The Overflow
Let the members know Among the scores of church bulletins that come our way there are three that are outstanding in the clear, concise way in which they set before the church the discussions and decisions made in the business meetings. Members of the church have a right to know how the money is being spent, what works the church is supporting, and which calls it is refusing to support, and why. Many churches are kept in the dark about such things. It is nearly always a mistake. The three outstanding bulletins of which we speak are the ones from Northwest church in Chicago (edited until recently by J. D. Thomas), from the Haldeman Avenue church in Louisville, Kentucky, (edited by Hugo McCord), and from the Dickson, Tennessee, church (edited by J. T. Marlin).
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Something "loose" here besides the devil
"I cannot agree with your position on the second coming of Christ. Benjamin Franklin was the man who showed the people of the earth that lightning was the same as electricity. Edison was also quite prominent as an inventor. These are samples of the great inventors of the United States of America, which is the greatest nation on earth for inventions. But God is going to use them all for destruction, as we read in Revelation. After the thousand years reign of Christ, the devil will be loosed for a little season."
—E. A. Shuff, Edmond, Oklahoma
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Why I left the Baptist Church Next week we will carry an excellent article on "Why I Left The Baptist Church" by Bro. E. E. Myers of Odessa, Texas. Bro Myers has been unusually successful since he became a Christian in leading denominationalists (especially Baptists) to surrender their sectarian errors and become obedient to the gospel. You will want to show this article to your Baptist friends and relatives.
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"Deep" preachers Sometimes brethren have a great admiration for a deep preacher—which led one preacher to observe that maybe the reason for that is because so many of the brethren are so often low down.
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We need your help Now that W. E. Brightwell is with us to edit the news page of Gospel Guardian we ask your help in sending in whatever news you deem worthy. Also, we need your help in enlarging our subscription list. Show the paper to your friends; get one or two or a dozen to subscribe. Scores of you have promised to send in lists of subscribers; many are doing so. As soon as we can reach the desired number of new subscribers, we expect to expand the paper to double its present number of pages.
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Sectarians converted Bro. Ralph A. Casey of Atlanta, Georgia, sends us an interesting note on the number of sectarians whose conversion to Christ was reported last year through the Gospel Advocate. He says that 16,394 baptisms were reported in that journal last year, and that the number included people from the following denominations: Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Disciples of Chirst, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assembly of God, Church of God, Russellite, Adventist, Episcopal, Congregational, Christian Missionary Alliance, Judaism, Mennonite, Dunkard, Mormon, and Reformed Church. There were probably hundreds of others baptized out of these and other denominations whose denominational backgrounds were not noted in the reports.
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Away from Cemetery Street For many years the church at Fayetteville, Arkansas, owned a building on Cemetery Street. The brethren finally decided that Cemetery was a dead-end street; the church could never show much life and vitality as long as they remained there. A month ago they moved into a lovely new house on one of the choicest lots in town, between the business section and the state university. Chas. G. Caldwell, Jr. is now preaching for them.
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Slight mistake—confusing Paul with Poe A gospel preacher in whose veracity we have confidence sends us this one: "A leading brother who is always too anxious to keep on the good side of everybody decided to call on a certain Methodist who was attending fairly often to have part in the services. 'Next Sunday you select a fine Psalm and read it here for us', he told the Methodist. Next Sunday the Methodist arose and recited in full—The Village Blacksmith. Undaunted, the "leading brother" asked him to have some part in the service the following week, thinking surely he would redeem himself from the blunder of the week before. The Methodist man arose and with dignity and poise recited several verses from The Raven."
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So that's how it is!
We were discussing premillennialism with a rabid (aren't they all?) premillennial preacher the other day. Being asked if a belief in his millennial theory was essential to salvation, he replied, "One might be saved without believing it, if he didn't know it. But after I have explained it to him, if he then rejects it, he is rejecting God's word, and cannot be saved!" Modest soul, isn't he?
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"Just Thinking"—but not very much Some anonymous brother from Parkersburg, West Virginia, who signs his letter "Just Thinking" takes exception to Fred Dennis' comment on the use of the piano in church weddings, especially in the Ohio Valley area. What he says is too puerile for notice, but we use the occasion of his letter to tell him and other readers to sign their names to anything they want noticed. Anonymous letters and articles usually find a short, fast trip to the waste basket.
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Baptist preacher on entertainment We commend to some of our entertainment minded preachers a careful study of the articles a certain Baptist preacher is running in the Amarillo, (Texas) newspapers. Recently he had a pointed and pertinent column on, "Do the scriptures teach amusement as a part of the mission of the church?" Since we have several brethren who are inclined to fraternization with the sects, we'd like to recommend that particular sectarian to them. We think he could do them some good.
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Preacher wanted For full time work at church of Christ in Greenfield Missouri. If interested write P. C. Carlock.