Posted by ros4GB [ros] on October 25, 1999 at 21:53:57 {DjTI9F5X/YdmhhsMJ.h27/SY5I9NtE}:
Dear Jack,
I read your comments regarding the 1975 issue and how you came into the organization just after the issue past.
I can assure you that the 1975 date was strongly promoted, supported, and believed at every level of the organization. There were exceptions among some who remained skeptical or reserved judgment, but the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses looked to 1975 as God's appointed time or the 'appropriate time' for him to act.
From the beginning, the Society officially used a measure of caution. However, the book The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, and the October 8, 1968 Awake! made some of the strongest statements. I believe that there was a Kingdom Service (Ministry) that also encouraged selling ones belongings and moving to where the need was greater, because 1975 was so close.
I once reviewed a tape recording made of a traveling elder who was very emphatic about 1975 being the definite time of the end. In one portion of the tape this CO remarked, 'Go out there and paint 1975 all over the walls if you have to'. His point was that 1975 was so close, we needed to be bold in making people understand that time had run out and they needed to be in God's organization for salvation.
No comment to my knowledge was ever made back to the CO. My review was not formal, and the issue was dropped. Since then, of course, the Society has made some slight apologies in the Watchtower regarding its role in promoting it.
The truth is, we accepted that date from the Governing Body member who was our prime developer of doctrine. There was some caution in the field, but the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses accepted this as divine truth from the Society. We (The Society) are clearly to blame for that mess.
I believe that we should have issued a much stronger acknowledgement, apology, and agree to stay out of the prophecy business. The best we ever did was to make a mild acknowledgement.
I believe that many of Jehovah's Witnesses were prepared for the date to fail, but prior to 1975, we hedged our bets in favor of it coming true. As a result many did sell homes and businesses to go into the full time work.
Frankly, we misled ourselves at the very highest level of the organization, and this was felt all the way down into every congregation. The Society should never have allowed that date to become what it did. I hope that while I am on the 'body' or anytime after I leave this earth, they will not set another date. It caused too much harm and severely affected the faith of many.
Sincerely, ----