PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA, JULY 6TH, 1936
[p. 38] PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA, JULY 6TH, 1936
My Dear ——— , — I have to thank you for three letters, all being most interesting to mother and me. That dated June 12th contains good news, occasioning much thanksgiving. Arthur’s radiogram, which I received at sea, indicated that the Lord was helping, and now your letter tells of details of the care meeting of June 11th. It would seem that Mr. Attridge had become enlightened as to the principle involved and hence the line he took at the meeting, which God used. That he should have the ‘responsibility of the gospel’ with W. Rasmussen is good. Such a responsibility should not be laid on any brother without definite ability to preach.
According to what you write, the matter, under the Lord’s good hand, was settled, which is a victory for the truth, and I trust much grace will be given to you to seek continually to avoid criticism or anything that would occasion irritation. The Lord will honour you as working your way into the affections and confidence of the brethren. To restore what we took not away is a moral victory, also to overcome evil with good. These things came out in Christ, and mark the kingdom of God.
I am now concerned about New York, especially Mr. S——— and Mr. P——— . I note your conversation with the former. He thought Satan had attacked me through my relative. Satan aimed at the division among the brethren in the New York district — knowing that deep personal feelings had existed — and seized the opportunity occasioned by the Knoxville — Miami situation, including your letter to Mr. S——— . If the feelings I refer to did not exist, the effort would have been to weigh all in a charitable way, and love for God and the order of His house would prevent the disregard of certain scriptural principles — such as Matthew 18 — which governed the position. These principles were discredited by the course taken in New York. Westfield had, I believe, sought at first to hold them, but later ignored them. I made my exercises known to Mr. S——— before leaving for the West, pointing out serious charges made against you, which were not substantiated by facts, in the letter to Westfield, but he and those more responsible ignored them — although, as resident in New York, I was committed to all that was done. It were well, therefore, if Mr. S——— and those who see with him in this matter, would, in charging you with a bad spirit, take heed to their own spirits. What is needed in [p. 39] the assembly and what, among other great things, we have come to is “the spirits of just men”.
As to yourself, I have known that you have judged before the Lord the spirit shown in your letter to Mr. S——— and other things that gave the enemy a handle. In Luke 15 we have repenting sinners, indicating that our judgment of ourselves as we go on with God is deeper and deeper, and as you look back on the whole matter in the light of God this will be your exercise. In our younger days we gird ourselves, but when old we are resigned — like Peter, John 21 — and allow others to gird us. In truth, this whole affair has disclosed a state of personal feeling in the New York and New Jersey district from which none of us can claim exemption, and as we wholeheartedly judge it, giving place to right feelings and principles — love, which never fails — the Lord will be with us and bless us beyond what we have hitherto experienced.
Affectionately,
Father.