News And Views
News And Notes
Tom Baker is now preaching for the Maryvale church in Phoenix, Arizona. Derrel Starling had been with this good church since its beginning, but is now living in Tularosa, New Mexico. A nervous condition forced him to give up local work for at least a year.... James P. Needham has moved to St. Petersburg, Florida from Owensboro, Kentucky. He was with the Central church — with whom it was my pleasure recently to labor in a gospel meeting. Dudley Ross Spears is moving from Cookville, Tennessee to Owensboro to work with the Central church . . . I regret that article Number Two in my reply to Goodpasture's KEEPING THE RECORD STRAIGHT, appeared before the first article. Things like this will happen and I guess it does not make too much difference anyway. The third installment, if indeed there is a third one, will appear next time I dislike replying to such tirades and personal attacks as the one made by Goodpasture and doubt that such serves any real value. I can not reach the same ones he reached in his attack for it is doubtful that this paper goes to many readers of the GA. Also, most people who THINK will not believe such rot as he put out anyway; and those who blindly and devotedly accept whatever they read in that paper would not believe anything any of us said regardless of the facts presented. So why waste time dealing with such? Yet there are times when some such matters NEED and DESERVE a reply and an exposure. It is possible that some honest people may be helped by such a reply. It is not always easy to know what is best in every case. One thing I have learned is that I am never wrong 'in my HINDSIGHT, but my FORESIGHT is not always right. Another thing I have learned is that it is not hard to sit in judgment on the actions of another in such cases and decide that he was not WISE in doing what he did. Of course, I then have the advantage of HINDSIGHT at the other fellow's expense . . . Connie Adams, who has recently returned from two years' of successful work in Norway, will move to Newbern, Tennessee to labor with the church there. He will follow Jere Frost who is moving to Birmingham. Until the first of the year, Adams will be engaged in meetings over the country . . . G. W. Patterson has moved to Lufkin, Texas to labor with the Union Road church . . . Tom Byers is now with the church in Lancaster, Texas ... From the Westvue Messenger, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Richard Weaver serves as evangelist, I lift the following information: "More than 800,000 U.S. couples apply each year to adopt children. About 90,000 are available annually." The Nashville Banner, 8-25-59 . . . The following is taken from SHAKE, FRIEND!, which is edited by James R. Cope: "While Florida Christian College is an educational institution it is interesting to observe that members of the faculty and staff of this little school have either adopted or now fully care for a total of 19 fatherless children. These fatherless and widows draw
no support from any church nor does the college." Yet, as Weaver remarks in his bulletin, the faculty members of FCC are supposed to be "orphan haters," and naturally "anti orphan home." . . . TIME OUT FOR BALL GAME: "There will be a ball game Saturday night with Burbank Gardens church in Grand Prairie. The place is Kiest Park, Diamond one. The time is 7 to 10." — Bulletin of the Kaufman Highway church in Dallas .. . I like the way this sounds: In a recent bulletin, The Gospel Mirror, of the Par Avenue church in Orlando, Florida, where J. W. Evans is the preacher, I noted that he preached a sermon on a subject that really sounds good to me. It was a clever title, based on a popular TV Western program. The title was HAVE CONVICTIONS — WILL STAND! I wish that I could have heard that lesson. It certainly strikes a note where needed and points up what is lacking in so many. I would like to have a copy of that sermon outline. After expressing his appreciation for the good reception given to the lesson by the members there, Evans adds the following words which are to the point and worthy of serious consideration:
"Again I say that I thank God for members of Par Avenue who are able to make proper discernment on weakness and strength, quantity and quality; who refuse to be swayed from Bible convictions by discouragements that weed out the weaklings. These know the WHY of "a falling away." (1 Cor. 11:19.) They know that part of our warfare must be fought with "spiritual wickedness in high places"; that sin and error crouch in camouflaged corners of even the kingdom of God. But it only takes a Gideon's army with broken pitchers of light to flush them from their dark hidings. This army has heard the short, sharp blast of the bugle call -- "STAND, THEREFORE STAND!" And "STAND" we are — entrenched behind the impregnable citadel of Bible convictions. Too soberly convicted to be flushed out by the tear-gas bombs of sentimentalism; too confident by the majority-that-Godmakes to be routed by the bombardment of "multitudes on the other side"; too near the "Captain of our salvation" to be intimidated by the screaming mischief-missiles of innuendoes, slander, and prejudicial epithets. Yes, we HAVE CONVICTIONS — WILL STAND: but, "THEY SHALL NOT PASS."
Debate Here In Florence
The Woodlawn church here in Florence, where Barry L. Anderson preaches, has selected and endorsed G. K. Wallace to represent them in a public discussion of the current issues. They have challenged me to meet him. The propositions are signed and it looks like the debate will materialize. It is set for the week of December 7; and will begin on Monday night, Dec. 7, and continue through the 11th, skipping Wednesday night; or it will begin on Tuesday night and run four consecutive nights. Two nights will be in the building of the Lee-Hi church and two nights in our building. Anderson demands that two nights be in our building for that is where the debate is needed he says. We prefer to get a mutually agreeable place which will be large enough to accommodate adequately all who may desire to attend. G. K. does not want any moderators, only a timekeeper; and each man conduct his part of the debate as he sees fit. He does not want Hedge's Rules to govern the debate. Perhaps this is indicative of what kind of debate he intends to make it. In my opinion he ranks with W. L. Totty and Sterl Watson and debates, if you can call it that, a proposition in the same manner that they do. What the final arrangements will be remain to be seen. We will have the debate and believe that it is long overdue in this area and will do good in spite of anything that may not be "according to Hedge's!" We will discuss the "orphan home question" the first two nights and the cooperation question the last two nights. I will be glad to try and arrange a place to stay for any who may desire to attend. There will probably be some "free" places but not too many of them. There are plenty of motel and hotel accommodations. It will probably be the FIRST and the LAST debate in this area on the issues. I hope that YOU can attend.
Not Afraid Of "The Law"
A man once accused a colored girl of theft. In an effort to frighten her into returning the missing object he threatened to call "the law." She said she wasn't afraid for "the law" to come. She wasn't, for she was not guilty. She didn't care how much the officers searched her place. The missing object was found where a member of the family had mislaid it.
People who depend upon the Bible for their spiritual guidance don't mind a challenge to prove their doctrine and practice by the Scriptures. This is where they believe they found them, so they are glad to be asked if they are Scriptural. They know where to turn to in the Book to find them. They are workmen who are not ashamed. (II Tim. 2:15.)
But people who are not Bible students resent such a challenge. When approached concerning the Scripturalness of their practices they resort to name calling. "Antis"; "Narrow"; "Hobbyists"; "church splitters"; "bigots." These are favorite epithets. Nice, aren't they? This, however, is not exactly following Peter's inspired counsel: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (I Peter 3:15.) If one says, "Let's meet together and study 'the law' on our differences," such persons excuse themselves. It is reported that one such person said that such a study is like casting your pearls before swine. He knows that persons who like to meet for Bible study are not swine; and he knows they will not turn again and rend him. But he is afraid they will rend his doctrine and unscriptural practice. (See Matthew 7:6.)
To me, Hitlerism in religion is a very disturbing trend. Hitler confiscated the people's radios so they could not hear the other side. It is sad when one makes up his mind without studying God's word, then does not want to be bothered with what it says.
— Gardner S. Hall, Midfield Bulletin
"Drum Majorettes Wiggling Will Go"
Editor's Note: This article written by Paul Harvey appeared in the Paris News on Nov. 6, 1958:
"There are certain subjects which a columnist sometimes avoids in the hope that absence of editorial comment might eliminate the need for it. 'Ignore it and it may go away.' "
"But the recent trend at high school and college athletic events, where the wiggling of drum majorettes, exaggerated perhaps by unconscious effort to out-do TV, has caused some depreciation of the institution of amateur athletics."
"Paul Harvey is no prude. I am willing to concede that there is a place for burlesque houses in a free society where those who wish may purchase such diversion."
"And those who wish may take their admission prices elsewhere."
"But whether a borderline burlesque is an appropriate half-time interpolation at a football game, I question."
"A recent Saturday the televised game between Purdue and Notre Dame was interspersed with an admitted hula dance at half time."
"The Freshman baton-twirler, who thus elaborated on her act, defended the device by saying: 'My business is to be a showman. That seems to be what they want around here.' "
"Several seasons ago when baseball attendance was lagging, Larry McPhail figured all the box office needed was 'showmanship.' I recall he turned the ball park into a regular circus before game time and even between innings."
"His experiment was a total flop. Not because the entertainment was poor, but because it was inappropriate. The clowns were capable clowns. But they were grotesquely incongruous in such a setting."
"The 'quality' of a night-club act on the Saturday afternoon playing field is unimportant. It is an inappropriate as a low-necked dress in the box seats. And, I suspect, comparable uncomfortable."
"Nor is there anything 'new' about this suggestive undulation of the anatomy, as any jungle explorer can attest."
"Nor is there anything 'smart' about the savage contortionists who thus animalize their emotions."
"In their heathen rites it is not inappropriate. In the night club it is part of the atmosphere. (Even though the night club business has all but suffocated in it)."
"One reason you never heard this voice join the chorus of criticism aimed at Elvis Presley is that he has never done anything that TV showgirls haven't done more of."
"But school officials might well tone down this incongruous diversion before football suffers the fate of McPhail's expensive mistake."
"And lest a generation drift from acceptance of these things into admiration and emulation, maybe it's time for parents to apply their applauding hands to the backsides of some of those wiggling bottoms just as a reminder."
"That there have always been and will always be ...things to do and say and see . . .that are unbecoming a lady."
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I wholeheartedly concur with Mr. Harvey that burlesque has no place at a football game. It may also be stated that burlesque has no rightful place among the human race. It is lascivious, immodest and immoral. Decency is forfeited by those who enjoy it, encourage it, and participate in it. Yet, seemingly good moral individuals are being duped into granting this vile practice a cloak of "respectability". They not only place their stamp of approval on this lewd entertainment at football games, they allow their daughters to participate in it. Wanton women are not the only burlesque queens walking the streets. The innocent teenagers are joining the ranks, and there is some question as to how long they can play with this fire and not get burned. Paul said: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Gal. 6:7-8).
It is high time that parents open their eyes to this evil menace that threatens to destroy what is left of the moral fiber of our society. Football games are not dependent upon burlesque for their success. A band may render an entertaining performance without the assistance of dancers with exposed bodies. Scanty clothing on a fall evening is contrary to nature, to decency and to Bible teaching (I Tim. 2:9-10). There is nothing good or wholesome to be gained by such a practice and there is much to be lost. The girls who participate certainly do not enhance their reputation as decent self-respecting girls. There is no room in this practice for girls who want to maintain moral purity, much less for Christians.
These words are not intended to defame any particular individual. My only hope is that parents and students will be enlightened and encouraged to forsake and take action against this vile practice.
— David Harkrider, Cooper, Texas
Parents
They may not be wise as the wisest, They may not be clever or strong,
There'll be times when you think that Their counsel is narrow or utterly wrong,
You will think when they frown upon pleasure, Which you are so eager to share,
That your father and mother who love you, Are merely an old-fashioned pair.
But this they would have you remember, Whatever they say or do,
It is not of themselves they are thinking —
Their thoughts are all centered in you, There are those who will flatter to please you,
For something they're eager to gain, There are those who will seem to befriend you,
Who never will constant remain.
Some stranger will lead you to folly, And leave you the moment it's gone.
Some not caring what harm may befall you, Will tempt you with dangerous fun.
You may question the motives of others, But remember your whole life through,
Your father and mother who love you, Have no other motive than you.
There is nothing of profit they're seeking, There's nothing they want you to buy,
You've no reason to doubt what they tell you;
They've nothing to gain by a lie, Whenever they check or correct you,
It is not for themselves that they speak, They would happier be could they praise you,
But it is only your welfare they seek.
You may think them old-fashioned and fussy, And narrow, as children will do,
But remember your father and mother, Have all their hopes centered in you.
— Edgar A. Guest