Difference between revisions of "HWGA 17"

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Section No. 17 – Covering period from 1920 to 1929

This period was much like the previous decade in that the brethren had rest and the Lord’s gracious care brought out spiritual ministry as to value of one another locally, our mutual relations one with another, and our family relations with God.

During the year 1920 Mr. J.S. Giles in England brought an issue to light over the issue of putting away or withdrawing from evil, and insisted that the latter was one to be used in this day; however James Taylor at a conference of many brethren in London thought that the recognition of 1 Cor. 5 and 2 Tim. 2 should be combined in dealing with evil, and the London brethren supported this thought, which led Mr. Giles and a number to leave.

During this period the need for smaller gatherings was emphasized which led to many new meetings being started in the larger centers to hold to thought of companies of fifty. This led to more exercise of local gift and the development thereof, as well as more praise and worship in the morning meetings.

In 1924 a considerable number of those who had gone out with Glanton, as mentioned in section 16, returned under the leadership and influence of William Magowan who was contacted by Mr. Sinclair at Rochester and helped. Mr. Magowan was soon in the work, and a little meeting at Gerry, New York, where an ex-clergyman Arthur Hyldahl lived and labored, was brought into fellowship in 1924.

About 1925 the Berkeley meeting was divided and after much praying and exercise the nearest meeting Modesto recognized the Hawkins party, but the Los Angeles meeting interposed believing this recognition was too hasty. However Thomas Rodwell and some fifteen brethren in Los Angeles held to the Modesto recognition and left the meeting in 1926. In time the entire Berkeley meeting began to break bread again about 1927, having been helped by Mr. Lock.

In October 1926 Frank Lock started his around the world tour of meetings, sailing from New York for England, thence to South Africa, then Australia, and lastly New Zealand where he took sick. He sailed from New Zealand in November of 1927, and upon arrival in Victoria, a special meeting was arranged for him.

Besides Berkeley, the meetings at Nanaimo and Cleveland were also divided and ceased the breaking of bread for some time. All were recovered at Nanaimo, but some were lost at Cleveland.

About 1928, annual special meetings in England began, the first one being at Bristol. In 1929 these meetings were held at Barnet, and Mr. Taylor brought out that the doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of Christ was unscriptural, the same as taught by Adam Clarke, the noted commentator, nearly a hundred years earlier. This teaching brought considerable searching of heart among the brethren, and some left at different places, notably among them was Miss Stoney, who had looked with suspicion on Mr. Taylor.

1920-1929

Special meetings held in the United States and Canada during this period with the names of brethren taking the lead are as follows:

• Knoxville: 1922: J.T.; 1926: S.J.B.C.; 1927-1929: W.M.
• Rochester: 1923/1926/1928: F.L.; 1927: J.T.; 1929: G.W.W.
• Berkeley: 1929: F.L.
• Detroit: 1920/1922/1924/1926: J.T.; 1921: F.L.; 1925: R.S.S.; 1928: C.C.E.; 1929: Percy Lyon
• Montreal: 1929: G.W.W.
• Vancouver: 1921: J.D.; 1922: J.D./H.G.; 1926: S.J.B.C.; 1927: Davis; 1928: W.C.C.; 1929: H.H.
• Toronto: 1928-1929: J.T.
• Winnipeg: 1927: W.M.; 1928: W.C.C.; 1929: Percy Lyon
• Council Bluffs: 1920/1922/1924/1928: F.L.; 1921/1925: J.T.; 1923: G.W.W.; 1926: A.H.; 1927: H.G.; 1929: Percy Lyon
• Indianapolis (Dec): 1920-1926: J.T.
• Chicago (Dec): 1927: L.E.S.; 1928: J.T.; 1929: Percy Lyon
• Los Angeles (Dec): 1921: Percy Lyon; 1926/1929: J.T.; 1927: H.G.; 1928: F.L.;

During this period the following meetings continued in the United States and Canada:

• ____: Portland _____
• 1924: Lima, Ohio & Nanaimo, B.C.

During this period new meetings opened up, hived off, or were re-opened, as follows:

• 1922: Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY
• 1924: St. Louis, MO & No. Room, Los Angeles, CA & Boston, MA & Gerry, NY
• 1925: St. Catherines, ON & Tillsonburg, ON
• 1929: Nanaimo, BC (Re-Open)

The following brothers and sisters fairly well-known died during this period:

• 1920: Chris Gastav Petersen
• 1921: Alexander Blair & Nelson Connan
• 1922: Robert Dunn (at Winnipeg)
• 1923: W.H. Forster
• 1924: L.G. Maddox & Mr. Cole (Baltimore)
• 1925: Edgar Isham & Barney Ross
• 1926: Alex. Hawthorne
• 1927: E. Farron (Cleveland) & Dr. Mary Powell & Helmer Widtfeldt
• 1928: John Stewart & Alfred Lockhart & Oscar Stoffrelden & Robert Baber
• 1929: Robert S. Sinclair & H.D. Ewer (Ashland) & Peter Van Gorp

In May 1922, William Edwards of Berkeley, California, was withdrawn from on account of false teaching and opposition to Mr. Taylor’s ministry. Two families left with him, namely the Schnabels and Carlsons. Mr. Edwards, in early years, had lived in Lima, Ohio, and after coming to California held an important position with the Standard Oil Company. He had been prominent in connection with the support of Joseph Dean in the early 1920’s almost to an extreme. Carlsons were later reconciled and _________________.

The United States Religious Census of 1926 shows various so-called brethren in this country as follows:

• Group #1: Grant: 166 meetings; 4877 brethren
• Group #2: Open: 307 meetings; 13497 brethren
• Group #3: Lowe: 24 meetings; 684 brethren
• Group #4: Park St.: 47 meetings; 1883 brethren
• Group #5: Bexhill: 83 meetings; 2152 brethren
• Group #6: Glanton: 6 meetings; 88 brethren

The significant increase was with open brethren who had more than doubled during the ten preceding years. Others showed small increase, except Glanton which showed a decrease.

In 1925, Dr. Alex Baird, of Los Angeles, made an extensive trip to the British Isles, spending considerable time with Mr. Coates, also _____ continent and visited Palestine.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, he soon dropped out of the meetings and carried on independent meetings both in the city, and also at Laguna Beach, and gathered out considerable number of young families who continue independent to this day.

Mr. Rodwell’s leaving influenced him, and he preached at his funeral in 1940. Dr. Baird himself died in 1946.

(unintelligible writing)

A Canadian government census gave for religious bodies in Canada the following number of brethren in 1921:

• Nova Scotia: 121
• New Brunswick: 110
• Quebec: 337
• Ontario: 3370
• Manitoba: 613
• Saskatchewan: 438
• Alberta: 426
• British Columbia: 1067
• Total: 6482

About 15% of these are walking with us, I would judge, and the bulk of the balance are open brethren.

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