Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 12
April 20, 1961
NUMBER 49, PAGE 14

The Overflow . .

F. Y. T.

Mystery

An Associated Press dispatch from Palestine, Texas, says that the "Cartmell Home for Orphans" in that city is facing a perplexing problem. Miss Sarah Cartmell left the bulk of her oil estate to build an orphan home. A new $83,000 brick building was erected, equipment was provided, newspaper stories were circulated that the institution was ready for business — and not one single orphan could be found for it! The dispatch states, "A housemother on the payroll for six months became discouraged and resigned when weeks passed without an inquiry." Question: why do not some of "our" orphan homes refer to Cartmell some of the thousands (or is it millions?) of destitute orphans who are clamoring for admittance, and who are starving in the streets and back alleys — if you believe the publicity they put out in their begging campaigns?

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She Was "Christened"

Several church bulletins coming to our attention have commented on the fact that a certain lady was "christened" by the St. Matthews (Kentucky) church of Christ recently. While the first definition of the word it "to baptize," it generally carries the connotation of "to name at baptism," and is usually thought of as the word to describe the sprinkling of a baby — or the launching of a ship. Well, no doubt this good sister was "launched" on her Christian voyage, and was a "babe in Christ" by virtue of her obedience. So, technically one might say she was "christened," but why use a word that might lead to confusion when the perfectly good, old-fashioned word "baptized" would have told the story equally as well — and it is also shorter!

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Busy, Busy Man

From the Texas Landsman, official publication of the Texas Real Estate Association, we learn that brother Joe B. Phillips of Lubbock, Texas, has been elected president of the Texas Real Estate Association for 1961. The Journal declares, "An active church worker, Mr. Phillips is a member of

the Boards of Trustees for both Smithlawn and Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock." A few years ago when the Broadway elders were under criticism for having legal control of all the church properties in Germany, they defended their action on the ground that Germany was a "mission field," and no congregation was yet able to have proper control of its property. Well, is Lubbock also a "mission field," in part, so that the same man has to serve as Trustee of two congregations?

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Musical Chairs

Governor Rockefeller of New York in an obvious bid for the Catholic vote is backing state aid to parochial schools. President Kennedy says such aid from the federal government is clearly unconstitutional. Possibility for 1964 presidential race might well be: Kennedy, a Catholic, vigorously opposing state aid for religious schools versus Rockefeller, a Baptist, strongly urging such support!

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Has He Answered?

Will someone tell us whether or not brother Guy N. Woods has yet declared himself as to the orphan home at Stephenville, Texas? We rarely see a copy of the Gospel Advocate any more, and do not know what he has had to say in it; but in numerous bulletins we are seeing challenges to Woods to say whether or not he now stands by his Birmingham debate declarations that any arrangement that puts two homes under a single Board of Directors would be wrong and sinful. Does he still say that since the Boles Home Board is now over the Quinlan and the Stephenville establishments? If any one has seen, or heard, any statement from him on this subject please communicate with this editor.

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He Read His Lecture

And now they are telling the story of one of the "brotherhood elders" (a very rich man; they make the very best brotherhood elders you can find!) who read his speech at a recent college lectureship. After reading the first page, quite unaware of what was happening, he repeated it word for word. The audience soon realized (and the speaker never did) that his secretary had failed to separate her duplicate and triplicate copies, but had only pulled the carbon sheets. It was a seven page speech. Oh, well, they do say there is value in repetition!

Great Expectations

We have lately had occasion to learn of some of the grandiose plans and schemes which certain churches plan shortly to spring on the brotherhood — plans calling for the expenditure of fabulous sums of money (other churches' money, not that of the planning congregations). It reminded us of the woman who went into the hardware store to buy a gun for her husband. "Did he tell you what kind of gun to buy?" asked the clerk. "I should say not," retorted the would-be purchaser. "He doesn't even know yet that I'm going to shoot him."

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Fan Mail

We continue to get fan mail of the anonymous type. One heckler signs himself "Regus P." (does that mean he is the "King Pea?") and puts his nonsense in verse. His doggerel cards are entertaining and one or two have almost been clever. We warn him, though, Uncle Sam sometimes takes a dim view of profanity and obscenity on post cards. Such sentiments (as in the past) should be enclosed in an envelope and not sent on a postal card. But don't let this discourage you, "P," old boy; keep your stuff coming. Maybe you'll send us one good enough to print some day.

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Anonymous Mail

Speaking of anonymous mail, some years ago we received a long, caustic anonymous letter from one of the elders of Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock. He enclosed a copy of the Guardian, from which he had cut out the address label. But he had not done as good a job on that as he might, and it was a very simple thing to decipher his name and address from the paper he had returned. So we responded with: "Dear brother: Your anonymous letter has been received...." He is probably still wondering what "spy" reported to us! He explained to us later that while he had written the letter, the actual mailing of it had been done by Broadway's preacher. (Which reminds us: one good way for a man to save face is to keep the lower half of it shut.)