"Through the ages the lavish wealth of religion that profess Christianity has disturbed many people. Popes, bishops, and other religious dignitaries have lived in splendor supported by their flocks, many of whom have existed in poverty. The situation has not changed in modern times." - Awake! October 22, 1988, p. 31. (see also Awake! October 22, 1982, p. 30) Far from it. But what is funny, those who are here pointing their fingers towards others, are not better themselves than the rest, (John 8:7) as the following examples clearly show:
* JOSEPH F. RUTHERFORD, second President of the WBTS, was of luxurious accomodations. Wherever he traveled, his nice room and office at Brooklyn Bethel, use of a fancy hotelat $ 10,000 a year in rent, access to private accomadations at Staten Island, NY (where the WTS had its radio station WBBR located there until it closed in 1957), access to private accomadations at Kingdom Farm, in South Lansing, NY, his Bethsarim mansion in San Diego, Califonia, his two Cadillacs, plus his provisions for comfort at the Society branch offices in UK, France, and Germany. Plus Rutherford had the Societys Canadian director, Walter F. Salter, send him huge quantities of liquor during the 1920's when liqour was illegal in Americaa.
Olin R. Moyle, (WTS attorney) accused Rutherford on many things including: "You work in a nice air conditioned room. You and your attendants spend a portion of the week in the quiet of country surroundings. The boys at the factory diligently work without such helps, or any effort made to give them."
* NATHAN H. KNORR, traveled the world all over first class. He lived in a luxury penthouse appartment on the tenth floor of Bethel, with murals on the walls, private kitchen, television and other conforts. In addition, Knorr had a Bethel worker who served him personally and also acted as his cook. He owned a Cadillac, took people to the most expensive resturants, and to Broadway shows. (see Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses - William I. Cetnar)
* HAYDEN C. COVINGTON, Attorney and vice-President of the WTS, in an interview stated: "We went first class, Brother Rutherford told me, "I want you, whenever you travel, to travel first class." And so I did, and Brother Heath [Rutherfords secretary] did, Nathan Knorr did, and Freddy Franz did too, all the whole bunch of us did." (Interview on November 19, 1978, by Jerry Murray, p. 13)
* MILTON G. HENSCHEL, on two occasions, when visiting the Island of Malta, lodged in a five star hotel. (accompanied by Walter Farneti, branch coordinator of Italy, and their wives) When an answer was requested, by means of letter, (19 August 1994) he ignored it. When an ex JW popped the question by phone, Henschel started laughing, and when pressed for an answer, he arrogantly replied: "It's not your business" and abruptly hung up.
* ALBERT D. SCHROEDER, together with his son Judah-Ben, invited Dr. Gabriele Yonan, for a meal, in one of the most pochy resturants in Germany. While eating together he even propossed to pay her a trip to Italy to attend the 1998 CESNUR conference held in Torino. (private conversation, Dr. Yonan, September 1998, Torino, Italy)
* "GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS can regularly take their vacations in places most people could only afford to dream about. In 1978, my wife and I [Ray Franz] found ourselves boarding planes over fifty times in that one year." - Crisis of Conscience, R. Franz, 3rd edition, p. 265.
"The monthly allowances of fourteen dollars often barely covered (and in some cases was less than) their transportation costs going to and from kingdom hall meetings. Those whose family or friends were more affluent had no problems as they received outside assistance. But others rarely could afford anything beyond bare necessities. Those from more distant points, particularly those from the western states, might find it virtually impossible to spend vacations with their families, particularly if they came from a poor family. Yet they wee regularly hearing greetings passed on to the Bethel family from members of the Governing Body and others as they travelled around the country and to other parts of the world giving talks. They saw the corporation officers driving new Oldsmobile's bought by the Society and serviced and cleaned by workers like themselves." - ibid., p. 82.
* At certain BETHELS, such as in UK, they even have the VIP bedrooms. (Confirmed by a local bethelite Elder, Roger Kay)
On the other hand, loyal servants, such as Adams Akuetteh, from Ghana, naively, spend four years while the Ghana Branch office was being constructed, every morning collecting stray nails. The project overseer, told him that his work was saving the Society money, Jehovah's money. With joy he recycled nails to sav'e money for Jehovah! (Awake! May 22, 1992, p. 31)
What are the GB doing with "Jehovah's money"? Is this the 'vow of poverty' that all the members of the GB are suppose to subscribe to? (see Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p. 351). Their actions are far more like that of some worldly politician or corporation executive!
"When professed Christian leaders adopt opulent life-styles, might it not make others wonder about their credentials as Christ's true followers?" Awake! October 22, 1988, p. 31.