The WTS has, since its earliest years kept its accounts under a veil of the strictest secrecy. No one but the closest GB member involved in any particular financial venture of the society has access to the figures.
This trend was first established by the treasurer under Russell's presidency. Van Amburg, a dapper, white haired man who affected a well trimmed goatee, controlled WTS accounts with such a sense of classified paranoia, that the only person he allowed to see the figures was Russell himself. During the Miracle wheat trial, when Russell was on the ropes in a case involving alleged fraud, Van Amburg hurt Russell more than helped him by his unwillingness to give frank testimony in regard to the society's finances. This naturally reflected back on Russell who soon came to be regarded, uncharitably, and probably wrongly, as a charlatan.
The next President JF Rutherford adamantly refused to allow anyone to inspect the Society's books, much less audit them. When his own vice-President, and a man he supposedly trusted, Andrew Pierson, asked to see the accounts, because of rumours that had begun to circulate about improper financial dealings between the the British Branch and NY Bethel, he was forced to resign.
This has continued to this day. The WTS financial records are perpetually guarded by a phalanx of legal depositions that make it impossible for an investigator to probe. When one joins the WT movement, one soon realizes that there are certain areas that remain out of bounds, shrouded in impenetrable mystery. One of these areas is cash. Your only stipulation is to part with it, not scrutinize it.
It is assumed by the R&F at large, on grounds no weightier than blind faith, that the WTS is a faithful custodian of its follower's money. Such trust has not always been recompensed. Men such as Rutherford and Knorr have lived such sybaritic and extravagant lifestyles, that without any accountability, they have been positively profligate with the money of others.
I can recount one such example of profligacy. When Knorr flew on any Society business, first class, of course, he always booked a window seat and the seat next to him as well. This was ostensibly for his briefcase, but the real reason was his antipathy towards the preaching work. He felt he might actually have to talk to someone about the "Kingdom message" that he so prominently pontificated about from the platform. None of those followers of the WTS who regarded him with almost mystical awe, were aware that they were in fact paying for two first class tickets for a man who had such scorn for their hard earned money.
Cheers
