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VM44The Purpose of Beth Sarim


Beth Sarim, the house in San Diego Rutherford had built and lived in.

From the Proclaimers book, page 76,
A few years after Brother Rutherford?s death, the board of directors of the Watch Tower Society decided to sell Beth-Sarim. Why? "The Watchtower" of December 15, 1947, explained: "It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God?s Word of promise."

But, did the Watchtower of December 15,1947 state what was the purpose Beth-Sarim had fully served?

Did the Watchtower state that the house was for Rutherford's exclusive use?

--VM44

 
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GerardRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

I have no access to old mags, but I found this:  http://www.equip.org/free/DJ564.htm
Before the publication of their latest history, Jehovah?s Witnesses ? Proclaimers of God?s Kingdom (1993), most Jehovah?s Witnesses probably had never heard of Beth-Sarim (Hebrew for "House of the Princes") nor seen a photo of the San Diego mansion. The book contains a brief treatment explaining its use and the purpose of its construction, refers to the deed, mentions the belief in the pre-Armageddon resurrection of the princes ("adjusted in 1950"), and the decision in 1947 to dispose of the property. The picture of the residence in the book was probably taken in 1947 (see figure 1).1  
Commenting on the Proclaimers coverage of Beth-Sarim, one reviewer concludes that the "book now provides more information, but still falls short of telling the whole truth."4 Another observer says it presents a "thoroughly sanitized and misleading description of Beth-Sarim."5  
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TresHappyRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
I heard that Judge Rutherford died at Beth Sarim.  Is that just another JW urban legend?
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freedom96Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
I'll have to find the picture my wife and I took of the house about 6 months ago.  I bet most witnesses still have never thought about or heard about Beth Sarim.
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JThttp://neirr.org/millions.htmRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
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VM44Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

If anyone has the December 15,1947 Watchtower, please post the statement about Beth Sarim.

This 1947 Beth-Sarim reference has not been published since then as far as I know (other than the small segment in the Proclaimers book)

It will be interesting to read exactly what they wrote in 1947, and compare it with what they wrote in 1929, when they published the deed assigning the house to Rutherford for his exclusive use, until the ancient worthies showed up to claim it! (People actually believed this???!!!)

I still say that this was a scam, using the assets of a religious organization to benefit a single individual, Rutherford! I do not believe someone could get away with such a deal today.

--VM44
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MaryRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

Actually, I've got one of Rutherford's books from the '20s or '30s explaining in black and white that the house of Beth Sarim was for when Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were resurrected. Needless to say, this drew great laughter from "the world", but not to worry, because just as soon as these guys were resurrected, Jehovah would make sure that this testimony would make these worldlings "nash their teeth" due to their lack of faith...........I'll try to remember to get it out tonight, and I'll post the quotes.

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Sweetp0985Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
I read that somewhere too that Beth Sarim was for Abraham and others to live in when they were resurrected. I wonder if it was "New Light" or embarassment that made them to sell the house. 
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undercoverRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

This might be a bit off topic but since it involves Da Judge I'll ask anyway. 

Is there anywhere online that has the entire transcript of the speech that he gave where he claimed, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die?"  I seem to remember that he made some other hair-brained claims that have since been overshadowed by the "million dub march" to death instead of paradise earth.
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shamusRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
I recall Farkel had some interesting threads on Beth Sharim, or at least has some interesting tidbits of info on it. 
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FarkelRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

treshappy,

: I heard that Judge Rutherford died at Beth Sarim.  Is that just another JW urban legend?

It's true.   He did die at Beth Sarim.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/12954/1.ashx

Farkel
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GerardRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

The audience...applauded when informed that the Society?s board of directors had voted unanimously to dispose of Beth-Sarim, either by outright sale or by rent, because it had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God?s Word of promise.( "All Nations? Expansion? Assembly," The Watchtower, 15 December 1947, p. 382.)http://www.catholicapologetics.net/JW_Deed.htm
 
 

The Society's only known comment on Beth-Shan

http://www.premier1.net/~raines/bethshan.html

As stated above, the Society only mentioned Beth-Shan once in its literature. This was in the May 27, 1942 Consolation magazine (now called Awake! ). In its long article on the court battles over Rutherford's burial request, they mentioned the location of the second proposed burial site as being on their Beth-Shan property:

The judge decided to continue the case so that the new site could be brought before the Planning Commission... the second plot was a proper place for burial.... The Planning Commission, who deliberated for more than two weeks, investigating the site, was haled before the court, and denied the second application for a cemetery.... New location for interment was almost in the center of the property known as Beth-Shan, which is roughly 75 acres of canyon and mesa land, adjoining Beth-Sarim but separated by a half-mile width of canyon. This property, also belonging to WATCHTOWER, has one small and one large dwelling on it and a few outhouses, and consists of some fruit trees and other cultivated patches in aggregate about seven acres, and about 65 acres of unreclaimed brush, either too steep, or rocky, or inaccessible for development.... Judge Rutherford, in a discussion before his death, had said that as a second choice he wished to be buried somewhere on these wild acres. In order that all the objections made in regard to the first site near to Kensington Heights might be removed to this new site, it was requested that only a ten-foot-square cemetery be granted. The spot was also inaccessible except by a private road a half mile long and closed by a gate. [5]

This only known reference to Beth-Shan was given in the context of trying to show that their second requested site for Rutherford's burial in a one-man cemetery near an exclusive residential area was reasonable. They pointed out that it was almost at the center of 75 acres of "canyon and mesa land," 65 acres of which were composed of "unreclaimed brush, either too steep, or rocky, or inaccessible for development." They further pointed out that these "wild acres" were "inaccessible except by a private road a half mile long and closed by a gate." According to Fred Eason, who was later to purchase some of the Beth-Shan property and residence (discussed below), the dirt road which was accessible through a gate, was also guarded by JWs, so unauthorized individuals couldn't enter. He first stumbled onto the Society's building of the Beth-Shan residence while he was looking for "Young's Cave," a series of man-made caves or tunnels in the area. He was "rebuffed" by "several men on horseback" and watched the building of Beth-Shan from a different side of the mesa canyon. [6]

These admitted facts raise the question of why the Society deemed it necessary or appropriate to purchase this nearly "inaccessible" property, build two "dwellings" on it and try and keep it all secret (except for the above mysterious or brief mention), even guarding and gating its sole, dirt road access. They apparently even tried to cover up what they were doing when rumors of Beth-Shan's existence circulated among JWs in early 1940 (see "False Reports" below).

The answer that makes the most sense to me is the Beth-Shan property and residence was what is now commonly called a "cult compound." Many cultic groups in the United States in recent years who have believed that Armageddon is about to break and will find their little group at the center of the action (or at least the reason for it), build remote or barely accessible and well guarded and protected buildings in the "boon-docks," not metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles or New York (the Watchtower Society's world headquarters is in Brooklyn, NY). They believe Armageddon will involve world-wide war, perhaps nuclear, and those groups who believe only their little group will make it through tend to build fallout and bomb shelters to protect their small following or at least their leaders who will emerge leaders on the New Earth. Major metropolitan areas will be the first casualties, so to the mountains and deserts they flee, sometimes building underground residences. Supporting this view of Beth-Shan's purpose is the Society's statements regarding the soon approach of Armageddon and famines, the inaccessibility of Beth-Shan, their secrecy and covering-up its existence and purpose, and the fact that it had two bomb shelters.

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by Gerard: Correct formatting
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FarkelRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

Gerard,

FYI, Beth Shan was torn down sometime in the mid 1990's.  Although I lived in San Diego most of my life, I never take the time to see it.  Beth Sarim is still the shining gem of Kensington Heights, though.

Farkel
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GerardRe: Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

I see. Thought it was the same building.

Anyway: Prophecy For Profit
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FarkelRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

Gerard,

: New location for interment was almost in the center of the property known as Beth-Shan, which is roughly 75 acres of canyon and mesa land, adjoining Beth-Sarim but separated by a half-mile width of canyon.

(From the article you quoted!)

Farkel
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shamusRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

The audience...applauded when informed that the Society?s board of directors had voted unanimously to dispose of Beth-Sarim, either by outright sale or by rent, because it had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God?s Word of promise.( "All Nations? Expansion? Assembly," The Watchtower, 15 December 1947, p. 382.)http://www.catholicapologetics.net/JW_Deed.htm
Have you ever heard such bullsh*t?  Talk about delusional.  If I was there I would have puked.
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VM44Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

because it had fully served its purpose...

But did they even say what the purpose was that it [the house, Beth-Sarim] had fully served? or did they leave that unsaid?

 ...and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep

A monument to what? Rutherford?

--VM44
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VM44Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

Another point....

and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep

If the house was so expensive to maintain, who paid for its upkeep when Rutherford was using it?

SCAM! SCAM SCAM! and it appears nobody cared back then!

They knew though, look at the applause when told it was to be gotten rid of! They all knew it was a scam, but said nothing!

--VM44

 
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DaCheechRe: Re: The Purpose of Beth Sarim
Even if I stick this proof in front of my wife, she would never believe it! Blind
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RRRe: The Purpose of Beth Sarim

I don't have the information in front of me. But the 1975 yearbook, stated that the house was built for the Judge because of his bad lung whihc was infected while in prison.  They then quote the book "Salvation" as proof of the house being built.  But they put those "....." in there.  As if a thinking JW is not going to look up the reference.  What did "Salvation" say? The house was built for the Princes mentioned in Hebrews 11.

DUH!!!!

RR
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