A New Preacher

Announcements have appeared in the weeklies that Wilson Wallace, 19, son of Foy E. Wallace, Jr., has launched out as a full-fledged preacher and evangelist. Already he has held three gospel meetings and is now in the midst of his fourth. Some baptisms were reported as a result of his first meeting. This meeting was held at Bluff Dale, Texas, in Erath County near Stephenville, where his father filled his first appointment in the year 1912. Wilson's second meeting was at Sap Oak in the same county. Max Crumly, youngest son of much loved and lamented J. W. Crumly, and preacher for the Stephenville Church, was responsible for these two meetings, and he has given Wilson a good report and an excellent launching as a preacher. Max is in his twenties but is an experienced preacher and one of the very best of the younger set. He has two brothers who are also creditable dispensers of the Word. Though death terminated the career of their brilliant father while he was yet in his prime, through his fine sons "he being dead yet speaketh."

Wilson's third meeting was with the 40th and Capitol Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, where Dr. O. S. Jaquith is an elder. Dr. and Sister Jaquith are friends of the Foy E. Wallace Jr. family, having vacationed in meetings with them in the west and visited in their home in Oklahoma City. They are interested in Wilson's preaching and have given us a good report of his work with them. We appreciate their personal interest.

After filling a few short engagements in East Texas, with his grandfather, Foy E. Wallace Sr., Wilson is now in his fourth meeting at Bishop, Texas, and indications are that he will be kept busy in the work.

Wilson has waited until he is well equipped to launch out as a preacher. He finished Central High School in Oklahoma City with honors several years ago, and has now completed his college attendance at the University of Oklahoma, and is waiting for his B. A. degree to be issued at midterm, having finished his classes in the summer term.

Wilson's desire is to preach all of the time, to hold gospel meetings, and he will go wherever he may be called, where he can do good by preaching the plain and simple gospel of Christ, which he has been taught all of his life, which he believes and loves, and which above all things else he desires to preach.

He was named 19 years ago, Albert Wilson Wallace, for A. W. Lee, an elder of the Tenth & Francis Church in Oklahoma City. It is our hope that Wilson will be worthy of all of his connections and of the high and holy calling which he has chosen. He may be addressed at 1219 North Shartel, Oklahoma City.

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Fairview In Birmingham

It was recently my privilege and pleasure to do the preaching in a downtown meeting with the Fairview Church in Birmingham. This was my third meeting with this congregation. Though one of the newest in the "Birmingham District," it is composed of many mature men and women, fully developed in the work of the church. Its elders are P. M. Towry, P. C. Barnett, A. M. Doss, and W. C. Graves. They are experienced men, well informed in the Bible, who hold the esteem and confidence of the congregation, and they merit it.

The latest addition to the eldership of this congregation was made in the appointment of W. C. Graves a year or so ago. He has been a definite strength to the official force of the congregation. Brother Graves has been active in the growth of the church in the district for over thirty years, as a preacher, a leader, and an elder. Several churches have been "planted and watered" by him. No man in Birmingham exerts a wider and stronger influence, and though he has worked quietly, without sounding a trumpet before him, no one man has accomplished more good in that locality. For years Brother Graves has been an executive in the Southern Bell Telephone Company and has exerted a salutary influence as a respected citizen and business man as well as a Christian and a preacher. He possesses a fine knowledge of the Bible, is unblemished in character, amiable in disposition, and has always backed any preacher who will stand for the truth. I regard him as among the great men in the church and I esteem him as a personal friend.

The preacher for the Fairview Church is J. S. (Sidney) Astin. I have never met or been associated with a finer, truer young man. He has an excellent wife and two sweet little girls. Brother Sid has done as good a work with this church as I have observed anywhere. He has become already one of our best preachers, and I figure the church will be hearing of him and from him in the years to come.

My first meeting in Birmingham, in October, 1936, nine years ago, was with the Parkview Church. During this period I have held nine 10-day meetings and one 10-day debate in the city, and I feel that I have many friends in Birmingham.

This latest meeting was in the Central Church Auditorium downtown, but sponsored and supported by the Fairview Church. They desired to hold a more largely attended meeting than their building would accommodate. The Central Church generously made available to them their auditorium. Brother Emmons and the Central congregation, as well as other preachers and congregations of the district, cooperated well. Though one of the newest congregations in Birmingham, if not actually the latest to be established, the Fairview Church has already taken its, place among the strongest churches in the entire district and is able to accomplish any work to which they set their hand. This is due to the faith of a fine group, directed by the wise leadership of able elders. They have been kind to me, liberal in their support, strong in their endorsements, and. I love them all. -F. E. W. Jr.

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Altus, Oklahoma

One of the most pleasant and profitable experiences of several years was the meeting at Altus, Oklahoma, in September, a flourishing town of some eight or ten thousand. I came to know this church in successive meetings with them between 1924 and 1930. I had not preached in Altus for nearly fifteen years. There has been a steady growth in the church. In its membership are some of the most substantial citizens, farmers, doctors, merchants, teachers, and several preachers. They have built and paid for in full one of the best church houses in Oklahoma, a practical, commodious, and beautiful brick building. They are now out of debt and are beginning to do considerable work outside Altus in fields that have been waiting for the Word.

Dr. E. W. Mabry, without doubt the best doctor in western Oklahoma, and George Starks, one of the city's progressive merchants, are elders of the church and they have the respect and confidence of both the townspeople and the members. Their efficiency is attested by the constant growth of the congregation and the unity that prevails.

W. Wallace Layton lives at Altus and preaches for the church there, when he is not preaching in meetings elsewhere. It is hard to keep as good a preacher as he is at home. Brother Layton is a young man but is no longer a young preacher. His experience has removed him from that bracket, and he ranks with the best evangelists in the church. That he has made good use of his mind, his talent, and his resources for the past few years is very evident. His development has been rapid. He is a splendid speaker, with an easy flow of well-chosen words, and is a strong preacher of the plain word of God.

Brother and Sister Layton have a family of four obedient children, three boys and a girl. One of the boys, Foy Wallace Layton, was named for me. His middle name, of course, could be for his father, but I think I can claim them both.

Brother Wallace Layton made everything easy for me in the Altus meeting. He left nothing undone that he could do or get done, both for the meeting and for me. A bond of friendship was renewed and made stronger by this association, which the years will not break. -F. E. W. Jr.