JOSEPH FRANKLIN RUTHERFORD

'Joseph Franklin Rutherford' 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovah's Witnesses. During his tenure as president (1916—1942), the Bible Students experienced a schism. The Bible Students that remained in line with Rutherford's Watch Tower Society adopted the name Jehovah's Witnesses.

Contents

Early life

Prediction

Bible Students

Imprisonment

Death

Contributions to Jehovah's Witnesses

References

External links

Early life

Rutherford was born to a farm family in Morgan County, Missouri, his parents being Baptists. His father opposed his interests in law studies, but allowed him in the end to go to college. After completing his education, he worked as a court reporter and was admitted to the bar at Boonville, Missouri. Still later he became a special—or substitute—judge in the same Fourteenth Judicial District of Missouri. Because of this background in law, he was often referred to as "'Judge Rutherford'".

Prediction

Rutherford predicted that this system could end in 1925. As one commentator noted, "Armageddons had never taken place on their promised dates," ^[1] In Rutherford's and Jehovah's Witnesses' current view, Jesus had been enthroned as King, and Satan's rule had ended, in 1914. Karl F. Klein stated: "Regarding his misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, 'I made an ass of myself.'" ^[2] Unfulfilled expectations rather than "promised dates" seems to be the prevailing attitude, past and present, and shows humility in correcting "misguided statements".

Bible Students

He became interested in the teachings of The Bible Students in 1894, after he and his wife had seen three of the books of Charles Russell's work ''Millennial Dawn'' (later titled ''Studies in the Scriptures'').

Rutherford explained that at the time he planned to marry, his religious views were those of the Baptist denomination, but those of his wife-to-be were Presbyterian. When Rutherford’s pastor said that “she was going to hell fire because she had not been immersed and that he was going straight to heaven because he had been, his logical mind revolted and he became an atheist.”

It took Rutherford several years of careful research to rebuild his faith in a personal God. He worked, he said, from the premise that “that which cannot satisfy the mind has no right to satisfy the heart.” Christians “must be sure that the Scriptures in which they believe are true,” Rutherford explained, adding: “They must know the foundation on which they stand.”—See 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.^[3]

He was baptized as a Bible Student in 1906, and in 1907 he became their juridical counselor. He served as a travelling overseer in the following years. He was elected President of the Watch Tower Society in 1917 after Russell's death.

Imprisonment

The seventh volume of ''Studies in the Scriptures'' (entitled ''The Finished Mystery'') included strong criticism of Christendom's clergy which prompted clergy pressure for government censure and eventually a wave of persecution in North America and Europe. Finally, in 1918 he served an imprisonment together with seven associates in Atlanta, Georgia, for allegedly opposing Selective Service Act and the Espionage Act of 1917. However, on May 14, 1919, the U.S. circuit court of appeals in New York ruled: “The defendants in this case did not have the temperate and impartial trial to which they were entitled, and for that reason the judgment is reversed.” The prosecution did not pursue a retrial of the case, and the charges were dismissed by action of ''nolle prosequi''.
Rutherford and his associates were therefore completely exonerated. This is evidenced by the fact that he remained a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court from his admission in 1909 till his death in 1942. From 1939-1942, he served as an attorney in 14 cases before that court, presenting oral arguments in two of those cases—''Schneider v. State of New Jersey'' (1939), ''Minersville School District v. Gobitis'' (1940).
While in prison, poor air circulation in his cell contributed to him developing a lung condition from which he never fully recovered. After his release from there, in his weakened condition he contracted pneumonia. Thereafter, under doctor's advice, he spent much of his time in San Diego, California, especially during the winter months.

Death

Rutherford died at the age of 72 on the 8th January, 1942. His funeral was attended by a total of four people, none of whom were related to him.

Contributions to Jehovah's Witnesses

Rutherford served as President of the Watch Tower Society until his death in 1942 and was known as a strong preacher. Starting in 1919 he began a lecture series entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" which became the focus of the movement for the next 6 years. Calculations based on "Jubliee cycles" from the Old Testament predicted the earth to become a paradise in the future. The lecture was also distributed in book form.
The period that followed 1919 brought changes in the thinking and activity of the Bible Students. The period was a time of constant change and development. Rutherford wrote in ''Preparation'' p.64 that these changes were conveyed by angels; “Enlightenment proceeds from Jehovah... and is given to the faithful anointed.... the remnant are instructed by the angels of the Lord. The remnant do not hear audible sounds, because such is not necessary. Jehovah has provided his own good way to convey thoughts to the minds of his anointed ones.” In 1931, during Rutherford's tenure, the International Bible Students' Association adopted the name of Jehovah's Witnesses. ^[4].
In San Diego, California in the 1920s, the Watch Tower Society built a house in California called ''Beth Sarim''. The Hebrew words ''Beth Sarim'' mean 'House of the Princes'. It was funded by specific donations for the stated purpose of "housing the prophets and godly men of old", who were expected to be physically resurrected in 1925.^[5] before Armageddon to help with Christ's Millennial reign over the earth. Rutherford resided at the villa in his last years of ill health until his death in 1942. In 1948 the villa was sold. Soon after, the ''The Watchtower'', November 1, 1950, pages 414-17 published a changed understanding of the aforementioned teaching to one where the "earthly forefathers of Jesus Christ would be resurrected after Armageddon." ^[6]
After his death Rutherford's burial was delayed for three and a half months due to legal proceedings arising from his desire to be buring at Beth Sarim. ''Consolation'' 1942 May 27 explained that "Judge Rutherford looked for the early triumph of "the King of the East", Christ Jesus, now leading the host of heaven, and he desired to be buried at dawn facing the rising sun, in an isolated part of the ground which would be administered by the princes, who should return from their graves."
Rutherford's presidency is noteworthy for increasing the drive to "advertise the King and His Kingdom" found in Jesus's model prayer. The advertising work has become the prime hallmark for which Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized today. At the same time, Jehovah's Witnesses also made a conscious effort to avoid following any human leader as some had tended to do with Pastor Russell. In 1931 at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, Rutherford delivered a talk proposing the adoption of a new name for the group, up till then only known as the International Bible Students or Bible Students. The new name of "Jehovah's Witnesses" was adopted there.
Rutherford was succeeded by Nathan Homer Knorr as President of the Watchtower Society.

References

1. Current Biography 1940, pp 702-05
2. Watchtower 1984 10/1 p. 24
3. Watchtower 1997 10/1 p. 6
4. Current Biography 1940
5. http://jwfacts.com/index_files/1925.htm
6. ''Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 76 "House of Princes" picture/box footnote''

External links

★ An online collection of Rutherford's writings

★

★ News Clippings Relating to Judge Rutherford

★ News Clippings from Rutherford's "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" Campaign

★ Critical Biography of J.F. Rutherford