April 7, 1968. Dre and Mrs. John B. weir, 901 Herverd Avenue, Swarthnores Pas 19061. Deer John and agnes: Hopes rather outweighed fears for some time after the February 6 Agreement. some people took a dim view of the fact that a muxber of the court cases were not withdrewn, but others pointed out that sone were withdrawn and others were at least frozen. liowever, the March 25 maneuvering of KeLsNasir and Nazir Yousaf out in sargodha Presbytery and Thal loomed oninouse Likewise the tangle about holding a meeting of Gujranwala Presbytery looked as if it might at least afford a pretext to Nasir to make trouble if he wanted to, which turned out to be the case, So I was not unduly surprised upon 1 at Pasrur in the middle of the morning of the first regular day of the synod mecting business to learn that Nesir and his crowd were making trouble. It was reported that Nasir had told people the previous evening that they were going to prevent the holding of a synod meetings They certainly tried! The best thing at this point is to read my four-page report on the sad story of events that took place, 1 know that it will grieve you to read the tales At this point, however, there is a good deal of feeling that the February 6 meeting and Agreement played a valuable part in providing a practicable and honorable besis for peace for all those who desired peace. It has meant that thm the violation of the tems and spirit of that agreement is clearly branded 8s an act of disruption, Doubtless the devotees of Nasir, in or outside the U.P Ghureh, are able to rationalize his performance on April 2, but from various echoes I gather that neutral outside observers have been led to see the stuff of which Nasir seems to be made and have lost all sympathy with him, The backdrop of the February & agreement has helped in this. The general expectation is that the Seminary Board of Directors will act to terminate the services of Nasir and Yousaf. hat rear-guard actions they will be able to mount, in the way of court cases, organizing a oplit-off chureh, ete. rewainste be seene The fact that yilbur Christy, Hoyt smith, John veadoweroft, and Yaqub Khan - a najority of the seminary faculty, actually a 4-1 majority of those not involved (and it is not yet established what Willie Young's position is, since he was away for a few deys and had no chance to agree or refuse to sign the petition of the four faculty members) - sent to the chairman of the Seninary Board 9 comumication saying that they could not engage in seminary activities, teach clas: 8s long as Nasir remained as principal is a pretty strong confirmation of the U.P.synod's recomendation, and the chairman of the Seminary Board has instructed that the seminary remain closed wntil the issue is decided. One can only wonder what Nasir's expectation and motivation might have been in endeavoring to disrupt the synod meeting. it is reported that the leaders of the other side had assured Nasir that if he remained quiet, they“Johnson to-Weir -2- April B, 1968. Would not disturb his incumency at the Seminary, and Nasir agreed, shortly before the synod meetings It is evident that the one thing Nasir cannot stand, and does not know how to handle, is being in a minority position, ule or ruin seens to be his notte, even 4f the ruining is applied primarily to hinselfd 80, in looking back, we continue to be grateful to you for helping in the attainuent of the February & agreement. Nasir's performance at the synod meeting would have been less flagrent and reprehensible without that background. The fact that Nasir, apparently in e kind of blind rage, cho to put his neci into the noose is only his owh fault. Although one may twinges of anguished sympathy at the plight of someone with a diseased mini, one cannot let such a person go on ruining the seminary and the Church, I ean searcely belicve that his efforts to organize a separate church, however upsetting for a tine, will be blessed with any real success, even though he may be able to command some financial support from Carl Meintire or similar “apostles ofadiscord" in Germany. I shall try to keep you informed of the sequels I am due to land in New York on May 5+ I do not know 4f I will have any spare tine in the vicinity of swartimore, but if there is a chance I will do uy best to see yous We have a lot of grateful remembrances of your visit here this winter. Ted and Harriet Romig have been around the past weeks We are rather glad that we arranged his schedule to come to the synod meeting in Pasrur on the second day rather than the first day, te had seen shoutings and impasses at sueh gatherings, but nothing so mich in the way of a pitched battled We were glad to be at the F.C, Chapel service this morning when your grandehild was one of the Confirmation Class and were gled to have a chance to talk to Ray and Marty, Ray is commuting weekends from Pindis cordially, R. Park Johnsons