Did Knorr receive $20,000 a year from a benefactor?

by VM44 14 Replies latest watchtower scandals

• 

  VM44

  I read here sometime in the last week or so (now I can't remember where though) that when Knorr was the president of The Watchtower Society a benefactor would give him $20,000 every year!!!!

  But when Fred Franz became president, for some reason this benefactor only gave him $17,500 a year.

  Is this true?

  Does anyone remember the thread here where this information was posted?

  It was stated in that thread that Knorr possibly pulled in over a hundred thousand a year in "gifts" made directly to him.

  I find this very fascinating
• 

  Alpaca

  I cannot address your questions directly, but I can provide some information that may fill in details about his lifestyle.

  My ex-wife's immediate family (her grandparents immigrated from Lebanon to Jamaica around the time of WW I) was originally from Jamaica (West Indies). Her father was a very successful businessman and they lived a very comfortable life with servants, a chauffer, and all of the other advantages of wealth. My ex's extended family (aunts and uncles) were all very successful as well and some of them who were not Dubs were politically influential as well.

  Whenever Knorr visited Jamaica (1950s and 1960s) he stayed at my ex's home and enjoyed the lifestyle my father-in-law provided for him and his wife -- fine dining, the best of new clothes, the chauffered car, etc.--anything they wanted. Other Bethel "heavies" were treated equally well by other members of my ex's extended family. I cannot categorically say, to what degree Knorr and the other influential Bethel "heavies" were given cash (although, that they definitely received plenty of it), I can say that they all lacked for nothing. All of them got first class treatment and accomodations wherever they went.

  Just to put this in perspective, my father-in-law was not an ass-kisser--he was a genuinely good, righteous man (although totally misguided as all of us were when we were in the BORG). However, there were plenty of other wealthy Dubs who I thought were total ass-kissers and sought out association with the Bethel and Branch "heavies" as a source of prestige. Some have discussed Harry Peloyan on this board--he was one of those who was treated like a king by ex's extended family.

  I think it is safe to say that the Knorr, Franz, and the other high-command lived a millionaire's lifestyle when they were travelling, even if they gave the outward appearance of modest living while they were at HQ in New York.

  I hope this is at least helpful.
• 

  Lady Lee

  wow I still am a couple of years behind on the Best of. . . and have never seen this info so it must all be fairly new.

  I see a new Best of category coming up soon.
• 

  Farkel

  It was JFR who told Knorr and Covington (at least) to ALWAYS travel First Class. "The workman is worthy of his wages", he would say. It was also reported that Knorr would get TWO first class seats on an airline when he traveled: one for himself and one for his briefcase. It was speculated that he did this because he did not want to talk about what he did for a living (was he embarrassed?) to a passenger sitting next to him. Remember, in first class there are only two seats side-by-side.

  Knorr also was one of the few, if not the only one who lived at Bethel who had air conditioning in his suite. He also had his own kitchen and his own private chef in that suite. Then again, he was trained by Rutherford, who mastered the art of living like a King whilst being served by abject slaves who lived like serfs and didn't even have their own private bathrooms.

  Art Worsley, who spent his life in Missionary work and at Bethel (he is mentioned in the Proclaimer's book) would sometimes watch the front desk at Bethel late at night. He complained that not infrequently, Knorr, Audrey and other Bethel hot shots would return late at night in a limo from dinner, dressed to the nines and full of cheer after having dined on a first class meal at one of Manhattan's finest restaurants. I guess Bethel food didn't quite suit him and he needed a "special" diet.

  All brothers are equal, but indeed, SOME brothers are more equal than others.

  Farkel
• 

  asilentone

  Do they have to report it to IRS?
• 

  VM44

  Hi Alpaca, your post is both interesting and helpful. Thank you for making it.

  I found where I read about the "$20,000 annual gift" Knorr received, it wasn't here after all!

  Here is what I read:

  The average Jehovah's Witness often hears that Governing Body members get only about a hundred dollars a month and live in humble apartments at Bethel headquarters in Brooklyn.
  
  In fact they also get: to travel anywhere in the world they care to apply for and even do so numerous times in a year, vacation time, free meals not just at Bethel but when traveling, free dental work, free medical care, free laundry and maid clean-up service, and "Green Hand Shakes."
  
  Green Hand Shakes are where someone such as a wealthy local Elder or someone else wanting to curry favor or wheedle "priveleges," shakes hands with a Watchtower official such as a Circuit Overseer, District Overseer or Governing Body member and while doing so passing to them a check or dollar bills.
  
  Some Green Hand Shakes can be substantial. According to researcher Barbara Anderson, decades ago a wealthy patron gave a check of over twenty thousand dollars to then Watchtower President Nathan Homer Knorr on a yearly basis. For some reason, though, he only gave seventeen thousand dollar checks each year to later Watchtower President Frederick ("Freddie") Franz. Other "patrons" and "supporters of the Kingdom" also gave.
  
  Probably we'll never know, but it's not unimiginable that Knorr and Franz cleared fifty to a hundred thousand dollars in such gifts every year. Not to say that every single Governing Body is this second getting such "donations," but it would also be surprising, in view of Anderson's revelations, if some weren't.
  
  It's also said that Knorr and previous Watchtower President Joseph Rutherford also got non-money gifts such as cars and, at least in Knorr's case, an airplane. No doubt they felt that they were well-entitled to such "gifts," that "slave is worth his wages." Would they have said the same of other JWs getting such "gifts"?
  
  It has been written that Circuit and District Overseers, as said, also get Green Hand Shakes. Expensive Rolex watches have also been mentioned for the COs and DOs. Watchtower Society does not account for gifts of money or items to COs, DOs or Governing Body members, and it would be great if someday Caesar's sword (Romans 13) insisted that they do so.

  http://masonemerson.freeyellow.com/christianwitnes/id97.html
• 

  belbab

  I went to Gilead School when it was at South Lansing in the class of 59/60. Also in that class was a charming French Canadian girl in her thirties, who was a close friend of mine. The farm servant at that time, I forget his name but it starts with a G, was single and some years older. The Gilead library was in a separate building maybe about seventy yards a way from the main building. On the second floor of that building were self contained living quarters, two appartments I believe. One was the quarters of the farm servant, where he could invite his future wife. In the basement was a closed garage. Guess who used the second apartment, came in on weekends, parked his car out of site in the basement garage, and had undisturbed private quarters, with no one knowing he was there except the farm servant, and my friend, who told me when he was there. Oh, I forgot to tell you his name, Nathan Homer Knorr. Ya, I know, I know, he needed some privacy.

  belbab
• 

  cabasilas

  Belbab,

  You have a PM.
• 

  VM44

  Perhaps Knor wanted to use the Gilead library?
• 

  VM44

  Typo! not "Knor" but rather "Knorr", like the soup company.