Cullings, Comments And Correspondence
The fifth Tabernacle meeting with N. B. Hardeman as speaker, which opened here Sunday, marks a cycle in the religious life of Nashville. There is not the fanfare which attended the first such meeting in the spring of 1922. Attendance will be more modest-more moderately-sized buildings. The financial budget is more conservative. The length of the meeting is not as great. It is sponsored by the Chapel Avenue congregation. No special invitations were extended; the same invitation to cooperate was extended to all. But whatever is lacking in physical arrangements, as compared with the first meetings of this series, is more than compensated for in the spirit of this one and the response made to the invitation to cooperate.
The tone of this meeting is the same. Rom. 1:16 could be said to be the keynote of them all. But the overtone of this one is Ps. 133:1: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
The War Memorial Auditorium was filled Sunday afternoon for the opening service. B. C. Goodpasture introduced the speaker; R. V. Cawthon led the prayer. The Central Church Auditorium was filled Sunday night for the second sermon, the title of which was "Fellowship." A. R. Holton introduced the speaker; E. H. Ijams, president of David Lipscomb College, led the prayer. This service was at 6:45 P.M., and the sermon was broadcast over WLAC. Churches in the city called off their services, or adjusted the time, so that their members could attend or listen in.
The meeting was arranged hurriedly, at the suggestion of H. Leo Boles. The original schedule called for only seven sermons. There will be fifteen, all of which will be included in the book to be published, making that volume uniform in every respect with the four volumes already published. There are seven sermons at the War Memorial Auditorium. Joseph R. Ridley, of Nashville, is leading the singing. Seven sermons will be presented at the Central Church, where Andy T. Ritchie, Jr., conducts the singing (all of these will be broadcast). And Brother Hardeman will address the students of David Lipscomb College at one chapel service.
The spirit of this meeting links back to the spirit of the first meeting of this kind, nearly twenty-one years ago. It is a great meeting, because it is a happy one--and this good news is without exception or reservation.--W. E. B., Gospel Advocate.
It will be noted that Brother Hardeman preached daily at the Central Church in Nashville during this meeting. The elders of the Central Church voted a refusal to announce the former Hardeman auditorium meeting in Nashville, and entered their refusal in the minutes of that elder's meeting. We are pleased to note their change of attitude. We know that Hardeman has not changed his preaching. While Central Church has issued no statement at this date, it is understood that A. R. Holton, their preacher, did tell the sponsors of this meeting that they made a mistake in that action. It now seems in order for the elders of the Central Church "to take another vote" and strike out of the record the blot that was placed upon the cause in Nashville by their uncalled for and unfortunate action. Not for Hardeman's sake--but for their own sake, and the sake of the cause of Christ, they should publicly rescind their action.
This would be generally applauded. It would be right. And everything should be done right.
Brother Hardeman had his own reasons, sufficient to himself, for preaching at the Central Church before this was done. That was a matter between him and them. But the public disavowal of their former action is a matter between them and the Cause they wronged. Men and fame are minor things, but the cause of God and the church of Christ are as precious as heaven and cannot be insulted with impunity.
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A SISTER ALMOST SEVENTY SAYS A FEW THINGS I have just finished reading the reprint of the editorials on "The Christian And The Government" and I hope you will have patience while your sister, almost seventy, says a few things. I've been a member of the body of Christ fifty-two years, heard many fine preachers of the gospel, read many religious articles in our papers, but yours is the first one that has struck the key-note on that subject, as I have felt it to be. The other attitude always seemed to me to strike at something fine and noble in man. It looks cheap--and often is just what it is usually called. Somehow I have never felt like it would bother my conscience to rise up in defense of my home and country. Right now I shouldn't hesitate to make a few bullets if it was required. Religion to me has always meant trying to be true in all the relationships of life. I like "Caesar" mighty well for all that he has meant to us, and to the church, and it isn't his fault that the church has not done more toward preaching the gospel to the whole world.
Now, Brother Wallace, I know this isn't worth a nickle to you. But I just wanted you to know how pleased I am to hear my views discussed by able students of the Bible. All these years I have held the secret conviction that the scriptures used to prove the other view did not prove any such thing. For example: "For if my kingdom was of this world then would my disciples fight." Isn't it silly?
I remember your meetings in Dickson still with pleasure. Brother Ira Douthitt takes up work with the church here the first of December. Thanking you for this indulgence, I am, sincerely, (Mrs.) Eddie W. Swank.
[NOTE: Sister Swank is mistaken in one point, namely, her statement that her letter "isn't worth a nickle" to me. In proof that her good letter is worth more than "a nickle" to me, her name goes on the Bible Banner list complimentary, permanently, as long as she lives if it is published that long, and if I am its editor, which I hope may be until she can write me a letter as "your sister, almost ninety"! Nor does this good wish necessarily terminate at that particular age.-F. E. W., Jr.
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Words Of Encouragement
I appreciate the many fine things in the Banner, and the continued good work it is doing. I most seriously object to the effort some are making on the war issue to have us classed with such groups as Jehovah's Witnesses. To me it is nothing short of slandering the church. It is possible, of course, for people to become too radical in the other direction.-M. C. Cuthbertson, Denver, Colorado.
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Sighting-In Shots Cled E. Wallace
I have often heard about "fan mail" but never did get enough of it to make me any cockier than I naturally am, but beloved, you ought to see my crank mail. It is surprising how many people with a goodly supply of sundry notions read what I write and feel impelled to exhort me or berate me or both, and contribute to the U. S. Treasury to set me straight. They usually dare me to reply or forever bear the stigma of cowardice. One good woman was so deeply moved over something I had written that she composed and mailed me fourteen typewritten pages in an attempt to rescue me from the clutches of Satan and showed unmistakable signs of being genuinely distressed about me. Of course, I appreciate her concern, bless her heart, and read all she had to say, but I'm too busy reading what others say about me, nice and otherwise, to match words with her in the sort of private correspondence she evidently craves. Please accept my regrets, but my present program will not allow me to take on a strange lady who can talk to the tune of fourteen typewritten pages at a clip. I would tremble at the prospect if I had nothing else to do.
Nothing Like Him in the New Testament
In a certain meeting, a sermon was preached, an invitation was given, and a man came forward. He wanted to be a Christian, but said he did not want to be baptized, or to belong to the church. "I don't want to join any church," he insisted. Suppose his wish could be granted, and he became a Christian out of the church, what sort of a Christian would he be? Take the New Testament and try to classify him. He is unique, the only one of his kind. There is not the like of him in the New Testament at all. All Christians in the New Testament were members of the church, the body of Christ. All who received the word were baptized into Christ. If anybody happens to, by seeking, find a Christian in the New Testament who was not a member of the church, write me about it. I would like to examine him.
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Hard to Nail
Some of the most obvious of errors are hard to nail. A vicious and dishonest propaganda keeps them in circulation. There are some very intelligent people who still think that you could dam the river Jordan with your foot where John was baptizing. Others contend that the banks of the river were so steep and the water so swift that immersion of the people was impossible. The lie, of either too little water or too much water, has the same result; it keeps people out of it. This is the result the propagandist wants, and he is not materially concerned over which lie the victim believes. The Book says: "Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea and all the region round about the Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matt. 3:4-6.) Travelers take pictures, write books, and make speeches, so that the truth about the Jordan River is about as clear as it is about the Tennessee or Ohio rivers. But enemies of a divine ordinance still babble that the river Jordan had either too little or too much water to immerse penitents in. If they lived in Judea, they would be capable of contending that the Mississippi river did not have enough water in it to float a canoe between Vicksburg and Memphis. And they could make some people believe it.
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STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24, 1912, AND MARCH 3, 1933 Of The Bible Banner, published monthly at Oklahoma City, Okla., for Sept. 30, 1942.
State of Oklahoma, County of Oklahoma, ss:
Before me, a Notary in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared Foy E. Wallace, Jr., who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the Editor and Publisher of The Bible Banner and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1912, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933, embodied in section 537, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit:
1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, company, or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual member, must be given.)-Foy E. Wallace, Jr.
3. That the known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.)-There are none.
4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him.
5. That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the twelve months preceding the date shown above is
(This information is required from daily publications only.)
FOY E. WALLACE., JR. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of September, 1942.
M. MULLEN LEE, Notary.
My commission expires February 9, 1946.