Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
August 15, 1957
NUMBER 15, PAGE 13

The Overflow

F. Y. T.

Encore

Judging from the regularity with which it is republished, about the greatest single piece of writing ever to appear on the pages of the Gospel Advocate in all her one hundred year history was a brief appeal written by J. D. Tant some thirty years ago, begging support for the Tennessee Orphan Home. This worthy veteran urged brethren and churches to rally to the support of the institution, so that it might act as a "clearing house" to provide emergency relief for unfortunate children until they could be placed in Christian homes. Obviously, this last item (Tant's conception of the proper function of an "orphan home") is never published; it would be contrary to the present policy and practice of various "homes" among us.

The man responsible

"If you could kick the person responsible for most of your troubles, you wouldn't be able to sit down for six months."

— Quotes 'n' Quips Ahab?

The genial and sunny editor of the "American Christian Review" in his usual gruff, but good-humored, style, has dredged up a new insult to hurl at the editor of the Gospel Guardian. We are now regularly referred to in the columns of that journal as "Ahab." While the point of reference is not exactly clear, we are sure our brother editor desires the epithet to be considered as an insult. So we cheerfully accept it as such; and now regard "Ahab" as most horribly and prodigiously insulted. But we regretfully inform our brother that if he desires to follow up the insult with bullets and bayonet (as seems to be his mood), hell have to get in line. Several others of our peace-loving brotherhood are ahead of him.

Father Of The Month?

A few months ago one of the new publications among us proposed to run a story each month on the "Elder of the Month"; somebody else suggested a possible regular feature story on the "Preacher of the Month". And now Jesse Brookshire of Ontario, California sends us a clipping from the bulletin of the Church of Christ in Van Nuys, California, inviting all the ladies to attend a baby shower for an expectant mother who had been designated "Mother of the Month". And Jesse wonders what she did to get such an honor? and how would one qualify to become "Father of the Month"? We think we'll turn Jesse's questions over to our Query Editor, Cecil B. Douthitt, and see if he can come up with some constituent elements that will help this total situation.

A big sizzle

"Our pro-institutional debaters tacitly admit defeat when in each succeeding discussion they abandon the arguments of previous debates, revise their approach to the subject, and try out an entirely new set of "arguments" to defend their practice. Still, their reward is but another failure. It reminds me of a young apprentice black-smith I one time heard about. Caught up with his regular chores, he decided he would build a plowshare. So he put a slab of steel into the forge, heated it, hammered it and beat it, twisted it and turned it — but nothing even remotely resembling a plow-point came from his labors. He put it back in the forge, heated it again to white-hot temperature, pulled it out and decided to make a pair of tongs. Followed more beating and hammering and turning and twisting. And again he failed. So he said to himself, 'I know what I can do; I'll heat it again hotter than it's ever been before; then I'll toss it into the slack-tub and make a big sizzle!! Well, he did; and they did.

— N. W. Allphin, Tahoka, Texas "Fun and fellowship"

From Fort Worth Texas, comes the report of a deacon and his wife, members of one of Fort Worth's "promoting" Churches of Christ, having sponsored a dance for some High School students. If such a dance is to be classified simply as "clean and wholesome fun", why not get some of the "sponsoring" churches to "sponsor" a dance? The denominational churches have done it for years. Which Church of Christ will take the lead in this matter and blaze the trail for others to follow? It is certain to come — and we predict it will not be five years away either.

Little souls

From Brother N. W. Allphin of Tahoka, Texas, comes this little story of the trials of a preacher: The badly underpaid preacher decided to ask for a raise. One of the deacons objected, saying, "Doesn't the Book say that 'the Lord's servant shall have souls for his hire'?" To which the preacher responded, "In the first place, it doesn't; in the second place, my family and I can't eat souls; in the third place, if we could, it would take seventy-five the size of yours to make one mess!"

Much simpler

"I saw in the 'News and Notes' section of the June 27 Gospel Advocate that some brother named Bill L. Rogers wants everybody to tell the Advocate 'where he stands'. Perhaps it would be simpler for the Advocate just to put out a new 'preachers book' listing everyone's position. Then this brother Rogers could just thumb through the pages to see whom he approves and whom he disapproves."

— A Memphis Observer

Guy N. Woods on hospitals

If a national hospital is to be the new hobby-horse to take the church for a ride, Brother Guy N. Woods wants his position understood fully, firmly, and without equivocation before it gets going. We have the following in a letter from him: "And, finally, what about my demand long ago that you correct the false impression that two of your writers have made in charging me with promoting hospitals for the churches of Christ? I have never at any time or place, orally or in writing, publicly or privately urged, encouraged, or promoted the building of any kind.