The Work At Lexington, Kentucky
May I have a few words in regard to the church in Lexington, Kentucky? Seventy-five years ago my father and mother were baptized by a godly, faithful preacher in those parts. In 1839 my grandfather and grandmother Taylor were baptized by one of those pioneer preachers in Butler County, Kentucky. For many years these churches, known only as churches of Christ, worked and worshipped under the direction of the New Testament. Then came a flood of soft-talking, men-pleasing preachers; and through the influence of the school and the missionary society the churches were captured in wholesale lots. The digressives have them until this time throughout that country. The church of the Lord has been and is being badly treated in all that fair land. This evil influence could never have accomplished its mischief had there been in the later years more strong contenders for the faith once for all delivered.
If one of those old churches in those parts which may feel a desire to do something worthwhile but does not know what to do, would assume responsibility for the re-establishment of a church in Lexington that will stand for everything that is right and against everything that is wrong, they would surely have the approval of the Lord of heaven. Of course, they could expect a lot of snapping and growling from weak brethren all around, but a firm and continuous stand for the truth will overcome all of that.
There are some good Christian people in Lexington and they have assumed the right attitude, but it will take years to do the work, without outside help, and this work should be going on now.
There are about eight digressive churches in Lexington. There is also one of those other things that spends time promoting unity with a false off-shoot that long ago denied the faith, and in promoting a kingdom theory contrary to all that Christ and His apostles taught on the subject. This group, though still known as a church of Christ, is nevertheless one of the greatest enemies to the church in that section and will doubtless do more to hinder the work in Lexington than any other opposing element.
To me, Lexington, Cincinnati, and all of that good country offers a sad picture. I hope that there are enough courageous churches and preachers left in those old states to recapture the bases lost years ago. It can be done, but it is not a job for a coward or an appeaser. It is a task that belongs to those who know and believe the New Testament. What are we going to do? In love,
AUSTIN TAYLOR, Uvalde, Texas.
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The Work At Loudon Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky
As a member of the congregation at 190 Loudon Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky, I can say that in purchasing a building a real need has been met. When the congregation located in the eastern part of the city adopted premillennialism a few of the brethren met in a hall downtown. Afterward they met for some months in the Community Y. M. C. A. With a view to enlargement, they secured Brother Foy E. Wallace, Jr., and Brother Austin Taylor for a meeting last August. A number of congregations in Central Kentucky cooperated in this effort and the Woodland Auditorium, the largest in the city, was secured. After this meeting the congregation began having both morning and evening services, and soon felt the need of a more suitable meeting place.
It was decided to buy the building owned by the Seventh Day Adventists at 190 Loudon Avenue. The purchase price was $2,500.00. At the time of the purchase the congregation had $500.00 in the treasury for this purpose. Bardstown Road congregation of Louisville made a gift of $100.00, and Haldeman Avenue, of the same city, gave $150.00. That left the congregation owing $1,750.00. Other churches have sent gifts, among them Nicholasville, Fulton, Caesarea, and Oak Hill. I believe that the congregation will be able to gradually pay off the $1,250.00 which is secured by a mortgage on the building, if it can raise the remaining $500.00 through donations from interested churches and individuals.
I am glad to say that both the attendance and the offerings have increased since the brethren began meeting at the new location the second Lord's Day in February. Restrictive clauses have been put into the deed to secure the building for New Testament doctrine alone. I feel that the congregation will prove worthy of the trust shown them by those who have given and by those who will give. Offerings may be sent to Geo. E. Showalter, 540 Shelby Street, Lexington, Kentucky, or to the address below.
HENRY S. FICKLIN, Owingsville, Kentucky.
The attention of the brethren everywhere was attracted to Lexington, Kentucky, last year through an effort to replant the church in that historic center. It can now be seen by the fruits of the meeting that it was far from being the "splendid failure" that some parties reported it to be and apparently wanted it to be. Though there were not more than two dozen members of the loyal congregation in Lexington, yet there were several hundred people in attendance repeatedly during the meeting. The few members of the congregation there were inspired with a zeal that has not died, and through the assistance of others they have been able to purchase a well-located meeting house, adequate for their needs for some time to come. Brother Henry S. Ficklin, a faithful man of God, and a worthy preacher of His word, is giving our readers a statement of the situation as it now stands. There are enough readers of the Bible Banner to provide the immediate needs of this work. The Bible Banner does not often call upon its readers to make contributions to various undertakings. But having a very personal knowledge of this work, there is no hesitation at all in placing it before the readers with a plea that the immediate needs of this work may be supplied, and with a prayer that some church may take it upon themselves to see it through to a permanent success, as Brother Austin Taylor has suggested in his excellent article. We believe that Brother Ficklin and the Lexington brethren will receive a ready response from interested brethren over the country.-Editor.