Joseph Franklin Rutherford

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Joseph Franklin Rutherford (8 November 1869—8 January 1942), often referred to as "Judge" Rutherford, was the second president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society corporation, the primary legal entity used by Bible Students, and subsequently by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

During his legal career as a prosecutor and substitute judge, Rutherford developed an interest in Watch Tower publications, which led him to become a baptized Bible Student in 1905. He became legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society in 1907 and a traveling representative until his election as president in 1917.

Rutherford's early presidency was marked by schism within the Bible Student movement that resulted in the departure of thousands,^{[citation needed]} and the incarceration of Watch Tower executives for a publication deemed "seditious" during World War I.^[1] Rutherford's presidency introduced many organizational and theological changes, including an increase in the control of congregational appointments by the Society^[2], and a call to "advertise" the Kingdom of God.^[3] Rutherford introduced the name "Jehovah's witnesses" in 1931,^[4] and coined the name "Kingdom Hall" for houses of worship in 1935.^[5] The number of adherents more than tripled during Rutherford's twenty-five years as president.^[6][7]

Early life

Joseph F. Rutherford

Rutherford was born in Boonville, Missouri on November 8, 1869 to a Baptist farm family and raised in near poverty.^[8] Rutherford developed an interest in law from the age of 16.^[9] Although his father discouraged this interest, he allowed Rutherford to go to college provided he could pay for a laborer to take his place on the family farm. Rutherford took out a loan^[10] and helped to pay for his law studies by working as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman and court stenographer.^[11]

Law career

Rutherford spent two years as a judge's intern, became an official court stenographer at age 20 and on the basis of that experience^[12] was admitted to the Missouri bar in May 1892 at age 22.^[13] He became a trial lawyer for a Boonville law firm^[14] and later served for four years in the city as a public prosecutor. He was appointed a Special Judge in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri,^[15][16] sitting as a substitute judge for four days^[12] when the regular presiding judge was unable to hold court.^[17][18] His appointment earned him the sobriquet "Judge" Rutherford. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1909 and allowed to practice before the US Supreme Court the same year.^[19]

Bible Students

While selling encyclopedias, a job he found challenging, Rutherford had determined that he would, once he became successful, buy books from any book salesman who came to his office. Accordingly, though Rutherford was an atheist at the time, he purchased three volumes of the religious Millennial Dawn series in 1894. Rutherford had lost his faith when his Baptist minister had told him that his wife Mary, a Presbyterian, would go to Hell because she had not been baptized.^[20] He and his wife found the books persuasive, and Rutherford immediately wrote to the Watch Tower Society to tell them so. Starting with the presumption that "that which cannot satisfy the mind has no right to satisfy the heart", Rutherford spent several years researching before eventually being baptized in 1906.^[21] He became legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society in 1907, and served as an elder and traveling speaker in the following years.

In April 1915, Rutherford participated in a public debate with Baptist clergyman Rev. John H. Troy^[22] on the subjects of the state of the dead and Christ's Second Coming. He was elected President of the Watch Tower Society on January 6, 1917, two months after Russell's death. The election process was criticized by four members of the Board of Directors. The differences between Rutherford and the Board were the first in a long line of controversial actions which led to a widespread schism within the Bible Student movement that peaked by 1928. Rutherford claimed that although the four dissenting directors had been appointed by Russell these appointments had never been confirmed by vote of the corporation members at the annual meeting of the Society. It has since been shown that the same legal technicality applied equally to Rutherford.^{[citation needed]} On August 8, 1917 the four directors and their supporters were forcibly expelled leading to dissension amongst Bible Students, and a war of words between the expelled Directors and Rutherford in the form of numerous papers, pamphlets, and booklets.^{[citation needed]} At the annual meeting held on January 5, 1918 Rutherford utilized thousands of voting proxies to receive the most votes for membership and was named as president of the Society. ^[23]

In Pastor Russell's 1910 version of his Last Will and Testament he recommended Rutherford as one of several individuals that he considered suitable to be chosen as a member of an editorial committee of five elders who were to oversee what material was to appear in the Watch Tower magazine following Russell's death. Russell indicated that the committee was to ensure the Watch Tower magazine contain only material written by him during his lifetime and that no new publications be published under the name of the Watch Tower Society.^[24]

Imprisonment

Although Pastor Russell's expected seventh volume to his Studies in the Scriptures textbook series was not written during his lifetime, a seventh volume was published in 1917, and was advertised by the Watch Tower Society as his posthumous work. It was received with great skepticism by many Bible Students who felt that the tone and spirit of the book was overly harsh, as well as contrary to the spirit in which Russell had written during his ministry. Questions were also raised regarding predictions made in the book for the years 1918, 1919, and 1925. This seventh volume (entitled The Finished Mystery) included strong criticism of the Papacy and the existing Christian religious system and hierarchy. This prompted clergy pressure for government censure and in 1918 Rutherford was imprisoned together with seven other associates in Atlanta, Georgia, for allegedly opposing the Selective Service Act of 1917 and the Espionage Act of 1917. However, on May 14, 1919, the U.S. circuit court of appeals in New York ruled: “The defendants in this case did not have the temperate and impartial trial to which they were entitled, and for that reason the judgment is reversed.” The prosecution did not pursue a retrial of the case, and the charges were dismissed by action of nolle prosequi. Jehovah's Witnesses consider the literal number of years he and his associates spent in prison, as well as their release, to be a literal fulfillment of Biblical time prophecy found in the book of Daniel chapter 12.

While in prison, poor air circulation in his cell contributed to Rutherford's developing a lung condition from which he never fully recovered.^[25] Following his release, Rutherford's weakened condition contributed to his contracting pneumonia. Thereafter, under doctor's advice, he spent much of his time at Beth Sarim in San Diego, California, especially during the winter months.

Rutherford's exoneration allowed him to remain a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court which he joined in 1909. From 1939-1942, he served as an attorney in 14 cases before that court, presenting oral arguments in two of those cases, Schneider v. State of New Jersey (1939), and Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940).

Presidency

Rutherford served as President of the Watch Tower Society until his death in 1942. He was known as a forceful preacher, and often spoke in his public discourses with a loud, booming voice. Starting in 1919 he began a lecture series entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" which became the focus of the movement for the next six years.^{[citation needed]} His personal interpretations and calculations of the ancient "Jubilee cycles" from the Old Testament led him to predict that the earth would become a paradise in 1925. The lecture was also distributed in book form by the same title.

The period that followed 1918 brought significant changes in the thinking and activity of the Watch Tower Society. Rutherford's significant changes in the doctrinal platform, along with disbanding of congregational autonomy and other controversial moves led to the great majority of Bible Students ceasing fellowship with the Society. ^[26] Rutherford's advertising efforts eventually lead to great growth in the Society's membership. In 1931 a new name based on Isaiah 43:10-12, "Jehovah's witnesses", was selected in order to better identify the organization and its members.

Rutherford's presidency is noteworthy for increasing the drive to "advertise the King and His Kingdom". The advertising work has become the prime hallmark for which Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized today. In 1931 at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, Rutherford delivered a public discourse adopting the new name of "Jehovah's Witnesses".^[27].

Rutherford predicted that the current world political order would end in 1925^{[citation needed]}. In his view Jesus had been enthroned as King and Satan's rule ended in 1914.

Beth Sarim

Beth Sarim ("House of the Princes") was built in San Diego, California in 1930 for soon to be resurrected Old Testament "princes." Rutherford used it as a winter home.

In San Diego, California in 1929, the Watch Tower Society built a house in California called Beth Sarim. The Hebrew words Beth Sarim mean 'House of the Princes'. It was funded by specific donations for the stated purpose of "housing the prophets and godly men of old", who were expected to be physically resurrected^[28] before Armageddon to help with Christ's Millennial reign over the earth. Rutherford resided at the villa in his last years of ill health until his death in 1942. In 1948 the villa was sold. Soon after, the The Watchtower, November 1, 1950, pages 414-17 published a changed understanding of the aforementioned teaching to one where the "earthly forefathers of Jesus Christ would be resurrected after Armageddon." ^[29]

Criticism by Olin Moyle

Rutherford with Cadillac from the Watchtower publication The Messenger (1931)

In July 1939 Olin R. Moyle, legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society, wrote an open letter of resignation to Rutherford,^[30] to complain about behaviour of some members of the Bethel family, including Rutherford himself, that he considered excessive and inappropriate.^[31] Among other things, Moyle accused Rutherford of "unkind treatment of the staff, outbursts of anger, discrimination and vulgar language."^[32] Moyle condemned Rutherford for his allowance of the "glorification of alcohol" at Bethel in the same letter.^[33] Moyle also cited Beth Sarim 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."^[34][35] Society directors defended Rutherford in an October 1939 Watchtower article, accusing Moyle of lies and "wicked slander" and claimed he was a "Judas" trying to cause division. Moyle successfully sued the board of directors for libel, collecting $15,000 plus court costs.^[32]

Death

About age 70, Rutherford underwent several medical treatments for intestinal cancer. These included multiple surgeries in 1941, but Rutherford never fully recovered. He died in San Diego, California on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72.

After his death Rutherford's burial was delayed for three months due to legal proceedings arising from his desire to be buried at Beth Sarim, which was not a legally zoned cemetery.^[36] Consolation 1942 May 27 explained that "Judge Rutherford looked for the early triumph of "the King of the East", Christ Jesus, now leading the host of heaven, and he desired to be buried at dawn facing the rising sun, in an isolated part of the ground which would be administered by the princes, who should return from their graves." Rutherford was succeeded by Nathan Homer Knorr as President of the Watchtower Society.

References

Bibliography

• Penton, James M. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802079733. 
• Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable, London. ISBN 094559406. 
• Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. ISBN 9781430301004. 
• Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1975). 1975 Yearbook. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 
• Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1993). Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 

External links

• Rutherford and associates 1919 Application for Executive Clemency
• Original schism documents 1917 to 1929
• Online collection of Rutherford's writings
• Works by Joseph Franklin Rutherford at Project Gutenberg
• News clippings relating to Judge Rutherford
• News clippings from Rutherford's "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" campaign