We have the benefit of hindsight and living in the year 2007, and we can see the lessons of history much clearer now. If Russell were still living today, would he still hold to the invisible return in 1874, and the end of Gentile Times in 1914? He thought the time of trouble would only last a few years, and had no dates beyond 1918.
It is true that Russell in his will provided arrangements that would have prevented the abuse of power. Russell did not envision one-man rule after his death, but intended the Society to be run with checks and balances. There is nothing to indicate that Russell had picked Rutherford for a successor. There was a quote in a recent thread that said that Rutherford set a law practice in 1915, and left Bethel. Also, Russell had advocated a democratic, congregational form of church government, and viewed the Society as a business that was separate from the churches. When Rutherford attempted to control the churches in the late 1920s, many Bible Students left at that time, not willing to give up their liberty. Russell stressed consecration, character development and the Christian graces, and love toward the brethren. But Rutherford gave all this up and replaced it with "Advertising the kingdom."
Although the JWs would have been better off and less cultlike if they had followed closer to Russell's spirit, Russell created problems for the Society and the Bible Students that any leader coming after him would have had difficulty coping with. Russell did not foresee the need to establish a longterm arrangement, because he thought the Kingdom was imminent. How long could the Society have gone on with only Russell's writings, and no new material? The Bible Students after Russell's death canonized him, and regarded him as "that servant". This was oppressive doctrine that would stifle any group in the long-term. Russell with his prophetic speculations left his movement in confusion. The Pyramid referred to dates that had gone by. With the passing of years, the delay had become more problematic, and Rutherford modified the chronology to keep it current. This only created more problems in the long-term, but saved the group.
If the World War had not occurred in 1914, perhaps Russell would have abandoned his chronology. But instead he saw it as confirmation, without knowing of course that society would continue until 2007. After his death, ones like Woodworth took Russell's practice of speculation and allegorical interpretation to an extreme.
Unfortunately, Rutherford gave up some of the healthier, mainstream, liberal part of Russell's religion, but continued the date-setting and prophetic speculation. He intensified the unhealthier parts that were already present in Russell, but kept in check by Russell's more liberal side. He intensified the dogmaticism, sectarianism, aggresssive preaching, condemnation of society and the churches.
However, modern day Bible Students in holding so closely to Pastor Russell have adopted much of his virtues, but also his mistaken notions, and are in a time warp, stuck in the year 1914, unable to progress. The condition of the JWs and Bible Students is a sad one, and the shadow of Pastor Russell is cast over all of them. The doctrine of "that servant" caused them to uncritically adopt notions that have not stood the test of time, and need to be abandoned.
