Brother Robertson -- Now And Then
Dear Brother Robertson:
I am sorry I did not read your article in the Guardian when it came out, but I passed it by. How careless of me I have a letter written to Brother Tant from Brother W T. Boaz of Toronto asking that he might print it for publication. Brother Tant sent it to me otherwise I would not have known that my article found its way in public print. For its appearance I wish to thank you. Maybe it will help me to sell them. I have a number of the "ENTIRE" article in tract form. If anyone wishes to have one, they may have it for $25.00 per thousand as long as they last. I thought it good then. I still believe it to be the truth. The article: "Fellowshipping Error.'
Your Purpose Evident Little did I imagine the little articles I wrote in the booklet, "That the Brethren May Know," in which I stated the Guardian Men had changed so many times it was: hurting the influence they should have, that it would hut so badly that all of you brethren are searching "heaven and earth" to find something that can prove that I hay: also changed. It is proof that my article found the spot and that they feel it was so near the truth that somehow they must ease that statement by trying to prove that E. R. Harper has also changed. Well, go on and if and when you do find it, you will have only proved that E. R Harper has changed. It will still not prove that my statement about you men is not true. But one thing you must remember, I did not begin this fight; I did not organize a "human corporation" centralizing "forces for correction' giving as my purpose the saving of the church the blessed Lord built. I thought you men were against "institutionalism" and "human societies" through which church "correction" should be accomplished? You are trying to build up one of the greatest "human institutions" through which to "control the church" that this generation has known; namely the "Roy Cogdill Corporation" with the "Ancient Landmarks" and "Gospel Guardian" as subsidiaries.
But to the 'E. R. Harper of days past." I want to thank you, really for this comment of yours. Never have I had a better opportunity of showing who has changed than you have given me. Did you know that when I wrote this article to which you refer, that at that VERY TIME I was on the radio at Little Rock with a program that was being supported THEN as our radio program at Highland is NOW; namely by "congregational cooperation" and that at THAT time the entire Guardian Family was behind Ernie Harper and calling me to hold their meetings and recommending me for the places they could not go? Yes, I believed then that congregations could cooperate in preaching the gospel over a radio.
Question Brother Robertson?
Who has really changed? Who has abandoned the ship? Who has left the old wagon? I, at the time of this article you had published, worked for a congregation that received money from congregations in Arkansas and other states and individuals to support a program we were not able to finance. You Guardian Men were my strongest backers. Never a criticism. HOW COME that you left the "old ship"; how come you "jumped out of the wagon" and left "poor old Ernie Harper" to drive the thing alone. Brother Robertson, I am exactly NOW where I was THEN. BUT WHERE are YOU MEN? NOW you are opposed to what you THEN advocated. Could it be "Brother Robertson, NOW and THEN"? Maybe it would be more appropriate to end your article by saying "What I, Thomas Allen Robertson, believed and fellowshipped in DAYS PAST."
Have To Beat This Brother Robertson, you men are going to have to come up with something better than you have thus far found. Brother Tant has the letters from both Brethren Hardeman and Roland saying I told the truth about the Freed-Hardeman affair. My Tulsa lecture is a plea for "congregational cooperation" but Brother Tant refused to publish that. I will however. He has let the Harding Col-. lege affair "back-fire" on him for now he has been forced to come out in open condemnation of them in a recent article. I have the truth on that. I am asking him to publish the letter I wrote Brother Wallace and the one Brother West wrote Harding College and then write another article on "who is the lizard with many colors."
Keep It Up You know Brother Robertson, you men are giving me the opportunity to say some things I have needed to say for a long time on some things that took place a few years ago; accusations I never got to answer before the public. I hope you keep this up, if you think it is best. I am sure it needs to stop so far as the brotherhood is concerned. It is much like the McCarthy - Army affair. I think people will get sick of it, but when they do — they know how to stop it.
Now until the Guardian gets tired of jumping on me, for remember they got on me, I can just write on eternally or so long as I live. It is their ink; it is their paper; it is their rent; it is their presses; it is their labor; it is their money or IS IT? And if they know no better than to just keep on, let them keep on. I know what I have done; what I have believed; and what I have taught others and not like some others, I will fight on just as I want to fight on. When you men get enough just quit. I am like Brother Glenn Wallace was quoted as saying, "Brother Harper," he was quoted as saying, "is like an old DUTCH MILL, he will never stop."
When men force me into a fight against my will, with my asking not to be brought to the front in it for it is not my program primarily, and just because I was preaching for the church then I say to you and them, It is from here on? ? ? ? Just "have at it" but you are going to have to get better examples than you are getting if you do not wind up showing to your own friends that what you men are trying to do is "find something no matter how" whether right or wrong and it is going to come home to you if you are not careful. Better luck next time in your finding "Two E. R. Harpers" one "THEN and NOW." This time, you "caught yourself and the Guardian group" for you and they have left "YOUR original stand." So long Brother Robertson "Then and Now."