JANUARY 24TH, 1900

JANUARY 24TH, 1900

Dr. van Someren.

I have never heard of such a thing as brothers arriving at a decision and then announcing it to the assembly. It is arrogating to themselves an authority which does not belong to them or to anyone save the assembly. If they had come to the conclusion that there was nothing calling for assembly action, there was no need to say anything to the assembly. They appear to have been trying to guard against contingencies and we are never called to do this, but only act on what may come before us. I think that there is always danger in brothers’ meetings. I can understand that it may be necessary for the elders to investigate but brothers’ meetings have not, so far as I am aware, any sanction in Scripture.

F E. Raven.