Beth Sarim Deeds and transfers

by Lady Lee 61 Replies latest watchtower scandals

Lady Lee

Thanks to Apostanator I have received copies of the deeds and transfers to Beth Sarim. The pages are not the best quality so I have enhanced them to make sure we can read what they say. I have scanned them at 300dpi and initially saved them as tif files. I then reduced them to 72 dpi and resized them to letter or legal paper size and saved them as gif files rather then the more common jpg files (which deteriorate with each successive save). If the images are too hard to read here try saving them to your coputer and looking at then full size in an image program.
The first page was something I did not know. The property was originally sold by Robert J. Martin to Joseph F. Rutherford the property for the grand total of $10.00. Yes ten dollars!.
I have added the text of each page and added the bold on certain interesting points.
DEED (shown above)
Robert J. Martin, a single and unmarried person of 117 Adam St. Brooklyn, New York, for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) does hereby grant, bargain and sell unto Joseph F. Rutherford of 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York for and during his life on earth and thereafter to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a corporation created and organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and maintaining its chief operating offices at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn New York, and for the purpose thereafter set forth.
page 70
text of page 70 (shown above)
All that real property situated in Kensington Heights, County of San Diego, State of California, bounded and described as follows, to wit: Lot One Hundred Ten (110) and Lot One Hundred Eleven (111) of Kensington Heights, Unit No. 2, in the County of San Diego, State of California, according to Map thereof To: 1912: filed in the offices of the County Recorder of said San Diego County May 24, 1926;
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE ABOVE GRANTED AND DESCRIBED PREMISES unto him, the said Joseph F. Rutherford for his exclusive possession, and benefit for and during his life on earth and at the end of said limited estate then to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is trust to be used for the purposes herein set forth, to wit: The granter at the request of the said Joseph F. Rutherford who is President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and General Manager, thereof makes this provision and condition as set forth in this deed.
Both the grantor and the grantee, the said Joseph F. Rutherford are fully persuaded from the Bible Testimony, which is the word of Jehovah God, extraneous evidences that God's kingdom is now in course of establishment and that it will result beneficially to the peoples of earth; that governing power and authority will be invisible to men but that Kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs of the nations under the supervision of the invisible ruler Christ; that among those who will thus be 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 Jepthae, and Joseph, formerly the ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men who were named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews the eleventh chapter. The condition herein is that the said Watch Tower and Tract Society shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men named as representatives of God's Kingdom on earth and that such men shall have possession and use of said property herein above described as they may deem for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged.
This property has been acquired and the improvements built thereon at the instance and under the direction of the said Joseph R. Rutherford and dedicated to Jehovah God and to His King Christ who is the rightful ruler of the earth and for the express purpose of being used by (page 70 cont.) those who are servants of Jehovah God. For this reason the provision is made in this deed that the property shall be forever used for the purpose subject to any one who possesses that may have been placed thereupon. IT IS FURTHER PROVIDED that if the said JOSEPH F. RUTHERFORD while alive on the earth shall by lease, deed or contract provide that any other person or persons connected with the said Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society shall have the right to reside on said premises until the appearing of David or some of the other men mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter of Hebrews as above set forth every such person or persons so designated by the said Joseph F. Rutherford is such lease or other paper writing shall have the right and privilege of residing on said premises until the same be taken possession of by David or some of the other men herein named and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of His kingdom it shall be used as such forever. 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.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I the said Robert J. Martin and the said Joseph F. Rutherford
page 71
page 71 (shown above)
have hereunto signed our names this 24th day of December A.D. 1929.
WITNESSES: Robert J. Martin
Donald Wialett
Joseph F. Rutherford
Bonnie Boyd
State of New York County of Kings On this 24th day of December A. D. 1929
On this 24th day of December A.D. 1929 before me, Donald Haslett, a Notary Public in and for said County and State of New York, having authority to take acknowledgments of legal instruments, personally appeared Robert J. Martin and Joseph F. Rutherford know to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument and each acknowledged to me that he executed the same, as his free act and deed.
WITNESS my hand and official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.
Donald Donald Haslett
Haslett
Notary Notary Public #632
Public Kings County Register #1276
Kings Commission expires March 31/1931
I, FRED G. LEMMERMAN, clerk of the county of Kings, and also Clerk of the Supreme Court for said County (said Court being a Court of Record), DO HEREBY CERTIFY that Donald Haslett, the Notary Public before whom the within acknowledgment of deposition was made, was at the time of taking the same authorized by the laws of the State of New York to take the acknowledgments and proofs of deeds or conveyances for lands, tenements and hereeditaments situate, lying and being in said State of New York. And further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Notary and verily believe that the signature to said certificate of proof, acknowledgment or deposition is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have herunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County and Court, this 24th day of December 1929.
Fred G. Lemmerman Clerk
Kings County
SEAL
Recorded at request of Grantee, Feb. 7, 1930 at 15 min. past 2 o'clock P.M.
John H. Ferry, County Recorder,
Fee $1.80 by N.C. Parsons, Deputy
There are a few other documents that were recieved but they have to do with people who bought the property after the WTS sold it.
Honesty

Thanks to Apostanator for making and mailing us copies of this relevant chapter in the WTBT$'s history.
I'm glad you scanned and posted the material, LL.
jgnat

From what I read elsewhere, Robert Martin was a Bethelite? He may simply have been a middleman. How did he come to own the property?
Sorry for being such a stick-in-the-mud.
Kaput

Robert Martin seems to be a "gopher"/middleman for the WBTS in this transaction. The following is Martin's account of his role in the matter, taken from the March 19th, 1930 copy of The Golden Age magazine:
It is not always convenient to get a comfortable place to live when it is necessary to rent a house for a few months. For the past two years I and other brethren close to Brother Rutherford have urged upon him the necessity of a house in San Diego where he can live and do the work that is so necessary to be done. Last year, in company with a few other brethren, we pressed this matter upon him, at that time the Lord having provided the means for the building of the house so that it would not be a burden on the Society. He finally consented that the house might be built only upon condition that it should be exclusively for the use of the Lord's work, henceforth and for ever, and not for any private gain for any one. In October, 1929, I went to California and acquired the title to the ground in my name and entered into a contract with the builder, and the house was constructed in my name. I again went to California at the beginning of the year 1930 to close up the building arrangements. I am happy to have any part in this because I know what it means for the Lord's work.
I feel sure that the Lord loves Brother Rutherford as much as he loved David. David built a house for himself and afterwards thought about building one for the Lord. After repeated urging by loyal brethren the San Diego house was built, but Brother Rutherford refused to have it for himself except to use it for the Lord's work. A deed was made conveying the title to the house. The deed was written by Brother Rutherford himself. I am certain there is no other deed to any piece of property like it under the sun. I am grateful to the Lord that I had anything to do with it.
Lady Lee

It begs the questions:
How much did he pay for this property and where did that money come from?
Atlantis

God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years-chapter-14-p.-266 22 However, interest in the “sheep” class on a wider scale was stirred up in the year 1931. On July 30, at the international convention of the International Bible Students Association in Columbus, Ohio, the Association’s president delivered the talk on “The Man with the Writer’s Inkhorn,” after which Robert J. Martin announced the release of the new book entitled “Vindication,” Volume 1. This book gave a detailed, verse for verse discussion of chapter nine of Ezekiel’s prophecy, which presents the vision of this linen-clad man with the writer’s inkhorn. Both the speech and the book called attention to the fact that a marking work had to be done by the anointed remnant of Christ’s disciples in behalf of sheeplike people of the earth, not merely of natural Israelites but also of people of all the nations. This was a lifesaving work, inasmuch as the Holy Scriptures show that only the marked ones will be spared alive with the anointed remnant through the coming “great tribulation.” They become earthly subjects of the Kingdom. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yearbook-1975-p.-116 “‘Recommend immediate commutation for Joseph Rutherford, William E. Van Amburgh, Robert J. Martin, Fred H. Robison, George H. Fisher, Clayton J. Woodworth, Giovanni DeCecca, A. Hugh Macmillan. They were all defendants in same case in Eastern District of New York. My position is to be generous now that the war is over. They did much damage by preaching and publishing their religious doctrines.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watchtower-1983-9-1-p.-12 The factory manager, Robert J. Martin, died on September 23, 1932, and Nathan H. Knorr was appointed by Brother Rutherford in his place. Brother Knorr had previously been on the dispatch desk. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proclaimers Book-chapter-29-p.-652 Joseph F. Rutherford, president of the Watch Tower Society; William E. Van Amburgh, secretary-treasurer of the Society; Robert J. Martin, office manager; Frederick H. Robison, a member of the editorial committee for The Watch Tower; A. Hugh Macmillan, a director of the Society; George H. Fisher and Clayton J. Woodworth, compilers of The Finished Mystery. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proclaimers Book-chapter-8-p.-91 Brother Knorr applied himself diligently in the Shipping Department, and before long his natural abilities in organizing were recognized. When the Society’s factory manager, Robert J. Martin, died on September 23, 1932, Brother Knorr was appointed to replace him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proclaimers Book-chapter-26-pages 579-580 But this would require more space and equipment, and they would have to learn new skills. Could they do it? Robert J. Martin, the factory overseer, called to mind that in the days of Moses, Jehovah had ‘filled Bezalel and Oholiab with wisdom of heart to do all the work’ needed to construct the sacred tabernacle. (Ex. 35:30-35) Having that Bible account in mind, Brother Martin was confident that Jehovah would also do whatever was needed so that his servants could publish literature to advertise the Kingdom. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Watchtower-2004-7-1-pages 26-27 A Hardworking Companion Nathan was 18 when he arrived at Bethel in 1923. He received valuable training from such old-timers as Joseph F. Rutherford, who took the lead in the work of the Witnesses, and printery manager Robert J. Martin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yearbook-1975-p.-196 Later he served on the dispatch desk at the Society’s printing plant and on February 8, 1928, he was appointed by Brother Rutherford to be a copartner in the publishing of the Golden Age magazine. Clayton J. Woodworth was editor; Robert J. Martin, business manager, and Nathan H. Knorr, secretary and treasurer. When factory manager Robert J. Martin died on September 23, 1932, J. F. Rutherford appointed N. H. Knorr to serve in that capacity. On January 11, 1934, Brother Knorr was elected as a director of the Peoples Pulpit Association (now Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.). He was made the Association’s vice-president on January 10, 1935, following the death of E. J. Coward. On June 10, 1940, Brother Knorr became a director and was chosen as vice-president of the Pennsylvania corporation, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. His election to the presidency of both societies came about on January 13, 1942. He was also made president of the International Bible Students Association. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years-chapter-13-p.-245 11 Take, for instance, the case of Robert J. Martin. He was one of those eight consecrated Christian men, including the Society’s president J. F. Rutherford, who suffered about nine months of unjust imprisonment in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 5, 1918, to March 25, 1919.
Atlantis

http://www.premier1.net/~raines/intro.html The other two names referred to William Hudgings, the original Secretary and Treasurer of the magazine and to Robert J. Martin, the magazine's original Business Manager. Both of course were prominent Bible Students and wrote articles for the magazine, as did Woodworth. Both Hudgings and Martin were replaced later. Hudgings left the Watchtower Society in the 1920's apparently and joined a Bible Student splinter group. After he left, The Golden Age was published by "Woodworth, Knorr and Martin," with Nathan Knorr replacing Hudgings as Secretary and Treasurer for the magazine. Knorr later became the third president of the Watchtower Society after the death of Rutherford in 1942. Martin was, in turn, replaced by C. E. Stewart as Business Manager. By the early 1930's the magazine was published by "The Golden Age Publishing Company."
Lady Lee

Thanks for that info Atlantis
Atlantis

Your quite welcome Lady Lee! After all the times you have straightened out my posting messes. I owed you!
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Actually the "ancient worthies" were the "last" in line for the intended owners of Beth Sarim according to Martin. Robert J.Martin tells us: First on the list was "The Lord's People" Second on the list was Rutherford Third on the list was "somebody else" Fourth on the list was David and Joseph or the other "ancient worthies" http://www.equip.org/free/DJ564.htm
In a 1930 issue of the Society’s publication Golden Age, Robert J. Martin, then manager of the Watchtower publishing facilities in Brooklyn, presented the Society’s account of acquiring the property and the building of Beth-Sarim, along with a copy of the deed. 7 He explained that as a result of a severe case of pneumonia, Rutherford had only one good lung, a condition that made it very difficult for him to work in Brooklyn during the winter. Because of the mild climate in San Diego Rutherford had spent the previous four winters there under the care of Dr. Alta G. Eckols, who "repeatedly urged him to spend as much time as possible" there. 8 In 1929, "in company with a few other brethren, we pressed this matter upon him, at that time the Lord having provided the means for the building of the house so that it would not be a burden on the Society. He finally consented that the house might be built only upon the condition that it should be exclusively for the use of the Lord’s work, henceforth and for ever..." (emphasis added). 9
In October Martin went to San Diego to put the title for the two lots purchased by Dr. Albert E. Eckols into his name and to contract for the construction of the house. "A deed was made conveying the title to the house. This deed was written by Brother Rutherford himself." Martin comments, "I am certain there is no other deed to any piece of property like it under the sun" 10
What made this deed unique? Martin explains that the "loyal ones...will rejoice when they know that this property will be for ever for the (1)Lord’s people; that when (2)Brother Rutherford is through with it (3)somebody else in the Lord’s work will have it, and when (4)David and Joseph or some of the other ancient worthies return they will have it" (emphases added). 11
Numbers 1-4 in paragraph 3 (mine).
VM44

Thanks Lady Lee for all your work to put the deed up for us to see.
Atlantis found something very interesting...
Martin was, in turn, replaced by C. E. Stewart as Business Manager.
Robert J. Martin [the Golden Age magazine's original Business Manager] was, in turn, replaced by C. E. Stewart as Business Manager.
Who was C.E. Stewart? His work has been discussed here at JWD before! I believe he is the same person who wrote the crazy Golden Age gravitation and electric energy article that Quotes found and had at his site!!!!!!
GRAVITATION AND ELECTRIC ENERGY, By C. F. Stewart
*** The Golden Age 1932 August 17, pp.707-710 ***

Beth Sarim Deeds and transfers

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