Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 6
December 2, 1954
NUMBER 30, PAGE 4

Meeting In Lexington, Kentucky

Editorial

On the back page this week we carry an announcement of the gospel meeting scheduled for Lexington, Kentucky, the week of December 12-19. This will be the first time this writer has ever preached in that area, and we are looking forward with great pleasure to the visit. Brother Robert H. Farish, with whom we have worked in previous efforts of this nature, has been preaching for the Lexington congregation since last summer, and he tells us that extensive preparations have been made for a truly great meeting.

Every student of the Restoration Movement is familiar with the name of Lexington. If this was not the cradle of the movement, it was certainly one of the most important and significant cities of all during the first one hundred years of efforts to plant New Testament Christianity on the American continent. "Raccoon" John Smith centered his labors in this area; even now his mortal dust awaits the final summons from this spot. Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and a great host of other worthies walked the streets of ancient Lexington, preached in her church houses, debated in her public buildings, and taught in her schools.

The name of J. W. McGarvey, of course, is inseparably linked with Lexington. It was here he lived and taught for nearly half a century. During those eventful years hundreds of young gospel preachers received their training and their inspiration under his brilliant tutelage. Some of them are still living, but by far the majority have long since joined their teacher in that land from whence there is no return. McGarvey, too, sleeps beneath the blue skies and under the bright stars of the "bluegrass" country. Actually McGarvey "died" in a sense when the church split over instrumental music and the Missionary Societies. When instruments were brought into the congregation in Lexington where he worshipped, he moved his membership to another church. He felt the Missionary Societies were right in principle, but to the day of his death could never reconcile himself to the rightness of instrumental music. In truth he was torn between the two groups — his sympathy with the Societies pulling him constantly into the fellowship and activities of those favoring such; his strong opposition to instrumental music creating a continuing obstacle to full fellowship there.

Were McGarvey alive in our day and living in Lexington there can be little doubt that he would hold membership with the University Heights Church of Christ. Rank modernism, liberalism, and infidelity have practically engulfed the Christian churches of the city; and there is probably not a single one of them now in whose pulpit McGarvey would feel at ease and among sympathetic spirits. So strong was his faith in the inspiration and inerrancy of God's word that he would find himself at home only among those who hold a like faith.

The full page advertisement on the back of this issue is the one being used on 1,000 copies of Ancient Landmarks which go to Lexington this month. The Lexington congregation is one of several churches using Ancient Landmarks as a means of reaching the non-Christians of their area. Every month more than a thousand papers come into Lexington, addressed to various people in the city who are not members of the Lord's church. These papers are filled with fundamental "first principle" teaching. Each monthly issue also carries a full page advertisement of the University Heights Church, -giving time of services, location, etc., together with a cordial invitation to attend the services. Special meetings (such as the one planned this month) are also announced on this page. The copy is changed from time to time.

When a church takes as many as 200 Ancient Landmarks (sent under our individual mailing plan) the full page ad can be had each month without additional cost. It has proved remarkably successful wherever it has been tried. Brother Farish writes us that they are highly pleased with the results already observed in Lexington, even with only three months use of the material. Churches in Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee and California are finding it a very excellent method of reaching the "outsider" with the gospel of Christ.

If you are interested, we will be happy to give you full particulars. Just drop a note of inquiry to Box 980, Lufkin, Texas.

— F. Y. T.