Clayton Woodworth became associated with the Watchtower organization in 1895.[1] By 1899 Woodworth was tending to baptisms at Watchtower conventions.[2]
In July 1913, during a speech at a Watchtower sponsored convention, Clayton Woodworth exclaimed that he had experienced complete “demonical control” as, according to him, Mary Baker Eddy had when, 38 years prior, she wrote Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (published in 1875).[3]
Less than 2 years later in May of 1915 Woodworth was one of 70 members of Watchtower headquarter staff laid off by Charles Russell, Watchtower’s President, due to financial pressures.[4-5]
After the death of Charles Russell, and less than 2 years after being laid off, he returned to headquarters to co-write The Finished Mystery, the seventh volume of the Studies in the Scriptures.[6] Woodworth went on to become Editor of the Golden Age journal.[7]
Oddly enough, it was a man who less than 4 years previously had claimed to have come completely under demonical control who was selected to co-write The Finished Mystery because he "had some understanding and interpretations of Revelation and Ezekiel that might be helpful”.
Marvin Shilmer
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References:
1. Zion’s Watch Tower, “Out of Darkness into His Wonderful Light”, June 15, 1895 p. 148.
2. Zion’s Watch Tower, The Boston and St. Louis Conventions, Nov. 1, 1899 p. 227.
3. International Bible Students Souvenir Convention Report, 1913 p. 274-5.
4. Zion’s Watch Tower, Our General Letter, May 1, 1915 p. 140.
5. Zion’s Watch Tower, Loving Response, May 1, 1915 p. 140.
6. Zion’s Watch Tower, Annual Report, Dec. 15, 1917 p. 371.
7. Golden Age, Vol. 1, No. 1, Oct. 1, 1919 p. 2.
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