The REAL TRUTH about "the truth"
Life and Ministry of William Irvine

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CHAPTERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Chapter Index

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Chapter 25
Revised March 11, 2009

Irvine Weir
Earl & Mae Hammond
Edgar & Olga Hawkins
Willie Clelland
Ralph Derkland
Ted And Kay Arvig
Rittenhouse & Sweetland
Ron Campbell
Other Outcasts
1954:   Doug Parker Publishes the Results of his Investigation: "A Spiritual Fraud Exposed"

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"Jack Craig (1885-1974); Jack professed in 1906; went into the work in 1908 and laboured in N.Z., Australia, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria."  He wrote 2 hymns in the 1987 Edition of Hymns Old & New; 

"Jack Annand (1891-1957); He went into the work in 1913 and labored in Australia, U.S.A., Canada, Poland and Latvia."  He wrote 9 hymns in 1987 Edition of Hymns Old & New

Eventually Doug, Mr. & Mrs. Parker, Doug's sister and one of his brothers left the Anglican church and became a part of the 2x2 fellowship in Australia.  In time, the fellowship meeting was held in the Parkers' home and Mr. Parker became the elder in that area. Two of Doug's brothers refused to become involved and continued in the Anglican faith.

As a young man, Doug was asked by John Hardie, the Overseer of New South Wales, Australia to become a worker.  Notice that Doug did not offer for the work—he was solicited for the work.  Doug wrote:

"After being approached by John Hardie as to whether I ever thought of becoming a ‘preacher’ and being imbued with the thought that he and his fellow workers were a continuation of those First Disciples (as they had led me to believe) I decided to become actively associated with them, and so offered my life and my all. As I was immediately accepted, I sold my business and finalized all activities connected with it...it was decided that my going out into the work could stand over until after the conventions of 1954." (Source: A Spiritual Fraud Exposed)

At the time he agreed to go in the work, Doug was a building contractor.  He also had a newspaper business, called a “news agency.”  He sold his business and gradually finalized his obligations as a building contractor. He was told to arrange with his attorney to sell all his possessions and to deliver the funds to John Hardie.

Meanwhile, Doug went to visit one of his brothers who had never been a part of the 2x2s.  While he was there, the minister of his brother's church came to visit. Doug mentioned that he was going into the ministry of this “Way.” He explained that they held meetings in homes and the preachers went out in pairs. The minister said, “Oh, you’re the Cooneyites.” Doug had never heard of the name of "Cooney" or "Cooneyites."  He assured the preacher that they had no name and that they went right back to Christ.  The preacher said, “Oh, that’s what the Cooneyites tell all their people.” Doug found this comment very disturbing.

When Doug returned home, the head worker, Gordon McNabb, was visiting the Parkers.  Doug asked Gordon if they were ever called the "Cooneyites."  It was quite evident that Doug had touched on a very sensitive subject.  Gordon exclaimed, “NEVER!”  and he was so angry that he cut Doug short.  Doug couldn't get the "Cooneyites" out of his mind.  He searched at the Mitchell Library in Sidney, Australia for the name "Cooneyite," but found nothing.

Doug proposed to his parents that before he entered the work, they should all take a trip together. He proposed they visit his Father’s relatives in Ireland and Britain.  His Father had not seen them since World War I.  "Feeling indebted to my parents for what I had attained in life, I was prompted to give them a holiday abroad, and this is where destiny changed for the better, thank God..." (Source: A Spiritual Fraud Exposed)

Doug told John Hardie of their plans, and was told in no uncertain terms, “You CANNOT go to Ireland.”  Mr. Hardie didn't mind if Doug's parents went, but Doug could NOT go. When Doug asked the reason, he was told, “Once you put your hand to the plow, you can never turn back. And you CANNOT go to Ireland.”  Doug had visited these same relatives when he was on leave as a young seaman in his teens, and could not understand what was so wrong with going to visit them again.  Deciding that something was amiss, Doug decided to go anyway, and he let John Hardie know of his plans.  John Hardie replied that he'd have to reconsider whether or not Doug could enter the work.  This only intensified Doug's feeling that something was not quite right. 

John Hardie tried another route to stop Doug from going to Ireland.  He warned Doug's parents, “If you don’t stop him from going to Ireland, we’ll have to take the meeting out of your home.”  This came as a real shock to Mr. Parker, who was very devoted to the fellowship. Mrs. Parker almost had a nervous breakdown. She wept uncontrollably when the workers pressured her unreasonably. Doug's Father walked John Hardie and Gordon McNabb to the door and told them he did not want to see them again in his house. 

The friends were not told the real reason Doug didn't go in the work. They heard that Doug wasn't willing to sacrifice his money. The Parker family was shunned. Some of their friends refused to speak to them when they met. Some crossed to the other side of the street when they saw them coming their way. They wouldn't let the Parkers get near them or inside their homes. When the Parkers arrived in Britain and called on some 2x2 friends there, they refused to see them because the workers had written letters ahead warning the friends against the Parkers.

"So called 'friends' automatically shunned us and all channels and connections with workers abroad were closed. One thing was certain and that was that this belief wasn't everything that I thought it was, and so what was originally decided upon as a holiday was destined to be an investigation...which has dug down to the very foundation of this so called only true family of God."

While in Great Britain, on his own Doug quietly investigated the "Cooneyites" without his parents' knowledge. He only had the name "Cooneyites" to go on.  He visited various libraries, and eventually in London he came across a very small little booklet called “The Cooneyites or Go-preachers,” by W. M. Rule.   [Click Here to read this pamphlet.]

After an uncle gave him a lead in Ireland, Doug travelled to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.  The newspaper called the Impartial Reporter & Farmers’ Journal had a wide circulation there. A young journalist at the newspaper named Mervyn Dane allowed Doug to go through their old volumes of the Impartial Reporter & Farmers Journal Newspaper.   Mervyn Dane is now a retired Editor of the newspaper, and he gave the Author a splendid tour of Enniskillen in July, 2004.  Mr. Dane had relatives in the 2x2 fellowship, and is a cousin to Patricia Roberts, author of several books about Edward Cooney.

Doug poured through the Irish newspapers for hours without finding anything.  Finally, his efforts paid off.  He came across the names of Edward Cooney and William Irvine and stories of the early conventions held right there in Co. Fermanagh at a place called "Crocknacrieve."  [Click Here to view photo] An editor of the newspaper, Mr. W. C. Trimble, had attended these conventions himself and printed in the newspapers what he saw and heard verbatim at the conventions there. Doug also saw names that were familiar to him, such as William Carroll and George Walker.  The newspapers told how the preachers left from Crocknacrieve Convention to go preach in Australia, America, and other foreign lands.  The Crocknacrieve Convention was held on the property of John West and his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Ida.  During the convention in July every year, beginning with the inaugural convention in 1904, the Impartial Reporter reported details of the Crocknacrieve convention in their newspaper. [Click Here to read newspapers].   

Realizing beyond all doubt that the group reported in the Enniskillen newspaper was the same group his family was involved with in Australia, Doug was shocked, disappointed and overwhelmed. He wept as he realized they had been conned, hoodwinked, taken in–that the movement did not go back to Christ as they had been told.  In reality, the group only went back to the beginning of the 20th century, as the newspaper verified. 

While Doug was visiting his cousins in Ireland, he also met some of the friends who had been put out of the 2x2 sect. He learned about the Division of 1928. He met the Wests and Fred Wood, his wife and children in Belfast.  Fred was a devoted companion of Edward Cooney who was also excommunicated. Those who had befriended and supported Edward Cooney had been ostracized from the rest of 2x2 sect. 

Fred Wood and Eddie Cooney were truly "Tramp Preachers" which was one of their nicknames. They had nothing other than the clothes on their backs. Not surprising, they had a reputation for smelling, because they only had one suit of clothes. They rarely had any money and lived from day to day. If someone didn't offer them a place to spend the night in, they had no bed to sleep in.  Sometimes they slept in fields. One particular cold night in London, they almost died from exposure. Finally, someone in the 2x2 sect allowed them to sleep in their non-insulated woodshed.  Fred Wood said, “We had to rub each other through the night to keep alive.” Fred wept in front of Doug as he recalled how he and Eddie Cooney nearly froze to death, all because they dared to question the road the sect was going down. Some would have let them die–out of obedience to the workers' command.  Fred wrote of meeting Doug:

“Now as regards the subject of Douglas Parker. First the reason that caused him to visit Europe and America was that he was in search of information regarding the Christian Conventions, Testimony of Jesus, Dippers, the Two by Twos, Cooneyites or Reidites. The first two of these are, of course, registered names while the others are only nicknames which I have personally heard during my travels.

A few years ago, workers wanted Douglas to go out as a preacher. His mother had already professed and later her son also took his stand…Douglas agreed to offer himself as a worker but insisted that he wanted to take his mother on a world tour before going out to preach. This, of course was contrary to the wishes of the workers. About this time Douglas visited his sister who happened to be having her child christened at home where there was a clergyman visiting at the time Douglas called. So he gave testimony to the clergyman telling him that what he (Douglas) had taken his stand for went right back to the time of the early apostles. The clergyman replied: “You had better be careful that it is not Cooneyism.”

From then on Douglas decided to sift into the matter. And as you know the result of his enquiries was put down in newspaper form. During his travels, he arrived in Ireland and made enquiries of the police. Eventually he found out my address from another brother living in Newtownards a few miles from where I live.

I gave my testimony and how I got help in knowing what was right. I must confess that I looked on him as a brother who had become discouraged. I kept nothing back from him. It was only after I had laid all my cards on the table that I discovered he was a newspaper reporter. I understand upon good authority that he has since become a clergyman. I only saw him that once and he has never written me since. I am told that there used to be a meeting in his mother’s home which was taken out after all this confrontation with the workers, John Hardie in particular." (March 26, 1973 Letter by Fred Wood to Fred Hanowell printed in The Go Preacher Movement An Anthology by Patricia Roberts.)

In Scotland, Doug visited some of William Irvine’s relatives who were living in Kilsyth.  He met Peter Comrie, who had married Wm Irvine's sister Jane, called Jeannie [Click Here for Irvine Family Genealogy]; and also a cousin who furnished him with some of photos and letters of William Irvine and Archie, William's illegitimate son. 

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JAMES IRVINE WEIR:  While he was in Ireland and Britain, Doug picked up the names and address of many Americans to contact.   When Doug arrived in the USA, he visited IRVINE WEIR in Boston.  Irvine Weir was one of the FIRST three workers to come to America, as well as one of the original twelve (12) workers. 
He was born Sept. 7, 1878 in Dublin, Ireland and went in the work in 1900.   Reportedly, he and his sister Edie had the first meetings in Texas, preaching in the open air in Galveston for a few days while waiting for a boat to take them back to Ireland for a visit.

He died October 18, 1957 and is buried in North Weymouth, Massachusetts. It is believed that Irvine Weir left the work around 1918.   He married Lillian Reid and they had a daughter Kay (Irvine) Paddon (married Noel Paddon) and a son Donald. According to his draft card, Irvine was working at a steel mill in Pittsburgh in 1918, and according to the US Census in 1930, he had been married around 1920.  He lived in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.  His granddaughter, Kathy Paddon, was in work in California from 1972-1979, but left and married and has children

In 1948, he learned of the American registration with the government in 1942.  He disapproved, and believed it was "a sad departure from the spiritual birth which took place at the beginning of the 20th century."   In speaking about these things, he was viewed as an enemy by some.  George Walker put him out of the fellowship, closed the convention to him, as well as the meeting he attended every Sunday.  Irvine Weir related his experience to Doug Parker in personal communication which is quoted in The Secret Sect on page 86.

From Notes on George Walker's EARLY DAYS in AMERICA:  "Some while later I asked George ( Walker) about the two men which came with him in 1903. They were Irvine Weir and William Irvine.  Sadly both men got off on the wrong track.  George said that Irvine Weir had a weakness for divine healing and later on in life wrote his sister that nothing could hurt him because he served God.  Before the letter arrived, he fell off a ladder, rose up and said, 'I'm all right,' then died.  He had said that some of the friends, who got killed couldn't have been doing God's will."

Ed Cooney wrote:  "Irvine Weir has written me (Ed Cooney) that George Walker, Tom Tuft, and the bishop in whose house Irvine meets, came to his home.  George told Irvine that he would instruct the bishop to close his house to him unless he promised not to speak in the meetings.  Irvine refused, so without any scriptural reason being given, he has been cut off."  (Letter to the Churches in Alabama and Kentucky, August 2, 1948, Selected Letters Hymns and Poems of Edward Cooney 1867-1960, Edited by Patricia Roberts, p 56)

It would not have been unusual for a pioneer of America as Irvine Weir was to have written his memories or an account of those early days in America.  Hoever, the author checked with more than one source and it appears that Irvine Weir did NOT write anything of historical value.

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MAE AND EARL HAMMOND:   Doug stayed in New York with Mae and Earl Hammond. Mae Hammond’s brother, Peter McIver was a worker who fell into disfavor with George Walker and Jack Carroll.  The workers discouraged the friends from supporting him, and he nearly starved to death in Italy.  Mae Hammond wrote Doug Parker:

"My brother went out into the work around 1925...then later went to Italy where he learned the language and laboured for six years.  His health became so bad that he developed headaches and had them for as long as six months at a time.  He told us that at times he was practically without a penny.  He returned to the USA in 1935 so broken in health that it took us three years to get him back on his feet...He found out, and told us, that George Walker had a list of every worker who had come from the Old Country to this country, together with their converts, and he reviewed it time and again, counting up those who had, as he termed it, failed.  Any worker who does not bow and bend to his will and do exactly as he says, they are soon on the outside and cut off from every association they ever had, so that the poor fellow cannot even get a meal in homes where he was once welcome and people had looked up to him as their guide.  My brother was cut off completely...They refused to let him lead meetings and partake of the break and wine."  (The Secret Sect by Doug & Helen Parker, p 92, Mae & Earl Hammond, NY, personal communication 8/12/55)

Earl Hammond gathered the workers together for a meeting about Peter's near starvation. Earl was a court reporter, and he gave Doug a transcript of that meeting. 

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EDGAR & OLGA HAWKINS:  Doug also met with Edgar and Olga Hawkins who were living in Detroit, Michigan.  Olga Hawkins had been in the 2x2 fellowship since 1911.  A Convention had been held on the property of her in-laws for 40 years.  Olga's husband, Edgar, his brother Maurice who pioneered South America and three of his sisters, Ida and Bessie and Leah Hawkins, were early American workers who professed through George Walker in 1906, after he knocked on the door of their parents' home in Brooklyn, Maryland.  According to notes of her funeral, Ida was a school teacher in Baltimore, MD before she went in work.  Ida died March 21, 1978, and is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in or near Brooklyn, Maryland. A complimentary newspaper article about Ida's preaching in Georgia was carried in The Atlanta Journal Newspaper dated 4/19/14.  [Click Here to read article]

Olga wrote a letter dated November 13, 1946, to the National Headquarters of the Selective Service in Washington D.C. requesting information regarding the "Christian Conventions" or "Assemblies of Christians" with "specific reference to the expression of any view regarding conscientious objection." 

Two weeks later, she received a reply from Major Neal M. Wherry dated November 27, 1946, in which he enclosed a copy of the now famous letter George Walker wrote to the Selective Service in 1942.    Olga gave Doug copies.  This historical letter went around the world and is still going around!  To the best of the Author's knowledge, it appears that Olga is the person due the credit for unearthing the revealing statement George Walker made to the U.S. Government in 1942.  [Click Here to read Major Wherry's letter]  [Click Here to view George Walker's Original letter] [Click Here to read text of Geo. Walker's letter]

George Walker's letter detailed the story of how the "Christian Convention" sect came into being "during the closing years of the last century and the first years of this century,"  through the instrumentality of  "a number of people in the British Isles and in America."  (AUTHOR'S NOTE:  There were NO Americans involved with the 2x2 sect in its beginning)  Major Wherry's letter showed the workers' explanation "The government gave us the name,"  to be untrue and misleading.

In Olga's own words, it was "an inquiring mind and a refusal to be satisfied with evasive answers to sincere, honest inquiries," that led them to leave meetings ten years earlier in 1944. After Olga left the meetings, she "tried in a small way to make known these same facts to others so that they would not support or uphold the wrong."  (September 17, 1959 Letter by Olga D. Hawkins to Fred C. Hanowell and wife)

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WILLIE CLELLAND:  Doug traveled to Portland, Oregon where he met one of the original workers, Willie Clelland/Cleland, who was present at the group's beginning.   Willie was in the second group of Irvine’s workers to go to America in May, 1904, along with Jack Carroll, May Carroll, Hugh and Charles Mathews, Charles Glenn, William Cleland, Sarah Rogers. Arrived in New York. (Secret Sect by Doug Parker, page 32; also Notes on Geo. Walker's Early Days in America,  October 29,1979). 

Some accounts say Willie was a cousin to Wm. Irvine.  The Author has not confirmed this, but has confirmed that there are Clellands in Wm. Irvine's family tree. Two of Wm. Irvine's sisters married two Clelland brothers.  Willie Clelland grew up with William Irvine in Kilsyth and knew John Hardie personally. 

While he was in the work, Willie C. was involved in a car accident where both his legs were broken and he was crippled.  The friends and workers deserted him, and he nearly died.  He told Doug, “I spent all those years in the work and I’ve never heard from them.”

When Doug told Willie that the workers had given their worldwide membership the idea that they went back to Jesus, Willie was shocked and said, “For them to have given you the idea that it went right back to Christ--that’s an absolute lie. It went back to Bill Irvine.” 

"It might be a good question to ask those who say there are from the beginning, "Who was ahead of William Irvine?" William Irvine was entirely responsible for the creation of this movement. He gathered a few converts around him in Ireland and he had the idea that he could facilitate the spreading of the gospel by having a few men and woman join themselves to him. His ideas of preaching were entirely on his ideas of Matthew Ten. And yet they have the hide to tell one that it went back to the time immemorial. It went back to exactly 1899 when the first workers gathered about Bill Irvine." [The Secret Sect by Doug & Helen Parker, p 96]

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RALPH DERKLAND:  In Seattle, Doug met with Ralph Derkland, one of the friends from the State of Washington, and others. Ralph wrote:  "Then, when we heard of one of the wealthy friends over there (Doug Parker)…planned to come to the States, I wrote him in Ireland, inviting him to stop by if he came this way, which he did a couple of weeks later…He told of his worldwide investigation of 'The Truth,' talked to many who were in the beginning of it at the turn of the century and that the whole idea was formed in the mind of William Ervine, and that when he visited Alfred McGowan, Alfred told him he visited William just before he died in Jerusalem…he told him how that the Carrolls and George Walker had deliberately STOLE ‘the way’ from him. Does this not sound as if William Ervine were the founder of it?" In the early 1950's, Ralph Derkland wrote a long letter explaining how he and his wife felt about being deceived.  He stated:

"Up until a year ago last Miltown Convention, we had never doubted for a minute what we were told in the beginning of days for us, nearly thirty years ago now, that this way in which we have been a part was from the BEGINNING, because that was the way Jesus sent His disciples out into the world, and there had never been a ‘break’ in that lineage to this day, as there has always been a ‘remnant’ in the world.  This, we heartily accepted as gospel truth. A year ago last Miltown, an old man told me that was not true, that this way started about the turn of the century. This I did not believe but after I got home, I went to a friend of mine and told him what I had heard.  His answer was “My dear friend, I could have told you that forty years ago, had I known you.”

"…I went back to the worker I had talked to at the beginning and told her what I had been told, then said to her, “Apparently there were some who were actually willing to DO His will so He gave them just what He promised He would, but why do you preach that it has been from the beginning when that is not true? Would it not be far better to tell people the truth rather than to find out later they had built their foundation on a lie?  A short time later, Vera [Ralph's wife] received a letter from…this (same) worker…and she told Vera of the new light they had been hearing how that ever so often God raises up someone else to carry on His work. Would it not have been better to have always preached it this way?"

"Two of your fellow workers made the Singletons promise, when Schroeders professed, that they never would tell them about the beginning of this (Christian Convention) system and when I found out it started only at the turn of the century, for that was not what we were told all these years, our whole spiritual foundation came crashing to our feet, then when we went through pain and torture of spirit (unable to read and pray for weeks) then finally I tried again to pray, asking the Lord to just give me something to hang onto lest I lose faith altogether; and it was then, that the Lord began to build His true foundation in our hearts and truly, this was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself, being the CHIEF CORNER STONE."  (September 5, 1957 Letter by Ralph Derkland to Malcolm Graham and Willie Jamieson) 

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TED AND KAY ARVIG:  In Southern California, Doug went to visit Ted and Kay Arvig, who were strong supporters of his investigation. He recorded their conversation using a wire recorder, the first the Arvigs had ever seen.  The Arvigs introduced Doug to two San Diego gentlemen, Dr. Walter Rittenhouse and William Sweetland. Both Ted and Kay were raised in the 2x2 fellowship. Ted was a worker (see photo) for six years before they married in 1941.  Kay was from Minnesota.  They left the sect in the mid 1950's when Kay was 45 years old. They had been married 26 years when Ted died of cancer at age 64. Kay remarried Tom Downs, and Kay Curtis Arvig Downs died in July, 1993.   The Arvigs had one son, Ted, Jr., who is deceased.  Kay wrote:

"God gave my husband and me a hunger and thirst for His Word. Beside studying my Bible, I searched libraries for anything I could find written about the Book. As a result we began questioning the profession and practices of our leaders. We noticed especially that their resultant 'fruit' was not as commendable as that of some of the very churches they condemned. Then the Lord sent across our way several others who had been in the group but left it for the above reasons.  Some lived close enough to fellowship with us occasionally, and others corresponded with us by mail, several from over-seas who had seen the error from its roots. Thus we began discovering the truth about The Truth.  The day that our leaders knew we knew these things, they excommunicated us…That was in 1953.

"…First it is the leaders of the group who hint lies about us, and then the followers take over and exaggerate the lies to unbelievable proportions.  By then even our most loyal and closest friends in the group are so confused and fearful lest the same happen to them that they avoid any contact with us, so as to keep in good standing with the leaders. Soon we find that most all of our lifetime friends and relatives have cut us off, (and we had no close friends in "the world"), if not a complete separation, at least in any measure of warmth.  Absolutely no conversation is to be passed between us about our Lord or the Bible. It will not be accepted even on a printed Christmas card.

"My mother was warned not to ever visit me again, but she didn't realize they intended to carry out the threat so she visited us anyway. As a result she was excommunicated to the day she died.  It was the same from my husband's family, and because his was larger and most of them were prominently involved in the sect, his was a harder blow to be taken. Also because his family lived near us while mine lived 2,000 miles away, the hurt was so acute that he developed bleeding ulcers. Fifteen years later these turned into cancer and took his life in 1965."

Arvigs wrote a letter dated June, 1953 "To our much loved friends, saints and servants of God."   Kay said that letter was for them "the beginning of sorrows."   Tharold Sylvester wrote to James (no last name given) in April, 1954:   "I…feel you should know that Ted & Kay broke up the Sun. morning (meeting) at Waites last Sun. and before all refused to break bread with Bob & I.  They said they are going to send those letters to all saints now."  

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APRIL 15, 1954 – DR. WALTER RITTENHOUSE AND WILL H. SWEETLAND heard the workers and left their respective churches to become a part of the workers' fellowship in the 1930's.  According to Kay Arvig Downs, "They lived in San Diego and were thought of by everyone in the 2x2s as THE BEST of all the SAINTS and were right there next to the oldest and highest worker, who was then Jack Carroll over all the West Coast area.  It was probably because they had lots of money.  One or both of these men owned the property and lake at Hayden Lake, Idaho convention grounds, just a few miles from the big Lake Coeur d'Alene,  near Spokane.  Dr. Rittenhouse had a mansion of a home on a hill with a long winding driveway to it, hidden in acres of fruit trees, all in (now) the heart of the San Diego city area.  Sweetland's home was more modest."  (9/2/92 Letter to Kathy Lewis) 

"Before they knew anything about "the truth," Dr. Rittenhouse (the older) and Wm. Sweetland (in mid-life) or youth met each other and became close friends via business, land purchase, etc.  It was Dr. Rittenhouse who had the first money and Sweetland was his assistant.  They bought up land all over the West and sold it at great gain, is how they became rich.  When I met them in 1939, they were highly respected by the CC's (2x2s)…They had joined them earlier…thinking that the workers' 'way' was nearest right.  Dr. Rittenhouse was older, richer and more feeble.   These men were wealthy and the workers all over the West side of the U.S. depended highly on their support."  (Kay Arvig Downs Letter to Kathy Lewis 10/22/92) 

Will and Mae Sweetland had two sons, Orville and Chester. Chester professed and "Orville, who did not profess, later moved into the mansion that Dr. Rittenhouse left on a hill in Lemon Grove, CA."  (10/22/92 Kay Arvig Downs Letter to Kathy Lewis)

Chester Sweetland and Clara Den Herder dated before they decided to go in the work. However, around 1950, "Chet and Clara's love for each other won the battle, and they married.  They were told they couldn’t be workers anymore.  This was the first thing that caused Dr. Rittenhouse and Wm. Sweetland to question 'the way.'" (Kay Arvig Downs' Letter to Kathy Lewis, 9/2/92)   Jack Carroll would not consent to the couple remaining in the work.  Rittenhouse and Sweetland couldn't see why not, especially since Jack Carroll's brother, Bill Carroll, and his cousin Dave Christie, as well as some other workers were married.  Wm. Sweetland and Dr. Rittenhouse didn't view this as being "scriptural or reasonable," and began debating scripture and practices with the workers on this and other subjects, fully expecting that the errors would be corrected by those in charge. However, this was NOT to be. 

About 30 years earlier, in 1923, Jack Carroll had upheld the marriage of two workers, Dave Christie and Emily Wilson, and allowed them to remain in the work.  [Click Here to read Jack Carroll's sermon given at Miltown, Washington convention regarding his decision.] R&S brought Jack Carroll's comments up again: 

"We also recall your comments at Miltown in 1923 relative to Dave and Emily Christie’s marriage. 'There is a difference between I Cor. 3 & 4, and Chapter 9. If Chapters 3-4 deal with the marks of true ministers, then Chapter 9 deals with the rights and liberties of true ministers.' Further, in your sermon at Miltown you said, 'We must be true to what God has revealed, and recognize the rights and liberties which are the heritage of all God’s servants. We cannot and will not therefore, refuse them a place in this ministry or the right to speak from this platform.' In the light of these and other statements made by yourself and older brethren, we cannot conceive how you, Jack, dare to distort I Cor. 9:5 now, to fit a new man-made rule. This ruling has no parallel, except to that of the priests and nuns of the Catholic Church." (July 16, 1954 Letter to Jack, Willie & Brethren by Rittenhouse and Sweetland)

Not getting anywhere, Rittenhouse & Sweetland carefully composed several typed letters to Jack Carroll and other workers.  "I very clearly remember Will bringing the outlines of these letters up to our place (from San Diego, 150 miles south) to be read and judged and discussed with Ted and me and other exes, to make sure it fully covered the picture before they had the final copy printed and sent out. We then were SO hopeful that this would be the bombshell that would kill or cure the 2x2 people as a whole, but now looking back, I hardly see that it made a dent."  (Kay Arvig Downs Letter to Kathy Lewis 9/2/92)

In April of 1954, Rittenhouse and Sweetland, wrote a letter setting out some other issues that concerned them.  They perceived there were "inconsistencies between what was being preached and that which was being practiced by our older brethren in particular."   They attributed some of these practices to "a semi-secret agreement made by a minority of the older responsible brethren about 1928."  R&S were referring to the W. Haney Agreement.  [Click Here to Read W. Haney Agmt]

They believed that "This step has wrought an incalculable amount of trouble and distress amongst God's professing people and servants throughout the world.  Moreover, it has been a hindrance in the extension of the Kingdom."  (April 15, 1954 Letter to Jack, Willie & Brethren by Rittenhouse and Sweetland)  In a letter dated July 16, 1954, Rittenhouse & Sweetland elaborated further on their concerns regarding the 1928 meeting. 

"The meeting we referred to in paragraph 3 took place in Ireland, Oct. 12, 1928, in the home of Andy Knox, among those present were James Jardine, John T. Carroll, Willie Gill, Joe Twomley, Andrew Robb, Wilson Reid and a half dozen others. The main purpose of this meeting was to promulgate a rule of conduct among older workers. This rule is sometimes referred to as "The Workers Basis of Fellowship" or "The decrees" or "Conditions of Fellowship." No matter by what title it is known, the purpose was to place geographic boundaries and human limitations by older Workers upon their brethren…Jack will recall that when these decrees were being discussed and some of the brethren refused to accept them (since they tend to limit the leading power of God), Jack exclaimed and we quote: 'I will have no fellowship with you!' and walked out of the room followed by the Workers who were in favor of the rule. This was another milestone on the road to regimentation contrary to the teachings of Jesus and in conflict with Jack’s oft repeated phrase: 'In this family of God, all serve and none rule.' See Mark 10:42-45, Luke 22:25-27." [Click Here to read all of W. Haney Agreement]

Rittenhouse and Sweetland were also distressed to learn of the official name of "Christian Conventions" being given to the sect:

"Another thing that has brought distress to us and others, is the step that brought official recognition in Washington, D.C., which means that people of this fellowship are no longer without recognition and a denominational name. Documentary evidence will prove the name 'Christian Conventions' is now a recognized religious organization registered in Washington,  D.C.  As such, certain concessions were solicited and granted by the Government."

They were also upset that the workers refused to obey a law enacted in 1945.  Rittenhouse and Sweetland even "offered to furnish legal counsel…but it was not accepted."

"For the past eight years, all such organizations by Federal Law have been required to disclose certain information regarding purposes and practices. You men, as administrators of Christian Conventions, are familiar with this law, but refuse to conform to same; with the result you are now in default, and in due course of time, subject to investigation and penalties.  As loyal citizens of the U.S., we cannot be a party to this policy. It is in conflict with the Scriptures, the Government, and our own convictions." [April 15, 1954 Letter]

"This law operates in conjunction with the U.S. Revenue Dept. which requires all Religious Organizations to register for the purpose of classification and identification. Among other things, this law was planned to disclose all subversive organizations hiding under the cloak of Religion. We have called to your attention a number of times, this vital matter, but so far the records of the Revenue Dept. fail to disclose any registration has been made by you. The indifference to this vital issue compelled us to declare our conviction publicly, so now we are free from further responsibility, either to you, or the U.S. Government…We would suggest you get the best legal counsel possible to assist in this serious matter. We offered to furnish legal counsel two or three years ago, but it was not accepted. The responsibility now rests upon the Christian Convention Administration or their successors." [July 16, 1954 Letter]

Eventually, Rittenhouse and Sweetland gave up their cause of attempting to help right the errors in the sect and went on with their lives. "Wm. Sweetland announced that he and Dr. Rittenhouse had decided to forget all the stuff we'd been aiming at, and start visiting the orthodox churches.  At that time I was alarmed!  But Will S. answered, I know how you feel, and it will weaken our influence on the members of the sect, as we had hoped to get them to see and change, but now we believe this is the only way to go.  I don't think they ever attended any one denomination regularly…" (Kay Arvig Downs Letter to Kathy Lewis 11/23/92)

Will's wife, Mae Sweetland died. Will's asthma got worse as he got older. While alone with Kay Arvig Downs on his deathbed, Will said, "If anyone of them ever tells you I've changed my mind in their favor, don't you believe it."  However, that's exactly what the workers DID say, and the friends believed it, and say that Will went back to them. (Kay Downs Arvig Letter to Kathy Lewis, 9/2/92)  

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RON CAMPBELL:   Ron had been an outstanding and well liked 2x2 preacher. He was from Australia, and preached in America.  Upon returning from a visit to Australia to his field in Idaho, Ron discovered the friends had been turned against him, closed their doors to him and had withdrawn their financial support from him. He was shocked and mystified to find he had been removed from the work in Idaho by Jack Carroll.  After he was forced out of the work, he returned to his home in Australia in 1947.  (Kay Arvig Downs Letter to Kathy Lewis, 1/7/91) 

After Jack Carroll upset many of the friends in Southern Idaho and told them not to listen to Ron's preaching, Ron asked for Jack Carroll to obey Matt 18:15. "This he refused to do...I learned afterwards the Carrolls disbelieved in this way for them to correct offenses, even went so far to say we have a better way; Matt 18:15 does not work for today."

Ted Arvig knew Ron quite well, having been Ron's younger companion in the work for two plus years in Idaho.  Ted heard, but did not believe the terrible accusations being circulated about Ron.  Ted and his wife Kay  eventually located Ron Campbell at the old Campbell family farm in Mannararie, South Australia where his two sisters lived.  Ron was overjoyed to find some of his old American friends who did not condemn him or believe the tales that had been spread about him. 

According to the Arvigs, the real reason Ron was put out of the work was because he stood up against the head worker in South Australia, who wanted to "lay" with Ron's sister.  According to Ron, "Willie Hughes disgraced himself and let some of us down by his conduct, and my own family are amongst those who feel this the keenest...Willie later tried to assault her (Ron's sister)...she withstood him.  She being offended later tried on two occasions to make things right, resulting that he further oppressed her to cover up his sin, and even used his position as her minister to crush her and justify himself."  (10/20/52 Letter to George Walker)

Ron returned to America and used the Arvig home as his headquarters for about a year, when he wasn't at Sweetlands.  He set about trying to make matters right with the friends who would give him a hearing.  He had the cooperation and help of Will Sweetland and Dr. Rittenhouse.  After many months, to his dismay, he realized that it was impossible to straighten things out and he returned to Australia (around 1952), where he lived until his death in 1978. 

However, things were not going well for the friends and workers in Australia.  Aat this time there were four factions (divisions) in the church in Australia, according to Ron's letters: 

Faction No. 1:  The CC faction (Carrollites). 
Faction No. 2:  Hardie and Hughes groups
Faction No. 3:  Those cast out
Faction No. 4:   Those who have gone into isolation; i.e. "have no more to do with them until they clean house and get back to what they agreed in 1938."
(He includes a copy of the agreement to "Fred" to whom he is writing the letter.)

Ron wrote:  "While these uncertainties and insecurities are manifested in the C.C. sect, it is all different in Christ.  Jesus said 'all who come to me I will in no wise cast out.'  And that is just what He meant.  This of casting people out is because they (workers) cannot stand up to questioning; they are afraid the corruption will all come into the open; and they will have as a result, no support.  It's time precious souls understand this selfish bad motive of theirs." 

Ron "went into seclusion and was glad to keep free from the mess. It is all too ridiculous for me, also knowing that I came home to rest and get my body built up and since USA is my field, I took the stand it is out of place for me to be involved in any way...I am on the outside of this division looking in, never before have seen such a display of human and spiritual corruption in lies being told, false accusations, agreements broken, hate, bitterness, defiance and other unchristlike marks expressed, they are going like a storm hitting the country leaving behind them a trail of broken hearts, homes, churches and relatives, forcing people to submit to them—if not, they tell that they are cut off and doomed, stopping some from holding meetings if they can, refusing them to attend convention in case people will know the truth of the matter, telling them not to have anything to do with this one or that one, to walk off the street and out of the home if this one comes to see them. Christ is a secondly person, workers are the supreme authority and gone as far as to say that no saint can receive anything from God unless it comes through the workers." (10/20/52 Letter to George Walker)

After he returned to Australia, Doug Parker met with Ron Campbell, and Ron declared Doug to be a "very fine man...He did just what Eph 5:11 tells, for the word 'reprove' in that verse, some other translations use 'expose.'  These two words are closely associated...Doug Parker's exposure has done an endless amount of good, especially to many troubled minds expressed by the tyranny practises in that religious sect.  I have seen some of the letters written to him, thanking him for his efforts, and those efforts were indeed great to gather the information he collected.  This did not only cost him much time, but also much expense and we all owe much to him for his service, to protect lives from the bitter disappointnments many have experienced."

Ron took issue with the name workers assumed for their church in America.  He wrote:  "I cannot understand the honesty of any preacher out preaching in the name of Jesus and associated with the Christian Convention Assuming that name only.  This word "only" rules out all other names, so by right they canniot be honest and use the name of Jesus at all."  

Ronald Ian Campbell never married.  He was laid to rest on Dec 16, 1978 in a cemetery located about 7 miles from his home in Mannararie, South Australia. He was survived by a sister who was 89 and another who was 80 years old (one named Adelaide Campbell) and various nieces and nephews.  3 sisters and 4 brothers predeceased him. A United Church minister held the burial service.

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OTHER OUTCASTS:  Kay Arvig loved to write letters and write, she did!  She wrote letters that traveled far and wide, including foreign lands.  They went to Ireland, England, Scotland and Australia, as well as some in Norway and Africa. Some of her letters reached many who had been "put out" or "pushed out" earlier.  The recipients passed Kay's letters on to others who also responded to her letters.  Outcast from all over the world started connecting, some by letters and quite a number in person.  A loose knit worldwide network formed of "Outcasts" searching for the will of God in their own personal way.  That was the way they connected with each other—simply by passing letters among them.  Some who visited the Arvigs in person were: Irvine Weir (who was one of the 1st twelve workers), Ed Cooney, August Gustafson, Matt Wilson, Doug and Helen Parker and Doug's parents. 

Kay Arvig also corresponded with Alfred Magowan and Glenn Smith, but never met either of them in person.  Glenn authored several hymns printed in Hymns Old & New.  Born in 1880, Glenn professed through Hugh Doak in 1909.  He labored in the Eastern USA before going to Argentina, South America as one of the first four pioneering workers to preach.  He and his companion were preaching in South America where "it was very difficult because Spanish families just don't invite strangers into their homes, especially men; and if some dared to do so, they would be expected to leave by or before time for the husband to leave for work. I can't remember what happened to his companion, but Glenn met and married a nurse named Helen, after she had professed in their meetings. They [a married couple] were accepted in the homes more readily than single men or women. Evidently, those who were in charge of his going to South America were very displeased with what he had done and support came less and less from USA.  Helen could find work, being a nurse, and Glenn taught an English class, and they managed to save money for a ticket to the USA.  Glenn wanted to return and visit his converts he had made here and also to attend a convention.  Well, his appearance did not find a welcome when he arrived, for word had gotten around that Glen had left 'the way' and that is why support was withheld…" (Dorothy Guisinger Doner 3-19-90 Letter to Mary Ann Schoeff). 

Glenn's American Overseers were not pleased with his marriage, and instructed the friends to withdraw their financial support from Glenn.  He and his wife were forced to make their own way.  "And of course, making a living was not easy there at any time;  the political situation was very bad.  Glenn became ill and passed away…I lost track of Helen...The Outcast in the USA who had word of their arrival wanted to see them…they were a delightful couple.  I really feel sorry for anyone who couldn't enjoy having them.  They did get back to South America, where they were citizens," and they became associated with one of the Assemblies of God.   Glenn wrote nine hymns to his own music;  Nos. 104, 212, 214, 227, 228, 229, 230 and 251 (in 1951 Edition of Hymns Old & New).(Dorothy Guisinger Doner 3-19-90 Letter to Mary Ann Schoeff). 

Over the years there were many people who were excommunicated from the 2x2 sect.  JACK ANNAND, one of the first workers who had preached to Doug's parents, was put out of the work when he suffered a nervous breakdown. When ARTHUR MCCOY was in Armadale Hospital at death's door, he heard the doctor say, “This man is dying because he is starving to death.” His clothes had almost fallen off of him.  Arthur was put out of the work when he questioned his overseer concerning his discovery that Arthur's name was on a joint bank account with a worker Overseer, titled:  John Christian Baartz & Arthur McCoy Trust A/C, held at The National Bank of Australasia Limited. Since Arthur had not even known of the existence of the bank account, the withdrawals made from the account were not made by him.  Had Arthur been aware of the account earlier, he certainly could have put the funds to very good use. (The Secret Sect by Doug & Helen Parker)

Doug Parker also met people who had corresponded with William Irvine for years, and they gave him letters Irvine had written from Jerusalem. Doug wrote:

"An investigation of months of exhaustive inquiries, weeks of searching through half a century of newspaper records and files, countless stories taken from excommunicated workers, heart breaking stories of family divisions, persecutions and so on, and not one skerrick of a doubt that this whole belief was founded in 1899 by an unbalanced evangelist, William Irvine." (Source:  A Spiritual Fraud Exposed)

By this time, Doug was pretty angry and also sad. He grieved because he and his family had been utterly misled. Although his brother and sister were still very much attached to the movement, his brother-in-law had become disenchanted.  Doug, his brother-in-law and a newspaper reporter went to the Guildford N.S.W. Convention on December 28, 1954, intending to confront John Hardie. Doug had learned earlier that Edward Cooney had preached at some of the Australian conventions, and that John Hardie had been the one to introduce Cooney at the conventions. There remained no doubt in Doug's mind that John Hardie well knew that the sect was called the "Cooneyites."  The three men arrived while everyone was gathered in the meeting tent and John Hardie was on the platform.  They took seats and sat quietly until the meeting was over.  Then Doug and his two companions walked over to John Hardie, as he emerged from the tent.

Doug said, “I’d like to speak with you for a few minutes, Mr. Hardie.”
John Hardie replied, “I don’t want to speak to you!”
Doug said, “Well I would like to speak to you, Mr. Hardie. I have ten questions here and there are also things I would like to state in the presence of these people…You have misled me and my family that this movement went right back to Christ. And that it had no founder other than Christ.  You have also told me that this was never called the Cooneyites…do you recognize this photograph?"
Doug showed Mr. Hardie a photograph of William Irvine, George Walker, the Carrolls and others with their bicycles.
John Hardie said, “Yes.”
Doug said, “Is that you alongside of William Irvine?”
John Hardie said, “Yes.”
Doug said, “Thank you.”

When Doug began to read out the items on his list, John Hardie didn't let him finish.  He became very angry and interrupted with, “Lies! They’re all lies!” After the confrontation with John Hardie, many ugly, untrue rumors were circulated about Doug and his family. (Source:  A Spiritual Fraud Exposed)

AND SO IN 1954, DOUG PARKER published the results of his investigation in a newspaper format titled: "A Spiritual Fraud Exposed."  This pamphlet/paper was distributed worldwide by mail to a large number of workers and friends. 

NOTE:  Doug Parker denied permission to TTT to reprint  A Spiritual Fraud Exposed. TTT retains a copy in its archives, however.

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