Children of WT GB Presidents?

by NonJW88 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  caliber

  This reminds me of what I read in THE FOUR PRESIDENTS [Gruss] regarding authoritarian tactics at Bethel. Charles De Wilda [don't have book at hand to check spelling] opposed Knorr over the marriage issue at headquarters. He was thrown out of Bethel, became homeless, and asked for help of Bethel passersby. NHK forbade members of the family helping him. He died of exposure while sleeping, I recall, on a park bench.
  A former Bethelite, who was a friend of a local PO whom I know, confirmed this account. He was one of the brothers accosted by Charlie.
  Sad, sad ...
  CoCo

  Another sad fact surrounding the non-marriage issue !!!
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  Leolaia

  slimboyfat....Alleged by Athanasius as published in the 11 November 1892 issue of the Boonville Weekly Advertiser. If indeed printed as he describes, I am positive Malcolm said no such thing but this is how whatever infant cries were interpreted, or perhaps it is a joke by Rutherford. I would like to see the original article. Other than Athanasius, who has done a lot of archival research on his own, the microfilm would have to be consulted at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Perhaps ILL is possible.
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  slimboyfat

  Thanks Leolaia. I wonder what happened with the book Athanasius was working on.
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  Athanasius

  Hi Slim.

  I'm just recovering from major surgery so I don't spend as much time on this forum as I used to. Also economics has forced me to curtail my research of old Joe Rutherford. However, my book is partially complete, in that I've completed 15 chapters on his early life, 1869-1917. The Watchtower version of Joe's early life is pure bunk.

  Anyway regarding the quote about Malcolm. Page 1 of the November 11, 1892 BOONVILLE ADVERTISER reported: "Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Rutherford, yesterday morning, a twelve pound Democrat. Joe tells us that the first thing the young man said, was 'Hurrah for Cleveland.'" Rutherford had been very active in the politcal campaign to return Grover Cleveland to the White House and so he used the birth of his son to promote the Democratic Party. It's doubtful that the infant was capable of speech being new born. I'm sure Rutherford spoke in jest. Nevertheless, Joe was very serious about Democratic Party politics and was in demand as a Party spokesman. The young Joe Democrat was very different from the old Joe Watchtower dictator. In fact for the time he was considered a very liberal politician.
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  Leolaia

  I hope you recover well, Athanasius. As you know, I have been eagerly looking forward to your book, and from what you describe, it will be a very fascinating read.