AUGUST 13TH, 1941
AUGUST 13TH, 1941
Mr. F. Ide.
Beloved Brother, — Your last letter came a good while ago but I wrote Mr. Helen and my wife wrote Mrs. Ide since — so you have had the news.
I learn now from Mr. Helen that you have had another time of illness, but we were thankful you were able to be about again and serving at special meetings. We trust your strength has fully returned.
The brethren here have very real satisfaction and are full of thankfulness to God that the bombing of Great Britain has been so reduced during recent months. We take it as a signal mercy from God and look to Him to reduce it further and stop it entirely. The ‘second’ cause is the attack on Russia, but the first is God. He is proving to us all that our prayers have been heard.
You will be aware that I have given up the New Zealand trip — until God makes the way clear. The dear brethren in Auckland are very sympathetic and put all on the ground of postponement, trusting that it may please God to open the way definitely.
My wife and I are about to leave this week for the Pacific coast. We stop at Maywood, Chicago, for the weekend; then Winnipeg and St. James for two days of meetings; then [p. 234] Regina, Maple Creek, Calgary, Vancouver for the Labour Day meetings, then Nanaimo, Victoria, Seattle, Berkeley, Los Angeles. We hope to return here about October 1st.
AEM is to attend the Detroit Labour Day meetings, also Toronto in October. I am, God willing, to be at Indianapolis for meetings in November and at Christmas in Chicago. Special meetings are very frequent in this district and God is blessing them. As I have mentioned to you before, God has fitted quite a few to lead in these special occasions affording much cheer to the saints. The same is true in Great Britain and Ireland and this adds substantially to the impression that God will continue the testimony for some time. And this intensifies the desire that the Spirit may have His place in the ministry. God said of Joshua “a man in whom is the Spirit” — Joshua representing those who carry on under God, as a certain ministry comes to an end. As God sees fit to terminate the present pressure there will be reaction spiritually — as well as politically — and adjustment will be needed. As liberty of action, now restrained, is accorded there will be the danger of ambition, as the field will seem to offer opportunities for advancement. The history of the testimony from 1879 to 1890 affords a warning.
Mr. Hardwick returned from the South — Argentina, Demarara, Barbados, etc., on Monday, and he is ministering acceptably under the Lord. He is a great traveller, stopping only a short time usually in each place visited; but the Lord helps our brother and he refreshes His people.
We are grieved to hear of the cleavage in Ayrshire and trust the Lord will show His hand indicating where He is in the matter. From what Mr. Helen mentions it seems the matter should be left with Prestwick. There should be very grave evidence of evil in a meeting before another interferes. The judgment of a secular court is not enough to establish righteousness or unrighteousness. The assembly is the highest court morally and the facts of a case should be adjudicated by it and its judgment of a matter within its locality should be accepted by all others unless there is the clearest evidence of wickedness in the proceedings.
My wife unites in love in Christ to Mrs. Ide and all yours; also to the brethren.
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.