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Letter from N.D. Pendleton to Rev. Henry Leonardos, 1921-04-15

 Item
Identifier: RG.004.01

Scope and Contents

Typed letter from N.D. Pendleton to Rev. Henry Leonardos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. General Church of the New Jerusalem letterhead. Pendleton has received Leonardos’ letter of March 14th with enclosed General Church membership applications. Certificates of membership will be sent only to those who have been confirmed, as the General Church custom is “to receive formally into the Church only those who are adult, on the ground that these are capable of acting within their own individual right and reason. We hold our children within the sphere of the Church but do not receive them as actual members while yet in the state of childhood.” Pendleton is sorry to hear of the state of the Church as a whole in Rio and of Mr. de La Fayette in particular. On their previous meeting, Pendleton and de La Fayette were in doctrinal disagreement on only two points: first on the matter of the dreams of a certain woman de La Fayette was acquainted with, and second on the matter of ordination. On the matter of dreams, Pendleton writes, “The Church can place no value on such psychic manifestations, and cannot indeed but look upon them askance.” Regarding ordination, Pendleton disagreed with de La Fayette’s ordination of several ministers while he himself was a laymen; He writes, “. . .after the a priesthood is once founded, organized, and recognized, it should extend itself by an orderly process of development within and from its own body. That is to say, ordination should take place by the laying on of hands of a priest who has specifically received ordaining powers.” Now that he has been accepted as a member of the General Church, Pendleton will look to Leonardos to care for the interests of the Church in Rio. Pendleton adds that there is a possibility that Mr. and Mrs. Iungerich will visit Rio sometime in the summer and will update Leonardos on all the affairs of the General Church. Names mentioned: Mr. de La Fayette, Mr. (Eldred) Iungerich, Mrs. (Elizabeth Simons) Iungerich

Dates

  • 1921-04-15

Extent

From the Collection: 368.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English