The Society literature has given mixed messages, but older literature tended to lay the basis closer to the Bible that those 'anointed' are not chosen according to position, age, or experience, but according to God's will. As the decades of the 40s and 50s passed, the subsequent decades brought in the view that those chosen to be 'anointed' would be chronologically older, many years as very active JWs, likely serving in some position such as Pioneer for sisters and elder for men.
The reason for the changed view: Given that the Society stated that the "general' call to heaven ended in 1935, then only a few replacements would be needed to fill vacancies by 'anointed' who died unfaithful to Jehovah. To the Society it stood to reason that Jehovah would only call 'mature' individuals with much experience as very faithful JWs ... BUT ... they never made this a hard and fast rule, so at times, some JWs would feel they wanted to go to heaven, and managed somehow to overcome the cultural fear of being different by making such a profession of faith.
Nevertheless, as JWs of the Other Sheep aged in the 1980s and 1990s, the view toward younger, newer 'anointed' became more and more jaundiced. The Society's merely suggesting that 'some' newer 'anointed' may be on drugs, or engaged in fantasies, or lacking a proper understanding of the 'Truth', or holding over views of heaven from their prior beliefs in Christendom may be the root of thinking they were 'anointed' when they were not. I recall one Watchtower article talking about a problem in Africa where newer JWs coming out of tribal beliefs leaned toward 'anointing' making a spectacle of themselves by speaking in tongues at meetings, and shaking when the memorial emblems were passed.
Doubts: All this served to shape the JW view that 'spirit-anointing' was something to be avoided, and to subdue any feelings one may have been harboring about being 'anointed' ... because if you are 'anointed' you will know, and there will be no question, doubt, or fear.
While in California I was accepted: Serving as an Elder helped greatly to validate my claim as being of the 'anointed.' Also, I was aging, and though only in my late 30s, I was moving away from the younger generation and into middle age. Younger JWs, especially those under 30 started to view me as an older guy ... though I still don't think of myself that way ... and now I am almost 51 ... yikes! So, over the years, I became accostomed to this acceptance, and except for the weird experience I noted in Pennsylvania while I was visiting on business, I did not have to deal with negative views. Even Circuit Overseers began to stop asking when we had a change in COs.
Shock into reality: Then, in 1989, we moved to the Portland, Oregon area. We were in one congregation for a short while before buying our next home in another town. So, we missed the Memorial there, and I never considered how it might appear to the JWs who did not know me. Although, it was a more populated area, where JWs tend to flow through more, and there is a more liberal attitude. Nevertheless, we moved to a small town, where JWs do not move, and they are not as liberal ... I was not ready for this new culture ... and what would be waiting just around the corner ... it certainly was not paradise!
The 1990 Memorial: I was not yet reappointed, so I took my seat in the Hall as any other JW of the Other Sheep. With one exception ... When we moved in our Publisher Record Cards and a nice Letter of Introduction followed us. On my Publisher Card, it states "A" instead of "OS" ... indicating what my hope was. The Secretary (Elder G from my exit series) called me one day to ask if this was a 'typo' error ... and I assured him that it was correct. So, not long afterwards, I was asked to give prayer over both Emblems since the memorial instructions require that where possible.
The Memorial Talk and Emblem passage went as it has for decades, except ... : this congregation had never known or been around anyone who professed to be 'anointed.' Sooo ... as I partook, being the only one who did that night ... I was gawked at ... most disturbing to hear the whispers and see the strange stares ... like being in a house of psychotics where we are all engaged in a mystical ritual ...
Accolades and Congradulations!!! After the Memorial was concluded, the congregation as normal, began visiting, talking about how wonderful the talk was, and how important this event is to JWs ... all well parroted party lines following the same views as every year. Some who I had known now for about 6 or 7 months came up and congradulated me ... and asked if this was my first time, or if I had done this before ... and as I explained, of course, some asked how I knew I was 'one of them' ... ... and so on ... then ...
I happen to look over at the PO and a couple of other Elders ... and the PO's wife talking rather emphatically ... and at various moments, they looked my way ... I knew, I knew well that they must be talking about my partaking ... it was natural and to be expected ... but curiosity got the best of me ... and I inched over within ear shot to see what I might learn ...
He Just Can't Be!!! Yes, the PO's wife was strongly stating that she felt that I could not be of the 'Anointed' ... it was not right, not possible ... why? ... here is what she said, "He is too young (she was about 55 at the time and I was 39) ... he has not been in the truth all that long (actually 21 years at the time) ... and Jehovah would never call him!" ... why? ... "If Jehovah were to call anyone at this late date, he would have chosen ME first."
That's right, Jehovah made a serious error, or I was a lunatic, because she was better placed near the front of the line with Jehovah ... and she felt that she was far more qualified and in a position to be called to Heaven to rule with Christ. Very well, I left my seat open for her when I left in 1992. ... But ...
Could I just6 leave it alone and let it die? No ... while I try not to be arrogant, sometimes I just can't help stepping my foot into things ... so, I took her final comment as my cue to walk over to say hi to Sister PO. And, they were all gracious, cordial, and put on wonderful plastic faces to try and cover up their 'concern' with this 'Anointed' fellow who moved in from evil "California" the land of fruits and nuts. ... but, it does not end there ...
The first will be last and the last will be first ... One thing about being a Jehovah's Witnesses is you learn how to manipulate the Bible to say anything to fit any occasion ... no, this is not done consciously, it just becomes part of the culture, part of the way things are done ... I got into a discussion with the PO about the Memorial in general ... while his wife stood there and listened ... she dared not leave because if I was a nut case, she wanted more evidence, and if I was the real thing, she was in the presense of one of 'them.'
So, somehow the conversation got onto the workers in the field, and I asked the PO and Sister PO what they thought Jesus meant about the First to work in the field, about 12 hours, were last to be paid, and the last to work in the field, about 1 hour, were first to be paid? Does this possibly apply so that those who think God owes them something will be humble and realize that as Jesus said in the illustration, it is the Master's to give out as he pleases ... and not up to us to determine how the Master gives rewards.
Their response? Silence. Then the PO said he would have to do some research in the Society's publications to see how to view it. He never did ... because had he done so, he would also have run into the discussions about how God chose the younger one "Jacob" over his older brother "Esau" to carry the right of first born ... and how King David was the youngest brother to be chosen over older brothers to replace Saul as King ... and the implications in Watchtower publications seem to favor newer and younger 'Anointed.'
In fact, there was even a Watchtower in the early 1970s that discussed how Cornelius and his family were 'Anointed' and received the 'holy spirit' BEFORE they were baptized, and then very carefully applied this to modern JWs ... and as a result I personally know some new JW Anointed who took that message to heart that when they felt drawn to heaven before baptism, that this article was written for them ...
If JWs really wanted to, they could upset the entire Watchtower doctrine on the Anointed by simply applying what has been said by the Society ... and there would be nothing they could do about it. I suspect that one of the reasons that there has been less of a drop in JW 'Anointed' is that many JWs have done just that.