NO. 297: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 297

Comes again the Memorial of Him who perished on the cross, the time this year 1980 being any time after six p.m. the evening of Saturday, March 29. The time is determined as follows: The moon becomes new this year nearest the Spring Equinox (using Jerusalem as the proper location) at 8:56 p.m., March 16, making Nisan 1 at 6 p.m. March 16; and counting from that time, we arrive at six p.m. March 29. We have offered much more detail on this calculation in some of our previous Memorial papers.

“THIS do in remembrance of me.” These are among the last words of Jesus to His Disciples on the evening before He died on the cross; and we believe a clear understand­ing of these words will do much to dissipate much of the cobweb of error that now appears in so many sections regarding the Lord’s Supper. When Jesus made this statement they had just finished eating the Memorial of the great Passover that occurred in Egypt just 3,595 years before this Nisan 14 (March 29), of this year 1980. When Jesus said “this do,” He was telling them that from then on they were to partake of the bread and wine instead of the Jewish Passover Memorial. And how often did the Jews keep that Memorial? Why, once each year, of course! And, if that Memorial was then to be replaced with the bread and the wine should be used just once each year.

It is our understanding that there are now about 200 different views in Christendom concern­ing this ceremony; but, if we accept the clear and concise words of Jesus, there can be but one date on which we should do it – namely, on the same date that the Jews keep the memory of the Passover in Egypt. And the Bible is very clear about this date: “Ye shall keep it (the lamb) until the fourteenth day of the same month (Nisan): and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” (Ex. 12:6) Jesus and the Disciples followed this command by the Lord to the Jews that night in Egypt; and He then told them very clearly that the bread and wine should henceforth be substituted for the Passover lamb. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7)

THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS

“The Lord spake unto Moses ... This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Ex. 12:2) In Ex. 13:4 we are told that the name of that month was Abib, meaning ‘an ear of corn.’ The harvest began in it; and the Jewish people began in that month to be a nation separate and distinct – set apart – from all the nations of the earth. It was not until after the return from the captivity in Babylon – after the Jews had come under Gentile rule, and the Gentile Times had begun, that Abib became known as Nisan (Neh. 2:1); and its meaning is also very sug­gestive – opening, or beginning. It approximates our month of March; and is identified by some as the beginning of the Jewish religious year – as opposed to the beginning of the business year, which begins about our October 10. To this day the Jews still take some recognition of the month of Tishri, which was the beginning of their year until the time they left Egypt, and the Lord then told them to observe Nisan as the beginning of months.

The feast of unleavened bread – or the feast of the Passover – began in it; but the Passover itself and the feast of the Passover should not be confused. The entire service lasted eight days; but the real Passover was only the first of those eight days. At the Passover Memorial the roasted lamb was the thing emphasized; whereas, in the fol­lowing seven days – the feast of unleavened bread – the unleavened bread was emphasized. During those seven days the Jews were permitted to eat any kind of meat not forbidden by the Law; but it was a grave offense to eat any leavened bread during those seven days. At one time it was believed that Jesus and the Apostles ate the Passover a day ahead of the Jews in general – based upon John 18:28; but the passover mentioned in that text refers to the feast of the passover, and not the actual eating of the Passover lamb.

It is probably well here to mention also that each Jewish month began with the com­ing of the new moon. Thus, the Jewish year is properly styled a lunar year; whereas, our year is known as the solar year, which makes a difference of five days or so be­tween the two years. This has been reconciled by the adoption of the Metonic cycle, which the Pagan philosopher Meton devised about 360 A. D. In his calculation he has seven intercalated months in every nineteen years. This twelfth month of the Jewish year is Adar; and the added month in those seven years of the Metonic cycle is Ve-Adar. This has reconciled the two methods so closely that the difference between when Jesus was on earth until now makes a difference of only a few weeks – not enough to cause any heated argument.

It might fit in here, too, to state that the Day of Atonement occurs on the tenth day of the seventh month, the month Tishri; although we should bear in mind that the Jews had no Day of Atonement at all until they left Egypt, and the ceremony was given to them by God through Moses at Mount Sinai. With this so clearly marked in Bible and secu­lar history, we have a very delicate sympathy with the Jews for refusing to give up Si­nai in the present altercations between them and the Arabs. The whole foundation for their religion was given to them at Sinai. The same applies to Christians, too, ex­cept that we have built upon the Law and the prophets to form the superstructure of the Christian religion. Without the inspired writings of the Old Testament, Jesus’ disci­ples could not have recognized Him as the Messiah. Jesus Himself said of the Old Testa­ment Scriptures: “They are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

As stated aforegoing, each Jewish month began when the moon became new; and it was from that new moon that they began the reckoning of the various days. But when the clear command is given that the Passover was to be on the 14th day of Nisan, the moon is not even mentioned there. The Jews and some Christians think the moon must be full before the Passover is kept, but the moon does not become full on occasion until two or three days after Nisan 14; but this should not influence us because the record is very clear that the 14th of Nisan is the proper date for the Memorial. And this we ourselves try to follow; and the only way we will go wrong on it is if we fail properly to calculate when Nisan arrives. And, since all of this reckoning was given the Jews right there in Palestine, it makes no allowance at all for any one to use some other locality for the exact beginning of Nisan 1 and Nisan 14.

REMEMBER THIS DAY (Ex. 13:3)

It is not necessary that we strain our imaginations to ponder the great grip that the Passover had upon the Jewish mind. The miracle of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage was indeed a living thing to almost all of them – after their entry into Canaan and up until their dispersion from that land in the year 70 A. D. And to this day it is a very solemn occasion with the orthodox Jews, although probably to most of them it is an exercise in futility because they do not now have a high priest to bless the service. When Jesus said to them, “Your house is left unto you desolate” (Matt. 23:38), none of them then realized how far-reaching and absolute this sentence would eventually become. But their High Priest had to come from the Tribe of Levi; and that tribe was so com­pletely lost in the dispersion that they no longer know which of them are of that tribe. Their house is now indeed “desolate.”

Nevertheless, those Jews who still try to keep the Law make strenuous effort to observe the Passover in every intricate detail. “This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.” (Ex. 12:14) “And when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? Then shall ye say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover.” (Ex. 12:26,27) And to be sure that this injunction was scrupulously observed, the oldest son of each family – if he were thirteen years of age or older – was required to fast on the day leading up to the Passover table.

And when all were seated at that table, with the food scrupulously arranged, with the cups or glasses set for wine for each one present, there would be one extra cup “for Elias.” Had not the last lines of inspired Jewish Scripture warned them, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord?” (Hal. 4:5,6) And not realizing that this was one of those “dark sayings,” every seri­ous-minded Jew was alerted to the possibility of Elijah’s visitation “in an hour when ye think not” – possibly into his own house. Thus, he would not be overtaken unawares.

Then to be sure the question would be asked, “What mean ye by this service?” – the eldest son would ask the father the question, at which the father would explain in con­siderable detail those awesome happenings that night in Egypt. And by repeating this ceremony every year, the lesson would be indelibly impressed upon all present that a great miracle from on high had been performed for them that night. And we may be sure of the promise that those faithful orthodox Jews will eventually accept Jesus as their Messiah and be the “first” to receive the blessings of the New Covenant.

But one outstanding difference should here be emphasized between the actual perform­ance in Egypt and the subsequent memorials. There is nothing said in the Bible about anything to drink that night as they feasted upon the lamb, although they would almost cer­tainly need some liquid – not only for that night during the eating, but for the day following when they would be traveling afoot in the desert sun. If they drank any wine that night, it is not recorded. But the subsequent memorials were not to be ob­served with doleful face; it was to be a time of rejoicing in memory of their great de­livery from bondage.

And the Jewish fathers reasoned, What could cheer them better than wine? Thus, four cups of wine entered into that memorial – one before any food was taken, and the fourth after the entire meal had been completed. If any Jews were too poor to bear such ex­pense, the wine was supplied to them out of the public funds. Thus there would be mea­surably identical ritual in every house; each would rest in the assurance that his brethren throughout Jewry were in physical and heart accord with him that momentous night.

Nor was this arrangement without purpose. After the first cup – and before any food – the Small Hallel was chanted or sung, after which the meal itself was consumed, with two more cups of wine during the eating. When the eating was done, the fourth cup was had, with the chanting of the Great Hallel. Here it may be well to define the Hal­lel: It was composed of the 113-118 Psalms. The first two – Psa. 113 and 114 – are the small Hallel; and the 115 through 118 the Great Hallel. The word itself is of great sig­nificance: ‘Hal’ means praise, and ‘El’ means God – the whole meaning being ‘praise to God.’ It is the root of our English word ‘hallelujah,’ which, according to Webster, means ‘Praise ye the Lord.’

It is also probable that the Jews at the Passover in Egypt ate it standing up ­“your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste.” (Ex. 12:11) But when Jesus ate it with them the night before He was crucified, they were reclining on couches, or the like, about the table – as becometh free men. Note the record in John 13:23: “There was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples.” This could not have occurred if they were standing up, or sitting in chairs.

In medieval times King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table often set forth in quest of the Holy Grail, the same being that mythical golden cup which Jesus supposedly used as He said to the Disciples: “This cup is the New Testament in my blood.” (Luke 22:20) That Holy Grail was never found, of course; and there exists no real proof that there ever was one. Certainly Jesus used a cup that night, but no place does it say that it was a golden cup. Could that cup be produced with sufficient proof, it would be the most priceless treasure in Christendom. But God did provide that we should be heir to the exact words in Psalms 113-118; and we do well to include some parts of that Scrip­ture in our Memorial service.

“GO TO HIM WITHOUT THE CAMP”

In Ex. 33:7 we read, “And Moses proceeded to take a tent and pitch it by itself outside the camp afar off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting – and so it came to pass that whosoever was seeking Yahweh went out unto the tent of meeting, which was on the outside of the camp.” (Rotherham) Moses in this instance types our Lord as He arranged to remove the Star Members and His fully faithful people from the midst of the measurably faithful and the tare class, beginning in the Pergamos epoch of the Gospel-Age church, which began in the fourth century A. D. It was early in that century that Roman Emperor Constantine the Great embraced Christianity because he thought it would help him politically; and it was he who called the Council of Nice in 325 A. D. – at which time the Apostles Creed was formulated – and Arius (who held the Truth that there is but one God as opposed to the then growing belief in the Trinity error) was banished from the Roman Empire – “afar off from the Camp.”

The stinging charge is recorded against that Pergamos Church (Pergamos means ‘earth­ly elevation’ – and the church then was certainly elevated when the Roman Emperor him­self openly embraced the Christian religion) is this: “Where Satan’s seat is ... thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam.” (Rev. 2:13,14) In Num. 22:5-41 we are told of the mercenary Balaam; and in that episode he was a type of those who teach error for profit in this Gospel Age. This odious practice came very much into evidence during the Pergamos period of the church; and developed very noticeably during the fol­lowing years – until 799 A.D., when Charlemagne relinquished his regal power to the Pope of Rome – the beginning of the real Holy Roman Empire.

It was during the fourth epoch of the church, beginning in 799 that the charge is recorded against them: “Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel (the Roman Church) ... to teach and to seduce my servants ... to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Rev. 2:20) ­on the outside of the Camp (apostate Christendom). Following is a quotation from Epi­phany Volume 11, p. 430: “God had our Lord do another thing indicative of His displeas­ure with His nominal people, i.e., remove the faithful servants of the Truth and its spirit from places of prominence and influence in the nominal Church – caused the sym­bolic woman, the Covenant promises and the servants who apply them to the brethren to go into the wilderness condition (Rev. 12:6) – to the Tent of Meeting (not the Taber­nacle, but Moses’ official residence) – and that but not slightly away from erroneous doctrines, organization and disciplines of the nominal church, but very far from these, and made the Truth and the servants who applied it to the brethren, as well as these last, the place where God resided, met with His people and blessed them. Henceforth every one who in heart’s loyalty sought fellowship with the Lord in spirit, truth, righteousness and holiness went forth from the nominal church to such truth, its apply­ing servants and the others of His real people, apart from the nominal church (without the camp)... When our Lord busied Himself with Truth matters, its applying servants, etc., the Truth and its spirit as due became manifest (the cloudy pillar descended ­Ex. 33:9), and remained at the entrance, consecration, where God revealed truths to Jesus in the star members.”

The foregoing dovetails so very beautifully with St. Paul’s admonition in Hebrews 13:13, “Let us, then, now go forth to him outside of the Camp, bearing reproach for him.” (Dia.) And it is such a very clear-cut and definite course of procedure for all elect “to follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) Such indeed is one very appropriate thought for the Memorial. In principle, this arrangement is as true today as it ever was.

“WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE?”

As previously stated, all the details of the original Passover in Egypt were pre­arranged with meticulous care and execution, even to its future remembrance “throughout your generations,” and the instruction of the Jewish children during future observances. It was properly anticipated that inquiring and curious children would ask, “What mean ye by this service?” (Ex. 12:26), thus providing the opportunity to instruct them in the niceties and the solemn responsibility of every Jew participating in it. And this exac­tion so thoroughly gripped the Jewish conscience and imagination that the Passover obser­vance today is almost identical to what it was in the day of Christ, excepting only the temple sacrifices which can no longer be performed. However, they yet make very elab­orate preparations for the festival. After minute search for all leaven in each house was completed into the napkin or cloth, the whole was then cast into the fire, and the master of the house declared in Aramaic that any further leaven that may have been in his house, and of which he was unaware, was to him no more than dust.

As stated, the eldest son of each family (thirteen years old, or more) was required to fast on the day leading to the evening service. Then on the evening of the 14th ­before partaking of the Passover meal and ceremony – all the male members of the house betook themselves to the synagogue, attired in their best apparel. On their return they would find the house lit up, and the “Seder” or paschal table in readiness for all to partake. The master of the house took his place at the head of the table, to par­take of the Seder, or Haggadah, as some Jews designate it.

As stated, to be sure the question would properly arise, the oldest son was previous­ly coached to ask, after they were seated at the table, why on this night above all other nights do they eat bitter herbs, unleavened bread, etc., at which the head of the house would relate the story of the original Passover and the deliverance of the Jewish first­born on that fateful night in Egypt. Then proceeded the feast, which had been elabor­ately and meticulously prepared – the bitter herbs such as parsley and horseradish, and a kind of sop with charoseth consisting of various fruits compounded into a sort of mu­cilage and mixed with vinegar and salt water – each arranged in its own vessel. At the outset the master took some of the bitter herbs, dipped them into the charoseth, and gave to each one present to be eaten along with the first cup of wine. Thus the feast continued throughout the evening until the fourth cup of wine and the recitation of the Great Hallel – after which, in the case of Jesus and the Disciples, “they went out into the Mount of Olives.” (Matt. 26:30)

Many of the requirements of the original Passover were subsequently ignored, and properly so. The Lord had told them in Egypt, “Thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand – so shall ye eat it in haste, it is Yahweh’s passing over.” Every minute detail in these instructions is fraught with grave significance to those who would commem­orate the memorial of “Christ our Passover who is sacrificed for us.” The girdle in the Bible symbols represents the serving features of those who would be servants in God’s Household. “He that is chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:27) Jesus Himself illustrated this on His last night by “girding” Himself, taking a towel and washing the Apostles’ feet. “I am among you as one that serveth,” He had told them. Then, the sandals on their feet were a representation of the Gospel-Age fact that “we have here no abiding city”; always should God’s people be alert to “move on” as occasion dictated, ever willing to follow the fiery-cloudy pillar the Truth as due; and to remember always that “The king’s business requires haste” no time to linger and ‘change clothes’ when the occa­sion should arise to journey on. And all this should be done with “your staff in your hand,” the staff typifying God’s precious promises, without leaning on which no one could ever make the journey from antitypical Egypt (the world of sin) to the Heavenly Canaan.

It is in order here to mention that some things in the original Passover were not followed by the Jews in their memorial, nor do we follow them in ours. In the Jewish celebration the lamb was chosen an the tenth day, nor do we now set aside the bread and the wine on the tenth day in readiness for the evening of the fourteenth. It would seem in the original that the Jews were told to do this to bring them into the proper mental attitude for that great miracle that would be performed for them on that awesome night. But we believe it is in order for us to “think on these things” for some days before our Nisan 14 – not only thinking, but also reading pertinent script on the sub­ject in the days preceding the participation.

Also, in the Jewish memorial the lamb’s blood was not sprinkled on the lintels and door posts, even as in the Lord’s Supper we do nothing to correspond to this. Nor did the Jews “eat it in haste” – as we have shown aforegoing; they reclined leisurely, but with full mental concentration of the thing they were remembering – as we also do as we partake of the bread and the wine. Thus, “this thing” has special reference to the delivery of the firstborn through the slain lamb, the eating of his flesh, and the sprinkled blood. Hence, the death of the lamb, the feasting on its flesh and the de­liverance of the firstborn, were the things to celebrate in the annual antitypical feast, and the Gospel-Age antitypes of these by the bread and the wine. It also bespeaks our participation with Him in His sufferings – with some a part of the sin offering, and with others a representation of this solemn event. Of course, this is not at all por­trayed in the annual Jewish celebration; it has exclusively a Christian meaning; and thus we consider it. However, it is implied in minor degree by the eating of the bit­ters along with the Jewish meal. And here is solid proof that the lamb typed Jesus only, and not the participants during the Jewish or this Gospel Age. Jesus only is the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

And, not only was Israel to observe the annual Passover during their wilderness journey (Num. 9:1-15), but they were to observe it after entering Canaan, which they scrupulously did – in like manner as did Jesus and the Apostles on the night before He died. And this we also do in our annual Memorial of “Christ our Passover.” And in our annual celebration we portray our journey from the wilderness of sin to our anti­typical heavenly Canaan. This is very much emphasized in Parousia Volume 6 on these various items, which writing we commend to all our readers. The annual Passover supper of the Jews thus types our annual participation in the bread and the wine.

THE TRUE AND THE FALSE

As most of us know, so many features of the true religion have been counterfeited by Satan, which prompted the Apostle to write, “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) This was even true of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In Eze. 8:14 it is stated, “There sat women weeping for Tammuz.” Tammuz was the sun god of the Baby­lonians, consort of Ishtar. He was identical with Adonis, the same as Baal of the Canaanites. Tammuz supposedly died each year, descended into the lower world, and was brought back to life by the weeping and lamentation of Ishtar, who was joined in her weep­ing by the women of Babylon. Thus, as Jesus was being led to the cross and He saw women weeping along His journey, He mildly admonished them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) It is also related in Ezekiel 8:17 that the Jews “put the branch to their nose,” in keeping with the custom of the Persian sunworshipers holding before them a branch of date, pomegranate or tamarisk that their breath might not contaminate the risen deity. All of these sacrilegious practices by the Jews brought forth the scathing denunciation of God by the mouth of His prophets; and is a warning to all God’s people to “have no other Gods before thee.”

Moses charging Israel to remember Nisan 15 (the first day of the Passover Festival) as the day that they went forth from Egypt from the house of servants, types our Lord’s charging the Gospel-Age Church in general – and the Church here in the end of the Age in particular – to remember antitypical Nisan 15 as their deliverance time from the house of the servants to sin, and our instruction into the Present Truth. Israel in general remembered their typical deliverance at all times, but especially so in their keeping of the Passover Memorial. So we, as antitypical Israel, remember our deliver­ance from the bondage of sin at all tines, but especially so we keep the Memorial of Christ our Passover.

Much more could be included here, but we believe the foregoing will suffice to bring forcefully to mind once more our obligations to “do this in remembrance of Me”; and it is our hope and prayer that all our readers may be richly blessed in their prep­aration for and participation in this year’s Memorial as they “consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.” This year we shall observe the Memor­ial at 1901 Morningside Drive, Sylvan Shores, Mount Dora, Fla., at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 29; and we invite all who may be in our vicinity of “like mind” to join with us in this service.

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

=======================

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF GENERAL INTEREST

It is the time of year for a Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle against the two King Errors – Eternal Torment (Zebah), and the Consciousness of the Dead (Zalmunna). We suggest Sunday, March 23 through Sunday, April 6 for this Good Fight. Any of the brethren who wish to participate in this Battle, please order the pertinent literature in time. Our Nos. 1, 2 and 3 tracts are appropriate and will be sent free, postage paid, as well as other literature pertinent to this Battle.

Several names are being removed from our mailing list – those whom we believe are not interested in receiving the papers. However, if any one doesn’t get future papers, and wish to be reinstated, it will be our pleasure to do so. Our papers are free to all who are benefited therefrom, but we do not wish to send to those who are not interested.

=========================

LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother and Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through Jesus our Savior!

Thank you for your good letter and for the January 1980 paper, I am hoping you are now in good health. I saw from Letters of General Interest that you have suffered some illness. Every day I am thinking and praying for you – for the Lord to give you strength and support. (1 Cor. 12:26)

A brother in France has been writing me, and I have answered his numerous questions. Also, I bought 32 PhotoDrama in color, etc., for conference. There are some interested. Brother ------- told me that he had written you to tell you of his gratitude for your defense of the Truth.

Oh yes, we are in the “Time of Trouble” and the Kingdom is near! Some are searching for the Truth. One young man came from Paris for our papers in French. He is with the LHMM and would not give me his address because he dreaded reprimands from the LHMM brethren. Unfortunately, an evangelist for the LHMM was present, and he told me, “If you are not pleased with our teachings, go out! Desert the Lord! And I said to the young man, “When you were with the Jehovah’s Witnesses you were the Lord’s, because you were sincere. And now the Lord is with you. If you desert the LHMM, because of faithfulness to the Lord and His Truth, the Lord will still be with you. After much discussion the young man went away with all our papers in French. I requested the evangelist of the LHMM, who was present, to be lenient with this “seeker after the Truth.” But I fear the request was useless.

The Lord bless you in 1980 as He has in the past. And for now, my very dear Brother and Sister, by this I am sending my Christian love for you and all with you. Your brother by His Grace with love for you throughout eternity as you remain faithful. ------- (BELGIUM)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother and Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Many thanks for your last letter, which I am amazed to find was as far back as May 28. The days and months simply fly by – however, that is no excuse... So my apologies – and trust that the good work continues with you healthwise, and you are re­gaining your normal health and strength sufficient for the Lord’s purpose. It seems such a long interval between the arrivals of your circulars.

Glad to say that, after a prolonged period of more or less inactivity, Betty is feeling much better, and we were able to have a fortnight’s break late summer and vis­ited other members of our family in London area and Oxford. Also, another visit to Brother and Sister ------- at West Wickham, which was enjoyable and we trust profit­able. We are able to keep in touch with Brother ------- at Darlington, and very often have him stay with us for two or three days at a time, which gives him a break. He keeps quite well and has just passed the 84 mark. Recently we visited Brother ------- at Richmond and found him fair for his age. He feels somewhat isolated where he is, and I think we were able to cheer him a little.

What an impasse we are reaching these days in the affairs of the world. Whichever way man turns, he continually meets obstacles which prevent or hinders progress toward bringing in a more settled and stable society – and we know why! The marvel is that there is a constant stream of people who imagine they know the solution, and ever ready to attempt what we know as impossible.

How thankful we are, and how privileged to be “in the know,” and enjoy that peace of mind and heart, that man can neither give nor take away.

We pray the Lord’s blessing to continue on you and your coworkers as you seek to serve Him in spirit and in Truth. With Christian love, ------- (ENGLAND)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother and Sister Hoefle and Class: Loving Christian greetings in our Savior!

Another memorial of His birth is fast approaching and I’m here trying to get in touch by sending appropriate greetings to loved and dear ones especially there in the house of Faith and the real Truth.

Brother ....... came over and said I see you wrote Bro. Hoefle, and that he published your letter; and I said What makes you think so. He said, It sure sounded like you. Well, it did, because I wrote it.

I don’t know whether you know Sister H------ of Cambridge Springs, but since we were married, and have moved to Edinboro, she and I have our morning devotions together by way of the telephone... We have a nice chat and reading. She feels Bro. Jolly is the last member of Youthful Worthies. She feels sorry because she thought Bro. Esch­rich was one, too, and he is still with us even though he doesn’t get around anymore. I told her, How can we be sure that Bro. Jolly is the last one – there are many good faithful brethren here on earth yet. Yes, she said – But they may be the Great Com­pany class or the Epiphany Campers. She said, We are of the Epiphany Campers’ class. I said, I’ll let God be the judge of what class we are in, as I don’t agree with the Epiphany Campers Consecrated....

Brother ------- gets your papers, because he writes at times and makes a comment on your writings. Enclosed please use donation to help pay for subscription to -------

May God continue His blessings and watch over all. God bless you dear ones!...

Loving Christian greetings ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother and Sister Hoefle: Greetings and Shalom in Messiah’s name!

May I wish you every spiritual and secular blessing in this New Year of our Lord! Thank you very much for your letter of December 10. I look forward to receiving the reading matter. Thank you very much for your very kind gift, which we acknowledge for the work. The books you are sending me are arriving in good shape. They do take a bit of time, however.

When I receive the literature described in your letter I’ll comment further. With kindest regards to you and Emily in Christian love.

Yours sincerely, ------- (AFRICA)