Two cuttings
from the New York Post, early November 1925
Sometimes
a newspaper cutting can provide a piece of information not found elsewhere.
These two cuttings are about the funeral of Andrew Nils Pierson who was a Watch
Tower director from November 2, 1916 until January 5, 1918. After the 1917-1918
troubles he gravitated towards those who had left the IBSA. They founded a
magazine called The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom (see Jehovah’s
Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, page 73) which was edited by R E
Streeter. When Streeter died in December 1924, Pierson provided the floral
arrangements for his funeral and this was written up extensively in their
paper. When Pierson himself died less than a year later, in October 1925, there
was a lengthy funeral report in the Herald, but interestingly it did not
mention who had taken the funeral service. Pierson’s funeral was also reported
in the New Era Enterprise for November 24, 1925. The Enterprise was generally
supportive of the IBSA, and that paper too did not mention who conducted the
funeral.
So
we are left with just the newspaper cuttings at the head of this article that provide
the missing information: “The Rev. George Fisher” of Brooklyn.
Maybe
to spare embarrassment or to avoid controversy these other sources omitted his
name. George Herbert Fisher had been one of the Brooklyn eight sent to prison in
1918. He too had been a Watch Tower director, in his case from July 17, 1917 to
June 13, 1918 and also from January 3, 1920 to October 31, 1923. He had been a
great friend of Clayton J Woodworth and the two had compiled The Finished
Mystery together. But Fisher had distanced himself from the IBSA and by 1925
Woodworth had to comment at length, and in sorrow, about the direction he
thought his friend was heading. This is discussed in Golden Age, March 25,
1925, pages 407-409, which includes a letter from J F Rutherford about personal
difficulties he and others had recently had with Fisher.
What
might have rumbled on and gained a lot more publicity was cut short by Fisher’s
sudden death in New York on July 30, 1926. It was reported in the New Era
Enterprise for August 1926 (see below). But now we know that in late 1925 he
was asked to officiate at Andrew Pierson’s funeral.
(Directorship dates from Bernhard with thanks)
Hello. In the reference you used of Golden Age, March 25, 1925, pages 407-409, it states that JF Rutherford wrote that letter from Monrovia, CA. Mary had a home there, but there is no other reference of him writing letters/books from that home. Is that understanding correct?
ReplyDeleteI noted that connection when I did the article, but as it was "off topic" decided to shelve it for a while. The Monrovia Daily News for March 9, 1925, called JFR a "resident" of Monrovia and gave his address as 160 North Primrose Avenue, Monrovia. The same newspaper for August 6, 1928, gave his address as 180 North Primrose Avenue, Monrovia. Mary Rutherford is normally associated with 159 Stedman Place, but the Monrovia-News-Post (15 July 1935) describes her as only getting a permit to build there that week.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly there is a photograph of Mary with a local postman who had completed a huge distance walking over the years on the front page of the Daily News and Monrovia Daily News for June 8, 1954.
You might find more references to letters written by JFR from Monrovia if you check through all the letters in the Watchtower and Golden Age, especially those written in the winter time.
A subject worth revisiting.
The 180 North Primrose Avenue in the 1928 newspaper appears to be a typo. Mary Rutherford lived at 160 North Primrose Avenue in the 1930 census, and also is listed there in the trade directories for 1930 and 1931.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jerome for the reply. I am interested in Mary/Malcom, and so your guiding me to that Golden Age was eye-opening to know JF wrote letters from there.
ReplyDeleteLooking on google maps, 160 N Primrose is directly behind 159 Stedman Pl. So, it would make sense that perhaps they purchased that a one large lot, but she ended up living at the 159 Stedman home. The home looks a bit like Beth-Sarim in that it the same spanish-style with queen palms in the front.
The possible connection between Primrose and Stedman is extremely interesting. You probably know that when Mary died, Malcom and his second wife lived in the property for several years.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in Malcom and haven't already checked it out there is a series of four articles on Malcom (plus an introduction) posted on this blog back on 12 January of this year.
The subject of JRF and Mary in the 1920s and beyond is outside the general remit of this blog, but if you want to continue a discussion back-channel my contact details are on the blog if you follow the links.
Fisher's death is mentioned in The Golden Age May 4, 1927 p. 506.
ReplyDeleteResignation from the Editorial Committee - The Watchtower April 1, 1924 p. 107