BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 20TH, 1931
[p. 302] BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 20TH, 1931
My Dear Mr———, — Last week the thought arose in my mind that I should call and see you as to matters relative to Chicago and Columbus and I took counsel as to this, but the way did not seem clear, your health entering into this; but I am pressed to send you a line and to enclose with it some papers to indicate to you my grave concern as to this matter, especially the proceedings at Chicago.
In view of the seriousness of it, your part in what has transpired, and in view of our long acquaintance and identification, in large measure, in the testimony and service of our Lord, I feel it would be unbrotherly not to communicate with you in an open, frank way; with the hope, too, that my doing so may tend to defeat the current purpose of the common enemy.
There is no need for me to add much to this as the copies of letters I am sending will convey to you my mind on the salient features of the matter. But I do earnestly beg of you to weigh the scriptures the letters bring forward; perhaps having done so you may be able to take out of the enemy’s hand the great advantage he has in the result of those meetings held in Chicago in relation to Columbus. These meetings, being contrary to the scriptural principles that should govern us in such circumstances, afford him means of damaging the Lord’s interests — His rights in the midst of two or three gathered to His name — and any effort to defeat this will be pleasing to Him. What I write is not a question of my judgment as to an obscure case; what is involved is not obscure, the principle set out in the letters I enclose is as plainly and fully established and ‘believed among us’ as any truth I know of. The ‘Glanton’ conflict greatly helped to this end; God by His spirit made the rights of Christ in local gatherings clear then and He has been emphasising and confirming this feature ever since. The teaching of the Old Testament has greatly helped in this as amplifying the teaching of the Corinthian letters. There has been a constant effort to minimise the authority of the Old Testament, but the Lord says, “If ye do not believe his [Moses’] writings, how shall ye believe my words?”
Thus if Mr. H———’s conduct be even as bad as anyone might wish to make it, Deuteronomy 21: 18 - 21 teaches that inquiry into it and a ‘judgment’ reached should not be in [p. 303] Chicago, for the meeting there is not “his city”. His city is Columbus (inclusive, according to Deuteronomy 21: 1 - 9, of the nearest city to that, if necessary). It has been said that, applying Deuteronomy 21: 1 - 9, Michigan City is the place of the “slain man” and that Chicago is the nearest city, but we cannot make verses 1 - 9 cancel verses 18 - 21 and Mr. H——— (the person in question, agreeing with the latter) is now residing in Columbus. Then there is no “slain man” as in Deuteronomy 21 in Michigan City. The fact that a meeting is given up in a place, saints moving from there for causes known best to themselves, does not by any means prove that a man has been slain (so to speak), otherwise many are guilty. To your and my knowledge many meetings have been discontinued by saints moving elsewhere, e.g., Passaic, Summit, Seabright, Newark, Chattanooga, Portland (Oregon), etc., etc., and I never knew of it being alleged that any right principle was thus violated or special damage done or a ‘great sorrow’ occasioned. It may be said, Michigan City is different, but this is not so, certainly not in principle, and details (even if some regard them as questionable) must be left between those responsible to God. It may be said that there was design, ulterior motives, etc., but this is but judging our brethren, as I know you own. There is nothing in the facts proved in this case to involve fellowship, nothing different in principle from other cases we know of, as stated above. I hear you say that the last brother and sister leaving Michigan City would need a letter of commendation from Chicago. Why so? Paul says, Do we need letters of commendation? They are not always needed. I and my wife do not take one anywhere. Letters of commendation are given when needed, and the brother going from Michigan City to Columbus would not need one from Chicago as he would be better known in Columbus than in Chicago.
Pardon length — much more than I intended, but, I believe, of the Lord.
Affectionately in Christ,
James Taylor.
(Note: — Meetings at Passaic, Summit and Portland have been resumed. — ED).