1970 was a dramatic year in the history of the Exclusive Brethren. The alcoholic James Taylor Jnr was still firmly in control as the undisputed leader of the Exclusive Brethren. The notorious Aberdeen Incident was only a few days away and, although Taylor himself would die in just a few months, public and private events were spiralling out of control.
Jack Reginald Wallis ran a farm in Dalwallinu, Western Australia. Jack’s son John recalls a tumultuous life leading up to this time:
“My recollections of my father’s life, was one of harassment and turmoil, caused by the Brethren.”
“He was accused of doing things he never did, saying things he never said, and even when he pleaded that ‘that if he had actually said what he was accused of, then he was sorry’ – his pleas were ignored.”
“He was persecuted by the then area leader C.W. ‘Bill’ Silverwright and the leadership of the local assembly in Dalwallinu. Their stern answer was always, ‘by a man’s words is he justified, and by his words is he condemned’.”
“Condemned he was, on many occasions. Growing up in an environment where we never knew if and when we would be “in fellowship” or “out of fellowship” was unsettling for the whole family.”
On July 8th, 1970 John Wallis heard a gunshot from inside the shearing shed on the family farm. He ran to investigate and found his father dead from a gunshot wound.
Although some questions remain even after nearly 40 years, the Coroner stated that the death of Jack Wallis was suicide.
“There is no doubt in my mind that my father’s death on July 8, 1970, was the result and culmination of many years of hardship inflicted on him and his family by the leaders of the “Exclusive Brethren cult, and this was my father’s way of saying, “enough is enough, you are not going to hurt me any more”.”
- John Wallis
