november january known judge second president incorporated watch tower bible tract society pennsylvania played primary role organization development witnesses emerged bible student movement established began career law working court trial lawyer prosecutor special judge 14th missouri time developed interest doctrines president led joining bible student movement baptized appointed legal counsel traveling representative prior election president early presidency marked dispute society board directors seven members accused behavior sought reduce powers resulting leadership crisis divided bible student community contributed loss seventh adherents thousands seven watch tower executives imprisoned charges laid publication finished mystery book deemed opposition world war introduced organizational changes helped shape current beliefs practices witnesses imposed centralized administrative structure worldwide bible student movement later called requiring adherents distribute literature door door preaching provide regular reports activity instituted training programs public speaking weekly meetings worship established date christ invisible return asserted christ died tree cross formulated current witness concept armageddon god war wicked reinforced belief start christ reign imminent condemned traditional celebrations christmas national flags singing national anthems introduced witnesses term kingdom hall houses worship wrote books credited society distribution million books despite significant decreases 1920s overall membership increased end years president early life born november raised near poverty baptist farm family sources list place birth missouri according death certificate born versailles missouri developed interest law age father discouraged interest allowed college condition pay place family farm took loan helped pay law studies working door door encyclopedia salesman court law career spent years judge intern official court reporter age admitted missouri bar age trial lawyer law firm later served years public prosecutor campaigned briefly democratic presidential candidate appointed special judge missouri sitting substitute judge regular judge unable hold court result appointment known judge admitted new_york bar admitted practice supreme_court united_states year society purchased volumes dawn series bible study textbooks visited office viewed religions shallow struck russell sincerity sentiments religion mirrored view immediately wrote express appreciation books baptized years later wife began holding bible classes home legal counsel pittsburgh headquarters time began public talks representative society russell health deteriorated represented trips europe april speak major debate baptist preacher nights los_angeles audience debating subjects including state dead christ second coming wrote pamphlet great battle ecclesiastical heavens defense russell served chairman los_angeles convention september board directors seven directors russell died october joined vice president secretary man executive committee ran pennsylvania corporation new president elected annual general meeting following january joined person editorial committee run watch tower december issue russell drawn named people wished run magazine death appeared second list alternative members fill arose bible student alexander served aide executive committee later wrote tensions watch tower society headquarters mounted day election society officers approached wrote ambitious ones headquarters holding little men held large number votes shareholders knowing long association russell sent cast thought best fitted office claimed declined offer ailing russell months earlier accept position president death agreed best candidate according know going certainly didn votes guess worrying knowing elected big job hands doubt minds lord choice certain presidency dispute january aged elected president unopposed pittsburgh convention laws passed pittsburgh convention board directors stated president executive officer general manager society giving charge affairs worldwide june seven watch tower society directors decided endorsing expanded powers management claiming june attempted new laws reclaim board authority president later claimed detected conspiracy directors seize control society july gained legal opinion philadelphia corporation lawyer legally directors society official account history claimed legal advice given ousted directors confirmed given pamphlets produced expelled board members time indicated legal advice acquired attorneys disagreed july filled claimed board appointing pennsylvania bible students directors august november society ousted directors published series pamphlets accusing ambitious reckless behavior directors claimed required headquarters workers sign petition supporting threatened dismissal refused sign directors left brooklyn headquarters august january shareholders returned office controversy fractured bible student movement congregations split opposing groups loyal expelled seven bible students chosen leave accept leadership following decade helped form joined groups including finished mystery late fisher prominent bible student brooklyn headquarters sought approval produce book books based primarily russell writings work book finished mystery proceeded knowledge released headquarters staff july day announced appointment replacement directors book labeled posthumous seventh volume scriptures denounced opponents best seller translated languages serialized watch tower expecting god kingdom establish rule earth saints raised heaven wrote january year christian looks year bring church hopes embarked vast advertising campaign expose religions alliances governments expanding claims finished mystery patriotism murder campaign attracted attention governments february book banned canadian government newspaper described statements february gave talk entitled world ended millions living die subsequent talks series renamed attacked clergy declaring class according scriptures men earth great war mankind days later seized society los_angeles offices confiscated literature imprisonment release early attorney general condemned finished mystery dangerous examples propaganda work written extremely religious language distributed enormous numbers issued arrest seven watch tower directors charged espionage act attempting cause refusal duty armed forces recruitment service war june seven including sentenced years imprisonment feared opponents gain control society absence january learned elected president pittsburgh convention day convincing god wanted position march directors released bail appeals court ruled convicted government announced charges dropped reorganization administrative changes following release prison began major reorganization bible student activities convention ohio announced publication new magazine golden age later renamed awake russell decreed society publish periodicals new magazine published manhattan brooklyn address months bible students organized distribute door door expanded society printing facilities revived work introduced requirement weekly reports bible students preaching activity expanded reorganized overseas branch offices regarded work beginning day convention ohio september launched series major international conventions theme advertise king kingdom attracting crowds audiences urged herald message far wide stressed primary duty bible students publicity agents especially form door door society publications began teach cedar point convention events resulting fulfilled prophecy days daniel published booklet year later published hardcover book god followed nineteen hardcover books word titles creation children publications reached total printing million copies gained control doctrines taught publications refusal man publish article birth nation contained significant changes later claimed tried prevent publication article failed effort ceased printing scriptures dissolved wrote leading article watch tower death watch tower society observed demise indicated lord running organization expanded means spreading watch tower message start minute radio broadcasts initially based eventually network radio stations talk broadcast north_america australia france attacks clergy resulted nbc bbc radio networks banning broadcasts began abolish system elders voting dismissing lazy finally asserting elders impressed elders need obey society regulations instructions directions complaint service directors reported brooklyn appointed congregation weekly service meeting introduced meeting programs claimed elders prophecy days daniel god sanctuary bible student assembly columbus proposed new organization witnesses differentiate groups followed russell teachings opposed abandoned form new groups increasingly described evil servant class said wrong pray years later term kingdom hall introduced local meeting place congregations door door preaching program extended formally include calls interested people witnesses urged start hour bible studies homes late 1930s advocated use sound cars portable talks played introduced term describe religion system government explaining present administered judge president general manager zone servants known circuit appointed supervise congregations article declared need congregations line changed structure year death worldwide attendance annual memorial christ death restructuring bible student community coincided dramatic loss followers 1920s 1930s worldwide attendance annual memorial christ death fell memorial attendance figures surpass author analyzed attendance field worker statistics suggests dedicated bible students quit 1920s replaced newcomers larger numbers dismissed loss original bible students lord shaking witnesses wrote year achievements face witness work earth changes july finished mystery published seventh volume studies scriptures series volume written fisher advertised russell posthumous work legacy contained interpretations viewpoints espoused russell including urging bible students cast judgment clergy adoption new dates particular claim salvation tied membership reject interpretations given volume related articles magazine february discourse printed booklet form revision russell calculation jubilee type presented changing despite russell rejection change months prior death october society published new edition russell shadows better sacrifices included appendix introducing alterations russell original views death jesus role christ followers heaven ceremonies jewish cedar point convention began teaching christ reign begun russell taught expanded view march issue article birth nation later acknowledged caused real stir shake ranks moved date resurrection sleeping saints christians died jesus time early began dismiss year date invisible presence christ favor year developed view battle armageddon universal war waged god russell belief decline human society social political religious anarchy based interpretations books exodus additional material books samuel kings chronicles article january introduced new emphasis importance taught god ultimately occur millions destroyed armageddon primary doctrine christianity important god display goodness grace published interpretation passage describing attack jerusalem predicted intensification persecution witnesses god intervening behalf begin battle armageddon destroy god organization russell teaching importance christian character development personal year later discarded teaching russell faithful wise servant matthew warning desire men snare set devil released book bible student convention england later interpreting event days daniel christmas declared pagan origin following year celebration condemned supporting organization mother day condemned holidays officially renounced subsequent years discarded russell teaching natural jews restored palestine return god favor despite having declared years earlier restoration fulfilled british takeover palestine turkey world war denied role jews god kingdom arrangement reversed russell earlier teaching claiming prominent jewish business leaders arrogant self important extremely selfish gain favored standing god teaching god restore jews palestine discontinued time russell teaching great pyramid built god direction overturned asserted built direction purpose god people days announcement prompted long time bible students published systematic book revelation symbols recorded book applied events following specifically watch tower conventions held years reflected wholesale rejection earlier views interpretations washington convention rejected russell teaching great company revelation secondary spiritual class composed millions christians resurrected heaven apart elect instead argued great multitude sheep kings chapter picture people potentially survive armageddon receive human life earth witnesses began objected state laws requiring school students salute flag means patriotism declared baptized witnesses salute flag breaking god guilty death children states expelled refusing salute flag took cases court personally leading unsuccessful case controversy flag salute issue escalated mob attacks prevalent states court overruled previous decision case law magazine noted witnesses helped shape course constitutional law remarking constant litigation organization possible increasing list concerning application 14th amendment freedom speech religion rejected belief jesus executed roman cross favor upright stake tree character attitudes biographers describe tall built demeanor strong voice helped powerful new_york_times stated reputation forceful speaker watch tower society literature states personality contrasted strongly predecessor witness history book says russell kind warm warm generous associates direct type person legal background experiences early life gave approach problems dealing brothers caused offense watch tower society account says hide feelings adding spoken kindness misunderstood fellow watch tower society director says spoke simply directly people knew extremely man thoroughly convinced truth matter life death added tolerate contrary clearly understood bible teach strict permit compromise came issue truth author describes charitable generous says sympathy poor oppressed exceeded hatred rich notes dynamic authors address describes blunt moody explosive temper streak self caused regard opposed devil notes person obsessed self importance confrontation society directors opposed highlighted personality determination fight believed right claims played hard church politics accuses propaganda medium attack effectively battle position president heart opponents complaints behavior exercise complete management society affairs similarly describes actions year presidency including appointment new directors refusal allow society accounts examined decision publish finished mystery high handed secretive contrast claimed duty use power lord hands support interests shareholders interested truth world lord supported crisis claimed president extremely patient help mistake holding number meetings trying reason contrary course society charter according emerged prison bitter world saw clergy military secured imprisonment soon release coined term organization refer supposed conspiracy articles similarly scathing big business politics describes attitude clergy enemies hatred attacks particularly catholic_church late 1920s strong attract ban broadcasts nbc radio network condemned attack organized religion clergy applied criticizing terms deserted ranks calling evil servant urged readers view contempt openly rebelled god order described elders 1930s refused submit society administrative changes states descriptions completely wicked destroyed armageddon dwelling great length destruction claims close ministry spent half year writing armageddon according evidenced christmas birthday parties popular customs described pagan origin encouraged creature worship observed led turn witness life directed singing congregation meetings singing reinstated soon death books magazine articles reveal strong views proper place women church society book linked rise women movements encouraged equality sexes influence claimed custom men hats women standing woman approached scheme devil turn men god indicated streak men practiced custom mother day similarly described plan turn people away god urged adherents delay marriage child bearing armageddon claims prompted strong community bias witnesses marriage marry says considered weak faith convention missouri quoted description women bone hank hair witness member claimed evidence engaged door door ministry despite assertion requirement sacred duty witnesses claimed heard associates responsibilities president permit engaging activity related details home preaching baptized article quoted witnesses relating experiences house house ministry 1920s official history witnesses notes personally shared engaged work kingdom proclamation house house august meeting bible student elders attended general convention detroit listed responsibilities concluded attended details time door door authors claimed russell prophet contends russell smith capable religious leaders naive young hard gave degree movements dominated personal life married missouri december child born november couple separated president mary remained active member witnesses confined home years death age reportedly lost use lung pneumonia suffered imprisonment finding new_york winter weather impossible encouraged doctor spend time possible favorable climate residence named literally constructed san_diego california use initially winter accommodation later time residence died property villa sold declaring fully served purpose serving monument expensive standard accommodation personal conduct attracted criticism bible students witnesses 1930s society branch manager canada wrote public letter month expelled religion claiming exclusive use luxurious expensive residences brooklyn germany san_diego alleged occasion purchased cases whiskey beer drink drink july legal counsel society wrote open letter resignation president complained behavior members including considered excessive inappropriate mentioned california discussing difference accommodations furnished personal compared furnished accused treatment staff anger discrimination vulgar language condemned allowing alcohol notes claims drinking habits notorious cites unnamed workers told occasional difficulties getting podium public talks death burial age underwent medical treatments cancer included operation november found doctors gave months live died january age cause death pelvic watch tower society staff member said announcement death family assembled lunch announcement brief speeches took day went factory worked harder burial delayed months legal proceedings arising desire buried previously expressed close advisers brooklyn headquarters according judge looked early triumph king east christ jesus leading host heaven desired buried dawn facing rising sun isolated ground administered princes return graves based claims resurrected biblical characters live concluded appropriate bones buried property legal problem arose legally cemetery witnesses collected signatures petitions supporting burial second preferred site nearby watch tower society property named dying wish granted condemned officials refusal grant permit burial property stating fate bones decided destiny blood head told times fight god servant bones bring condemnation lord responsibility fixed followed course speculation secretly buried called private rumor frequently myth issue time magazine noted burial new_york private burial plot watch tower branch volunteers immediately adjoining graveyard answered inquiry graveyard noting couldn tell buried absolutely markers succeeded president
Joseph Franklin Rutherford