From: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Subject: JWs' fourth leader, Fred Franz, RIP
Reply-To: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA
Distribution: talk
Date: 23 Dec 92 16:23:58

According to today's (1992.12.23) newspaper, Frederick Franz, the
fourth president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, passed
away yesterday at the age of 99.  Mr. Franz was the fourth leader of
the JWs and was associated with the religion dating from during the
times of its first leader, Charles Russell in the early part of the
twentieth century.  Franz continued his association with the movement
after Russell's death and the resulting schism brought about by the
second leader, "Judge" Rutherford in the 1920s.  After Rutherford's
death shortly after WW II, Franz became the religion's chief
theologian under the third president, Nathan Knorr and succeeded to
the head position after Knorr's death in 1978.

Although Frederick Franz dropped out of the University of Cincinnati
after only two years' study, he was recognized by the JW leadership as
a bible scholar.  The lack of certification in either ancient Greek or
Hebrew did not stop Franz from being primarily responsible for the
WTBTS version of the bible, the _New World Translation_.  Millions of
copies of the NWT have been distributed and it was and remains the
"official" version for use by the over four million JWs around the
world.  However, critical reviews of the NWT by mainstream scholars
concerned both with its secretive production and its content have left
it mostly unused by non-JWs.

For the past forty five years, Franz was responsible in whole or in
part for numerous doctrinal changes in the JW movement.  His authority
was held in high regard by the leaders at the WTBTS Brooklyn, NY USA
headquarters; he was reported to be the only writer whose text would
be printed in the JW bimonthly _Watchtower_ magazine without peer
review.  Two important issues that Franz helps establish were the
prohibition on vaccinations (since revoked) and the prohibition on
blood transfusions (mostly still in force).  Franz was also behind
much of the JW policy on shunning ("disfellowshipping") of wayward
members, although his normally strict stance was somewhat moderated
during his predecessor's administration.

The JW movement has been rather shaken over the past couple of decades
due to the failure of Franz' personal, and then official, prediction
in 1966 of the "biblical" end-of-the-world battle of Armaggedon due in
1975.  The subsequent internal upheaval of the WTBTS has been well
documented since then by a number of former JW leaders in numerous
articles and books.  Perhaps the most well known of these are the
books by Franz' nephew, Raymond Franz, himself also a member of the JW
"Governing Body".

The WTBTS claims it is really led by God and not by men, so no
official policy changes have been announced.  However, a historical
review of the movement clearly shows that major organizational and
doctrinal changes have taken place shortly after the deaths of each of
the first three WTBTS presidents.  Frederick Franz is remembered by
many for his noncompromising attitudes towards doubting JWs (who were
expelled), towards non-JW family members (to be ignored if
unconvertable, to be shunned if expelled), towards other religions
(they are held to all be tools of Satan), and towards paying taxes on
businesses run by the WTBTS (there have been a number of conflicts
with both New York state and Federal revenue authorities).  It could
be guessed that these are the areas most likely to see change, but
only time will tell.

Although the JWs are famous for many time prophecies, some borrowed
from Adventist theology, the failure of all of them hasn't stopped the
unsteady but generally upward growth of the prosyletizing religion.
Franz himself was the architect of much of the post-Russell
predictions, and since the WTBTS is able to cover up these
stimulating, but ultimately incorrect doomsday dates, more such dates
could be expected in the coming WTBTS administration.

Even though Franz was held to be responsible for much of the trouble
caused to JW members due to various nonrational strictures, most of
his detractors recognize that Franz was sincere in his beliefs.
Unlike certain notorious televangelists, Franz was reported to really
believe that he was personally chosen by God to lead what he claimed
was the "one true religion" and that he really had only the best of
intentions.

For better or worse, his work here is over.  May he rest in peace.

 [The above opinions expressed are my own; not necessarily held by others.]
      == Steven J. Edwards           Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
      == (508) 294-3484              300 Concord Road         MS 820A ==
      == sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com     Billerica, MA 01821          USA ==
"That Government which Governs the Least, Governs Best." -- Thomas Jefferson