MB Guest Book 12: July – December 2004

Frank Somoah
frank_somoahAThotmail.com
Ashaiman, Ghana
Sat, 3 Jul 2004

Please, I`m begging you. Kindly send me some of your Holy Bible.

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Anonymous 10
Sat, 3 Jul 2004

My father was a member of the EB, but since his death, when I was 16, I have had no further contact with the brethren.

• It is my understanding that the EB still do not have radios, TVs or use the internet, so I was surprised to find this website. Does that mean I am under a misapprehension

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David Ferguson
davefergusonATiprimus.com.au
Australia
Mon, 5 Jul 2004

Dear Sir,
I live in Australia and I was wondering where I could go to obtain a supply of the tract 'Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment' by Geo. Cutting or do you still have them over there? The were supplied in the past by Stow Hill Bible and Tract Depot

Any information will be greatly appreciated

Blessings, Dr.David Ferguson.

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Julyan Wooodfield Oliver
manicgranny57ATtiscali.co.uk
Bournemouth? England
Fri, 23 Jul 2004

Hi, I'm hoping to find Gerard Rayment of Southend on Sea. I stayed with his aunt with a Mrs. Green back in the early 70s. I was withdrawn from the Bournemouth mob in 1976 aged 19. It would be good to find a few old freinds again.

Julyan Oliver, nee Woodfield

From: Julyan Oliver
Mon, 26 Jul 2004

Many thanks for answering my request for help in finding an old friend.

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David Mutton
d.muttonATntlworld.com
Bromley, Kent, England
Mon, 19 Jul 2004

See 'Bibles and Books: Stone Publishing Trust'

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Lisa Teneycke
queenlisaATrogers.com
Kitchener, ON, Canada
Mon, 26 Jul 2004

I have some original photographs of many of the members of The Brethren. Is there anyone interested in more information? They are quite old and date back to Coates and I believe before.

To: Lisa Teneycke
Tue, 27 Jul 2004

Dear Lisa,
Hello! Thanks for writing. Yes, we would be very interested in more information.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Lisa Teneycke
Tue, 27 Jul 2004

Thank you for your response. I will be back next week when I will have time to go through the album. I can send you a list of the people whose pictures are in it.

Take Care, Lisa.

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Martyn Buckland
marty_bATbigpond.com
Maitland, NSW, Australia
Mon, 2 Aug 2004

Dear Brother,
I am a returned born again Christian who went astray at the time of the 1960's and have now returned to the Lord.

• It is difficult however to find any association with those of like mind who are not associated with the the various erroneous teachings of Newton and Kelly etc.

• We are Australian and live in Maitland New South Wales and would value advice or information .

Yours in the Lord, Martyn Buckland.

To: Martyn Buckland
Tue, 3 Aug 2004

Dear Martyn,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I hope you will return and explore the good ministry.

We rejoice with you in your recovery to the Lord and sympathize with you in the practical difficulty of finding fellowship

• I'm sharing your inquiry with some friends and guests of MB – three in the UK and one in NZ – who may have contacts in Australia and may be able to be of help to you.

• I trust that you and they will keep me informed of any contacts.

In the Lord Jesus , Gordon Rainbow.

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Richard Fairley
scotmonkAThotmail.com
High Spen, England
Mon, 2 Aug 2004

Greetings in Christ! I do hope this email finds you in the very best of health and spirits!

I am a 38 year old Scot, living in the village of High Spen, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North-east of England – and am, at present, a Roman Catholic.

• I have become very interested in the teaching and life of the commonly titled 'Exclusive Brethren'. However, I do not know how to go about contacting a representative in this area.

• Would it be at all possible for you to pass on my email address ( scotmonkAThotmail.com ) to a local representative of the Exclusive Brethren in my area – or, perhaps, someone else who would be best able to advise and guide my footsteps.

• I am very genuine and sincere and reading as much as I can about the teaching of the Brethren.

I assure you of my prayers and utmost sincerity,

Yours in Christ, Richard Fairley.

To: Richard Fairley
Tue, 3 Aug 2004

Dear Richard,
Thanks for visiting 'My Brethren' and for your inquiry.

Those called 'exclusive brethren' in the UK media are an aberrant group which no longer represents the principles and practices which marked earlier brethren up to about 1959.

I'm sending your inquiry to three friends and MB guests in the UK who I hope will be able to guide you. I trust that you and they will keep me informed of any contacts.

In the Lord, Gordon Rainbow.

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Mark Ghinn
markghinnATyahoo.com
—, England
Wed, 18 Aug 2004

Hi, Have looked at the 'My Brethren' site for the first time in my life, and it is very interesting.

• I was in the Jims until 1984 and have been free ever since but my family remains divided by them.

• I noted an article on AJG. I remember him and was present at his funeral, I was about 10 years old. I do remember that his 'out' daughter was shunned at the grave which I think was in Streatham, SW London.

Regards, Mark Ghinn.

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To; Mark Ghinn
Thu, 19 Aug 2004

Dear Mark,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I'm glad you found it of interest and hope you will come again.

• Thanks very much for the comment on AJG's burial which has now been posted on his biography.

We have a record on both an Ernest and Frank Ghinn being Stow Hill Trustees in the 1940's. Are you related?

To complete our Guest records would you let us know your locality, please, and any other details you are free to share.

In the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Mark Ghinn
Sat, 21 Aug 2004

Hi, I was local in London and withdrawn from in 1985. My parents are Rowland and Mildred and my siblings are Angela, Alan, Daphne and Helen.

• My mother, Angela and Daphne are still with the brethren but my father, Alan, Helen and I are free. Angela married Stephan Hayward of London and Daphne married John Tilbrook of Enfield. My wife Deb was also formerly with the brethren in New Zealand.

Ernest Ghinn, who was a trustee of the depot, was my grandfather. I don't remember him as he passed away before I was born.

I believe that AJG was restored before he died. The memory that I have of his funeral was the brethren crowding round the grave side to prevent his daughter (Dorothy?) from seeing.

Regards, Mark.

To: Mark Ghinn
Wed, 25 Aug 2004

Dear Mark,
Thanks very much for your prompt reply and for the additional information.

You may be interested to know that your message stimulated further comments from Charles Barrett.

In our Lord, Gordon.

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Sarah Goudge
Sten18349ATaol.com
Bristol?, England
Sun 22 Aug 2004

I wonder if you could tell me when Dr W.Cosham died -- it would have been in the 1950's -- he lived in Bristol but I understgand he died whilst on holiday in Jersey. He was a patient of my father's and actually delivered me (i.e. at my birth).

• I know he was a leading light in the Brethen movement.

Regards, Sarah Goudge.

To: Sarah Goudge
Wed, 25 Aug 2004

Dear Sarah,
Thanks for visitin 'My Brethren' and for your question re Dr. W. Cosham.

• I regret I don't know the date of his death, but have learned that the late Robert Fear of Prestwick, who was born and raised in Bristol, spoke highly of Dr. Cosham.

• Andrew and Lois Robertson recall that Dr. and Mrs. Cosham cared for the twins Eva and Ines Lobenstein (born 1925) for some years from 1938 before they moved to New York about 1947.

• Mr. and Mrs. Lobenstein, who were Jewish, were in a Nazi concentration camp. The girls were converted while with the Coshams.

In the Lord, Gordon.

Kirk Fraser
kirk_fraserATnetzero.net
Clatskanie, Oregon, USA
Wed, 8 Sep 2004

As an excommunicated member of the Witness Lee (WL) affiliated "church in Portland" I had heard about the Brethren as one source of inspiration for the group and have been in contact with a few by email …

[See Mailbox for balance of Kirk's email and MB's reply.]

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Robert Welch
iamsavedATusadatanet.net
Waterville, Maine, USA
Thus, 9 Sep 2004

Dear Robert,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. We would be glad to hear which items interested you and your own background if you are free to share with us and MB's guests.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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Dennis G. Bails
ceoiATtpg.com.au
Caulfield, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sun, 19 Sep 2004

For almost 50 years I have been grateful to God for the writings of those whom some call 'the brethren', and at one time had several thousand copies of various texts.

• I have personally used a translation of the Holy Scriptures by John Nelson Darby for all those years and am now troubled by its worn and dilapidated condition It needs replacing and it is in this regard that I respectfully seek your help.

• My original supplier — more than 45 years ago — was a Mr. Shepherd, solicitor, of Adelaide, South Australia, but he has gone on and I am not now sure as to where and from whom I might seek to obtain another copy.

• In addition, I live in Melbourne, Victoria, and am unaware as to where in this city I might find a distributor from whom to obtain a copy.

• If you would be so kind as to advise a likely contact, in Australia preferred, but elsewhere if not, from whom I could obtain a copy I would be most thankful.

My the God of all grace bless you in your labours of love.

Dennis G Bails.

TO;Dennis G. Bails
Sun, 19 Sep 2004

Dear Dennis,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I hope you will return and explore the ministry and, perhaps, share more of your background with our guests.

I share your appreciation of JND's translation which I have used for over 50 years.

• It was published by Stow Hill Depot, closed in 1971, but is now available from Stow Hill's successor, Kingston Bible Trust in England.

• By copy of this email I am asking my friend Malcolm Withell, manager of KBT, to advise you of an Australian source, if possible, or how you may order from KBT.

• Please let me know how you make out.

In the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Dennis G. Bails
Tue, 21 Sep 2004

Thank you for your kind and prompt reply and the helpful lead. Though aware of the Kingston Trust, I was hoping for a more local source so will wait for further information. Please allow me the liberty of getting back to you at a future time and sharing my background with a view to possibly being of benefit to others.

In the words of another, Christ is all, Dennis Bails.

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Conrad Stoesz
cstoeszATmennonitechurch.ca
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Mon, 20 Sep 2004

Thank you very much for visiting www.alternativeservice.ca and your email.

• Thank you for letting me know about the Plymouth Brethren web site about conscientious objection. How long has it been up? Are there records of who the Plymouth Brethren COs were?

Conrad Stoesz, Archivist, Mennonite Heritage Centre

To: Conrad Stoesz
Wed, 29 Sep 2004

Welcome to 'My Brethren' which was opened nearly six years ago in November 1998.

I am not aware of any list of brethren who were conscientious objectors, although there were many throughout the Commonwealth and the USA.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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Monica D'Angelo
mdangelATcruzio.com
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Sat, 2 Oct 2004

My name is Monica D'Angelo. I have spent many hours on your website and feel greatly edified by the information, namely regarding John Nelson Darby and his ministry.

• For nearly 15 years I have been researching Lady (Theodosia Wingfield Powerscourt) Powerscourt and her association with John Nelson Darby.

• I was led to interest in her by a visit to the Powerscourt in 1988 and subsequently found myself engulfed in her life story and the impact she has made on my life by her testimony.

Thank you for all the research and long hours you have exhausted in compiling the details of the Plymouth Brethren and those so intrinsically involved.

I wish you many blessings! Yours in Christ, Monica D'Angelo.

To: Monica D'Angelo
Mon, 4 Oct 2004

Dear Monica,
Welcome to 'My Brethren' and thank you for your generous comments. I'm very pleased that you found something of interest and value.

I had hoped to be able to post a biographical sketch of Lady Powerscourt but have only been able to find a scant amount of information.

• I'm wondering what you have discovered in your research and whether you would be willing to share it with a view to a bio on MB. This would be much appreciated and of course would be credited.

• There are a few other women who have an honoured place among the brethren – also mentioned in History: Early Years – Recollections – Miss A. M. Stoney and Miss Frances J. Elwood.

• Also many of the finest hymns in the Little Flock Hymn Book have been written by spiritual women.

Perhaps you would be free to share some details of your background.

Thanks again for visiting. In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Linda Kloos
drkloosATpolarcomm.com
North Dakota, USA
Sat, 30 Oct 2004

Dear Sir,
I am writing because we have been through a terrible experience here in North Dakota.

• My husband took a job as a teacher with a Plymouth Brethren School in St. Vincent, MN.

• I gave up my career and Dave gave up a good job to accept this position because we wanted to start a family and raise them in a small community.

• We were assured by this group that Dave would have a one year contract.

• Six weeks after the school started, they brought my husband into a meeting and told him he was no longer needed. No explanation, no hearing, nothing.

I need to know if this is the way all the Plymouth Brethren groups treat people not within the structured church.

• I realize now (after researching your site and others) that the group that Dave was hired from are called "The Jim Sect". Are they considered part of the Plymouth Brethren or not?

• I need an idea of how this group works as I feel that asking someone to spend there life saving to move 600 miles and then dump us like a lifeless animal on the road.

• I know you cannot help us in any way. I guess I need to vent to someone. And your site is helpful.

• But can you answer my questions on how these people can act like this and call themselves Christians?

Any answer would be appreciated. Linda Kloos.

To: Linda Kloos
Mon, 1 Nov 2004

Dear Linda,
Thank you for visiting 'My Brethren' and for being brave enough to share your most unhappy experience with us. I will try to answer your questions.

'Plymouth Brethren' is a term coined back in the 1800's by others to identify believers who had withdrawn from the churches and met simply, apart from denominations and without clergy, to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. It has never been an 'official' name.

• There are now a number of groups which meet separately from each other but share the same historical beginning.

• The 'Jim' group to which you refer is one of those groups. As far as I am aware no other so-called 'PB' group supports, or has any sympathy with, the extreme practices of the 'Jims'.

• Beginning in 1959 a legal movement gained control of the antecedent brethren with which I was then connected. As a result in the ensuing years many brethren, including my wife and myself, withdrew from that legal movement to continue their earlier scriptural manner of life.

• From reports received from time to time, the legal movement has become increasingly insular and continues to have additional regulations imposed on its members by its successive leaders. Recent changes may lie at the root of the outrageous treatment of your husband, but this is only speculation as I have no current inside knowledge.

The abrupt termination of David's employment without explanation is unconscionable and certainly not what would be expected from any who call themselves Christian. We at MB deplore such action.

• You do not say but it appears that David did not have a written employment contract which would have spelled out termination procedures. Nevertheless, even most unbelievers would give a reason and, if termination was not 'for cause', would have accepted responsibility and provided a severance package.

• If I can be of any further help please don't hesitate to write.

Be assured of my prayers and deep sympathy in this tragic situation.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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Rachel Ford
rachel_joy_fordATyahoo.com
Canada ?
Sun, 31 Oct 2004

Dear Gordon,
I visited your site today, and I have never seen it before. I was glad to see that you are trying to help ex members of the exclusive brethren.

• Roy Devenish was my great-uncle, Paul and Jean Devenish are my grandparents, and Terry Devenish is my father.

• My family has been very hurt by the exclusives, and I am glad to see you trying to help people like them.

• Thank God that He has helped my family get through it, and that they are all still firm believers in Him.

Anyways, I just wanted to say hi. Blessings, Rachel Ford.

To: Rachel Ford
Thu, 4 Nov 2004

Dear Rachel,
Welcome to 'My Brethren' and thanks for your encouragement.

• You have a good spiritual heritage -- at least 4 generations, as I remember your great grandparents Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Devenish of London, Ontario.

• Betty and I remember Paul and Jean well. Paul often visited Toronto in the 1960s and his ministry had a freshness we didn't have locally.

• I mentioned your email to Rosemary and she was very interested.

I hope you will visit MB from time to time.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Alan Terlep
atterlepATuchicago.edu
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Tue, 16 Nov 2004

Dear Mr. Rainbow,
Thank you for providing all the information on your Website.

• I'm a historian – though not a member – of the Brethren, and you've collected a great deal of information that's difficult to acquire.

My research is on the impact of Brethren teaching on denominational clergy before 1870.

• I am particularly looking for information on the early Brethren visitors to the United States.

I am aware that J. N. Darby visited North America on several occasions, but there's rather limited information on other visitors and early assemblies in America.

• I found no information on American Brethren on your Website, but hoped that you might be aware of other resources.

Alan Terlep.

[Please see the Mailbox for reply]

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Margaret Read
margar1947ATonetel.com
London, England
Thurs, 9 Dec 2004

I am researching the Tipson family of Tottenham and Enfield who were Plymouth Brethren living 1850-1950.

• In particular, I am trying to find details of Ernest Tipson who went to Singapore as a missionary and wrote a Pocket Translation of Amoy – a Chinese dialect.

• I have no idea about how to track down Plymouth Brethren archives as I would love to have some details of his missionary activities.

• He was also a prisoner of war in Singapore for the duration.

Many thanks, M Read.

To: Margaret Read
Mon, 13 Dec 2004

Dear Margaret,
We're sorry but we don't have any information for you on Ernest Tipson, but he sounds like a remarkable person.

Unfortunately, we're not even sure we could point you in the right direction.

• But we will post your message in our guestbook and perhaps someone will come across it and contact you.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Jim Mair
jmaieATtelus.net
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Fri, 10 Dec 2004

Dear Jim,
I noticed your message on Steve Hesterman's Site

I recited all 45 verses of "Man of Sorrows" when a youth. 50 years later I am setting myself the task again.

and wonder if you are the Jim Mair who lived in Montreal and who we knew 40 years ago?

Gordon and Betty Rainbow.

From: Jim Mair
Fri, 10 Dec 2004

Yes I am dear brother. I now live in Vancouver.

• Christine went to be with her Lord April 9th 1991, Steve is still in Montreal but Sylvia is in Rossland B.C. with a husband and two girls. Our youngest is in Calgary with a husband and four children(two boys, two girls). I will visit them at Christmas.

• I am a governor with the Canadian Bible Society, (voluntary position with a three year term).

Love in our Lord to Betty and you. Mizpah, Jim.

To: Jim Mair
Sun, 12 Dec 2004

Dear Jim,
Thanks for your reply and family news. It's good to renew contact. By the way we still recall and smile at the 'Mildcat' incident.

• Hope you will visit MB from time to time. Besides profitable ministry there is some interesting correspondence.

From: Jim Mair
Sun, 12 Dec 2004

Thanks Gordon and Betty,
I had forgotten about the Mildcat, I am still driving a Buick but it is a '94 wagon, of course in BC cars last a lot longer.

• I do have a few friends who are with the brethren both in Abbotsford and Vancouver and we do enjoy good fellowship.

• I am coming to Toronto for one day in January and three days in February. Can I give you a call when I'm in the centre of the Universe?

To: Jim Mair
Tue, 14 Dec 2004

Dear Jim,
Yes indeed, Our local phone is —. Perhaps your 3 days in February would allow for a visit.

In Him, Gordon and Betty.

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Anne Sutton Brown
gasbATcitenet.net
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sat, 11 Dec 2004

[Please see the Mailbox]

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Angelia Strong
roban4christATjuno.com
Kentucky, USA
Mon, 13 Dec 2004

Hello!
My name is Angelia and I thought I would share this little story.

• I grew up in an assembly here in Kentucky and we Broke Bread every Sunday, and we still do, we don't use musical instruments only the Little Flock Hymnal.

• I cherish my Little Flock Hymnal and have a parallel Bible with KJV/Darby.

We still meet this way and we feel that "where two or three are gathered together in my Name there I am in the midst of them".

• My family goes all the way back to meeting like this where we do not carry a title and we call ourselves an assembly for we believe the 'church' is the body of believers.

And we also call our men Brethren in respect.

• I feel that sometimes the use and word Brethren is lost to our generation, so many people asked me why we call different ones as in Brother Darby or Brother Kelly and guess I never stopped to think about it since I was raised to respect those who are the Lord's.

Our home library is filled with J. N. Darby, J. G. Bellet, Stoney, and also William Kelly, F. C. Jennings, W. T. P. Wolston, Newell, E. Dennett, Walter Scott, Hamilton Smith, and I can keep going on.

• God has used these very special people to bring such wonderful blessings into our lives.

• And know we are raising two sons whom we hope by God's grace to learn, cherish, and respect our Brethren.

I ran across your website and fell in love with the wealth of information.

• May our Heavenly Father bless you and your work!

Thank you for a wonderful site!

Your sister in the Lord, Angelia Strong.

To: Angelia Strong
Mon, 20 Dec 2004

Dear Angelia,
Many thanks for your story – we very much enjoy hearing about your background.

• We are always glad to hear from our brethren who are walking simply.

• It is especially nice to hear from those who persevere in the breaking of bread, remembering the Lord week after week.

You are quite right in your observations. I think we often need to be reminded of the dignity which the Lord Himself gave the term when He said, "My brethren".

• And it is good to have respect for His servants, too – although I suppose this comes in some way from knowing something of their service.

• But what a great inheritance we have in the printed ministry.

• And can we not expect more good things from Him today? How faithful He is to provide for us – even in small days.

We look forward to hearing from you from time to time and would enjoy knowing how you get on with the rest of the website.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Daniel Jackson
danieljATrunbox.com
PO Box 1395, Wall, NJ, 07719, USA
Wed, 15 Dec 2004

Dear brother, Greetings!
To introduce myself, I am a university student in New York and I've been very much interested to read portions of your extensive website.

• I must confess, though, that it is very difficult to have a grasp of the modern-day history of the brethren with all of the different groups that have formed and split.

[See Mailbox for balance.]

To: Daniel Jackson

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Your guest entries and messages will show that the continuation of My Brethren is important to you