OK, Just finished!
How was this man looking to start his own church? I can totally relate to the manner in which he was treated and subsequently given the cold shoulder.
I recall when my ex was spreading false stories about me, the last straw was when she had told me that "it was improper for me to be alone with my daughter in a room". I asked her what she meant by that and she said that "it looked wrong and that I shouldn't even be alone with my daughter in a hotel room" (I had taken my daughter aged 8 at the time on a overnight speaking engagement in Detroit with me). This was near the end of our relationship and after I had already "faded" for about 6 months. I realized where she was going/ or had gone with this and so I went to speak with an elder about it the next night after the meeting because if she was already spreading THAT one, it was total slander! (not like the other claims weren't - but THAT I REALLY took offence to) The elder wouldn't even talk to me in the hall and I was totally calm and not freaking out (I had seen how they manipulated emotional people in that way before - when I was an MS, they wanted to use me as "muscle" to intimidate ones that they would excite). We stood out by my truck and his words to me were "well, how do we know that it isn't true, we don't really know you anymore" I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS!!! I had known this elder since we were kids (over 20 years) and he had known my wife for only about 4 years since he moved into the hall and because I wasn't regular or at the meetings, I was capable of such a dispicable crime. I wanted to vomit!
Anyway, sorry for the rant, but reading how Ray was treated so coldly by those he had served with and known for so many years brought that to mind and really chaffes my hind parts. The greatest justification however is how I have (and do) lived a life of peace and happiness now and my daughters get to see who is actually more Christ like in their actions as did Ray. I applaud Ray for taking his stand.
He was obviously blessed to outlive the men who plotted his so-called Spiritual demise and to live a quite humble existence that proved his accusers as the ones that lied and should be ashamed of what they have done and ultimately need to answer before Jehovah. His record keeping was phenomenal.