Mailbox: TUV: Nov. 1998 – present

Yours in the love of the Lord, John.

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Tony Tronson

To: Tony Tronson
tj_tronxATwin-4-u.net
Lidderdale, IA, 51452, USA
Tue, 7 Aug 2001

Dear Tony,
Welcome to 'My Brethren'. I hope you found it of interest and that you will visit again.

You may have noticed in the 'Mailbox' that many guests are free to share their background and concerns. I would be glad to learn of yours.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Tony Tronson
Tue, 7 Aug 2001

Sir,
I do not wish, that you should take for granted, that I am saved, just by the way I talk about God, Jesus, or, by the way I show care for people, that I must be a Christian.

• Always ask to be sure who you are sharing your pearls with. Many have said "I found Jesus, I got saved, I came to the Lord, God is good, O God bless you". (And then what ?)

I have not made a profession to you, nor have I given you a reason for my hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, here it is, so that you may know how I was saved.

• I am one, that God, because of the work that His Son did on the cross to redeem His creation, pulled from the miry pit, wiped the dirt from my eyes, unplugged my ears, made it so I could partake of the Holy Spirit and taste the goodness of God.

• "Not saved yet", then He, through faithful workers, showed me where I stood before Him, "LOST". Then He presented His Son Jesus to me, and all that He had done.

• How He "Jesus", had come to fulfill God's righteousness, by taking the judgement due to me, He suffered in my place, He shed His blood and died once, that I might have eternal life, with Him, in heaven.

• I did not accept this at first, and I am very thankful for His mercy, because, now I know that I could not have gotten out of that pit without Him pulling me out. I was truly without hope.

• I did not find Jesus, because He has never been missing. I did not come to Him, because I was stuck, without strength. He found me, because I was lost.

• Before I accepted His Way, I was free to do as is written in the scriptures about "the dog and the sow".

• But now, I know He has forgiven my sins, I am His, I am bought with a great price. God, by His Holy Spirit, has sealed my soul forever in His Son Jesus. He has given me reason to rejoice, through good times and tough times.

• And now, I am saying the words of one that knew Him well, and is with Him in the Eternal Home on High. Paul, the one that hated the Way at first, then love it more than life later. Praise be to the God and Savior of my soul, Jesus.

• Paul wrote in, Galatians 2:20, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Take care, Tony.

To: Tony Tronson
Wed, 8 Aug 2001

Dear Tony,
Thanks for sharing with us. Be assured, I don't take you or anyone for granted.

• May you grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

• The ministry on 'My Brethren' is calculated to attract to Christ and promote spiritual growth. Check it out.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

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W. Eugene Tucker

To: W. Eugene Tucker
tuckerweATsbcglobal.net
Tampa, Florida, USA
Fri, 27 Dec 2002

Dear Eugene,
Welcome to 'My Brethren' and thanks for sharing your personal background.

• As you have not requested privacy I assume that you have no objection to having your email posted on MB.

I appreciate your confidence both in sharing and in making your inquiry.

• An immediate answer might not take all matters sufficiently into account, but I will write again shortly after having time to prayerfully weigh your whole situation in the light of the Scriptures.

In our Lord, Gordon.

The original inquiry and our subsequent correspondence is in Guests: My Answer 4: Governmental Consequences.

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Rodney Turner

To: Rodney Turner
juneATpinebelt.net
Needham, AL, USA
Tue, 24 Aug 1999

Dear Rodney,

Thank you for visiting MB. I'm glad you like it.

As you say, our beliefs on many points may be "the same".

• However, if you explore MB I'm sure you will find several important matters that are presented somewhat differently from what you have heard and believed.

• Your comments or questions on any of these will be of interest.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

To: Rodney Turner
Tue, 09 Nov 1999

Dear Rodney,
Thanks for dropping in again and for your encouraging comments.

• I would be interested in knowing something of your background and exercises, if you are free to share.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Rodney Turner
Tue, 9 Nov 1999

Hello Bro. Gordon,
I'm going to send you a copy of our church history. Not much different from Baptist except we have the Lord's table every Sunday and a few other things. We don't take up a collection. Most women wear a covering. No one pastor system.

Rodney.

To: Rodney Turner
Thu, 11 Nov 1999

Dear Rodney,
Thank you for the history which I read with interest. You are favoured to have a Christian family background.

I will be glad to hear from you at any time and hope you will continue to find items to interest and challenge you on MB.

Yours in the Lord. Gordon.

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Laurie Twinam

To: Laurie Twinam
laurietwiATtalktalknet
Subject: Dick Wyman's guest book
Tue., December 8, 1998

Dear Laurie,
After seeing Tim's entries, I have been wondering about how to contact you – and then I see your entry – and "Cri de Coeur" and "Retrospect".

I have often reviewed our early 1970's correspondence and your poems, and have preserved them.

• In fact I have compiled 2 booklets "Retrospect and other poems" and "Windows in Heaven" etc., and made 4-5 copies for close friends who would value them.

• I would be glad to send you a copy of each if you would confirm your present mailing address.

I hope you will check my new web site – just up in November. You will see that there is a page ready for some of your poems.

• I am thinking mainly, but not exclusively, of "Windows in Heaven" and others of a more general nature.

• Do you have any objection to my putting them in? Please let me know. I believe they would be an encouragement to many.

I am trying to do some biographical sketches and particularly want some details on GRC Do you know how Mrs. Cowell could be contacted, if still in the body – or Alan or Brian?

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Laurie Twinam
Tue., December 8, 1998

Dear Gordon,
What a pleasant surprise to get an E-mail from you – and to discover your interesting website!

• So much has happened since our last contact that I can't possibly compress it into a brief message – but how very good the Lord has been, His lovingkindness endureth forever!

… It's encouraging to hear that you remember 'Single Eye' and the various poems that were included.

• Certainly I have no objection to your circulating the poems – and you'll see that I've dug one or two out myself to try to meet some of the crying spiritual need revealed before our eyes on the Guestbook.

• Actually I've wondered what happened to 'Cri de Coeur' – I sent it to Dick Wyman on a strictly anonymous basis! I haven't been able to trace it on his website – and yet apparently you have!

I will do my best to trace Brian or Alan Cowell; Mrs Irene went to Glory many years back; the last address I had was in Barnsley, Yorkshire … I was very impressed by the way that dear spiritual sister described the last phase of her life as her 'university education' – learning to relate to 'other believers'!!

Biographical sketches are an excellent idea; it's a way of presenting the great spiritual inheritance we have had – that younger folk today don't begin to understand.

Much more I ought to say to you, but time presses just now. I may have some more poems which might interest you. A publication has been planned but has stalled for some years (under the Lord's hand no doubt) owing to delays in getting illustrations etc.

… Francis Schaeffer … and several other non-brethren writers have helped I think to broaden my approach somewhat – but I still seek to follow the Lord Jesus simply, and find His teaching central to my daily walk.

Another thread that the Lord has woven into my life over the last 20 years is the wonder of Creation – the witness to Almighty God for the man in the street – which needs to be emphasised to this generation of materialistic evolutionists among whom we live. But I must away!

Thank you for your offer to send copies of the booklets – I'm still in Sevenoaks … What's your full postal address in Toronto?

And thank you again, Gordon, for writing to me.

With love in the Lord Jesus, Laurie T.

From: Laurie Twinam
By Air Mail
December 29, 1998

Dear Gordon,
I am writing this letter in response to our email exchanges, also in response to one or two visits I have made to your own interesting WebSite.

• … the main purpose of this note is to enclose copies of the additional poems I mentioned.

So much has happened to us both, I think, in the years since – 1972? – when we were last in touch …

We had a family of six children to consider, and when our little – ex-Aberdeen – company in Sevenoaks dwindled considerably in the mid-'70s, we found fellowship with a local OB company – at Vine Hall.

• We stayed there reasonably happily despite the different emphases until late '80s, when a sharp difference emerged over the part to be taken by women.

• We were reluctant to make a big fuss, but could not accept what was being taught – which seemed to find its origin in women's lib rather than Scripture.
  • A coordinated campaign was being fought out in that era in UK and elsewhere on this issue, and many of the 'broader' open meetings were affected.

• Thirty of us protested and left, and for the sake of some without transport, we started meeting in a local Scout Hall for the breaking of bread and outreach meetings.

• We soon found that the local 'tight' OB meetings were not very interested in us, alas – there appeared to be a kind of cultural difference, even though we attended their Fellowship Meetings and sometimes enjoyed their speakers.

We are still meeting in the Scout Hall in Mill Lane, and we call ourselves the Mill Lane Christian Fellowship.

• … Our present membership is largely ex-EB but we are officially an OB gathering, using Hymns of Faith, not Little Flock …

Since retirement 4+ years ago, I have had more time for local outreach etc., and the latest chapter has been concerned with young people leaving the Jims!

• We have a list of about 50 in UK with whom we try to keep in touch – and if possible link with Christian relatives.

• This is a major challenge, for who will bother with these disoriented youngsters, who understands their background, apart from folk of our generation, who have lived with the history?

• The Guestbook on the Internet [on Dick Wyman's site] lists only those who are computer-oriented; there are many many more!

We had a great encouragement from Lord this year when our only son Tim – now 44 – came back to Lord.

• He was stumbled by Aberdeen and subsequent break ups, left home … It's just wonderful to have a son again – Luke 15!

I have been reading up your personal experiences on your WebSite, Gordon. You and Betty have certainly been through the mill, although in a rather different way from us.

• Like us, you are holding on to much that you have treasured in the past, but taking a somewhat broader view of the Christian scene.

• After all, each true believer, in whatever association, is a temple of the Holy Spirit and a member of Christ's body, one of Christ's sheep.

• I believe Lord liberated us at Aberdeen – or soon after – to live in that broader vision, and to reach out to the lost.

Yes, I well remember Andrew Robertson; please give him my love in the Lord. We had our differences, I remember, but I valued his courage in the New York scene.

Maybe you are already in touch with Brian Cowell; I have you to thank for getting me into touch with him!

• Brian mentioned to me a Mervyn Morgan of Ross-on-Wye who has done some research on GRC and his connection with JTJr; so I contacted him and found that that this project of his is as yet incomplete as he suffered a severe accident three years ago.

• Mervyn Morgan has promised to contact me when he is finished this project, and of course I will pass on what he tells me – I have already mentioned you to him.

This letter is rather long, but I needed to fill in some spaces! Thank you again for making contact.

With love in the Lord from Kathie and I to you and Betty.

Laurie.

To: Laurie Twinam
Subject: Your Air Mail Letter of Dec. 29, 1998 and enclosures
Tue, 12 Jan 1999

Dear Laurie
Thank you for the additional poems. As always, they are interesting but, as you might suppose, certain ones appealed to me particularly and may be useful later on 'My Brethren'.

• They are 'Go, Tell My Brethren' – of course – 'In the Midst', 'My Church', 'The Ancient Paths' and 'Good or Bad?'.

The contact with Tim was a joy to me. How much more to you and Kathie after so many years of faithful care and prayer.

Andrew Robertson remembers you well and sends his greetings in the Lord.

Thanks for the information as to Mervyn Morden and his project regarding G.R.C. It sounds interesting.

You certainly have had a long journey and many experiences since our first contacts.

• Perhaps, as we did, you may have thought that all was over and any possibility of maintaining a testimony, in the way we had known it, was gone forever.

From my own knowledge and experience of the general situation, your experiences with the 'broader' open meetings and attitude of the 'tight' meetings was predictable.

Your current involvement is seeking to help young people leaving the JTJr sect is an encouragement to me for that is the main objective of "My Brethren".

• I realize, as you well point out, that there are many more who need help than can be reached on the Internet.

• But I seek to do what I can and what is open to me, as I am sure you are doing.

• I have always had the impression that whatever you do, you do well and put your heart and soul into it!

• You are quite right, if we – who are older and understand the whole background – do not help them, who can or will.

Perhaps because of my background I believe I have always had a "broader view of the Christian scene" than many of my brethren had. I knew, loved and respected many other believers before I came 'into fellowship'.

• Over the past 10 years or so since my Mother – happily with Christ for many years – lived at Bethany Lodge which we continue to visit weekly, as possible,
  • I have renewed acquaintance there with many I knew in the first few years after my conversion.

• At the same time, I have had to come back to it – after bitter experience and the Lord's loving discipline – that
  • the narrow path is the only one in which I can be pleasing to Him, serve my brethren and engage collectively – with two or three – in the worship in spirit and in truth …

I trust our renewed correspondence – by e-mail now – will continue as opportunity affords.

Betty joins in love to you and Kathie.

Ever affectionately in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Laurie Twinam
Sun, 7 Nov 1999

Dear Gordon,
As to Retrospect and other poems, you have full permission to include any you wish on your website –

• and there may possibly be some more which would interest you; I must take a look.

• I am in process of setting up a little website of my own, but if there is any duplication it will not matter.

Trust you both keep well, in spite of increasing age. In God's mercy we are in good health though both 70 this year. We are easily the youngest members of our little local group – the rest are almost 90!!

With our love in the Lord to you and Betty,

Laurie.

To: Laurie Twinam
Tue, 09 Nov 1999

Dear Laurie,
Thanks for your agreement as to putting Retrospect and other poems on MB.

• This may take some time as they will need HTML formatting. As you know I have the poems on my word processor.

• Please let me know when you have your web site functioning.

Like Kathie and yourself, Betty and I are also both 70 this year – and thankful for God's mercy.

A message to Brian Cowell using 'CowellSCIATaol.net' has been returned. Do you have a current e-mail address?

With love in the Lord Jesus to you both, Gordon.

To: Laurie Twinam
Wed, 04 Oct 2000

Dear Laurie,
I often think of you and am glad to see your recent much needed words of moderation on Dick's site.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Laurie Twinam
Tue, 5 Aug 2003 by 'Air Mail'

Dear Gordon,
I thought this little booklet of 'Creation Poems' would interest you (complimentary copy)!

You are of course at liberty to use or quote any at your discretion on your site, etc.

With love in the Lord, Laurie T.

To: Laurie Twinam
Mon, 11 Aug 2003

Dear Laurie,
Thanks very much for your 'Creation Poems'. I have noted the booklet in MB's 'Bulletins' and am looking forward to reading it soon.

I appreciate your occasional contributions to Dick's site and your effort to put the constantly changing issues into a Scriptural focus.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Laurie Twinam
Fri, 6 Feb 2004

Dear brother Gordon,
I feel sure that in past years you would have heard of the extensive work undertaken by our brother George D. V. Rogers – now with the Lord – in collecting and issuing a variety of papers on Christian subjects.

• It so happened that this project of his, leading eventually to a classified 'Notebook' on Biblical topics aimed particularly at younger brethren, began to take shape in the early 70s at just abou the same time as I started 'Single Eye'.

• We lived about ten miles apart, and co-operated somewhat. He would write articles for 'Single Eye', and I would sometimes enclose literature about his growing 'Notebook'.

• His project outlasted mine and was still going strong when 'Single Eye' had to cease in 1986.

I'm not sure quite how you would feel about the possibility of making some reference to his work in your website.

• He was a truly godly brother, widely respected in spite of the many brethren splits during the 70s.

• I feel that there is now a new generation which could greatly profit from his labours.

• George was somewhat scholarly in his approach at times, but never merely academic. His language sometimes sounds a little old-fashioned , but he was a man of his time.

The longish article I am sending you is I think the first he ever produced – for it was about in the 40s, when I was a teenager.

• For brethren in those days it broke new and interesting ground. Possibly you know about it already.

• I asked his son Edwin for a copy because I just felt it could be valuable for the young folk.

• At the time there were stacks of papers of his – but I'm not sure whether anything is being done to archive them. If you are interested, I will certainly enquire.

We do hope you are keeping well. It is good to hear of a younger brother taking over some of your extensive website responsibililities.

• Just now I am suffering from asthma following a fluey cold, but am hoping in God's mercy to be free to get around again soon.

With our warm love in the Lord, Laurie Twinam.

To: Laurie Twinam
Fri, 9 Feb 2004

Dear Laurie,
It's good to hear from you again …

Yes, I know of Geo. Rogers and in the 70's I received some of his papers, perhaps they are still somewhere in my files.

• As I recall the 'Notebook' seemed to be very useful, as you suggest, especially for younger believers. Thanks for sending one of his papers.

• As you know we try to keep MB's contents to the history and ministry of the brethren, but his excellent paper on the history of the Scriptures, with its quotations from JND, seems quite appropriate.

• It could well serve as an introduction to our recently added page 'History: The Bible' on which we hope eventualy to have JND's translation, New Testament at least.

• I'm sending a copy to Jeff and we'll speak of it this week. Perhaps you would confirm that Edwin would approve posting it on MB.

• If posted it we would like to add a few biographical details, dates, places, connections, etc.

Yes, I would definitely be interested to know the status of the 'Notebook': complete or not, available in print – I believe it was originally 'mimeographed' – or any in electronic form, etc?

• I may be jumping too far ahead but, depending on what is available, it might well warrant a web site of its own, which would certainly complement MB. We will soon be deleting the old MB site freeing up a fair amount of space at no extra cost.

• Of course, Jeff and I are presently quite occupied with several projects on MB: hymns tunes, Bible, completing GRC, etc. – plus Hubert Calvey's 3 volume 'Confrontation...'.

• But, if some help was available for scanning, and Edwin was agreeable, it might become a viable and valuable project which we might take on. It would be a shame to lose the value of George's work.

• We'll be interested to have your thoughts.

Sorry you haven't been too well and trust you are recovered soon. We are fairly well but feeling our age in a number of ways.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Laurie Twinam
Wed, 11 Feb 2004

Dear Gordon, Thank you so much for your swift and positive reply.

I have contacted Edwin Rogers further about his father's writings, and find that he has a great deal available, even though his time is somewhat limited.

• He is very happy at the thought that 'How we got the Scriptures' may be included on your website, and indicated that he is prepared to talk to you about sending further material for you to consider.

• So I have given him your EMail address – he is already aware of your website. His own Email address is: edwin_rogersATlineone.net.

• So far, I find this most encouraging. We will pray for wisdom and practical help for you and Jeff in assessing and possibly taking on this exciting development …

With love in the Lord, Laurie.

To: Laurie Twinam
Fri, 13 Feb 2004

Dear Laurie,
Thanks for your good service in contacting Edwin Rogers about his father's 'Notebook'….

• I have received an email from Edwin, with a list of topics, and will be in touch with him after Jeff and I have discussed what we may be able to do. Check the 'Mailbox' for further developments.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

From: Laurie Twinam
Mon, 9 Jan 2006

My Email address has just been changed to laurietwiATtalktalk.net

I must apologise for my inaccessability at times over the last few weeks, which has been due to a rather complex switch to this new server. Best wishes to you all for God's blessings and a truly Happy New Year.

Laurie Twinam.

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Tim Twinam

To: Tim Twinam
timtATtogether.net
Waterbury, Vermont, USA
December 21th, 1998

Dear Tim,
Thank you for your kind words. It is indeed a pleasure to have a such a father and son together in the "My Brethren" guest book –

• a father whom I value as an old friend with whom I have shared many exercises, and a son whom I welcome warmly as a new friend.

I suspect – from the hits my ISP records – that there are a number of visitors who may be shy, cautious or uncertain about having their names appear on a site which is devoted to the history and ministry of earlier brethren.

• Some may have an understandable difficulty in distinguishing what preceded from what they have unhappily experienced. Hopefully, your example may liberate and stimulate others.

Your account on Dick Wyman's site was read with great interest and I understand – to some extent – how traumatic many of your experiences were.

• I especially appreciated the matured expression of your current feelings in the "Author's Note", both as to the Lord's Supper and as to your parents and many of the brethren you knew in your youth.

It was accounts such as yours – some brief but full of the same anguish – that first prompted me to start the "My Brethren" site,

• with the hope that the Lord might use it to enlighten, give a balanced view, and perhaps stimulate some to investigate and take up their heritage.

• This may seem a vain hope in that most, perhaps, have formed new links and adopted different – even contradictory – views. But that is their responsibility.

• Mine is to set forth, as far as I am enabled, the distinctive and – I believe – still valid principles and practices on which earlier brethren moved and which were generally held up to 1959 or so.

I am glad that you have found Christian companionship and are making progress in your soul.

• It was my own exercise in seeking such, and the ensuing problems, which were used to direct me back to my early convictions and committals.

Having never been baptized as a child, I was baptized as a believer when I was 16 –

• but I have always accepted the rightness of household baptism – and the validity of baptism in christendom generally – and have been confirmed as to this over the years.

• It is, of course, understandable that someone might feel the necessity of making a personal statement as to their new found faith,
  • but I would rather encourage such to do so through the confession of the Lord's name and through their changed manner of life.

• Regardless of one's view – and we (me too!) all tend to think we are right – age, amount of water, state of soul or status of the baptizer, to me at least,
  • are all far outweighed by the value of the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit which has been put upon us.

Certainly the "6:00 a.m. edict" was unpopular with young people,

• but it was also particularly hard on many older brethren – older than I am now, in my 70th year – and young mothers.

Your comments as to your recollections and value of the Lord's Supper and the service of God – to which I and a few here are committed – are especially appreciated.

• It was, as you know, the Lord's Supper which was the focal point of the movement of early brethren.
  • If you haven't already noticed it, you might find my comments on it on the "Studies" page of some interest.

Also, I have added a few more items today. Drop in again when you are free and have a look at them.

By the way, I don't usually make such a lengthy acknowledgement – but your message was very much appreciated – both the spirit and the substance.

May the Lord bless – and continue to bless – you and Sallie. I hope to hear from and of you occasionally.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Tim Twinam
FellowMailATaol.com
Mon, 24 May 1999

Hi Tim,
You said you found the site map easier to navigate from. This prompted me to do what has been on my mind for some time, i.e., combine the main menu and the site map. Thanks for the nudge!

When you are ready to launch I would be glad to put an announcement and link in my "Site News", if you wish. Just let me know when you are ready. No need to reply to this, at this time.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

To: Tim Twinam
Subject: Newsletter, Thursday, July 29th, 1999
Thu, 29 Jul 1999

Hi Tim,
You sure are keeping us all in suspense :-) I know how difficult it is to keep to a schedule for web site items, and I'm retired!

You may not be aware, but there has been an announcement re FF on MB's "Site News: Bulletins" since mid June, encouraging MB guests to register for FF's newsletter. How much it has helped, I can't say – but we are all waiting, and hoping you get a few rainy days.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Tim Twinam
Fri, 30 Jul 1999

Dear Gordon:
Thank you! So all these unexpected early guests are possibly your fault! :-)

Oh well – I started, so I might as well finish …

Hopefully, I will have the time to add the final brush strokes next week – it will in fact be a relief to get the ball rolling!

• If it works well, it could be quite an enjoyable way to keep communicating and, if the debates really get going, educational too.

Thank you for your interest and encouragement.

God bless, Tim Twinam.

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Hilary (Coulles) Tyne

From: Hilary (Coulles) Tyne
printerpATpeterboro.net
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
January 8, 2000

I was raised in Birmingham, England. My family, except my brother left the Jims after the infamous Aberdeen 3 days meetings.

• I have since emigrated to Canada, have married a God fearing Christian man and have four kids.

• In the 23 years I have lived in Peterborough, I have never met anyone who knew what "Exclusive Brethren" are – they always think I am talking about the "Chapel" down the road or the "tight" Brethren.

• It is not that I want to live in the past, but to find this web site and "talk" to people who know is a breath of fresh air!

• Is there anyone out there who lives in Peterborough, Ontario? There was a man who signed the guest book, a D. Haley, but his e-mail address has changed.

Hilary Tyne.

To: Hilary Tyne
Tue, 11 Jan 2000

Dear Hilary,
I don't know whether this is the latest address for Dan Haley, who we knew when he was a boy and had some recent contact with, but it might be worth trying: dhaley1AThome.net

You would be very welcome to visit "My Brethren". Betty and I live in Toronto and would be glad to hear from you at any time.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

From: Hilary Tyne
Tue, 11 Jan 2000

Dear Gordon and Betty,
Thank you for sending the e-mail address for Dan Haley – I will try writing to him again!

• I am just thrilled to have discovered this web site – I have felt like an island in a very big sea of Non-EB's, and I have now found some other islands that aren't very far away!

• I knew that there probably were Ex's in Toronto – I remember when I lived in Birmingham, we used to send gifts to Toronto – but how would I ever contact them?

Another wonderful blessing happened last week. Somehow, some mysterious person has been able to get photographs of EB's.

• One of my cousins from England mailed me photographs of an aunt and uncle, and two cousins with their husbands and children! These are people I haven't seen since 1970!

• Have you heard about this? The photographs have made me half angry, half sad – but they are also a good visual reminder to keep praying for the collapse of this sect.

Thanks again, Hilary.

From: Hilary Tyne
Thu, 13 Jan 2000

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for sending me Dan Haley's e-mail address – this time it went through, and we have made contact!

• I visited "mybrethren" briefly this evening, and will return!

Thank you, Hilary Tyne.

To: Hilary Tyne
Sat, 15 Jan 2000

Dear Hilary,
Glad you made contact with Dan Haley and hope it is encouraging to you both.

Apparently photo books were made universally in the "Hales" group in recent years and every family had a copy of their own locality. Reports say that the practice has been discontinued.

• I have seen some of the photos which identify each person and give the name and locality of the wife's father, if he is still "in".

Thanks for visiting MB. Come back whenever you are able. Your name will go in the Guest Book and pertinent correspondence in the Mailbox.

Yours in the Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Evert van Doornik

To: Evert van Doornik
e.van.doornikATwxs.nl
Vrouwenpolder, The Netherlands
Mon, 17 Jul 2000

Dear Evert,
Welcome to our first guest from the Netherlands. I hope you found something of special interest to you.

• We are always interested in the experiences and exercises of new guests and hope you will be free to share yours for the benefit of others.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

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Joanne Mealin-Van Engel

To: Joanne Van Engel
ginge1936AToptusnet.com.au
Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Mon, 4 Nov 2002

Dear Joanne,
Thank you for visiting 'My Brethren' and your kind remarks. Your message is now in the Guest Book.

I can't be sure whether those you fondly remember in London as 'Plymouth Brethren' are the same ones with which I am familiar. Sadly, there are now several groups.

• As a young man I was very impressed and helped by the hospitality and kindnesses of brethren here in Toronto, and I can well understand you desiring to make some contact again.

I am copying this to two friends in the London area who I hope will check for you.

• They would no doubt be aided by some further information from you, e.g., names of solicitors for whom you worked, year, names and locations of meetings you attended – as best you can recall.

• I also hope they may be able to let you know of any meeting nearby you. It would help to know a major city near Frankston.

• Perhaps you would be free to copy me with any information you may give or receive as I am very interested to know how things work out for you.

I'm glad you plan to revisit MB and would be happy to hear from you from time to time and to anwer any questions that may arise.

May the Lord bless you. Yours in Christ, Gordon.

From: Joanne Van Engel
Mon, 4 Nov 2002

Dear Gordon,
Thank you very much for your reply and help. Perhaps you would be able to forward this information on to your friends? [Forwarded: GAR]

• The solicitors firm was W.A.G. Davidson and Co. Acton London. Mr and Mrs Davidson would no doubt have long ago passed on, but they had three nephews of the name Tennant who lived with them and were in the firm. All were Plymouth Brethren.

• There was also a very dear young woman named Beryl Parrott (maiden name) who was the office manageress and also strong in the Brethren. She would probably be in her early 70's now.

• I shall be happy for any help.

Frankston is a main city itself and is 30 kilometres south of Melbourne. I know there are Brethren in New South Wales, but do not know of any in Victoria

God Bless, Yours sincerely, Joanne Van Engel.

To: Joanne Van Engel, cc Gordon Rainbow
From: Reg Flowerdew
Tue, 5 Nov 2002

Dear Joanne,
What a small world! I worked for WAG Davidson for a year in the 1960s at their Ealing and Acton offices.

• By that time Mr James Davidson (son of WAGD) had retired. The partners were John and Derek Tennent: I think the other brother was a landscape gardener.

• I believe Beryl Parrott – who left before I joined – is Mrs John Hale, now living in Teignmouth. She is now in poor health but, as I have opportunity, I will attempt to discover – via her husband – whether she recalls you.

Today, coincidentally, I spoke to Ros Wellington, a sister from Melbourne while at a burial meeting. Ros has been in this country for 6 weeks: she returns tomorrow.

• I have now phoned Ros and mentioned your enquiry. She will be very happy to hear from you or to contact you upon her return. Ros's e-mail address is [deleted].

• To give her a little "background" information, I will send her details from your e-mails.

• At the burial meeting, we were reminded that believers are precious to the Lord in their life – 1 Peter 2: 1-10 – and in their death – Psalm 116: 15. Those precious to Him are to be precious to one another. This is what is in our hearts as we respond to your enquiry.

With Christian greetings and the desire that you will receive blessing from the Lord Himself.

Yours in Him, Reg Flowerdew.

To: Reg Flowerdew
Wed, 6 Nov 2002

Dear Reg,
Many thanks for your good service which I trust will be a blessing to Joanne. It certainly is encouraging to know that MB has had a part in such service to His own.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

To: Joanne Van Engel, cc Gordon Rainbow
From: Marcus Chapman
Thu, 21 Nov 2002

Dear Joanne,
Gordon Rainbow passed your message to me a while ago about Davidsons of Acton, West London.

• It may interest you to know that I grew up in Ealing where Charles Davidson, one of W. A. G. Davidson's sons lived.

• I attended the brethren meetings there from 1948 to 1968 when my family moved to Pinner, near Harrow.

I knew Beryl Parrott well. She married a John Hales from Maidstone in Kent and now lives in the West Country.

• Betty Smith, who also worked at Davidsons was the means of Beryl's conversion, I believe. Betty is now with the Lord.

• Did you know Annie Thompson who also worked at Davidsons? She is also now with the Lord, living latterly in Edinburgh.

I expect you knew James Davidson. He was uncle to and brought up the Tennants, one of whom succeeded him at Davidsons.

• He and his wife were very kind to a number of brethren who were hard-up. They provided apartments at low cost in several houses they owned in Acton.

Charles Davidson compiled a concordance to the Darby bible – a work which took him many years in those pre-computer days!

• Charles' wife was a baronet's daughter – a Grantham-Hill of Acton. Her brother married a Davidson.

• They were rather aristocratic by Englsih standards, but were very kind and godly christians. As far as I know the whole of that generation is with the Lord.

I gather Reg Flowerdew will have been able to tell you more about the Firm.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you think that I can be of further use.

With greetings in our Lord and Saviour, Marcus Chapman.

To: Marcus Chapman
Fri, 22 Nov 2002

Dear Marcus,
Thanks very much for your very full reply to Joanne Van Engel, which has added to the information from Reg Flowerdew.

It's an encouragement to me – as I expect it will certainly be to Joanne – to have two good replies to her inquiry.

Affectionately in our Lord Jesus, Gordon.

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Jan van Straaten

To: Jan van Straaten
rev.strATmweb.co.za
Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
Mon, 12 Jun 2000

Dear Jan,
Welcome! You are MB's first guest from South Africa. Please drop in again.

I would be glad to learn your concerns and interests, if you are free to share them.

Yours in the Lord, Gordon.

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Don VanWoert

To: Don VanWoert
vanwoertATmerr.com
Spring Green, WI 53588, USA
Sat, 15 Apr 2000

Dear Don,
Thanks you for visiting "My Brethren", and for your question.

Because it may be of general interest the balance of this reply is posted in My Answer 1: Who May Break Bread?.

I will be looking forward to hearing how you get on.

Yours in our Lord, Gordon.

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Harvey B. Vedder

Dear Harvey,
Thanks for visiting 'My Brethren', and I hope you return. I didn't know that that John had a web site. Please send me the URL. Thanks.

In the Lord, Gordon.

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John Vedder is on a separate page. Access from menu.

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

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