Mailbox: PQ: Nov. 1998 – present

Jonathan L. Pallarés

Dear Jonathan,
Thanks for visiting 'My Brethren'. Please come back again.

Your inquiry regarding the beginning of 'exclusives' in Barcelona is now posted in the Guest Book and, hopefully, it will draw some replies. If it does please let me know.

I don't have any information at the moment but will make some inquiries.

In the meantime perhaps you would share something of your background and reason for interest with our guests.

In our Lord, Gordon.

To: Jonathan L. Pallarés
Wed, 28 Nov 2001

Dear Jonathan,
I understand that Daniel Roberts has written to you as to his knowledge of the situation in Spain. I realize he cannot give early information but hope it will be of some interest.

• Regretfully, I have not been able to find out anything about Mr. Banyard. Please let me know if you receive any information as to him.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Karl and Peggy Paluga are on a separate page, on account of the volume of email. Access from menu.

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Lila Marilla Paulo

To: Lila Marilla Paul
Temporary: ruth.vanitaATumontana.edu
New Delhi, India
Thu, 13 May 2004

Dear sister, Lila Marilla Paul,
Thanks for visiting 'My Brethren' and for your most interesting account of "the brethren in India, and Burma".

• I recognize many of the names you mention and, at one time, had some correspondence with Alex Walker of Edinburgh.

We have posted your account on MB in Memorabilia: The Ears of the Assembly: India and Burma – 2004.

• There are a few points of disagreement we would have to note, particularly re JTSr and the ministry as to the Spirit.

• Nevertheless, you have rendered an extremely valuable service for we have only a little information as to to India on the site.

• And despite any differences there might be, we are always glad to hear from brethren of our background and appreciate your continuing commitment.

• We are almost the same age, I was born in 1929, and soon we all expect to be with Christ. Unless our memories are recorded – as you have done – so much of value and instruction for younger brethren would have been lost. Thank you again.

Your email address indicates you may be in the USA at the moment. If so I would be interested in a telephone conversation with you and your husband and could call, at a mutually convenient time, if you could email a telephone number.

• My wife, Betty, and I live in Toronto, Canada, and if you, as I suspect, are in Montana, USA, there would be 2-3 hours difference. Please let me know if you are interested.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon Rainbow.

From: Lila Marilla Paul
Telephone Call
Sat, 15 May 2004

Lila called from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she and her husband Daniel have been visiting, expecting to return to Inda on the morrow and reside in Bangalore.

• Daniel had been in the hospital for several days and it was uncertain he could travel immediately.

• We had a very good conversation, covering many points in about 1/2 hour.

• Lila is 76 years old, bright and intelligent. She hopes to keep in touch with MB.   GAR

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Kevin Pearson

From: Kevin Pearson
ktrekATworldnet.att.net
Denton, TX USA
Tue, 30 Mar 1999

Dear brother,
I was browsing through your site and was looking at GRC's bio.

• I noticed in the listing of his ministry many titles of his I do not have. I also have some titles you do not list.

• You said that Headship of Christ and God was the only ministry of his published by Stow Hill however I have two other titles not on your list published by them. They are:
  1. "Purification and Life" – notes of meetings at Exeter, August 1958 and Toronto, October 1957.

  2. Also "The Times of the Nations" – Notes of meetings in Croydon, March 1957.

• I also noticed you listed only 3 booklets of PH's publishing of "Ministry of GRC" and I have 5.

Like your site. Would like to see more of the ministry posted on here especially things such as GRC that are hard to find.

For your general information I fellowship in Denton, TX with those who you would probably call the Renton's. Have been with them for several years.

If I can help you in any way feel free to email me.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Kevin.

To: Kevin Pearson
Tue, 30 Mar 1999

Dear Kevin,
Thank you for visiting "My Brethren" and for your encouraging comments and welcome offer of help.

I thought I had all GRC's ministry but I did not know about booklets 4 & 5!

• I would appreciate knowing the contents: subjects, scriptures, localities and date – if it is not too much trouble.

• Do you know if any more are available?

As to "Headship of Christ and God" I said "available" – that is to me. I should have said "to have survived".

• As you may know, after GRC was so wrongly withdrawn from, Stow Hill withdrew his books and brethren were instructed to destroy any they had.

• To my shame I did so at the time, but in recent years obtained "Headship" etc. from an older brother who had left in the 1960's.

The other Stow Hill publications you mention were reprinted by P.H. in the "Memorials" series.

• "Purification and Life" is now in volumes 9 and "The Times of the Nations" is in volume 15.

I have some of GRC's ministry which may be posted in the next few months.

• In early April I hope to post some ministry by E. L. Bevir, S. M. Anglin and H. C. Anstey from "A Voice to the Faithful", 1895-96. It is very fresh and relevant to our own days.

You kindly say, "If I can help you in any way feel free to email me". The area in which I need the most assistance is in transcribing appropriate ministry.

• I don't have a scanner and am not sure, from previous experience with one, whether scanning book pages would help or not.

• I have done some by typing and some using a dictation program, but all need careful proof-reading. Plain Ascii text, which I would format in HTML, is all that is required.

• Of course, if any were free to help there would need to be agreement on which items of ministry were suitable.

• Forgive me if I have taken too much out of your offer.

I note your connection with certain brethren and, as you will notice on the site, I am quite familiar with their position, though not sympathetic on some points.

• I would not want you to be criticized for your offer or for any help you might render.

I hope you will visit again, and I would be glad to hear from you at any time.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 01 Apr 1999

Dear Gordon,
I found your email very interesting. I was unaware that "Purification and Life" was reprinted in the Memorials. I have all of them but volume 9.

• I also noted that PH published 12 volumes of the Divine System of which I only have volumes 1, 6, and 11. I have none of the Divine System booklets.

The contents of "Ministry of GRC" booklets are as follows:

Booklet 4,

• "The Revelation and Administration of the Mystery" Halsingborg 4/8/55

• "Features of First Love" Grantham 5/13/61

Booklet 5,

• "Greatness" Weston-super-mare 7/7/45 Heb.1: 1-3; 8: 1,2; Eph. 2: 4-6; Acts 2: 1,2; 2 Sam. 7:18-24.

• "The Love of Christ" Kennington 3/17/51 Ex. 21:5; Rom. 8: 35-37; 2 Cor. 5: 14-18; Eph. 3: 19-21; 5: 30-32.

• "Love" Croydon 11/4/50 Luke 7:40-42, 47; 1 Cor. 12: 31; 13: 1-3, 13; Eph. 5: 1, 25; 6: 24; John 14: 23.

I have an extra copy of booklet 4 that I am sticking in the mail to you.

• I do not know if Mr. Haddad published any others as these were the last I received from him in the 80's.

I noted your statements about critisism but I guess I'm unclear as to your position being much different than ours.

• I am glad to know any in whom the "truth of the Assembly" is being maintained.

• I would be interested in knowing why it is you feel you could not walk with those I walk with.

• I have received much help in the Truth. I would not say that we don't have our problems and there are times when I disagree strongly on certain points but not enough to withdraw from them.

• I have no reason to believe that contact with you or any other lover of the Lord Jesus would bring me into trouble even though some of the older brethren still hold to some of the things that have come from the "system" days.

Just a note. I was not born and raised amongst brethren. I was raised RC and came to a saving faith at 16. I did not serve the Lord fully until 20.

• Since that time I pursued the "Truth" the best I knew how. Moved much among evangelicals and in 1981 a pastor friend of mine introduced me to JBS and CAC.

• Since that time I have collected "Brethren" ministry. I have a pretty large collection and am always looking for ministry.

• I moved to Denton from the Dallas area when learning of a meeting here from Jimmy Peterson in 1991.

• Since there are no others available to me of like understanding in the "Truth" I choose to walk in love with these brethren and find grace in the pathway.

• I must admit that I find the breakdown amongst brethren very sad. I wish things were different but the days of JND, FER, CAC, and JT are over.

• But the Lord still has His people here who can maintain things for Himself in a day of breakdown.

As to my offer to help I will see what I can do. I recently bought a new computer and my father'n'law gave me a scanner. I tried scanning some of JT's ministry at his house and it worked great.

• Scanning would save a lot of time. Once I get it working I could probably scan some things for you if I have them in my library and send the email as attachments.

• I am also thinking of developing a web page with an HTML program I have and post some of JT's ministry on there since I have some free web space with my server.

I must run. It was good hearing from you. Maybe we could meet on a chat line sometime soon and talk.

Your brother in the Lord Jesus, Kevin M. Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Tue, 06 Apr 1999

Dear Kevin,
Booklet 4 arrived today and is quite interesting. Thank you very much. If, as you suggest, you find an extra copy of Booklet 5 it would be appreciated.

As to scanning. When you have time perhaps you could try FER 3: 268-275 – "The Person of the Christ" and the following letter.

• I think this should really be the first item in the "Doctrine" group.

• Most of the other items on "My Brethren" have come from my WordPerfect files which means I have not had to do extra typing, only conversion and formatting.

Thanks again, Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Kevin Pearson
Sun, 11 Apr 1999

Dear Kevin,
Your personal information and experiences are welcome and appreciated.

• Such sharing always helps to a better understanding and brotherly relationship.

Thanks too for the data on GRC's Booklets 4 and 5 which I hope – when time permits – to include in my catalogue of his ministry. You may be interested in a copy at that time.

As to your inquiry as to my position regarding brethren with whom you are in fellowship, you will find details in the "Mailbox: My Stand".

Please understand, I don't care to be known personally, or for "My Brethren" to be known, as being "anti" this or that and I want guests to express their exercise and concerns.

• However, some brothers – with the best of intentions, I believe – have tried to convince me of the rightness of their positions.

• Having already decided – after much exercise some years ago – that I could not, with a good conscience, accept those positions,

• I either had to refuse to reply to their questions – a most unsatisfactory situation – or answer them in some detail, which I have done.

• I have no ill feeling towards brethren with whom I am not free to walk in fellowship and trust in the Lord that such differences will not hinder brotherly contacts with them – or with you.

I have no objection to meeting on a chat line – but have no experience in doing so and would need guidance.

• However, if I had your phone number and knew when you would be free on some Lord's Day I would prefer to call you.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin M. Pearson
Mon, 19 Jul 1999

Dear Gordon,
It has been awhile since I have written you. I just wanted you to know that I could not get my scanner to work on my new PC so it has been set up on my old PC.

• I will be trying to see if I can get an ascii text of the FER piece you requested unless you no longer need it.

• I also have scanned some very good pictures of some of the serving brethren that a brother let me borrow a set that had been handed down to him.

• If you could tell me how to email the jpg files I could send you a couple at a time. I have pics of JT, CAC, FER, AMH, PL, AEM and many others.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Kevin M. Pearson.

From: Kevin Pearson
Mon, 19 Jul 1999

Dear Gordon,
Was looking at your bio on AEM and thought you'd like to know that I have a copy of a book of AEM's ministry titled "Response to God as Revealed".

• It was published by Stow Hill and is mostly readings with AEM covering the years of 1952-1958. Maybe you could add this info in the bio.

Your brother in Christ, Kevin M. Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Wed, 21 Jul 1999

Dear Kevin,
Good to hear from you again! I've been wondering how you were getting on with your scanner and your proposed web site for J.T.'s ministry.

• If I can be of any help with your site let me know. I could make templates from my pages if it would be of any help.

Thanks for the info on "Response to God as Revealed" by AEM. I have added it to his bio as suggested.

• Did you notice "Site News: Bulletins" re KBT possible reprinting some of AEM, GRC, etc.?

I went ahead with the FER article – it is in the "Doctrine" group – but would appreciate it if you could scan

• GRC's "The Church and the Gospel" from "Jesus in Control" (Vol. 8). If you don't have this I will make another suggestion.

I am still trying to obtain GRC's Booklet No. 5. Have you possibly found an extra copy? Did you know there is also a Booklet No. 6?

The jpg files of JT, CAC, FER, AMH, PL, AEM and any others you may have would be very welcome, for adding to various Biography, History and Ministry pages. I only have a few on the site at the moment.

• Unless the files are extremely large you could probably send 10 or 12 at a time.

• In Netscape Messenger, after entering your message, click the "Attach" icon, then click "File". This will open "Windows Explorer", select your folder and click, one after another, the jpg files you want to send. Then click "Send". MS IE should be similar.

Thanks for your help, Kevin.

With love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 22 Jul 1999

Dear Gordon,
I looked through my library for the [GRC] title you requested and I do not have that volume. If there is something else you would like just let me know.

• Also I did not know that there was a volume 6 booklet. It may be very hard to find.

Kevin.

To: Kevin Pearson
Fri, 23 Jul 1999

Hi Kevin,
I have received all 5 groups. I checked with my nephew Martin, and he was able to whiten a few and reduce size of one from about 185kb to 10kb. He may be able to do them all for me. I'll let you know. They load very fast now.

Thanks to you, I believe they will improve the site greatly.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Kevin Pearson
Tue, 27 Jul 1999

Dear Kevin,
You might want to check CAC's pic on his bio. It looks very good.

Thanks again. I will have use for most shortly. They will make good additions and will be noted in August "Site News".

With love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Mon, 16 Oct 2000

Gordon,
Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad the pics worked out for you.

I haven't been by your site lately but I seem to remember seeing something about KBT putting the ministry on CD-ROM.

• I would really like to see some of the ministry that is no longer so readily available in print scanned to CD.

• Like some of the old publications: Mutual Comfort, Words of Faith, Words of Grace and Comfort, Believer's Friend, etc.

• Once the ministry has been scanned it woud be a whole lot easier for you to copy and create files to put on your site. I wonder if there will be copyrights on the scanned ministry?

To answer you about a JT site I have not had any time. I started a new job about a year ago and between it and going to our "oft meetings" I can't seem to get around to it.

• Also I no longer have a scanner which is a necessity for that work.

• I really enjoy meeting with the brethren I'm with but they are the meetingest believers I've ever been with. I hear it was even worse during JT and JTJr's time.

It's good to hear from you again. Keep in touch! In Him, Kevin.

To: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 19 Oct 2000

Dear Kevin,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, KBT is, I understand, nearly finished work on a JBS CD-ROM. Other ministries may be done later but will take much time before any appear.

• Watch "Site News: Bulletins" and "KBT Report" for progress.

• Your suggestion as to the magazines is a good one which I will pass on.

As to copyright on scanned ministry, I'm not sure. In the past brethren have never claimed copyright and it would seem inappropriate and inconsistent for anyone to claim it on such ministry. See Personal: Copyright Information.

Sorry you don't have a scanner any longer as you would have been able to contribute to the CD-ROM work.

• A few who have been doing work on their own are John Vedder and Peter Metcalfe.

I know how change of employment – and "oft meetings" – can hinder other matters, including personal spiritual development and family needs. It requires devotion to maintain our responsibility in every sphere.

I hope we will be able to keep in touch more often. Your contributions are valued.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Sat, 11 Nov 2000

Hi Gordon,
I was looking at your bio of AJG. In addition to the titles you list of his ministry published I have two other things of interest to you.

1. Christianity A System of Glory
   Notes of Meetings in Birmingham, October 1948
   Stow Hill 140 page paperback book.

2. "Peace" and "The Reality of Christianity"
   Gospel addresses in New Zealand
   Stow Hill (no dates given) 32 page booklet.

I just thought I'd let you know of these other two publications that Stow Hill printed of AJG's ministry.

Hope all is well with you! In Him, Kevin M. Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Sat, 11 Nov 2000

Dear Kevin,
Thanks for the names of additional books of AJG's ministry, which I will add to Biography: A. J. Gardiner. This info is very much appreciated.

Glad to hear from you again. In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Wed, 14 Mar 2001

Greetings!
My wife bought me a new all-in-one Printer-scanner-copier for my upcoming birthday so I thought I'd try the scanners optical reader.

• It works pretty well but between the scanning, cut and pasting, and editing the scanning mistakes it takes about an hour and a half to two hours to do one reading. I have no idea if a good typist could do it quicker or not.

• I am attaching "The Worship Of God Himself" by J.T. in both a Word format and Rich Text format. I hope you can use one of these as it looks like ascii text is not an option in Word.

I trust all is well with you! BTW I have not heard from the Munsells. Maybe they are on vacation. I found a listing for a Rodney Munsell in Grapevine which is near where they said they were from but the number no longer was working.

Love in the Lord Jesus, Kevin.

To: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 15 Mar 2001

Dear Kevin,
Thanks very much for "The Worship Of God Himself" by J.T., and your wife for providing the means.

• It will make an excellent addition to MB. Both versions look all right for use!

• I'm checking with Susan Soukoreff who is an excellent typist to get her estimate of comparative typing time.

Thanks for sending that brotherly message to the Munsells. I surely hope they respond.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Kevin Pearson
Tue, 27 Mar 2001

Dear Kevin,
In regard to your time scanning "The Worship of God Himself" (which is 16 pages in JT 68, but 21 pages in the booklet and I'm not sure which you used), as mentioned earlier, I asked Susan Soukoreff for her experience.

Susan says, "I tried typing a page of J.T. (Vol. 60 page 350) which is almost all one long remark by J.T. and it took me nine minutes typing as fast as my fingers would move and then going back and making any corrections the 'spell check' underlined. Therefore, I would estimate 21 pages would take about 189 minutes at least and that is not using the format needed for your setup. So we are looking at 3 hours and 9 minutes for 21 pages. So it appears Kevin's scanner is a much better way to go if it only takes an 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do".

Some time ago Peter Metcalfe, who had been scanning JBS for the KBT cd-rom project, wrote, "… am in the process of proof reading volume 4 – and enjoying it. This is necessary because the punctuation and several words are mis-translated by the Textbridge Pro software, especially the numbers. Scanning each volume takes about 5 hours labour with about 22 hours estimated to proof each and correct". Based on an average of 436 pages each for JBS 1 - 6, I calculate about 4 minutes a page, or 1 hour 4 minutes for the 16 pages of "Worship ...", or 1 hour 24 minutes for the 21 page booklet, which seems reasonably close to your time.

I hope this will be some use to you in evaluating the use of the scanner, and I would be interested in your thoughts.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From Kevin Pearson
Wed, 3 Dec 2003

Dear brother Gordon,
It has been a while since I last had any contact with you.

I was doing a search on the internet for the 'Little Flock' hymns and found a link to the page where you talk about your hymn project –

• the one where you are assigning a tune to every hymn in the 1973 re-selection hymnal.

• I was curious as to how far along this project is? You mentioned you were going to record the tunes and archive them to cassette.

• Since neither my wife or I play music or read it I would love to get a copy of your tune recordings.

• I was also wondering if you had considered archiving the tunes to an mp3 format. It is probable that all the melodies would fit on just a few CDR discs.

• I would be more than happy to mp3 them for you. I have all the equipment and software to do it. Distribution of the CDRs would be easy and quick.

• It would also be really neat if the mp3s could be archived for downloading off the internet but that would require space and bandwidth.

• Anyway, you can think about it.

Your brother in Christ, Kevin Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 4 Dec 2003

Dear Kevin,
How good to hear from you again. I often think of you and especially your help providing many of the photos on MB.

If you will access the new MB site – www.mybrethren.org – and check Personal: My Projects: Hymn Tunes you will see that we have just recently posted some tunes on History: Hymn Book 4.

• Your suggestion and offer is most interesting and I will discuss it with Jeff Kuns – who is doing the work on the tunes – when we chat in the next day or so.

• If it is possible to work out something on your suggestion, initial arrangemsnts will likely be too complex for email.

• Perhaps you could send me your phone number and some convenient days/times – your local time and time zone – to call you.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Tue, 9 Dec 2003

Dear brother Gordon,
I was reading your letters in the Wrong In Principle section.

• I was wondering if these letters were written to Mr. Renton?

I also wonder why you would publish your letters without publishing the other side's view and let the readers judge?

• However, as it is we only really get to see your side of the issues with your "selected" quotes.

• I assume you still have the letters of response so why not place them in the context of your own letters? If you eliminate personal references I'm sure it would/could be helpful.

Your brother in Christ, Kevin Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Fri, 12 Dec 2003

Dear Kevin,
No, my letters in History: Wrong In Principle? were not written to Mr. Jim Renton of Edinburgh.

• As I quoted extensively from the reply I did not judge it needful to reproduce the reply itself, which would take up valuable site space quite unnecessarily.

• In fact, the reply did not contain any explanation or elaboration of the "wrong in principle" statement, being merely a tirade against me as the quotations show.

• If you will check the rest of the page you will find your desire for "the other side's view" clearly identified and analyzed by Laurie Twinam.

• In addition, the relevant section of the 1971 Buckhurst Hill notes in which the statement was made also appears. The ensuing questions and answers clearly brings out "the other side's view".

In the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pearson
Thu, 11 Dec 2003

Dear brother,
I was looking through your chronology and found an item of interest to me.

• It is Captain R. F. Kingscote - 'The Distinction between the Lord's Table and the Lord's Supper'.

• I was wondering if you know if this title is still in print anywhere and where it may be obtained. If not is it one you have in your voluminous projects schedule?

Your brother in Christ, Kevin Pearson.

To: Kevin Pearson
Fri, 12 Dec 2003

Dear Kevin,
Sorry, I don't know whether RFK's book is still in print. I think it was published by Morrish or perhaps C. A. Hammond.

My memory is failing and I can't be sure but I thought I had a copy but cannot put my hand on it. I gave many of my books to Jeff and I'm sure he will check for it.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Mark Peever

To: Mark Peever
mpeeverATyahoo.com
Charlotte, NC, USA
Wed, 17 Jul 2002

Dear Mark,
Thank you for your kind remarks and, especially, for making yourself known!

• We maintain MB as a service to the Lord and to His people. But it is a real encouragement to Jeff and me whenever we learn that some of His own find profit, and that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

• I trust you will continue your visits, and if you want to share any information or exercises, please don't hesitate.

May the Lord's blessing be with you.

In the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Stephen A. Penn

To: Stephen A. Penn
greymysticATatt.net
Charlotte, NC, USA
Thu, 04 Jul 2002

Dear Stephen,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I trust you found some items of interest. Please feel free to share your background and exercise with us.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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Pallam J. Peter

To: Pallam J. Peter
pallamroyATyahoo.com
Kerala, India
Sat, 18 Jan, 2003

Dear Pallam,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I hope you will return.

We do not distribute printed literature but you are welcome to download any of the ministry on MB. If you wish to do so use the 'No Frames' pages.

In our Lord, Gordon

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Sam Peter

To: Sam Peter
spcochinATyahoo.com
speterATgscksa.com
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Tue, 26 Sep 2000

Dear Sam,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. You are the first brother from India to visit MB, and certainly the first – I hope not the last – from Saudi Arabia.

Thanks for your kind remarks and for sharing your back-ground, which will be of intense interest to other MB guests.

• Perhaps you will let me know whether you are alone there, or have any brethren with whom to fellowship. Also what is your home city in India? Do you have a family?

MB does not send out items regularly but there are two options:

1. You can download any pages from MB to go over later if it is convenient. At present, new items are added each month, and I'm sure you would find the "Mailbox" interesting as well. I'm not sure whether you have your own computer or use one at your work.

2. Check Guests: Site News: Links: Zip Files. I will email some to you if you let me know which interest you. Also I have recently received a PDF file of Ministry by J. B. Stoney, volume 1, which I can send if you wish. You will need Acrobat 4.0 Reader to view it, and this can be downloaded from the Acrobat site.

I notice you have 2 email addresses. Which one should be used to send items to you?

Thanks again for visiting. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Sam Peter
Wed, 27 Sep 2000

Dear Brother Gordon
Thanks to your immediate response, happy to hear that I am the first person to visit MB and am pleased for the introduction to other MB guests.

As requested I am giving a brief about myself and the fellowship we have in Saudi Arabia.

• Basically, I was born and brought up in a Brethren family, my grandfather (father's father) was the first person to receive the gospel and accept the water baptism in the town called 'Angamally' at Kerala State, South India under the ministry of late missionary V. Nagel (Germany).

• My grand father's family consists of 14 members out of which 6 children took their father's path and the rest of them still in various Christian denominations.

• My father left that town and settled in Cochin another city in Kerala, South India.

• Myself and a sister were the two children to my father and both of us choose our parent's path.

• I had the privilege to accept the Lord as my personal Saviour and took water baptism at the age of 17 and these 26 years my living Lord has showered His blessing on me and my family.

In 1986 my living Lord gave me a loving and God fearing wife, Beena Sam, and blessed us with 2 daughters and a son (Jennifer Rachel studying in 8th, Jeslyn Mary in 7th and Jaison Peter in 4th standard).

• My daughters have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, but not yet taken the water baptism, still praying for their decision and submission.

• Also our earnest prayer and desire is to see that our only son to be a fruitful and spiritual servant for our Lord.

My family is still in Cochin with my widowed aged mother (80 years).

• I did not bring my family into Saudi Arabia, as my mother needs their presence, she has high BP and blood sugar and difficult to leave her alone in that condition.

• My only sister is settled in another state of South India, Tamil Nadu and it is not possible for them to come and stay with our mother nor she cannot take long journey at this age.

Since, 1994 I am staying alone in Dammam [Saudi Arabia], here we have a small gathering of brethren believers all from our State of Kerala. Nearly 30 members are at the Lord's table each week.

• Though our gathering takes place in the night time, till date as per the promise of our Lord, He has sent His angels and protected our meetings from the eyes of the authorities.

• Though there were incidents where the Islamic religious police have caught other Christian denominational gathering and deported many back to their countries.

• We praise and thank our living Lord for his promise and protection to His children.

• These religious authorities do not allow any Christian materials to be imported or to carry in hand, if caught, they impose penalty and confiscate the items.

• But our living Lord works, as it is written that the Word of God cannot be chained. As such, enough materials are available somehow, the origin is not known.

• Thanks to the latest technology in the communication sector which has given opportunity to receive spiritual messages through these sources.

In our local gathering, we have prayer meeting on Wednesday, Bible study on Thursday, Children study on Friday and worship meeting on Sunday, these gatherings take place in different houses each day between 8.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m.

• Only the Friday gathering is in the morning, as it is our weekend holiday.

• For your information, I am taking classes on this day for children between 9-13 years and at times do minister from the Word of God in the assembly too.

• Every month last Friday we have a special gathering and each believer will give their testimony/witness how the Lord has been gracious to them during that month.

Regarding the e-mail address, you can use any one of them and I can access them from my work place. I do not own computer in my room, I use my company computer.

• You can send me ministry file through e-mail, if possible sent them in normal format. If it is in PDF I will have to use it at my friend's place for reading, as my computer is not connected with internet facility.

• Normally I copy all my personal mail to a diskette and delete them from the hard drive. This is required because sometimes our main server is filtered and mails are checked, I do not want them to notice my Christian activity.

• As mentioned, I will try to visit the MB site to check the "mail box" and guests site, this is not possible everytime, but at occasions, as all internet sites are checked by our Administrator.

Finally, I thank you for spending your precious time for reading this lengthy message. Do pray for the assembly gathering, my family, especially for my aged mother and for my children.

Convey my sincere regards to your family and MB staff.

In Christ, Sam Peter.

From: Sam Peter
Fri, 1 Dec 2000

Dear Brother Gordon,
Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Trust you and your family are in good health and safety in the loving care or our living Lord, the same with me here by the Grace of God.

Since months passed we communicated, I was little busy with official matters, now a days some spare time is there, as the Muslims holy month of Ramadan is going on, as such the working time is less now.

I have visited your site and gone through the Mailbox, great job you had done, may His name be glorified.

Convey my regards to all at home. My sincere wishes and prayers for all your efforts in the field of our Lord. May our living Lord bless you more and more in the coming days for His glory.

With prayers, Sam Peter.

To: Sam Peter
Mon, 04 Dec 2000

Dear Sam,
How good to hear from you! We have been wondering how you were getting on and, of course, you are in our prayers.

I'm glad you have gone through the Mailbox and thank you for your compliments.

I trust you will be able to be reunited with your wife and your family in the Lord's will.

I'll be glad to hear from you at any time and am especially interested in how you are getting on with the ministry files sent recently.

Our greetings in the Lord to you and the brethren with you.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Sam Peter
Mon, 1 Jan 2001

Dear Bro. Gordon,
Greetings to you in the very soon coming precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Wishing you and your family all health and prosperity in the year 2001.

With prayers, Sam Peter.

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Graeme Pilcher

To: Graeme Pilcher
pilcher-ga-paATimpulse.net.au
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Mon, 7 Aug 2000

Dear Graeme,
Thanks for visiting MB. We don't have many guests from Australia. I hope you found something of interest and will come back again.

If you would like to share your experiences or exercises, please don't hesitate.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Graeme Pilcher
Thu, 26 Jun 2003

I enjoyed browsing your site. We truly are privileged to know our Lord and Saviour. What ever we have been through in the past should in a sense make us closer to Him.

Most of our family came out of the EB meeting in 1979.

Graeme Pilcher.

To: Graeme Pilcher
Thu, 26 Jun 2003

Dear Graeme,
Welcome back to 'My Brethren'! I'm glad you enjoyed browsing MB and hope you will return. There's much to explore and new items are added often.

Yes, without the Lord Jesus we would be in a terrible plight but with Him, like yourself, we have been able to face the loss of family and friends. I'm certainly glad you have access to most of your family.

If you want to share any more information, please do.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Kevin Pipes

To: Kevin Pipes
ExchangedLifeATaol.com
Boston, MA, USA
Tue, 28 Mar 2000

Dear Kevin,
Thanks for visiting MB. I'm glad you like it and trust you will return.

There is no desire to alienate or antagonize you, Kevin, in what I must say in order to respond to your hope that "some day you will include Miles Stanford".

The balance of this letter is in My Stand 2: Miles Stanford.

• I do not enjoy having to respond thus, and trust that you will understand my reasons, lest it be "So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?", Galatians 4:16.

• I will be glad to hear from you again and answer any questions you may have.

Yours faithfully in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Kevin Pipes
Sat, 1 Apr 2000

Hello. Can you suggest a good book that describes the Christian life and how it should be lived? Thanks.

In Christ, Kevin Pipes.

To: Kevin Pipes
Mon, 03 Apr 2000

Dear Kevin,

Because others may be interested in Kevin's inquiry, my response is posted in My Answer 1: Christian Life, along with some subsequent correspondence of May 30 and June 2.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Andrew Poots

To: Andrew Poots
andrewpootsATntlworld.com
Belfast, North Ireland
Tue, 06 Jan 2004

Dear Andrew,
Welcome to 'My Brethren', and thanks for your contribution on the matter of 'Mr. J. N. Darby's first impresson of Mr. G. V. Wigram' in the biography of G. V. Wigram.

Whether JND's remark "through one I had met at Oxford" explodes the possibilty of an earlier meeting in Ireland, it seems – to me at least – to be undecided but weighted somewhat in favour of such a meeting.

• You have doubtless read the pros and cons in the interesting comments of Timothy Stunt and Max Weremchuk.

• In addition, there is the unsolved provenance of the article. Evidently someone among the brethren had reason to believe that it was a genuine article of JND or it would not have been reproduced, perhaps several times over a period of years, and ascribed to JND.

• I'm copying this to Timothy and Max for their interest and for any further comments they may have.

• Yes, I agree that doctrine is unaffected.

If you are free to share your background it would be of great interest.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Andrew Poots
Tue, 6 Jan 2004

Dear Jeff and Gordon,
G. V. Wigram was an interesting brother. You are probably aware of Mr. Stoney's remark, "I always think Mr. Wigram had many things spiritually which he had not doctrinally".

• There is some interest in having his ministry reprinted, so if any of your readers have anything out of the ordinary by him, or information of a biographical nature, I would be interested to hear.

• Oh! and if anyone would like to find a new home for his magazine, the 'Present Testimony', I would be very glad to obtain a set.

As to my personal circumstances, I reside in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I am married with a wife and four children.

• For many years we have sought to gather to the Lord's Name along with like-minded believers.

• I am presently engaged in the work of Christian literature, having published under the 'Words of Truth' imprint.

I enjoy good ministry.

Greetings in Christ, Andrew.

To: Andrew Poots
Thu, 8 Jan 2004

Dear Andrew,
Thanks for your reply. I seem to recall hearing the remark as to GVW which you attribute to JBS. Do you have a source/reference for it?

• You mention interest in reprinting GVW's ministry. Does that mean that the reprint by HLH some of years ago is out of print?

• My biography of GVW is still quite incomplete, but it may still be of interest. Of course, we do not copyright our articles, but if used credit would be appreciated.

• Perhaps someone will see your request as to the 'Present Testimony' and respond. If so, please let us know. If such copies exist, they will be rare indeed!

Jeff located your web site, but I had difficulty with it, unable to scroll horizontally and links don't seem to work.

As you "enjoy good ministry" I suggest you review that of Mr. G. R. Cowell on MB.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Andrew Poots
Thu, 8 Jan 2004

Dear Gordon and Jeff,
The remark about GVW is found on page 254 of Letters from J. B. Stoney Vol. 3, Stow Hill Edition.

• The volumes published by HLH are still available, but there does seem to be considerable additional material not included there.

• For instance, he gave three lectures on 'The Coming Kingdom' in Georgetown, Demerara on the 11th, 18th and 25th January, 1876. It's material of this nature that we are chiefly on the look-out for.

• He was closely associated with JND and on occasions shared the platform with him. e.g. 'Notes of Addresses by J.N.D. and G.V.W. taken on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th October 1868 at Edinburgh'.

Your biography gives the general outline. I am sure many details could be researched and filled in.

• For instance, in addition to those places you mentioned, I believe he also visited the continent of Europe and Canada.

• His hymn "What raised the wondrous thought" – Number 330 in the 1903 Little Flock hymn book edited by Mr. T. H. Reynolds – is one of my favourites. [See No. 92 in the 1973 book]

My web site is in a very inchoate state. I hope eventually to have some ministry there.

I am familiar with the ministry of Mr. Cowell. David Porter [see following] loaned me some volumes. What a tragedy that he was ousted by J.T.Jr. in the succession to become universal leader.

In the Lord Jesus, Andrew.

To: Andrew Poots
Fri, 9 Jan 2004

Dear Andrew,
Thanks for the JBS/GVW reference which I have added to the biography.

A 'Bulletin' has been posted re your interest in the 'Present Testimony' and any additional ministry of GVW. Please let us know if you have any response.

Your contact with David Porter is interesting. We have had some good correspondence and we enjoyed a visit with him when he was in Canada a few years ago.

I hope we can keep in touch from time to time.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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David Porter

To: David Porter
DCP17948ATaol.com
Newtownards, Northern Ireland, BT23 8HH
Sat, 03 Jul 1999

Hi David,
Thanks for dropping in. If I recall correctly you are only the 2nd guest from Northern Ireland! More would be very welcome.

If you have any thoughts or concerns you would like to share, please feel free to send a message. I would be very glad to hear from you.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: David Porter
Sun, 4 Jul 1999

Dear Brother Gordon,
Thank you for the E-mail. Thank you also for a very interesting site.

• I was particularly glad to get the biographical details of CAC and GRC

• The ministry of these two brothers has helped me a lot, but up to now I had little or no information about them.

I will write soon to give further information about myself.

• I will be away from this house for the next few days and will return on Friday when I hope to E-mail you again.

• In the meantime please accept my thanks for the material you have made available to me and my sincere love in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yours in His Name, David.

From: David Porter
Sat, 10 Jul 1999

Dear Gordon
I write to tell you about myself. As you know my name is David Porter and I am 50 years old.

• I was converted at the age of sixteen (July 1965) through the witness of a young man who had only been a Christian for a week himself.

I am married to Norma and we have four children, David, married to Wendy, who have just had baby Matthew, Stephen, Andrew, who is in Canada until September, and Sharon.

I have never been in fellowship with any company of the Brethren but am one of those who fits the second goal of your site to reach out to believers who have been exercised by the writings of JND, JBS, FER, CAC, etc.

• I have for a number of years been reading such ministry and obtaining it, new or second-hand, from various bookshops.

• I then wrote to Kingston Bible Trust to see if they could supply me with more of CAC

• This brought me in contact with Malcolm Withell who has e-mailed me for the first time this week having discovered my e-mail address on your site.

I have attended a number of meetings in Bangor of the company connected with Kingston but have not, as yet, joined them.

• In spite of my hesitancy they have warmly welcomed me and I have enjoyed fellowship among my brethren.

I better tell you why I am so hesitant.

• I am a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and I am presently engaged in establishing a new congregation in Newtownards.

• This work has prospered under the hand of the Lord. To move from this would involve a major upheaval from my family and myself and the congregation.

I desire to walk in the pathway the Lord has for me and thank Him for the light given so far

• but I cannot at this point see what the future holds with regard to fellowship with the Kingston company or any other of the, so called, 'exclusive brethren' groups.

• I only know that my attempt to forget this light and to walk in the security of my present position is not working.

Finally, on a different subject, you may already know about this, but I have a Booklet No. 6 of the "Ministry of G. R. Cowell" which includes three addresses from 1962.

• It would be good to have a full and detailed list of GRC's ministry and perhaps Kingston might produce a new edition of the ministry.

• I expect Malcolm will read this, but he already knows how much I appreciate GRC

Once again thank you for the work you have put into your site. If I can help in any way please let me know.

With much affection in the Lord.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, David.

To: David Porter
Thu, 15 Jul 1999

Dear David
Your message with personal and family details, and your frankness as to your personal situation and exercises, is appreciated.

• You may be familiar with my own history and exercises through various items on MB, so I will not elaborate.

• But we have much in common, beginning with our conversions at 16 and the help we have received through the ministry of CAC and GRC.

• And you are certainly one of my brethren whom I have hoped to contact.

It a great encouragement that the Lord is still exercising some of His own

• despite the fact that the ministry and practices of earlier brethren have been brought into public disrepute by the wicked actions of some,

• and that many younger persons who have been disillusioned and damaged have turned their backs on their heritage.

You are doubtless under great inward pressure as you consider the impact any move you make may have on your wife and family, and your congregation – all persons used to trusting you and following your lead.

• A right step may stumble some – how much more a mis-step or no step at all.

• In this connection – within the section on "Bethesda 1848" in CHM's "History: The First 50 Years" – there is an account of a congregation in London in 1853 which may interest you.

I am sure you will have considered the examples in Scripture, but these come to mind:

• Abraham obeyed the call and went out not knowing where he was going.

• Some left all to follow the Lord.

• Peter left the security of the boat, assured that he was going to the Lord.

• Paul counted his religious background loss.
  • Faith, however weak or tested, answers to fresh light from God.

I bear witness by experience that answering to the light is costly, and that disobeying it is more costly, by far.

• And this is unthinkable if it is truly light from God.

Just where obedience may lead you is not mine to say.

• I do not personally know the brethren with whom you are in contact in Bangor and on that account would not undertake to commend them – or any others I do not know – to you.

Fellowship has both a universal and a local bearing, but normally one would expect to find it with some in his own locality or nearby, at least.

• Your own spiritual sensibilities and knowledge of the Scriptures will be a safeguard.

• Assuming a company holds and walks in the truth as known among brethren, I would particularly look for love towards all the saints and freedom from legalism and sectarianism.

You are in our prayers daily that you may be both sensitive and submissive to the Spirit's direction in all your considerations.

It is of interest to hear you have Booklet No. 6 of GRC's ministry. I have #1 to #4, and am checking with Malcolm Withell for #5 and #6.

• If I cannot obtain #6, I may later ask you for the contents so that I can update a catalogue of GRC's ministry. You will be welcome to a copy when, and if, it is completed.

I have just added a landmark address by GRC entitled "Separated ..." which you may not have seen.

I am thankful you appreciate 'My Brethren', and also thank you for your brotherly offer of help, which may be of use in the future.

News of your progress in your exercise will be most welcome.

With love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: David Porter
Mon, 30 Oct 2000

Dear David,
It is well over a year since we last corresponded and I am wondering how you are getting on with your exercises and contacts with Bangor.

• You said then, "I only know that my attempt to forget this light and to walk in the security of my present position is not working". You have often been in our thoughts and prayers.

You also said, "I have a Booklet No. 6 of the "Ministry of G. R. Cowell" which includes three addresses from 1962".

• As I have not been able to locate this booklet, would it be possible for you to send me a xerox copy or, failing that, the titles, scriptures, localities, dates and page numbers.

• With this information I can update my catalogue of his ministry and would, of course, send you a copy.

We had a short visit with Colin Purdy of Warrenpoint recently when he was here to visit his uncle.

If you have not visited MB lately you will find a number of additions.

With love in the Lord Jesus to you and your family, Gordon.

From: David Porter
Wed, 3 Oct 2001

Dear brother Gordon,
I write to express my sincere thanks for the increase in the amount of ministry by G. R. Cowell on the site. I have told you before how much I appreciate this ministry.

I usually print out the ministry as I find it easier to read and also it allows me to annotate the pages.

• Can I confirm that the notes in the yellow boxes within the text were added by yourself?

I would like to produce a detailed catalogue of the ministry of GRC at some time.

It seems a long time since my visit to you in May but I still hold very happy memories of that day.

With much love in the Lord Jesus, Yours in Him, David.

To: David Porter
Thu, 04 Oct 2001

Dear David,
How good to hear from you, especially as I was going to write to draw your attention to the Bulletin on GRC's ministry. It's encouraging to know you still check out MB.

• Your prayers for me and especially for Jeff Kuns who has started the scanning will be appreciated.

I am not sure that I have been consistent throughout MB in identifying the source of notes shown in the yellow boxes, and I will try to improve on this.

• Notes immediately following the blue and white titles are Scripture references and occasionally I have added information to clarify location. etc.

• But for 'Fundamental Truths ...' so far all the notes are from the booklet. Whether they are GRC's or Philip Haddad's (the editor) I can't be sure.

• Those notes were added to clarify statements which had been unjustly criticized.

As to "a detailed catalogue of the ministry of GRC", I have already produced one – except to add the booklet you kindly gave me – but I am having difficulty printing it in booklet form.

• It was done in WordPerfect 6.1 for DOS which does not work properly on my new computer. Not being a 'techie' I'm not sure how to resolve the matter yet. If I can't solve the problem or get it to work in WP9 Windows – also a problem – I may have to convert to ascii and print.

• You will certainly receive one when completed.

Betty and I remember your visit fondly and are thankful for our links in Christ.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: David Porter
Mon, 18 Feb 2002

Dear Gordon
Greetings to you and Betty in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Regarding the recent offer of a book by J. B. Catterall at an exorbitant price, I spoke to a brother about this on Saturday at a fellowship meeting and he has the following items by Catterall in his library. It might be possible to get some of this material copied.

1. Memorials of J. B. Catterall's Ministry; H/back; 242pp.
   The following do not appear in the Contents of 1, above:-
2. Divine Formation; Booklet; 29pp.
3. The Power and Efficacy of the Ministry of Christ; Booklet; 16pp.
4. "Lord, Teach us to pray"; Boolket; 30pp.
5. Serving God; Booklet; 29pp.
6. The Hebrew Servant; Booklet containing
   1. The Service of the Lord for His People; 18pp;
   2. Devotion of the Hebrew Servant; 20pp;
   3. The Spirit of the Hebrew Servant; 18pp.

Finally, we are coming to Canada, God willing, on Wednesday 27th February. My son, Andrew, is to be married in March in Canada. We will be over for about two weeks.

With much affection in the Lord Jesus,

Yours in Him, David.

To: David Porter
Wed, 20 Feb 2002

Dear David,
Glad to know you are keeping an eye on MB. Thanks very much for the details on J. B. Catterall's Ministry, which I will add to his biography.

• Perhaps someone will undertake to scan it for the cd-rom; it would be a good addition.

Betty and I hope you can spare time on your proposed trip for a visit with us. We still have very happy memories of your earlier visit.

• Please call us as soon as you know what times might be open so that we can make plans.

I suppose you have noticed the start here on scanning GRC, and I look forward to going over this with you.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: David Porter
Fri, 12 Dec 2003

Dear Gordon,
Greetings from Dromara. I am very pleased to see the posting of the G. R. Cowell material is now nearly complete.

• I was wondering if the address by Cowell – Glory to God in the Highest – given at Bristol in 1951 was including in the material you have on line?

• I may have missed it on the site, but if you do not have it I would be happy to send you a copy of the reading.

With much affection in Christ, David Porter.

To: David Porter
Sun, 14 Dec 2003

Dear David,
How good to hear from you again! Betty and I remember well the pleasant visit with you here.

• We haven't heard any recent news of you through Walter Fleming from his family and have been wondering how you are getting on.

• I think you are right, I can't find that reading on MB or in any of the few volumes yet to be added.

• A copy would certainly be appreciated. I hope you can email it to save you any extra work.

Affectionately in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Steven Porter

To: Steven L. Porter
sporter718ATaol.com
Lynchburg, VA, USA
Tue, 22 Jun 1999

Dear Steve,
Thanks for dropping in. I'm looking forward to hearing from you on your return after you have had opportunity to read some of the ministry.

• Like yourself, I have been greatly helped – and challenged – by Mr. Stoney's ministry.

• As you may already have learned from "History: Review of Truth" by JBS, Quemerford is a town in Wiltshire where annual meetings were held for many years in the late 1800's.

• Mr. Stoney habitually attended these meetings and ministered the word there.

• All of his ministry at Quemerford (1873-95) is now in volume 2 of "Ministry by J. B. Stoney".

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

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Jean-Louis Prache

From: Jean-Louis Prache
pracheATushs2.u-strasbg.fr
Strasbourg, France
Thu, 12 Sep, 2002

Dear Friends,
I am happy I discovered your site on the Internet. But I am extremely frustrated, because I could not find a global plan of the inner organization of this site.

• I would be interested to explore it in a systematic and logical way.

• For example, I am interested in reading all the biographies of the great Brethren – and why not to print them. But I lost them after clicking on something, and afterwards I could not find them again.

• The same for the texts – very interesting – on the history of the Brethren. And so on.

• So please tell me the addresses of the main divisions and subchapters of your 'gigantic' and 'hyper-ramified' site. Why not in the form of a genealogical tree? It would be a pity if I could not explore it.

Another frustration: Many of these texts are surrounded by frames, so that it is extremely disagreeable when one wants to print them. I loose so much place and paper! Please send me only the web addresses of all the divisions and subchapters that are without Frames. Thank you very much.

And another question, please send me please your most complete Catalog of books, tracts, and so on – maybe I'll be able to save much money by buying from you the paper edition of many biographical and historical sketches that you display on your web site – and I'll spare unuseful printing?

Sincerely yours in Jesus.

To: Jean-Louis Prache
Fri, 13 Sep, 2002

Dear Jean-Louis,
Welcome to 'My Brethren' (MB). Your interest is appreciated. Perhaps when you visit again you will be free – as so many earlier guests have been – to share some details as to yourself and your background.

Your frustration is regrettable. Perhaps a few explanations will remove it. I'm not addressing your problems individully as they overlap and are all covered in the following.

• The menu at the foot of the 'Home Page' offers the choice of using 'Frames' – strongly recommended for fast navigation and reading ease – or of using 'No Frames' for ease of copying or printing.

• Under either 'Frames' or 'No Frames' clicking on 'Menu-SiteMap' takes you to what you call "a global plan of the inner organization of this site".

• Choosing 'Site News' instead, on the menu at the foot of the 'Home Page', will allow you to see what has been happening on MB
  • and provide easier accesss to the 'Guest Book' and the 'Mailbox' – for correspondence – than from the 'Menu-SiteMap'.

On the 'Menu-Site Map'– by scrolling or using the 'drop down' menu 'Check Menu-SiteMap' – you can find and access, any of the groups or sub-groups – e.g. 'History', 'Ministry' – or any of the pages within those groups.

• The 'drop down' menu 'Jump Directly to' will take tou directly to a group or sub-group.

You can return to the 'Menu-SiteMap' by clicking it at the top of any 'Frames' menu or at the top of any 'No Frames' page. You can change from 'Frames' to 'No Frames' via the menu bar at the top of either 'Menu-SiteMap'.

• If at any time you end up where you did not expect to be you can return to your former page by using the 'Back' button on your browser's 'Standard' toolbar or by right-clicking your mouse and selecting 'Back'.

We had not thought of 'My Brethren' as "gigantic" but realize there is much to explore, and have tried to make navigation of MB simple and straightforward, as well as offer various options.

• Following the above should bring you good results. There will be no need for separate page addresses if the 'Menu-SiteMap' is used.

• Also in 'Frames' the group menus – easily returned to ny clicking the group name at the top of the 'Frames' menu – allow quick switching from one subject to another.

I trust the above will help you to get the most benefit from MB, and look forward to hearing from you again.

Regarding your final question: 'My Brethren' is strictly a web site and does not publish any books. The biographies have been specially compiled for MB and are not available in this form elsewhere.

• Similarly, most of the history is not available elsewhere, except for a small portion included in a publication of Kingston Bible Trust. See Guests: Site News: KBT Report: a Book Review.

• Some, but not certainly not all, of the ministry on MB is available from KBT in England. KBT does not have a web site, but you can see a similar catalogue through a link on Guests Site News: Bible and Books: Dover Bible Fund.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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Heino Promm

To: Heino Promm
hprommATtelus.net
South Surrey, B.C., Canada
Thu, 03 Feb 2000

Dear Heino,
Thanks for visiting MB. Please come again.

If you would like to share some of your history or exercises, we would be very interested.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Heino Promm
Thu, 03 Feb 2000

Dear brother Gordon,
Thank you for your acknowledgment. I am thankful for having 'arrived' at your web site.

• As I was looking for C.H.M.¹s writings, with my Macintosh 'Sherlock' it directed me to your web page.

We are presently involved with translating good Gospel material into the Estonian language, so I am always on the look out for such material. There is a great need for it in Estonia.

• At the moment we are looking for a printer, have had some inquiries in US, and now we are looking for it in Estonia which would eliminate the shipping charges.

Will be visiting your web site again.

Yours in His eternal love and bond, Heino Promm.

To: Heino Promm
Tue, 31 Jul 2001

Dear Heino,
Thanks for your message re John Hunziker. I had already heard from another. He will be missed by his family and local brethren – and by 'My Brethren' for his good letters and contributions of material.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Heino Promm
Tue, 31 Jul 2001

Beloved of God, dear brother Gordon,
Many thanks for your reply. Yes, John will be missed by the saints at Palmetto. We were together about a week before his home call. Over the years that we visited the beloved saints at Palmetto, it was joy to have fellowship with John. We miss him too.

In His eternal bond, Heino.

From: Heino Promm
Wed, 23 Oct 2002

I have returned to 'My Brethren' web page to make a change to my E-Mail address. [Changed above.]

Looking again at the mail that has arrived since I visited the page I note some familiar names there.

Thank you dear brother for the service.

In His eternal bond, Heino Promm.

To: Heino Promm
Fri, 25 Oct 2002

Dear Heino,
Thanks for your new email adress and for visiting MB again. Have you checked out the ministry additions, especially that of G. R. Cowell?

In the Lord, Gordon.

From: Heino Promm
Fri, 25 Oct 2002

Dear brother Gordon,
Many thanks for your reply. Yes I have looked at the areas that you had suggested. Will be back again.

Yours in His eternal love, Heino.

From: Heino Promm
Tue, 30 May 2006

Beloved brother Gordon Rainbow,
The last time I visited the Guest Book was the year 2000. I noted that in your reply you mentioned about our exercise. From 1992 we have sought to print Gospel literature in the Estonian language.

• To this point in time we have printed 31,000 booklets. These booklets are translations from English. The main writers have been G. Cutting and Alexander Marshall.

• From the last printing, which was 12,000, we have been informed that they have all been distributed. From a brother in England we received a note saying, "The reception of booklets in Estonia is much better than in England". We thank the Lord that that He has given us this opportunity to spread the Gospel in the written form.

Yours in His eternal love, Heino.

To: Heino Promm
Thu, 8 Jun 2006

Dear Heino,
Thanks for updating us on the spread of the gospel in Estonian. May the good reception of the booklets be used to the acknowledging of the Lord Jesus as both Lord and Saviour by many.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Heino Promm
Fri, 26 Jan 2006

Beloved of God, dear brother Gordon,
Thank you for sending the update on Daniel. He is in our prayers. I have informed our sons in California and in Toronto.

In His eternal care, Heino Promm.

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Robert Promm

To: Robert Promm
raprommATix.netcom.com
Saratoga, CA, USA
Sat, 15 Apr 2000

Dear Robert,
Thanks for visiting MB, I'm glad you find it interesting. Please come again.

• You might want to check the Guest Book and Mailbox entries for Heino Promm. Am I right in assuming that he is your father?

While I did not have any close connections with SF, I do remember Arthur Widtfeldt, and the other family names you mention, Hunziker and Robertson,

• and others who may, or may not, be connected with you at the Palmetto room.

• Over the years there have only been occasional snippets of information as to brethren with whom you meet, and I would be glad of any recent news.

You will be able to check our experiences and history on MB.

• If you are free to share, your exercise in leaving the "open" meetings and moving with the brethren there in SF, and what their current stand is, would be of great interest.

With love in our Lord Jesus to you, your wife and family, and all the brethren with you, Gordon.

From: Robert A. Promm
Sat, 15 Apr 2000

Dear brother,
Yes, Heino Promm is my father. I hadn't checked to see that he had already made an entry into your guest book.

• I also see that brother Harry Lewis has visited your site as well. Harry was with us last year for a visit. He and his dear wife have much sorrow over their exit from the J.T.Jr. party.

• Our brethren here in SFO have similar histories.

We came to the SFO brethren after arriving in California from Ontario.

• The first few years we were here, we were with a large open fellowship much nearer to our home.

• While we appreciate the work of God in those folks, we were concerned that they had a different understanding of the truth of the assembly than we were taught and were convinced was the truth.

• A brother in that open meeting who had formerly been with the Kelly brethren told us of the brethren in SFO.

• I began going to their reading meetings for about a year before we asked to be identified with them. We have been with them ever since.

They are no longer with Renton as you probably know. They seek to meet simply for the Lord with no association.

• Some brethren who had left in 1960 have come together with us. Families named Hawkins, Petry and Knight. Brother Roland Hawkins went to be with the Lord last year.

The Lord's richest blessing on you and yours.

Maranatha! Robert

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Colin Purdy

To: Colin Purdy
colin.purdyATbtinternet.com
Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland
Mon, 09 Oct 2000

Dear Colin,
Yes, we are well, thank you. Your recent visit was very refreshing. Hope you find MB of interest and will come again. May the Lord bless you.

Yours in our Lord Jesus, Gordon and Betty.

To: Colin Purdy
Mon, 13 Nov 2000

Dear Colin,
You may have already heard, but we wanted to let you know that we had the great joy of welcoming Walter to join us in the breaking of bread yesterday, Lords' Day.

We remember your all too brief but pleasant visit.

With love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon and Betty.

From: Colin Purdy
Tue, 14 Nov 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for your email. We were so glad to hear from Uncle Walter last week that he was going to remember the Lord again.

Hope you are both well, I really enjoyed being with you both too. It is such a joy being able to spend time with the Lords people.

Keep in touch, Colin.

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Geoffrey Purdy

Dear Geoffrey,
Thanks for visiting 'My Brethren'. I'm glad you are finding it interesting. It would be appreciated if you would share your background for the 'Mailbox'.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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John Puxty

To: John Puxty
John.PuxtyATcibasc.com
Leeds, England
Thu, 04 Nov 1999

Dear John,
Thanks for dropping in. I hope you will come again and find some encouragement from the good ministry of the past and guidance for the future.

• If you care to share any more of your history, it will be welcome.

Love in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: John Puxty
Thu, 4 Nov 1999

Dear Gordon,
I use the Internet at work. When I found your pages I was at the end of my lunch break. I wanted to register my interest but time was very limited. I shall write more in due course.

My parents are Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Puxty of Retford. They are still with one of the Brethren assemblies – not sure which though.

Yours, John.

From: John Puxty
Sat, 27 Nov 1999

Dear Gordon
I now have opportunity to give you a longer reply. I grew up in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. Both my parents have been Exclusive Brethren all their lives.

• In 1959/60 a number of the older Retford Brethren left and formed an independent meeting. My parents' sympathies were with them but didn't follow them as we had family still in the Exclusives.

• To put things in context I was born in 1948, the eldest of four children. In my early teens I was quite devout but then doubts set in and I had no one I dared to discuss this with.

• By my late teens I had lost my faith and no longer believed in God but, because of the effect it would have had on the family, I kept quiet and stayed with the Brethren.

When I was 22 I met someone 'in the world' and left the Brethren and the family home.

• The rest of the family were supposed to break all contact with me but my Mother did keep in touch. She did everything she could to try and prevent the subsequent marriage.

• The ironic thing is that if she had not done what she did I might never have married my wife. (26 years later I left my wife and am now divorced.)

• We were determined to prove my Mother wrong and I felt I was continually having to make the choice between the two.

After we had been married a few years my parents came out of the Exclusives and joined the 'London Brethren'.

• I have had contact with them since that time but I have two brothers and a sister whom I have not seen for over 25 years.

Early on in our courtship Diana (my ex. wife) took me to a Church of England evening service. I felt that here was something I could cope with and started a new stage of my spiritual journey.

• I have remained in the Church of England. I take a very inclusive view of my fellow Christians.

• I believe it is impossible to get a simple, unambiguous interpretation of the life of faith from the Bible. I start from the words of Jesus to love God and to love my neighbour.

I have currently been reading 'The Recovery of the Truth' by Mr. Gardiner. It was given to me by an Aunt.

• I find it very interesting; I must say that the early disputes involving JND show me how deep-rooted the Brethren way of thinking is.

I may not be the usual sort of person that writes to you, I am very much in the liberal mode.

• Jesus said that we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free.

• I feel a great sense of freedom in acknowledging a faith which is my own. I believe that God has been with me in my walk of faith.

If you would like to know any more about my history I would be only too pleased to tell what I can but on the basis of sharing information.

• I have no intention of joining any Brethren meeting, whatever formulas are accepted.

• Sorry if that sounds a bit hard but I need to make my position clear.

My parents are now in their eighties and not in the best of health.

• The two Brethren they have been breaking bread with are about to leave Retford thus leaving them on their own, on their own in a town which has hundreds, if not thousands, of good Christian folk living in it.

"My brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it", Luke 8:21. What is the word of God?

Thanks for your interest, Gordon.

Yours, John.

To: John Puxty
Tue, 30 Nov 1999

Dear John,
Thanks for sharing some of your experiences. You are quite right in saying, "I may not be the usual sort of person that writes to you". That does not make you any the less welcome.

• You have made your "position clear". I quite understand both the fact that, and the reasons why, you "have no intention of joining any Brethren meeting, whatever formulas are accepted".

Let me too make my position clear. I have no intention of trying to persuade you, John, or any of MB's guests to join any particular group.

• The main objective of this site is to reach out to those of my brethren who were damaged, disillusioned or discarded by the legal system which emerged in 1959, to recall them to their birthright – the rich spiritual heritage of former years; encourage them to take possession of it.

• That may seem somewhat vague, but I am confident that any – in their mature years and who are personally committed to Christ – who are able in their spirits to rise above the sad experiences of their youth will find that there is indeed a rich and glorious spiritual heritage of which they have been robbed or defrauded.

In a general way, your experience and reaction is similar to that of many of your generation, growing up with very little knowledge or experience of life among the brethren prior to the emergence of the legal system in 1959.

• Many had not definitely and personally accepted the Lordship of Christ in their lives, and were still going through the struggles of growing up.

• They were understandably turned off by what had become a cruel caricature of Christianity.

• They had been taught that the brethren were right, in the meeting and perhaps by parents, but could see many wrong practices and injustices.

• They rebelled against it all and fled, sometimes into the world, sometimes from what had become corrupted into being one of the worst sects into various other more respectable sects.

But with many there is still a fascination with their origin.

• With some it may be purely sentimental, an understandable longing for family and friends and to re-live their youthful memories.

• Some have a sincere desire to help others who have escaped but are at loose ends.

• Others seem to be obsessed with the spiritual atrocities and keep going over them.

Many, as yourself, use the internet, perhaps to connect with the past, to find family or friends, to look for answers or information or for reasons they cannot yet define.

• It seems similar to the need many adopted persons have to find their birth parents.

• You left that wicked sect many years ago but despite your many experiences and present outlook you have been reading AJG's "Recovery …" which deals mostly with better times, despite the many sad and perhaps needless divisions.

It is sad indeed that you had no one you dared to discuss your doubts with.

• I had no doubts as to my relations and belief in God, having been snatched out of atheism as a teenager.

• But when doubts arose as to happenings among the brethren I was in the same position, not daring to discuss my concerns with anyone except my wife.

• I want to be available to any who need someone to confide in and thank God that, unexpectedly, I have had some recent experience and His blessing with a family in spiritual need.

You ask re Luke 8: 21, "What is the word of God"? You will hopefully find that out – generally and specifically – in the Lord's dealing with you.

• You say, "Jesus said that we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free". I might ask you, what is the truth?

I'm so glad you have access to your aged parents and trust you may be able to comfort them in their last years.

Though I may not agree with your present situation, I have not written to criticize or condemn you, John. My desire is for your spiritual blessing.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: John Puxty
Sun, 5 Dec 1999

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for your reply; I appreciate all you say.

• I think I questioned matters of faith before I questioned the system I was in.

• I started to break bread when I was 12 and did give myself to the Lord in a real way during those early teenage years. Once I lost my faith then the whole structure collapsed.

I am fascinated with the past. When I met and married my wife I felt I had to reject the past completely. I have come to realise that there were some good things about it.

• In my reading of AJG's book I thought I could detect the seeds of what later 'blossomed' in 1959.

I believe the word of God comes to people in many different ways. I guess I am very inclusive in my approach to matters of faith.

• I am sure that there are people in all the Christian denominations who have responded to God's call and who are serving Him and are truly Christ's brethren.

• Somebody once said that as he got older he believed more and more in less and less. I think he was saying that we learn to discern what is truly important.

• For me, I know I am loved by God and I start from the commandments of Jesus to love God and to love my neighbour.

• Working that out in one's day to day life is not easy but God is with us in the struggle. It is the truth of God's love and presence which sets me free.

I have also heard it said that people are more often right than wrong in the things they affirm and, more often wrong than right in the things they deny.

• We can all look at the various churches and see things which are wrong or unscriptural according one or another reference but what do we see if we look with God's eyes?

• People faithfully trying to fulfil the word of God according to the light and faith they have been given.

Something which I am aware of is that having come out of the Brethren I am left with some deep seated guilt.

• That doesn't mean that I think I should return, it is just an acknowledgement of the effect my upbringing has had on me.

• I am thinking that by writing to you I am using this as a means to let go of these residual feelings.

• This means of communication does allow one to be freer than otherwise might be the case.

• It is liberating to write to a 'Brother' and say that this is where I am now.

I think it is a really excellent thing which you are doing – I am sure there are many Brethren who have been deeply scarred by their experiences.

• I acknowledge that some of these would not want to go anywhere else except a 'Meeting'. I know this is the case with my parents.

• My Mother says the same as you in that she looks back to a 'golden age' when things were so much different.

There is a dilemma concerning authority. The 'major' denominations have hierarchies and official ministers.

• Christians such as Brethren and House Churches do not have official structures but in practice the authority exercised through the unofficial structures can be more rigid than in the more formal ones.

• It is possible for the JT juniors of this world to seize control because there are not the checks and balances in place.

• You may quote the role of the Holy Spirit in controlling things but then how do you account for so many Brethren being led astray?

• I saw the effect of a very authoritarian, egotistical leader on the Sheffield meeting in the late sixties and it wasn't very nice.

• More than one person had nervous breakdowns. There was a lot of stress in our family.

• Indeed, in the end our family has been cruelly divided and yet we would all call ourselves Christians.

• I believe the answer is to be seen in the life and death of Christ – if we have the eyes to really see.

• I wonder how long Jesus would have survived in a meeting before being withdrawn from?

Well I must be getting on. I do thank you for your corres-pondence, Gordon, and what you say. I do appreciate it.

Yours, John.

This message appeared on another site: June 5, 2001 I am sure some of you will remember my father – William (Will) Puxty. Sadly he passed away on Sunday, 20 May aged 88 years old. He, together with my mother, left the 'Jim Taylor' Brethren in 1974. They had been with the Sheffield (England) assembly which actually met in Doncaster. My mother and father had been continuing a Brethren meeting on their own in Retford right up until my father's death. In fact he had a massive heart attack as he was getting dressed ready for the Morning Meeting. Some of the Brethren my parents have been walking with went to Retford for his burial - a very moving and loving occasion. My sister and two brothers who are still with the 'Jim Taylor' Brethren were present in the cemetery but stood at least 50 yards away, and with a chaperone!     John Puxty

To: John Puxty
Wed, 06 Jun 2001

Dear John,
I was interested to see your message (above) on Dick Wyman's site. Our last exchange of correspondence was in December 1999, but you are not forgotten.

My sympathies are with you in the loss of your father after a long life of faithfulness. I assume your mother is still in the body.

• Having lost both my parents I know the sorrow – though not as the world. In their last years I came to a great appreciation of them both as loving and sacrificing parents and as subjects – late in life – of God's work.

• I'm glad the burial was "a very moving and loving occasion" as such times should be, despite the divided family conditions. May the Lord comfort you.

The reference to Doncaster and Retford caught my eye as well, as I am very desirous of contacting any brethren in or near that area because of an inquiry I have had. If you are able to give me any names, email and/or postal addresses, I would appreciate it.

In our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: John Puxty
Mon, 11 Jun 2001

Dear Gordon ,

Thank you for your kind message. I have told my mother of your reply – she would be delighted to receive a letter from you and I am sure she could give you some information about Brethren who have lived in the area.

• She would also be able to let you have other useful names and addresses.

The address is: Mrs Emmie Puxty …

Yours, John.

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

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