Beth Sarim Used As A Tax Write Off For A Retirement/Winter Home In Sunny San Diego For Rutherford

by frankiespeakin 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  frankiespeakin

  I'm thinking this whole return of ancient worthies was an idea cooked up by Rutherford to avoid the taxman. That was the main driving force behind the corporations teaching on the ressurrection of select anceint ones before the battle of armageddon.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Sarim

  Beth Sarim (Hebrew for ' House of the Princes ' ??? ????) is a ten-bedroom mansion in San Diego, California, constructed in 1929 in anticipation of various resurrected Old Testament biblical patriarchs or prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and Samuel. It was maintained by the Watch Tower Society, the parent organization used by Jehovah's Witnesses, and was also used as a winter home and executive office for Watch Tower president Joseph Franklin Rutherford.
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  AndDontCallMeShirley

  In excerpts from the book, "Jehovah's Witnesses-Their Monuments To False Prophecy"by Edmund Gruss we find the following:

  Edward J. Ford., was a Witness for over four decades. He worked on the staff in Bethel headquarters in Brooklyn, for a number of years. He recalls conversations with his Witness father and his own contacts with Watch Tower Society leaders. A. H. Macmillan, who served in headquarters under three Watchtower presidents and was, known to Jehovah's witnesses all over the world, " was a frequent weekend visitor in the Ford home. Although Macmillan was a loyal organization man and supportive of Rutherford, "he was critical of his drunkenness and irrational conduct." Shortly after Rutherford death, Macmillan told Edward's father that Beth Sarim was built "for no purpose other than to get the drunken and declining Rutherford out of Brooklyn." This was also confirmed to Edward later, by Society attorney Hayden Covington, who directed the legal department and was elected vice-president after Rutherford's death. Covington "quoted Franz as saying, 'they built the judge a house out in California just to get him out of Bethel.' (p50)
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  VM44

  Beth Sarim was for the exclusive use of "Judge" Rutherford.

  For tax purposes I am sure it was considered like a "church owned" parsonage house where a minister would live.

  It is hard to believe that most witnesses thought nothing wrong about the "Judge" living in such luxury during the Depression.
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  Satanus

  I never noticed before, that the wt constructed the building.

  S
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  frankiespeakin

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Sarim

  Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. [ 34 ] [ 35 ] After his death, Rutherford's burial was delayed for three and a half months due to legal proceedings arising from his desire to be buried at Beth Sarim, which he had previously expressed to three close advisers from Brooklyn headquarters. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] Watchtower attorney Hayden C. Covington explained his role in the lawsuit: "I filed a lawsuit then in the courts out there in San Diego to force them to let us bury him out there on that property. Judge Mundo, who was the judge of the Superior Court, heard it and passed the buck, jumping from one thing to another, from one technicality to another, and finally after looking at the matter in a reasonable way Bill, Bonnie, and Nathan and all of us decided that we have fought enough on this and it looks like its the Lord's will that we take his body back to Brooklyn, and have him buried in Staten Island, which we did." [ 38 ] Witnesses collected over 14,000 signatures on a petition that Rutherford's dying wish might be granted. The May 27, 1942 Consolation explained:

  As early as 1920 Judge Rutherford pointed out that the ancient witnesses or princes were promised an earthly resurrection by the Lord. In that year he delivered a public address at Los Angeles, California, entitled 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die,' in which he called attention to the expectations of the return of the men above mentioned. All the publications since emphasize the same fact. It therefore appears that the return of the princes is a fundamental teaching of the Scriptures. It is as certain as the truth of God's Word. Judge Rutherford gave much of his life in endeavoring to bring this vital matter to the people's attention. What, then, could be more fitting and appropriate before God and before men that his bones should rest on the land held in trust for the men whose coming he was privileged to announce. Sale of property Beth Sarim today

  After Rutherford's death, the Watchtower Society maintained Beth Sarim for a few years, [ 49 ] before selling the property in 1948. [ 50 ] The belief that the "princes" would be resurrected before Armageddon was abandoned in 1950. [ 51 ] [ 52 ] [ 53 ] [ 54 ] In 1954, when asked at a trial in Scotland why the property was sold, Watch Tower spokesman Frederick William Franz explained: [ 55 ]

  Because it was there, and the prophets had not yet come back to occupy it, to make use of it, and the Society had no use for it at the time, it was in charge of a caretaker, and it was causing expense, and our understanding of the Scriptures opened up more, and more concerning the Princes, which will include those prophets, and so the property was sold as serving no present purpose.

  The house is now privately owned and has been designated Historical Landmark number 474 by the City of San Diego. [ 56 ]
• 

  AndDontCallMeShirley

  BUT, what about the OTHER house, Beth Shan?

  It can be shown by citing Watch Tower publications and the deed to the property that Beth-Sarim ("House of the Princes") was built and held in trust as a residence for the soon to be resurrected "ancient worthies" or "princes." While not generally known, the Beth-Shan house and the property improvements had the same purpose. This is shown by the deed which transfers the property to the Society.

  The Beth Shan property purchased Feb. 3, 1939 by William P. Heath, Jr., member of the WT board of directors, and Rutherford's confidant and secretary. The deed which was dated May 20, 1940, conveyed the property to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. A portion of the deed of trust reads as follows:

  NOW THEREFORE this trust is created and the said trustee shall hold the title to said property in trust for the use and benefit of the following named persons, whose names appear in the Bible at the Book of Hebrews, chapter eleven, verses one to forty, to wit: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel. Until such time as the aforementioned persons return and identify themselves to the legal representatives of the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY and by the consent of said Society take possession and control of said premises, the President of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY shall have the right and be duty bound to direct the management and use of said premises hereby conveyed and to determine who shall be in possession and have the active management thereof.(Book 1075, pp. 42-43, County Recorder)

  The Watchtower of November 15, 1941 stated . . . "A great famine is certain to afflict the many nations of the earth in the very near future. The United States is also in line for much suffering. . . The United States is faced with world disaster now impending and about to fall. . . "

  Could this be the reason that the house had a basement with an access, to the 10 by 20 ft underground room, through a secret trapdoor and stairway?

  Beth Shan also had several out buildings: a caretakers house, a horse stable and barn, a goat barn and equipment shed. There was a 4,000 gallon underground tank for diesel fuel and a diesel powered electric generator and a workshop. Water was provided by a well 425 feet deep, which was connected to a 2,000 gallon pressure tank and a 10,000 gallon redwood storage tank. There were 2 fire hydrants and water was piped to the house and barns. "They had their own self-sufficiency. They could go for months without city utilities."
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  Satanus

  Imagine how pissed some of those ot dictators like abraham, david and samson would be, if they showed up there and found some gentiles living in their designated dwelling. Can you say mass murder, clensing of that building? Charlie manson would be envious. Shows the absurdity of the doctrine, and the hypocracy of the wt/rutherford. Why couldn't they just call it a retirement home for the prez?

  S
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  Finkelstein

  Rutherford was sly devious manipulative lawyer who knew that deeding the house to the WTS. it would be have tax free designation status placed on it.

  This was just part of the fraud of which he surrounded himself with the WTS.

  He certainly was a charlatan but a smart charlatan of sorts , thats to be sure.