During the Gilead School graduation exercises, September 7, 1975, Fred Franz admitted to the students and their families that no Governing Body existed during the time of the apostles, nor one since then. He had already concluded that the doctrine of a Governing Body from the days of the apostles to the present was a false teaching. As Franz revealed the unscriptural nature of the doctrine, his audience sat in bewildered silence. The Apostle Paul, he stated, was appointed by Jesus Christ personally, not by any governing body in Jerusalem. In fact, no one in that city was aware of his appointment.
This admission - contrary to official WT teaching of a primary belief - has never been published. Yet, in the December 15, 1975 WATCHTOWER, we read of another speech by Franz, in which he PROMOTES the doctrine of the Governing Body.
Knorr's Attitude Toward the "Oracle"'s Getting Prophecy Right
Upon his deathbed, Rutherford designated Knorr as the new president, whereupon Knorr let it be known to Franz that he did not want to be caught in prophecy failures as Russell and Rutherford had. It so happens that, as history unfolded and left a huge blank, Knorr was known to be disgusted with Franz over the failure of the 1975 prediction.
There are many who feel that his disgust with the pseudo-religion caused him to strike out against his anointed brothers and their false prophecies. His being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer could well have contributed to his alienating himself from his associates of many years. He died without seeing a single prophecy come to pass.
THE FOUR PRESIDENTS OF THE WATCH TOWER SOCIETY (JEHOVAH"S WITNESSES), Edmond C. Gruss, Editor, pp. 40, 41
CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE, Raymond Franz, pp. 76-83
Compound-Complex