F.E.R. in America, 1898
– J. S. Allen

JSA's views of the ministry and its effect on those present are interesting and enlightening, as are the insights as to individuals and localities, and the living and travelling conditions of the day.

• Mr. Allen's personal impressions of the details of the ministry were given from memory – some time later, and perhaps in haste – and so may not always be completely correct.

• Therefore do not "make a man an offender for a word", Isaiah 29: 21. For accuracy, the revised and printed notes should be consulted.

Biography: F. E. Raven Ministry: F. E. Raven Other ministry by Mr. Raven: Doctrine: The Person of Christ Doctrine: The Sonship of Christ Related Pages: Guests: My Answer 2: The Ministry of FER Guests: My Stand 3: FER ZIP Files Withheld

G. A. R.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF F.E.R.'s VISIT TO AMERICA – 1898 by John S. Allen of Birkenhead

Toronto, 6th October 1898

I have not had time to write detailed letters to many who would like to hear from us but these lines will give you some idea of our doings hitherto, and you can communicate them to any whom you think would like to hear about us.

The good hand of our God was over us in a marked way during the voyage. The vessel proved an admirable sea boat, although the weather was exceptionally good for the season, and there was little occasion to try her.

• I am glad to say that Mr. Raven proved a much better sailor than he anticipated. We spent one day in his room, but more as a precaution than a necessity, and for the rest of the time he was amongst us both on deck and at meals.

• He was in very good spirits and although we did not attempt any formal readings or meetings, the greater part of the day was spent in conversations as to scripture and the things of God.

• Our rooms adjoining one another and our seats at table being together we had every opportunity for mutual intercourse.

• Speaking for myself, I can say that it was the pleasantest trip across the Atlantic I ever had unless it be the one I made with Mr. Darby in 1877.

• The five of us were just sufficient to make a party, and being all in harmony in our thoughts the pleasure was much increased.

Rochester, 16th October, 1898

I wrote to you just after our arrival at Toronto. Mr. Raven, Mr. Jas. Allen, Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Bodham of Quebec were all located at Dr. Hearn's.

On Lord's Day morning there was a very large attendance, in a large hall taken for the occasion in the centre of the city. In spite of all the difficulties incidental to such a meeting, it was extremely good and very free, quite a number taking part.

• FER spoke on the end of Matthew 11, the Father drawing, the Son revealing the Father to those so drawn and then leading them back to Him.

• He quoted twice in the address the lines of the hymns, "Thou gav'st us in eternal love to Him to bring us home to Thee, suited to Thine own thought".

In the afternoon we read Matthew 16, looking at the incidents leading up to the revelation of the Assembly in connection with the confession of Christ as Son of God, and the administration of the Kingdom was touched on.

• The meeting was very large, but many did not hear at all, owing to the height and size of the hall, and the speakers being too much in the centre.

In the evening FER was on the platform and was well heard. He preached from Exodus 19 and Luke 2.

• The first passage, God keeping man in terror and at a distance and in the second, God coming into the world and touching man at his weakest point – a babe – but even that babe having death before Him, as the only way of effectuating God's purpose.

• His circumcision and the sacrifice offered, as well as Simeon's words, all pointing to His death. He was not here for the pleasure of His parents, but the will of God.

On Monday the regular readings began and the subject proposed by the local brethren was 'the Gospel in connection with Salvation and Deliverance', but they wanted to be a little too far on.

Numbers 21 was proposed by FER as meeting what they asked for but it soon became apparent that souls really needed to have the kingdom and grace explained before they went on to the subject of life.

• The morning, therefore, was occupied, and very profitably with God's approach to man and the necessity for the Kingdom if man was to receive blessing.

• In the afternoon the other side was taken up from the 3rd of John's gospel and mainly taken up with new birth and being born of God.

• It was necessary to make it clear that grace comes in on the line of man's need, but the new birth and life are on the line of God's purpose.

• In the well known 16th verse it was pointed out that perishing does not refer to the future so much as to not slipping back from God's purpose, and perishing by the flesh.
  • It corresponds to John 10 – "and they shall never perish". All the exigencies of life in flesh are thus covered, and the purpose of God effected.

In the evening we had a beautiful lecture on Genesis 12, part of Exodus 15, and Joshua 5, in the land when Abraham entered it, the Canaanite and famine existed, but for us there is neither Canaanite or famine.

• The devil is an intruder and all his power is broken.

• Christ has all power and has shown it by giving gifts to men, that instead of famine we might be fully satisfied, and roam at pleasure over the vast domain of spiritual blessing which is ours.

• All felt the sweetness and quiet power of the word, and evidently Mr. Raven was much refreshed himself.

This meeting is the largest of its kind ever held in Rochester, or perhaps amongst us in the States, and it is certainly not below any of them in happiness. One can only trust that the undoubted effect produced may be an abiding one.

The weather still continues fine. I hope to continue this report from Minneapolis or Chicago.

Ever yours affectionately, John S. Allen.

Chicago, 14th October 1898

The last letter carried you to Monday evening at Rochester. We had a rather windy night, but the weather continued fairly good.

The Reading on Tuesday morning was on Deliverance and Colossians 2 was read.

• An important point was that FER thought that salvation was the breaking the power of the enemy and liberating the captive, and that deliverance was more in connection with details gone through experimentally, and would not be needed if a Christian left the world at the moment of his conversion.

In the latter part of the meeting there was a very interesting digression into the way Divine Persons have been revealed.

• FER thought that "the Son" is used in special reference to the Father and the name "Son of God" in reference to man, but that none of these titles are applied to Him in scripture until incarnation, and therefore, we are not authorized to carry these titles back into eternity.

  The printed revised notes do not fully reflect JSA's account. See 'Ministry by F. E. Raven – New Series', 12: 119-20 and the extract from a letter of November 23, 1898 at the end of this page.

• The reading was exceedingly free and greatly enjoyed.

In the afternoon Ephesians 1 was read and the subject of the calling of God – sonship – was the main feature.

• The order of presentation is from the highest points of God's eternal purpose down to redemption and the gift of the Spirit

• as distinguished from the order of the truth in Romans which works upwards from the need of man up to joying in God.
  • There were many miscellaneous points of interest too numerous to mention.

In the evening we had a beautiful address on 1 Corinthians 3 – the New Covenant.

• It was pointed out that the ways of God under the old Covenant were analogous to His dealings with Christians, and yet at the same time there are contrasts.

• There was writing of God in both cases. In the one it was external – tables of stone; in the other on the fleshy tables of the heart.

• In the first it was the law which gave nothing but rather emphasized God's original judgment on man; in the other Christ is written which is a communication of something new and blessedly living.

There was a large company present and it took a long time to say farewell. They were very reluctant to break up and it was evident that the meeting and the ministry of FER had greatly affected those present, whilst personally he has won the hearts of all the saints.

On Wednesday morning there was no meeting and at 10:30 we went to the RR Station to say goodbye to a large party leaving for Toronto.

At 5:30 we left by fast train for Chicago, securing our sleepers at Buffalo. Our party consisted of RSS, J. Pellatt, G. Rochester, Gill, Edwards, Magowan, and Forster of Toronto and ourselves.

• We had some hours chat before bedtime whilst we enjoyed large bunches of Niagara grapes which are both good and cheap. We had again the drawing room, but this time a Wagner not a Pullman Car, and we all slept fairly.

We read John 4 at O'Brian's suggestion as there was a general desire to hear something on the subject of Eternal Life. The most interesting points were

• first, that Life is spoken of in Scripture as somewhat different from Eternal Life e.g. Romans 8: 10, "the Spirit of life" and

• secondly that Eternal Life is generally spoken of as a thing to be enjoyed here and not as connected with the Eternal State.

• It is, therefore, quite intelligible that many Christians have life as a result of the Spirit's operation in them who have hardly reached in their souls Eternal Life.

• There was a good deal of conversation after the meeting and we returned to supper where we were joined by several, and had free and pleasant conversation.

In the evening FER gave an address in the same hall on 1 Corinthians 1 with special reference to

• Christ as the wisdom – resource – and power of God and then made of God to us wisdom, righteousness – for the world to come – sanctification – as being Himself the pattern of God's purpose for man, Son and Priest – and redemption, being the final deliverance of the body.

• All this emphasized the close of the passage, "He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord".

On Friday morning we went out to make necessary arrangements about our train and baggage.

On Friday afternoon we read Galatians 4. The principles at work in Galatia then have now spread throughout Christendom, and hence the great value of this epistle.

• It sets before us the light of God's purpose, "Ye are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus".

• It was a strange thing to see the people of God wishing to connect themselves with a slave mother. We take character from Jerusalem above which is our mother.

On Friday evening Mr. Raven gave the concluding lecture at Chicago. It was especially powerful and greatly enjoyed by the saints. Romans 5 was read.

• He referred to the blessings of the kingdom, peace, grace and hope, then the teaching of the terms on which God is pleased to be with us – Love.

• This is made known by the Spirit who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts. Thus, His disposition is known just as a man who makes a will in your favour not only leaves you something, but reveals his disposition towards you.

• Then further down we came to reconciliation, where all is in divine complacency and according to His nature, and lastly at the close of the chapter we touch the purpose of God, for grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The ministry has made a profound impression on the saints gathered here, and has left them much to ponder over.

We left for Minneapolis on the same evening, our party this time smaller, as it consisted of Mr. Raven, JA, Geo. Rochester, Forster and myself, the others having gone back to Indianapolis or stayed at Chicago, but we all hope to meet on Saturday, 22nd inst. at Mr. Sinclair's house.

On Lord's Day there was a good company, but the meeting was rather trying as will be seen when I say that immediately after the breaking of bread an old brother from the country gave out Hymn 34 Appendix! – Ye trembling saints, who love the Lord.

• In the afternoon we had a reading on John 20. It was rather good, but it was evident that many were there from the country, and even Minneapolis knew little about the assembly.

• In the evening FER preached on Goliath and Hebrews 2, giving its true character to salvation as being present deliverance from the power of the enemy.

The company at Minneapolis was only about one half of that at Rochester or Toronto, but it was very representative as containing many from outlying and isolated places, and some from the Rockies and the Pacific.

On Monday we began with Galatians 3 on Acomb's suggestion, but when eternal life came up in connection with the blessing of Abraham there was some distinct opposition on the part of those holding old ideas of something communicated to and – so to speak – deposited in the believer at new birth.

• –– was strong on this, but the most violent was an old brother from the country. He was much annoyed and went away home after the meeting, which was really a mercy. It was the person who gave out the extraordinary hymn on Lord's Day. –– never uttered another word in the meetings.

• Although the first was a little trying in some ways, it proved to have been profitable for many, and as the opposition showed where the truth really was and it brought out points that would probably not otherwise have been raised.

We had two nice brothers from Ashland into lunch and found them anxious to learn. I think they got help in seeing what is actually in the believer is the Spirit, which is life, and is a well of water springing up into eternal life.

In the afternoon we had a good reading on the old ground as to the kingdom of God. It is clear everywhere that the saints need to be established in grace before they can enter on the purpose of God.

After dinner, 6 pm, we – J. Allen and I – had about half a dozen brethren in for conversation including Arnot and the Winnipeg lot who, I am glad to say, are among the most solid and best liked at the meeting.

• We were able to clear up a few points as to which they were confused. In the evening we had a good lecture on 1 Peter 2 and it was simple enough to be generally understood.

On Tuesday we had Exodus 14 and 15 going through in the type the points of God's writing, the Covenant, the Sanctuary and the Mercy-Seat, and this was followed up in the afternoon with Numbers 4 and Joshua 5.

• It was most interesting to see how exactly the types are answered in the anti-type.

• Mr. Raven brought out clearly how the brazen serpent is, so to speak, the starting point for entering upon the purpose of God and that it comes out after the flesh has been proved hopelessly bad.

• Then comes in life and the Spirit and the power for entering Canaan, which does not typify heaven when we die but the entering, while we are here, into the apprehension of God's purpose and the scene of heavenly blessings.

• It seemed to me that all got help, except perhaps –– who spent an hour with JA and me about eternal life and I fear little impression was made.

• One of the brothers who had been in opposition the previous morning owned his wrong and apologized for it.

We went out to Braden's for tea, but the distance was so great that we were glad to have been quartered at the hotel.

In the evening we had a lecture on Hebrews 1 and 2 – what God has established for Himself and the need of cleaving to it.

• The room was full and the company very attentive, and I think I can fairly say that the result of the meetings was very encouraging, and I trust that the isolated ones may have got a real lift. We were all sorry to say goodbye.

We left at 7:30 next morning and the whole Winnipeg party was down to see us off. This journey was very comfortable but rather tedious, though some of the scenery was pretty.

• We reached Chicago just before 10:00 pm, drove across to the other station deposited our bags and then took a walk before going to our sleepers. Soon after 11:00 we turned into bed though the train did not start till 2:45 am.

On Saturday these and other visitors began to arrive and before the day was over 113 came into town and were all located in comfortable quarters of one kind or another.

• Mr. Pellatt spent 8 hours at the station meeting different trains as they arrived, getting some food for the travellers and sending them to their respective destinations.

• Our guests were Gill, Forster, Magowan and Acomb. It was intended to have Rochester also, but he was claimed elsewhere.

• It was very pleasant for us having the Crawfords in the house, linking up our first meetings at Quebec with these, and as the day was wet we had a good opportunity of going over all that had happened between.

In the evening the prayer meeting was well attended and fairly good. We were glad to have Magowan here, but sorry his wife was absent as we had all come to know and like her.

• Taking all the meetings together I suppose there has not been in recent times, if ever, such thoroughly representative gatherings, and it is clear that many have made a good start and seem really anxious to get on.

We awoke on Sunday to find the lovely fall weather for which the country is famed and it was very inspiriting after the cold rain. The morning meeting was good, about 150 broke bread and there was a sense of being in the company of the Lord outside things here.

• In the afternoon we had a reading on John 14 and a good deal came out as to the Lord's pleasure in coming to His own, but that it could only be realized under certain conditions.

• In the evening FER preached the gospel from John 9 speaking of the blind man in connection with the sovereignty of God, and so with His desire that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
  • The work did not rest with relief but he was brought to the Son of God outside every circle here.

On Monday, prayer meeting after the general breakfast at 9:30, and the meeting began at 10:30. The subject was Hebrews 2 and the world to come. He spoke of the new order of things established for God. Chapter

1. The Throne and the Mercy Seat;
2. The Rule of the Son of Man – The World to Come;
3. The House of God;
4. Rest of God;
5. The Priest;
6. The Forerunner;
7. The Better Hope, by which we draw nigh to God; – these are all on God's side.
8. The Covenant;
9. Purgation and Reconciliation;
10. Sanctification and the entrance into the Holiest; – these three chapters are on our side and bring up to eternal life.

The two first chapters were taken up in the morning and the others up to the tenth in the afternoon The meetings were deeply interesting.

In the evening he spoke from John 10, the four titles of the Lord with the advance in truth corresponding to each;

• these were Jewish sheep, and He entered the fold to bring them out;

• then the Door, by which salvation is obtained and pasture etc.

• The Good Shepherd who gives His life,

• and after that we have the Gentiles come in and we have one flock corresponding to the one Head and one body. He gives to them eternal life and keeps them from perishing by apostasy.

Each night after supper we had a pleasant free conversation.

On Tuesday morning 1 Corinthians 10 and 11 were taken up, the subject of the Lord's Table and Supper. I need not go into these in detail as they have often been taken up.

Indianapolis

In the afternoon I was not out but the reading was on 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14.

• The epistle presents only the elements of Christian blessing. Privileges are not developed. Their state would not allow it. They are said to be the temple and the body. They had that place but entered not into it.

• The meeting of the assembly is in the 11th chapter, the sanctuary is not the subject but rather the edification of the saints. He regulates use of gifts. All must be for edification. Love builds up.

• The 13th chapter is a beautiful picture but is, as it were, hung upon the wall for them to admire.

• A meeting is in connection with our life of responsibility here, but the assembly is outside that. We cross to the other side to reach the assembly. There is no thought of administration;
  • even when the apostles appointed deacons they were men filled with the Holy Ghost. All was in the Spirit's power; there is no thought of a system in Christianity.

There is no such thing properly as a brothers meeting. He would, if announcing such a need as called for brothers to be present, ask the elders to remain, and then it would be laid upon each as to whether they could come on that ground or not. He sees elders brought together but not brothers as such.

Speaking of the collection he would send the box around after the breaking of bread to prevent interruption afterwards, and that all of that kind might be disposed of.

• The collection would be for the expenses and poor saints etc.

• He thought the saints did not put into the box liberally enough. One is often ashamed of the small amount.

• Yet one person would be in bad taste who put in a large sum regularly, for he would soon be known as the one who did it; and besides, there is no good in making the saints dispense your bounty. That is your own responsibility as a steward.

• A great many other useful and practical details were mentioned, too numerous to write about in this account, but altogether the readings on this epistle were exceedingly interesting.

In the evening Mr. Raven lectured on the latter part of Hebrews 12, what we are not come to, and what we are come to. We are not come to Mount Sinai, we are come to Mount Zion where God's sovereign intervention in mercy and goodness came in.

• It is the world to come and there are eight things mentioned, ending with the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

• We are come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the presentation of the church according to the twelve. When they were preaching, Paul was persecuting.

• "And to an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly". Angels are the guardians of the heavenly city. They are found at the gates, and turning to Hebrews 1 we find them now the guardians of those who compose that city. "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation?" There are bad angels but there are good ones who are used of God for the providential care of His own.

• Then there is the church of the firstborn ones written in heaven. Here the result of Paul's ministry is seen. It is the assembly according to Paul;

• then to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. He spoke solemnly of the voice that speaketh from heaven. It was one of the best lectures given in this part of the country, and very much enjoyed.

We still had part of Wednesday as we did not leave until 2:30 that day, so at Pellatt and O'Brian's urgent request Mr. Raven consented to have a special reading on the subject of eternal life, as O'Brian had difficulty about Mr. Raven's remark that eternal life is entered upon here, only in the assembly.

• This proved to be a remarkably good reading and all were much helped. We read 1 John 5 and had over again the force of the three witnesses all agreeing in the one testimony – really to the love of God in bringing us into eternal life.

• It is not so much the efficacy of the water and the blood but it is really put away by bringing God in.

• In the latter part of the chapter we have distinctly consciousness. We know that he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that the wicked one toucheth him not. You are outside the wicked one.

• Then we are of God and the whole world lieth in the wicked one. You are outside the world, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true".

We are outside all else, and in Him; that is really in the assembly. He is the true God; that is the way of testimony. He sets Him forth.

• He is also the One in whom eternal life is seen. Thus we are brought into the consciousness of eternal life.

• There is some difficulty in some minds as to the force of the well known 24th verse of the 5th chapter of the Gospel – "hath everlasting life" – but it came out with great convincing distinctness that the Gospel simply gave us the faith of this,

• but that the Epistle was that the saints might be led into the conscious enjoyment of that which they had the faith or light,
  • just as the faith of sonship is presented in Galatians, but the Spirit leads us into the good of it now whilst we wait it in actuality, namely in resurrection.

• It was also made clear that eternal life has to do with a scene of death and is not carried in Scripture either backward or forward into eternity:
  • that eternal life which was with the Father is simply its moral character as seen by the apostles. It is what they witnessed.

After this good reading Mr. Raven, Mr. Jas. Allen and myself, and Gill, left at 2:30 for Baltimore where Rochester had already gone. Mr. Sinclair had a business call to Cedar Rapids that day.

Mr. Magowan remained behind for a few days at the cottage where Mr. and Mrs. Crawford and their daughter remained also, but on Friday they came to Plainfield for our last meetings.

We are deeply thankful for the time spent at Indianapolis and greatly admire the skill and wisdom displayed by Mr. Sinclair, our esteemed host, in connection with all the arrangements.

Plainfield

We had a comfortable journey as far as Harrisburg where I branched off to New York, the others going to Baltimore. I was very reluctant to leave them but business made it imperative.

I spent Friday and Saturday on business in New York and felt the change a sorrowful one, but I got to the prayer meeting on Friday evening.

Plainfield, New Jersey, 3rd Nov. 1898

Sunday morning meeting was a happy one and there was quite a large company – at least 80 in additions to the locals. In the afternoon we had a reading as usual, but I cannot at the moment recall the subject. It was pretty good but nothing striking.

In the evening we had an address from Luke 2 and Revelation 21. It was hardly what ordinarily would be called gospel and yet it was so for it contained a really magnificent setting forth of God's thoughts and ways –

• how He has got glory to Himself, which will be fully displayed hereafter in the heavenly city, and at the same time brought in peace and set forth His good pleasure in man,

• all this being brought about by God Himself coming into manhood at its lowest point – a babe – and then by His death.

• The whole company was greatly moved. The readings on Monday and Tuesday were consecutive and they practically brought into focus much that we had been through in other places.

All will come out in the notes and I confine myself now to stating that the subject was the Assembly in its connection with

1. the Kingdom,
2. Reconciliation – Colossians 1,
3. the Body and Eternal Life – Colossians 2 and 3: 1-4,
4. and the Glory of God – Ephesians 3: 14-21, especially verse 21.

• They were admirable readings – most impressive – and cleared up many minds.

• FWG was present at several of them, and quite a number of his adherents and of open brethren.

Between breakfast and the morning readings I had quite a good company each day, who were anxious to get some points cleared up, and I think I was able to do a little in that way.

• The spirit of fellowship throughout was most happy, and even those from whom some opposition had been expected and who had not desired the meetings acted nicely and took part, although evidently much in the dark.

On Monday evening FER gave a fine address on 1 John 4, and on Tuesday another address on Enoch and his translation. It was different from anything we had had, but I cannot go into it here.

• This closed the official programme and we were all very reluctant to say farewell, but it had to come.

Liverpool, November 1898

It only remains to add that on the Friday afternoon, the Boston party returned to New York. Several of us had tea at our brother Taylor's house and met there Mr. Randall of Newcastle who had just arrived from Saint John, NB.

• He told us that the two from Saint John who had met us in Quebec had shortly after their return withdrawn from the Bexhill gathering, and another also.

• Whether or not they will have the faith to take positive ground remains to be seen, this much we can be thankful for, and we hope the light and truth may spread further.

In the evening we had a fairly large reading at Fulton Hall, the subject being Ephesians 1 – the calling – sonship.

• It was good in many ways but was much spoiled by foolish interruptions from one or two who either by invitation or otherwise had come in. They only showed their ignorance, but nevertheless it was trying.

• The whole point on their part was to insist that what God had set forth objectively in Christ as His thought for man, was actually true now in the believers, without taking into account the measure in which the Spirit had made it good in the soul of the individual.

• When it was over we had our final farewell, and on Saturday morning we were on board the Eturia at 9:30, Mr. Sinclair and several others coming to see us off. We were detained two hours by fog, but got away about noon.

During Sunday and Monday we had a gale – or nearly so – from the south, and being right abeam, the vessel rolled heavily. After that it was fine and clear until we neared Ireland, when fog came on, and again near Liverpool. We were most comfortable on board and had every attention but the weather was too mild to be quite comfortable.

As to what you refer to, my point was that it was permitted us to know divine Persons as and when revealed and only so.

• In view of that revelation the Son has taken a new place relatively, that is, of inferiority to the Father, coming to do the will of God, though of course there would be no change morally or in affection.

• The names under which we know divine Persons, that is, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are, I judge, connected with this position, and I doubt if we are allowed to enter into the eternal relation of divine Persons apart from this revelation. No one knows the Son but the Father.

• What I think led me to it was a fear lest in our minds we should almost insensibly give to the Son a place of inferiority – save as regards revelation – in our thoughts of the Godhead, which could not be right.

• The point is to be within the limits of Scripture and not trading on what is merely orthodox.