DO8398/79

—(Editing, Comments & Underlining by Dad.)

—Dad scolds the Social Studies Dept. Head of a famous University for betrayal! He is very fond of us & has published much about us, but mistakenly gave the address of one of our bitterest enemies to an enquiring Japanese parent!

Dear Dad,30/5/79

IT WAS GOOD TO GET A MESSAGE FROM YOU, even though that message was a rather sharp rebuke! (You deserved it!—Dad.) It arrived in the same post as the very first copy of my book (Congratulations!—D.) which I am enclosing with this letter. (Thanks,—D.) At long last "Sex, Marriage & the Children of God" is in print. (—40 whole pages!—D.) It has already been read by hundreds of people in mimeographed form, but it is great to see it in print & available through any bookstore. (—Good for you!—D.)

DAD, I KIND OF HOPE THAT THIS MAY BE PART OF AN ANSWER to your query. Writing about the Family in the way I have has brought me a lot of enemies too. There are many people who will have nothing to do with me, because they believe I am too favourable to the Family in what I write. (The Jews thought Pilate was too, & he did try to defend Jesus!—But!—D.) I have lots of letters from people refusing to see me because they think I am really a follower (Hope so!—D.) of yours & not at all an objective social scientist. I keep on telling people like that that I am not out to convert anyone to the Family, but just trying to be honest about it in my writings & in my dealings. (Pilate was honest too, but one day he had to make a choice!—Jesus said, "You're for me or against me!" Mt.12:30.—D.) Have I failed at that Dad? (—No, we believe you're trying to be fair & honest.—So was Pilate!—But when the Jews put the pressure on, he betrayed Him!—D.)

LOOK AGAIN AT THESE TWO ESSAYS ON THE FAMILY (Chapters 4 & 5.) Chapter 4—which you remember I wrote & published before having any close contact with the Family & on the basis of material gathered almost entirely through Frampton & MacPherson, the Family's two bitterest enemies—still reads pretty fairly, doesn't it? (—Amen!—Very!—And a miracle after those two guys!—D.) And Chapter 5—going out in a book with my name on the cover so that its content will always be associated with me & will affect my entire career (—Yes‚ & the choice is up to you! God will bless those who bless us, & curse those who don't! Gen.12:3.—D.) one way or another in the course of time—doesn't that read like the work of someone who is trying pretty damned hard to give the Family a fair hearing? (—Yes!—So did Pilate!—D.)

IN MY LETTERS TO THE HOME OFFICE‚ TO THE GERMAN MAGAZINE, etc., haven't I spoken out for the Family (Thanks!—D.) when I felt it was being wronged? I would have hoped that by these actions & my constant attention to the Family & to you over these past four years I would have proven my loyalty & friendship. (—It seemed so.—That's why we were so shocked you betrayed us!—D.)

HOWEVER, TO DEAL WITH THE PARTICULAR MATTER YOU RAISED, you are quite right, I did give Frampton's address to a Japanese gentleman. (Sad day!—D.) There are a number of things that I would say about this.

FIRST, I CAN ONLY SPEAK CONVINCINGLY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, newspapers, etc., about the Family if they can believe that I am, as far as I possibly can be, impartial. (—I believe you're trying to be, but "There Are No Neutrals!"—So I believe you're for us.—D.) That means that I do not accept everything the Family says at face value, but that I check it out, by looking for myself, or by talking to people who have left the Family, or even by talking to its bitterest enemies. Because I talk with them does not mean that I will therefore betray the Family to them, nor that I would cooperate with them in bringing any harm to the Family. So I do have contact with people like Frampton.

WHEN THE JAPANESE GENTLEMAN WROTE TO ME I hoped at first to be able to see him myself but then found I would be away at the time. I had formed the impression from his correspondence that he was already an enemy of the Family, that he was already hostile. I doubted, therefore‚ whether he would really listen to me at all & since he probably only wanted to hear the negative‚ he might as well get it from Frampton. (—Too bad he didn't instead of from you!—D.) Now I may have misunderstood him, & whether I did or not, it was probably an error of judgement on my part to point him towards Frampton. (—Sure was!—D.) Dad, I can only apologise for that.

IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME AT THE TIME that this was something to which the Family would strongly object. I simply didn't see the implications (That contact can flood Japan with their anti-COG shit for the first time‚ an area that has been free from it & where we've been well liked & generally accepted!—D.) & I am sorry to have made such a mistake. (—Sure was!—D.) I ask you to forgive me Dad. (—Of course, but can't undo the damage!—Read the story about "The Pastor's Pillow"! (FC No.13.)—D.)

MAYBE YOU WOULD AGREE THAT FOR AN OUTSIDER with a lot of sensitive material at his disposal‚ I haven't made too many mistakes, have I? (—Hope not!—At least, at last, it got you your own personal ML!—Ha!—But when that's necessary, folks don't usually like'm!—Ha!—D.) I see that this was one, & I have learned from it. I hope you will accept my apology, forgive me my error, & welcome me back (—We'll try—provided we hear of no more betrayals!—D.) to a trusted place in your confidence. This was a thoughtless & careless deed & I feel very bad about having been the occasion of your anger. Dad, forgive me will you?—Roy.

1. (GLAD YOU KNOW IT & ARE SORRY.—Be sorriest for the poor kids in Japan who will suffer for it, & the poor Japanese parents who'll now be deceived & led against us by our enemies lies!—That's the sad part!—You can't stop it! God can forgive us for our sins, but it's hard or impossible to undo the damage they've done, & we often have to suffer & watch others suffer for them the rest of our lives!—And maybe after! Let's hope the good you've done may outweigh some of this evil!

2. (IT'S HARD FOR ME TO FORGIVE FRAMPTON, PATRICK & THEIR ILK for torturing, destroying & even killing some of our kids!—Hell's almost too good for them! You'd do better to have nothing to do with them, except as a spy for us!—Ha!

3. (MEANWHILE, UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE YOU STAND, you'll have to get your Family lit like everybody else—$10 gift a month for DFOs or 10% Tithe for DOs too. Sorry.—Write Box 241, WS-WWMM for more info.

—With regrets,—Dad

4. (P.S.—IF YOU CAN TAKE THIS, you're still a friend!—Pro.27:6 & 15:31.)

(Excerpts from Roy's reply) 1/9

Dear Dad

I REALISE MY CARELESSNESS & LACK OF WISDOM in the matter of the Japanese gentleman. The idea that I might have been responsible for a wave of publicity against the Family in Japan is just awful. It will I hope teach me to exercise more caution in all such matters in future. (—Amen!—Dad.)

SAD TO SAY, DAD‚ I DON'T THINK MY FAMILY'S BUDGET is geared to a 10% tithe. I wish you could feel able to relent on this one.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELPFUL & awakening rebuke! (—TTL!—Dad.)

Best regards, Roy

Dear Roy: —PTL! GBY! 1/9/79

GLAD YOU GOT THE POINT!—Sorry to I had to scold, but you needed it.—OK.—Just send what you can.—They must be worth something!?—5 pounds a month?—Trusting you in His Love‚—D.)

Dear Dad,18/9/79

YOU ARE INDEED A WISE & GRACIOUS MAN. I'll try not to fail you again.

Respects, Roy.

P.S. YOUR LETTERS ARE PRICELESS Dad, but I'll certainly send 5 pounds a month for them!

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family