The Godsend of River Grove

by Rob Summers

From: “H P Grant”

  To:

  Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 7:00 PM

  Subject: Re: Eddie told me

  Yes, I did it-- and all for nothing it appears. It’s hard to tell, but I think he will be voted in by a comfortable margin. In fact the mailings may have even strengthened support for him, which maddens me. I mean, what if he stood to lose by a slim margin until I interfered and put him over the top! Luckily, I’ll never know that. In theory I can agree that I should admit the mailings but I think that would concentrate people’s minds again on Who Is Responsible and not on the actual content of what was mailed. I can always confess later, after the vote I mean. In the meantime I’m hanging on to the hope that the River Grovers’ minds will clear before Nov. 5 and that the mailings will have persuaded some of them.

  Yes, Evan is a nice guy. However, he’s so sold on the Merits of Church Organization and Authority that -- how shall I put it? -- he’s blind. He and I have had some friendly discussions/arguments about this. I tell him that I think the River Grovers are paralyzed in spiritual weakness and that the Organization actually perpetuates this. (I know you agree.) He agrees about the weakness but replies that patience and the refinement of present methods will bring spiritual growth over the years -- that there’s nothing seriously wrong with the Organization. I respond that patience and plugging away at it have not had any results during past decades, so why think that future decades will be any different? At this point he gets irritated (he doesn’t know I used to be on a debate team) and asks me what I propose -- what is there besides the church anyway? I say I wasn’t referring to The Church but just to this church, River Grove. Despite his theological training, he gets lost at this point; and I don’t press the matter. Yet. I am afraid to ask him whether he will vote in favor of Ollie.

  Yes, the house is a mess, and it will be cleaned up before you get back.

  Hang in there with your translating and bring lots of pictures.

  --Hila