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However, I know of a few who were unable to come today on such
short notice, but who, I think and pray, will refuse to continue
their work on the Sabbaths, and will be regular members. I suppose
there may have been a very few there today who will not be actual
members---but I'm sure we shall have a regular membership, to
start, of between 15 and 20, and more likely at least 20.
One man who has been coming introduced himself to me at the
close of this morning's service as the pastor of the oldest and
headquarters Seventh-Day Baptist Church here. He was very friendly
---invited us to his afternoon service. He probably does not, as
yet, see any doctrinal differences between us, as of course he
would if he continued to come. He came because one of his members
received our letter, and showed it to him. Undoubtedly his real
object in coming was to see what we had, and to "protect" his own
flock from our "false preaching" if he discovered it. His presence
became an immediate problem, for we knew he probably would continue
to come, get acquainted with our people, and try to draw them to
his church. We have solved this, we hope, by setting the time of
the meetings here for Sabbath afternoons. Since he holds his
services afternoons, he will be unable to come.
One couple coming were really "Pentecostal." They were more
outspokenly and joyously (apparently and outwardly) accepting
everything preached than any of the others. But, true to form,
they went along with obvious zeal UNTIL a truth hit them, as it did
on Thursday night while Dick was preaching. This old man began
shouting "pentecost", and interfering with the sermon. Dick with-
stood him firmly and strongly, and he finally had to be silenced.
At the door, after the service, he said something to me about
speaking in tongues. I told him that the Holy Spirit of God DOES
speak in foreign languages thru those of HIS CHURCH---when it
serves GOD'S PURPOSE---and does give His true servants the gift of
speaking in foreign languages, WHEN it is for edification, and
carrying out Christ's commission---but that we denounce, and stand
unmovable and totally OPPOSE this modern EMOTIONAL and LUSTFUL
gibberish and "pentecostalism" falsely so called, and will not
tolerate it in our midst. He got excited, raised his voice, went
out, and has not come back---which is the result I intended to
bring about by what I said. Best to weed out the trouble-makers at
the start, as far as God allows. This man would soon have driven
away nearly every other new member. I've seen it happen time after
time, and its FRUITS are those of the devil---and as long as God
keeps me as Pastor of His Church, we shall not permit that fleshly
and sensual counterfeit to rear its ugly head in our midst.
This would not be the true work of God unless we could see the
activity of the devil trying to gain an entering wedge in this new
Church at the outset. But God has certainly been with us, and
protected us and given us wisdom, and the only possible sources of
trouble detected so far have been already taken care of. I feel
sure that God will use George Meeker to hold the fort, and hold
this new little flock intact and secure as a good shepherd, and
even build it up, before Dick returns in the fall. Frank Longuskie
will be a good help to George in this. Also it will be very fine
experience for George---his first responsibility as a pastorate,