Who paid for Beth-Sarim?

I had asked this question in the chatroom, "Who contributed the funds for Rutherford's
San Diego house known as Beth-Sarim?"
(I also asked this question in Maximus' thread, "Need Assistance re Judge R")

Van Amberg, who was the WT Treasurer at the time, said "None of the Watchtower
funds were used".

I have stood in front of the house, and it is VERY large! Most of the original 100 acres of
land surrounding it has been sold for housing development, and the house does seem
out of place among the neighboring homes.

One neighbor, who had been inside the house, told me that it had large rooms, and that
the house had been there "forever"!.

Well, it has almost! It was built in 1929, a well-known architect designed it (His name
is given in the book "Witnesses of Jehovah")

In a newspaper article, Rutherford said the landscaping was done with special trees so
that the Ancient worthies,when they return, would feel at home.

So lets see here,

* 100 acres of land bought,
* a well known architect to design the house,
* a large house constructed on the land,
* special landscaping.

Also, there was a staff to run the house and care for the grounds.

It seems hard to believe all of the above came from a "Direct Contribution", and that
"No WT Funds" were used.

Obviously, WT funds WERE used in the upkeep of the house and land.

So, does anyone know where did the funds come from?

--VM44

P.S. There is a tax problem as well. If an contribution is made to a
tax-exempt organization, and the funds are used to benefit an specific individual
(here it would be Rutherford of course), then it appears that some sort of tax dodge
has taken place. It would be interesting if anyone who knows about tax law would
comment about this aspect.

(Fictional Headlines: "JUDGE RUTHERFORD CHARGED WITH TAX FRAUD",
but it wouldn't stick, Hayden Covington would have gotten him off! )

Check out this link: http://www.equip.org/free/DJ564.htm

TR

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson*

I wonder who owns Beth-Sarim now. Anyone know?

TR

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson*

See my response to your question in the other thread.

Van Amburgh may have said no Watch Tower funds were used. Maybe it was Watchtower funds. Or a plain old slush fund. They still know how to conceal money even today.

When I distressedly mentioned to Fred Franz that the Kingdom Ministry had indeed espoused the 1975 thing, he said the Society had NEVER said that. I pressed him repeatedly. Here's the km article, Brother Franz. "The Society has NEVER ..."

I finally got it. The km was, of course, a product of the U.S. branch and published by the Watchtower Society of New York. The Watch Tower Society (mother) had never published anything that specific!

Here's a note of interest as well. If you read the publications there were plenty of hints that the resurrection of the princes doctrine had been changed as early as 1945. But not stated publicly until 1950 at Yankee Stadium.

Folks not following Freddie gasped as they looked around the stadium, thinking he had said the "princes" were among their midst.

Really comical when you think about it.

Max

Hey All,

Rutherford didn't need the Society to pay for that house. I bet his friends paid for the house. But, who really cares? That house is not going to get you know where in life. Are you guys is going involve your whole life regarding an old house?

Bringing this up for larc.

Maximus