David Robinson was deeply disappointed that Roderick C. Meredith chose to collaborate with Stanley Rader and resist the State of California's receivership of WCG. Robinson presciently foresaw that Meredith aligning himself with Rader would not work to his advantage and told him so at the time. As he had foreseen Meredith was quickly neutralized and then thrown into exile at Rader's say so.
The following particularly illuminating passages of this letter is from page 207 of Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web.
Rod, I wanted to review for all to see some of what happened during recent months, and to especially review those events from the vantage point of my own eyes. Ministers of the church agonized all across the country and, I am sure, the world while things were boiling. But of course, they still are and will until sin has been removed from the very top.Why anyone would trust him after selling out to Rader is beyond me.
During the ten years I have been an employee of the Worldwide Church, you have been poorly spoken of by most of the ministers and employees I have known. I vividly remember the absolute unbounded glee that was openly expressed by a good number of respected men in the church when you were first "shanghaied." [In 1972.] I could begin by naming names, which I am sure would shock you. I was one of the few who stood, where possible, for you. Your tenure as superintendent of ministers, as I believe the office was then called, was looked on as nightmarish. While you held office during the years of growth, most of those whom I know gave you very little credit for that growth. Almost everyone whom I know, whether they be former friends of yours, or continuing foes, recalls insensitive and terrible things you have done. Without exception, at least among my acquaintances, they all credit you with an unbridled lust for power and list you as one who is willing to pay the price of gaining that power, no matter what. I have, through many of the last few years, believed you had principles you would not violate. Many a man of experience in the church assured me of my error. Events have proven me wrong and them right.
Mr. Armstrong has himself been widely quoted as saying of you that you were so righteous that you were so "righteous you were unrighteous." You have also been quoted as saying of yourself you wanted the job in the church of playing a modern "Phineas." You wanted to be the one who thrust the spear through the belly of the chiefest fornicator in the church and his girl friend. You longed to be the avenging arm of the church and to avenge with great zeal.
You can access Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web from Exit and Support Network. Just email them and request it. It is well worth reading.
When I was an AC student, we had some amateur comedians who enjoyed doing impersonations of some of the different characters on campus who stood out for all the wrong reasons. Rod Meredith was frequently parodied and portrayed by these individuals, usually until some upper classman who caught part of the act reminded everyone that Mr. Meredith was one of God's top ministers, and ought to be spoken of with respect.
ReplyDeleteThe problem was that in defending the positions of the WCG, Meredith would not restrain himself, or use what most would consider tact, as he went into his frequent diatribes. Many of his rants were of a mocking and very juvenile nature. I just always assumed that he was where he was because HWA wanted him to be there. Robinson, iirc, certainly considered Meredith to be above Raymond McNair in terms of intelligence and verbal prowess.
BB