BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 4TH, 1942
[p. 251] BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 4TH, 1942
Mr. W. J. House.
Beloved Brother, — I have been wishing to send you a line to express my sympathy and assure you of our prayers in view of the spread of the terrible war to the Pacific increasing the pressure on Australasia. You have been thinking of us in America in the same way. But the eye of God is upon us all. “The eyes of Jehovah run to and fro in the whole earth”. There are also “The four spirits of the heavens which go forth from standing before the God of the whole earth”. We may well rest in these facts.
We feel much with our brethren in Australia — especially now in N.S.W. because of unionism. I have long been grieved that Australia, so much favoured by God providentially and spiritually, should be so disregardful of His manifest rights over men, especially His people, expressed in the serious violation of them involved in trade unionism. That an employer, for instance, should be obliged to deny his own brethren employment because he cannot for conscience sake before God belong to a certain human organisation, to say nothing of the specific teaching of Scripture, is inhuman and contrary to the spirit and letter of British law and practice, especially since Magna Carta. That the union should seek to force its unfair principles by coercion and even violence, as in America, is bad enough, but that the government with a King who by law is required to maintain an open Bible, who reigns by the grace of God, should enforce this on its people is utterly inconsistent and out of accord with what generally marks the British Commonwealth of Nations. It is out of accord, too, with the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the United States.
When five years ago the United States Government in the regulations of what was called the ‘New Deal’ required that merchants should not do business with those who did not subscribe, we wrote to Washington to say that we could not comply because the order was contrary to Scripture as seen in Revelation 13, and the authorities did not insist. They said they could not then change the law, and suggested that we do the best we could to meet the situation. The law was never enforced that I know of, nor do I know of any merchants that obeyed it. Indeed the law was amended by the Supreme Court. In truth it was unconstitutional, as is trade unionism. Personally [p. 252] I could not submit to such a law, for it requires me to do what is wrong, contrary to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe God will help His people, as He helps them in obtaining exemption from combatant military service.
There may be suffering involved, but God will honour this, as always. It is the time of suffering, and the epistles of Peter and others urge that we should not turn aside from the will of God because of it. I understand the matter of conscience is under consideration by the unions of this country; I have heard of results among the minorities, but there is nothing tangible generally. The brethren, however, are mentioning the matter to local union leaders in Detroit and elsewhere. I doubt, however, that there will be relief save through suffering and plainly representing the truth of God involved. Since trade unionism came into vogue there has been steady conflict with it by those who would maintain a good conscience before God and man, and as far as I know, where brothers have stood firmly for the right, God has made a way for them.
My wife unites in love in Christ.
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.