Beth Sarim
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Coordinates: 
32°46′16.36″N 117°05′56.70″W
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Beth Sarim (Hebrew בית שרים "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.
Contents
[hide]
- 1 Background
- 2 Occupation
- 3 Rutherford's burial
- 4 Sale of property
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Background [edit]
Rutherford standing on outside stairs at Beth Sarim shortly after its construction
In 1918, Watch Tower publications began predicting, under the direction of Rutherford, that Old Testament patriarchs or "princes" would be resurrected back to earthly life in 1925. It was taught that these "princes" would become earth's new leaders and that their resurrection would be a prelude to the inauguration of a new earthly society and the abolition of death. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] (It had previously been taught that these individuals were to be raised shortly after 1914. [8] [9] ) These "princes" would use Jerusalem as their capital, with some of the "princes" being located in other "principal parts of the earth." [10] Despite the failure of this prediction, Rutherford continued to preach their imminent return. [11]
J.F. Rutherford in Beth Sarim
During this time, Rutherford spent winters in San Diego, California, for health reasons, [12] and "in time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for brother Rutherford's use." [13] The property was acquired in October 1929 by Robert J Marten and was given to Rutherford in December for the nominal fee of $10 (current equivalent $137). The house was built in that year. [14] Rutherford named the property Beth Sarim and dedicated it for the use of the expected Old Testament "princes," who were now expected to be headquartered in San Diego instead of Jerusalem. [15] [16] The deed for Beth Sarim, written by Rutherford, said that the property was to be held "perpetually in trust" for the Old Testament "princes" and was to be surrendered to them once they arrived. [17] [18] It was located in the Kensington Heights section of San Diego over an area of about 100 acres (0.40 km 2 ), landscaped with olive, date, and palm trees so that the "princes" would "feel at home." [19] The 5,100 square feet (470 m 2 ) residence, designed by San Diego architect Richard S. Requa, is a ten-bedroom Spanish mansion with an adjacent two-car garage. [20] [21] [22] The building costs at the time were about $25,000 (current equivalent $343,000). [23] Writing in the book Salvation in 1939, Rutherford explained that Beth Sarim would forever be used by the resurrected "princes". [24]
Occupation [edit]
Rutherford with his Cadillac coupe in front of Beth Sarim 
Beth Sarim as pictured in the Watchtower publication The Messengerin 1931
Rutherford moved into Beth Sarim in early 1930 and served as caretaker of the property awaiting the resurrection of the "princes". Newspapers of the time reported on Rutherford's lavish lifestyle, which included a 16-cylinder Fisher FleetwoodCadillac coupe. [25] [26] [27] The residence was cited by Olin R. Moyle, former legal counsel for Jehovah's Witnesses, in a letter to Rutherford in 1939, as one of the examples of "the difference between the accommodations furnished to you, and your personal attendants, compared with those furnished to some of your brethren." [28] [29] Walter F. Salter, former manager of the Canadian branch of the Watch Tower Society, also criticized Rutherford's use of Beth Sarim. [30] [31] A reply to Salter's criticisms of Rutherford was published in the May 2, 1937 Golden Age, with a photocopy of a letter from W.E. Van Amburgh, Secretary-Treasurer of the Watch Tower Society, stating: [32]
Not one cent of the funds of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society went into the construction of the home in San Diego where Judge Rutherford does his winter work. It was the gift of friends. I did not know of the existence of the house until I read of it in The Golden Age. Not one cent of the funds of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society went into either of the Cadillac cars used by Rutherford at San Diego and Brooklyn. They were the gift of friends.
The magazine Consolation (successor to The Golden Age) explained that Beth Sarim served as Rutherford's winter headquarters: [33]
For twelve winters Judge Rutherford and his office force occupied Beth Sarim. It was not used as a place of ease or vacationing, but was used as a winter workshop; the books from Vindication, Book One down to and including Children were written there, as well as many Watchtower articles and booklets. The executive instructions for branches all over the earth also were transmitted from Beth-Sarim during the Judge's presence there. At Beth Sarim, Judge Rutherford completed the 1942 Yearbook material as his last work before his death. He dictated this material from his dying bed