Judge Rutherford and his wife were separated

VM44

It is well know today that Judge Rutherford and his wife lived apart from each other for most of the time he was president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

The Judge's main residences were at Brooklyn Bethel and the house Beth Sarim in San Diego, California.

Mary Rutherford, his wife, lived in the city Monrovia which is in the Los Angeles area and is about 125 miles from Beth Sarim.

There are no reports that Judge Rutherford was seen with his wife during the 20 years he was in control of The Watchtower. Not a single report of him visiting Monrovia!

Being away from one's wife for over 22 years certainly satisfys the definition of one being separated from one's wife.

The Sataurday Evening Post's article "Armageddon, Inc" stated that there was a "Mrs. Rutherford" but that no one was saying anything at all about her. The reason why everyone was quiet about her is that the stituation between her and her husband could not bear up under close examination. People would ask why Rutherford was NEVER seen with his wife!

What is more telling is that after Rutherford died, neither his wife or son were involved in any of the funeral arrangements, or even showed up at the funeral. This sort of thing happens among the wife and children when there are hard feelings and resentment because of being ignored by the husband and father.

It is quite clear. Rutherford separated from his wife in order to be the president of The Watchtower Society.

Why did it take over 60 years for this fact to be plainly stated?

Homerovah the Almighty

Probably intensional hush hush for the sake of the organization, just like there were so many other secrets of the WTS.

there is a well known pretentious appearance that gets well played out even to this day with the WTS.

realistically its not like wicked old Christendom but rather the one only true Christian faith, so the outward commercialism

has to get played out on that very structuring.

Of course its all false and untruthful.

There indeed blinders that get place on to the individuals as soon as they walk into the Kingdom Hall with the out most intension..

Farkel

vm44,

:It is quite clear. Rutherford separated from his wife in order to be the president of The Watchtower Society.

That's a false dilemma, so it's not quite clear at all why they separated. We do know that Malcolm didn't care for his father at all, and was not a JW. Mary was allegedly a JW until she died, but there is no record of her talking about her husband, good or bad. We know that the Society took care of her financially. Perhaps her silence was payment for her subsidy. We don't know.

We do know that there were several women at Bethel who were not the most upstanding examples of idealized femininity, and both of them were very close to Rutherford.

The plain truth is that no concrete evidence has come forth which explains exactly why Rutherford kept Mary and Malcolm 3,000 miles away from him.

The only concrete evidence we have is that JFR was a total and complete asshole who only looked out for himself.

Farkel

Leolaia

Yet one thing that has come to light is that Malcolm and his wife travelled with Joe, Berta, and Bonnie to Hawaii (as part of the Judge's Pacific trip to Sydney, Australia and then to Hawaii) in 1938. One can just imagine what happened aboard ship. There they all were in close quarters for at least several days. Did they also see each other in Hawaii? Did Malcolm attempt a reconciliation with his dad? One can only wonder.

Homerovah the Almighty

One can only guess there was an out pouring of personal sanctification and redemption on those trips !

and where was old Joe's wife, probably back in the State crying her eyes out every night, most likely.

All done under cover so to speak from the eyes of the flock.

Rutherford's personal pictures always remind me of a devious slime ball.

VM44

:It is quite clear. Rutherford separated from his wife in order to be the president of The Watchtower Society.

That's a false dilemma, so it's not quite clear at all why they separated.

You are correct. The reason they lived apart and most likely never saw each other for extended periods of time (if at all) is not known.

All that is known for certaintly is that Judge Rutherford lived a separate life from his wife. He resided at Bethel and Beth Sarim, and she resided in Monrovia.

Judge Rutherford had his circle of close associates of which his wife was not a member.

I think we can say that is not a normal way to live a marriage, but then, was it ever established that the "Judge" was normal?

Farkel

vm44,

:I think we can say that is not a normal way to live a marriage, but then, was it ever established that the "Judge" was normal?

JFR was in good company. Russell was married and stayed celibate, much to the chagrin of his wife. Knorr was married and also celibate, much to the chagrin of his wife. Audrey married VERY soon after Knorr's death. She must have had a lot of pent up, er, "emotions." Fred Franz was never married, and likely celibate, but held himself out to be the de facto oracle for dispensing marriage, sex and family advice. Clayton Woodworth was also celibate, a vegan, a Feng Shui advocate, a hater of medicine and physicians, co-Author of the Finished Mystery and the biggest crackpot the WTS ever had.

NONE of them were even remotely close to "normal." They were all weird. Obviously, "Jehovah" has very poor judgment when it comes to picking his personal spokesmen to be role models for "true" Christians in these "trying" times.

Farkel

IWillBeDubbedNoMore

Knorr was married and also celibate, much to the chagrin of his wife.

I've known about JFR and Russell but haven't heard this about Knorr. How is this known?

Farkel

:I've known about JFR and Russell but haven't heard this about Knorr. How is this known?

I'm pretty certain Audrey herself stated it.

Farkel

IWillBeDubbedNoMore

Farkel Thank you!

We were ruled by one oddball after another

Judge Rutherford and his wife were separated

Share this