Hi Cathy!
At the time that many of the older WT publications were written this was the most common Bible translation found in Catholic households. This would be especially true of Judge Rutherford's time.
I wondered if that might be the case (although I kind of doubted it because I'd never encountered a new copy of the translation). I've never really known any Catholics, though, so I wasn't sure.
The simplest answer is probably that it's what the guys in the Writing Department read on Sunday mornings. It's a likely source for lots of their ideas.
My guess too. It just seemed really odd to me, since it was full of psychic stuff and patriotic stuff even back in the 1950s. Reading older bound volumes of Awake! it's kind of funny how you can see what sort of books the Writing Department liked to read because they wrote articles based on them.
I really really like your website, BTW. I collect old Society literature (mostly Russell and Rutherford stuff), and I wouldn't be surprised if I've done business with you at some point or another. Dealing in old WT publications always seemed like a fun business to me, I just could never do it because I hate to part with anything really old or interesting, even if I've already got multiple copies. I liquidated most of my library on eBay after I DA'd and have been kicking myself for it ever since.