Is there any evidence for the claim that CTR dismissed JFR from Bethel in early 1915?

by JWB 5 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  JWB

  EVIDENCE FOR DISMISSAL OF JOSEPH RUTHERFORD FROM BETHEL IN 1915?

  I recently came across a claim, made somewhere on the Internet, that Charles Russell had dismissed Joseph Rutherford from Bethel in 1915:

  "Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1861-1942): Came from a large Calvinist family; formerly a small-town lawyer in Missouri; at least once appointed to serve as judge in a case; politically active in Democratic politics. Custodian of Pastor Russell’s last will and testament. Apparently dismissed from Bethel in early 1915, lived in Monrovia near Los Angeles and worked as a lawyer for a department store in Los Angeles. Forceful in disposition and persuasive. Debated Rev. John H. Troy at First Baptist Church in Glendale, California, April 21-24, 1915."

  I'm interested to know if this claim can be substantiated.
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  VM44

  This information from the Moyle libel case does not metion any dismissal of Rutherford by Russell, but it does mention that Rutherford asked for a $1,000 loan from the Society, and that he planned to open a law office in Los Angeles.

  So Rutherford had either left, or was planning to leave, Bethel in the year 1915.

  Olin R. Moyle Libel Case (1940-1943)
  http://archive.org/details/OlinR.MoyleTrial

  Page 1567, Examination of Isaac F. Hoskins

  Q. Where you present at any meeting when
  there was a discussion about a thousand dollar
  load to Mr. Rutherford?

  A. In the summer of 1915 Mr. Rutherford had
  withdrawn from the active work and wrote a letter to Pastor
  Russell asking if the Society would loan him a thousand
  dollars, that he was about to set up a law office in
  Los Angeles. Pastor Russell recommended to the Board that it
  be loaned him, and so the motion was passed in his favor.
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  Leolaia

  As mentioned by VM44 we have the Olin Moyle trial reference:

  "Q. Were you present at any meeting when there was a discussion about a thousand dollar loan to Mr. Rutherford? A. In the summer of 1915 Mr. Rutherford had withdrawn from the active work and wrote a letter to Pastor Russell asking if the Society would loan him a thousand dollars, that he was about to set up a law office in Los Angeles. Pastor Russell recommended to the Board that it be loaned him, and so the motion was passed in his favor" (Testimony of Isaac F. Hoskins in the Olin R. Moyle v. Fred Franz, et al., 1943, p. 1567).

  Here is an interview with Cora Sundbom about her memories at Bethel with her father Brother Kuehn; she said that Rutherford had been sent away from Bethel:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztnc6zn_dcE

  The video creator states (I don't know if this is from the interview) that Brother W. A. Baker "personally told me he discharged Rutherford [in] 1915". FWIW.
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  JWB

  Leolaia, my apologies for the delay in responding to your post!

  Thank you.

  I will be viewing this video later.
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  Phizzy

  SO, did Rutherford wait until CTR's death until he shot back in to take over ?
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  VM44

  Leolaia, good find!

  It could be that Charles Russell simply did not want Rutherford around Bethel anymore.

  If CTR could have stayed alive for a few more years, then it is possible that Rutherford would have been out of the picture as far as taking over running the organization.

  There is also some controversy about Rutherford's name being added to the list of possible successors to Russell in the event of his death.

  I would not put it pass Rutherford to add his name to the list. My understanding is tha he would not allow anyone to examine Russell's last will and testament. One wonders why not.