Yadirf: I stated this because of the same reason given by Justin and Hyghlandr. However, it is not clear judging from what Ray Franz actually wrote.
In Search of Christian Freedom, Chapter 4, page 115, in a subtitle on Baptism, Ray Franz discussed the position once held by the Society regarding baptism, and hence why many JW-Bible Students, like Charles Russell himself, was never baptized in the organization. As late as the July 1, 1955 Watchtower, page 412 it was stated that 'rebaptism was necessary if one's "previous baptism was not in symbol of a dedication" or if it was not by immersion.'
Then Ray Franz went on to say in a footnote regarding his uncle, "I recall my uncle, Fred Franz, when already the Watch Tower's vice president, remarking to me that if his baptism in the Presbyterian Church had been by immersion (rather then sprinkling) he would have consideredd it still valid.
This comment shows that Fred Franz still accepted immersion in a church of Christendom as a valid baptism. What is not said directly, but implied, is that Fred may have been rebaptized as a JW by 1956. Or, he may have been baptised in another church by full immersion and counted that as sufficient.
It is this statement that left the impression with many, me included, that originally Fred Franz was not a baptised JW by today's standards, and that he may have decided to finally get rebaptized by 1956, or he may have been counting his immersion in another church before joining the Bible Students.
So my quoted statement stands corrected. However, this now opens up the point that Charles Russell, the FOUNDER of the religion and many of his associates on the Board of Directors (the original concept of a Governing Body) were not baptized JWs/Bible Students because they counted their original baptisms in a church in Christendom. And many subsequent Watchtower leaders may not have been rebaptized until 1956 when the Society officially changed its policy - (20 years AFTER 1935, when the heavenly calling was closed. See July 1, 1956 Watchtower, page 406, subtitle "Baptism a second time.")
The point is, the so-called 'Anointed' myth about something special is nonsensical. These Bible Student leaders were baptized in Christendom, and they saw no special need to change that, unless later on by 1956 (80 years after Russell founded the religion) they felt that their original "Sprinkling" was not good enough.
