Mark Jones writes:
How will history treat Joseph Rutherford?
Like Ben Gorden has said, it would depend on who’s looking back. We can see a perfect example of how the Jehovah’s Witnesses will remember him by quoting Ben himself:
I see Rutherford as a man of many imperfections who also happened to be great organizer and motivator, and was able to progress in knowledge and Bible understanding. Beside that he was just a man dedicated to spreading the good news of Gods Kingdom to all the earth.
What’s interesting is, even Ben knows that the “understanding” and “Bible knowledge” that Rutherford was spreading is not what Jehovah’s Witnesses now believe. In other words, if you were to teach the things he was teaching today you would be disfellowshipped.
Much like if you were to ask white supremacist skinheads what they think of Adolf Hitler, you’d get a different answer than you’d expect if you asked a regular person. They’d likely tell you that Hitler was a wonderful man who kept his promises, loved animals, banned animal testing and restored Germany’s economy. They would probably play down the 6 million Jews, the seige of Leningrad or extermination of disabled German children.
Rutherford will be remembered by the Jehovah’s Witnesses much like Ben has described. However, the pages of history wont be so kind. Rather than make this an opinion biased answer, I will state historical facts and cite my sources:
- He was an alcoholic, a drunkard, unkind to Bethel staff, prone to bursts of anger, foul mouthed and a bigot - and that was a description from those who worked closely with him! Read the full letter by clicking the link here:
- Like Donald Trump, he viciously attacked the reputation of those close to him who disagreed with him. Below is Rutherford’s public reply to the personal letter (above) sent to him by someone who dared to highlight their concerns.
'For four years past the writer of that letter has been entrusted with the confidential matters of the Society. It now appears that the writer of that letter, without excuse, libels the family of God at Bethel, and identifies himself as one who speaks evil against the Lord's organization, and who is a murmurer and complainer, even as the Scriptures have foretold (Jude 4-16; 1 Cor. 4:3; Rom. 14:4). - Watchtower 1939 Oct 15 pp.316-317
- He was even successfully sued by Watchtowers own legal council for $15,000.
- He predicted that Armageddon would come by 1942.
"Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon." Watchtower 1941 Sep 15 p.288
- He encouraged Witnesses to put off having children until after Armageddon.
"Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture . Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone..." Face the Facts (1938) pp.46-50
"...mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324
- He believed that love between a man and a woman was “a delusion” and taught that people should only get married if they cant stay celibate.
"God's consecrated people do well to refrain from marriage unless they find themselves continually tormented with desire for sexual intercourse, in which case they should marry. For those of the younger or older who have need to marry on this score, let them dispose of the matter in candor and honesty shunning the blight, the delusions and illusions of "love" so called and courtship, which bring reproach on the holy name of Jehovah." Golden Age 1937 January 27 edition "That Delusion Called Love"
- He tried to curry favor with Adolf Hitler before WWII and even claimed that the Bible Students had the same high ideals as the Nazis.
BELOW IS A TRANSLATION FROM GERMAN OF PARTS OF THE LETTER WRITTEN BY JF RUTHERFORD TO ADOLF HITLER. A PHOTOCOPY OF THE FULL LETTER CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING THE LINKS HERE -
"Dear Reichskanzler,
…
The Brooklyn headquarter of the Watchtower Society is pro German in an exemplary way and has been so for many years. For that reason, in 1918, the president of the Society and seven members of the board of directors were sentenced to 80 years in prison, because the president refused to use two of the magazines published in America under his direction for war propaganda against Germany. These two magazines, "The Watchtower" and "Bible Student" were the only magazines in America which refused to engage in anti-German propaganda and for that reason were prohibited and suppressed in America during the war.
In the very same manner, in course of the recent months the board of directors of our Society not only refused to engage in propaganda against Germany, but has even taken a position against it. The enclosed declaration underlines this fact and emphasizes that the people leading in such propaganda (Jewish businessmen and Catholics) also are the most rigorous persecutors of the work of our Society and its board of directors. This and other statements of the declaration are meant to repudiate the slanderous accusation, that Bible Researchers are supported by the Jews.
The conference of five thousand delegates also noted - as is expressed in the declaration - that the Bible Researchers of Germany are fighting for the very same high ethical goals and ideals which also the national government of the German Reich proclaimed respecting the relationship of humans to God, namely: honesty of the created being towards its creator.
The conference came to the conclusion that there are no contradictions when it comes to the relationship between the Bible Researchers of Germany to the national government of the German Reich. To the contrary, referring to the purely religious and unpolitical goals and efforts of the Bible Researchers, it can be said that these are in full agreement with the identical goals of the national government of the German Reich.
We are looking forward to your kind approval, which we hope to receive soon, and want to assure our highest respect to you, honorable Mr. Reichskanzler.
Yours faithfully,
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Magdeburg"
- He was an anti-semite.
"Be it known once and for all that those profiteering, conscienceless, selfish men who call themselves Jews, and who control the greater portion of the finances of the world and the business of the world, will never be the rulers in this new earth. God would not risk such selfish men with such an important position" The Golden Age 1927 Feb 23 p.343
"The Jews were evicted from Palestine and ‘their house left unto them desolate’ because they rejected Christ Jesus, the beloved and anointed King of Jehovah. To this day the Jews have not repented of this wrongful act committed by their forefathers. … In 1917 the Balfour Declaration, sponsored by the heathen governments of Satan's organization, came forth, recognized the Jews, and bestowed upon them great favors. ... The Jews have received more attention at their hands than they really deserved." Vindication - Book II (1932) pp.257-258
- He built a mansion in California using members donated funds, claiming that the prophets from the Bible would be resurrected in 1925 and could live there with him.
"The year 1926 would therefore begin about October first, 1925. ... We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. The Way to Paradise (1925) p.224
No doubt many boys and girls who read this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old, come forth in the glory of their "better resurrection," perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint them to their posts of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The world and all the present conveniences will seem strange to them at first, but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios, automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other things so familiar to us." The Way to Paradise pp.226-227
- When it didn't happen, he taught that they would be resurrected “soon” and all that the resurrected bible characters needed to do was to come forward and prove to Rutherford that they were from Bible times.
"Both the grantor and the grantee are fully persuaded from the Bible testimony which is the word of Jehovah God and from extraneous evidence that God's Kingdom is now in the course of establishment and that it will result beneficially for the peoples of earth; that the governing power and authority will be invisible to men but that the kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs of the nations under supervision of the invisible ruler, Christ. That among those who will be thus 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 Jepthai, and Joseph, formerly ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews 11th. chapter. The WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth and that such men shall have possession and use of said property hereinabove described as they may deem for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged. 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." Golden Age 1930 Mar 19 pp.400,401
- When his prophecy failed, he moved into the mansion by himself and it became his private residence.
- He personally wrote more than 26 books and over 50 booklets. None of which are ever quoted or referred to in Watchtower literature because they’re considered “old light” (in other words - they’re not true!).
- He owned two Cadillacs during the depression - bought using donated funds.
So how one remembers JF Rutherford is entirely dependent on if they’re emotionally attached to an organization that praises him as “a great organizer and motivator… able to progress in knowledge and Bible understanding.” And if any flaws are brought to their attention they can shrug them off as “…he was just a man dedicated to spreading the good news of Gods Kingdom to all the earth”
However, if one if concerned with facts and evidence (notice my points are all referenced) he will be remembered as as a charlatan, a conman, an anti-semite, a bigot, a drunk and a bully.
Footnotes