Comments On The Janes Will

For many years individual brethren and elders of the churches have been told that Don Carlos Janes and E. L. Jorgenson are out-and-out premillennialists and could not be trusted to represent loyal churches of Christ in any capacity whatsoever. That point is settled once and for all. Don Carlos Janes is on record for eternity, and his partner in heresy is on record with him, for all time, unless and until he becomes converted, turns from his heretical course, and repudiates these wrongs to Christ and his church, before it is too late, as it is in the case of the testator of this will.

It would appear that the "one-man missionary society" is a rather profitable business. It is strange, indeed, that money thus collected from individuals and churches over a period of many years should be put into, and kept into, a "trust fund" until the day of a man's death and then made a part of his will. Reports have come through all along that proceeds from these funds have been loaned out to the Bollite churches in the vicinity of Louisville for building or improving meeting-houses and other purposes. And it will be noted that Don Carlos Janes had sole control of funds, specifying in his will the missionaries in various fields among whom he desired the funds distributed.

Here the question arises: If the testator of the will, Don Carlos Janes, was such an ardent premillennialist as to instruct that $40,000 should be used for the definite propagation of the doctrines of premillennialism-does anyone think that he would voluntarily will a portion of the funds to missionaries who do not believe this doctrine, or who were not in sympathy with this group in Louisville? His will becomes a brand to every missionary who accepts his bequest.

Another question pushes in: Would a man who makes such a will designate an executor and executrix to administer it without bond, who do not endorse the thing that he has done, as well as the views which he has held? Is it conceivable that E. L. Jorgenson did not know all about it all the time, and that he has not been a party to it all? The Janes will brands E. L. Jorgenson, not only as an all-out premillennialist (a thing some of us, of course, have known all the time) but it brands him as being the same in kind and in degree as Don Carlos Janes. Yet there are brethren over the country who have told us that the way to treat the premillennial brethren is to publish their reports, have them preach and sing in our meetings, and thus break down the "disfellowship"! We are wondering what the particular preacher who gave that advice in an Abilene Christian College lecture thinks about it now?

There is yet another question pushing in: What about the other one-man missionary agencies among us? For instance, B. D. Morehead and James L. Lovell. They are doing the same thing in principle, if not in actuality. The brethren should, and surely they will, turn thumbs down on them now. This is not a matter of mere expediency--it involves scriptural principles of "missionary work." If these one-man missionary agencies and offices are to be continued among us, we had as well surrender the opposition to the missionary societies now, for between the two the missionary societies of the Christian Church are not more unscriptural, and they are certainly operated on a better business basis. This is not intended as even a hint at endorsement of the latter in any degree, but just another way of voicing an unqualified repudiation of the "one-man missionary society" instead.

It will be noted that the Gospel Advocate, Apostolic Times, Firm Foundation and Bible Banner were mentioned in this will as having done the church irreparable harm by their "propaganda" against what the will calls "the scriptural orthodox teaching" of premillennialism! I cannot help wondering how these other publications feel about being put in the same sack with the Bible Banner! The Firm Foundation has been more liberal in its attitude toward the premillennial Louisville brethren than any of the papers mentioned and more lenient than most of the brethren think it should have been. This has been especially true of its attitude toward Don Carlos Janes. It has been more than liberal with him--it has been generous, in the publication of his reports, and his articles all through the years. In appreciation of that generosity, the Firm Foundation receives a slap in the face in the Janes will, is branded as a propagandist, a hindrance to the church, and as "having done a great injury to the cause of the Lord." What a bequest in return for favors bestowed and services rendered! Some of us think the greatest injury some of the other papers have done to the cause of the Lord has been in publishing the reports of any of this group of premillennialists, however good the intentions on the part of the papers and the editors may have been. And many have protested all the while their doing so.

"The Last Will And Testament Of Don Carlos Janes" -what a document to face in the judgment! And what a millstone its testator has hung around the necks of his premillennial fellows whom he has left behind! Is it possible that brethren can ever apologize for them again? And think of the legacy! Thousands of dollars bequeathed to teachers of error and to the propagation of heretical doctrines. And then obligating his fellow in error and heresy, E. L. Jorgenson, to perform that evil task! It should haunt them in their dreams, and taunt them in their waking hours.

As for the statement in the will that "the premillennial view of the Lord's coming advent is the scriptural orthodox teaching of the church from the days of the apostles"--that is a pure assumption. A rank and arbitrary assertion.

Don Carlos Janes has gone--but his will remains. And we are told that his missionary offices have been left to another--to a successor who is instructed to continue receiving funds in the same way. The name of this person should be advertised, and all the churches warned. Is it possible that the brethren will be so gullible as to continue this sort of thing? Surely not,--F.E.W.Jr.