Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
October 26, 1961
NUMBER 25, PAGE 3

You Name It

Charles H. Crider, Henderson, Tennessee

The Gospel Press is talking out of the other side of the mouth; they now confidently affirm their policy is not to solicit funds from churches. The pressure must have tightened up somewhere. Their ace promoter just got through making an appeal for fifth Sunday contributions, and the good "Old Reliable" (Gospel Advocate) gave them "God speed" with a big write-up about one of the churches in "Athens of the South" giving the fifth Sunday contribution. And of course the institutional puppet, The Firm Foundation, will play any tune the institutional boys call.

Why won't these brethren be honest about this? They are whipping the devil around the stump just like H. A. Dixon and Freed-Hardeman College: Out of one side of the mouth say they, "it is not the policy of FHC to solicit funds from churches; then try every scheme in the book to get their hands in every church treasury in the country I challenge them to deny it.

Freed-Hardeman has a full-fledged Missionary Society going, which some refer to as "preacher fund. The way one leader, who was sending the church's money to FHC explained it to me was: "They (churches) send their money to Freed-Hardeman and FHC sends the money to the preacher." And it goes without saying FHC has full control as to what preacher gets what, which one is selected and which one is rejected.

Oh yes! This "leader" knew nothing whatsoever about a Missionary Society. Said he, "We put the money in the hands of Christians and if they misuse it, we not guilty" He has been in said church for about forty years right here in the back door of FHC.

FHC, Gospel Press and other societies, benevolent and missionary, are exploiting the churches because of such gross ignorance of "leaders." "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)

In talking with another church "leader" recently, he informed me that they (the church sent $25.00 to an organization that is building a $40,000.00 "Prayer Room, in the new Selmer Tennessee Hospital. I pointed out to this brother that preachers get up and preach that prayers of denominationalists are not heard then turn around and help raise $40,000 to build a place to pray! He got the point! No doubt but this church is under the influence of FHC, and the Mason packed church at Henderson.

While I am at it, I heard a program over the radio on a Sunday morning. I think it is called "A Herald of Truth. I believe it was once called "THE" Herald of Truth. It seems a little vague just whose program it is. Highland church in Abilene, Texas, contributes to it along with many other churches. Highland claims it but will not state whose work it is. I take it that it is just another Society wrapped in a neat package labeled "A Good Work" and laid at the steps of the church with the plea: "This is your baby, feed it!"

Well anyway, the "Great" evangelist that was speaking was Dr. B. B. Baxter. Here is one statement: "Look around and find the church nearest the pattern." Well, now! If he can tell which church is nearest the pattern he will have to know the pattern, for how can one determine which is closer if he knows not the pattern? If he knows the pattern then why not follow the pattern instead of some sectarian group "nearest the pattern?" Surely a "Dr." can see that! However, it is not a matter of seeing anymore, it is a matter of having a respect for the word of God.

I stated to the "leader" who was sending money to the Freed-Hardeman College preaching Society that a proper respect for the word of God would cure our ills. He said it wouldn't cure the ills where he attends church. Some, malady!

P.S. The so-called "Loyalist Group" at Spring Creek, Tennessee (you know, the group that took their brethren to court) have tried twice, by force, to take a widow's lot that joins them. It didn't work. Now they are trying it through the courts. They wanted the lot to park on and put a toilet on. Well, after the "loyalist" group treated their brethren so disrespectfully, the widow would not let them park on her property or use her land for a toilet.

Brethren Bradfield, Dixon, and Wallace helped the digressives legally steal the church property. I am now asking them if they intend to help skin this widow out of her property for the digressives to have a place to park?

Notice two statements: one by Dixon and one by Paul. "Methods of electing elders vary according to the size of the church. Much of this is in the area of human judgment." "The church of Christ has no central organization to which a dispute over property may be referred, and the congregation's only recourse is to a court of law." (H. A. Dixon as quoted in the Jackson Sun)

"Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor: go to law before the unrighteous, and not before saints? Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" (1 Cor. 6:1, 2) Of course Paul was not a "doctor."

The Spring Creek "loyalist" group and the men of Freed-Hardeman truly believe in taking care of widows! They will now "take care" of the widow at Spring Creek. How their love overflows!