letter1888

Dec, 2005

Hi Nathan,

While staying in our home a few days in November, 2005, George Gittins, a senior Manitoba worker told us the following story:

One year in the early 1970s George was in charge of facilities at the Calloway, Nebraska convention. At about 3:00 a.m. one night during the convention the wind got up and George decided to get out of bed and make sure the big meeting tent was properly tied down to withstand the gale. After he had secured the tent and was about to head back to bed he happened to notice someone walking down the road in the dark. As the figure approached, George recognized the person to be Robert Darling, one of the visiting workers. (The first known workers' list indicates Rob Darling he went into the ministry in 1905.) George decided to start whistling as he did not want to scare the poor man. When they connected, George asked Robert if everything was okay, to which he replied in the affirmative. Robert told him that often when he can't sleep at night he gets up and goes for a walk.

George said to him "I bet you are missing a good cup of tea. I was recently sent some good Red Rose tea from Canada, so let's go over to the cook house and I'll make you a good cup of tea." Robert readily agreed. So between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. during the middle of convention the two men sat in the cook house drinking tea made the proper way (start with fresh water, don't boil it too long, heat the pot first etc.).

During the course of their impromptu visit, Robert talked about the early days. George told Robert that he did not have any concerns about the beginnings of our faith back in Ireland, but wondered if he would tell him about it. Without hesitation, Robert proceeded to do so. He told George that William Irvine heard the gospel through his sister who was working as a domestic helper for a family who had moved to Ireland from the Alps region of Germany/Switzerland/France some years earlier because of religious persecution. (There may have been other families who had moved to Ireland as well and were in fellowship with the family for whom William Irvine's sister worked.)

In any event, this family told William's sister about their faith and the true ministry, and apparently she attended fellowship meetings in their home. After making her choice she got in touch with her brother, William, who was preaching for the Faith Mission in Ireland. He came and met these folks and after hearing the gospel from them, also made his choice and was baptized. William then left the Faith Mission and went out into the ministry as the first modern day worker. (George also told us that he had heard George Walker say that we owed a lot to William Irvine because he was the first worker in modern times to sell everything and go out on faith to preach the gospel.) The following day George went to see Garret Hughes who was also at the convention and told him what Robert Darling had shared with him the night before. Garret's comment was words to the effect that Robert would know because he was there.

I suggested to George that this story should really be told because it seemed to add an important piece to the puzzle that had many folks here in North America and other places confused and bitter about the origins of our faith. George's comment was, "Yes, I agree it should be told. You can tell this story to whomever you wish."

I asked George about the family/s that Robert mentioned. What happened to them? Robert apparently told George that a number of their descendants had gone into the work and at the time of him telling the story, there were still a number in the ministry--I believe, in North America. Robert also told George that the family/s in question did not want their name/s spread around and being given public credit/notoriety for the revival of the faith at the turn of the century. (Why, George was not sure. Perhaps they did not want the undue attention.) So George did not pursue finding out their name/s and, I presume, at the time the names were incidental to Robert's very interesting story. Robert did tell George, however, that he knew the family concerned and had been in their home.

In a later discussion George said that it was certainly scriptural for William Irvine and his sister to profess and be baptized through an elder. He referred to Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts.

George also told us that some years ago when he and Calvin Casselman (now deceased) were together in BC, Cornelius Jaenen, the author of "The Apostles' Doctrine and Fellowship", had come to visit them (Cornelius had professed through Calvin). George used the occasion to tell Cornelius what Robert Darling had told him about the early days. Cornelius' response was that he was not surprised because Robert's story was consistent with things he had heard over the years and come across in his research.

RGR, December, 2005

Dear Nathan, 2/25/2005

We haven't heard from you for a long time, and I am hoping that you are well, and that everything is going well for you! We are on our way to do a farm show in Grand Forks, North Dakota, so will be busy for a few days. I don' know if this copy of a letter will help or not. I do not have the origional. Sorry to be so slow - I just found it now!!

Your friends,

Lyle and Grace

Notes from Hazel Hughes in a letter Jan, 1971

Our parents' people heard the gospel in 1888- 40 decided at that time-16 went into the work including Emma Gill. Emma Gill came to North Dakota in Jan 1905. Our mother was critically ill but when she was better Emma had meetings in a school 5 miles from home. Father took Lincoln, Garrett, and me. Our folks left the church in the fall of 1905.

In December the family visited Ireland---saw first fellowship meeting and baptized. Lincoln decided in 1907 in a special meeting at home. In 1909 at Sidney convention and Garrett (Hughes) a year later at same place. Very little fellowship for 8 years---always has Sunday A.M. meeting and a Canadian convention in 1915 workers came from Manitoba---Millus and Albert decided---Nalines the next one.

1st Cando convention 1926. Hazel (Hughes) in the work June 1920.

Garrett (Hughes) went in November 1920.

Albert in November 1920.

Mary Naline in 1926 Hazel Krach 1961.

2/25/2002

I have two accounts written by Hazel Hughes that state HER People! heard the gospel in 1888 (not 1898). One is a typewritten account,,and one a handwritten account! It would seem strange to me that Hazel would make a mistake (twice on the dates) like that as she was an intelligent lady. I have some notes about the early days of a recording her niece of her telling about early time.

Emma Gill was Garrett and Hazel Hughes' aunt on their mother's side. Emma Gill of Meath, Ireland arrived at New York, USA on Dec. 18, 1904, at the age of 33. Emma Gill died in 1944 and was buried in West Hanney, UK.

George Walker arrived with William Irvine and Irvine Wier in New York, USA, on the SS Columbia, Sept. 14, 1903.

Emma Gill was also my great aunt Lilly Sandford's companion in early times in the work in North Dakota, USA. Another great aunt, Maggie Sandford, Lilly's sister was also an early day worker. She was in the work for 10 years, but was unable to continue due to health problems.

My family Sandford, heard the gospel about 1905 in North Dakota, USA. So, we were acquainted with the Hughes. They live about 60 miles from our home. My husband's family had connection with the Gospel in Ireland in the early days. His grandmother, Mary Jane Bateman, professed in Ireland 1899. Lyle's family, the Buttimers, were some of the ones who were "Before"the time of William Irvine.

However, our daughter visited Ireland several years ago and met an elderly relative who told her about family that was professing, and had meeting in their homes each Sunday morning "Before" William Irvine and the others who went in the work in the late 1800's.

Love,

Lyle & Grace

GARETT HUGHES' SERMON:Garrett Hughes Hotchkiss Conv. 1974

Isaiah 53 - Three questions, all start with the same word, --Who? Many are answered and many in the Bible are not. Who? Somebody else had to answer. Some here can supply the answer. V 1-11. "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hat no form nor comeliness; and when we shall se him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not....v 4--11.: "Who hath believed our report?" Unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" In these two verses we find the gospel. Some have told us they believe the report. They say they believe it is all-true. That is still not salvation. Romans 10:9, "With thy mouth confess the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

We have to hear to believe, but that is just the beginning! That is not salvation. We have gone to some places for WEEKS. All we can tell them is that they haven't heard anything. (They can say, Oh we're sorry you are leaving us. We enjoyed your gospel meetings so much) 'Our Report' who was Isaiah talking about? That was the message of Christ and of God. Isaiah 49; Isaiah speaks about "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me" We thank God that His servants are in the shadow of Him.

Paul said, "I magnify my office." NOT myself. Who hath believed our report, our message, and our gospel? We would have the right to ask you to believe our message. When I was on the train not long ago, I visited with a man from Minneapolis. A young man was passing out little pamphlets. On the back it said it was put out by the Back-to-the-Bible Broadcast. I did ask the old man: If we are going to get back to the Bible, where are we going to start? (The young man had already gone, so I asked the old man). We talked about a restoration movement. If they start at the right place! Would you want to know where to start looking?

Isaiah 1 "How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers." "Thy princes are rebellious, their leaders loved gifts, and follow after rewards." "I will restore thy judges as at first, and thy counselors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called, 'The city of righteousness'." The best place to get back to the Bible -- start with the ministers themselves! God is concerned with the ministry. Isaiah had the right to say that "our" report. (II Cor. 4) is speaking about the ministry God wants. V. 1-3, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost."

"Our gospel" "the gospel of God" "Paul said this is Our gospel. Plain open business and that is the minister's business! Very religious, who stake their lives on what isn't just according to the Bible, but 'that is the way we like it." You will be surprised how people hang onto something that they think is going to get them to Heaven. V. 9, "Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? He can teach knowledge to him that is weaned. V. 10," "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."

When I was learning the ABC's I learned the letters before, then began making words and putting words together. I keep adding a little here, a little there. I didn't know I was getting the foundation for all the words I was ever going to use! Jesus was the Alpha and the Omega ... the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He IS the ABC's to learn the language of Heaven. V.13, "But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

Do we suggest to you that the word of God is going to have one or the other effect? Add a little and bring rest or refresh...or have the other effect, but they would not heed. V 14-15, "Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." I can't imagine that anyone would consciously know he'd be taken up with a lie: We aren't gong to listen to what God said! But we will get alone OK. We're OK.

V. 16-17, "I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." " In these meetings and any time I lay a foundation. God is trying to lay a stone. The corner stone is level and square. Plummet: plumb line --- for every succeeding stone to the top of the building, plumbed by the SAME standard. V. 18, "And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."

One gospel meeting in a German-Lutheran community, twelve men came the first night to make sure it was all right for the rest of the family. The next night families were there! Seven weeks and there were two women we talked to...."We have something that we are kind of worried about. We have made a covenant with the Lutheran church.: We told them "your covenant with death shall be disannulled".

To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? A revelation isn't just believing, isn't just understood. Yes, but it sounds impossible! We have been told many times. For that person, it is impossible, but it's because the arm of the Lord hasn't bee revealed to him. Isaiah 52:10, "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation f our God." Hosea 11:1, "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt... I taught him to go." That is what happens when God makes bare his arm. First step looked like the Grand Canyon! Anyway a little child would look at it that way when he takes his first step. "Heaven is within walking distance." One little step at a time! When you start to Heaven, it takes the first step ------ on to the last step.

Deut. 33:26-27. Do you know how you are going to take your last step? Last thing that Moses ever said, "There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath the everlasting arms; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." Jeshurun is a pet name, a term of endearment. It means My darling. He was not boasting about his strength. He was no athlete. He knew he was taking the last steps. We are going to take our last steps like the first step we ever take.

Nails: A little old lady got up to give her testimony: I noticed how they make a house. I noticed that they drive in spikes, then as the got down to the end, they used smaller nails, and then the tiniest nail for the finishing, the end. I know my father would never let me do that part! If I did, he would say, "No steel engravings young man!" Must be very careful in putting those nails in, the finishing touches. Isaiah 53:10-11, prolong his days, shall be satisfied. Isaiah 6, "Whom shall I send and who will go?" Are you a conscript or a volunteer? I asked a young man just going into the work of God. Jeremiah and Moses were conscripts. They said, "No, not me!" I tell you if everyone that God has called to 'go' would have heeded, there would be a lot more here now.