Schnell became a Zone Overseer for the WTS, serving in Germany and the United States. Why is his book so feared? One main reason is that he notes that Rutherford had Bethelites spying on himself (and others) in Bethel at work, evenings after work and even while he did Circuit work. He tells of Rutherford taking all power away from the Russell-appointed board of directors (Gov Body) as well as Russell-era elders, which caused many congregations to wither and also many to completely die. Then Russell gained new members by sending everyone who was left out canavassing for newcomers door-to-door. One favorite Rutherford tactic was to do something causing public ire such as teaching flag salutes are worship rather than for showing respect so that his own members drew public anger followed later by publicity from himself and some other media, which in turn made the organization look persecuted, generating more internal cohesion and sentiment by those of the public who did not know what he had engineered.