Rutherford Exposed: The Story of Berta and Bonnie (page 29)

Earnest

But the big unanswered question is how did [Heath] get so cozy with Rutherford. I gotta think it's just one reason: Coca-Cola $$$$.

Also, isn't it logical to assume that William and Bonnie had already developed a romantic relationship and were already in love before he got his quickie divorce from his first wife? After all, they only married a WEEK after the divorce.

I am a bit loath to suggest something which can probably never be proved, but as these characters have come to life over the last two or three weeks I am inclined to think that Bonnie was probably influential in getting Heath to Bethel. Rutherford had known Heath since 1934, which probably means that Bonnie had known him for that period too. What causes a man to leave his wife and move to Bethel to act as personal secretary to JFR ? It could be a very unhappy home life. It could also be that an affection had built up between Heath and Bonnie even before he was invited to Bethel. Or perhaps a combination of the two. The time between his arrival at Bethel and his divorce and remarriage was only about six months. Farkel is certainly right that they were in love and intended marriage before they moved to Beth-Sarim for the winter. My question is - how long before.

Earnest

Lady Lee

Ok I have a question.

When did the society get all uptight about sexuality even to the point of making decisions about what could or could not happen in the marriage bed.

Both Russell and Rutherford had questionable relationships. It seems Franz did too by some of the reading I was doing.

If Franz knew of all the goings on by the previous presidents could that have resulted in his extreme views on sex and relationships?

Where the rigid rules (well as rigid as any WTS rule can be) in existence before Franz took control. Was Rutherford hiding what was going on behind a wall of sexual straight-jackets?

Farkel

Earnest,

: Farkel is certainly right that they were in love and intended marriage before they moved to Beth-Sarim for the winter. My question is - how long before.

Another question is, WHY did the strictly religious WT organization bend ALL the rules for them? This was part of my original post. Even Olin Moyle made that observation about Bonnie. By 1932 Rutherford had taken control of the Ecclesias and by 1938 Rutherford had consolidated ALL power unto himself and he was the Emperor of the WTS, yet he bent the rules HE established for Bonnie and Berta. He majorly bent the rules He made for Bonnie and Berta. This is the quest: WHY? And this gets back to my theme that started this thread. What made THOSE two ladies SO SPECIAL that ALL Bethel rules were broken for their behalf?

Sorry for shouting, folks.

Farkel

Scully

Happy Guy :) writes:

I have often heard that Coca Cola used to use cocaine in their formula aorund the turn of the century. Am I to believe that a sacred place of Jehovah's Witnesses was built on drug money?

I was just wondering the exact same thing....

Love, Scully

Athanasius

Last week a former Bethelite told me that William Heath Sr., though not a JW, was a friend of Rutherford. The former Bethelite also said that hidden in the Bethel archives is a film of JFR and Heath Sr. walking together and viewing the construction of Beth Shan. The film is in black and white and was probably made around 1939 or 1940.

Though only an internal revolution like what happened in the former Soviet Union will open the Bethel archives to researchers, for now research into the life and associations of William Heath Sr. may prove to be very rewarding.

VM44

Dr Eckols buys the land for Beth Sarim (using his own money????) The WT factory manager Robert Martin travels to San Diego and buys the land from Dr Eckols, hires an architect, and gets constructions started, and then, after the house is finished, Martin signs the deed over to The Watchtower for the ancient worthies to reside in when they return, but until then for the exclusive use (yes, "exclusive use" is in the deed) of Rutherford. Now, the question I have is: If there was a "direct contribution" for the purchase of the land and house, why all this exchanging hands of the property? Eckols -> Martin -> Watchtower (Rutherford)...To obsure the source of funds? --VM44

Leolaia

MerryMagdalene....That was a great timeline, the only thing missing (I think) is when Heath was born and when he married his first wife Dorothy.

Athanasius....That piece of info, if true, would sure thicken matters. I wonder if Heath Sr. or his wife had a letter published in Russell's Watch Tower or were mentioned in other early stuff. But, as I said, Heath Jr.'s mother was definitely a active Presbyterian in the first few years of the twentieth century. She may have converted, as suggested above, by 1915 or so, but until now it did not occur to me that Heath Sr. may have become a Bible Student as well. That would possibly explain a lot of things.

Nosferatu

Took me a bit to catch up on this thread...

Anyway, getting back to the princess Bonnie issue, is it possible to check adoption records to see if Rutherford did have any children with other women, or did adoption records even exist back then?

MerryMagdalene

Thank you, Leolaia, and I am sorry for the huge oversight. I noticed it yesterday and tried to correct it about half a dozen times w/out success. I will try again today! Your research is amazing!

I've also been trying to research Coca-Cola but also w/out success. No mention yet of the Heaths. The C-C Company was sold in 1888 to Asa Briggs Candler & partners (some of whom sold off more of the company than they actually owned, making a big mess) and again in 1919 to a group of business men. In that year it was listed on the NYSE @ $40/share.

I have found a William P. Heath, Jr., still living. So does anybody know if "our" Junior and his first wife, Dorothy, had their own "Junior"? I know he should technically be a "the Third", but still it might be a possibility...

MerryMagdalene

I'm sorry! I've tried and tried and still can't get my former post edited, so here's the whole thing, amended...

TIMELINE

1869..."Judge" Joseph F. Rutherford is born in Missouri to James Calvin Rutherford & Lenora Strickland.

1887...August H. Balko, Jr. is born in Texas.

1899...Bonnie Boyd is born in Iowa.

1901...Berta L. Teel is born in North Carolina.

1904...William P. Heath, Jr. is born.

1905...Blanch P. ? is born in Missouri.

1915...William P. Heath, Jr.'s mother, Susan, becomes a Bible Student.

1920...William P. Heath, Sr. is Vice President of a Soft Drink Company in Atlanta, GA.

1921/22...August Balko, Jr. & Blanch P. are married in Texas.

1923...*Mary M. Rutherford takes up residence in Monrovia, CA.

*Bonnie Boyd moves to Bethel with her mother @ the invitation of Van Amburgh and serves as Judge's stenographer.

*Berta Teel marries Alfred Peale.

1929...*Robert J. Martin goes to San Diego and transfers into his own name the title for 2 lots purchased by Dr. Albert E. Eckols, then contracts the construction of Beth-Sarim, "...the Lord having provided the means for the building of the house so that it would not be a burden on the Society."

*Princess Bonnie C. Balko is born in Texas.

1930...*The Judge, accompanied by Bonnie Boyd and others, takes up residence in Beth-Sarim, as do August & Blanch Balko and Princess Bonnie.

*William P. Heath, Jr. is Manager of a Bottling Plant in South Carolina and is married to Dorothy S.

193?...Berta Peale and Bonnie Boyd attend a convention together in Europe.

1931...Prince Joseph Barak Balko is born in San Diego, CA.

1932...William P. Heath, Jr. is baptised.

1934...*William P. Heath, Jr. meets the Judge.

*Matthew Howlett becomes Judge's personal nurse.

1937...*William P. Heath, Jr. is invited to Bethel to serve as the Judge's personal secretary. He and Bonnie Boyd accompany the Judge on a speaking tour of Europe lasting 6-8 weeks, then they all go to Beth-Sarim for the winter.

1938...*In January, William P. Heath, Jr. gets a divorce from his wife of about 8 years, Dorothy, and 1 week later marries Bonnie Boyd in Las Vegas.

*Nurse Matthew Howlett leaves to do zone work in Ohio.

*Berta Peale leaves her husband of 15 years and comes to Bethel to serve as Judge's dietician.

1939...*Berta (Teel) Peale's husband, Alfred, sues for divorce on grounds of abandonment.

*Matthew Howlett returns to nurse the Judge until the Judge's death in 1942.

*William P. Heath, Jr. purchases the property for Beth-Shan and is serving on the WT Board of Directors. He is also in charge of the ushers at the Madison Square Garden Convention and arrested by police for hitting a "mobster" over the head with his cane during the riot that breaks out. Hayden Covington is brought in to defend him after Olin Moyle quits.

1940...*The deed to Beth-Shan is conveyed to the WTBTS, Heath having erected a house there and made various other improvements.

*Alfred Peale is granted a divorce from Berta.

1942...The Judge dies.

Rutherford Exposed: The Story of Berta and Bonnie

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