OCTOBER 29TH, 1940
OCTOBER 29TH, 1940
Mr. F. Ide.
Beloved Brother, — Your letter of the 8th inst. just came — twenty days on the way, usual time. As my wife is writing Mrs. Ide I enclose a line to you.
[p. 206] We are glad indeed to hear from you, although Mrs. Ide and Mr. Helen had been writing. Indeed we receive many letters from your parts, all of which are greatly valued. While they speak of the sufferings of our brethren they speak and show unmistakably that God is helping you, and not only helping, but with you as passing through the waters. Your own letter indicates this great fact and we thank God for it. The letters are usually read at special meetings and extracts are copied and sent to the gatherings, the saints being most interested. Thus sympathy is drawn out and increased prayers go up.
It seems that our God has gauged the extent of His work in our dear brethren in the London area in allowing such severe suffering there — we may say Great Britain generally. During the last 100 years much precious light has shone in those isles and perhaps has had more appreciation — especially in the London district — than elsewhere and now God is causing it to be tested and what is of Him is manifest. We are all encouraged and stimulated, and increased praise goes up to God. But we are not overlooking the actual sufferings and our sympathies go out to our brethren and our prayers are constant.
The present move to the Mediterranean is an acknowledgement of the failure of the attack on Great Britain and it may ease the effort against you all; at any rate our prayers go up to our God to that end. He has the time of easement and completion of the great affliction on His calendar and we may count on this.
Your letter confirms much information we have had and our hearts are drawn out to the bereaved ones — the dear brethren in Teddington included. May the Lord sustain our brother! We are so thankful for your ‘shelter’. We can think of you all in it and pray for you.
That the service of God goes on in spite of such anxiety and discomfort is a great triumph and the brethren here speak of it with much cheer. This is what the enemy would especially hinder.
You will know that Notes of meetings in New Zealand are in course of publication in the Depot. I am now working on Notes of meetings in this country — Los Angeles, Rochester and Detroit. Brethren are enquiring for new publications. I gather the work in the Depot has not been interrupted and I pray that it may not be. I can well understand that over [p. 207] the counter business is small. I understand from a letter from Mr. Elliott that the loss of the Bible sheets is not a great disadvantage, as you have enough and that the property was covered by compulsory insurance.
We find much cheer in the work of God in these parts also elsewhere — lately we visited Montreal, Toronto and Rochester. At Toronto a large number came together and there was blessing throughout. Next month we hope to visit Council Bluffs for the special meetings, also Des Moines and Gothenburg. The Westfield position is not much changed, although there is always a good interest there. ——— is still outside. The brethren regard that he should own wrong in certain interference in local affairs in Chatham.
With love in Christ to Mrs. Ide and you all and to the brethren.
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.