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The addresses are uniformly well and
carefully written, although at times, especially towards the end show signs of
compression, perhaps, so that they fit onto the page – the addresses are
normally six pages in length. His son Raymond witnesses that his addresses were
never read but given apparently ‘off-the-cuff’, yet, as we can see, with
careful preparation. They are generally easy to read in a clear and tidy hand,
although the punctuation is sometimes difficult to interpret: full stops and
commas are often indistinguishable and question marks and quotation marks are
sometimes omitted, an unusual double full stop is also used like an ellipsis. Many of the addresses are gospel messages
i.e. calling for the listeners to make a decision for Christ but others have
more of a teaching characteristic. The danger of hell is frequently alluded to,
but not in an aggressive way and there is a strong emphasis on the loving and
forgiving nature of God. He looks forward with hope and gratitude although the
need for repentance and the danger of self-will is frequently mentioned. Theologically
everything is always brought back to Jesus and the life of Jesus in the Gospels
is often meditated upon in a heartfelt manner. Old Testament passages are
always interpreted in the light of Christ, the Holy Spirit is seen as being the
means by which Christians can interpret the Old Testament in this manner.
Unsurprisingly, as Lloyd was a gardener, gardening is quite often referred to and
various other aspects of rural life such as lawn bowls. The poor and suffering
are always referred to with sympathy and without judgment, but although Lloyd
was a reader of the Liberal News Chronicle no comments are made on politics or
social issues, England, however, is routinely referred to as our beloved country. The large and
influential Billy Graham crusades which happened in 1954 and 55 are
significantly present. References are often made to revivalist preachers in the
tradition of Moody and Sankey and literature associated with them is sometimes
referenced as our literature such as the Christian Herald and other Open
Brethren publications. The poetry of songs and hymns mainly from Brethren or
Revivalist hymnody is also often utilized. Bible commentaries can sometimes be
discerned influencing the addresses but they are rarely explicitly referred to.
He definitely used the Oxford Helps, Young’s Analytical Concordance, the
Scofield Reference Bible and the influence of Matthew Henry can also, I
believe, be discerned. The influence of G Campbell Morgan can also be discerned.
His son Raymond says that Campbell Morgan’s
The Crises of Christ was frequently referred to and also the works of
Graham Scroggie. Lloyd seems aware of Brethren eschatology and dispensational
eschatology, but tends to avoid going into it in any detail especially in
gospel addresses. A variety of pens and inks are used. The books are red Century notebooks (Reference Number D65) roughly A5 in size Each address is given a date and place written diagonally at the top of the first page. Occasionally a second or third date and place is also given. It would appear that subsequently each address has been numbered and then an index provided at the back of the notebook, generally indicating the text of the address. |