The Bible Truth
Occasionally, you might come across little old issues among the dusty relics of an old collection of magazines in a Christadelphian household. And if the box was old enough, it might contain a few issues of one called “Bible Truth”. It was almost entirely the work of one brother, Gustav Aue, who seem to have published it largely by himself. You might almost call it one of the “lost” Christadelphian Magazines, because few copies survive, nor is it referred to. Even though it had a circulation larger in North America than any other Christadelphian magazine at the time, because its focus was strongly on carrying the message of The Truth to the public, it was rarely kept. Over the first 12 years, 400,000 copies were printed: so over its run from 1911 to 1935 probably close to 1 million copies were circulated. I have managed to accumulate copies of most of the issues, thanks to many individuals, and it does fill in some information about our community in North America. It also has an abundance of many interesting first principle articles, for this magazine was first and foremost a preaching magazine. Rather like the “Glad Tidings” of today, (which has actually been published in the UK since 1885) its focus on being a preaching magazine, so few were retained for any period of time. And because of its focus on preaching, its discussions of affairs of the brotherhood is very limited. There are a few obituaries, a smattering of ecclesial news, and many samples of lecture topics from around North America.
There are, however, a few topics of interest in the pages of this little magazine, and some of the “first principle” articles are worth reprising, so I will on occasion hopefully reproduce a few sample over the coming months. It also of interest that, a few years after the demise of the Bible Truth in 1935, the “Dawn” magazine was started in England as a successor preaching magazine. This was probably partially because Bro. Aue, along with many others at the time, became part of the Berean Fellowship in the division of the 1920’s, and the Dawn magazine only later became the fraternal magazine of a group the divided out of the Berean Fellowship. This is what was written about the start of the “Dawn”.
“This effort is a continuation of the noble work commenced by our late beloved Brother Gustav F. Aue, of New Jersey, U.S.A., who a few years ago laid down his pen in death. Many faithful brethren were fellow labourers with him in the distribution of his little work, “Bible Truth,” and they, with us, were impressed with his untiring efforts-in this direction and the ultimate results of his work, under the Hand of God, in bringing many sons and daughters unto the Father.”1
When first published, it was to supplement the public lectures which were being given by the Christadelphians in Jersey City, NJ, and vicinity, by sending the truth to those who were interested, and to others who did not attend the lectures. It was not long before there were requests to send it to other parts of the U.S.A., and; then to Canada and foreign countries.
The magazine ceased publication on the death of Bro. Aue, who died on July 20, 1935.
Gustav Aue
Bro. Aue first heard the Truth in Jersey City, and he obeyed it in baptism on March 20th, 1899, and met with the Jersey City Ecclesia, Bro. Aue devoted his entire life to the work of preaching the Gospel. He was born in New York City, NY August 19, 1869, and married Florence Atkinson, who died after the birth of their son Paul. He later married his wife’s best friend, Sister Pauline Hamlin Walker (born November 28, 1872 & Died February 14th, 1964). Gustav Aue was Vice President of the Mc Cawl Coal Company in New York City. Since there was a huge demand for coal at this time, he traveled a lot in search for new sources of coal to such places as Nova Scotia, even importing coal to America from Wales, all along devoting himself to the study and preaching of the Gospel Message. This wealth appeared to have given him the resources to publish the Bible Truth for 24 years.
Gustav’s son George Aue moved to California in the early 20’s and met Sister Kathleen Norris, formerly from Birmingham England, in Los Angeles where he was working. They were married June 6, 1924. They were a driving force in whatever ecclesia they were members of from Los Angeles, Glendale (Eagle Rock, Dana Point and finally, In their retirement years, the Rogue Valley Oregon Ecclesia in Grants Pass Oregon for 20 years until their deaths. Brother George exhorted and lectured up until the week before his death at age 92. Their daughter Sister Shirley-Ann married Bill Stickney, and they had four children, all who have been baptized into the household of faith2.
The contents
In almost 300 issues, most of which have 20 pages, the magazine produced an enormous quantity of articles on Bible Topics and first principles. There are many interesting articles
- A long series of articles on “Messiah in the Psalms”, by Bro. Aue himself. He goes through almost every one, pointing out all the direct references, allusions, echoes, and types to be found throughout.
- Several transcripts of the radio addresses given in Los Angeles from 1930 on.
- There are many moving obituaries of the brethren and sisters who did so much to spread the gospel in this country in the early years.
- The issue of September 1916 is a comprehensive account of the way the community in the USA united in objection to military service (although there are no later accounts of the trials to which those who so objected were subjected.)
- Long accounts of the visit of Frank Jannaway to the USA in 1914 – 1915.
Although there was some news from the ecclesias in the early years, and more so during the war years, by 1921 almost all such information dwindled away, as the total focus was on reaching out and conveying the first principles. In addition, many issues include copies of flyers advertising bible lectures, such as the one enclosed from 1919. The ecclesias in California seem particularly active.
Conclusion
It is a little sad that the little magazine “Bible Truth” disappeared as the only direct preaching magazine in North America. The Glad Tidings comes to us from the UK, and is widely distributed, but I believe the end of this work, conducted as it was almost entirely due to the drive and vision of one brother, leaves a gap in our preaching effort. Perhaps such is not needed in this Internet age, bit I would hope its memory and its influence can encourage to carry on our attempts to spread the gospel with renewed vigor and determination.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One