ASHFIELD, JUNE 18TH, 1899

^[p. 154] ASHFIELD, JUNE 18TH, 1899

At a meeting of brothers held on Friday, 16th inst., to come to a final decision concerning charges made against certain persons amongst us, it was decided that these charges were not proved and untrue. With reference to those brothers that have left our midst, repeating and maintaining these charges from which we have now decided our brethren are clear, we have to announce that if they return, it must be to find these questions finally decided by us, so that if again raised, such conduct will be treated as evil-doing, according to the principles of Deuteronomy 17. We have also to add that in our judgment, it has not been comely that those who have taken part in these accusations should have been engaged in any prominent service or ministry among us, till the confidence of brethren had been restored. As to the accused, we think that a more conscious sense of the presence of the Lord in the midst might have led such also to refrain from any prominent place whilst labouring under such charges.