Beth-Sarim: House of Princes
Despite the failures of 1914 and 1925, Rutherford continued stating that the earthly resurrection was about to happen. In 1929, he authorised the purchase of Beth-Sarim, a house for Abraham and other resurrected Princes to live in.
There is very little mention of Beth-Sarim since 1950. In a 1992 Watchtower article, it is referred to in the life story of Sandra Cowan. She relates;
"Often we preached near Beth-Sarim, which was where the ailing president of the Watch Tower Society, Brother Rutherford, had spent the winters before his death in 1942. We visited regularly and had dinner with the full-time servants there." Watchtower 1992 Mar 1 p.27
Watchtower's history book, Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, briefly discusses Beth-Sarim, where it is also made to appear to have been purchased predominantly for the health of Rutherford.
""House of the Princes"
Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920's, under a doctor's treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. 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."
Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p.76
There is very little mention of Beth-Sarim since 1950. In a 1992 Watchtower article, it is referred to in the life story of Sandra Cowan. She relates;
"Often we preached near Beth-Sarim, which was where the ailing president of the Watch Tower Society, Brother Rutherford, had spent the winters before his death in 1942. We visited regularly and had dinner with the full-time servants there." Watchtower 1992 Mar 1 p.27
Watchtower's history book, Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, briefly discusses Beth-Sarim, where it is also made to appear to have been purchased predominantly for the health of Rutherford.
""House of the Princes"
Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920's, under a doctor's treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. 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."
Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p.76
The Way to Paradise, (1924) Page 224-232 described what it would be like when the Princes were resurrected and the Kingdom set up. It described how Abraham and the other Princes would head up the Kingdom established in Jerusalem, and how you could call them up on the telephone and request to have your loved ones resurrected.
BETH-SARIM:
When all this failed to happen, a very large and expensive home was built called Beth-Sarim meaning “House of the Princes”. It was to be a testimony to the world that they still expected the Princes to arrive in the immediate future, and this home would be in readiness for these “men of old” to occupy.
According to The Way to Paradise, Page 224-225, this house should have been built in Jerusalem. However, Rutherford had it built in sunny San Diego, California, USA. He lived there each winter and enjoyed an extremely lavish life style until he died in the house in 1942.
( NOTE: The house was built in sunny San Diego, California, USA and NOT in Jerusalem ).
Ironically, it was from this palatial mansion he wrote a series of books often using the expression, “religion is a snare and a racket”.
At the big 1931 Assembly, a paper, The Messenger was given out. It featured Beth-Sarim and boasted of the publicity it was creating for the organization. It showed Rutherford and a number of views of the house. Under one picture was the caption: “Do you think David will like it?”
BETH-SARIM:
When all this failed to happen, a very large and expensive home was built called Beth-Sarim meaning “House of the Princes”. It was to be a testimony to the world that they still expected the Princes to arrive in the immediate future, and this home would be in readiness for these “men of old” to occupy.
According to The Way to Paradise, Page 224-225, this house should have been built in Jerusalem. However, Rutherford had it built in sunny San Diego, California, USA. He lived there each winter and enjoyed an extremely lavish life style until he died in the house in 1942.
( NOTE: The house was built in sunny San Diego, California, USA and NOT in Jerusalem ).
Ironically, it was from this palatial mansion he wrote a series of books often using the expression, “religion is a snare and a racket”.
At the big 1931 Assembly, a paper, The Messenger was given out. It featured Beth-Sarim and boasted of the publicity it was creating for the organization. It showed Rutherford and a number of views of the house. Under one picture was the caption: “Do you think David will like it?”
The house created a lot of embarrassment for the Watchtower Society. Soon after Rutherford died, it was sold. Before he died, Judge Rutherford admitted concerning what he had done and predicted for 1925: “I know I made an ass of myself” Crisis of Conscience, p. 137.
Page 224.
We should therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchizedek, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.
One of the first things necessary will be to put Jerusalem in condition to be the capital of the world.
Page 225.
If Jerusalem is to be the capital of the world…
The princes can easily radio their instructions to any part of the world. Think of Prince Abraham having some general instructions to give, calling “Attention.”
Page 226.
Of course if anyone desires to visit Jerusalem and personally interview the princes, or if the princes should desire to make a personal inspection of some public work, aeroplanes will be so perfected that it will be a matter of but a few hours ride to any part of the earth to or from Jerusalem.
Page 227.
Who knows but it will be your privilege to make requests of those princes, and that they will recommend your petition to Christ and that it will be granted.
Page 228.
Of course it will take time to get things in smooth running order after the great stress between now and 1926.
You will have secured the services of the best decorators you can find. Some of them used to be undertakers; but since there are no more people dying, they have had to seek some new occupation. Their experience as undertakers prepared them to become decorators with very little difficulty.
You have made all preparations for father and mother. The home is already; a special room is prepared for them, fitted with everything you can think of that might give pleasure and delight. You then call up the princes at Jerusalem, state your case, and make request that your father and mother might be awakened.
Page 229.
In joyful expectancy you wait. Some morning you hear talking in the room you have prepared…
You hear fathers familiar voice saying, mother, where are we? Are we dreaming? Why, I thought I attended your funeral last summer.
Page 230.
You throw your arms around their necks and embrace them…. It gradually dawns upon them that they have been dead, and that they have been awakened.
Page 231.
After things have become somewhat settled and they have been here for a year or more, they will begin to think about their fathers and mothers, and want to arrange for them to come back…
There are no more obituary notices in the papers. Instead there are lists of those who have been awakened.
Page 232.
So your father and mother will set about getting ready for their love ones. When ready, the request is made; and in due time they also are awakened…
Some of the older ones will try and blow out the electric light at night, as they used to do with the old tallow candles…
Wont it be fun to see the surprise when the dead deign to come back? It will continue until all the graves have come forth.
The Book of Salvation below. 1939.
The battle of the great day of God Almighty is very near...
The evidence also abundantly shows that those faithful men will be back on the earth at the beginning of Armageddon. From the Scriptures it appears to be absolutely certain that some of the remnant will be on the earth when those faithful men appear, and certainly those who compose the great multitude will also be on earth, and all of those will meet and greet earth's princes.
Salvation 1939 Page 310.
At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929 there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth-Sarim. The Hebrew words Beth Sarim means "House of the Princes"....
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.
... to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth.
... be built as a testimony to the name of Jehovah.
The house has served as a testimony to many persons throughout the earth, and while the unbelievers have mocked...
yet it stands there as a testimony to Jehovah's name; and if and when the princes do return and some of them occupy the property, such will be a confirmation of the faith and hope that induced the building of Beth-Sarim. Salvation 1939 Page 311.
Below is a modern day picture of Beth-Sarim in San Diego, California.
"The climate is the same as that of Palestine. The place is planted with date and palm trees, such as would be familiar and pleasing sights to these men." Messenger 1931
In 1942 the 'House of Princes' was sold, proving false the statement that it would be "perpetually" and "forever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes." Why did the Watchtower board of directors decide to sell Beth-Sarim? The Watchtower 1947 December 15 explained:
"It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God's Word of promise."
In 1942 the 'House of Princes' was sold, proving false the statement that it would be "perpetually" and "forever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes." Why did the Watchtower board of directors decide to sell Beth-Sarim? The Watchtower 1947 December 15 explained:
"It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God's Word of promise."