Beth Sarim

Beth Sarim & The Other House!

The Watchtower in their zealousness to "COVER-UP" the truth about Beth Sarim printed these words in the 1993 Proclaimers book. . .

"From 1929 on, Brother Rutherford spent the winters working at a San Diego residence he had named Beth Sarim. Beth Sarim was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. The deed, which was published in full in "The Golden Age" of March 19, 1930, conveyed this property to J.F. Rutherford and thereafter to the Watch Tower Society".

Concerning Beth Sarim, the book "Salvation," published in 1939, explains: "The Hebrew words 'Beth Sarim' mean 'House of the Princes'; and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth." (Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, 1993. p.76)

Is this statement true? Or has the Society covered up the truth about Beth Sarim? And what about Beth Shan the other Watchtower monument?

On March 15, 1930 in the San Diego Sun the following appeared: "San Diego Mansion--With All Modern Improvements--Awaits Earthly Return of Prophets."

"In one of the strangest deeds ever filed in the nation, Rutherford, president of the International Bible Students Association and of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, has put the huge tile-roofed home in fashionable Kensington Heights in perpetual trust for the ancient kings and prophets of Palestine."

In the book "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" Judge Rutherford wrote, . . . "the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. The Apostle Paul in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews names a long list of faithful men who died before the crucifixion of the Lord and before beginning of the selection of the church. . . . They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes or rulers in the earth, according to his promise. . . .Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection."

In the book "What You Need", Rutherford wrote..."Soon you may expect to see Abraham, Enoch, Moses, David and all of these other faithful men back on earth".

The Society's predicted the return of the ancient worthies had failed and Rutherford was living in the house in San Diego. But why was he there? The house was supposedly built for the return of the ancient worthies but was there another reason for the construction of Beth Sarim?

In excerpts from the book, "Jehovah's Witnesses-Their Monuments To False Prophecy" by Edmund Gruss we find the following:

Edward J. Ford., was a Witness for over four decades. He worked on the staff in Bethel headquarters in Brooklyn, for a number of years. He recalls conversations with his Witness father and his own contacts with Watch Tower Society leaders. A. H. Macmillan, who served in headquarters under three Watchtower presidents and was, known to Jehovah's witnesses all over the world, " was a frequent weekend visitor in the Ford home. Although Macmillan was a loyal organization man and supportive of Rutherford, "he was critical of his drunkenness and irrational conduct." Shortly after Rutherford death, Macmillan told Edward's father that Beth Sarim was built "for no purpose other than to get the drunken and declining Rutherford out of Brooklyn." This was also confirmed to Edward later, by Society attorney Hayden Covington, who directed the legal department and was elected vice-president after Rutherford's death. Covington "quoted Franz as saying, 'they built the judge a house out in California just to get him out of Bethel.' (p50)

It is clear that that not only was the prophecy of the return of Abraham and the ancient worthies false but so too was the reason for the building of Beth Sarim as stated in the "Proclaimers" book.

BUT, what about the OTHER house, Beth Shan?

It can be shown by citing Watch Tower publications and the deed to the property that Beth-Sarim ("House of the Princes") was built and held in trust as a residence for the soon to be resurrected "ancient worthies" or "princes." While not generally known, the Beth-Shan house and the property improvements had the same purpose. This is shown by the deed which transfers the property to the Society.

The Beth Shan property purchased Feb. 3, 1939 by William P. Heath, Jr., member of the WT board of directors, and Rutherford's confidant and secretary. The deed which was dated May 20, 1940, conveyed the property to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. A portion of the deed of trust reads as follows:

NOW THEREFORE this trust is created and the said trustee shall hold the title to said property in trust for the use and benefit of the following named persons, whose names appear in the Bible at the Book of Hebrews, chapter eleven, verses one to forty, to wit: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel. Until such time as the aforementioned persons return and identify themselves to the legal representatives of the said WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY and by the consent of said Society take possession and control of said premises, the President of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY shall have the right and be duty bound to direct the management and use of said premises hereby conveyed and to determine who shall be in possession and have the active management thereof.(Book 1075, pp. 42-43, County Recorder)

Heath and his wife resided in the house mentioned in the deed!

The Watchtower of November 15, 1941 stated . . . "A great famine is certain to afflict the many nations of the earth in the very near future. The United States is also in line for much suffering. . . The United States is faced with world disaster now impending and about to fall. . . "

Could this be the reason that the house had a basement with an access, to the 10 by 20 ft underground room, through a secret trapdoor and stairway?

Beth Shan also had several out buildings: a caretakers house, a horse stable and barn, a goat barn and equipment shed. There was a 4,000 gallon underground tank for diesel fuel and a diesel powered electric generator and a workshop. Water was provided by a well 425 feet deep, which was connected to a 2,000 gallon pressure tank and a 10,000 gallon redwood storage tank. There were 2 fire hydrants and water was piped to the house and barns. "They had their own self-sufficiency. They could go for months without city utilities."