As the list of meetings has come up and dear—showed me what you said, I write a line. It is quite true what you heard: I never liked it. It was the principle; and the gravest things often come from very small ones when a principle is in it. But I never wished to make any fuss or bother about it. It is of course very convenient. Still such motives as that lead to many things. My objectioh was, that it was making a list—numbering the people—and of brethren a distinct sect; as Congregationalists or Baptists might count their churches. This was my grand difficulty, but there has been another. The names put in, by whom I know not, though I have no distrust of the care taken, yet by the fact itself (and this your letter confirms) [confers] a kind of position as elders. Now this may lead, not to the influence of those who are pillars, which I find in scripture, but soon to a recognized place. I knew the case where there were three, and the order being changed, the one who lost the first place was greatly grieved about it.
Again I wrote to—about a very bad tract. This man's name was in the book: he had been excommunicated a year before. These were the things which made the difficulty: the inconvenience remedied by it, faith and earnestness of purpose would overcome.... At first it was much abused—not I daresay now. But the principle is my difficulty. But as I did hitherto, so I leave it now—only write a line to you to explain my thoughts. No change in the fcrm would affect my difficulty as you can see, and I have no distrust as to the care it is done with.
Your affectionate brother in Christ.
Pau, November 26th, 1879.