GREENWICH, OCTOBER 27TH, 1900

GREENWICH, OCTOBER 27TH, 1900

Mr. J. Edmondson.

My Dear Brother, — I reached home from France on Thursday and found your letter awaiting me. I thank you much for the tidings of things in Dublin, though it is not altogether encouraging. And I really do not know what is to be done. If brethren have not the power to maintain what they know to be right, and Colossians Gahan is determined to insist on what he thinks to be the truth, things are virtually at a deadlock. I think that his conduct at Dublin when I was there was bad. And I am at a loss to understand how he is prepared to go on with those who are in his mind holding serious error. One thing is clear to me, that is that in the present state of things Dublin is closed to me. I hope that grace may be given to the brothers there to walk in all grace, and yet not to accept the practical setting aside of that which they know to be right. I returned from France on Thursday, after an interesting stay there. We visited the three districts in which there are meetings, and stayed a week at each. It gave me the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the French brethren, and I hope of bringing before them that which might help them. They are ^[p. 163] mostly simple and timid, and it takes some time to assure them, but when you have their confidence then they will be free to exchange thoughts with you. In fact they are very much like the Irish in that respect. I hope that Mrs. Joseph and yourself are well, also your mother, and your brother and his wife, and with love in the Lord remain,

Your affectionate brother,
F. E. Raven.

I am going to Stourbridge on Monday, D.V., for the meetings there.