A Giant for Jehovah, Judge Rutherford

VM44

E. J. Melton?s History of Cooper County, Missouri
CHAPTER 43
COOPER COUNTY'S ILLUSTRIOUS HALL OF FAME
Pages 228 ? 258
A Giant for Jehovah. JOSEPH F. RUTHERFORD, a native of Missouri and a Boonville lawyer who practiced in his home state 18 years, became a member of the New York Bar in 1910, and served as special judge in important cases. A close student of the Bible, he delivered a religious lecture in the Stephens Opera House, now the Lyric Theater, while still a resident of Boonville.
He is an independent, undenominational Christian, his only creed being the Bible. Since 1917, he has been president of the International Bible Students Association and of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, publishers of Jehovah's Witnesses, an important and world-wide Christian organization.
Judge Rutherford has written numerous Bible commentaries which have exceeded in circulation that of any other writer--more than 200 million, translated into 70 languages. A consistent broadcaster, he often uses 240 radio stations simultaneously to carry his messages instantly to practically all countries of the earth. His addresses also are reproduced on phonograph records.
Mrs. Rutherford is the former Miss Mary Fetzer, of Boonville. Her father, Dr. Fetzer, built business buildings in the Fetzer Block on Main street, Boonville. Judge and Mrs. Rutherford have one son, Malcolm.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mocooper/Biographical/Melton_Chapter_43.htm

VM44

"A Giant for Jehovah"....well, Rutherford was over 6 foot 4 inches in height!

"...and served as special judge in important cases" ???!!!

Did this author really know this? or, more likely, was that information provided by someone else? like, perhaps, Rutherford himself?

Does anyone know what cases were presented to Rutherford when he was on the bench? I have read that on some days he heard NO cases at all!

--VM44

VM44

RR has said Rutherford was dismissed from Bethel. Here is the reference:

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.

http://www.heraldmag.org/04history_6.htm

--VM44

It's interesting the wording Parkinson uses: "Apparently dismissed from Bethel in 1915..." I don't see it so apparently. Russell continued to use Rutherford as chairman to Bible Student conventions up until Russell's death. Parkinson, himself, noted that A.H. MacMillan wired Rutherford of Russell's death at a Bible Student's convention in Oakland, Maryland. Seeing that the Rutherford/Troy debate was reported in the May 1, 1915 W.T. and in the same issue Russell promoted Rutherford's "A Great Battle in the Ecclesiastical Heavens," which was a defense of Russell. something doesn't jive.

William Penwell

The article is a bunch of lies. First thing I understand "Judge Ruderass" with the supposed judicial record, only presided over a one minor court case. Then the point about all the books he had written. I also read somewhere that Freddie Franz penned most of Rutherford's books.

Will

Athanasius

Rutherford may very well have been dismissed by Russell from the headquarters staff. At his 1918 trial in New York (United States VS Joseph F. Rutherford Et Al) Rutherford testified that he was living in California in 1915 and 1916, and didn't return to New York until November 1916. According to the May , 1915 Watch Tower, lack of funds forced Russell to downsize the headquarters staff. In fact he had to let 70 people go. Russell announced: "We must conclude that it is the Lord's will that our activities be greatly curtailed, in order to bring down the expenses to a parity with the income. In line with this decision, seventy of the dear helpers at the Society's headquarters have been obliged to go forth to seek other avenues of usefulness in the work. Some will become colporteurs; others will accept situations as teachers in schools and colleges; some will enter business life." (See Watch Tower reprints page 5682.)

Was Rutherford one of the 70 who got termination notices? In 1943 Isaac F. Hoskins, a former Watch Tower director, testified: "In the summer of 1915 Mr. Rutherford had withdrawn from 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." (See the court transcript of Olin Moyle VS The Watchtower, page 1567.)

Leolaia

Joseph Rutherford was a resident of Monrovia, California, in 1915-1916? That's exactly where Mary Rutherford was living in the twenties and thirties. I bet the old Judge held the deed of the house where Mary was living -- and if she tried to pull any tricks like Maria Russell did, well, she would face life on the street. Any info to the contrary?

Kenneson

Thank you Athanasius. That is the best proof I've seen so far of Rutherford's dismissal from Bethel. However, I'm still puzzled as to why he continued to be chairman at conventions up until Russell's death if he withdrew from active work in the summer of 1915 as Hoskins maintains. Another point. If he was dismissed because of a lack of funds, does it necessarily follow that he had fallen in Russell's disfavor? Whatever the case, if Rutherford indeed lived away from Bethel all this period and didn't return to New York until November 1916 as the trial case maintains, this is strong evidence that he came back with one purpose in mind and that was to take over Russell's position.

VM44

This is becoming more and more interesting.

So, it does indeed look like Rutherford was in California, and came back to take over the Watchtower after Russell died.

If only Russell could have held on a few more years, Rutherford might have stayed in California, no "Finished Mystery" book would have been written, no name change to "Jehovah's Witnesses", and so on!

Everything would have been different!

--VM44

GermanXJW

Maybe Rutherford was only dismissed because he as a lawyer had the best chances to have a life outside Bethel after all those years?

A Giant for Jehovah, Judge Rutherford

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