What is the reason for being incorporated in two states and why is the PA corp. two words (Watch Tower) and the NY corp. one word (Watchtower)? Thanks
What's the difference between "Watch Tower" of PA and "Watchtower" NY?
by paul from cleveland 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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AllTimeJeff
The PA corp is over the US branch, and the NY corp controls worldwide affairs of the GB,
Or visa versa. It's been 3 years now. I might have got them mixed up. But that is primarily the difference between the two.
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paul from cleveland
Thanks Jeff
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RR
During C.T. Russell's reign, there were 3 corporations. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in PA, then in 1909 they moved in Brooklyn, NY and incorporated the People's Pulpit Association, in 1914 the International Bible Students Association was incorporated to oversee the work overseas.
In the 1940s, under Knorr's reign, the People's Pulpit Association was reorganized under the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, while the parent branch in PA became the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of PA.
There is actually a Watchtower Bible and Tract Society incorporated in every state.
They do this for safety reasons, if New York gets closed down, they can used the New Jersey corporation, if the New Jersey corp closes, they'll used the Florida corporation.
RR
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RR
Oh, as to the Watchtower, Watch Tower. During the Russell years the name of the journal was The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. After his death it became one word
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lrkr
My understanding was that the NY corporation was originally a way for Russell to make sure his wife (who was getting divorced from him) could not get any of the assets in the corporation (that they had built together.) The modern explanation is as AT Jeff states above- but in the book "The Four Presidents" it seems to insinuate that the move was actually just a move to hide assets.
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yknot
and before all of that was the incorporation of Zion's Watch Tower......from Pittsburg!
I believe they dropped Zion from magazine title in 1908 though......
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besty
Barbara Anderson has taken the time to clarify this: