History by Don Rutledge

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Hope

Witness Lee himself openly spoke about the condition in Elden. It was a big issue at the January, 1974 elders/co-workers meeting. Yes, there was some talk about the neighborhood around Elden. Maybe that later became the alibi for the relocation. I plan to write a lot about what was going on in 1973-75. Everything changed!!!

The failure of the blessing at Elden even though they had WL became the basis for Ray and Benson and Ben to push for WL to move or at least spend a major part of his time in Texas. They all contended that the ministry needed the proper audience and that Texas could provide the proper container for the ministry.

I had just read a contradictory report. The testimonies I had heard of Eldon Hall of the early seventies in later years, was prior to migrations to the LA area, the neighborhood was already bad. It was the brothers and sisters who brought a blessing to the neighborhood.
It could be by the time households began migrating for other localities and away from these neighborhoods, the neighborhood environment deteriorated.

Terry

[Hope]

Originally Posted by Terry

I had just read a contradictory report. The testimonies I had heard of Eldon Hall of the early seventies in later years, was prior to migrations to the LA area, the neighborhood was already bad. It was the brothers and sisters who brought a blessing to the neighborhood.
It could be by the time households began migrating for other localities and away from these neighborhoods, the neighborhood environment deteriorated.

Terry

The poor neighborhood was a concurrent event with the downward slide of the hall. You could live 20-30 minutes as some did and fully be involved in the meeting and service life.

What changed Eldon hall was the establishing of three other halls in LA and the out migrations to Chicago, Atlanta etc. The saints left but the ministry stayed. The high time in the Spirit went with the saints.

I cannot remember the reason why but Ray Graver and I visited Eldon hall sometime early in 1973. The attendance was very low. That Lord's day a brother from Africa who was then living in LA gave the message in the first meeting, (New Beginners). Witness Lee spoke in the second meeting. Afterward Ray and I were with Witness Lee. WL expressed his disappointment with the condition of Eldon hall, not with the neighborhood. He said how disappointed he was that the brother from Africa was a ministering brother and no one could understand his African English. He told us more than once that he needed a new start in a new place.

Hope, Don Rutledge

[Indiana]

What Hope shared on another thread stirred my interest anew about what really happened in the Southeast.

In 2003 I asked Bill Mallon to answer the claims made against him in Fermentation by different brothers and he did - except for the most important one, which he did work on - John Little's lengthy claims concerning Bill and John.



Dear Steve,

I have taken time for the past two days to write a response to the accusations John Little made against us which you had sent a few days ago. While writing it, I was energized, which I take to be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I need another couple of days to polish it, plus I want Ingalls and **** to glance over it. It is now 2 and 1/2 pages.

In Him,
Bill (email, June 4, 2003)

http://www.makingstraightthewayofthe...lonAnswers.pdf

[Indiana]

John Little’s Accusations Answered

In John Little’s public address of Bill Mallon’s so-called rebellion and conspiracy in the Southeast, he completely avoided the other side of the story – the Truth of the Southeast experience and his own genuine concerns about developments there.

Little’s Testimony in The Fermentation of the Present Rebellion
http://www.makingstraightthewayofthe...JohnLittle.pdf

Answers to Little in Deviating from the Path
http://www.makingstraightthewayofthe...nsAnswered.pdf

His testimony against Bill Mallon was the most indicting, yet, like many others in Fermentation, he could not be honest and forthright, and His testimony became the coup de grace to Bill Mallon. As was typical in The Fermentation of the Present Rebellion, truth was not the issue, but the agenda concerning a man, a ministry and the One Accord was of chief concern.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Indiana

In 2003 I asked Bill Mallon to answer the claims made against him in Fermentation by different brothers and he did - except for the most important one, which he did work on - John Little's lengthy claims concerning Bill and John.

Indiana, kudos for sharing the link. It provides a "short and to the point" view from both sides.

I liked this last sentence from Tony Buford.

"Brothers, there is a proper way to take care of problems, and we need to do it in the right way and in the right spirit."

Too bad Tony wasn't available to speak at Whistler. The brothers present at the Whistler conference did need a voice of reason.
What is it "in the right way and in the right spirit"? What Tony said is a well intended principle, but difficult to execute. For one pride can be an obstacle for a brother in receiving adjustment. For another responsible brothers are too locked into "one accord" with a system, that "in the right way and in the right spirit" isn't a safe option.

Terry

[Oregon]

I want to publicly thank Don Rutledge for all the effort and time put into this marvelous historical writing. My experience in no way would match his yet I was a young high school brother caught by the Lord during these early years when many of these events were taking place. I could comment on many of the things that Don has written about that have occurred over the years but will not do so at this time. The one thought that is with me after spending several days reading through this is the short sentence from Paul in I Thessalonians 5:19.

“Quench not the Spirit.”

How much the fresh moving of God is hindered by man. As the Lord said…..”The Spirit blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(New King James)

Don has mentioned in other posts concerning the need for the headship of Christ in the local assembly. When the headship of Christ is no longer needed because it has been replaced by institutional practices and man’s organization the “blowing of the Spirit” becomes a thing of the past.

Wondering if you'd contact me, Don. I met regularly with the Church in New Orleans in 1972 and 1973 and lived with the other single brothers there, and had previously traveled from LSU Baton Rouge in the spring of 1971 to several Houston meetings. I also attended conferences in Atlanta and then Los Angeles in the spring of 1972. I have a few questions that you may be able to help me with, if you would please.

Thanks,

Larry Piltz
Austin, Texas

October 21, 2010

[Hope]

Brother Larry,

I would be happy to have an email exchange with you. Send me a private message with your email address or phone and I will get in touch.

Your brother in Christ Jesus,

Don Rutledge