The Canberra Times' front page on this day in 1962 reported on two Canberrans who said a sect known as the Exclusive Order of the Plymouth Brethren had broken up their families.
Mr L. Rogers, 63, said his happy marriage of 35 years standing was broken up by the sect. Mrs J. Ramage, of Griffith, said the order had expelled her mother, who had revealed that week she had been forbidden to eat or even speak with her father.
Mr Rogers said his wife and daughter had left him because he had a radio set. His wife since had gone to live in another suburb with his son, who also was a member of the sect.
Several weeks before his wife had asked him to get rid of the radio set because, according to the sect's rules, it was "obnoxious" to her. Mr Rogers claimed he was asked to join the Brethren several years ago but he had refused.
"They already have parted me from three married daughters and my son. My son later visited me and told me I would not be able to eat with their families unless I joined the sect," he said.
Mrs Ramage said her father had telephoned her from Sydney and informed her that her mother had been expelled at a meeting.
She said her mother had been told her father was "evil" and she should not associate with him in any way, Mrs Ramage said her mother, Mrs Middleton, Gore Street, Greenwich, Sydney, had refused to do this, and had been expelled.
See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104302942/11506478
