Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Local Church legends surround the likes of Miss Barber. She could quickly identify all Christian speakers as being without life and without Spirit. Apparently, after all her censures were dispensed upon the church of God, she alone was perceived as having any life and Spirit...She alone is credited with raising up Watchman Nee, the Seer of the Age. Though the scripture is silent on her methods, her practice of castigating the brothers ought to catch someone's attention. Legend has it that only Nee could survive her brutal treatments, while all others backslid in defeat, stumbled by her dress downs.
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Anything about M.E. Barber or LC system history that has it's source in Witness Lee/LSM I take with a grain of salt. Who said she behaved this way? Witness Lee. What did Lee have to gain by using this legend - a license to be abusive toward others. If it was good enough for Watchman Nee it's good enough for you too brother so just learn to "take the cross".
Maybe through circumstances, training and/or personality she did develop certain mannerisms that came across as being stern. But she was a British lady in the early part of the 20th century - when ladies starting when they were young girls were conscientiously taught to be "lady-like" i.e. polite and proper in the company of others. So I find the idea of her berating brothers to be quite a stretch - yet a useful fiction for the likes of Witness Lee, Titus Chu, etc.