A Restoration Light Site: This blogsite is about Charles Taze Russell, especially in presenting the facts related to many of the false misrepresentations that are being spread concerning Russell.
Russell and about 5 or 6 other WATCHTOWER corporate members and a couple of them were not members of WATCHTOWER, invested and bought the Rosemont Cemetery and kept out a number of plots for the higher up class of the WATCHTOWER. The cemetery was soon sold after Russell died and no longer was an investment of WATCHTOWER members. I have all the research to back these statements up. I have never heard that the cemetery was Masonic owned, which is probably from very few who pass along unfounded research, but that idea is not a main thought as to the cemetery itself.
I conclude from what is stated in A Short History of United Cemeteries, Pastor Russell Heard From, United Cemeteries Revisted, and The Russells and the Allegheny Cemetery that the United Cemeteries was originally owned by the United States Investment Company, and that a separate board of advisers was created that was made up of several ministers from various denominations as well as Charles Taze Russell. When the United States Investment Company was dissolved, its holdings went to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, including the United Cemeteries. The WTS sold the cemetery shortly after Russell died, but kept a large selection of plots in the Society's name. The WTS also held the vacant land adjacent to the cemetery but most of it was sold after Russell died, and eventually a portion was purchased by the Masons in the 1990s.
As the original author of the articles referenced can I note that the grave plots were not for the "higher up" class of Watchtower as such but for Bethel volunteer workers and humble colporteurs or their relatives. If you check back the original site from whence the articles came there is a biography of the nine names inscribed on the pyramid which shows their background. As noted above most of the land was sold to the Catholics in 1917 and they in turn sold a large section to the Masons in 1994.
Russell and about 5 or 6 other WATCHTOWER corporate members and a couple of them were not members of WATCHTOWER, invested and bought the Rosemont Cemetery and kept out a number of plots for the higher up class of the WATCHTOWER. The cemetery was soon sold after Russell died and no longer was an investment of WATCHTOWER members. I have all the research to back these statements up. I have never heard that the cemetery was Masonic owned, which is probably from very few who pass along unfounded research, but that idea is not a main thought as to the cemetery itself.
ReplyDeleteI conclude from what is stated in A Short History of United Cemeteries, Pastor Russell Heard From, United Cemeteries Revisted, and The Russells and the Allegheny Cemetery that the United Cemeteries was originally owned by the United States Investment Company, and that a separate board of advisers was created that was made up of several ministers from various denominations as well as Charles Taze Russell. When the United States Investment Company was dissolved, its holdings went to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, including the United Cemeteries. The WTS sold the cemetery shortly after Russell died, but kept a large selection of plots in the Society's name. The WTS also held the vacant land adjacent to the cemetery but most of it was sold after Russell died, and eventually a portion was purchased by the Masons in the 1990s.
DeleteAs the original author of the articles referenced can I note that the grave plots were not for the "higher up" class of Watchtower as such but for Bethel volunteer workers and humble colporteurs or their relatives. If you check back the original site from whence the articles came there is a biography of the nine names inscribed on the pyramid which shows their background. As noted above most of the land was sold to the Catholics in 1917 and they in turn sold a large section to the Masons in 1994.
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