NEW YORK, JANUARY 31ST, 1934
NEW YORK, JANUARY 31ST, 1934
Dr. Van Someren.
Beloved Brother, — Your letter of the 29th ult. has just come. I am unable to answer it in detail but send a line of acknowledgement at once. In view of my usual visit to Great [p. 424] Britain many letters come from that side of the Atlantic and hence my hands are more than full. If your letter was full of what we are enjoined to be occupied with (Philippians 4: 8) I could perhaps sacrifice to treat it fully, but it is occupied with what is negative, indeed with what the enemy is doing or seems to you to be doing, and this cannot be profitable.
Of course, we must not close our eyes to the enemy’s work which would be giving him an advantage, but what cheers and strengthens the soul is God’s work, and I am sure that if you look around and abroad you will observe much of it. I am sure, indeed, that you do, and that you abound in the work of the Lord yourself, but you failed to balance your letter with it so that it would be as cold waters to a thirsty soul, that is, good news from a far country.
As far as I can judge, I can recall no period since I have been in fellowship which afforded more cause for encouragement than exists at the present time. In saying this, I am far from boasting, the Lord knows, but it is due to Him that we own His goodness to His people. The enemy has been attacking from the outside and the inside, as we speak, for some years back with the obvious view to scatter, and what alone could prevent this has been mercifully available, that is, the Lord’s hand. There has been this merciful preservation indeed for over 25 years. If we compare with earlier days — to say nothing of what occurred even during apostolic times — fifteen years after the movement of 100 years ago began, a division took place which carried away the great bulk of those who had professedly gone forth without the camp. Twenty years later a serious uprising took place against J. N. Darby indicating a sad underlying condition. Then thirteen years after — still in J.N.D.’s time — a series of four divisions took place inside ten years which carried away more perhaps than remained with the truth. Eighteen years afterwards ‘Glanton’ took place. These are most sorrowful reminiscences and I have no satisfaction in them (although from another point of view each division afforded victory for the truth) but they show by contrast how good God has been to His people during the last 25 years. Besides, definite ground has been gained and the saints have generally stood by what God has been effecting and giving.
As regards large conferences, etc., I am not an advocate of such, but the opposite, but we cannot undertake to control [p. 425] the saints in their respective localities; no one can undertake to superintend the building of the whole wall, the business of each is rather to build before his own house, as it were. If brethren in Bristol, Birmingham, or Edinburgh invite their brethren to a conference and brethren from all parts come and insist on coming, making the total beyond what was desired, what moral right has any of us to forbid this? The Lord blesses these conferences. Whatever brethren who have not attended them may say, or even some who do, I can say with all assurance before Him that the Lord has blessed every conference I have attended. I have not been otherwise more conscious of His support than I realised at these conferences — without exception. And I may remark as a matter for your special notice that up to the time I visited Australia, I had not attended larger meetings than I attended there — the brothers’ readings at the general conference mentioned above were not much over half the size of the Melbourne meetings I attended. I rejoiced in those large meetings of beloved brethren in Australia and do still as they continue. At the same time, I much prefer meetings of 300 - 400.
As regards censorship in the Stow Hill Depot, I should deprecate anything like a set number of brothers requiring everything to pass their mould; but this does not exist. There is a wholesome watch kept on matter to be published, and brothers here and there thought to be more or less capable are asked to look over what seems questionable. I am assured that if you knew all the facts you would be restful as to this — indeed thankful that such care is taken.
As I said, I am far from making light of the sorrowful things you mention. They are to be taken to heart before the Lord; indeed, as far as I know, they are taken to heart, and the Lord is giving repentance to some. But we must be fair and balanced in speaking of them in a general way, for our knowledge may be imperfect and we cannot assume to be free of them, with the flesh in us answering to the dreadful world outside. We are in peculiarly difficult times. But I have written more by far than I set out to do.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.