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to force our people out and let him in. It just "happened" that
some of the city police, I am told, were "home sick" on Monday and
unable to be on duty. But on Wednesday, the Receiver had a bastion
of deputy sheriffs assembled a short distance from the campus, ready
to break down the doors to get in. Putting about 5 1/2 thousand people
in jail would be quite a job!
At this point the Receiver or his attorney called for Mr. Rader.
"Can't we work out some kind of compromise?", he asked. This
was his first admission of defeat or of backing down!
"Absolutely no compromise," said Mr. Rader, firmly. "You have
violated the law and the U.S. Constitution in breaking in without
notice, and in appointing one representing the STATE to take over
and operate God's CHURCH. You have violated the First Amendment
guaranteeing separation of Church and State."
Finally the Receiver agreed to stay off our campus proper.
He agreed to work, checking our books, in a small room over in the
old Press building the other side of the freeway.
We have never objected to any government authority checking
our books and records. They contain PROOF we have done nothing of
which we are falsely accused. They started rumors we had secreted
away some of the books. On the contrary, we stood guard that NO
ONE could destroy or remove our records and books!
It was arranged that one of our men would escort the Receiver
through the crowd in the Administration building up to the 4th floor
where he had been working over our books in my son Garner Ted's
former office. I think the Receiver was greatly embarrassed as they
cleared a narrow aisle for him to the elevators. To save face and
embarrassment, he took my private elevator down to the basement,
where his car could drive to my basement garage, and drive him out
without having to face our people jammed into the first floor.
This spontaneous response of our local Southern California
brethren was history shattering--the most remarkable response to an
emergency or crisis in the Work for 30 years! I especially want to
thank from the heart such men as Dean Blackwell and Joe Tkach, who
did not participate in planning, but did give mighty aid once this
Grass Roots movement was under way. Also especially Kevin and Aaron
Dean and their step-father James Snook for their help--I understand
Kevin lost 15 pounds in the three days. Also my heart-felt gratitude
to Joe Katora from Pittsburgh, and to thousands of other brethren.
Brethren, this is an example of how our brethren leaped into
action when they saw it was needed to protect the Work and property
of God and His Work. Also it is an example of how everybody was
not shut off from me, as they were before the departure of my son.
Now we need ALL the brethren to continue to RALLY BEHIND CHRIST'S
APOSTLE until a higher court releases the Work from its virtual
captivity. If arrested, our brethren would not have resisted. At
all times they behaved like God's people, orderly, neat, polite.
Many people outside our membership have noticed this and commented