PARALLELS IN THEIR BELIEFS
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• God uses orders (ranks), and degrees, and oaths .
RUSSELL These are the type of things Russell thinks about. Within Masonry there are several arrangements of orders -one is a three order arrangement. One finds Russell also creating various orders, and arrangements of orders. Russell gave a sermon saying there are three orders or classes of elect ones. In another place, he appears to have the elect divided into 5 degrees. Connor, W.T. The Teachings of "Pastor" Russell. Fort Worth, TX (printed before Russell died),p. 53, Connor lists 5 types of salvation, that is, 5 groups who receive different degrees in the future life according to Russell. Professor of Systematic Theology in the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary W.T. Conner said regarding Russell's degrees of salvation,"I have heard people talk about "degrees" in heaven, or in rewards, but Mr. Russell has nearly as many varieties of salvation as there are pickles of a certain brand—almost fifty-seven varieties...Not only is the scheme complex in that it has so many "degrees" of salvation, but also in that it tries to be a plan of redemption based on atonement, appropriated by faith, and yet constantly runs back to works as a basis." In Newspaper Sermons of C.T. Russell. 1901-1910 (also known as Harvest Gleanings. Vol. II , printed by Chicago International Bible Students, an article by the National Labor Tribune on July 4, 1906 covering Russell's July 1,'06 sermon "God's Very Elect" has a part entitled "THREE CLASSES OF ELECT ONES. The elect "little flock" of this Gospel age, which alone will constitute the Bride class, otherwise called the body of Christ, and which is to share with the Lord the Kingdom honors and glories, is made so prominent in the Scriptures that the two other classes of elect ones are in comparison not very conspicuous." Refer to chapter 8 for more on this. Masonic views are on the next page.