BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 6TH, 1942

BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 6TH, 1942

Beloved Brother, — Many thanks for your good and interesting letter of January 1st. My wife and I are thankful indeed that Mrs. ——— is keeping so well, also that you and ——— have encouragement in your business. We sympathise with you in regard of your dear children. The pressure as to the young people is very general. Even before this country entered the war some of our young brothers were drafted; and now the demand is greatly increased. The same is true in Canada, of course. We sympathise, too, with Mr. and Mrs. ——— , that their son and his family had not been heard from. We earnestly trust news has come by this time. I had considerable contact with David when staying with them all at Purley. The present distressing times are searching out persons like him — who have not responded to the light which shone round about them at one time. This is strikingly true of a young man, son of our brother B——— , of Westfield, who turned away and was stationed at Wake Island. He has not been ^[p. 253] reported, but it is thought he is a prisoner in Japan. A young brother, S——— , of our meeting, left this week for some unknown position, and one of our grandsons expects to be called within a month. He goes on well in the truth.

There is cheer generally in these countries. The meetings at the end of the year were well supported. Jim was much helped at Los Angeles. Mr. Myles was in Winnipeg district, and I believe got on well. H.H. is generally helped of God, but he was not well — staying at Galt — during the holidays. Devenish took his place at Hamilton. I was at Chicago and found much cheer. There is help also at our monthly readings.

I did not keep a copy of the letter on ‘Unionism’ to Brisbane. I have been impressed by the extraordinary soil for this latter-day evil found in Australasia. God has blessed those Southern dominions both providentially and spiritually, and yet this noxious growth has found more shelter there, I believe, than elsewhere. It is included in the common law in some places and is extending generally, W.J.H. tells me in a letter recently received. It has not attained this place in the U.S.A. or anywhere else — at least in the English-speaking countries that I know of. That a man cannot give employment to his brother — thus letting him starve as far as he is concerned — because he cannot, because of conscience toward God, belong to a mere human organisation, is utterly inconsistent in letter and spirit with British principles generally recognised, especially since the Great Charter. It is bad enough that the union itself by coercion seeks to enforce its rules, but that a government with a King who reigns ‘by the grace of God’, outwardly maintaining an open Bible, should enforce such unfair and inhuman demands is certainly a dark situation. But it exists, and our dear brethren who are in it certainly need our constant prayers.

It seems there is no hope of salvation save by stating plainly to the authorities the truth of God, of the scriptures governing it, and suffering if need be — that is, for conscience sake. God will surely honour this. There is a strong link with conscience as to unionism and conscience as to combatant service. I believe that as God has helped His people as to the latter, He will help them as to the former; that is, that God’s rights over the believer are involved. There is some talk of this in union circles in this country. It is said that the sect called ^[p. 254] Mennenites has had some consideration, and some of our brethren have spoken to the local union leaders in the Detroit area. The brethren are still allowed to work there without joining the unions. I believe God will make a way for us through suffering. A young man in Belfast, Ireland, wrote me last year intimating that he thought the brethren should allow him and others to break bread although in the union. Lately he wrote most cheerfully that his employer promoted him to avoid the union claims. It seems the young brother was faithful in laying the truth before his employer. I need not say that many such instances of God’s intervention could be cited. I believe this matter of refusing unionism, even at the cost of suffering, is a public testimony in these days to our loyalty to God, to Christ, and to the brethren. As has been said, no trade unionist can have a harp of God, Revelation 15: 2.

Regarding the matter at S——— , it is perfectly clear from the teaching of Scripture that the two persons in question, being residents of that city, are, as Christians, of the assembly there, and all collective administrative services relative to them belong to that assembly. Facts relative to them during their residence at N——— M——— , needed at S——— , should, of course, be secured, but direct dealings with them as to these facts should be by those of the assembly at S——— . I am, of course, using the word ‘assembly’ for the sake of clarity. This feature of the truth governing assembly administration has come up frequently. I recall, a case considered at S——— not very long since. It was between brethren at N——— and W——— . The N——— brethren had in mind that they should deal directly with a certain brother who had moved to W——— . The Lord helped in making clear that a brother’s responsibility goes with him, and that it refers immediately to the assembly in the city or town into which he moves. If there is a question as to his conduct in the town from which he has moved, the facts and impressions should be transferred to the assembly in the town to which he has moved. Confidence between the assemblies makes this procedure right and safe. Independence disappears, and the unity of the Spirit is maintained. Besides, room is made for the Lord to work in the person involved, and those in the assembly in his locality would be the priests to deal with it — not those of the one he left.

Thanks for your mention of Mrs. S——— and Miss S——— . Evidently the Lord is blessing them in His service. Thanks ^[p. 255] also for word of Mrs. Humphris, who is of special interest because of her great sufferings and the grace with which she has borne them. Our sister Mrs. Thomson of Toronto has a like place with the brethren: her husband was killed last year. She has had a remarkable recovery, and although permanently damaged, she moves about among the saints and is a cheer to many.

My wife unites in love in Christ to Mrs. ——— and your children and to all the brethren.

Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.