Recent history of the testimony: Events since 1965
The rejection of the Lord’s sovereignty resulted in a wholesale and universal departure from the truth in January 1971. This ongoing rebellion has its roots in events going back to 1965. We will take up events from there…
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1965
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10-12 September
1965J.T.Jr serves at 3-day meetings in Montreal.
He [J.T.] was a merchant, but he never caught the spirit of the world. A man who could say, ‘I do not want to make any more money’ is not showing the spirit of the world. Do you find it hard to say that?
There is nothing wrong in doing commerce at all, but it is the spirit of it.
It is an awful spirit you are dealing with.
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17-19 September
1965J.S. Hales serves at 3-day meetings in Barbados in which he promotes a system of commerce. Deryck Noakes is present at these meetings.
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24-26 September
1965J.T.Jr serves at 3-day meetings in Toronto.
Deryck Noakes tells belovèd Jim of the promotion of commercialism at the Barbados meetings, and then that ‘they must not think they can come to South Africa and do that!’
Belovèd Jim replies to him, ‘Be a man!’
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27 September
1965On the flight home from Toronto to England, Australian brethren harrass Deryck Noakes and demand to see his balance sheet.
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28 September
1965Deryck Noakes gives a word at the the ministry meeting in Bristol, England on his way home from the Toronto meetings. His subject is Malachi 3:1 –
…the Lord whom ye seek will suddenly come to his temple
Later in the day, at the ministry meeting in New York, James Taylor Jr pronounces that ‘commerce has no place in the assembly.’
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28-29 September
1965All visitors are sent home from New York to their own localities to judge the matter of commerce being introduced into the assembly.
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29 September
1965New York city reading with J.T.Jr on Acts 17
Crisis at the moment is the introduction of commerce into the assembly
Paul was painfully excited in his spirit … at Areopagus. …He was not telling them how to make money, he was telling them the gospel; Jesus and the resurrection.
…but these business meetings wholly of brethren are not right. It is despising the assembly.
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20 October
1965S. Glyne Hunte of Barbados writes a letter to D.W. Morren of Port Elizabeth clearly setting out their assembly judgement of the July meetings with J.S.H., as well as the withdrawal of any notes of these meetings.
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October
1965John S. Hales and W.B. Hales are withdrawn from in Sydney for promoting the commercial system. This was an unrighteous action, as both expressed repentance for their sin and therefore should have been forgiven.
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21 October
19653-day meetings with J.T.Jr in Croydon
It is a different gospel. If you mix up the gospel with commerce, that is a different gospel; that is the words of scripture. We have called it a rival ministry; that is just the same as saying it is a different gospel. … All these things we had at Horsham a few years ago; the truth was brought to us at that time as to the foundations being threatened by compromise ministry – it is being threatened this time by the introduction of commerce into the assembly.
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18 November
1965Letter from J.S. Hales to Brian Deck.
I have sinned…
He confesses, amongst other matters, to the introduction of an "alien spirit."
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20 November
1965Letter from J.T.Jr
I think it essential the assembly be brought in formally in repudiating the introduction of commerce into the assembly.
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1966
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28 April
1966J.T.Jr serves in Australia, culminating in a vital reading in Sydney, titled "Inward Leadership".
If we’re seeking revenge or seeking vindictiveness or holding something in our souls about somebody, no matter what they did, – that’s not the gospel. The gospel is not that. If a man judges himself, he’s not judged.
This is a reference to vindictiveness against JS Hales, and others who led in the commercial system. It clearly shows that, nevertheless, those persons had sinned and did have matters to be judged and repented of.
This meeting was only published in greatly abridged form in Volume 48. The full, unabridged copy of this vital meeting is available.
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26 August
1966J.T.Jr serves at 3-day meetings in Edmonton.
This vindictiveness has come up amongst us. Some people say we never had vindictiveness, but the Lord really had to get at it and get it out from amongst us. It was an exposure of the flesh amonst us, this vindictive line which was really worse than what happened to us before.
The commercialism was an attack on the gospel, and the second was similar; it was that you could penalise people as the courts penalise people. There is no such thing in the gospel.
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1968
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6 October
1968Belovèd J.T.Jr shows that the Lord did not support the commercial system.
And this other matter of natural ability, I think it had its full display in the commercial system or any other system, what natural ability was, and the Lord just put His hand on that. Well, have we judged that natural side?
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15-17 November
1968Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Reigate, England.
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1969
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16-18 May
1969Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Winchester, England.
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10 September
1969Deryck Noakes serves at the Sydney city reading.
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September
1969Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Orange and Geelong, Australia
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1970
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Ongoing
1970-1972Robert Beattie (Johannesburg) was in a sinful relationship with a married woman during these years, while at the same time he took a leading role in the murderous, unprincipled attack on Port Elizabeth, Deryck Noakes and others.
(Supreme Court of South Africa Record of Evidence, Vol. V, p 398, 399)
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20-22 February
1970J.T.Jr serves at 3-day meetings in Port Elizabeth. He shows that his judgment of the commercial system has not changed:
…and you have to know Numbers 19. Rebellion, that was 1965, that is chapter 16. The earth was opened and swallowed the whole lot of them. It didn’t matter whether they were Australians, Americans, English people, and they went right down the hole there.
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13-15 March
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Hobart, Tasmania.
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20-22 March
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in New Plymouth, New Zealand.
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24-26 July
1970Belovèd James Taylor Jr serves at 3-day meetings at Aberdeen, Scotland, drawing out the true colours of those who did not accept him. Many ‘brethren’ in Scotland and worldwide who had never really accepted our belovèd leave the testimony.
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28 July
1970S. McCallum is withdrawn from on the Tuesday after the 3-day meetings in Aberdeen.
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1 August
1970At the care meeting, all the localities in South Africa except Johannesburg (where R.J.O.B. was local), decided to take up levitical collections for Jim Taylor.
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14-16 August
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Pretoria, South Africa.
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21-23 August
1970Deryck Noakes serves at meetings in Cape Town, South Africa.
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22 August
1970Most of the ‘brethren’ in New York walk out, deserting belovèd J.T.Jr and the assembly in New York.
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22 August
1970Jim Taylor phones D.J. Pienaar of Cape Town, South Africa and tells him about the walk-out in New York. D.J.P. says
we are with you all the way, Mr Taylor
, but becomes very agitated at the news. -
28-30 August
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Watford, England.
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29 August
1970In an address during the meetings at Watford, England, Deryck Noakes spoke of having a Father in times of suffering, and knowing a father in Jim Taylor. After Aberdeen, this was a great comfort and help to many in their trust in belovèd Jim.
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6-8 October
1970New York 3-day meetings with belovèd Jim Taylor.
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14 October
1970Belovèd James Taylor Jr is taken to be with the Lord.
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16-18 October
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Manchester, England.
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23-25 October
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Gloucester, England
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November
1970Deryck Noakes serves at fellowship meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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11-13 December
1970Deryck Noakes serves at 3-day meetings in Harrow, England – 460 brethren are present from over 60 localities.
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16 December
1970Letter of thanks from Leonard Goodbody of Harrow to the brethren in Port Elizabeth in which he commends the Harrow meetings in December.
We had a distinctive time with beloved Deryck . . . attracted by his respectful manner . . . he ministered with authority and affection, and I cannot recall one jarring note.
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25-27 December
1970G.R. Maynard takes ‘3-day meetings’ in Barbados in which he blasphemes the Lord Jesus’ humanity.
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29 December
1970G.R. Maynard phones A.J. McMullan (Port Elizabeth) to ask if Deryck Noakes or the brethren in Port Elizabeth had heard from Harrow, Watford or Winchester; and told him what the ‘charges’ against Deryck were! This was before Deryck or the brethren in Port Elizabeth had heard from those localities, and before Harrow’s assembly meeting where the ‘charges’ were supposedly prepared!
How did he know what the ‘charges’ were or that Deryck should hear from those localities?
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29 December
1970The ‘Harrow Judgment’: Harrow repudiates 3-day meetings with Deryck Noakes
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29 December
1970Mr Rawlinson of Harrow informs Deryck of their repudiation of his meetings. Deryck requests live witness to be brought to Port Elizabeth.
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29 December
1970New York repudiates D.J. Pienaar’s ministry where he introduced what Jim Taylor had said about the Lord kissing the woman in John 4.
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30 December
1970Watford repudiates 3-day meetings with Deryck Noakes.
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31 December
1970R.J.O. Beattie returns to Johannesburg, South Africa after a two-week trip to Great Britain, visiting places where Deryck Noakes had recently served.
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1971
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1 January
1971Two brothers in Johannesburg, South Africa – Malcolm Tunley and Joe Reynolds – declared that they could not accept R.J.O. Beattie’s denial that there was glory in the house at Aberdeen when Jim Taylor was there in July 1970.
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1 January
1971Harrow withdraws from Alan and Madeline Ker. The charges include that there was a alleged conspiracy operating in their house – a deliberate setting aside of servants and a promotion of Deryck Noakes.
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2 January
1971At the care meeting in Johannesburg, where R.J.O.B. is local, Malcolm Tunley and Joe Reynolds are challenged as to where they stand. These brothers stand by their conviction that there was glory in the house at Aberdeen with belovèd Jim Taylor, and the end of it is that they are both withdrawn from.
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2 January
1971Harrow informs Port Elizabeth brethren of their judgment. The matter is raised in the care meeting and Port Elizabeth judges that their conscience is not carried.
There is live witness in Port Elizabeth, from persons who were present in Harrow, which is contrary to the allegations.
Furthermore the serving brother, Deryck, is local in Port Elizabeth and Port Elizabeth must therefore have all the facts before it can judge the matter according to principle.
J.T.Jr: A brother is responsible in his own locality and facts (not judgements) should be put there.
Port Elizabeth therefore requests witness to facts from Harrow.
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3 January
1971Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria rightly accept Harrow’s judgment on the principle of confidence in another local assembly.
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4 January
1971Phonecall from Stephen Thornett and Malcolm Browning of Winchester to two brothers in Port Elizabeth informing them of Winchester’s repudiation of meetings there.
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4 January
1971Phonecall from James Branch and Mr Remmington to the same two brothers in Port Elizabeth informing them of Watford’s repudiation of meetings there.
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4 January
1971A special assembly meeting is called in Port Elizabeth to address the matters raised by Harrow, including their judgments, charges and repudiation of D.N.’s meetings there.
Deryck again requests live witness from Harrow. The conscience of the brethren in Port Elizabeth is not carried by Harrow’s judgment, and they propose to inform the brethren in Harrow in writing of the reasons for this. The rapidity of subsequent events prevent this from happening.
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5 January
1971Jim Brown of Somerset East visits Jansenville (the nearest meeting to Port Elizabeth) and attempts to persuade them to withdraw from Deryck Noakes and go with the ‘universal position’. The brethren in Jansenville decide to visit Port Elizbeth themselves first.
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5 January
1971Durban rightly accepts Harrow’s judgment on the principle of confidence in another local assembly.
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5 January
1971A party led by F.G. Pudney walks out of the assembly in Port Elizabeth during the service of God. They declare that it is
the universal judgement of the brethren
that the city has lost its franchise, and walk out without naming any evil from which they are withdrawing.Deryck Noakes immediately pronounces this action as wickedness (rebellion), and withdraws from the rebels for forsaking the presence of the Spirit of God.
By dealing with evil, Port Elizabeth proves that they do still have the franchise.
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From this point on, the local assembly in Port Elizabeth is cut off from fellowship with all other brethren worldwide except for Jansenville, their nearest meeting and the only one to come to Port Elizabeth to see for themselves.
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5 January
1971The rebels from Port Elizabeth are received in Somerset East, South Africa.
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6 January
1971Brethren from Jansenville visit Port Elizabeth to determine facts and are carried in their consciences that there is no evil.
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8-10 January
1971J.H. Symington takes ‘3-day meetings’ in Johannesburg, which are attended by some of the rebellious persons from Port Elizabeth.
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12 January
1971Ministry book of the Barbados ‘3-day meetings’ on 25-27 December with G.R.M. (Readings at Nostrand Avenue and Other Ministry, Volume 3) is received in Port Elizabeth.
Deryck Noakes immediately sends a letter to G.R. Maynard, personally withdrawing from him for blasphemy against the Lord’s humanity.
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12 January
1971Port Elizabeth withdraws from fellowship with Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria for associating with the rebellious persons.
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13 January
1971Malcolm Tunley and Joe Reynolds (Johannesburg) are restored to fellowship via the local assembly in Jansenville, their nearest meeting. There is a local assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa again.
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3 March
1971R.J.O. Beattie universally circulates a deceitful and crafty letter about Deryck Noakes, attempting to justify the unprincipled and murderous attack on Deryck Noakes, the assembly in Port Elizabeth, and others.
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31 March
1971Meeting in Port Elizabeth listing 42 divine principles violated in the events relating to the walk-out in that city.
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21 April
1971Letter from Deryck Noakes to Leslie A. Corbin notifying him of Maynard’s blasphemy.
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June
1971G.R. Maynard of Barbados withdrawn from by those who continued in fellowship with the rebellion in Port Elizabeth, 1971.
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Middle
1971No response to the letter to Leslie Corbin dated 21 April. It is therefore distributed universally to alert persons to the evil that they are in fellowship with.
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10 August
1971Letter from Port Elizabeth hand delivered to all households in Somerset East, South Africa
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1972
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15 November
1972J.H. Symington visits the rebellious position in Port Elizabeth. Deryck Noakes sends him a telegram charging him with open brethrenism for not repudiating Maynard’s blasphemy.
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1974
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April – July
1974R.J.O. Beattie of Johannesburg is shut up, and withdrawn from shortly after, for lying – by those who remained in fellowship with the rebellion in Port Elizabeth, 1971.
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23 December
1974Summons delivered to 111 brethren in Port Elizabeth to begin court proceedings in the Supreme Court of South Africa – ostensibly for the PBCC to recover six meeting halls, but really an attempt to defame Deryck Noakes and bankrupt the Port Elizabeth brethren. In fact, the cost of the failed litigation ends up outweighing the value of the halls!
This case continued until 27 May 1980, when the judge stopped the proceedings by saying,
It is not a matter that can be decided by a court of law.
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1979
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6 September
1979Deryck Noakes sends a cable to J.H. Symington withdrawing from him for blaspheming the Holy Spirit, with copies to J. de Seyn and R. Hughes, Neche.
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1980
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2 March
1980Deryck Noakes sends a second communication to J.H.S. notifying him of his blasphemy, and copies of the letter are sent universally to about 620 addresses.
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5 May
1980Deryck Noakes sends letter to J. de Seyn and R. Hughes notifying them of further blasphemy by J.H.S., and copies are again sent universally to about 620 addresses.
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23-27 May
1980A series of court cases (running from 12 January 1971) is concluded in the Supreme Court of South Africa. This legal action was initiated by the rebels in Port Elizabeth in an attempt to claim ownership of meeting rooms. In the settlement of procedings, Mr Justice J.P.G. Eksteen pronounced:
...in the course of the protraction of this dispute, the body of Christ is being torn in public every day in this Court, an unedifying spectacle which I can assure you gives me no joy. (23 May 1980)
It is not a matter which can be dealt with by a court of law, but I do hope that in the passage of time that communion will again be restored, and the unity that used to exist between the parties will again be fact. (27 May 1980)
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1990’s
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Early
1990’sPersons move to Port Elizabeth to support the rebellious position. Letter delivered to each new householder informing them of their responsibility.
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April
1992Urgent Announcement published in many newspapers in South Africa, and major newspapers in the U.K., U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand.
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2000’s
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Early
2000’sFrom late 1990’s through early 2000’s, all those associated with the rebellious position in Port Elizabeth leave the country.
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2002
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12 January
2002J.S. Hales dies and his son B.D. Hales assumes leadership of the ‘church’ — i.e. those that are in fellowship with the rebellion in Port Elizabeth, 1971.
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2003
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21 October
2003Letter from Deryck Noakes to Bruce Hales, alerting him to his responsibilties as assuming leadership of the ‘church’.
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2004
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13 July
2004Letter from Deryck Noakes to Bruce Hales, alerting him to his responsibilty in regard of the unjudged blasphemies by G.R. Maynard and J.H. Symington.
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2011
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December
2011At meetings in Chicago, B.D. Hales describes how he gave instructions for the republishing of the 1965 meetings with J.S. Hales in Barbados. These meetings were repudiated at the time by the local assembly in Barbados, yet B.D. Hales now describes them as “ministry in power.”
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2012
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July
2012The Spirit of God raises in the assembly that the Lord’s coming is imminent, but this will not take place until outstanding matters from 1971 are resolved.
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August
2012 -
September
2012Robin Jurgens, Robert Pudney and Roger Pudney visit England to testify to the fact that divine principles had been violated in Port Elizabeth in 1971.
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November
2012Roger Pudney, Gavin Eales and Jared Pudney visit the USA. Testimony is rendered in Rochester, Knoxville, San Antonio, Detroit and Kalispell. Intense hatred is displayed by those in the ‘Hales Exclusive Brethren’.
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2013
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6 January
2013Johannesburg judges as sin their failure to deal with R.J.O. Beattie after he refused to minister to belovèd Jim Taylor after Aberdeen.
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July/August
2013Robert Pudney and Jared Pudney visit Harrow, England as it is the locality which issued the judgement resulting in the ‘disenfranchisement’ of Port Elizabeth. They carry a letter from Port Elizabeth demanding to know where every person in Harrow stands in regard to the ‘grievous wolves’ Maynard, Symington, Hales & Hales. This letter is privately accepted, and subsequently rejected on behalf of the ‘brethren’ in Harrow.
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August
2013Deryck himself visits Harrow, England with Gavin Eales to find out if every person in Harrow rejects the letter from Port Elizabeth. They are refused entry to the meeting hall and the police are called. Nevertheless, a testimony is rendered to those gathering for their ‘meeting’.
Struan Ker and Steve Jay subsequently attempt, and fail, to make Deryck Noakes sign a restraining order.
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2014
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March/April
2014Roger Pudney and Jared Pudney visit Barbados. This is where Maynard was local, and he was the source of the interference in the Lord’s rights in Port Elizabeth.
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May
2014Deryck Noakes visits Barbados. With him are Ian Allen, Roger Pudney, Jadon Allen and Gavin Eales. Persons are appealed to to choose the Glad Tidings over against the system of the UBT and its LSGs.
In response to testimony outside the Neils meeting room, the police are called. The police officer says he will personally write to the Chief Immigration Officer to see that they are deported and never allowed entry again. Nevertheless no charges are, or can be, pressed.
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21 May
2014Struan Ker and Charles Kingston arrive from Harrow and accost Deryck Noakes in his car on a public road. They threaten to ‘pursue legal action against you to the bitter end.’
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6 June
2014Jared Pudney, his wife Haley, and Javan Morley attempt to visit Barbados. En-route from South Africa, they speak to ‘brethren’ in England. On arrival in Barbados, they are denied entry and immediately deported back to England. There is clear indication that this action is as a result of interference in the Immigration Department by the ‘Closed Brethren’.
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14 June
2014Jared, his wife Haley, and Javan attempt to enter Barbados a second time. They are again denied entry, and this time detained overnight, including being denied communication, food and drink. They are deported the following day.
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2 July
2014Jared, Haley, and Javan attempt to enter Barbados a third time but are once again denied entry. Once again there is obvious involvement of the ‘Closed Brethren’.
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October
2014Jadon Allen, Justin Pudney, and Matthew Eales visit a number of cities in the U.S.A. in order to present facts to members of the P.B.C.C.
During this visit is becomes clear that Chicago is responsible for allowing rebellious ‘ministry’ by B.D.H. in their city. Much testimony is rendered, including discussion with Jimmy Johnson and a private meeting with Dennis McAbery, Derrick Taylor, Doug Schmidt and Neil Schaumberg.
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December
2014Robert Pudney, Jared Pudney, and Neiel Pudney visit Barbados for further testimony. The exercise is to present facts to every known ‘Closed Brethren’ household in Barbados.
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2015
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March
2015Jared Pudney visits Barbados again. He is again questioned by Immigration staff upon entry, but this time it has become a subject of amusement to the officials.
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May
2015Gavin Eales and Jadon Allen visit Harrow, England, and nearby localities for testimony concerning the unrighteousness of the so-called ‘Harrow Judgment’.
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28 September
2015Deryck Noakes visits Barbados. With him are Roland Pudney, Gavin Eales and Anton Jurgens.
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1 October
2015Letter from Deryck Noakes to the trustees of the so-called Bible & Gospel Trust, drawing attention to the Holy Spirit’s intense displeasure at their publication of false ministry.
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9 October
2015Friday: Deryck Noakes visits Clapham Hall, Barbados. One young ‘brother’ deliberately walks into Deryck, who was using a walking aid. Even one of that young man’s own brethren tells him to
lay off
. The police are called, as has become custom. -
10 October
2015Saturday: Deryck Noakes visits Neils Hall, Barbados, and stands outside the gate with Roland, Anton & Gavin. Once again, the police are called. Deryck forces the issue by refusing to leave, and tells the police to arrest him.
These four brothers are escorted to the District A police station, for an interview with Sergeant Cumberbatch. Also present at the interview are four accusers from the P.B.C.C. — Derek Daniel, Andy Kelly, Graham Ward & Jeffrey Niles.
Much testimony is rendered in this interview, and the accusers expose their unrighteous ways. The police sergeant orders both parties to appear at the Central police station on Monday. Clear instructions are given for the four members of the Closed Brethren to be there as well.
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11 October
2015Lord’s Day: Police arrive at Deryck Noakes’ residence. They carry a complaint that Deryck Noakes attempted to knock over Nicky Weekes at Clapham Hall on Friday. Having heard the actual story and realising the ridiculousness of it, the police cross the complaint out of their book.
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12 October
2015Monday: As instructed, Deryck Noakes and the brothers go to the Central police station for the meeting with Senior Superintendent Phillips. They arrive just before the scheduled time, only to meet Graham Ward leaving the superintendent’s office after a private meeting.
The meeting is held with the police only, and none of the accusers dare to appear. The police have clearly been influenced against Deryck Noakes and those with him. The police
threaten them severely
(Acts 4:17) and release them without charges. -
13 October
2015Tuesday: Deryck and those with him visit Neils Hall again. Their presence causes much consternation, but the police are not called this time.
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14 October
2015Wednesday: Deryck and those with him visit Neils Hall again. Deryck says he is dissappointed that the police have not been called.
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15 October
2015Thursday: Deryck Noakes and the brothers with him visit Peterkins Hall, Barbados. Andy Kelly arrives, and shortly afterwards the police arrive too. The police tell these brothers that they will be arrested and taken to Black Rock Jail. This causes a Closed Brethren ‘sister’ standing near the car to exclaim,
Yeah! Yeah!
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16 October
2015Friday: Deryck Noakes and those with him visit Neils Hall again. The ‘meeting’ on Friday evening is usually a local meeting, but this time the whole city is present at the main hall. Once again the police are called.
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17 October
2015Saturday morning: Deryck Noakes and those with him visit Neils Hall once again.
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Saturday afternoon: The complete rejection of extensive testimony causes the Lord to direct the Holy Spirit to give the D. Noakes version of Matthew 23:
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Limited, Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Limited, who calls the police for those that are sent to you, how often would we have gathered your children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate;
for we say to you, you shall in no wise see Me henceforth until you say, Blessed be He that comes in the name of God.
This notice is fixed to the gate of each meeting room in Barbados.
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20 October
2015A copy of the D. Noakes version of Mathew 23 is fixed to the gate of the Harrow meeting room at 265 The Ridgeway.
A copy of the D. Noakes version of Mathew 23 is published in the Daily Nation in Barbados.