BROOKLYN, N.Y., NOVEMBER 21ST, 1934

BROOKLYN, N.Y., NOVEMBER 21ST, 1934

Mr. Alfred J. Gardiner.

Beloved Brother, — It was thoughtful of you to write me so fully as to London and other matters. I am indeed interested, as you assumed. The dear brethren have my full sympathy in their exercises and sorrows, especially as to bereavements. Mr. A. Lucas will indeed cause a blank. May the Lord fill it and comfort his dear wife.

I am thankful to know of your visit to Harrogate and what you could write of J.H.T. In a letter from P.L. just received I see he (J.H.T.) is gaining strength. This legal matter will tax him, but I gather events seem favourable. The circumstance is humbling, but it is strictly T.’s affair and I do not see how he can avoid facing it — because of the trust laid upon him. P.L. and others are just assisting our brother. My prayers go up for him and all concerned — that the Lord may give them favour in the sight of this man.

The occurrences at Teignmouth are sorrowful, but the Lord’s good hand is manifest. The state of the meeting there has long been precarious and the enemy is taking advantage of this — really to discredit Mr. Coates and the truth generally. The pretence by H——— and L——— that they have no complaint save against the meeting will deceive no one. Galatians 5: 12 applies. Sorrowful divisions in earlier days generally carried away such disturbing elements, now the Lord graciously deals with them in detail with much less loss; but we are to humble ourselves that we are unable to save them, or at any rate, that such conditions exist.

We find much encouragement in these parts. The Lord sustains the brethren in their meetings generally and particularly in special meetings. There has been a remarkably good interest in the readings on the sufferings of Christ; also in special gospel meetings, such as held in London, only on a much smaller scale. The Lord has blessed Mr. Ide in moving ^[p. 451] about among the gatherings, he having gone beyond the Middle West in Canada and the U.S.A. He is here now and will, please God, attend the usual Thanksgiving meeting at Plainfield on the 29th inst. I hope to leave for Indianapolis and Council Bluffs on Saturday, especially to attend meetings at the latter place from the 29th inst. to December 2nd.

McB——— has found opportunity for attacking the truth again through a very faulty address by J. Dean which came into his hands. Fortunately McB——— made a blunder in quoting and I trust the Lord will use this to nullify his effort. The blunder has been pointed out to him. I am urging Dean to withdraw the paper. Some statements in it are distressingly defective. He is so highly regarded in the far West that it is very difficult to get him to correct his loose way of handling the most holy things. But I believe the Lord is now helping in this. We hear, however, that he has been invited to Chicago for special meetings at New Year’s time.

I have seen the recent letters from China and I am thankful they indicate that London and New York letters will be answered, but I see no sign that the vital issue is being faced and I am apprehensive lest temporising letters such as Luke’s should mislead anyone. We are nominally linked with a leavened mass in China and I see no hope save in individuals, as truly exercised as to the truth presented to them, withdrawing from it. My wife and I are very pleased that Kathleen has confessed the Lord as her Saviour and we trust the others will soon follow through His gracious leading. Our united love in Christ to Mrs. Gardiner and you all.

Affectionately in Him,

James Taylor.