In 1929 Jehovah's Witness president, Joseph Rutherford built for himself a beautiful villa in San Diego, California as his winter palace. (Pictured above) While most Witnesses suffered through the great depression, Rutherford lived like royalty. He drank imported liquor, smoked big cigars and drove a Cadillac. Rutherford conned his Jehovah's Witness followers into believing the house was built as a residence for the soon returning patriarchs such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He named the mansion, "Beth-Sarim." ("House of Princes" in Hebrew) He predicted that at any moment God would murder every man, woman and child on the face of the earth, except faithful Jehovah's Witnesses. The patriarchs would use this house as their headquarters to rule the world. Most Jehovah's Witnesses today know nothing about this scam. The property was quietly sold in the 1940's and Watchtower leaders have gone to great lengths to cover up this hoax. Thanks to Public records we have the evidence.

Beth Sarim Deed

DEED

(Deed book 1741) J. Baker, Deputy Recorder

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page 69

Robert J. Martin, a single and unmarried person of 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York, for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars (10.00) does hereby grant, bargain and sell unto Joseph F. Rutherford of 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York for and during his life on earth and thereafter to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a corporation created and organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and maintaining it's chief operating offices at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, and for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

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page 70

All that real property situated in Kensington Heights, County of San Diego, State of California, bounded and described as follows, to wit: Lot One Hundred Ten (110) and Lot One Hundred Eleven (111) of Kensington Heights, Unit No. 2, in the County of San Diego, State of California, according to Map thereof To: 1912: filed in the offices of the County Recorder of said San Diego County May 24, 1926;

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE ABOVE GRANTED AND DESCRIBED PREMISES unto him, the said Joseph F. Rutherford for his exclusive possession, and benefit for and during his life on earth and at the end of said limited estate then to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is trust to be used for the purposes herein set forth, to wit: The granter at the request of the said Joseph F. Rutherford who is President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and General Manager, thereof makes this provision and condition as set forth in this deed.

Both the grantor and the grantee, the said Joseph F. Rutherford are fully persuaded from the Bible Testimony, which is the word of Jehovah God, extraneous evidences that God's kingdom is now in course of establishment and that it will result beneficially to the peoples of earth; that governing power and authority will be invisible to men but that Kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs of the nations under the supervision of the invisible ruler Christ; that among those who will thus be 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 Jepthae, and Joseph, formerly the ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men who were named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews the eleventh chapter. The condition herein is that the said Watch Tower and Tract Society shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men named as representatives of God's Kingdom on earth and that such men shall have possession and use of said property herein above described as they may deem for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged.

This property has been acquired and the improvements built thereon at the instance and under the direction of the said Joseph R. Rutherford and dedicated to Jehovah God and to His King Christ who is the rightful ruler of the earth and for the express purpose of being used by (page 70 cont.) those who are servants of Jehovah God. For this reason the provision is made in this deed that the property shall be forever used for the purpose subject to any one who possesses that may have been placed thereupon. IT IS FURTHER PROVIDED that if the said JOSEPH F. RUTHERFORD while alive on the earth shall by lease, deed or contract provide that any other person or persons connected with the said Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society shall have the right to reside on said premises until the appearing of David or some of the other men mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter of Hebrews as above set forth every such person or persons so designated by the said Joseph F. Rutherford is such lease or other paper writing shall have the right and privilege of residing on said premises until the same be taken possession of by David or some of the other men herein named and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of His kingdom it shall be used as such forever. 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.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I the said Robert J. Martin and the said Joseph F. Rutherford have hereunto signed our names this 24th day of December A.D. 1929.

WITNESSES: Robert J. Martin

Donald Wialett

Joseph F. Rutherford

Bonnie Boyd

State of New York County of Kings On this 24th day of December A. D. 1929

(Notary seal)

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