After My Departure
– Without a Teaching Priest

INTRODUCTION
AFTER  MY  DEPARTURE – G. A. Rainbow

This page is based on the unfinished Part Seven of 'After My Departure', No. 16 in my Historical Reference Series –

• a review of the London three day meetings for 1953-59.

The purpose of that review – and the posting now of the notes of some of those meetings in the Ministry group of 'My Brethren' – is twofold:

1. to preserve a partial record of ministry, most of which is now out-of-print and is unlikley to be reprinted or – as for 1955-56 – is permanently unavailable;

2. to note some of the trends in that uncertain period – from J.T.'s death to the rise to undisputed universal leadership in ministry and admin­istration of one man – and their historical significance.

Further details of that period can be found in the following related pages: • Biography: G. R. Cowell: London 1959 and His Trials and Stand • History: The Stow Hill Depot • History: Hymn Book: Part 2 - 1962 Revision • History: Departure after Recovery - 1952-60 • History: Decline and Departure: Recent Developments - 1960 • History: The Parting of the Ways - 1960's

G.A.R.

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PREFACE
A Brief Review of God's Ways regarding Leadership

In the ways of God with His earthly people, it is evident that He has provided leaders to set out His mind and to guide His people;

• such were Moses and Joshua, the judges, Samuel, David, Elijah and Elisha, the prophets, Ezra and Nehemiah, and others.

• All these typified Christ in some feature of His service.

• Such men as as J. N. Darby and F. E. Raven are examples of some of those distinctively used to help and guide the brethren.

• After their departure – 1882 and 1903 respectively – there were some who rose up seeking glory for themselves in a place of leadership by natural means and ability, and until 1959 this was frustrated.

• Although he was vigorously opposed by some older brothers in England it eventually became evident that James Taylor was being used by the Lord in ministry in a special way to help the saints. His service spanned some 50 years in the early 1900's.

• The balance of this article deals with the the seven year period following his departure to be with Christ in 1953.

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AFTER  MY  DEPARTURE –  WITHOUT  A  TEACHING  PRIEST

I have not shrunk from announcing to you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own. [For] I know [this,] that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall rise up men speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not admonishing each one [of you] with tears. And now I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up and give [to you] an inheritance among all the sanctified. Acts 20: 27-30 Jehovah is with you while ye are with him; and if ye seek him he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him he will forsake you. Now for a long while Israel [was] without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law; but in their trouble they turned to Jehovah the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found of them. 2 Chronicles 15: 2-4

After the death of Mr. James. Taylor, on March 29, 1953, the annual London meetings – at which he had so often served and which were attended by brethren from all parts – assumed a special importance in the minds of many.

• It was felt that there should be an occasion for those who served widely to be together – but an invitation to serve at those meetings was looked on by many as if it were the anointing. 1 Samuel 16: 11-13.

  
  

  At the 1957 meetings, in which he was giving the lead, S.McC. said: An occasion like this thus provides what is pleasing to heaven, in that the saints, and those that serve among them, are seen together in an unjealous way, helping one another; because that is the idea of these meetings, as we have them now in the absence of the distinctive leadership such as we so greatly enjoyed in the years that are past. It is a time, at the present, of helping one another and of seeing what the Lord has in mind.

In 1953 and 1954 the London brethren wisely invited a local brother, the universally respected A. J. Gardiner, for years a staunch supporter of J.T. and not one to have personal ambitions.

• In subsequent years, other prominent servants were invited stimulating speculations and fanning the flames of partisanship.

At the 1959 meetings, J.T.Jr., aka 'Jim Taylor', challenged certain remarks of G. R. Cowell.

• J.T.Jr. [1899-Oct 14, 1970] should not be mistaken for his father, our beloved brother, James Taylor, Sr. [1870-1953]

• The trustees of Stow Hill Depot – possibly under outside influence – decided not to publish the 1959 London notes, effectively depriving the brethren of essential information on which to form a judgment.

  After many brethren had withdrawn from fellowship, 1960-61, Philip Haddad pub­lished Unity as Presented in Paul's Epistles, Revised Notes of Meetings with G. R. Cowell, London, 14th-16th July, 1959. The Foreword says, "In answer to requests, the London 1959 Readings are being made available on the principle, 'Let the others judge', the brethren having been deprived of the opportunity previously". An 'Auckland Supple­ment', issued in response to requests, gives the "controversial … re­marks" and challenges in full. Extracts from a copy of a letter from Mr. J. Taylor, Jr. to Dr. D. J. Martin of Sydney, dated 14th July, 1957 – the basis of G.R.C.'s remarks – are included. The notes and the supplement should be read to understand the issues involved.

The spirit of fear to question the leader had already begun to stifle the consciences of many.

Several Toronto brothers – including two from my local meeting – were at those 1959 meetings. There were rumors of trouble at the meetings but none of those brothers would say what had happened.

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THE  PARTICIPANTS
A Brief Summary

On the Saturday, J.T.Jr., aka 'Jim Taylor'. – J.T.'s youngest son – was serving at fellowship meetings in Toronto. An urgent call came to return to New York.

• The next day, Lord's Day, March 19, 1953, J.T.Sr. departed to be with Christ. The London meetings were on July 21-23, just four months later.

• J.T.Jr. was at those 1953 London meetings, as were almost all the brothers who were to figure in the turbulent events in the years up to 1970. Many, of course, were also there in subsequent years, 1954-59.

• A. J. Gardiner of London, senior trustee of the Stow Hill Depot for many years, had been invited to serve – as also in 1954 – but in the 1970's he was withdrawn from, reason unknown.

• Arthur G. Brown and Harry D. Thomas, both of London, and George A. Lucas of Hornsey, were withdrawn from in 1954-55.

• James Mac­donald (J.McD. ?) of Manchester withdrew in 1956.

• A. E. Myles, who had led in both the 1932 and 1951 revisions of the Hymn Book, was present – but by 1961 he had withdrawn.

• Stanley McCallum of Detroit, expected by many – chiefly in Scotland and North America – to 'succeed' J.T.Sr., was also there. S.McC. served in 1957 and 1958 but finally yielded to J.T.Jr.
  • But at the time of the crucial and infamous Aberdeen meetings in July 1970, he took the lead in challenging the immoral situation in the house.

  • In retaliation, his reputation was blackened and the Detroit meeting – reportedly on outside orders – withdrew from him before he could return and refute the unfounded and malicious allegations.

  • He never regained the same prominence – even when cleared and in fellowship with Aberdeen.

• Gerald R. Cowell of Hornchurch, also thought by many – especially in England – to be a suitable 'successor' to J.T.Sr., was also there.
  • In 1953-60 he ministered widely and helpfully – and was invited to serve at the London meetings in 1959, at which time J.T.Jr. challenged him on several points.

  • Subsequently, charges that he had weakened separation in his ministry – primarily in Australia – were laid in his local meeting of Hornchurch, and his excommunication was acheived by the legal partiy in July 1960.

• Edward J. Hemmings of Acton was also present. In 1960 he received similar treatment to Mr. Cowell.

• A. P. Cecil Lawrence of Storno­way was also there in 1953, but left in 1960.

• Charles Hammond, of London, and J. S. Ephgrave, of Waltham Cross, stayed in the sect until the Aberdeen crisis in 1970.

• Of the other leading London brothers who were at the 1953 meetings, Percy H. Hardwick died Oct. 16, 1958, before the 1959 meetings – and the aged Percy Lyon remained in the legal sect and died Feb. 25, 1966, at Valence, France, while serving there in ministry.

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ANNUAL  LONDON  MEETINGS  –  1953-59
Dates, Servants, Subjects

1953, July 21-23 - A. J. Gardiner - The Worship of God