A REFUTATION OF FALSE CHARGES
AGAINST BRO. JOHNSON
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AS in the case of Bro. Russell, the Parousia Messenger, so in the case of Bro. Paul S. L. Johnson, the Epiphany Messenger--Satan caused him to be falsely slandered. And these false slanders are repeatedly and continuingly set forth by those--especially the "J.W." leaders and ledlings--who seek to discredit him and the Epiphany Truth and work. Y

BRO. JOHNSON CHARGED WITH INSANITY

Bro. Johnson related that in the 15 months prior to May 22, 1910, he spent 13 1/2 months in intensive public and private pilgrim work, with 870 meetings, an average of over 15 a week. Additionally, he did not spare himself in helping others between meetings. Due to this heavy schedule and the lack of sufficient sleep, Bro. Johnson had a breakdown in brain-fag on May 22.

He feared that his brain was permanently injured, and that he would no longer be able to hold in mind the approximately 300 discourses he used, of which about 45 were public lectures, each about 90 minutes long and containing about 125 Bible passages, which he recited from memory, giving book, chapter and verse. But after about 3 1/2 months' rest he was able to resume his pilgrim work, and was greatly relieved to find that his brain power was not impaired (E 10, pp. 124-127) .

But certain brethren, seeing Bro. Johnson, while suffering brain-fag, concluded that he was demonized and insane, and so reported matters widely (E 10, pp. 131, 618) .

Before his death, Bro. Russell had arranged for Bro. Johnson to go to Britain, where those in charge of the work were seeking to change "that Servant's" arrangements. Bro. Johnson's making the trip was agreeable to the Board of Directors of the Society, consisting of seven Brothers, that Bro. Russell left in charge of the work after his death. The Board sent Bro. Johnson to Britain and gave him credentials "with full power and authority to do and perform whatsoever things may be necessary in connection with the work and business of this corporation in any country to which he may be sent."

Bro. Johnson found two of the London managers of the Society disregarding, changing and abrogating various of Bro. Russell's arrangements, for which on the authority of his credentials he dismissed them. His course was generally approved by the British brethren, particularly by the Tabernacle congregation, the Bethel Family, especially Bro. J. Hemery (the British Representative) and J. F. Rutherford's Investigation Commission (see E 6, p. 9).

But J. F. R. in unholy ambition usurped power over the Board of Directors, which had sent Bro. Johnson to Britain, and independently of the Board attempted to recall him and rescind his Society--sealed credentials. J.F.R. sent a cable Feb. 26, 1917 to England saying that Bro. Johnson was "absolutely without authority" to dismiss the two London managers. Furthermore, J.F.R. cabled later (Feb. 28, Mar. 14 and 27), "Johnson insane . . . Arrest and incarcerate him. . . Insane usurper. Restrain him by law" (E 6, p. 33). The brethren in Britain appreciated Bro. Johnson's work and knew he was not insane. But Satan through J. F. R. used the insanity charge in Britain and later before the Brooklyn Bethel family and others in America and elsewhere in order to discredit Bro. Johnson and the Lord's Epiphany work! Even J.F.R. admitted later that Bro. Johnson was not insane (p. 34).

"J.W.S" STILL REPEAT J.F.R.'S FALSEHOODS

It is ironical that J.F.R. called Bro. Johnson an "insane usurper," when he himself was the one usurping authority over the Board of Directors in its majority! And the successors of J.F.R., the present-day "Jehovah's Witnesses" leaders and ledlings, continue to repeat his false charges against Bro. Johnson. E.g., in the 1975 Yearbook of the "J.W.s," these leaders state, "Johnson endeavored to take complete control of the British field of activity, even trying, without authority [italics ours], to dismiss certain members of the London headquarters staff .... Rutherford appointed a commission of several brothers in London who were not members of the headquarters staff. They met, heard and weighed the facts and recommended that Johnson be recalled."

The credentials and Bro. Johnson's statement as to J.F.R.'s Investigation Commission, mentioned above, show how false J.F.R.'s charges against Bro. Johnson were, which false charges are still being repeated by his "J.W." successors and their ledlings.

Continuing in their 1975 Yearbook (p. 90), the present "J.W." leaders try to make it appear that Bro. Johnson (instead of J.F.R. with his usurpations over the Board) was guilty of wrongdoing. They state: "Johnson sought to influence the board of directors. By making it appear that Brother Rutherford was unfit as president, Johnson persuaded four of the seven directors to side with him." Following J.F.R.'s lead, the present "J.W." leaders try to make it appear that on July 17, 1917 it was the distribution of Vol. 7 (J.F.R.'s "penny" of the parable) that caused much opposition to J.F.R. at the Bethel dining room table, whereas it was not Vol. 7, but J.F.R.'s ousting on a legal technicality the four directors who opposed him, that caused Bro. Johnson and these four to stoutly and steadfastly resist his usurpation! (For details, see E 6, pp. 76-80.)

This led J.F.R. on July 27, 1917 to order Bro. Johnson and the four Board members who opposed his usurpations to leave Bethel. After a letter was read from Bro. A. N. Pierson, a fifth member of the Board, in which he also disapproved J.F.R.'s ousting the four Directors, J.F.R. became very angry, falsely alleging that Bro. Johnson had by falsehoods induced Bro. Pierson to write the letter, that Bro. Johnson broke up the British Church and that Bro. Johnson stole $1500.00 (absolutely untrue).

J.F.R. became even more angry, and again ordered Bro. Johnson to leave Bethel, on pain of legal proceedings. When Bro. Johnson said he had appealed that decision to the Board, as having the right to decide the question of whether or not he should leave, J.F.R. rushed at him, crying out, "You leave this house," and using physical violence, grabbed Bro. Johnson by the arm and almost jerked him off his feet. Later when Bro. Johnson went out, J.F.R. evicted him from Bethel, having his belongings set outside, and preventing his re-entering.

In order to further discredit Bro. Johnson and to destroy his influence and the Epiphany Truth and work, J.F.R. produced his "Harvest Siftings" paper, containing 220 falsehoods and misrepresentations against Bro. Johnson alone, the majority of which were J.F.R.'s own statements (E 6, pp. 81-86).

BRO. JOHNSON NEVER CLAIMED TO BE THE "WORLD'S GREAT HIGH PRIEST"

The false charge is made that Bro. Johnson claimed to be the "World's Great High Priest." One may search long and hard, but in vain, to find anything in Bro. Johnson's writings to the effect that he was the "World's Great High Priest." Nor can anyone prove that he ever claimed this. At most, Bro. Johnson claimed to be a member of the Body of the World's High Priest. Bro. Russell, e.g., in T 51, plainly referred to "Aaron alone representing the entire Anointed One (Head and Body)."