Beth Sarim

Beth Sarim as pictured in the Watchtower publication The Messenger in 1931

Beth Sarim (Hebrew for 'House of the Princes') was a ten-bedroom mansion in San Diego, California, constructed in 1929 reportedly 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 (also known as "Judge Rutherford").

Background, construction and purpose

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. (It had previously been taught that these individuals were to be raised shortly after 1914.) These "princes" would use Jerusalem as their capital, with some of the "princes" being located in other "principal parts of the earth." Despite the failure of this prediction, Rutherford continued to preach their imminent return.

During this time, Rutherford spent winters in San Diego, California, for health reasons, and "in time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for brother Rutherford's use." The property was purchased in 1926 and the house was built in 1929. Rutherford named the property Beth Sarim, meaning House of the Princes in Hebrew, 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. 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. It was located in the Kensington Heights section of San Diego over an are of about Vorlage:Convert, and was purposely landscaped with olive, date, and palm trees so that the "princes" would "feel at home." The residence, designed by noted San Diego architect Richard S. Requa, was a ten-bedroom Spanish mansion with over Vorlage:Convert and an adjacent two-car garage. The building costs at the time were about $25,000. Writing in the book Salvation in 1939, Rutherford explained that Beth Sarim would forever be used by the resurrected "princes":

Beth Sarim, as pictured in the Watchtower publication Salvation (1939)

Occupation

J.F. Rutherford in Beth Sarim

Rutherford with Cadillac coupe in front of Beth Sarim

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 Fleetwood Cadillac coupe. 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." Walter F. Salter, former manager of the Canadian branch of the Watch Tower Society, also criticized Rutherford's use of Beth Sarim. 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: Vorlage:Cquote The magazine Consolation (successor to The Golden Age) explained how Beth Sarim served as Rutherford's winter headquarters:
"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."

Rutherford's death and burial

After giving final instructions to three close advisers from Brooklyn headquarters, Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. After his death, Rutherford's burial was delayed for three and a half months due to legal proceedings arising from his desire to be buried at Beth Sarim. Watchtower attorney Hayden C. Covington explained his role in the lawsuit: "I filed a lawsuit then in the courts out there in San Diego to force them to let us bury him out there on that property. Judge Mundo, who was the judge of the Superior Court, heard it and passed the buck, jumping from one thing to another, from one technicality to another, and finally after looking at the matter in a reasonable way Bill, Bonnie, and Nathan and all of us decided that we have fought enough on this and it looks like its the Lord's will that we take his body back to Brooklyn, and have him buried in Staten Island, which we did." Witnesses collected over 14,000 signatures on a petition that Rutherford's dying wish might be granted. The May 27, 1942 Consolation explained: Vorlage:Cquote Consolation condemned San Diego County officials for their refusal to grant a permit for Rutherford's burial at Beth Sarim or on a neighboring property named Beth Shan, also owned by the Watchtower Society: Vorlage:Cquote After all appeals were exhausted, Consolation stated that Rutherford's remains were shipped to New York and he was buried there on April 25, 1942.

Despite official denials by the Watchtower Society, some have speculated, however, that Rutherford was secretly buried at Beth Sarim.

Sale of property

Beth Sarim today

After Rutherford's death, the Watchtower Society maintained Beth Sarim for a few years, before selling the property in 1948. The belief that the "princes" would be resurrected before Armageddon was abandoned in 1950.Barbara Grizzuti Harrison: Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses. Simon & Schuster, 1978, S. 180–181, 269–270 (exjws.net). </ref> In 1954, when asked at a trial in Scotland why the property was sold, Watch Tower spokesman Frederick William Franz explained:

The house is now under private ownership and has been designated Historical Landmark number 474 by the City of San Diego.

See also

• Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
• History of Jehovah's Witnesses

External links

• Google Maps Street View of Beth Sarim
• Rutherford's Unfinished Burial Crypt at Beth Sarim
• The Story of Beth Sarim
• 1993 Visit to Beth Sarim--Audio and Pictures
• Rutherford's Lavish Lifestyle--Critical Interpretation of Beth Sarim
• Beth Sarim and the Other House