Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
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The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, headquartered in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, United States, is the main legal entity used by the Jehovah's Witnesses religious faith. It is often referred to as "The Watchtower", or "The Society". This corporation usually holds copyrights to literature published by Jehovah's Witnesses. The sale of their religious magazines, and all Jehovah's Witnesses' literature, continued around the world until the early 1990s. The Watchtower is now distributed in exchange of donations. These donations have made the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of NY, Inc. one of the top 40 most profitable companies in New York, reporting an anual revenue of about $951 million USD[1] free of taxation as they are registered as a non-profit corporation. Their yearly report is different from a Wall Street company as the company's employees are volunteers who live and work in the Brooklyn complex.
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[edit] Foundation
The Bible Students began organizing the Society in 1881 with William H. Conley as the first President and Charles Taze Russell as Secretary-Treasurer. The Society was registered in Pennsylvania on December 15, 1884, this time with Russell as President.
[edit] Personnel (as of September 1, 2005)
- President: Don A. Adams
- Vice Presidents: Robert W. Wallen, William F. Malenfant
- Secretary/Treasurer: Richard E. Abrahamson
- Directors: Danny L. Bland, Philip D. Wilcox, John N. Wischuk
[edit] Past Legal Names
- Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society (1884-1896)
- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (1896-1955)
- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (since 1955)
[edit] Legal Presidents
Name (born - died) - term
- Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 - October 31, 1916) - served from 1884 to October 31, 1916
- Joseph Franklin Rutherford (November 8, 1869 - January 8, 1942) - served from January 6, 1917 to January 8, 1942
- Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) - served from January 13, 1942 to June 8, 1977
- Frederick William Franz (September 12, 1893 - December 22, 1992) - served from June 22, 1977 to December 22, 1992
- Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) - served from December 30, 1992 to October 7, 2000
- Don A. Adams (born 1925) - served from October 7, 2000 to present
| # | Name of the president | Date of birth | Date of Death | Starting ministry | Ending Ministry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Charles Taze Russell | February 16, 1852 | October 31, 1916 | 1884 | October 31, 1916 |
| 2. | Joseph Franklin Rutherford | November 8, 1869 | January 8, 1942 | January 6, 1917 | January 8, 1942 |
| 3. | Nathan Homer Knorr | April 23, 1905 | June 8, 1977 | January 13, 1942 | June 8, 1977 |
| 4. | Frederick William Franz | September 12, 1893 | December 22, 1992 | June 22, 1977 | December 22, 1992 |
| 5. | Milton George Henschel | August 9, 1920 | March 22, 2003 | December 30, 1992 | October 7, 2000 |
| 6. | Don A. Adams | 1925 | . | October 7, 2000 | . |
