Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 12
June 2, 1960
NUMBER 5, PAGE 9-11b

News And Notes

(Charles A. Holt, Box 80, Florence, Alabama)

News And Notes From Here And There

EVIDENCE QUARTERLY is the name of a new quarterly, edited and published by Ferrell Jenkins, P. O.Box 8182, St. Louis 3, Missouri. As the name suggests it will be a quarterly publication and it will deal with material related to evidence of the Divinity of Christianity — the existence of God, the Divinity of Christ, the miraculous, verbal inspiration of the Bible, and other such themes. Subscription price for this attractive quarterly is only $1.00 per year. The first number is already out and it is fine. It carries a short debate between Jenkins and a Unitarian--Universalist concerning Bible contradictions. You will like this paper and profit from reading it. Subscribe today. In a recent issue of the Alabama Baptist there was a message from Dr. Ramsey Pollard which was quite interesting. Pollard is president of the Southern Baptist Convention. They have recently secured their own teletype network linking together agencies, news media and institutions of every kind. This is in order that Baptists "may take full advantage of the tremendous power of public relations." They can now inform the newspaper, radio and TV stations about their "tremendous Baptist activities. He says that "Southern Baptists are delighted with this momentous step in the right direction. The world will know what we are doing." Later on he says, "We have much to tell. It is not in the spirit of braggadocio or unworthy pride that we tell of our accomplishments. We praise God for our six seminaries with 6,134 students. For our 51 Baptists colleges and universities with the enrollment of 43,000. We are proud of the multiplicity of children's homes and hospitals owned and operated by Southern Baptists. Southern Baptists and the world need to know that we are 9,500,000 strong. That we are 31,906 churches held together not by ecclesiastical chains but with the tender and strong ties of common interest and convictions." Now these Baptist are real proud of their assets and accomplishments and they want to herald such to everyone. The reasons for such are quite apparent to all. The report reads just about like so many that we see today in the Christian Chronicle, Gospel Advocate, and the Firm Foundation. There is always some glowing report in one of these journals about what churches of Christ are doing or have done. Praise is often rendered to God in these ADVERTISEMENTS to the world about our seminaries, colleges, children's homes and other such things. We have some who are trying hard to give a denominational set-up to the church so we can have official body (or person) to speak for us and about us.

James W. Nichols, with his Christian Chronicle, is trying very hard to become just that. I note in a recent write-up by George Cornell, AP Religion Writer, that Nichol; had been the source of his information. One thing that Nichols is quoted as saying is this: "There are no organic ties of any kind among congregations. But they all have a tremendous esprit de corps." Now compare that with Pollard's statement that Baptist churches are NOT held together by ecclesiastical chains. Both sound just alike — and both are false. Among churches of Christ today there is a vast undercurrent movement to tie all churches together and such a thing is rapidly being done by means of all the BROTHERHOOD operations of one kind of another. Just give these brethren time, time for their ideas to produce the necessary fruit, and the denominational status along this line will be reached. It is coming — make no mistake about that ... Cornell writes in his article as follows: "One of the major thrusts of the movement, and the one that reaches millions of non-members, is its radio and television operations. This now includes paid-time weekly programs on 300 radio stations and 50 television stations, each opening with the familiar words: 'The Churches of Christ salute you with herald of truth. "This very language gives the lie to Nichol's claim that there is no "organic tie" between the congregations. Cornell got his information from Nichols and reports about a "thrusts of this movement", which shows that "the movement", the WHOLE thing, acts. This implies some tie-up of congregations and could not be true without it. Then he tells us that "its radio and television operation opens with the familiar words: 'The Churches of Christ salute you with the herald of truth." Now just how could "the Churches of Christ" salute you with such a program unless there is some kind of organic tie between them or else someone has assumed to thus speak for them? Only the blind, and there is none so blind as he who will NOT see, can keep from seeing that The Herald Of Truth is one very definite way by which churches have an organic tie-up, and it offers the possibility of universal church action — an ecclesiastical set-up. Like the Baptists, the supporters and advocates of such movement deny any such-up or tie-up but it is there definitely and distinctly in both cases. This finds me in a meeting with the West Broad Street church in Columbus, Ohio. This church has recently had some serious trouble, but not over the current issues. The problem was in getting rid of a dictator — an elder who tried to be the pope. The church is now in a position to do a much better work. Arthur W. Atkinson, Jr. has been the preacher here for about four years and he has done a splendid work. Atkinson is solid and fine. He is a good preacher. In August, he and his family will move to San Bernardino, California, where he will labor with that good church. His leaving will be a distinct loss to this area. A strong, solid Man is needed in the work here. As previously reported in this column, Robert Farrish, who has been with the San Bernardino church for two years, is leaving in July to move to Lufkin, Texas to work with the Fourth and Groesbeck church. I think that Atkinson will be a good man for San Bernardino and I also believe that he will be working with a good group of people Cecil F. Cox, Route 8, Russellville, Alabama, who preaches for the church in Belgreen, is in need of Volumes 1, 2 and 5 of the GOSPEL GUARDIAN. He will be glad to buy them from someone. Can you help him get these volumes? . . . I need the following papers to complete my files: Gospel Advocate, 1959 — No. 30, 48, 49. The PRECEPTOR, Vol. 8, No. 8; and Vol. 9, NO. 2. VOICE OF FREEDOM, 1959, Vol. VIII, No. 2. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can supply me with these papers. I may have some papers that I could exchange for these ..... A. C. Grider, 4620 Preston Highway, Louisville, Ky, has recently published a sermon entitled, WHAT IS THE HERALD OF TRUTH? It is a very good treatment of the subject and should be widely circulated. The price is 10c per copy, but it comes some cheaper in quantity lots. Write him for the pamphlet. Well, I see from the Christian Chronicle, and other sources, that J. Woodie Holden, of Fort Worth, "will soon take over a post unique among local churches of Christ — that of full-time hospital visitor." We have heard of professional visitors, and here is one who will soon fill that bill and be called such. Well, some preachers have more or less been "full-time visitors" for several years, so this comes as no particular surprise. Preachers are being turned into every kind of function and activity that can be dreamed up — all of which actually have no part in what a preacher really should do! Visiting has its place to be sure and in some cases is important, but too many are more interested in a professional visitor than they are in a real GOSPEL preacher have recently read over the circular which was sent out to advertise the "First Annual Lectureship" of Fort Christian College. Boy they really did it up in a big way. They really want to impress all of us with the high-powered men that will do this lecturing. A thumbnail cut of each speaker is carried and then they give a list of the degrees some of them hold, the schools and colleges they have attended, the schools and colleges which they have "presidented" or taught in, and other such literary and worldly attainments. This sort of thing reflects the spirit of our day. Men are still prone to advertise themselves and they are interested in being first and having all the honor and acclaim which they can get. So many are walking in the steps of the Pharisees along this line. One man is noted for the fact that he has B. D. and is working on his Th.D.! Then there is that usual boast on behalf of one that he is a "Member of the Bar." Someday I am going to get curious and ask," what Bar?" there are many kinds of "Bars", you know. Of course, I guess this sort of advertisement is supposed to add force to what these fellows say. People should be quick to just accept anything such a distinguished company may advocate, and that without any question, because just look who and what they are! Robert C. Welch, 1801 N. 27th Street, Birmingham 4, has printed three good tracts — which he wrote himself. They are neat and the material is good. The price in quantity lots is very reasonable. Write him for some to use. May I offer this suggestion: Why not order the tracts and all other literature that we can from someone who stands for the truth on all points, when and where such can be done? Would it not be much better and more considerate on our part to purchase our materials, tracts and whatnot, from those whom we know to be standing for the truth. One thing is sure — those of the opposite persuasion will follow this course. Billy Norris, Box 364, Russellville, Alabama, has recently published a workbook of thirty lessons, called TOPICAL STUDIES of THE CHURCH. It looks like it would be very good and one preacher who has used it tells me that it is one of the very best. I do not know the price, but I am sure that it will be reasonable. 70 SERMON OUTLINES AND CHARTS, is the name of a good book of sermons which has been republished by the editor, Paul Brock, Box 154, Dyersburg, Tennessee. This is the fifth printing of this book. It has been widely used and many have profited from it. The price is $1.00 per copy. He can also supply you with CHARTS AND OUTLINES, a book which he and I worked together on, with him providing the charts and me furnishing the outlines. It is a printed book and sells for $1.50 per copy. It is now in its third printing.... Once more let me thank each and every one of you who thru the past months have sent me various bulletins, articles and clippings from so many sources. It has meant a lot to me personally to receive such material and much of it has appeared in this column. Every now and then I see an article by someone or hear a sermon in which a very free use has been made of material that appeared herein. That is just fine and such is the purpose for its publication. I can not possibly read all the bulletins published, even if they were all sent to me, and neither can I read all the papers and keep up with what is going on all over the country. So I must depend upon so many of you to provide me with the needed information. I am not only concerned with learning of objectionable practices, but also good things which I can tell others about. I am often sent some book, booklet, paper, tract or something of that kind, with the request that I read and review it. I am glad to do so. PLEASE add me to the mailing list so that I may receive the bulletin where you live. Keep sending me all the information which you think would be of interest to others — and we will share it with them.

Trouble With The Antis

I note that the Gospel Advocate, Firm Foundation, and the other advocates of modern-day innovations are not the only ones who have trouble with the class of

people which are called "antis." From a copy of the Blue & White, a paper published by Johnson Bible College, a Christian church school, I lift the following quotes:

"Enclosed please find $1.00 to cover some copies of the tract which you have on the Anti Music church. My daughters, who are missionaries, can use these as the faithful churches in Jamaica, B. W. I., are being contacted by the Anti church, which is becoming serious."

"I like your tracts on 'music.' Many of the `Antis' here are now reading them, too."

"I came out of the Anti-Movement with its division over every matter of opinion, and would like to have one of Mr. Bell's tracts so I can help my friends see the light."

Now all the above reads about like it was lifted from one of our papers such as mentioned above. One fellow more or less makes a "confession" something like

has appeared in the GA in recent months. He tells that he has come "out of the Anti-Movement with its division over every matter of opinion," and would like to help his friends see the light. Isn't it a pity to see such "rubber-stamp" action on the part of so many in the church today right along the same lines as produced the digressive Christian church of yesterday. Yet so many claim that they can not see any signs of such and there are no real dangers of such happening. If nothing else, their "speech betrayeth" them; for they certainly talk and reason alike as touching the ANTIS.