J. F. Rutherford's Unfinished Burial Crypt at Beth-Sarim

Ken Raines

Shortly before his death, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's second president, J. F. Rutherford requested to be buried at Beth-Sarim.

Shortly before his death on January 8, 1942, the Society created Beth-Sarim's Rest, a cemetery corporation for burying Rutherford at Beth-Sarim. Local officials denied this burial request. The original site for Rutherford's burial was located just below Beth-Sarim which is seen in the following photo. A second site was proposed on the Beth-Shan property but this second location was also denied by local officials in court.

Beth-Sarim is seen in the upper left and Rutherford's crypt is seen in the lower right of above picture. (Photo courtesy of Edmond C. Gruss)

Close-up of Rutherford's unfinished burial crypt at Beth-Sarim. (Photo courtesy of Edmond C. Gruss)