The Ears of the Assembly
– Reports: 1934-2004

Even the nations of this world recognize the importance of the purity of the food supply. They have their pure food laws, regulating its quality.

• You will find that God has taken care of the Christian's food supply. If we are careful of the food we give to our children, how much more does God care for His family.

• If you read John 6 you will see what I mean. The Lord Jesus speaks there of the "Bread of God" come down from heaven, the "Living bread" and so on.

• Peter says "desire earnestly the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby".

There is a great mixture of things amongst the literature of the so-called Christian world, some of which is flagrantly opposed to the truth and dishonouring to God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

• There is also that which is not so gross but which is misleading. Some of it indeed may be the product of true believers, but who have themselves come under bad teaching. There are many such, so that in this day we cannot be too careful.

• Paul says "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good", 1 Thess. 5: 21.

• "If thou shalt take the precious from the vile thou shalt be as my mouth", Jer. 15: 19.

It is under the latter heading I would put the book we were speaking of. I believe the principle of it to be wrong.<>

• It is quite true humility is one feature of the Christian's character, but to devote a whole book to one feature is altogether unscriptural.

• You will read in Galatians 5: 22, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law".

• As a child grows normally every faculty grows with it, it is not occupied with its own growth, it eats, it sleeps, breathes a healthy atmosphere, and grows unconsciously. If it obedient it will be happy and so shall we.

• We are "to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever. Amen", 2 Peter 3: 18.

• I question whether the author ever knew anything of the 7th and 8th chapters of Romans or he would not have written as he has.

• It is strange that a book on humility should have the author's name on the first page: the Reverend ——. There is not much humility about this, do you think?

• It says of Christ Jesus "He made Himself of no reputation".

• There is only one thing we need to cultivate, dear sister, and that is to be found in the company of the Lord Jesus, our hearts engaged with Him.

• "Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken from her".

One does not like to criticize, but we have to form a judgment as to things, and going over it has helped me.

• There is one principle I should like to point out – that a person cannot help you beyond where they are themselves.

• You are better able to help the Rev. Mr. So-and-So than he is you, for all he has, has left him where he is.

• I do not wish to speak disrespectfully, recognizing that they may be faithful up to a point and may be used for the conversion of souls, but their position is a subversion of the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit.

• "That your faith", says Paul, "should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God".

I hope I shall not weary you, the subject is an important one. You have the ability in the Holy Spirit to form a judgment as to things and it is good to use the faculties which have been given to us of God.

• I feel so thankful you came down last week end. I like to think of your having put your hand to the loaf and the cup, and I am sure your great desire, with ours, is to be true to the Lord until He comes.

• I was thankful for your letters and should be glad to hear from you again. Please give my Christian love to those with you.

Your brother in Christ, —.

Before light reached the gathered saints in Leningrad, our brother had seen the path of separation.

• He was soon ready to accept the outside place, and link himself with the few gathered to the Lord. During the war [World War I, 1914-18] much active service for the Lord was carried on, and their numbers increased, and the work of the Lord prospered.

• From the time of the [1917 Communist] revolution until the famine in 1921, there seemed to have been a fair amount of liberty to carry on the work of the Lord.

When things became very bad in Leningrad through the famine, our brother moved to Slobodokaja in the province of Vjatka, some hundreds of miles east of Leningrad.

• Here the Lord used our brother very much, so that before he returned to Leningrad there were meetings in four different places.

• Later on some brethren from Vjatka moved into the province of Tumen in Siberia, and commenced to break bread there in two separate villages.

• Links with these dear brethren have been kept up, until within the last three or four years, but now they are lost to us. Most of them were farmers.

• I need not say any more about them, as most would gather that they have either fallen victims to the collectivization system, or been deported.

• They were then breaking bread in nine different places in Russia. But as far as we can ascertain unable to do this in any place now. The brethren have been scattered in so many directions.

• Our aged brother must feel keenly the apparent break up of his toil and labour for the Lord. But what is of God will abide.

• It is refreshing to think of the peace and joy that has marked our brother, coupled with a good deal of intelligence in the truth, and a personal knowledge of God.

The Lord's personal return has been much before him for many years coupled with the Spirit's and the bride's response, "Come, Lord Jesus".

• I venture to give my brethren, as near as possible in prose, a translation from German of a hymn written by our brother in 1917 [see below].

• I cannot make any attempt at pure poetry, but have tried to enter into the soul of our dear brother.

• He will need our prayers in his isolation and loneliness, separated as he is from the brethren he loved and served, and from even his own sons and daughters.

• How our aged brother will live, I know not, as he is too feeble to work. But the Lord, as in Elijah's day, has His widows in reserve, and even the ravens to feed His servants.

• Our privilege is to pray for help for our brother when other means fail.

Affectionately yours in Christ, J. H. Lewis.

A postcard has reached me from our dear brother, dated Nov. 3, 1935. He says:

Dear brother:
Through God's grace and love, a new dwelling place has been found for me. We are in good health. Read 1 Peter 1: 1-9; Acts 27: 1-3; Rev. 1: 9; 22: 20-21. Please write in German, for I have no translator. Sister — will be returning from me. Hearty greetings to the brethren.

Your aged brother, DO

Dear Brother in the Lord: Later, Via Sweden, Nov. 18, 1935

After my long silence I am writing to you from my new abode, but receive no answer. I am well and happy, and reading alone in my room the word of God, and pray for all men. Phil. 2: 20-21; Daniel 9: 17-19; 2 Cor. 7: 1; 1 Thess. 5: 25-26.

Hearty greetings to all the saints.

Your loving brother, DO

My beloved Brother in the Lord: Later, Nov. 25, 1935

I am writing to you the third time, and up to the present date I have had no answer. You may well think I am not alive, but I am, and in good health, thanks be to God. Read Phil. 1: 21; 2 Cor. 1: 8-9.

Hearty greetings from me to all the saints.

Your loving brother, DO

Please read the scriptures our brother cites. They tell us what he is passing through in his soul.

• Each postcard sent me has taken over four weeks to come, so it will be some time yet before our brother can get an answer. I have sent him help, as in his short letter of Nov. 18, 1935 he tells me that there is both a post office and a branch of the State Bank in the village. JHL

This hymn, as revised, is the well known and loved No. 131, in the 1973 Hymn Book. It was first in the 1951 Hymn Book.

Oct. 9, 1935

My dear E,
Some months have passed since we heard anything of each other. Times are serious, the persecution of Christians is steadily increasing.

• All the German churches, except St. Peter's, have now been closed; one Catholic and three or four Russian churches are still open, but they too will soon come to an end.

As regards the meetings, these can no longer be spoken of; all have been closed up.

• Preachers, and the German pastors, have been banished to Siberia for periods of 5 to 10 years, and their poor families have to live as best they can.

• They are not accepted for better-paid kinds of work, as this is prohibited, but they have to earn their living as domestic servants, black workers, office boys, etc.

• Who were his parents, grandparents both on his father's side and his mother's side. Whether one has relatives abroad, who they are, what posts they occupy etc.

• If, for instance, my parents were preachers, merchants, well-to-do peasants (Kulaks), officers, then I cannot get a livelihood or make progress – I am treated as a foreign element.

• I am also asked whether I am a believer, whether I have shown hospitality to pastors, and have had intercourse with them. G was asked this, when she was engaged.

On October first, our dear friends were packed off to Siberia. I could have seen them. There was time, but we had manoeuvres (war-play), and I had to be on the spot – working, and so lost my opportunity of seeing them.

• Oh, I did long to see them once again, to press them to my heart once more, but it was not to be. It is impossible to put into words all that one felt. (They were imprisoned for 5½ months.)

• P and Auntie M went beyond N, where S lives. His wife, M and L (it is said) to S or W for 5 years. Grandpa [DO] for 3 years to K, A-A, near the Chinese frontier.

• All of them have greatly aged – they endured a great deal. (They were condemned as counter-revolutionaries.)

• Poor Grandpa is 81 years old, helpless like a child. His heart is weak, he can hardly walk, he has kidney trouble, etc. How will he be able to undertake this long journey alone? He may be robbed, and cannot defend himself.

• Well, the Lord always has a way of escape for His children. He has laid it upon my heart to accompany him. In about a week this long and dangerous journey will start.

• When I think whether I shall be able to get him there alive, and how I shall get through with this task, I become quite anxious. If it were a child, one could take it on one's lap, and carry it when it is ill or weary, but a stout, weakly old man …

Today, however the Lord gave me wonderful comfort: He showed me the star of Bethlehem, which once led the wise men from the east.

• They did not look at the difficulties of the journey through the wilderness; they only looked at the star of Bethlehem. And this star will lead us also.

• "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy redeemer is the Holy One of Israel", Isaiah 41 … The Lord gave me these words.

The worst is that when we correspond, we may not even comfort each other with the word, such letters seldom reach their destination.

• Now I must beg you to bear the banished ones specially on your prayerful hearts and please pray that P and Auntie M may be allowed to live together, that they may not be separated; for Auntie M is too weak to earn her own living. The children will have to provide for Grandpa.

• A niece took charge of Auntie's things. Her empty room is sealed up. L also has lost everything in Moscow; she only has the few things she took with her to her place of banishment.

• But they are happy, for they are suffering together. I believe they are getting on quite nicely, only there is the consciousness that they are prisoners, and that is a heavy burden.

Please pray for me. I am quiet, and the Lord has comforted me; the children have affection for me. Pray for them. They have not an easy life; they are exposed to great temptations, especially at school.

Now I must close. Greetings to all who know us. And may the Lord strengthen and preserve us until the day of Jesus Christ.

Yours in the Lord, —

Note: This letter which did not come through by post, must have been written some time before it was sent to us. JHL

I must now close with our united love in the Lord.

[Miss] T. Stenbock.

Beloved Brother in the Lord:

I do most humbly beg your forgiveness for not having replied to your letter. My only excuse is, that I am overwhelmed by circumstances, and thought I had written.

• Please communicate our warmest thanks to the saints, for the gift that was so very, very necessary.

• I am finding it rather difficult to get new pupils, having been here such a short time.

• However, I have a little more opportunity for visiting the people which is also important. Some are too weak or frightened to come to the meetings, so one can better serve them at first in their own home. I am very weak myself and cannot do much.

We are much comforted and encouraged at our meetings, for the Lord always finds means of letting us know His mind. We are distinctly conscious of His support, so we rejoice, in spite of tribulations.

• The opposition is great on all sides, but the Lord is always triumphant. If we keep humble and obedient, He will use us.

• We are grateful for the precious ministry which is sent to us so often, and praise the Lord for the wisdom which He reveals to His assembly.

The dear Fehsts seem stronger this winter, but Mrs. Heyer is quite an invalid, and occupies a good bit of my time.

With much love and gratitude to all the saints.

Your sister in the love of Christ, T. Stenbock.

Very sincerely your brother, Bernard Krebs.

Beloved Brother:
Many thanks for your encouraging letter and book. Yes, I have known the Lord 32 years and have learned to trust Him.

• I have been sick now for ten weeks, with great pain. My dear wife and I have cried night and day to the Lord for help.

• Mr. [H.D'A.] Champney has sent us both medicine and food, for which we praise the Lord.

• I think I wrote you, dear brother, in Russia in 1909, when you were there. I have long preached the gospel there.

• There are a great number of Russian people in Lithuania, whom I can serve, as I know the language. Pray for us.

My wife and I thank the saints for their gift of love.

I remain, your affectionate brother. Bernard Krebs.

I went on to Hamburg [Germany] and spent four days there, with two extra meetings on New Year's day. My longer stay among them this time enabled me to get into closer touch with the brethren, and speak over things that would hardly come up in the meetings.

I spent four very happy days in Berlin; with three meetings on the Lord's day. Monday I attended the burial of a sister. Quite a new experience for me. One brother only is allowed to officiate.

• Then as they filed by the grave, each one threw handsful of earth into the grave, taken from receptacles for that purpose.

• Afterwards the relatives and all who wished assembled in the room for coffee, and an address after, at which all stayed. The Lord gave, I believe, a suited word for all present.

• Tuesday was the prayer meeting. Nine brothers prayed in 40 minutes, and a short address afterwards.

  Perhaps because of the burial on the Monday – but in later years the meeting for prayer would not have been deferred from Monday – the customary day.

• Then the public request that I should convey the greetings of the brethren to saints in England. (I think this is to carry out 3 John 14.) I shall always remember these very refreshing days in Berlin.

I have since visited Chemnitz and Limbach. Here at Claussnitz we broke bread at 9:30 am and a gospel meeting at 3 pm. In the evening we motored over the hill to a village. Room full, and nice interest.

• When I was here last summer a young woman who came in with no hat and bobbed hair was greatly impressed. She has come to every meeting since. Now she wears a hat, and her hair is growing, and she wants to break bread, though she has much opposition at home.

I then visited the neighbourhood of Zwickau. Three small gatherings, and several coal miners among them.

• Very interesting and was much helped in opening up what we have in the 'inheritance', a heavenly one, if we have taken possession of it. Joshua 1: 3.

• On this day all Germany was rejoicing over the recovery of the Saar, hence the subject – that we might well pray like Jabez, that our borders might be increased. 1 Chron. 4: 10.

I stayed one night at Attenburg to visit a lonely brother and his family. They were delighted. I then passed on to Leipzig where we had an encouraging Lord's day.

This visit has shewn me that throughout Germany they break bread immediately after the first hymn. They seemed astonished to hear that this is rather the exception than the rule in England.

• I was told that this was due to FER who said, 'We do not come together to pray, but to break bread'. They apply it thus literally.

  This was the practice when I came into fellowship in 1950 – and for many years prior. FER's ministry was clearly preparatory. The service of God, as opened up in JT's ministry, could hardly go forward unless preceded by the Supper. Evidently, at that time, the brethren in England were slow learners. Here is some confirmation from J. B. Stoney: The first point then is, that in the assembly – the house of God – everything is suitable to and for God. God, and not man, is before you in the house of God. Then the next question is, How do we come in? Well, we come into His presence with a song; and then the first act in the assembly is to remember the Lord in His death. We revert to what He was here. The One whom we remember had the lowest place for man here, but He has the highest place with God. If you are not fit for the Lord's day morning meeting you are not fit for any other during the week. We begin with His death: that is our starting-point. Just as in Psalm 22 – twenty-one verses tell us what the Lord went through on the cross; then, in resurrection, He declares the Father's name: "in the midst" He leads the praises. When we have remembered the Lord – we are with Him in all the virtue of His death – what next takes place in the assembly? You now listen to Him. He declares the Father … And then, what is the result? "Praise unto God" – you then worship. The one who takes part is the organ of the assembly for the moment, and how important that this should be borne in mind; so that the Lord's direction, and the power of the Spirit should be a present reality to the one so speaking. If not, he simply individualises himself, and acts as if he were at a believer's meeting instead of in the assembly of the living God. Readings at Manchester - 1894, JBS 6: 133-34. As a rule, at a bright meeting the Lord's supper is not postponed. JBS 1:59 If you are occupied with state, you are not occupied with Christ. Thus often the breaking of bread is postponed, waiting to get up state, or looking for the Lord in relation to self; you cannot turn over a new leaf. JBS 1: 223 The first thing that characterises us is that we remember the Lord's death. It is a weak meeting when the breaking of bread is postponed. JBS 6: 312

• I noticed also in the Gospel that they all stood for prayer and sat for singing, while we do the very reverse. Why? This shews, as you say, that we have to conform to the customs of the country.

  On a different point, Paul says, "we have no such custom nor the assemblies of God". Local and national customs have no place in the assembly.

Later: I have spent a very happy week at Weidenau and Eisenfeld. Monday we motored over the mountains, snow clad, an interesting experience, but it drew my attention to the lack of the sense of local responsibility in some meetings.

• They had sent for our brother all this distance to bury a child of 9 months old. This brother had to do everything. This is the custom here.

  A wrong custom indeed!

• I raised the question subsequently why they should not undertake such a simple service themselves, seeing they were 18 brothers there. We spoke a long time on this, and I trust they will be exercised about it.

• I mention this, as shewing the need there is of learning the principles of the house of God, that should govern us.

A happy two days at Endbach where some 40 break bread and 70 to 80 came out to the meetings.

Yesterday I was in Dusseldorf, and there met the ex-Roman Catholic you mentioned, that was at Rotterdam. A most interesting and genuine case, judging from my long conversation with him. Others also confirmed this.

I thank you for the 5 pounds sterling, sent from the Lord's fund, and will send the money on to our brother Ruckbrodt for distribution. I hope Deo volente to return home on Feb. the 6th.

With love in the Lord, I remain,
Yours affectionately in Christ, A. E. Lambert.

Leipzig, Germany, Nov. 12, 1935

Beloved Brother:
Many thanks for your kind letter of Nov. 8, and cheque to be used for saints in need. It is very kind of you to think of us in this country and we are all very thankful for it.

Although things have improved a little on the whole, yet the saints do not profit much by it. All those who belong to the Hitler-party are well cared for,

• but those who have no connection with any political party, because they are strangers and pilgrims here, do not get help from any source, except a little out-of-work pay.

• This is about 12 Marks a week for a man and his wife and is hardly enough to buy sufficient food.

• They are regarded as being bad patriots and not worthy of any additional help. Well, the Lord knows it all, and he says: "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee". We oftentimes have proved the reality of this.

As to the Lord's work in this country I am thankful to say that we are being encouraged in seeing how the Lord is working and adding to the numbers.

• As ungodliness makes progress I believe a good many real Christians will have to come out and take a firm stand for the Lord, as some have already done.

• The government is trying to bring all the religious parties under one head, but they find it is not an easy thing, because believers have a conscience, and they know that they have to obey God more then men. We may have to suffer for it, but the Lord is with us.

• They sometimes send an official to our meetings and he writes down all that is being said, and then they send it on to Berlin to be controlled.

• Well, the Lord has given us great liberty hitherto, but what the future will bring we do not know – He knows.

We had a very helpful and encouraging time with Mr. Taylor on Whitsuntide at M. I have just printed the notes and sent them out. I am sure the saints will enjoy them.

See Ministry by J. Taylor 77: 314-54, 365-74, at Mettman.

Our dear brother Mr. P. who travelled about a great deal and visited the meetings, has departed to be with Christ; may the Lord raise up somebody else.

The money you have sent I will distribute to those who are in greatest need, especially in the meetings in the E.

• There are many without work and some aged people who cannot do any work and do not get any help at all, so they are entirely dependent upon the brethren.

With much love and thanks to the dear brethren.
Your affectionate brother in Christ.   FHR [Ruckbrodt?]

Tilsit, Germany, Sept. 3, 1935

A brother writes.
I am writing these few lines as I know you are expecting to hear from me. I have been now five weeks in Germany. As you know the meetings are far apart.

• They can be divided in 3 groups, viz. The Rhineland, West Germany; The North Coast, Hamburg to Tilsit; and Saxony. I have visited the two former districts, also Berlin; a most encouraging visit.

At Königsberg, some 40 or more broke bread in the morning at 10 am. One brother, wife and child, had come 100 miles, it being his nearest meeting.

• At 4 pm, some 70 were present at the Gospel. Then at 5:30 extra meeting, at which all stayed. 'Twas a most happy day.

Yesterday I crossed the frontier to visit a small meeting at Rucken [Lithuania]. Some 20 were gathered into the little room which is dining, bed and meeting room combined. Marked interest.

Tomorrow, I hope Deo volente, to move into Saxony. Looking back I can only thank the Lord for His gracious help.

Later: Jan. 7, 1936

I thank the Lord for the help given me. Conscious of weakness, yet it was to Gideon, the least and weakest, that it was said, "Go in this thy might".

• You will be glad to hear that four or five meetings in the Rhineland have decided to come together monthly, as we do in England, and have been much encouraged.

• Berlin and district are doing the same. May the Lord use this to knit saints together in the bonds of love. As distances here are great it makes it more difficult for them to come together.

I have handed over the various sums of money sent through me from England to our brother who will dispose of the same where there is need.

With warm love in our Lord Jesus. Yours in Him, —

The week in Novi district was testing, on account of the conditions that prevail among them. It is sad that there seems no immediate prospect of reconciliation among them.

• It is the largest meeting with us in Italy, and the place of most light and understanding of the Scriptures.

• We sought to bring in a positive ministry of Christ to heal the breach.

• There is one sister there, both bright and happy, who was present at the first breaking of bread with JND.