle Truth

PT.1959 Pg. 56

A REFUTATION OF ATTACKS

ON ADVANCING TABERNACLE TRUTH

AS we have shown in considerable detail in our May-June issue (a copy free on request), one of the strong evidences proving that the Lord specially used Bro. Johnson to give the advancing Truth to God's people after Bro. Russell's death, is that Bro. Johnson not only repeatedly reaffirmed those features of the Truth on the progressive Tabernacle picture that had been given through Bro. Russell, but also gave additional pertinent features of Truth, based on, in harmony with, and elaborated out of the pertinent Truth given through Bro. Russell. Other leaders among Truth people not only did not give advancing Truth on the Tabernacle, but also, generally speaking, did not accept it as brought forth by the Lord through Bro. Johnson.

These other leaders could not see, e.g., that a great step of progress in connection with the antitypical Tabernacle had set in—that beginning in the Fall of 1914 in the call of the Youthful Worthies as a class, God was building the Epiphany Tabernacle Court as distinct from the Holy (E Vol. 11, p. 493) and that this meant that the door of entrance into the High Calling, the Door of entrance into the Holy, had at that time closed forever to any desiring to enter, that the Great Company had lost their standing as antitypical Priests, and were soon to be put out of the Holy into the Court, while the crown-retainers remained in the Holy to finish their courses, and that all new consecrators would have their standing, not in the Holy, but in the Court.

Furthermore, many of the leaders objected greatly to and fought against this advancing Truth on the Tabernacle, particularly the teaching that those consecrating after the Fall of 1914 were eligible, not for Little Flockship, but for Youthful Worthiship...

See Page 56-57 for its entirety.

It's easier to defend the Truth against a frontal attack. It is much more difficult to defend the Truth when the error is promulgated from within the movement. 1914 is an established date for the Youthful Worthy call as a class. Some have tried to push the established date of 1914 forward and were corrected. Now, some are trying to push the date backwards. These P.T. articles were used to defend the Truth against such sifting errors.

Since within a few years after 1914 some allowed themselves to be misled and deceived into fighting against the progressive Truth on the Tabernacle, which showed that a new work was opening up from 1914 onward in the development of the Epiphany Court as distinct from the Holy, we should not think it strange that 40 years later, within a few years after 1954, we should have a similar situation, with some allowing themselves to be misled and deceived into fighting against the progressive Truth on the antitypical Tabernacle, as set forth by Bro. Johnson, which shows a new work opening up from 1954 onward, in building the Epiphany Camp as distinct from the Court, though there are still Great Company members and Youthful Worthies left in the Court to finish their course. Rather, we would think it strange if a similar condition did not exist.

And what do we find' It is even so. As we have shown in these columns (see, e.g., P '58, pp. 59-61, 91-94), there are repeated attacks being made, particularly by the teacher of what Bro. Johnson called "sophistry" on the time of the saints' reign (P '38, p. 74; '58, pp. 41-47), against the Truth on the antitypical Tabernacle as this Truth advanced in the Fall of 1954 in harmony with Bro. Johnson's teachings, with the completion of the Epiphany Court in its membership and the beginning of the building of the Epiphany Camp as distinct from the Court. The teachings that there are tentatively-justified ones who have their standing since the Fall of 1954 in the Epiphany Camp as distinct from the Court, and that a new class of consecrated ones, the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, is forming since the Fall of 1954, have been under particular attacks; even as 40 years ago, a few years after 1914, special attacks were made against the teachings that there were consecrated ones having their standing in the Court as distinct from the Holy, and that a new class, the Youthful Worthies, was forming after the Fall of 1914. As a comparison between the course of J.F. Rutherford and other leaders 40 years ago and the errorist under consideration...

All this Truth is available for the brethren to read, yet the error continues...

No more were eligible to become Ancient Worthies after High Calling opened

Youthful Worthies—Bad Results Of Holding Out False Hopes.

Question. (1970)—Is it wrong to hold forth the hope of attaining Youthful Worthiship to those who have consecrated since the Fall of 1954 and those consecrating now?

Answer.—We are not to hold forth false hopes to anyone. Just as no more were eligible to become Ancient Worthies after the High Calling opened (Luke 16: 16; Eph. 4: 4), and as no more could become New Creatures, begotten of the Holy Spirit, prospective Little Flock members, after the door of entrance into the High Calling closed in the Fall of 1914, so since the Fall of 1954, when the Youthful Worthy call or invitation ended (E. vol. 10, p. 114; P. ’55, p. 29; P. ’58, pp. 91-93), no more have had the privilege of becoming prospective Youthful Worthies. Since the Fall of 1954, according to the Epiphany Messenger’s teaching (in harmony with the antitypical 80 days of Lev. 12,...

...in order to come into the antitypical Court, as prospective Youthful Worthies (E. Vol. 10, p. 114). As already noted, soon after the Fall of 1914 Bro. Johnson began teaching, in harmony with the Scriptures, that with the beginning of the Epiphany period in the Fall of 1914 the door of entrance into the High Calling closed, and that new consecrators thereafter had the hope, not of Little Flockship, but of Youthful Worthiship. He realized that this teaching would turn some, especially among those consecrated after 1914, away from him and his teachings, and cause them to look instead to others who, contrary to the Scriptures, still held out to them the hope of the High Calling. However, this did not deter him from steadfastly teaching, in harmony with the Scriptures, that the door of entrance into the High Calling closed in 1914. Similarly, since the Fall of 1954, we have been teaching, in harmony with the Scriptures (e.g., Lev. 12) and the teaching of the Epiphany Messenger, that with the beginning of the Basileia period in the Fall of 1954 in its first lapping beginning, the door of entrance into Youthful Worthiship closed, and that new consecrators thereafter have the hope, not of Youthful Worthiship, but of becoming Consecrated Epiphany Campers...

The Executive Trustee's new thought of two calls going on at the same time contradicts the Truth writings.

Trinidad - Letters of General Interest

As to specific dates, it seems obvious that the last Youthful Worthy was selected on Sept. 16, 1954, corresponding to the last Spirit-begettal, which occurred on Sept. 16, 1914, exactly 40 years earlier (E4, pp. 39, 160-164). The date on which the Great Company's Attestatorial Service was due to begin (and did begin!) was Sept. 20, 1954, to correspond with the beginning of the Little Flock's Attestatorial Service exactly 40 years earlier, on Sept. 20, 1914 (P '56, pp. 90,91)...

According to the "present view" being taught by the current Executive Trustee of the Bible Standard Ministries, it appears that Bro. Johnson and Bro. Jolly were able to "pull the wool over one's eyes" in respect to this Brother's understanding of the Youthful Worthy call.

Two Call Going On At The Same Time?

The current "Executive Trustee" is now contradicting the Bible and God's servants with another new thought. Please listen to the excerpt from the 2009 Ohio convention:

Bro. Russell, P6 page 93:"Nor are we to think of different calls, but are to remember the declaration of the Apostle (Eph. 4: 4), "Ye are called in one hope of your calling." It is a mistake, therefore, for any to think that they have any choice in this matter" ..."Neither is there a second call during this Gospel age, though, as we have previously seen, there is a second class of saved ones selected during this age—the Great Company (Rev. 7: 9-14)"

Bro. Johnson, E4 page 89: "...We are not to understand that during the Gospel Age God has been calling two classes to salvation; for the record is: "Ye are all called in the one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4: 4); that is, we are not to understand that God has been offering two sets of people two different salvations during the Gospel Age, as inducements for them to serve Him; for such a thing is nowhere taught in the Bible..."

Bro. Jolly, PT 1968 page 77: "...the building up of the Epiphany Camp since 1954, the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, the end of the Youthful Worthy call, etc..."

Bro. Jolly, Question 1971 Eph. 4:4: "...We should not be blown about by winds of false doctrine that contradict the plain teachings of the Scriptures, and that claim without any Scriptural basis that the High Calling and the call to Youthful Worthiship are still open. It is no longer true that “we are called in one hope of our calling”— “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3: 14). That call or invitation closed forever in 1914, and also the call or invitation for Youthful Worthiship ended forever in 1954, according to the Scriptures (see e.g., Lev. 12; E. 4, pp. 98, 99; P ’58, pp. 91-94; ’59, p. 37)..."

Bro. Hedman: PT 1995 page 86: "...However, we are not to understand that during the Gospel Age (or Church Age) God called two classes to salvation; for the Scripture states, "ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4: 4). That is, we are not to understand that God offered two different salvations during the Gospel Age; for such a thing is nowhere taught in the Bible. Rather, there has been only one salvation offered to those who during the Gospel Age would turn from sin to righteousness, from Satan to God and Christ. To all of these God offered as the prize..."

Ohio, 2009: "1881/36 A.D. General Call/YW"

Here is part of a symposium talk from the Ohio convention, given by a brother from Michigan. It continues the discussion of the Executive Trustee's manufactured Youthful Worthy call in 1878. While we highlight the error on the sealing of the servants for your awareness, our real focus is on the two latter highlights.
"So, we find that the General Call ceased in 1881, just as in the corresponding date of October 36 saw the end of Jewish favor. But although the General Call had ceased, it did not mean that the opportunity to make their calling and election sure had ceased. While the door stood open, it indicated that any believer who was anxious to enter and ready to comply with the conditions, was yet welcome to do so. The door or opportunity to labor and sacrifice had no yet ceased, even though the General Call had ceased in 1881. This was the time for the sealing of the servants of God in their forehead, before the time of trouble started in 1914, as we read of in Revelation 7 verse 3 as you are very familiar with. It says, ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ This means that they were given an intelligent appreciation of heavenly things. God prepared His faithful ones. He prepared them by granting them increased knowledge in His will and plan. But before 1881, none of the deeper truths of God’s plans and purposes could be understood by those who were not begotten of the Spirit. All of the true faithful servants of God needed to appreciate this great privilege. But not only for their own intellectual sealing with the present truth, but also for engaging in the Harvest work of sealing others, those of the wheat class. This was needed to be done before the night cometh of the dark time of trouble and the door of opportunity to labor would be shut. They needed to do as the LORD told them in Luke 13: 24 “Strive to enter thru the narrow gate, for many I say unto you will seek to enter and not be able.” But since who responded under the General Call failed to keep their covenant, the door stood open for some to take their places. But at that time, more people consecrated to the LORD than could be provided crowns. And so these consecrators were not Spirit begotten…begotten of the Spirit. The LORD seemed to hold them in reserve. And as from time to time as crowns were lost by the measurably unfaithful, he selected the most faithful and eligible of these by Spirit begettal to have the lost crowns. And as time when on, a number of these in reserve seemed to have increased more rapidly than the number of those who had lost their crowns. So a large number of them was in reserve, when all of the Elect had been won. Before the General Call ceased in 1881, these non-Spirit begotten ones, as Bro. Russell referred to them, non-Spirit begotten consecrated…excuse me…did not exist as a class. But since that time, they have been so, and continue till today. They are separate and distinct from the Little Flock and Great Company. And what do we call this class? Youthful Worthies…as Bro. Johnson pointed out. And we know brethren, these are referred to many places in the Present Truths…”

In the second highlight, the brother says that only the Spirit-begotten could understand the deeper truths before 1881. That would certainly confuse the Executive Trustee's manufactured 1878-81 Youthful Worthies. But if we turn to E4, page 468, we can see that the brother's statement is accurate because there were no Youthful Worthies during that time: "That the Youthful Worthies understand the deep things is, as we have already indicated, due to the fact that they are consecrated," ... "for between Pentecost and 1881, to which time alone his words are limited, all the consecrated were New Creatures."

In the third highlight, he is most likely summarizing a familiar statement made by Bro. Johnson that is also found in E4 on page 318. We have already shown the proper reading of this statement in English in previous posts: "Before the General Call to the Divine nature and joint-heirship with Christ ceased in 1881, the persons that we call the 'Youthful Worthies' did not exist as individuals of a class; but since that time [the date given, 1881] they [plural, these persons or individuals] have been [in existence], and now [when written, in the Epiphany] are coming as such [a class] into existence, and are showing some evidence of existence as such [a class]."

Letters of General Interest - R.H. Massachusetts

PT. 1958 Pg. 48: 'Dear Bro. Jolly: Sincere Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus! I am rejoicing in the latest P.T., especially in the Memorial article. Also, the refutations of the errorist that the Lord has worked through you, dear brother, are proof upon proof as to the one that the Lord has designated as leader of His people at the present time. Please be assured of our prayers on your behalf.

Yours in His name, Bro. R.H. Massachusetts."

A Defense Of The Truth On The Epiphany or Apocalypse.

See PT. 1958 [Latest P.T. mentioned above] pages 19-32 for its entirety.

"... In all of his type-making he has made many applications contrary to Scripture, reason and facts. Also, he has taught many other errors, some of them in contradiction of basic Parousia and Epiphany truths, even striking at the organization of the Body of Christ (see, e.g., P '56, p. 97). It still remains to be seen wherein his many teachings of "new things" are "advancing Truth." "Advancing Truth must agree with the past Truth. It does not repudiate the formerly received Truth. . . . That which leaves part of the former foundations, tears down other parts of them and builds on other and contrary-running foundations [as the article under discussion does], cannot be a part of the former house. It must be a part of another house . . . must be deviating error, not advancing Truth" (E Vol. 5, p. 32)

"...He arrogantly warns the brethren that if they do not study his writings they will be under God's displeasure, and that "those who will stoutly adhere to the [so-called] immature teachings [of Bro. Russell and Bro. Johnson] after the advancing Truth [meaning the contrary and erroneous teachings he is now offering] is made plain, . . .will be cut off from God's people [italics ours]"!

The current Executive Trustee makes similar claims: "You have to have the keys", "I'm a mechanic, I fix the mistakes". He even claims fixes for corrections already made in the Present Truth magazine. The "present view" and the denial of the 1914 date for the start of the Youthful Worthy call and numerous closings of the door to the High Calling and two calls going on at the same time are contrary to the foundations of the Bible and God's basic Parousia and Epiphany Truths.

Ohio, 2009: "1878/33 A.D. Rapture/YW Call"

When someone has to give a discourse that focuses on the Executive Trustee's manufactured "present view" of the Youthful Worthies (based his misread of the Ruth picture in E4), contradictions with other parts of E4 are unavoidable. For instance, here is the transcribed text of a nice Brother from Pennsylvania who had to give a symposium part that included the new Youthful Worthy call date of 1878.

“Now if you notice on your program after the words 1878 / 33 AD and Rapture, there is another slash and then the words YW Call. The Youthful Worthy call was not directly related to the Rapture as such. But we know from our studies that in 1878 the fullness of the Gentiles, as referred to in Romans 11:25, came in. What was the fullness of the Gentiles? The fullness of the Gentiles was the point when the Lord’s predetermined number of places in the Bride of Christ had all been probationally filled. After this, some of these prospective members of the Bride of Christ lost this position due to measureable unfaithfulness. And these were then replaced by others who were already consecrated to whom the Lord then gave Spirit begettal. And I understand that from the time in 1878, when all of the members of Christ’s Bride had been probationally selected until the end of the Youthful Worthy call, any who consecrated were prospective Youthful Worthies, unless they became Spirit begotten, or unless they ceased to be prospective Youthful Worthies due to unfaithfulness. And so we find that we have a time in 1878 when there were many things taking place. It was a very important date in Bible chronology. You know in 12 minutes, brethren, you can’t really say a lot about a subject.”

As we have stressed in previous entries, this "present view" would make Brother Johnson contradict himself before and after the Ruth chapter (see the cover, pages 405, 419, 440, 462, 469, etc.). Is the Executive Trustee telling us that Brother Johnson could not write a book and be in harmony with his own thoughts? Apparently. And the brother who gave this portion, as much as he avoided giving details of the new call, still has to admit to this contradiction.

Annual Report For Poland

PT. 1972 Pg. 10, 11

Dear Bro. Jolly: May God's grace and peace continue to unfold in your heart! By his favor we end the year with joy amid His bountiful blessings. Analyzing the past year in the sphere of matters pertaining to God's people in Poland, we are impressed with the fact that the building of the Epiphany Camp is entering into a phase of greater activity. The interest in the Truth in due season has increased in comparison to other years and this was enhanced by the larger attendance at the convention this year of younger brothers and sisters, who have shown their consecration by water immersion (21 brothers and 39 sisters)...

Your brother and fellowservant, Wiktor Stachowiak.

Bro. Stachowiak recognized that the Truth concerning the Youthful Worthies was complete and the Lord through the natural progression of God's great plan moved forward to the next chapter, as he stated in his report.

Letter of General Interest PT. 1969 Pg. 79

Dear Bro. Jolly: Loving greetings in Jesus' name!...

...Sister was faithful to the end. Her consecration dated from some time before 1914, so it is possible that she will be given a reward in the spiritual phase of the kingdom...

Your brother by God's grace, R. E. Armstrong.

[Representative in Britain.]

How many times did the door close?

At a recent convention in Ohio, the Executive Trustee once again said that the door to the high calling closed or "Slammed shut!" more than once. Listen to the entire seven minute question and answer here. This obvious error contradicts what Pastor Russell has stated in his writings.


What Pastor Russell Said, Pages 150-51
"...We concede it reasonable to infer that the close of the favors upon fleshly Israel represent the close of the special favor of this Gospel Age, viz., the invitation to the High Calling; accordingly, our understanding is that the open' or general 'call' of this Age to Kingdom honors ceased in October, 1881. However, as already shown in Scripture Studies, we make a distinction between the end of the 'call' and the closing of the 'door;' and believe that the open' or general 'call' of this Age to Kingdom honors ceased in October, 1881. However, as already shown in Scripture Studies, we make a distinction between the end of the "call" and the closing of the 'door;' and believe that the door into the Kingdom class is not yet closed; that it stands ajar for a time, to permit those who had already accepted the 'call' and who fail to use its privileges and opportunities in self-sacrifice to be thrust out, and to permit others to enter to take their crowns, in harmony with (Rev. 3:11). The present time, therefore, from 1881 until the door of opportunity for sacrifice in the Lord's service shall fully close, is a period of 'sifting' as respects all who are already in Divine favor, in covenant relationship with God."

"This, we trust, makes plain the answer to your question, proving that some not previously consecrated will, in the eleventh hour, be admitted to the vineyard labors and to the rewards of the faithful, after the open call ceased, and before the 'door' closes."
Of the many references available, we recommend Scripture Studies, Vol. 3, chap. 6, as well as the following WT reprints: 2676, 2901, 4842, 5407, and 5523.

The Error Continues Part Two - The Denial of the 1914 Date

PT 1951 p. 135, C1

"Thus the material was all ready, initially, for the Epiphany temple by the Fall of 1914; and, as Bro. Johnson indicates in E Vol. 11, p. 493, the work of building the Epiphany tabernacle, or temple (frequently used interchangeably—. E Vol. 8, p. 623), 'had its beginning in the call of the Youthful Worthies from 1914 onward.' Hence we are warranted in beginning the time of the laying of the foundations of the Epiphany temple in the Fall of 1914."

PT 1951 p. 135, C2

"As already seen (in the third and fourth preceding pars.), the work of building the Epiphany temple had its first beginnings in the Fall of 1914 with the call of the Youthful Worthies. The Youthful Worthies will all be appointed by Oct. 1954, after which no more Youthful Worthies will be won (E Vol. 10, p. 114; P '51, p. 90),..."

PT 1959 p. 56, C1

"These other leaders could not see, e.g., that a great step of progress in connection with the antitypical Tabernacle had set in—that beginning in the Fall of 1914 in the call of the Youthful Worthies as a class, God was building the Epiphany Tabernacle Court as distinct from the Holy..."

The above references show that PT 2006, p. 21, col. 2, p. 22, col. 1. denies the 1914 date.

E-5 p.42 Par. 40

(40) "The Present Truth and Herald of Christ's Epiphany stands squarely and sincerely for the Parousia Truth, as basic for all further development of the Truth. Thus it heartily embraces the system of which is presented in the writings of our beloved Pastor, as well as holds to its principles and spirit. Whenever he gives two or more harmonious views of a Scriptural passage or doctrine, we accept all; whenever, as in a few instances in the great system of Truth which he presented, these cannot be harmonized, we accept the latest expressions:"

Bro. Johnson's early and later expressions on the subject are congruent:

PT 1947 p.51

"The Youthful Worthies as individuals have been developing since in 1881 the general call ceased, and as a class since the last Little Flock member was won in 1914."

See PT 1927 pages 129-130

PT 1949 p.156, C1

"Another wonderful happening of these past years is the many consecrators who are given the privilege of Youthful Worthiship. While there were Youthful Worthies from 1881 to 1914, i.e., in the case of those for whom no crowns were then available, since 1914 all new consecrators are of this class; because by Oct. 1914 all crowns were filled to completion. Grandly is this class coming to the front; and its members give evidence of acceptableness to the Lord as Youthful Worthies."

The Error Continues Part One - The Denial of the 1914 Date

The current Executive Trustee asked a basic Epiphany question followed by a misleading question in the Summer 2006 Present Truth magazine: "What is the correct date for the beginning of the Youthful Worthy call? Why are there differing views on it, 1878 or 1881?"

Where in our writings was 1878 or 1881 ever a consideration for the Youthful Worthy call? The 1878-1881 dates are misleading because his question deliberately ignores the correct date of 1914 (the date that has always been recognized by God's appointed leaders).

How are we as Epiphany Bible Students suppose to answer his question with two incorrect answers: 1878 and 1881?

He claims that both dates are given. Yet, in reality, he only accepts one.

Part two coming tomorrow...

Subtle Error "present view" Introduced - Part Two

The 2004 article then introduces two new sentences not found in the 1978 version. The first sentence completes the condition of the Great Company, while the second brings in the “present view” of the Youthful Worthies: “The Great Company has finished its course and has now received the spirit nature (Rev. 7: 1-14). The Youthful Worthies, as the last elect class, has been in the process of development since their inception in 1878 (see E4, The Epiphany's Elect, pp. 372-376; PT No. 519).”

There are some important questions that we need to ask ourselves. Was Bro. Johnson unable to hold a consistent thought within the same book (E4)? Did he express two dates for one event? We know this to not be the case when we look at the other pages such as 23, 39, 318, 327, 339, 405, 419, 426, 437, 440, 462 and 469.

The position of Executive Trustee is purely a business office only. Please see PT QB, pages 314 - 322.

Did Brother Jolly's election as Executive Trustee of the LHMM confer on him any powers aside from those of a business office, such as pastor, teacher, interpreter, pilgrim, etc.? No.

Are there any Scriptural indications that the leader of the good Levites is likewise the leader of the Great Company as a whole? Yes, there are several. Is there any Scriptural support for the current Executive Trustee as being our leader? No. There is no indication of any leader as now defined by the Executive Trustee.

Is the Executive Trustee of the LHMM as such authorized to bring forth advancing Truth? No. There was a difference between Bro. Jolly's office as the Lord's executive and as Executive Trustee of the LHMM? As taught, the office of the Executive Trustee of the LHMM is a much lower office, being merely a business office, to which they were elected by the brethren.

The brethren in America want the current Executive Trustee to do his job, refrain from rewriting cleansed truth, handle the business affairs of the LHMM, and keep the Parousia and Epiphany Truth in its purity.This is the truth on the matter.