Reflection - May 2002

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Discovery: A Unique Opportunity
(Reflection - May 2002)

Do you know that…

A town in the state of Florida was founded by Christadelphians and is named after a Christadelphian sister?
That the Christadelphian Chapel in this town, built by a brother in 1880 and used for witness and worship by many brothers and sisters for fifty years, still exists?
That the ecclesia meeting in this chapel sent out ‘mission teams’ into various towns of north Florida, so that soon a network of ecclesias was established, including Lake City, Cedar Key, Gainesville, Winter Haven and Jacksonville, some with substantial chapels of their own?
That the local independent Floridian Christadelphians became renowned throughout the area for the tenacity of their faith, their love, their neighborliness and public charity, and their courage in the face of hostility from other churches – a reputation which has remained fresh for more than a century?
That the last recorded Memorial Service or meeting in this chapel was in 1937?
That the Baptist Church used the empty chapel some time after 1937, but this was officially acknowledged as not constituting ownership or possession?
That, as a consequence, since 1937 the county and the town have preserved this chapel as a Historic Building, waiting for the Christadelphians to return, reclaim, restore and re-occupy it for public worship and witness?
That for many years Christadelphian literature was distributed to every home in this town and many copies of Elpis Israel, Christendom Astray and other books are believed to be in the possession of many local families to this day?
That at the town’s Centenary in 1980, the municipal authorities wanted the Christadelphians to spearhead the celebrations, and tell the community about our faith and worldwide witness?
That, unfortunately, they were unable to locate any ecclesia or members, and the nearest they got was that the wife of a prominent citizen had seen a Christadelphian chapel in her home town in Arkansas in her youth, but in following up this clue they were unsuccessful?
That every year, for its civic festival, the town prints and sells tee-shirts portraying Christadelphian members and buildings from a century ago -- yes, in 2002 the design highlights the name and pictures the home of a noted physician and community leader who was a very prominent Floridian Christadelphian in the early twentieth century?
That in 1890 “persecution” (that is the word used in the records) of the Christadelphians was such that they were not permitted to bury their dead in the town cemetery, and were forced to deed a special Christadelphian Cemetery on land given to the ecclesia by one of the brethren?
That at various times up to 1937 attempts were made to desecrate the Christadelphian Cemetery and even to claim the land?
That tombs were thrown down, inscriptions blasted with a shotgun, and even graves dug up and the bodies disposed of?
That the town stoutly resisted this vandalism, and has protected the cemetery as a Historic Site, believing that we would one day want to reclaim our own cemetery?
That many citizens in the town are anxious to make amends for this past treatment?
That the county authorities, through local volunteers, have maintained the cemetery at their own expense for the past seventy years – and are at this present time engaged in a major restoration project which includes a new access road?
That, as a result of this restoration, many of the epitaphs on the tombstones are once again clearly readable, and continue to proclaim the truth, with characteristic Bible verses beloved of Christadelphians and in some cases with verses from hymns written by Christadelphians such as 302, 193, and A52 (1964 edition)?
That besides those in various parts of the USA, there are brothers and sisters in Scotland, England, Tasmania, and New South Wales who have relatives who lie in this cemetery awaiting the coming of our Master?
That a local professional research historian, supported by the county authorities, has been preparing for publication an official Historical Guide and is urgently seeking our cooperation in completing this?
That, when published, this book will explain our faith and history for the information of the county’s quarter-million residents and thousands of tourists from America and overseas?
That the municipality proposes to create a Christadelphian Historic Trail through the town, with plaques at various sites, highlighting the chapel, the homes of the founding brethren and sisters, and the location on the lake where the many baptisms of our converts took place?
That the guide for this trail will explain the Christadelphian faith to visitors, and that unpaid volunteers are being sought to act as tour guides?
That the Christadelphians have been invited to hold a public seminar in the re-dedicated Historic Chapel, as well as a public campaign in the town and the civic center as early as possible, with a major public exhibition on our worldwide witness.

This is a unique opportunity in modern Christadelphian history. To take the most cynical view, it may be that the present local interest in the Christadelphians might include a desire to exploit an interesting history for civic benefit. But even so, surely it is better for the town to present the truth about our brotherhood than a hazy picture distorted through more than seven decades without a valid connection with us. The proposed exhibition, which would be partly sponsored by the county authorities, would likely be seen by thousands of people, especially as one of America’s major universities is close by. We have been promised a virtually captive audience. I have been told that there is no question that the Mayor and the County Commissioner will open and dedicate the exhibition. The media have promised to give the celebrations full coverage in the press and on Northern Florida television.

What is needed?

Brothers and sisters able and willing to assist with the campaign, the public ceremonies, the exhibition and the follow up.
Brothers and sisters willing to stay in the town, perhaps in shifts, and completely restore, renovate and use on an ongoing basis the historic 122-year old Christadelphian Chapel which the townsfolk have so lovingly preserved - without our knowledge or support - for the past seventy years.
Volunteers to continue the careful restoration of the Christadelphian Cemetery as a county historic site.
Brethren willing to take on the legal responsibility of entering into a joint agreement with the county authorities for the maintenance of the chapel, the cemetery and other associated sites.

In my researches into the thrilling history of the truth through the centuries, there have been for me many moving moments. Sadly, Christadelphian politics has later overshadowed some of them, and the chances for witness have been thrown away. Few of these moments, however, compare with a meeting on Saturday March 23, 2002, which I believe to have been providential.

During a professional visit to the University of Florida, I was talking with a colleague and happened to mention in passing that I was a Christadelphian. Some time later she said, I think you ought to see Bobbi, and gave me her address in another town some distance from the university. Thinking it was to do with our mutual research, I went to the home. After brief greetings as mutual academics, the silver haired lady looked at me long and hard. Then, hesitatingly, she ventured, Do you happen to be a Christadelphian? When I answered, she said, I have been waiting all my life to meet you. I have done a lot of research on Christadelphians in this town, which they founded round about 1880. We thought we would never find you or you find us. I believe it was God who sent you today. I thank Him for bringing you to us before my life is over.

“After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:10).

Alan Eyre

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