Entre 1928 y 1936 la cruz fue reclasificada: en 1928 los broches se calificaron de inaceptables, en 1933 de ídolos, en 1934 de paganos, y en 1936 el libro Riches enseñó que Jesús murió en un madero vertical y no en una cruz.

“For many years, the Bible Students viewed the cross as an acceptable symbol of Christianity. … they proudly wore a cross-and-crown pin as an identifying badge. To them it signified that if they proved faithful to death, they would receive the crown of life. Beginning in 1891, a cross-and-crown symbol appeared on the cover of the Watch Tower.”

“For many years the Bible Students made the cross prominent as a symbol of Christianity. They even had a “cross-and-crown” pin. … The book Riches, published by the Society in 1936, made clear that Jesus Christ was executed, not on a cross, but on an upright pole, or stake.”