GERSHONISM

AUTHOR'S FOREWORD. 

AS INDICATED several times in this series of books, the Great Company, as Epiphany Levites, is divided into three general groups—Kohathites, Merarites and Gershonites. In the preceding volume we treated in some detail of the Merarites in their two general subdivisions, the Mahlites and the Mushites, particularly the Mahlites. Apart from general descriptions we will not in this series of books treat of the Epiphany Kohathites in detail. We have given more or less of details on them as a whole, and more especially on their general branches, in The Present Truth, e.g., on the Amramites, Izeharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites. To these we refer those of our readers who desire to learn more about them. Their not being organized under corporations or committees, as is the case with the Merarites and Gershonites, our writings on them as a rule deal with the errors of the leaders of various of their groups, as can be seen from our reviews of Carl Olson's, Adam Rutherford's, Milton Riemer's, Hugo Kuehn's, Emil Sadlac's, G. K. Bolger's and others' writings. Some of their errors, like the World's High Priest not functioning until the Millennium, the advancing light ceasing with our Pastor's death, judging after the time, etc., we have refuted in various volumes of this work. Their revolutionizing against less of the Truth than the other Levites, and their not revolutionizing at all against the Lord's arrangements for doing His work, are the main reasons why we have dealt less with them than with the antitypical Merarites and Gershonites, though some of their leaders have gone out of their way to attack the Epiphany Truth, which has led to our replying to their attacks. Accordingly, they will have shorter distances for retracing their steps than the other Levites. 

The Gershonites, in harmony with typical Gershon, Levi's firstborn, in their Libnite branch were the first Epiphany Levites to be manifested as such, and that in 

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their two British leaders; for the Libnite Gershonites are British, and exist in three sub-groups, corresponding to the three sons of Libni: the Bible Students' Committee (antitypical Jehiel); Berean Bible Institute, of Australasia (antitypical Zethan), and the Old Pathites (antitypical Joel). The Shimite branch of the antitypical Gershonites are likewise divided into three sub-divisions: the P. B. I. (antitypical Haran), the Dawnites (antitypical Haziel) and the Watchers Of The Morning (antitypical Shelomith, or Shelomoth). In this book we treat especially of five sub-divisions of the two groups of the Gershonites, since apart from incidental references, we do not treat at all of the Australasian branch of the Libnites. 

As distinct from the Merarites, the Gershonites are compromisingly tolerant, while the Merarites are bigoted. Hence, comparatively, the Gershonites are unstable, like water, and therefore have failed to excel as they should, as the firstborn, have done. This quality of tolerance is good when exercised in loyalty to the Truth; but when it is permitted to control, it makes one indifferent to Truth and tolerant to error, as can be seen in the present state of the P. B. I., which tolerates all sorts of error and fellowships with all sorts of errorists, even with the sifters and siftlings of the 1908-1911 Contradictionism sifting, even to the degree of having one of the three of that sifting's main leaders preach in their churches and of partaking with him and his siftlings in conventions. When these Gershonites are cleansed they will do a very influential and blessed work in the upbuilding of the Epiphany Camp. These two good things, their cleansing and subsequent fruitful work, find a share in the prayers and hopes of the author, 

PAUL S. L. JOHNSON. 

Philadelphia, PA., 

May 12, 1938. 

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CONTENTS 

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CHAPTER I. 

LIBNISM 

A SHEARNO-CRAWFORD CONSPIRACY. THE COVERING LETTER, REPORT AND RESOLUTION OF ELEVEN TABERNACLE ELDERS. THE CONSPIRACY BE COMES PUBLIC. EXPERIENCES IN, AND FINDINGS ON, THE LONDON BETHEL AFFAIRS. MANAGERIAL OFFENSES. A DECEITFUL LETTER. RELATIONS OF THE MERARITES AND THE GERSHONITES. THE BIBLICAL SETTING OF THE GERSHONITES.       7 

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CHAPTER II. 

SOME LIBNITE GERSHONITE ERRORS EXAMINED. 

WM. CRAWFORD ON JUSTIFICATION. WM. CRAWFORD ON THE END OF ALL THINGS.       51 

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CHAPTER III. 

EARLIER DOINGS AND ERRORS OF THE SHIMITE GERSHONITES. 

ANOTHER HARVEST SIFTING REVIEWED. TWO PROPOSED CONVENTIONS. IN DEFENSE OF PEACE AMONG GOD'S PEOPLE. THE PURPOSES OF THE P. B. I. EXAMINED.       89

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CHAPTER IV. 

OTHER EARLIER DOINGS OF THE SHIMITE GERSHONITES. 

P.B.I. REVOLUTIONISMS AGAINST GOD'S ARRANGEMENTS. SALIENT POINTS OF P.B.I. HISTORY.       183 

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CHAPTER V. 

OTHER EARLIER ERRORS OF THE SHIMITE GERSHONITES. 

SOME OTHER P. B. I. TEACHINGS EXAMINED. THE DAWN'S CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL EXAMINED. "ANCIENT ISRAEL'S JUBILEE YEAR" EXAMINED.       269 

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CHAPTER VI. 

CHRONOLOGICAL ERRORS OF THE SHIMITE GERSHONITES. 

"WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT" EXAMINED. FURTHER P.B.I. CHRONOLOGY EXAMINED. SOME OF CARL OLSON'S CHRONOLOGICAL ERRORS EXAMINED. SOME RECENT P.B.I. CHRONOLOGICAL CLAIMS EXAMINED. SOME MORE RECENT P.B.I. CHRONOLOGICAL CLAIMS EXAMINED. SOME MISTAKES IN PTOLEMY'S CANON. ZEH—NOT THESE, BUT THIS. SOME P.B.I. ERRORS ON JEREMIAH AND DANIEL. 347 

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CHAPTER VII. 

SIN-OFFERING ERRORS OF THE SHIMITES. 

THE SENSE IN WHICH THE CHURCH IS A SIN-OFFERING. THE TWO SIN-OFFERINGS IN LITERAL PASSAGES. THE TWO SIN-OFFERINGS IN SYMBOLIC PASSAGES.       461

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