Russell's teaching is identical to today's teaching of the sect. Although it is asserted that sectarians "... do not quote him, do not publish and do not distribute his works..." 53, but in the book Jehovah's Witnesses in Divine Design (1959 edition), fifty pages are devoted to Russell and his contribution to the cause of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The heresiarch died on October 31, 1916, having survived the date of the end of the world predicted by him by two years. His followers buried him under a stone slab, the inscription on which calls Russell the "Laodicean Herald." Near the grave, the worshippers erected a massive stone pyramid with a cross and a wreath inscribed "Watch Tower Society,54 suggesting serious reflection on the roots of the entire teaching of the Jehovah's Witnesses. This pyramid still stands in a cemetery in the town of Ross, a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, where it attracts tourists, as it is clearly visible from the side of 55 Seametery Lane.

2.2 HISTORY OF THE SECT FROM RUSSELL'S DEATH TO RUTTERFORD'S DEATH

In accordance with Russell's will, which was published in The Watch Tower of December 1, 1916, members of the Publications Committee were appointed, with the right to control all the publications of the Society: William E. Pace, William E. Van Amburgh, Henry Clay Rockwell, I. W. Brennaison, and F. H. Robinson. In addition, Russell proposed several candidates for possible vacancies on this committee: A. I. Burgess, Robert Hirsch, Isaac Hoskins, Joe H. Fisher (Scranton), J. S. Smith. F. Rutherford and Dr. John Edgar. We see that Russell's successor was not among the members of the committee, but only among the 56 deputies. Financial control was also regulated by a will: "I have already given the Watchtower Bible Society all of my voting shares, placing them in the hands of five trustees: Sister I. Louise Hamilton, Sister Almeta M. Nation Robison, Sister J. Smith. G. Herr, Sister S. Tomlins, Sister Alice G. James. These trustees are appointed for life. In the event of their death or resignation, successors will be appointed directors of the Watch Tower Society, members of the Publishing Committee, and the remaining trustees."57

Russell's successor as chairman of the Watch Tower Bible Society was Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1870-1942). Early in his secular career, he served as an assistant judge in Boonville, Missouri; later moved to New York. Under Russell, Rutherford served as vice president. According to his will, he was supposed to share power with the board of directors "for life" appointed by Russell, but by expelling them on July 7, 1917, he seized monopoly power. It happened in a completely scandalous way. The "judge," on the pretext that Russell's appointment had not been confirmed at the annual meeting of the Corporation, removed four of the seven directors from their posts without resorting to a general vote. According to A. H. MacMillan, a prominent member of the headquarters at the time, Rutherford consulted with an independent lawyer who was not a member of the sect and subsequently decided to dismiss the directors. On Rutherford's orders, his assistant even called the police to the Brooklyn headquarters of the Society to disperse a meeting of the Board of Directors and remove its participants from their offices.

In 1918, Rutherford expelled from the ruling corporation of the Society an old collaborator, Russell Paul Johnson, the future founder of a rival sect - "Epiphany" - for continuing to preach about the final determination and resurrection to spiritual life in 1914 of the righteous ranked among the "heavenly class".

Having secured the integrity of the sect's headquarters and corporate property, Rutherford turned his attention to the rest of the organization. By gradually replacing the elders elected by the local assemblies with his own people, the president ensured that the network of free, semi-autonomous organizations with democratic self-government turned into a tightly knit machine, the work of which was controlled from his office. By 1927, the self-election and decree of elders without direct control from the Brooklyn Center was largely prohibited. Many leaders of the congregations were removed from their posts, which was later defined as "the cleansing of the sanctuary" (Dan. 8:14). "It took literally 2,300 days," reported The Watchtower, "from May 25, 1925, to October 15, 1931." 59

As early as 1917, Rutherford had begun publishing the Watchtower's companion magazine, The Golden Age (now Awake!). Rutherford was also not spared the general disease of the Rasselites. He set the date of the Second Coming for 1918. But then he corrected the "exact" time of the coming of the Kingdom of God to earth to 1925. The political events of that time were "prophetically" reinterpreted. When the International League of Nations was created in 1919, it was given the name of "the abomination of desolation" (Dan. 9:27).

Shortly before this date, the congress of Jehovah's Witnesses solemnly adopted a resolution on the "death of human civilization."

In 1920, Rutherford laid a solid financial foundation for the sect's activities, on which it is based to this day. He charged his supporters with the distribution of books and magazines published by the society. To this day, it is the main source of funding for the Witnesses. With regard to military service, Rutherford continued Russell's policy. He actively promoted the refusal to serve in the army, for which he was imprisoned, although later amnestied.

In 1925, based on a false prophecy about the imminent resurrection of the patriarchs and righteous men of the Old Testament, Rutherford ordered his followers to build a palace to receive them, later called the "House of the Princes" (Beth Sarim). The mansion was located in a fashionable suburb of San Diego, and since the expected righteous did not resurrect, President Rutherford lived in it until his death. Over time, the building became perplexing and was hastily sold.