A NEW PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE |
UN NUEVO PRESIDENTE EN EL CARGO |
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We were still faced with the question, Who would be put up for office? Van Amburgh came to me one day and said, "Brother, who do you think we should put up for president?" I answered, There is only one man who is competent and qualified to take charge of this work now, and that is Brother Rutherford." He took me by the hand and said, "I'm with you." That was all that was said about it. Rutherford did not know what was going on. He certainly didn't do any electioneering or canvassing for votes, but I guess he was doing some worrying, knowing if he was elected he would have a big job on his hands. |
Aún nos enfrentábamos con la cuestión de
quién sería elegido para el puesto. Van Amburgh me abordó un día
y preguntó: |
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On January 6, 1917, J. F. Rutherford was elected president. There is no doubt in our minds that the Lord's will was done in this choice. It is certain that Rutherford himself had nothing to do with it. W. E. Van Amburgh was elected secretary-treasurer and A. N. Pierson vice-president. Directors were not elected, as these had been elected by Russell for life. This he could do because he held the majority of votes although, according to the charter, they should have been reelected to that office every year as we learned later. |
El 6 de enero de 1917, J. F. Rutherford fue elegido presidente. No nos cabe duda de que esta elección cumplió la voluntad del Señor. Lo cierto es que Rutherford no tuvo nada que ver. W. E. Van Amburgh fue elegido secretario-tesorero y A. N. Pierson vicepresidente. No se votó a los directores porque Russell ya los había escogido y su cargo era vitalicio. Pudo hacer eso porque tenía la mayoría de votos, aunque, según los estatutos deberían haber sido reelegidos para esos puestos cada año, como supimos después. |
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J.F. Rutherford was warmly welcomed in his new capacity as manager of the Society's affairs by the majority of those associated with the organization at that time. But from the outset it became apparent that a few, especially at head-quarters, resented him. Some of these thought they should succeed Russell and considered themselves better qualified for the position of president. The fact that Rutherford was approved by the shareholders of the Society and that he made every effort to follow the arrangements made by Russell during his administration did not seem to impress them. |
La mayoría de los que se asociaban con la organización en aquel tiempo dieron una cálida bienvenida a J. F. Rutherford en su nuevo cargo como administrador de los asuntos de la Sociedad. Pero desde el principio se hizo evidente que unos pocos, sobre todo en la central, estaban molestos. Algunos de estos pensaban que ellos mismos deberían haber sucedido a Russell, y se consideraban más capacitados para el puesto de presidente. El hecho de que Rutherford hubiera sido aprobado por los accionistas de la Sociedad, y el que hiciera todo lo posible por continuar las disposiciones de Russell durante su administración no parecía impresionarles. |
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It is true that Rutherford was an altogether different type of man than Russell. Their backgrounds may have had something to do with it. It is certain that the home life of Russell had a definite bearing on his temperament. His father was quite well-to-do and this boy was the idol of his heart. He was brought up in the lap of luxury and in an atmosphere of parental love, although his mother died when he was quite young. Everything that he was taught he seemed to receive and respond to, and he developed a spirit of mildness and affection. There was nothing crude or rough about him in any way. He inherited that disposition and his father nourished it to the end. |
Es cierto que Rutherford era un tipo de hombre totalmente distinto de Russell. Puede que tuviera que ver sus antecedentes. Desde luego, la vida familiar de Russell influyó de manera importante en su temperamento. Su padre era un hombre bastante acomodado, y el muchacho era la niña de sus ojos. Se crió en medio del lujo y en una atmósfera de amor por parte de sus padres, aunque su madre falleció cuando él era bastante joven. Parecía comprender y responder a todo cuanto le enseñaban, y desarrolló un espíritu de bondad y cariño. No había en él nada rudo ni áspero. Heredó ese carácter, y su padre lo fomentó hasta el final. |
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As he grew older and began to associate with others in his preaching activity these characteristics became even more marked. Occasionally he had to be severe with those in the organization, but he was extremely generous, long-suffering and kind when dealing with those whom he hoped could be recovered. But with all his generosity and kindness he was by no means soft. He would never tolerate anything that would be contrary to what he clearly understood the Bible to teach. He was so strict about that, he would permit nothing that would seem to show a compromise when it came to an issue of the truth. |
A medida que creció y comenzó a asociarse con otros en su actividad de predicación, esas características se hicieron aún más notorias. Ocasionalmente tuvo que ser severo con algunos en la organización, pero era sumamente generoso, paciente y bondadoso al tratar con aquellos que esperaba que pudieran ser “recobrados”. Más a pesar de su generosidad y amabilidad no era en absoluto blando. Nunca toleró nada que fuera contrario a lo que entendía que enseñaba la Biblia. Era tan estricto en cuanto a eso que jamás consintió nada que pareciera una concesión en ningún asunto relacionado con la verdad. |
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J. F. Rutherford's background was totally different. He was born November 8, 1869, on a farm in Morgan County, Missouri. He had no youthful life. When he was sixteen he decided to be a lawyer. In order to get his father's consent to do this he had to hire a man to fill his place on his father's farm, as well as pay tuition fees and other expenses of his education since his father would not help him. A friend gave him a loan with no security other than his word, and this money enabled him to finish his schooling. As soon as he was able he repaid the debt in full. So he received little encouragement at home. His father was a strict disciplinarian, which deprived young Rutherford of any emotional life. |
Los antecedentes de J. F. Rutherford fueron completamente distintos. Nació el 8 de noviembre de 1869 en una granja de Morgan County, Missouri. No tuvo infancia. A los dieciséis años decidió ser abogado. A fin de obtener el consentimiento de su padre, tuvo que contratar a un hombre para que le sustituyera en la granja. También tuvo que pagar la matrícula y los demás gastos de su educación, ya que su padre no quiso ayudarle. Un amigo le hizo un préstamo con la única garantía de su palabra, y gracias a ese dinero pudo completar su carrera. Tan pronto como pudo devolvió el dinero de ese préstamo. De modo que recibió poco ánimo en casa. Su padre lo sometía a disciplina muy estricta, por lo que el joven Rutherford careció de toda vida emocional. |
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When he identified himself with the work of Jehovah's witnesses and entered the ministry his pattern of life was well fixed; he already was a mature man, approaching forty, trained in the practice of law and politics. As legal counselor for the Watch Tower Society from 1907 on he developed a full knowledge of the Society's business affairs and of Russell's way of doing things. |
Cuando se identificó con la obra de los testigos de Jehová y se unió al ministerio, su estilo de vida ya estaba bien establecido: era un hombre maduro, rondando los cuarenta, y con experiencia en la práctica del derecho y la política. Como asesor legal de la Sociedad Watch Tower desde 1907, llegó a tener un profundo conocimiento de los asuntos económicos de la Sociedad y de la manera como Russell hacía las cosas. |
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Rutherford had always manifested a deep Christian love for his associates and was very kindhearted; but he was not naturally of the same gentle, quiet-mannered disposition as Russell. He was direct and outspoken and did not hide his feelings. His bluntness, even when spoken in kindness, was I sometimes misunderstood. But he had been president only a short time when it became apparent that the Lord had chosen the right man for the job. |
Rutherford siempre había manifestado un intenso amor cristiano por sus colaboradores, y tenía un gran corazón; pero no poseía el mismo carácter amable y apacible de Russell. Era franco y directo, y no ocultaba sus sentimientos. Su brusquedad, incluso cuando trataba de hablar con bondad, a veces se interpretaba mal. Pero llevaba muy poco tiempo como presidente cuando, se hizo evidente, que el Señor había escogido al hombre indicado para el puesto. |
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