Mailbox: John Hunziker
May 2000 – January 2001
With Christ - May 30, 2001

John Hunziker

From: John Hunziker
Business: hujaATchevron.com
Personal: hujaATjuno.com
748 Stoneyford Dr. Colma, CA, USA
Sun, 21 May 2000

Gordon,
Thank you for the phone conversation.

If we can supply any used ministry, please contact us. Our phone # 650-755-7937.

My wife Liz and our son Robert join in our much love in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother, John Hunziker.

To: John Hunziker
Mon, 22 May 2000

Dear John,
Thank you for calling on Friday. Our conversation was very enjoyable and I look forward to further contacts as occasion permits.

It was good to hear news of brethren in the San Francisco area, and elsewhere in USA, with whom you are connected.

• A few are well known personally, as are most of the family names, from when we were all together many years ago.

• Robert Promm, as you know, was a recent welcome guest on MB.

Your kind offer of used ministry is appreciated. I have mentioned this to Karl and Peggy Paluga who expect to visit us here at the end of the week for a few days, including meetings on Saturday.

• They are very interested as they only have the ministry on MB and a few books and pamphlets I have sent.

• I am copying this email to them and expect they will contact you on their return home at month end.

• You can read some of their exercises in the Guest Book and Mailbox.

We are also looking forward to seeing your cousin Stephen, and Jane, Hesterman on Saturday, as they expect to be in this area.

Thank you for your kind invitation. We would love to see the brethren in San Francisco but a visit seems unlikely. But all is in His hands.

You will be in our prayers for full recovery in your health, along with Liz and Robert for help and blessing in your household.

With love in the Lord Jesus to you all, and to all the brethren with you. Gordon and Betty.

From: John Hunziker
Tue, 23 May 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for your quick answer. I am now back to work at Chevron, and you can send e-mail here. hujaATchevron.com.

Give our love to Steve and Jane.

If you could give me your street address, I will send you a few things that you will probably be interested in.

I remember a brother quoting that it is "Him and His", not us and ours.

I was reading a piece from FER where he was pointing out the Spirit's place, and the importance of the Spirit's support,

• and if we lose the sense of this, we will turn to christendom for support.

• A searchng matter, but blessed to have the Spirit's confort in these times.

Our much love.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus, John Hunziker.

To: John Hunziker
Tue, 23 May 2000

Dear John,
Glad to hear that you are back at work. May the Lord strengthen and help you.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. There is indeed always the danger of thinking too much of ourselves and forgetting Christ and the (whole) assembly.

• The power and presence of the Spirit, if yielded to, is a real safeguard as to this.

• Both he and Lois have health problems which may become serious.

My street address is at the bottom of this email. I'll be looking forward to your mail.

With love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: John Hunziker
Air Mail
27 May, 2000

Dear Gordon,
Enclosed are a few things you might be interested in. Please keep.

• I enclose a supplement to the 1962 Hymn Book which we all use.
  • We felt that a good number of good hymns were removed from the 1962 on a wrong basis, so we made up this supplement for our use. It is mainly humns from the 1951 and a few from the 1932 and the 1973.

• Also we made an all line Hymn Book Index, which can be useful.

If we can be of any assistance in finding old, out of print ministry, etc., please advise.

Also if you had a desire to come to our 3-day meetings in July – 9, 10, 11 – with our brother John Hedges of Grimsby, England, I am sure the brethren would be very happy.

You both are welcome any time to come, if the way is made clear. We have plent of room in our home.

Our much love to you and your wife. We join in our love to you in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother, John Hunziker.

To: John Hunziker
Tue, 06 Jun 2000

Dear John,
Thank you very much for the various items you sent. They are certainly of great interest to me. I appreciate the exercise and the labour that has gone into your Supplement and especially the all line Index.

As you may know from History: Hymn Book, we were uncomfortable using the 1962 revision because of the blasphemy and great public dishonour to the Lord by some of the authors.

• Although it has some minor flaws, we decided years ago to use the 1973 re-selection. Compare My Stand 2: 1973 Hymn Book.

• Like yourselves, we felt the lack of many good hymns and so compiled a Supplement in 1993.

• In addition we have a computer concordance of the 1973 collection plus our supplement. This allows for searching by hymn no, author, metre, words, phrases.

• I also compiled a "Comparative Index of Revisions" for 1881 through 1973 plus our Supplement. This shows in which editions a hymn was as well as the respective hymn numbers.

Your kind offer to to assist in finding old and out of print ministry will certainly be kept in mind.

The Paluga's from Minnesota were with us last weekend. We had a profitable time looking at Ruth as bearing on recovery to Christ.

I trust that the brethren experience much help and blessing in your July 3day meetings with John Hedges.

• Thank you for the invitation to attend but we will not be able to be present with you. Please convey our love to the brethren.

Your brotherly offer of hospitality is also very much appreciated.

• Whether we shall ever be able to come your way seems unlikely as we hardly feel up to long travels any more, but the Lord Himself directs.

Of course, we hope we can keep up our contact and will be glad to hear from you from time to time, and from any of the brethren with you.

Our love to Elizabeth and Robert.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon and Betty.

From: John Hunziker
Tue, 6 Jun 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for quick reply. As to the Little Flock hymn book, it has been very near and dear to us, as containing real soul history with our God, put down in hymns that we can sing, in response to divine persons.

• We as brethren here, all were using the 1962 book, prior to the 1970 division, and felt the loss of some very excellent hymns that were removed from the 1951 book, which was compiled by Mr. Myles.

• We felt on the basis of the "dedicated things" for the service of God, that they were of real value, and the removal of them because the author in his walk became inconsistent with what he wrote, would not be a basis to exclude the hymn from singing it.

• We noticed that Mr. Darby included a hymn in his 1881 book, that was written to the Spirit by Cardinal Newman, who became a Roman Catholic.

I did do a comparison with the 1973 book that you indicate that you use, and found many more hymns removed,

• as also the Jim brethern have done with their hymn book, removing more hymns mainly we suppose because they no longer walk "with us".This is all very humbling.

On a positive note, most brethren were happy with the 1951 book, but we found this was no longer in print.

• We decided that the best we could do at the time was use the 1962 edition which is still in print, and add back in most of the hymns removed, plus a few from the 1932 and 1973.

• The index also was much improved over the 1951 as you would know.

• I only mention this to show you our exercises locally and with other brethren we know.

I would be very interested in a copy of what you have done with the hymn book. That list that you mentioned of the comparison's from 1881 and onward, would be very helpful.

Trust this finds you well, and our much love to you both.

Your brother in the Lord, John Hunziker.

To: John Hunziker
Wed, 07 Jun 2000

Dear John,
I well understand and share your appreciation for the Little Flock Hymn Book as it has come down to us. As I say in History: Hymn Book 1: Revisions to 1951,

• "Indeed, the Hymn Book has a large and indispensable part in the service of God and in all the gatherings – and the households – of the saints, next only to the Scriptures and the ministry of the word".

Of course, you, and the brethren with you, are responsible to the Lord – not to me – for which hymn book you use.

• As a matter of fact, in my judgment the 1962 revision – apart from the unwarranted and spiteful exclusion of certain hymns – was actually, at the time, the best revision.

• That some of the changes made in 1962 were reversed in 1973 is to be regretted.

• That being said, we here do not use the 1962 book – whatever its merits – as we are unwilling to be identified in any way with the one guilty of the sin of blasphemy or with his supporters.

From my recollection of personal conversations and correspondence with Robert Stott, who was responsible for the 1973 re-selection,

• I doubt very much that hymns – which were included in 1962 – were excluded in 1973 simply because the authors "no longer walk 'with us' ".

• That of course was so in 1962 as the letter of JTJr to AJG shows. See History: Hymn Book 2: Suggestions.

• My understanding is that such hymns were excluded in 1973 because the authors were fully supporting the one guilty and unrepentant of the sin of blasphemy.

• It may well have been that permission to include them – if that had been the desire – would, as you will understand, have been denied in any case.

Yes, JND did include a hymn by J. H. Newman in 1881, but he put it in the "Appendix". But whether it could be considered among the "dedicated things" is open to question.

• The "dedicated things" were spoken about in History: Hymn Book 2: The Hymn Book Revision - 1962 but were used to justify the exclusions.

• Many of the the Psalms are anonymous, but the authors who are named are all worthy. There were no outstanding charges against them.

• Despite David's failures, he was still the sweet psalmist of Israel. The evidence of his repentance is included in Psalm 51, and he was restored to communion with God long before his death. 2 Samuel 12: 20.

I say all this, John, not to criticize you for your convictions but to explain why we do not share your thoughts as to the use of the 1962 book.

It may take a while but, as you ask, I will gladly send you copies on our Supplement, Indexes and Comparison of Revisions.

• As you well know from your own Supplement and Index, these matters involve labour but there is reward in the doing of them when it is for the glory of God.

With love in our Lord Jesus to you and your household, Gordon.

From: John Hunziker
Wed, 7 Jun 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for extended answer. We carry the same exercises you do as to a few of the hymns where the authors were involved to a moral public sin.

• We only did what we thought the best way at the time.

If you can send me what you have done with the research on the hymn book, it would be appreciated.

We believe any of the revisions to the Little Flock hymn books are very good.

• If we came to your gathering, we would be happy to use what you have.

Much love, your brother in our Lord, John.

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To: John Hunziker
Wed, 14 Jun 2000

Dear John,
Thanks for the book of additional tunes received to day. It is very generous of you to send it, and I appreciate all the labour there was in first putting it together.

I will be sending my booklets on the Hymn Book but need time to check for possible changes.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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To: John Hunziker
Mon, 31 Jul 2000

Karl Paluga tells me he is enjoying the books of FER which you kindly sent.

• He said you also sent "Response to God as Revealed by AEM and ministry by Robert Dunn. I do not have either and would be glad to have them if available.

I hope you will have the booklets on the Hymn Book shortly.

Love to all in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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From: John Hunziker
Tue, 8 Aug 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you very much for your three booklets on the Little Flock Hymn Book and tune books.

• I was aware of these booklets that were put out along with the revisions, and have them.

• Mr. C.T. Lambert's note in the front of the 1932 Tune Book is very good. We sing his hymn 327 in the Service of God. He was a beloved brother.

I have a copy of a book now out of print entitled "The 1881 Little Flock Hymn Book, Its History and Authors" by Adrian Roach. Have you seen this? I could send you a copy. The original book s not available any more.

In 1832 Mr. Wigram edited and issued a hymn book "Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Poor of the Flock". I think the name of "Little Flock" was added by Mr.Darby for the 1881 Book.

Please let me reinburse you for what you sent.

My wife joins in our love to you. Your brother, John Hunziker.

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To: John Hunziker
Wed, 09 Aug 2000

Dear John,
As to my booklets, no reimbursement is necessary. They are a gift. If anything, I am in your debt.

Thanks for your offer of a copy of "The 1881 Little Flock Hymn Book, Its History and Authors" by Adrian Roach. It would be much appreciated if it is not too much trouble.

Do you have a copy of the booklet on the 1932 hymn book – not Mr. Lambert's? I only have some extracts, as you will note, and no details as to the changes.

With love to you all in Him, Gordon.

To: John Hunziker
Fri, 18 Aug 2000

Dear John,
The 1932 booklet arrived yesterday. Many Thanks. The 2 extracts I had were missing important details. As soon as practical I will update History: Hymn Book: Part 2.

• [Added in November 2000.]

Thanks again. Love in Him, Gordon.

To: John Hunziker
Wed, 31 Jan 2001

Dear John,
I have been wondering how your recovery from the operation is going, and trust you will be able to return to work In February as I believe you mentioned.

Thanks for the JND article on Baptism which is quite interesting. Do you have any information on the translator, Brian Surtees, or his publication.

• The article might suit MB if he agreed. If a computer file was available that would be better still.

With love to Liz and Robert and yourself,

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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

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