Was Russell the Author of "The Finished Mystery"?

If one looks on Amazon or elsewhere online for the book, The Finished Mystery, most often it will be advertised with Charles Taze Russell listed as the author. Even "Project Gutenberg"  and Goodreads present Charles Taze Russell as the author of his book.

Often we may find quotes from book as being attributed to Russell, usually criticizing Russell. However, there can be a problem with quoting this book as being the words of Russell. Why? When the book was released, it was advertised as being the posthumous work of Charles Taze Russell. But was it actually written by Russell?

The book, The Finished Mystery, was actually not a book by Charles Taze Russell. Rutherford falsely claimed that it was the work of Russell. It was actually written by two of Rutherford’s associates, Clayton Woodworth and George Fisher, under the supervision of Rutherford. Although it did contain many quotes from Russell, it also contained many fanciful claims that were not from Russell. Although advertised as being authored by Russell, in the Publisher's Preface we find this statement: "It seemed pleasing to the Lord that Brothers C. J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher should prepare the Seventh Volume, under the direction of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY."

Many Bible Students immediately rejected that book in 1917; eventually, the vast majority of the Bible Students around the world rejected that book. By 1928, the vast majority of the Bible Students around the world had rejected Rutherford's visible organization claims. Russell himself had consistently preached against a visible organization on earth clothed with divine authority. Rutherford actually created the Jehovah's Witnesses by rejecting the core teachings of Russell and the Bible Students, which led to Rutherford's adopting the name "Jehovah's Witnesses."

"Pastor Russell was…strong, humble, wise, loving, gentle, just, merciful, faithful, self-sacrificing… As a logician and theologian, he is doubtless without a peer today. In his research for Biblical Truth and harmony he is without a parallel in this age. Without a blemish in his character…he towers like a giant unmatched." (The Finished Mystery, p. 125)

The authors of this book highly praised Russell. Russell was not perfect, and he made mistakes and errors. Overall, he was indeed strong, humble, wise, loving, gentle, just, merciful, faithful, and self-sacrificing. As a defender of the faith once delivered to the saints, we do believe he was without parallel in his day. However, nobody has no blemish at all in his character. We do not believe Russell would have ever made such a claim.

Nevertheless, the exaltation of Russell to such a degree appears to have been the purpose of promoting Russell as having special authority given by God. It was claimed that Russell was the prophet spoken of in Ezekiel 2:5. For years, even while Russell alive, Russell's associates had already begun the basis for an organization with authority by their claims for Charles Taze Russell, such as that Russell was the faithful and wise servant, and that Russell was seventh angel or messenger of Revelation. Then, it was claimed that Russell was still directing the work from beyond veil. This indirectly gave to Rutherford and his associates the authority attributed to Russell. Of course, if Russell had been directing the work from beyond the veil, it would mean that Russell had directed what was written in the book, The Finished MysteryRussell, himself, denied seeing himself in the Bible, and asked that his associates not to preach Brother Russell. This was basically ignored, however, as it appears that many were preaching Russell, and that these beliefs about Russell had become the very center of their faith. This idea still prevails among many Bible Students to this day.

Nevertheless, in effect, authority was being attributed to Russell, although Russell himself consistently denied any special authority over fellow-believers. He not only denied such for himself, he denied such for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. . 

For links to some of our research that verifies much of the above:

Russell and Jehovah's Witnesses
Russell, Organization and Authority

Russell, of course, in reality, had no control over what Rutherford and his associates did or said after Russell died. Rutherford deceitfully had new by-laws passed that virtually destroyed the Watch Tower Society as Russell intended for it to be. When four of the seven brothers on the board were endeavoring to find some way to rectify what Rutherford had done, Rutherford had those four members of the Board removed by means of legal trickery.

See:
Bible Student History (Special issue of The Herald of Christ's Kingdom)

Watchtower History Discussion 6 (Video) - Has some information about The Finished Mystery

We hope add more links later.