Did Pastor Russell claim to be God's exclusive mouthpiece?

"God's Mouthpiece"

Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906 page 229

"Many are the inquiries relative to the truths presented in Millennial Dawn and Zion's Watch Tower, as to whence they came and how they developed to their present symmetrical and beautiful proportions - Were they the results of visions? Did God in any supernatural way grant the solution of these hitherto mysteries of his plan? Are the writers more than ordinary beings? Do they claim the supernatural wisdom or power? or how comes this revelation of God's truth?"

"No, dear friends, I claim nothing of superiority, nor supernatural power, dignity or authority; nor do I aspire to exalt myself in the estimation of my brethren of the household of faith, except in the sense that the Master urged it, saying, "Let him who would be great among you be your servant." (Matt. 20:27) And my position among men of the world and of the nominal church is certainly far from exalted, being "everywhere spoken against." I am fully contented, however, to wait for the exaltation until the Lord's due time. (1 Peter 5:6) In the Apostle's words I therefore answer, "Why look ye upon us, as though by our power we had done these things? We also are men of like passions with yourselves" - of like infirmities and frailties, earnestly striving, by overcoming many besetments, discouragements, etc., to press along the line toward the mark of the prize of the high calling, [Philippians 3:14] and claiming only, as a faithful student of the Word of God, to be an index finger, as I have previously expressed it, to help you to trace for yourselves, on the sacred page, the wonderful plan of God - no less wonderful to me, I assure you, than to you, dearly beloved sharers of my faith and joy."

"No, the truths I present, as God's mouthpiece, were not revealed in visions or dreams, nor by God's audible voice, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870, and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfolding of truth due to any human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God's due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out." [Luke 19:40]

EVERY MEMBER of the true church is "God's Mouthpiece":

What Pastor Russell Wrote for Overland Monthly page 160 (July, 1911 issue)

"The anointing of the Holy Spirit gives more or less ability to understand the deep things of God--in proportion to the measure of the Holy Spirit received and in proportion also to the natural talents of the person thus blessed. Every one thus anointed is commissioned or authorized to speak as a mouthpiece of the Lord in proportion to his talents and opportunities and privileges."

What Pastor Russell Wrote for Overland Monthly page 368 (July, 1915 issue)

"The coming Age will be the time for Christ and the Church, as the Heavenly Bridegroom and the Heavenly Bride, to take over the world of mankind by resurrection, regeneration. Now, as the Apostle suggests, is the time in which the Church is to make her own calling and election sure to the Divine nature, that she may become "the Bride, the Lamb's Wife." It is her privilege, also, to carry the Message of this High Calling to those who now have ears to hear. Thus she becomes God's mouthpiece, or ambassador, in finding, calling, instructing and helping all who accept the Divine invitation, and enter into covenant relationship with God through Christ as New Creatures."

Convention Report Sermons page 124 (A special sermon given only to all congregation elders and deacons, August 6, 1910)

"It is a wonderful privilege to be ambassadors for God, as though God was speaking, as though we were his mouthpieces. Oh, if we could only feel this evening as we sit here, and feel it every day, that it is not a plume or a medal, or something to be displayed, but it is a responsibility that we must give an account of! If you have large privileges, you have also large responsibilities. If the Church of Christ has given you a position, then you owe it to God to consider, as the Apostle said, that the Holy Spirit has made you an overseer--not merely that the flock of God has made you an overseer, not merely have they voted for you to be the elder or deacon in the Church, but that God has been behind this matter, and that the whole arrangement is of him."

Convention Report Sermons page 162,163 (June, 1911)

"The bridegroom has been sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as the apostle says, waiting for the time to come for the divine arrangement to be fulfilled, and the whole thing given to you and to me is to be ambassadors, to be mouthpieces of God in inviting and calling and drawing, in the name of the Father, and in the name of our Lord, all of those who have an ear to hear his message."

Convention Report Sermons page 309 (1911)

"We must build up one another, energize one another, that we may make our calling and election sure, not that God could not get along without us, my dear friends, oh, my! there are a thousand ways in which He could do without every one of us, but He privileges us. It is a great privilege that we might be God's ambassadors, God's mouthpieces, and how much joy it brings when we do anything for the Lord!"

Convention Report Sermons page 327 (1911)

"His first work is the calling out of a class as a people for His name and we are His channels for the gathering in of these who will constitute the Members of the Body of Christ, which will be the Christ in glory. Are you not glad, dear friends, that God has given you the privilege of being His mouthpieces and of inviting such as have the ear to hear to become joint heirs and fellow members of the same Body?"

Convention Report Sermons page 383 (June 21, 1913)

"In proportion as you hear the voice and humble yourself and cultivate the qualities of meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness and love, in that proportion the Master will be ready to speak through you and use you as part of His mouthpiece as He speaks to the whole world respecting this New Dispensation and the blessings that are to come through it."

Convention Report Sermons page 434 (July, 1913)

"His [the Apostle Paul's] words elsewhere fully carry out the thought that we have already expressed, namely, that every member of the Church of Christ is an authorized mouthpiece of the Lord."