Beth-Sarim and the Jehovah's Witnesses

"Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920's, under a doctor's treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. From 1929 on, Brother Rutherford spent the winters working at a San Diego residence he had named Beth-Sarim. Beth-Sarim was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. The deed, which was published in full in "The Golden Age" of March 19, 1930, conveyed this property to J. F. Rutherford and thereafter to the Watch Tower Society. - Proclaimersbook, p. 76.

In this manner "Beth-Sarim" is introduced to the public in the official Watch Tower Society history book. Earlier notice of Beth Sarim is found in the Yearbook 1975, page 194, were we find:

"In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for brother Rutherford's use .. Concerning this property the 1939 book Salvation stated: 'At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929, there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth Sarim."

This is the official Watch Tower Society's version of the story behind "Beth-Sarim".  But is this really all there is to it? The passage in Salvation, mentioned in the Yearbook 1975, may help to clarify matters:

"At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929 there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth Sarim. The Hebrew words Beth Sarim mean 'House of the Princes'; and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there are those on earth today who fully believe in God and Christ Jesus and in His Kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth. The title to Beth Sarim is vested in the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in trust, to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be forever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth ... It stands there as a testimony to Jehovah's name; and when the princes do return, and some of them occupy the property, such will be a confirmation of the faith and hope that induced the building of Beth Sarim." -   Salvation, J.F. Rutherford, p. 311

Indeed, the mansion was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. But the purpose of the house itself was somewhat different than the Society claims today. It was intended to be occupied by no one less than Abraham himself and other ancient worthies from the bible. The people who spent their money to make Beth-Sarim possible, would not particularly have had Judge Rutherford in mind when paying for it.

Also, the "deed" mentioned in the Proclaimers book sheds rather interesting light on the reasons for building Beth-Sarim:

Click either image to view The Golden Age, March 19, 1930

The deed reveals: 

"Both the grantor and the grantee are fully persuaded from the Bible testimony which is the word of Jehovah God and from extraneous evidence that God's Kingdom is now in the course of establishment and that it will result beneficially for the peoples of earth; that the governing power and authority will be invisible to men but that the kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs of the nations under supervision of the invisible ruler, Christ. That among those who will be thus the faithful representatives and visible governors of the world will be David, who was once King over Israel; and Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthai, and Joseph, formerly ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews 11th. chapter."

If the old worthies were soon to occupy it, there was no need for imposters taking it away from them, and for that matter the deed stated:

"Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises shall first prove and identify themselves  to the proper officers of said Society as the person or persons described in Hebrews chapter eleven and in this deed."

Beth-Sarim today: Photo: Diane Raines

Rutherford himself seemed to be fully convinced on Beth-Sarim and its purpose. He even commented on it in The San Diego Sun newspaper.

However, instead of being forever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth, it was sold shortly after Judge Rutherford died. Gone with it was the faith and hope that induced the building of Beth Sarim.

Although Judge Rutherford was fully persuaded from the Bible testimony which is the word of Jehovah God and from extraneous evidence about necessity of Beth-Sarim, the extraneous evidence obviously appeared to be Rutherford's greater motivator, the extraneous evidence springing from his own imagination.

(Judge Rutherford in his living room in Beth Sarim -
the house originally built for "Abraham, Isaac and the old saints")