Bottom line - any one can start a religion!! It doesn't have to be some secret society already existing!!
It started with a simple 7th Day Adventist group, who were forming some disagreements with that established group. Eventually, probably through another man, Conley, but eventually Russell became a leader. He was a businessman so he established writing and publishing books. Others were interested in his belief system and others didn't mind getting out his books as long as people paid for their cost+. It grew and that publishing business grew. Since the adventist group were already pre-dispositioned for end times wishful thinking, some liked Russell's view and he had several dates for the time of the end. Groups started up like that, and as many new groups start up now with their own slant of "end times." Some people just like that sort of stuff.
Russell's dates proved false. He was not really embarrassed or apologetic. He died (no family, had divorced). Sizable group/organization with business already yet in place. Perfect for someone like Rutherford, a dictatorial type guy, to take over. Becomes president of organization. Some left and but many were already invested and "didn't know where else to go," felt no choice but to stay then. Rutherford was truly a tyrant, like being a "big shot" with unquestioning people around him. He had a couple of false end-time dates too. No apologies for certain. He was married and had son but neither really involved in JW religion hardly. He died pretty much alone.
Knorr, becomes 3rd president, not as tyrannical as Rutherford, but somewhat. Knorr was the business/organization man and in partnership with co-partner, Fred Franz. Fred Franz was more the Bible nerd, could memorize quite well and could get into scripture symbolisms and possibly totally believed he could interpret such. Knorr, wasn't a Bible guy like Freddie, so he went along with Freddie, as long as it helped the organization's control and created "new light," and therefore growth of the organization. Again, more and more people coming into the organization, just like "end time" stuff, some by fear and drawn by the "apple" hope of the new world coming, with emphasis of "SOON."
In early '70s, Knorr was getting old now too (and later I don't know at what point he did get cancer). Some concern must have been happening about who could replace Knorr. Several of the older guys had to have been concerned. I think between Knorr and others, that Freddie being even older, blindness was setting in, and for other reasons (somewhat weird for even among them). None of the other long-timers really had the leadership charisma/control ability/business/scripture creativity of the previous presidents. So Knorr, although extremely difficult for him, relinquished much authority to an offically created "Governing Body." So about 17 were appointed officially. They are all dead now.
Now, there are 8 members of replacement Governing Body. They individually do not have leadership charisma/control ability/business/scripture creativity. Even as a group they don't. But they are organization men with things in place that still seem to work. They are "captives to a concept." The "bait" of new world promises, the "fear" of Armageddon hold, and in the back-arm hold of disfellowshipping/shunning for anyone that dares gives them a hard time.
Religions grow and then tap out, many having to adapt to the people's needs, or they lessen in numbers. There is an evolving of religions. Right now, it is a fact JWs have a "revolving" door thing. They get new people, burn-out many,,many, many stuck in the "no where else to go" syndrome, not a happy place.
