VANCOUVER, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1941
VANCOUVER, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1941
Mr. Francis Willy.
Beloved Brother, — I duly received your letter and should have replied at once, only I was just setting out for an extended tour and had no time to spare.
I am grieved indeed that the dear brethren are in such testing circumstances as you mention. God will surely help you all, enabling you to suffer rather than compromise the precious truth which is our inheritance. The truth sets free inwardly although it may occasion bondage outwardly. It was reported to me that a member of the Australian parliament stated in Canberra, in relation I understand to such a matter as you write about, that the liberties enjoyed by British peoples [p. 237] have been largely secured through conscience. Whether this statement was made or not, it is clear that a conscience governed by the teaching of Scripture is essential to a Christian, and such a conscience will not submit to trade unionism. That a Christian cannot employ his brother because the latter is not a trade union member is utterly out of accord with truth and fairness. It is a denial of the liberty with which Christ has set us free, and is a negation of the love that is to mark Christians between themselves, and that would do good to all; and nationally it is against the fundamental principles of British law.
You and the brethren in Brisbane, no doubt, are quite aware of all this, and as you face it, accepting the consequences, God will surely be with you and will make a way for you. Suffering is the order of the day and it marks the way out in all difficulties. The gospel has been sown on earth through it, and the servant most used in this under God says “But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us”.
I am thankful you could assert to the authorities your readiness to submit to penalties. The early Christians accepted “with joy” the plunder of their goods. Christianity has its roots in sufferings and it surely is for us to take our share in sufferings, thus corresponding at the end with the beginning. Our martyrdom may kindle a fire against unionism that shall not quickly be put out. In writing all this I am not unmindful of my own poor part — indeed I have not had to face unionism on my own account; but I see that a large part of humanity are suffering from external conditions, especially including brethren in Great Britain and elsewhere, from which we in America and Australasia are free and it may be that the will of God requires that we should not fail to take our share in what it brings to us.
Your letter shows that you all are ready to do this and I am assured that God is with you and will cause your course to glorify Him, as accorded harps by which to praise Him as victorious over the evil that you are confronted with, Revelation 15: 2 - 4.
I see that you are acting wisely — seeking to convince the authorities of the truth so as to cause them to allow you to carry on your business with a good conscience, not obliged to sin against the rights of God and men in refusing a man an opportunity to earn his living because he is not a member of a certain human organisation — an organisation which, if not in [p. 238] Australia, in other lands does not stop at murder to enforce its will. We shall be remembering you all in prayer in relation to your present exercises.
The Lord helped us much here during the last three days on the book of Job — special meetings being held.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.