The following letter was written by the peebs.net Community to Jackson Wells, Public Relations Consultants to the Exclusive Brethren.  It summarizes the Exclusive Brethren today and provides many important insights into the cult. We reproduce it in full.

Jackson Wells recently signed up another group that many would consider fall into the same category as the Exclusive Brethren, The Church of Scientology in Australia.

The Exclusive Brethren and the Church of Scientology – like any other religious organisations, and especially those who are unjustly pursued by the more rabid elements of the mass media – are entitled to seek advice about how they should communicate. That’s what we offer, and that should be the end of the matter.

KEITH JACKSON, chairman, Jackson Wells

The Age Letters – March 2010

Mr Benjamin Haslem
Jackson Wells Pty Ltd
PO Box 1743
Neutral Bay NSW 2089

June 30th, 2009

Dear Mr Haslem

We wish to respond to your recent article in the web publication “The Well”, Issue 36, Autumn 2009, entitled “Into the Light: understanding the Exclusive Brethren”.

Whilst the above title implies that your brief is to shine some much-needed light onto the activities of the Exclusive Brethren, we believe that this is the last thing they would want. Until recently, they have always preferred to keep a low profile, with good reason. Instead, it appears that they wish to counteract their negative image from the public scrutiny they have attracted in recent times – purely through their own actions – by engaging your company to create a “positive spin”. Unfortunately, even a company of your stature will have great difficulty in achieving this objective.

We take issue with your assertion that “outrageous and false claims” have been leveled against the Brethren by “mostly tabloid” media outlets and a “handful of disaffected former Church members”. Firstly, we are surprised that you regard serious newspapers such as “The Age” and “The Australian” (your former employer) as tabloid. Secondly, the contemptuous term “handful” is nonsense, and sounds suspiciously like part of a previously reported statement of a Brethren spokesman.

We are a community of people, most of whom have intimate knowledge and personal experience of the Exclusive Brethren doctrine of extreme separation, which has caused many hundreds of families worldwide to be torn apart over the past 50 years. As a result, people have been forced to spend the rest of their lives apart from their families, with all the pain and trauma that that entails. Some have even been driven to suicide, as the following link shows:

The Peebs.Net Memorial Pages

A vivid example of the lengths to which the Exclusive Brethren will go, and the expense they are willing to incur, to keep children away from a parent who is an ex-member and to financially destroy the person, can be seen in Michael Bachelard’s report in the Sunday Age (June 28), as follows:

Ex-Brethren father loses battle for children

This extraordinary judgment was handed down only last week, and demolishes once and for all any claim by the Exclusive Brethren that they are being misrepresented. One of the “outrageous and false claims” you mention was that the Brethren “deliberately and systematically broke up families”. Do you still believe they are innocent of that claim? And is it really just a “family matter”?

To say that the media scrutiny of the Exclusive Brethren was “driven” by Greens Senator Bob Brown is being economical with the truth. In fact the Brethren brought this on themselves during their extraordinary, naïve and dishonest involvement in politics in recent years. Of course Senator Brown started investigating who was behind the then mysterious political advertising campaign which targeted his party and supported John Howard. Can you blame him? However, he was only one of many politicians, journalists and members of the public who were puzzled at what later was to be revealed as part of a widely coordinated and well-funded international effort, which backfired badly and even led to the resignation of a New Zealand Opposition Leader – and may well have contributed to John Howard’s defeat in Bennelong. The political advertisements were not attributed to any group, just various individual names. It did not take long to discover that all were members of the Exclusive Brethren, despite their use of addresses such as post office boxes, unused Brethren buildings and schools.

Although any group is free to engage in political lobbying in a democracy, it was the underhand nature of the Brethren’s political activities – whilst maintaining their traditional refusal to vote – which caught the attention of the media, and the public. But it was more than that. During Senator Brown’s research, he also became aware of their long and appalling record in other areas, especially the effect of their extreme separation doctrine on families, and was concerned enough to call for a Senate Inquiry.

The exposure of the Exclusive Brethren’s political antics led to a groundswell of media and public scrutiny. It was particularly shocking for ex-members of the Brethren to witness this unprecedented negative publicity. Many of them had suffered quietly for years as a result of Brethren actions, but after sometimes decades of silence, they started to talk about their often horrific experiences. This in turn contributed to the decision of the ABC to run two separate Four Corners programs, one enabling the general public to see factual accounts of how lives had been so severely damaged by a religious sect that has always regarded themselves as devout Christians, and the other concentrating on their complex financial networks (see links below).

ABC Group’s Four Corners – ‘Separate Lives’

ABC Group’s Four Corners – ‘Business Express’

Note the raw emotion displayed by Phil Fawkes, for example, and also by Len Joyce when interviewed on the Radio National Background Briefing program in 2006:

ABC Radio – Background Briefing – ‘Elusive Exclusive Brethren’

Transcript to ‘Elusive Exclusive Brethren’

It is interesting that you do not mention in your article the public statement of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, then Opposition Leader, prior to the 2007 election, when he described the Exclusive Brethren as “an extremist cult” whose activities “break up families”. This was the first time that a leader of a major Australian political party had come out and said what so many people know to be the case. This also encouraged some of us to send a detailed submission to the Prime Minister in 2008 covering several major concerns about Exclusive Brethren political, financial and educational activities, and including thirteen personal life stories. Whilst the Government investigation we requested has not yet occurred, and politicians understandably are nervous about being seen to interfere with the freedom of people to practise their religious beliefs, the Prime Minister in his reply pointedly did not resile from his earlier statement.

Since then, of course, the well-written and balanced book by Michael Bachelard, entitled “Behind the Exclusive Brethren”, has been published and read widely, not just in Australia but in many overseas countries. Incidentally, we understand you know Michael personally, having attended school with him in Canberra.

As a result of all this, and the failure to date of various Brethren media spokesmen to defend their shocking record and legacy, it is not surprising to us that the Brethren leadership (the Hales family) has sought your services. However, we would like to make you aware that the Exclusive Brethren have been described as “political poison”. This is not our description, but one made by senior political figures in Australia. We would strongly suggest that you view the two Four Corners programs again to gain a better insight into the activities of your client, and to ensure that you do not cause any further damage to the good name of your company. We would also suggest that you read Michael Bachelard’s book, which we are certain the Brethren would have described to you as full of misinformation. (They said this publicly even before they read it!)

You may also like to ask the Hales brothers or their agents why the Brethren were told publicly in their meetings that they must not read the Bachelard book, and also, in relation to the horrifying chapter on the Alderton family, why Mr David Stewart misled you into thinking his sister Mrs Alderton is in a nursing home and that her mind is wandering. We assure you that in fact Mrs Alderton lives independently in a three-bedroom unit and is in full control of her faculties.

If you are willing to read the Bachelard book and perhaps discuss it with Michael himself, you may then like to talk to the two former Senators (from both sides of politics) who are associates in your company, and this time listen to their misgivings about your client.

If you follow our suggestions, we believe you will become better informed about the Exclusive Brethren, and may well regret some of what you wrote about them in the autumn edition of “The Well”.

We understand that part of your assignment is to regularly monitor the website Peebs.Net, which is an extremely valuable means of world-wide communication amongst ex-members of the Exclusive Brethren and other interested parties, to tell their stories, comment on current events relating to the Brethren, and provide often much-needed emotional support for one another. Another purpose of this website is to be literally a lifeline for those still within the Brethren who desire to leave but who need assistance to do so.

You should be aware that this website has experienced illegal attacks on it in the past, and the owners of the website are currently being pursued relentlessly in a court case in the USA, in an attempt to close it down. The plaintiff is none other than your client, under the name “The Bible and Gospel Trust”. They have successfully closed down two other ex-member websites in the past, and are sparing no expense to do so again. As you could imagine, this would be disastrous for those who use the site as described above.

By the way, we have noted that the alleged apology by Dick Wyman, operator of a former ex-Brethren website forcibly closed by your client, has been removed from the Exclusive Brethren’s own website. We think we know why, but you may wish to explain. In case you have not seen it, it read as follows:

“Pain, Distress and Offense Regretted”

Settlement agreement entered in U.S. District Court.

Richard Wyman Regrets Pain, Distress and Offense to the Brethren

On May 10, 2005, Richard Wyman met with members of the Brethren in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In that meeting, he agreed to stop publishing materials on the Brethren. This includes all publications attacking or derogatory of the Brethren.

Mr. Wyman has acknowledged that several statements posted on this web site were capable of being construed as defamatory. He also acknowledges that the statements may have caused pain, distress and offense to the Brethren. For this, he expresses regret.

These acknowledgments were included in a settlement agreement that was entered in U.S. District Court. This resolves all outstanding concerns regarding the former activities. The Brethren are grateful that Mr. Wyman has agreed to refrain from publishing anything further on the subject of the Brethren.”

Members of our community have been aware for some time that your company’s website included a very small press release regarding the amount of money that the Exclusive Brethren had given to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. This raised a question in our minds: did the Brethren recommend this in the hope that Peebs.Net would run with it and expose it in the media, thus allowing the Brethren a means of immediately trying to enhance their credentials in the eyes of the public so that they could gain Council approval for the building of Exclusive Brethren rate-free halls? We refer especially to their application to build what the local media described as a “mega church” within the Shire of Nillumbik; a proposed new Melbourne headquarters of the sect, to be located in a region badly affected by the February bushfires. It is noticeable that the Brethren gift to the Bushfire Appeal has now been publicized on their own website, and we wonder whether this has anything to do with the “mega church” proposal being knocked back by Nillumbik Shire, and the almost certain future appeal against the decision.

It was certainly a clever tactic by the wealthy Exclusive Brethren sect to make this extremely large donation to such a very worthy cause. However, those of us with experience of the Brethren over many years know that they traditionally have never given to such appeals in the past, let alone broadcast the donation. After all, world leader Bruce Hales exhorts his flock that they must get “a hatred of the world”. This gift does not sit comfortably with that philosophy, so, at the risk of us appearing churlish, we believe their motivation must be questioned.

Perhaps the most poignant point about this issue is made in the very Book that the Exclusive Brethren will tell you that they live by:

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly.”
(The Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 1-4, New King James Version of the Bible).

Can you and your company really continue to support the actions of this sect, along with its doctrine and practice of extreme separation of families, against all concepts of fairness as embraced by our great country – and indeed against the Holy Scriptures and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Please think about it.

Yours sincerely

Concerned members of the Peebs.Net community

June 28th, 2009

In Australia’s The Age today, Michael Bachelard author of the acclaimed ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren‘, presents a heartbreaking report that proves beyond doubt that the Exclusive Brethren cult will go to any length to rip families apart.

In an astonishing judgement in Melbourne, Justice Brown allowed the cult to legally prevent their excommunicated father from having anything further to do with his two children.  As is usual in these cases, the Exclusive Brethren spared no effort or cost in their legal campaign:

“… The Exclusive Brethren paid for the mother, Elspeth, to hire one of Melbourne’s top family court QCs, Noel Ackman, as well as a junior barrister and a solicitor… “

Read the full article in todays Sunday Age:

Ex-Brethren father loses battle for children

The Age

Michael Bachelard

June 28, 2009 – 12:00AM

A grieving father’s only contact with his Exclusive Brethren children will be permission to buy their photographs from the sect’s school, as long as they are not there at the time, a Family Court judge has ruled.

Justice Sally Brown has comprehensively ruled against the father, who can be known only as Peter, denying him any contact with his son, 15, and daughter, 10, after a five-year court battle, waged mostly in their home state of Tasmania.

After spending $100,000 winning court orders in 2006 for access, then trying unsuccessfully to enforce them, Peter could only afford to represent himself in the most recent retrial.

The Exclusive Brethren paid for the mother, Elspeth, to hire one of Melbourne’s top family court QCs, Noel Ackman, as well as a junior barrister and a solicitor.

The church’s “doctrine of separation” prevents people who have left the fold having any relationship with those still inside, including their own children.

Early in 2007, Justice Robert Benjamin sentenced the mother and two male relatives to four-month suspended jail sentences for failing to encourage the children to go with their father. These sentences were overturned on appeal.

Justice Brown’s judgment, delivered in Melbourne on Thursday, ruled for the Brethren mother because during the course of the case the children’s relationship with the father had broken down, and there was no prospect of re-establishing it.

The judge blamed the father for this, saying that his attempts to make sure that earlier court orders were obeyed had alienated the children from him and that parts of his application were “cruel and punitive” towards the children.

The mother fell ill with a recurrence of breast cancer after Justice Benjamin’s ruling in 2007, and the “family narrative” blamed the father for this.

“It is clear that the mother attributes responsibility for the recurrence of her cancer, at least in part, to the trauma she experienced when sentenced,” Justice Brown said. Whether or not this was true was “less relevant than its currency in the home”.

The daughter had “taken on board” this message and had torn up and returned a card her father had sent her, saying if he wanted her to be happy “he should just leave us alone”.

However, she rejected the father’s suggestion that the Exclusive Brethren had prompted this behaviour, despite evidence over many years that the sect encourages young children to reject their lapsed parents.

In 2006, a court-appointed psychologist described the Brethren’s attempts to turn the children against Peter as “psychologically cruel, unacceptable and abusive” to the children and at “the highest end of psychological abuse”.

But Justice Brown’s views on the Brethren were generally positive: their religious conviction was as “vital to them as the air they breathe”, and “they perceive a life lived outside their faith as unsustainable”. She questioned whether it was their policy to remove children from non-Brethren parents, quoting a report to her that said that “the church says in its publication this is not the case”.

Justice Brown said it was false to think, as the father did, that this case was “a duel between law and religion”.

The father said the few times he had had contact, the children had “warmed up” to him, but the opinion of a court-appointed consultant, Ineke Stierman, was that the daughter’s “youth and courtesy explain her relatively polite responses”. As for the son, one visit had ended with him curled in a foetal position in the cubby house and refusing to eat.

Having “nothing to do with them now might show ultimate caring”, Ms Stierman recommended.

Justice Brown accepted that the result of her judgment was that “the children will not spend time with anyone who speaks positively about the father”.

The father had applied for custody of both children but late in the case changed his position, asking for custody of his daughter and access to his son. The judge condemned this as “indicative of a significant lack of understanding of the children’s needs” .

The mother’s application was to have custody of the children until she died, following which they be cared for by an older sister and her husband.

Although Justice Brown did not rule on what would happen after the mother’s death, she agreed the children needed support by their extended family “during these traumatic years”, that the girl had bonded with her older sister, and that this must take priority over any relationship with the father, or “any questions about the Exclusive Brethren’s compliance with court orders”.

Although Ms Stierman suggested contact of “an hour or two, once or twice a year”, Justice Brown said she could see no benefit to that. Instead, Peter could, at his expense, be provided with a copy of their school reports, photos and newsletters as long he obtained them at a time when any family members “are not likely to be on the school premises”.

Asked by The Sunday Age if he had a message for his children, Peter, who himself grew up without a father because of the Brethren’s doctrine of separation, said: “I just want them to know I tried my best.”

The Exclusive Brethren declined to comment, saying it was a private family matter.

Michael Bachelard

The Age

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/national/exbrethren-father-loses-battle-for-children-20090627-d0lc.html

This is most certainly not the first time that the Australian Family Court has caved in under the pressure tactics of the cult.  Retired Chief Justice of the Family Court Alistair Nicholson has spoken openly about the tactics the cult uses in the past:

Stephen Crittenden: Isn’t part of the problem that the Family Court has with the Exclusive Brethren, just the simple fact that the Exclusive Brethren don’t recognise the validity of the court, of the laws, and that there’s just a general sense, a problem of members of the Exclusive Brethren defying court orders?

Alistair Nicholson: Yes, and I think they can be dealt with by the usual method of punishment of people who do defy court orders. There’s no problem about that.

Read the full transcript on ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2007/1871059.htm#anchor1

In 2007, ABC’s Four Corners broadcast ‘The Brethren Express’ where some superb investigative journalism dug into the finances of the Exclsuive Brethren cult. Former Chief Justice Nicholson was interviewed again.  You can watch his extended interview and the full program on the Brethren Express website.

One thing is certain – the Exclusive Brethren cult continues to rip families apart with seeming impunity. They consider themselves above any human court and the cruel and vicious way they separate family members has caused many to kill themselves. Some wonder, when the extent of their maliciousness is understood, whether the legal term ‘culpable homicide‘ could be invoked?

Roger Panes was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire, England. In November 1973 Roger 41, his wife Pamela 39 and their three children Graham 7, Adrian 4 and Angela 6 were all members of the Exclusive Brethren.

As a direct result of harsh Exclusive Brethren discipline, Roger Panes killed his wife and three young children before hanging himself on March 4th, 1974. It remains one of the most senseless and unnecessary murder suicides on record and is entirely due to the way that the Exclusive Brethren demand total and complete control over individuals.

In November 1973, Roger Panes made ‘an error’. He acted on his own without asking permission from other Exclusive Brethren leaders and ‘shut up’ (EB-speak for ‘shunning’) another member. History proves that the Exclusive Brethren insist upon complete control and react instinctively toward those who dare to think for themselves or act as individuals. In this case, the leaders immediately turned on Roger and suddenly in November 1973, Roger Panes was himself ‘shut up’.

“Roger Panes was shut up during November 1973, because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully.”

“He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren.”

“This ‘shutting up’ was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.”

“Between November and February, members of the brethren had called on Mr. Panes five or six times but the matter had not been resolved.”

– George Fennell, EB leader in Andover (from Detective notes)

Mr. Graham Fennell [note - called George Fennell in Press cutting] of Barlow’s Lane, Andover, UK, was described to the Court as a “responsible member” of the Brethren.

Feb 21, 1974 – Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital.

March 2, 1974 – a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to “withdraw from him or excommunicate him.”

“The term “shut up” meant that all other Brethren were not allowed to associate with the member concerned or his family.

“If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) — that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household.”

“This meant he did not sleep with his wife or eat with the rest of his family.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson at the inquest

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. “She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation.”

March 5, 1974 – a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes’ home in Salisbury Road, Andover. He found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his neck. He immediately called the police.

When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house. She had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

In another bedroom a blood stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. Also in the room was a bed which had been prepared but not slept in.

In Mr. Panes trousers, found neatly placed in his bedroom was a note which said:

“There’s never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. “Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon.”

The story of horror was told to an inquest in Andover, UK, with more than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren in the public benches.

They heard Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson tell how, when they cast out 41-year-old Roger Panes from their group, the anguish was more than he could bear.

The jury returned a verdict that Roger Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

In his summing up to the jury Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

“It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular.”

“These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here.”

As a footnote, a press commentary at the time perhaps headed toward an explanation:

The Exclusive Brethren is notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.

– ‘Words that spelt death’ by Jack Hill

Read the full article on the Memorial Pages

Pamela’s husband, Roger Panes, was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire, England. In November 1973 Roger 41, his wife Pamela 39 and their three children Graham 7, Adrian 4 and Angela 6 were all members of the Exclusive Brethren.

As a direct result of harsh Exclusive Brethren discipline, Roger Panes killed his wife and three young children before hanging himself on March 4th, 1974. It remains one of the most senseless and unnecessary murder suicides on record and is entirely due to the way that the Exclusive Brethren demand total and complete control over individuals.

In November 1973, Roger Panes made ‘an error’. He acted on his own without asking permission from other Exclusive Brethren leaders and ‘shut up’ (EB-speak for ‘shunning’) another member. History proves that the Exclusive Brethren insist upon complete control and react instinctively toward those who dare to think for themselves or act as individuals. In this case, the leaders immediately turned on Roger and suddenly in November 1973, Roger Panes was himself ‘shut up’.

“Roger Panes was shut up during November 1973, because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully.”

“He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren.”

“This ‘shutting up’ was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.”

“Between November and February, members of the brethren had called on Mr. Panes five or six times but the matter had not been resolved.”

– George Fennell, EB leader in Andover (from Detective notes)

Mr. Graham Fennell [note - called George Fennell in Press cutting] of Barlow’s Lane, Andover, UK, was described to the Court as a “responsible member” of the Brethren.

Feb 21, 1974 – Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital.

March 2, 1974 – a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to “withdraw from him or excommunicate him.”

“The term “shut up” meant that all other Brethren were not allowed to associate with the member concerned or his family.

“If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) — that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household.”

“This meant he did not sleep with his wife or eat with the rest of his family.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson at the inquest

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. “She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation.”

March 5, 1974 – a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes’ home in Salisbury Road, Andover. He found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his neck. He immediately called the police.

When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house. She had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

In another bedroom a blood stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. Also in the room was a bed which had been prepared but not slept in.

In Mr. Panes trousers, found neatly placed in his bedroom was a note which said:

“There’s never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. “Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon.”

The story of horror was told to an inquest in Andover, UK, with more than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren in the public benches.

They heard Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson tell how, when they cast out 41-year-old Roger Panes from their group, the anguish was more than he could bear.

The jury returned a verdict that Roger Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

In his summing up to the jury Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

“It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular.”

“These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here.”

As a footnote, a press commentary at the time perhaps headed toward an explanation:

The Exclusive Brethren is notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.

– ‘Words that spelt death’ by Jack Hill

Read the full article on the Memorial Pages

Graham’s father, Roger Panes, was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire, England. In November 1973 Roger 41, his wife Pamela 39 and their three children Graham 7, Adrian 4 and Angela 6 were all members of the Exclusive Brethren.

As a direct result of harsh Exclusive Brethren discipline, Roger Panes killed his wife and three young children before hanging himself on March 4th, 1974. It remains one of the most senseless and unnecessary murder suicides on record and is entirely due to the way that the Exclusive Brethren demand total and complete control over individuals.

In November 1973, Roger Panes made ‘an error’. He acted on his own without asking permission from other Exclusive Brethren leaders and ‘shut up’ (EB-speak for ‘shunning’) another member. History proves that the Exclusive Brethren insist upon complete control and react instinctively toward those who dare to think for themselves or act as individuals. In this case, the leaders immediately turned on Roger and suddenly in November 1973, Roger Panes was himself ‘shut up’.

“Roger Panes was shut up during November 1973, because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully.”

“He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren.”

“This ‘shutting up’ was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.”

“Between November and February, members of the brethren had called on Mr. Panes five or six times but the matter had not been resolved.”

– George Fennell, EB leader in Andover (from Detective notes)

Mr. Graham Fennell [note - called George Fennell in Press cutting] of Barlow’s Lane, Andover, UK, was described to the Court as a “responsible member” of the Brethren.

Feb 21, 1974 – Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital.

March 2, 1974 – a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to “withdraw from him or excommunicate him.”

“The term “shut up” meant that all other Brethren were not allowed to associate with the member concerned or his family.

“If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) — that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household.”

“This meant he did not sleep with his wife or eat with the rest of his family.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson at the inquest

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. “She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation.”

March 5, 1974 – a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes’ home in Salisbury Road, Andover. He found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his neck. He immediately called the police.

When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house. She had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

In another bedroom a blood stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. Also in the room was a bed which had been prepared but not slept in.

In Mr. Panes trousers, found neatly placed in his bedroom was a note which said:

“There’s never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. “Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon.”

The story of horror was told to an inquest in Andover, UK, with more than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren in the public benches.

They heard Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson tell how, when they cast out 41-year-old Roger Panes from their group, the anguish was more than he could bear.

The jury returned a verdict that Roger Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

In his summing up to the jury Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

“It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular.”

“These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here.”

As a footnote, a press commentary at the time perhaps headed toward an explanation:

The Exclusive Brethren is notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.

– ‘Words that spelt death’ by Jack Hill

Read the full article on the Memorial Pages

Angela’s father, Roger Panes, was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire, England. In November 1973 Roger 41, his wife Pamela 39 and their three children Graham 7, Adrian 4 and Angela 6 were all members of the Exclusive Brethren.

As a direct result of harsh Exclusive Brethren discipline, Roger Panes killed his wife and three young children before hanging himself on March 4th, 1974. It remains one of the most senseless and unnecessary murder suicides on record and is entirely due to the way that the Exclusive Brethren demand total and complete control over individuals.

In November 1973, Roger Panes made ‘an error’. He acted on his own without asking permission from other Exclusive Brethren leaders and ‘shut up’ (EB-speak for ‘shunning’) another member. History proves that the Exclusive Brethren insist upon complete control and react instinctively toward those who dare to think for themselves or act as individuals. In this case, the leaders immediately turned on Roger and suddenly in November 1973, Roger Panes was himself ‘shut up’.

“Roger Panes was shut up during November 1973, because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully.”

“He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren.”

“This ‘shutting up’ was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.”

“Between November and February, members of the brethren had called on Mr. Panes five or six times but the matter had not been resolved.”

– George Fennell, EB leader in Andover (from Detective notes)

Mr. Graham Fennell [note - called George Fennell in Press cutting] of Barlow’s Lane, Andover, UK, was described to the Court as a “responsible member” of the Brethren.

Feb 21, 1974 – Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital.

March 2, 1974 – a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to “withdraw from him or excommunicate him.”

“The term “shut up” meant that all other Brethren were not allowed to associate with the member concerned or his family.

“If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) — that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household.”

“This meant he did not sleep with his wife or eat with the rest of his family.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson at the inquest

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. “She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation.”

March 5, 1974 – a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes’ home in Salisbury Road, Andover. He found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his neck. He immediately called the police.

When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house. She had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

In another bedroom a blood stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. Also in the room was a bed which had been prepared but not slept in.

In Mr. Panes trousers, found neatly placed in his bedroom was a note which said:

“There’s never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. “Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon.”

The story of horror was told to an inquest in Andover, UK, with more than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren in the public benches.

They heard Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson tell how, when they cast out 41-year-old Roger Panes from their group, the anguish was more than he could bear.

The jury returned a verdict that Roger Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

In his summing up to the jury Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

“It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular.”

“These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here.”

As a footnote, a press commentary at the time perhaps headed toward an explanation:

The Exclusive Brethren is notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.

– ‘Words that spelt death’ by Jack Hill

Read the full article on the Memorial Pages

Adrian’s father, Roger Panes, was a cattle dealer in Andover, Hampshire, England. In November 1973 Roger 41, his wife Pamela 39 and their three children Graham 7, Adrian 4 and Angela 6 were all members of the Exclusive Brethren.

As a direct result of harsh Exclusive Brethren discipline, Roger Panes killed his wife and three young children before hanging himself on March 4th, 1974. It remains one of the most senseless and unnecessary murder suicides on record and is entirely due to the way that the Exclusive Brethren demand total and complete control over individuals.

In November 1973, Roger Panes made ‘an error’. He acted on his own without asking permission from other Exclusive Brethren leaders and ‘shut up’ (EB-speak for ‘shunning’) another member. History proves that the Exclusive Brethren insist upon complete control and react instinctively toward those who dare to think for themselves or act as individuals. In this case, the leaders immediately turned on Roger and suddenly in November 1973, Roger Panes was himself ‘shut up’.

“Roger Panes was shut up during November 1973, because of the way he treated another member of the brethren over a minor technical offence, and shut up that person wilfully.”

“He shut up that person wrongly. That was not right. It was contrary to the accepted code and violations of the Divine Principles involved in the Brethren.”

“This ‘shutting up’ was carried out by Mr. Panes without the consent of other members of the brethren.”

“Between November and February, members of the brethren had called on Mr. Panes five or six times but the matter had not been resolved.”

– George Fennell, EB leader in Andover (from Detective notes)

Mr. Graham Fennell [note - called George Fennell in Press cutting] of Barlow’s Lane, Andover, UK, was described to the Court as a “responsible member” of the Brethren.

Feb 21, 1974 – Mrs. Panes contacted Mr. Fennell to tell him that her husband had taken an overdose of tablets and had been admitted to hospital.

March 2, 1974 – a meeting was held by the Brethren but no decision was taken to “withdraw from him or excommunicate him.”

“The term “shut up” meant that all other Brethren were not allowed to associate with the member concerned or his family.

“If it is mutually agreed between him and his wife, he can be shut up from them (his family) — that is to say he is cut off from the rest of his family within his own household.”

“This meant he did not sleep with his wife or eat with the rest of his family.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson at the inquest

Dr. Vanessa Heath, from Winchester Hospital, said that when Mr. Panes was admitted with a drug overdose she asked his wife why he had taken it. “She told me it was a matter between him and God. She would offer no further explanation.”

March 5, 1974 – a Post Office engineer called to fix the phone in the Panes’ home in Salisbury Road, Andover. He found Mr. Panes hanging from the bannister with a length of electric wire round his neck. He immediately called the police.

When police arrived they found Mrs. Pamela Panes hacked to death by an axe in the front bedroom. The children, Graham, aged seven, Adrian, four, and Angela, aged six, were found in other rooms, all killed by axe wounds.

Det. Chief Insp. Stanley Atkinson, head of Basingstoke CID, told the inquest at Andover that he found Mrs. Panes lying in a double bed in a front upstairs bedroom in the house. She had severe head injuries. The children were found with similar injuries in other bedrooms.

In another bedroom a blood stained axe with a seven and a half inch blade was found. Also in the room was a bed which had been prepared but not slept in.

In Mr. Panes trousers, found neatly placed in his bedroom was a note which said:

“There’s never been such a wicked man. This house will have to be left empty or bulldozed. You go to the Brethren. I trust they will take you in. “Cry to God for mercy for you all and the dear children. The Lord is coming very soon.”

The story of horror was told to an inquest in Andover, UK, with more than 150 members of the local Exclusive Brethren in the public benches.

They heard Detective Chief Inspector Stanley Atkinson tell how, when they cast out 41-year-old Roger Panes from their group, the anguish was more than he could bear.

The jury returned a verdict that Roger Panes murdered his wife and three children and then committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

In his summing up to the jury Mr. Ronald Bowker, the coroner, said:

“It is up to anyone in this country to follow such religious beliefs as he pleases, without question. The only qualification I suppose one would make is if such beliefs are thought to be injurious to the community as a whole or individuals in particular.”

“These might be matters for inquiry, but matters for inquiry elsewhere and not here.”

As a footnote, a press commentary at the time perhaps headed toward an explanation:

The Exclusive Brethren is notorious for the severity of its discipline and was ruled with an iron hand by its world leader, Big Jim Taylor, until his death in 1970.

– ‘Words that spelt death’ by Jack Hill

Read the full article on the Memorial Pages