Truth Magazine

By L.A. Stauffer

(All quotations are from “The Family Circle” and from interviews with Leslie’s children. LAS) Leslie Diestelkamp was a captivating preacher, but not the most eloquent among his fellow evangelists; an interesting writer, but not the best trained and most professional among his fellow editors; a meticulous and accurate student of the scriptures, but not the best educated and most scholarly among his fellow disciples. But as a man of God who looked to the ways of his household he had no superiors and few equals. Surely no man questioned the purity and spirituality of his heart so clearly reflected in his godly demeanor and mirrored in the lives of his children unto “the third and … fourth generation of them” who came from his loins.

This devoted father may be among the last of the “grand old patriarchs” who, like his spiritual forefather Abraham, “commanded his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice” (Gen. 18:19). Few men in modern times leave behind such a long trail of righteous descendants  children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren. Like Lois and Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5), this respected father saw the image of his “unfeigned faith” in the lives of 50 or more family members, including in-laws.

His experience and success as a husband, father, and grand-father, along with a careful study of the Scriptures, prepared him well for writing and preaching on what he called “The Family Circle.” It also opened him to frequent solicitations for advice about the “secret” of family life. Be assured that his response was  there is no “secret” or “magic” formula. To him there were “obvious” principles that must be united with hard work. Those fundamentals he articulated well in his writing and preaching and exemplified forcefully in the laboratory of daily family life.

Seed Beds Of The Kingdom

This esteemed father’s view of family life began with the premise that the “home is the cradle of civilization and the bulwark of the church.” He was fond of describing the home as “the vestibule of heaven.” Fathers and mothers, he believed, are to prepare the hearts of their children for the seed of the kingdom. A child, to him, is “like a tender plant” that you are cultivating, grooming, and directing every day. The preparation of children to receive the seed of the kingdom demands three important principles: (1) a child’s heart must be conditioned to “respect authority” and, (2) and (3) every offspring must learn “honesty” and “morality.” If these qualities were indelibly inscribed into a child’s thinking, the child would be adequately pre-pared and open to the message of Christ.

Leslie stressed, number one, in his preaching on family life the importance of parental example, noting that nothing would more quickly undermine the role and work of parents than inconsistency or hyprocrisy. “There is no power you can have over your children that is equal to the influence of your example.” In Leslie’s favorite illustration of this truth he writes:

How well do I remember a cold day in 1945 or 1946 when I lived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. My second son, Al, who was then just under school age, had gone with me to the Post Office. We crossed the wet street and stepped up on the dry sidewalk Soon Al dropped behind me and then said, “Daddy, do you know what I am doing?” I said, “No, what are you doing?” He replied, “I am walking in your steps.” You see, the soles of my shoes were wet and they left a dark imprint on the sidewalk. He was stretching his little legs as much as possible to try to step in each track I left. The incident left a deep impression on me. I thought, as I go down the street today, and down the pathway of life in days and years to come, here is a little boy following me. He will go where I go, do what I do and be what I am! Ever since then I have been pleading with parents to recognize the power of their example.

Brethren have disagreed with what Leslie taught or, in some instances, with the way he stated his views. But, to my knowledge, no one ever questioned his sincere faith in Christ, his heartfelt devotion to God, his pure life of morality, and his unwavering spiritual focus in life. His family imitated him the way he imitated his Savior  stretching, as it must often have been necessary, to walk in his foot-steps.

Husband/Wife Relationship

Leslie knew so well that the key to success in any relationship was its leadership. He preached that most difficulties in family life can ultimately be traced to the husband, who is the head. “If husbands,” he wrote, “would love their wives as whole-heartedlv and as totally as Christ loved the church, this attitude alone would probably solve most of the difficulties in family circles. Out of his love for her, and as a consequence of his devotion to her, would probably come a reciprocal affection from her.” His children hold no doubt about the love of their father for their mother. While he was always discreet and never improper, he did not hesitate to be “very affectionate toward my mother in our presence.” Leslie taught that a husband should be “the head of the house” taking full responsibility for leadership of the family, financially and spiritually. He considered the wife to be “the heart of the house” giving motherly affection and heartfelt attention to the children. He would quote the old adage: “The hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules the world.” In his words: “Perhaps no one rises to such a high place of moral goodness, compassionate sympathy and dynamic influence as does the godly mother.”

Fathers . . . “Nurture Your Children”

Leslie observed that children needed more than parents who provided food and shelter  “a guiding hand to lead them” and motivation to direct them. He taught that “success is assured when parents begin to train and guide the tender plant even the very first day you take it home from the hospital.” He would say to mothers: “If your baby is old enough to be taken to the doctor’s office, it is old enough to be taken to church services.” He stressed three practices as important:

1. Teaching. In his own home, he insisted on what his sons refer to as “The Lesson,” when the “family circle” gathered together for a Bible reading followed by discussion of the reading, its applications, and any questions. Occasionally it was varied by the reading of a Bible story from Hurlbuts’ Story of the Bible or by “calling out Bible passages and we would see who could turn to it the fastest and read it to everyone.” Leslie would close every study with family prayer.

2. Discipline. This devoted father, as God’s word so eloquently teaches, knew that teaching must on occasion be enforced by discipline. He believed that “an ounce of punishment is worth a pound of threats.” “Punishment, to him, must `hurt’ enough to get attention and make an impression …and must be immediate, certain, fair and reasonable.” “He believed in spanking . . .was firm and consistent .. . and most discipline was delivered with calm, quiet verbal reproof.” When remorse is shown by a child, the parent, Leslie believed, must carefully and lovingly seek reconciliation.

3. Attention. “He recognized ‘attention’ required time shared as a family in wholesome recreation and play and he encouraged such.” Although Leslie believed children need affection and friendship, he was “not enthused about the idea of fathers becoming buddies to their sons or mothers being pals to their daughters.” He was never the “huggy” type father . . . but he was not aloof and while “he was not an outwardly affectionate man . . . there was never any doubt about his affection.”

Conclusion

My own relationship with Leslie Diestelkamp, on the golf course, in many personal conversations, and in the intimacy of his home during a week’s stay confirm the quality of life described in this article. I have, more than once, been the butt of his rebukes, the recipient of his commendation, and the beneficiary of his daily “Lesson.” I never knew him to be openly affectionate to either men or women, but neither did I ever doubt his genuine love and concern for me and all members of God’s family. Many mentors have influenced my life  as scholars, as preachers, as teachers, as debaters, as intimate friends, etc., but no man touched my soul with the unblemished purity and genuine spirituality that Leslie Diestelkamp did. I mean that sincerely, brethren. And, to me, it was the key to the pervasive, patriarchal influence that flowed so endlessly from generation to generation  down to the youngest of his great-grandchildren.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 23, p. 18-19
December 7, 1995

Leslie Eugene Diestelkamp died Sept. 12, 1995, in Aurora, Illinois, having suffered a stroke December 19, 1994 from which he was unable to recover. He was born December 24, 1911, in Phelps County, Missouri, thus living 83 years, 8 months and 19 days. His mother died when he was three months old and from then on he was cared for by his grandparents and their daughter Amelia, not yet 16 years old. After his grandmother died and Amelia married Elmer Ferris, their home became his home and their children were like brother and sisters to him. He obeyed the gospel in August of 1925 after having walked with his grandfather the 20 miles to at-tend a meeting of the Oak Grove church near St. James, Missouri. He preached his first full sermon in August 1934 at Oak Grove, no doubt never realizing that that beginning effort would eventually take him to preaching on five continents and Canada, into most of the states and endear him to thousands as he preached the gospel of Christ whom he served so joyfully and hopefully.

Survivors include his wife of more than 19 years Myrtle, of Aurora, IL; two daughters and their husbands, Wanda (Mrs. James) Hodges, Temple Terrance, FL and Lavon (Mrs. Robert E.) Speer, Fox River Grove, IL, three sons and their wives, Karl (Delores Steen), Kenosha, WI, Al (Connie Hennecke), DeKalb, IL and Roy (Mary Sullivan), Thorold, Ontario, Canada; a sister, Nora Pruitt, St. Jamess MO; Ray (Charlene Raker) Ferris, Lockport, IL; Raymond and Velva (Ferris) Breuer, Hallsville, MO and Jack and Darlein (Ferris) Duncan, Dixon, MO; 20 grandchildren and their 17 spouses, 42 great grandchildren (if you include two in the womb – and we do). He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Timothy and Violet Hodges and one great-grandchild, Ryan Diestelkamp.

On August 3, 1932, he married Sarah Alice Wright, his high school sweetheart. She was his faithful companion and co-laborer for 41 years when she died September 20, 1973. On May 1, 1976, he married Myrtle Benedict, a long-time family friend and sister in Christ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been his faithful and loving companion. Al has written, “He was blessed to have known two wives whom he could `praise in the gates.’ Likewise, Dad’s children had both a loving birth-mother and a loving second-mother that we can “rise up and call blessed. I do not hesitate to speak for the rest of Dad’s family in expressing our appreciation and love to Myrtle. I am happy that even though none of his children were present when he died, that Myrtle was there, holding his hand, and that by God’s grace he was eased from the bosom of Myrtle to the bosom of Abraham.”

His widow will continue to live in their apartment just across the street from the Aurora meeting house and she may be written at: 1730 W. Galena Blvd., #102W, Aurora, IL 60506.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 23, p. 15
December 7, 1995

That which I will miss Dad most for, is his prayers. You did not spend time in his home without knowing that he prayed to God. When Dad prayed he did so often for others, specifically, by name and for their particular situations and needs. I know he did that for hundreds of brethren in Christ, and for his family too. I know he prayed for me, and I found great joy in that. I will miss his prayers, for: “.. . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Jas. 5:16).

We all have work to do in praying. The prayers of Leslie Diestelkamp, and others too, are stilled. We must be praying people too, and for others, specifically, by name, and for their particular situations and needs. We are urged to “come boldly unto the throne of grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16), and to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Even so, let us pray. -Roy Diestelkamp

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 23, p. 21
December 7, 1995

By Ray Ferris

Few people have had a longer relationship with Leslie Diestelkamp than I. When I was born, he was a lad of eleven and one-half years in my home, having been with my mother and father from the time of their marriage almost four years earlier. Even so, our association was limited as he was away in high school and working out of the home by the time I was able to be aware of what a “big brother” could mean in a family setting. He was, nevertheless, an impressive influence in my early years.

He married before I was ten years old, and I can well remember his effort to persuade me to trade my new rifle for his first daughter, Wanda, when she was born. Of course, I refused to think of sacrificing my treasured gun for a baby, and he was not required to reveal that he was only teasing. Many who knew him did not realize his love for humor and desire to tease. On numerous trips we made with others in later years to lectures, debates, etc. he would be involved in almost unbelievable pranks to help such long journeys to be times of enjoyment and fun. Participating in an effort to convince a waitress that one of his companions was being transferred to a mental institution, while enjoying the con-fusion of the waitress and his companion; calling a well-known preacher to try to convince him he ought to provide for an indigent who was begging help from the church, etc. are examples of his humor and fun. He was, nevertheless, one who was extremely driven to accomplish any work of which he was a part, in an expeditious manner, and that was especially true of any work that was spiritual in nature.

This was never more apparent than in the early days of the publication of Truth Magazine, later to become the Guardian of Truth. In the mid-fifties, when a group of us met in the home of Bryan Vinson, Jr. to talk of the possibilities of such an undertaking, Leslie was there and became an ardent proponent of such a task. He really desired the paper to be one that could be mailed free of charge, but was willing to be part of what was eventually begun in October 1956, as the first issue of the paper appeared. He was al-ways available to help in every way. Bryan Vinson, Jr. was editor until the magazine was taken over by Cecil Willis, and Leslie and Gordon Pennock served as Associate Editors during that period. Rarely did an issue of the paper appear without an article from his pen, and in addition he was editor of a section of “News Briefs” in the early years of the publication. Regularly he was present as we read galley proofs for correction, then assembled final printed pages, stapled them, addressed them, sorted them as required by the Post Office, and delivered the final product to the Post Office for mailing. He served with others of us on a “Board of Directors” responsible for those early years, and was a participant when we provided individual financial assistance to supplement money from subscriptions and advertising. At times the “Board of Directors” had to borrow funds for such help.

He was with us on several occasions as we went to lectures in Texas and Florida to make special efforts to sell subscriptions to the magazine. It was extremely urgent that we in-crease the number of subscriptions for financial reasons, and we wanted to establish a reading clientele in various parts of the nation, and ultimately, the world. It is my considered judgment that great good was accomplished by this paper in its early days, especially in the Chicagoland area, in the battle against institutions, sponsoring churches, general benevolence from church treasuries, secular use of church buildings, etc. There was a close-knit group who spent many hours together in that effort in a number of different print shops, offices, and homes. Leslie was always a significant part of such efforts.

After Cecil Willis assumed responsibility in every way for production of the paper, most of us who had been so involved through those first six years, breathed a sigh of relief, and did little to further the continued success of the paper, seldom writing material for publication in it. But such was not true of Leslie. Even though he did begin the free paper he had envisioned years earlier (Think on These Things) in 1969, and wrote most the material contained therein, he continued to be a frequent writer in the pages of Truth Magazine, and later in Guardian of Truth. When it was necessary for Cecil Willis to step aside in that effort, and at a time when the magazine was at a low ebb, a series of articles by Leslie in 1978 on the family was a “shot in the arm” that helped the paper. That series became the publication known as The Family Circle, and was later revised to be used as a text for class study on the family. Both were published by the Cogdill Foundation, and both are out of print at the present.

Although Leslie was not an aggressive proponent of his own views, he was al-ways ready to engage in discussion of all matters that involved what he conscientiously believed. This is evident by any search of recent pages of Guardian of Truth. His voice and pen were at the very heart of the controversy of recent years regarding the “Grace Fellowship” discussions. While it is true Leslie made statements with which many were not happy, and that includes some that I personally believe to be ill advised, anyone who really knew him knows he was not a Calvinist  neo, or otherwise, and to charge him as such is not responsible or charitable.

As I travel throughout this land and meet brethren, there is hardly a place one can go that his name is not known and respected. What man in this century has had greater influence in the promotion of evangelism in every part of the world? His family is a living monument to his dedication to the spirituality of the “family circle” about which he wrote and preached so often. The overflow crowds at the memorial services in Aurora, Illinois, where he lived at the time of his death, and at St. James, Missouri, in the area where he was raised and began his first work of preaching the word, were surely testimonials to the love and respect of a host of brethren for him.

Many pages of material could be writ-ten of the seventy-two plus years of my association with this man from my birth to his death September 12, 1995, but may it suffice to say that without question “there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.”

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 23, p. 14-15
December 7, 1995