Born on May 6, 1843 in Scotland and died on July 2, 1906 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Lots more info if you have an Ancestry subscription: http://person.ancestry.co.uk/tree/16187304/person/348090114/facts
A short biography in German in the magazine Zeit & Schrift; online available on https://www.zs-online.de/site/assets/files/4475/zs_2018-2_06.pdf
Obituary for A.H. Rule in The Des Moines Register, 3 July 1906:
To refer to Nick’s earlier comment above. I have not noticed it before but it predates by only a couple of days an address I gave which touched on that very subject. The double exclamation marks in the square brackets are not in Mr Rule’s book but it draws attention to a concept still in circulation.
I doubt that Mr Rule thought that there were only 24 or 25 at the Lord’s table in the whole world, but nevertheless, it implies that he thought only such a number were at the Lord’s table in the locality to which he was referring, all other believers in Christ there, not.
It comes down to the question as to whether or not Christians in “the systems” and companies of “brethren” other than his own, including those not delivered from so-called "Ravenism" or from "the Kelly position"(!), were at the Lord’s table. That notion exists even now, including that only those who have the Lord’s table have the Lord’s supper, or to put it another way, partake of it.
I quote two respected brothers of a day gone by.
Mr Darby: "As to the Lord’s Supper. They [saints in systems] may partake of it in personal communion and piety, and I doubt not do, and enjoy His grace, but they have lost the proper corporate enjoyment of it in the unity of the body …" (Letters of J. N. D., page 357, Stow Hill edition.)
Notice that Mr Darby says, “I doubt not do.”
William Kelly wrote: "As for the notion that you may have the Lord’s Supper without the Lord’s Table, it is beneath sober Christians." (William Kelly, The Bible Treasury, Volume 15, page 35.)
It might be that the idea that some “have” the Lord’s table is refused, but that it is to be found only among certain Christians who fulfil all the right conditions – at least in their estimation – is hardly better.
Mark Best
As to that Mr Rule disparagingly calls “Ravenism.” To link Mr Raven with such as “Higher Criticism, Christian Scientists, Mormonism, Adventism” might have gone down well with the party faithful, but it is extreme, inappropriate, and totally unacceptable.
Interesting newspaper obit, Gabriele. I'm assuming that he did not actually style himself 'Rev.' nor assumed the title Pastor but that was an assumption made by the newspaper reported?
There was a similar occurence when my great-aunt went to be with the Lord in the late 1970s. My grandfather took a lead in the burial meeting which took place in his home (the former Horsell Common 'Strict & Particular Baptist' Chapel *) and subsequent committal at Brookwood Cemetery. An account of it appeared in the local newpaper which stated that the funeral was conducted by "Pastor S. A. Fleet of Horsell Common Chapel", much to his amusement!
* David Denham was its first Pastor. He wrote the hymn " 'Mid scenes of confusion and creature complaints", see Spiritual Songs #383 (#225 in Little Flock 1856 and 1881 editions)
