JANUARY 16TH, 1926

JANUARY 16TH, 1926

Mr. E. Goodenough.

My Dear Brother, — Your letter of the 18th ult. and enclosure duly received. I am very interested in all you write and the information as to ‘London’. I heard lately that the brethren have decided to take the County Council area as defining the City, but this has not been confirmed.

As to your letter I would remark that the County of London differs from the other counties in the very important feature that it is designated Metropolitan. The tax bill you forwarded is headed ‘Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell’. This means, of course, that Camberwell is part of the Metropolis or chief city of the country.

Then under the heading ‘London Government’ appears ‘The Authorities comprise the Corporation of London, the London County Council, the Metropolitan Water Board, the Metropolitan Asylums Board, 28 Borough Councils, and 28 Boards of Guardians’.

Under the heading of ‘London Cities (incongruous) and Boroughs’ we have the population of London by itself inclusive of all the ‘cities’ and boroughs.

It is impossible therefore to avoid the conclusion that the city of London, Westminster and the Boroughs form a complete whole, the Metropolis of the Country; in other words, this is London.

It seems clear then that if we speak of the assembly in London we have to include all these cities and boroughs.

I quite see the difficulty the dear brethren have to contend with, for the number of meetings involved makes it hard for those who have the care of the saints (the ‘elders’ ) to deal directly with all in the City. God has helped them hitherto,

^[p. 217] however, and He will help them in their more extended responsibilities. I return your tax bill as you may need it.

There was much encouragement in the visit to the west coast.

With love in Christ, I am,

Affectionately in Him,

James Taylor.