Crisis of Conscience

by Raymond Franz

  Keep looking, keep awake, for you do not know when the appointed time is.

  It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.4

  As part of a headquarters organization that was flushed with joy because of riding a crest of remarkable growth, there was not much that could be done, however. Some articles on the subject that came to me for editing I tried to moderate but that was about all. In my personal activity I did try to draw attention to the scriptures just mentioned, both in private conversations and in public talks.

  One Sunday evening in 1974, after my wife and I had returned from a speaking engagement in another part of the country, my uncle, then vice president, came over to our room. (His eyesight being extremely poor, we usually read the Watchtower study material out loud to him each week.) My wife mentioned to him that in my talk that weekend I had cautioned the brothers about becoming unduly excited over 1975. His quick response was, “And why shouldn’t they get excited? It’s something to be excited about.”

  There is no question in my mind that, of all the Governing Body members, the vice president was most convinced of the rightness of what he had written, and on which writing others had built. On another evening in the summer of 1975, an elderly Greek brother named Peterson (originally Papagyropoulos) joined us in our room for our reading, as was his custom. After the reading, my uncle said to Peterson, “You know, it was very much like this in 1914. Right up into the summer months everything was quiet. Then all of a sudden things began to happen and the war broke out.”

  Earlier, toward the start of 1975, President Knorr had made a trip around the world, taking Vice President Franz with him. The vice president’s speeches in all countries visited centered on 1975. Upon their return, the other members of the Governing Body, having heard reports from many countries of the stirring effect of the vice president’s talk, asked to hear a tape recording of it, made in Australia.5

  In his talk, the vice president spoke of 1975 as a “year of great possibilities, tremendous probabilities.” He told his audience that, according to the Hebrew calendar, they were “already in the fifth lunar month of 1975,” with less than seven lunar months remaining. He emphasized several times that the Hebrew year would close with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on September 5, 1975.

  Acknowledging that much would have to happen in that short time if the final windup was to come by then, he went on to talk about the possibility of a year or so difference due to some lapse of time between Adam’s creation and Eve’s creation. He made reference to the failure of expectations in 1914 and 1925 and quoted Rutherford’s remark, “I made an ass of myself.” He said that the organization had learned not to make “very bold, extreme predictions.” Toward the close, he urged his listeners not to take an improper view, however, and assume that the coming destruction could be “years away,” and focus their attention on other matters, such as getting married and raising families, building up a fine business venture or spending years at college in some engineering course.

  After hearing the tape, a few of the Governing Body members expressed concern that if indeed no “very bold, extreme predictions” were being made, some subtle predictions were, and the effect was palpably evident in the excitement generated.

  This was the first time that concern was expressed in the Governing Body discussions. But no action was taken, no policy decided upon.

  The vice president repeated many of the points of the same talk on March 2, 1975, at the following Gilead School graduation.6

  1975 passed—as had 1881, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925 and the 1940s. Much publicity was given by other sources as to the failure of the organization’s expectations surrounding 1975. There was considerable talk among Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves. In my own mind, most of what was said did not touch upon the major point of the matter.

  I felt that the real issue went far beyond that of some individual’s accuracy or inaccuracy or even an organization’s reliability or untrustworthiness or its members’ sensibleness or gullibility. It seemed to me that the really important factor is how such predictions ultimately reflect on God and on his Word. When men make such forecasts and say that they are doing it on the basis of the Bible, build up arguments for these from the Bible, assert that they are God’s “channel” of communication—what is the effect when their forecasts prove false? Does it honor God or build up faith in Him and in the reliability of his Word? Or is the opposite the result? Does it not give added inducement for some to feel justified in placing little importance upon the Bible’s message and teachings? Those Witnesses who made major changes in their lives in most cases could, and did, pick up the pieces and go on living in spite of being disillusioned. Not all could. Whatever the case, however, serious damage had been done in more ways than one.

  In 1976, a year after the passing of that widely publicized date, a few members of the Governing Body began urging that some statement should be made acknowledging that the organization had been in error, had stimulated false expectations. Others said they did not think we should, that it would “just give ammunition to opposers.” Milton Henschel recommended that the wise course would be simply not to bring the matter up and that in time the brothers would stop talking about it. There was clearly not enough support for a motion, favoring a statement, to carry. That year, an article in the July 15 Watchtower did refer to the failed expectations but the article had to conform to the prevailing sentiment within the Governing Body and no clear acknowledgement of the organization’s responsibility was possible.

  In 1977, the subject again surfaced in a session. Though the same objections were raised, a motion passed that a statement should be included in a convention talk that Lloyd Barry was assigned to prepare. I understand that afterward Governing Body members Ted Jaracz and Milton Henschel talked with Lloyd about their feelings on the matter. Whatever the case, when the talk was prepared, no mention of 1975 was included. I recall asking Lloyd about this and his reply was that he had just not been able to make it fit in with his subject. Almost two years went by and then in 1979 the Governing Body again considered the matter. By then everything indicated that 1975 had produced a serious “credibility gap.”

  A number of members of the headquarters staff expressed themselves in that vein. One described 1975 as an “albatross” hanging around our necks. Robert Wallen, a Governing Body secretary, wrote as follows:

  I have been associated as a baptized Witness well over 39 years and with Jehovah’s help I will continue to be a loyal servant. But to say I am not disappointed would be untruthful, for, when I know my feelings regarding 1975 were fostered because of what I read in various publications, and then I am told in effect that I reached false conclusions on my own, that, I feel, is not being fair or honest. Knowing that we are not working with infallibility, to me it is but proper that when errors are made by imperfect, but God-fearing men, then corrections will be made when errors are found.

  Raymond Richardson of the Writing Department said:

  Are not persons drawn to humility, and more willing to place confidence where there is candor? The Bible itself is the greatest example of candor. This is one of the most outstanding reasons why we believe it to be truthful.

  Fred Rusk, also of the Writing Department, wrote:

  Despite any qualifying statements that might have been made along the way to admonish the brothers not to say that Armageddon would come in 1975, the fact is there were a number of articles in the magazines and other publications that more than hinted that the old system would be replaced by Jehovah’s new system in the mid-1970s.

  Merton Campbell of the Service Department wrote:

  A sister called the other day on the phone from Massachusetts. She was at work. Both the sister and her husband are working to pay up bills that have accumulated because of sickness. She expressed herself as feeling so confident that 1975 would bring the end that they both were having trouble facing up to the burdens o
f this system. This example is typical of many of the brothers we meet.

  Harold Jackson, also of the Service Department, said:

  What is needed now is not a statement to the effect that we were wrong about 1975 but rather a statement as to why the whole matter has been ignored so long in view of the fact that so many lives have been affected. Now it is a credibility gap we are faced with and that can prove to be disastrous. If we are going to say something at all, let us speak straightforwardly and be open and honest with the brothers.

  Howard Zenke, of the same department, wrote:

  We certainly do not want the brothers to read something or listen to something and then say in their own mind that the approach that we have taken amounts to a “Watergate.”

  Others made similar comments. Ironically, some who now spoke the strongest criticism had themselves been among the most vocal before 1975 in stressing that date and the extreme “urgency” it called for, had even written some of the articles earlier quoted, had approved of the Kingdom Ministry statement commending those who were selling homes and property as 1975 drew near. Many of the most dogmatic statements about 1975 were made by traveling representatives (Circuit and District Overseers) all of whom were under the direct supervision of the Service Department.

  In the March 6, 1979, session of the Governing Body, the same arguments against publishing anything were advanced—that it would lay the organization open to further criticism from opposers, that at this late date there was no need to make an apology, that nothing really would be accomplished by it. However, even those so arguing were less adamant than in previous sessions. This was because of one factor in particular: the worldwide figures had registered serious drops for two years.

  The yearly reports reveal the following:

  Year

  Total Number Reporting Activity

  % Increase Over Previous Year

  1970

  1,384,782

  10.2

  1971

  1,510,245

  9.1

  1972

  1,596,442

  5.7

  1973

  1,656,673

  3.8

  1974

  1,880,713

  13.5

  1975

  2,062,449

  9.7

  1976

  2,138,537

  3.7

  1977

  2,117,194

  -1.0

  1978

  2,086,698

  -1.4

  This drop, more than any other factor, seemed to carry weight with the Governing Body members. There was a vote of 15 to 3 in favor of a statement making at least some acknowledgement of the organization’s share in the responsibility for the error. This was published in the March 15, 1980, Watchtower.

  It had taken nearly four years for the organization through its administration finally to admit it had been wrong, had, for an entire decade, built up false hopes. Not that a statement so candid, though true, could be made. Whatever was written had to be acceptable to the Body as a whole for publishing. I know, because I was assigned to write the statement and, as in similar cases before, I had to be governed by—not what I would have liked to say or even what I thought the brothers needed to hear—but by what could be said that would have some hope of approval by two-thirds of the Governing Body when submitted to them.

  Today, all the decade-long buildup of hopes centered on 1975 is discounted as to being of any particular importance. The essence of Russell’s word in 1916 is once again expressed by the organization: It “certainly did have a very stimulating and sanctifying effect upon thousands, all of whom can praise the Lord—even for the mistake.”

  1The Watch Tower’s history book, in a footnote, cites as evidence of other cautionary material certain publications. Only one of them appeared in the 1960s. (the May 1, 1968, Watchtower), and, as was true in the case of other cautionary statements involving earlier predictions, the two others were published as 1975 was already imminent or present (the June 15, 1974, and May 1, 1975, issues of the Watchtower). The footnote then goes back before the release of the book announcing 1975 and quotes from the 1963 book All Scripture Is Inspired and Beneficial, which states: “It does no good to use Bible chronology for speculating on dates that are still future in the stream of time.—Matt. 24:36.” It does not explain why the author of the book pointing to 1975 in connection with the start of the millennium so obviously failed to follow the principle set out three years before.

  2This same material also appeared in the October 15, 1969, Watchtower. The 1930-1985 Index to Watch Tower Publications, however, does not list it under the heading “1975” simply ignoring it despite its strong focus on that date.

  3It is true that (on page 25 of the booklet) the less specific phrase “the mid-seventies” is used, but the year 1975 had already been presented as a Biblically marked date and that date was now firmly imprinted on the minds of all of Jehovah’s Witnesses earthwide.

  4Quoted from Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; Mark 13:33; Acts 1:7.

  5This was in the session of February 19, 1975.

  6See the Watchtower, May 1, 1975.

  10

  1914 AND “THIS GENERATION”

  For the couch has proved too short for stretching oneself on, and the woven sheet itself is too narrow when wrapping oneself up.

  — Isaiah 28:20.

  FOR more than three decades the year 1914 was pointed forward to as the terminal point for the Watch Tower organization’s time prophecies. Now, for some eight decades, that same date has been pointed backward to as the starting point for the time prophecy that constitutes the major stimulus to “urgency” in the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

  Perhaps no other religion of modern times has so much invested in, and dependent on, a single date. The Witness organization’s claim to be the unique earthly channel and instrument of God and Christ is inseparably linked to it, for the claim is that in that year Christ began his “invisible presence” as a newly enthroned ruler, and that thereafter he examined the many religious bodies of earth and selected that which was connected with the Watch Tower as his choice to represent him before all mankind. In correlation to this, he gave his approved recognition of that same body of people as a “faithful and wise servant” class, which he appointed over all his earthly belongings. The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses derives its claim to authority from this, presenting itself as the administrative part of that “faithful and wise servant” class. Take away 1914 and its claimed significance, and the basis for their authority largely evaporates.

  The evidence shows that the Governing Body felt a considerable degree of discomfort as regards this major time prophecy. The time-frame allotted for its fulfillment proved embarrassingly short and narrow as to covering the things foretold. The passing of each year only served to accentuate the discomfort felt.

  Since the 1940s the Watch Tower publications have represented the words of Jesus Christ, “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur,” as having begun to apply as of the year 1914. The “1914-generation” was spoken of, and was presented as referring to the period in which the final fulfillment of the “last-days prophecies” would take place and a new order would enter.

  In the 1940s the view held was that a “generation” covered a period of about 30 to 40 years. This lent itself to the constant insistence on the extreme shortness of time left. At least some Bible examples could also be cited as corroboration. (See, for example, Numbers 32:13.)

  With the arrival of the 1950s, however, the time period provided by that definition had effectively elapsed. Some “stretching” was needed, and hence in the September 1, 1952 Watchtower, pages 542, 543, the definition was changed and, for the first time, the time period covered by a “generation” was defined as representing an entire lifetime, thus running—not just for 30 or 40 years—but for 70, 80, or more years.

  For a time this seemed to provide a co
mfortable span of time in which the published predictions might occur. Still, with the passing of the years the application of the term “1914-generation” underwent further adjustment and definition. Note the statements here underlined from an article in the Awake! magazine of October 8, 1968 (pages 13, 14):

  When the Awake! magazine discussed this more than thirty years ago in the pre-1975 days the stress was on how soon the generation of 1914 would be running out, how little time was left for that generation’s life span. For any of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1968 to have suggested that things might go on for another thirty years or more would have been viewed as manifesting a poor attitude, one not indicative of strong faith.

  When 1975 passed, however, the emphasis changed. Now the effort was made to show that the 1914-generation’s span was not as narrow as one might think, that it could stretch for quite a long ways yet.

  Thus, the October 1, 1978, Watchtower now spoke, not of those witnessing “with understanding what took place” in 1914, but of those who “were able to observe” the events beginning that year. Mere observation is quite different from understanding. This could logically lower the minimum age limit for the ones forming “this generation.”

  Continuing this trend, two years later, the Watchtower of October 15, 1980, cited an article in the U. S. News & World Report magazine, which suggested that ten years of age could be the point at which events start creating “a lasting impression on a person’s memory.” The news article said that, if such be true, “then there are today more than 13 million Americans who have a recollection of World War I.”

  ‘Recollecting’ also allows for a more tender age than does understanding, earlier suggested as being found among “youngsters 15 years of age” in the 1968 Awake!. (Actually, World War I continued up into 1918, with American involvement beginning only in 1917. So the suggested 10-year-old age given in the news magazine quoted does not necessarily apply to 1914.)