AORANGI, DECEMBER 15TH, 1936
AORANGI, DECEMBER 15TH, 1936
Beloved Brother, — Your most interesting letter of September 14th was much appreciated by my wife and myself. We were touched particularly by some of the items you sent. The case of Georgina Innes is outstanding. If I am again in Cullen I shall certainly visit this sister.
I wish I could give you as good a report of our visits among our brethren in the Southern countries as you wrote me of [p. 56] your season in the North, but it has been a time not to be forgotten. The Lord helped wonderfully throughout and I am assured there will be much fruit through God’s grace for the testimony now and for eternity. The experiences we had of interest among the brethren and the Lord’s support in serving them would take much more time to write than I can spare — in Western Australia, Southern Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. The extent of the work in Melbourne and Sydney is remarkable. I can speak only in a general way, and as you know something of those cities, you would more readily visualise the character of the meetings. There was no weakening of interest and many travelled from one city to another to attend the meetings.
The three days of meetings for brothers in Wellington afforded a season not to be forgotten. About 500 brothers — invited severally — met for readings on the Holy Spirit in the Corinthian epistles and we were helped throughout. There were, of course, meetings for all in the evenings when numbers to the limit of accommodations came together to hear addresses — House, self, Lyon and Hayward in the order given. A good representation — brothers and sisters — from Australia were present at Wellington, bringing the saints in both countries together as never before. These meetings have led to the desire and proposal to have similar ones, if the Lord permits, in Sydney in 1939. It is hoped that a good few from Great Britain may attend and also some from America. The Lord will help, I am assured, to carry this thought into effect, but, of course, we cannot speak much covering two years or more ahead, as the Lord may come before that time.
Mr. Lyon attended nearly all the special meetings in New Zealand and remained at Auckland carrying on the work. He is uncertain — because of the American strike — as to how he may return to England. Mr. Hayward is going to England via Panama and will, the Lord willing, attend the Easter meetings at Kingston, Jamaica. Mrs. Fennell has helped much with the revision of the notes. She purposes returning with the Haywards. I am uncertain as to how Miss Gorrie is returning.
We sailed on this steamer on the 8th inst. from Auckland and hope to reach Vancouver on the 25th — perhaps for special Christmas meetings there. Then, please God, we go south to Los Angeles and hope to reach New York about January 10th.
[p. 57] In the deliberations as to letters of last year from New York to Westfield and Knoxville ——— becameobsessed, and the enemy got advantage to discredit what the Lord had helped the brethren to do — withdraw the letters. However, we are greatly comforted by word from Jim that ——— has withdrawn with sorrow what he had written, etc.; and as we came on board we had a cable from ——— himself expressing his sorrow for all he had done.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.