The Christadelphian, October 1977, James Carter

“Christendom Astray”

When we compare ourselves with other religious groups, we are very few in number, but singularly we have a range of literature which compares very favourably with that of any other sect. Indeed, with the majority, the advantage is definitely on our side.

Dr. Thomas was a very prolific writer, although we have only two major works, Eureka and Elpis Israel, which are still extant and deserve wider attention than they receive today.

A Great Responsibility

It is no exaggeration to say that the output of Brother Robert Roberts was at least equal to that of Dr. Thomas. He was responsible for filling the pages of The Christadelphian (as the Magazine was called from 1869 onwards), either with his own pen or that of others. (For many years the first article was always from the writings of Dr. Thomas). This of necessity involved a lot of writing by Brother Roberts. Often the articles were of a serial nature, and many of them were later issued in book form as, for example, The Law of Moses, The Ways of Providence, The Visible Hand of God. The pages of these old “Christadelphians” are a mine of most valuable and helpful articles. Brother Roberts was mighty in the Scriptures and had a phenomenal grasp of them. He invariably had a little pocket Bible with him, so that the Word of God was always there if needed.

Christendom Astray was produced under unique circumstances. Brother Roberts was born in Aberdeen, but as quite a young man, barely out of his ’teens, he joined the staff of the Huddersfield Examiner on August 8, 1858. We believe he was a really excellent shorthand writer, his work being accurate, neat, legible, and consequently easily readable. For a while he and his wife (he had married Sister Jane Norrie on April 8, 1859 and they set up housekeeping in Hebble Row, Huddersfield) walked seven miles to the ecclesia in Halifax, and in the evening walked seven miles back again. There were no buses or trams in those days, and the idea soon suggested itself, “Why not an ecclesia in Huddersfield?” (1861). Sis. Roberts was a real help meet for her husband. For a little while they had circulated a hand-written “magazine” (about 8 pages) in the Halifax/Huddersfield area, called The Investigator. The copy this writer saw was almost certainly in Sister Roberts’ handwriting. One of these hand written copies is preserved in the archives of The Christadelphian at 404 Shaftmoor Lane. Brother Roberts wrote out his lectures in full in those early days. They hired a Hall, and Robert Roberts prepared 12 addresses on the fundamentals and delivered them in successive weeks or fortnights. (This was the outcome of much preparatory work which finally materialised in the 12 addresses.) The first was given on December 1, 1861, and about 100 were present. The last was given on February 12, 1862. The audiences varied from 50 to 100. At a meeting held at the close, it was suggested that these lectures should be published. A commencement was made with one only, of which 1,000 copies were run off, and they were sold for one penny each. They had 16 pages, crown octavo size. General satisfaction was expressed, over two thirds were sold, and it was decided to print the whole 12 in penny numbers. Later the 12 lectures were published as a bound volume, called Twelve Lectures and then in lesser type “on the teaching of the Bible”. In 1883 this title was changed to Christendom Astray from the Bible, and later this was shortened to Christendom Astray. The original 12 lectures were expanded, first with an additional five, and later to an additional six, making 18 in all in the current edition, which is still available from the office of The Christadelphian. Despite the fact of its being more than 100 years old, it is very readable, and is a real mine of Scriptural references on the subject being dealt with. This writer always has a strong suspicion that Sister Roberts played a big part in the collecting of all the evidence, for Brother Roberts was a very busy man.

A Great Preaching Medium

If we had to hazard a guess we should think that Christendom Astray has been responsible for more people seeing the Truth, and obeying it, than any other book in our literature. We would say more. We would earnestly recommend all our brethren and sisters, and especially our younger ones, to read it right through once per year. We know of no book better qualified to establish an individual, age and sex no matter, solidly in the Truth.

Robert Roberts had an amazing grasp of the Scriptures, and the following quotation from Lecture 11, page 177, shows how complete and accurate were his anticipations. Unfortunately this paragraph was removed fairly early on in the book’s history. The edition I have is still labelled Twelve Lectures, but this quotation is absent. With profit it could well be replaced:

Lecture 11, page 177, “Coming Troubles and the 2nd Advent”:

“Hence, at the first indication of the approach of the end, we must look for times of great trouble and commotion. International politics will become complicated beyond the possibility of unravelment; a universal war spirit will be evoked; commerce will become embarrassed; trade fettered; employment precarious; distrust will fill society; panic will spread; trade bankruptcies will follow in quick succession; and the social fabric will be shaken to the foundation, if not involved in ruin and reduced to chaos. Events will stride with rapid march, and anon the superhuman will enter the scene.”

Title and First Pages of the Magazine referred to overleaf

It is up to every one of us to be thankful for the volume of sound literature which we have, and especially for books of the Christendom Astray variety, for they can make us wise unto salvation.

James Carter