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The Aftermath of the Aberdeen Incident
The events following the Aberdeen Incident were to polarize the Exclusive Brethren in a way that was unique. Never before, in a history beset with splits, factions and turmoil, had such an issue been so clearly defined. Either you looked at the evidence and listened to the tapes or you chose to accept the outrageous lies that started to be propagated.
Since the notorious Aberdeen weekend in July 1970, there has been no cessation of the way the Taylorite-Hales Exclusive Brethren resort to untruth and misrepresentation, although now they use 'professional' spokesmen like Tony McCorkell. 'The Lie' regarding Aberdeen still haunts the leadership of the Exclusive Brethren. It immediately became a test of fellowship as to whether you accepted that the 'Man of God' was pure or whether you simply recognized James Taylor Jnr was an out-of-control alcoholic who was abusing his position as leader of the Exclusive Brethren. To this day the Exclusive Brethren attempt to cover up this scandal and by so doing, bury their heads deeper into the sand upon which their 'house' is built.
The tapes speak for themselves with the slurred voice of an alcoholic and the repeated and intentional blasphemy is demonstration enough of spoken evil. The sheer audacity of those that chose to cover up the Aberdeen Incident still has repercussions so many years later.
A disbelieving Press were brought in by JT Jnr and his henchmen, desperate to regain control. Today, as we view the headlines and look at the images, it is almost breathtaking to consider the heartbreak and heartache caused by the power-hungry leadership in ripping apart so many lives.
J.A.G., Bob Gardiner, JT Jnr and JT III left us about 5.30 a.m. on Lord's day and I saw nothing but kindness and concern shown JT Jnr at that time. JT Jnr’s ticket for America couldn't be found and Bob Gardiner called at Perth on the way to Glasgow to get 150 pounds which he gave to James Taylor III for JT Jnr's fare. J.A.G. drove the car and as he had had practically no sleep on the previous days it all added up to a great deal of self sacrifice which puts the lie to plots, hostility to the servant, and other things that have been suggested.
(The days are passing, dear brother, and I will have to wind this up and write more later.) From then on divine principles were set aside by JT Jnr and those with him. Even if our witness has been false, it should have been looked into on the basis of Deuteronomy. 19:15-19. See J.T Snr's ministry on this.
What my wife and I could scarcely credit was JT Jnr telling lies about it all. He said she was not in the bed, see the letter to Miss Hindle, and he said the same thing on Tuesday after to brothers in Britain who enquired by phone. Indeed she said that to us and told brethren this side at the same time, that not only was she in bed with him but she was naked. Finally JT Jnr admitted she was in bed but said she was clothed. There was a definite attempt to get rid of witness, this can be proven.
In Falkirk here, various charges were pressed against me despite the fact that I was not at the stage talking, and publicly stated I left the matter to New York. An issue was finally forced by Robert Gibb, stating that James Gardner's house and those who had been in it were leprous and refused to accept the Aberdeen judgement in assembly on the Tuesday night clearing him of this charge so that we had to withdraw from him.
All over Britain, "take a sister as wife." "Abishag." and similar scriptures were used to justify this conduct. You probably know the sequence, JT Jnr named James Gardner’s house leprous on the Tuesday, and on Wednesday or Thursday named Aberdeen and area leprous, and told Robert Gibb to set up a table, withdrew from A. B. Parker for being in contact with Aberdeen, who he said were out of fellowship. A few weeks later, New York. The details are again condemnatory. All can be proved. Because Bill Peterson tried to raise it on the Saturday meeting he instigated a police charge through N. Walker, stating Bill P. had disrupted a divine service (a criminal offence in N.Y.).
He brought the press and the television into it. (He did that, the Brethren with us never did.) He sent the police to those of us who were in the house. My wife and I were interrogated for one and a half hours by the police here. How shameful it was to have to speak about these things to worldly men. All was an attempt to criminalize us and set aside testimony. He also lied to A.B.P, Mr. Hoyte and Mr. Midgley. This can be proven.
There are so many things. The brethren with us could read anything that came, the others were forced to destroy unread all we wrote, but truth even as to facts can never be permanently hidden, and I am more sorry than I can say to write all of this. It has been a great grief, but read it all as I write it dear brother in the light of the Song of the Bow.
- Ted Steedman
Of course, the cause of this event and now the desperate leader of a much-reduced Exclusive Brethren continued to scrabble for a foot-hold and for power. He had just weeks to live.
Stanley McCallum had phoned James Taylor III and told him something then met him at Glasgow and told him some more. James Taylor III actually left the meetings at Farnham because he was told I was sick, senile and did not know what I was doing. Stanley McCallum filled James Taylor III up with this “corruption” as he had charged.
I left the house (A.G.) after asking was he right, his wife, Stanley McCallum. He said yes, but I found out later he meant that Stanley McCallum was right.
As I came out to go with James Taylor III, there was Stanley McCallum., J.L., James Gardner, and a brother called Stephano or such name, about 4 a.m. These were the criminals; they were supposed to have a breaking of bread, but none was held in that house.
The charge made by that bastard Waterfall that I was in bed with another man’s wife is a dastardly lie. If I wanted to sleep with another man’s wife would I go to Aberdeen – costing $1,000? Brooklyn would be cheaper. Some brethren have shown themselves to be boobs.
The dear brethren in Detroit have come to a right decision and withdrew from Stanley McCallum, only to be poisoned by A. B. Parker with the lies he got from Aberdeen. I told him I withdrew from him, 2 Timothy 2, because he was associating with persons under discipline (Aberdeen).
- James Taylor Jnr
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