The Reluctant Apostate: Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses Comes at a Price

by Lloyd Evans

Rutherford was elected on January 6, 1917, two months after Russell’s death. Despite not being an officer of the Society, and not even being on Russell’s suggested shortlist for the “committee of five” (his name only featured along with five other potential substitutes on a B-list) he somehow managed to win over key players in the post-Russell interim management—most notably A. H. Macmillan, Russell’s former assistant, and W. E. Van Amburgh, the Society’s secretary-treasurer. Both of these men had considerable voting power for electing the next president, because they each held proxy votes on behalf of other members of the Society who could not attend the election in person, but who trusted their judgment. Hence, having ingratiated himself with these kingmakers, Rutherford had little difficulty securing the presidency. He was also careful to make sure his powers as president were increased by promptly having bylaws enacted that would effectively grant him full executive control of the Society. A brochure titled Light After Darkness, released by the Society directors who later tried to oppose him, described the nature of these bylaws: One of the by-laws, which was suggested at the shareholders’ meeting, reads: “The President of the Society shall always be the Executive Officer and General Manager of the Corporation, having in charge the management of its affairs and work, both in America and in foreign countries.” Another by-law, the one to which the Committee especially ob...