The Overflow
"Square-bale Campbellites"
On this page we recently asked if anybody could tell us how this term originated and what it meant. Brother Elmer A. L'Roy of DeQueen, Arkansas, helps us out. He says, "I asked Brother J. D. Wheeler, an elder of the Cooper, Texas, church this same question. He informed me that it came from the form of bales made at cotton gins. The old, original and standard bales of cotton were and are in square shape; hence "square-bale." Some fifty years ago, more or less, a new gin began to be built through the cotton belt of the south. The new bales were round; hence "round-bale." All this caused much friction and comment in its day. The "square-bale" was the old original, and the "round-bale" was the innovation. The church of Christ was the old original, and the Christian Church, so called, was an innovation — made by innovations. "Square-bale" and "round-bale" as designations for churches were descriptive terms based on the knowledge that one was an innovation—a digression from the ancient order."
—O—
Eminently qualified Brother James Lacy Lovell, former sheriff, former baseball player, veteran sailor of World War I, dynamite salesman deluxe, has become the first outright addition ever made to the original six member panel of board of trustees for Pepperdine College. The choice is so obvious we wonder why it wasn't made years ago. We don't know another man on the West Coast, unless it be possibly Brother Ernest Beam, whose background and attitude would fit better into the pattern that is developing at Pepperdine. We sincerely hope Brother Jimmie can persuade the other board members to cease advertising the school as a "Christian" institution, and to stop deceiving unsuspecting members of the church into sending their children there.
—O—
A working congregation Then there was the preacher who stated that the church where he preached was a "one hundred percent working congregation"—with fifty percent working for the preacher and fifty percent working against him.
—O—
"Facts of life—sad"
We realize that many people are under the impression that a fairly high degree of idiocy is a prerequisite to being the editor of a gospel journal. Sometimes we think they may be right. But if you scratched your head trying to puzzle out the connection between a certain story and the title it bore (Facts of life—sad) a couple of weeks ago, we assure you we aren't that crazy. There was no connection. A slight case of mixing the copy. We'll leave Brother Albert Lovelady's statement concerning his attitude toward modernism and premillennialism to stand as it appeared. But the "sad" fact of life which got lost in the shuffle and didn't even make the page anywhere was this: "When a woman has a temper she can't control, she usually has a husband she can."
—O—
Hair-brained Under AP release this item appeared in the Dallas Morning News: "Winnsboro, Texas, Feb. 28—The Rev. Sidney J. Spain's beard is growing longer every day. Spain hopes a lot of people come to his Central Christian Church Sunday to see his beard. He's promised his congregation he won't shave until attendance exceeds that of the First Christian Church at nearby Mineola," No comment.
—O—
"To the Lord be all the glory"
This is the sentiment with which a certain brother in the Firm Foundation recently closed a long and glowing account of his successes in the church he was leaving. When we read it we had more than a passing recollection of the fellow who declared, "Most men who are as smart as I am would be conceited about it, but I'm not."
—O—
How about it?
We have several ideas for making this a better and more helpful journal when we double our space (two weeks hence). Already we are receiving many renewals and new subscriptions in anticipation of that enlarged paper. Thanks to all of you. If each one will get just one new subscriber, we can double our opportunities for doing good. How about it? Do it now, while it's on your mind.
—O—
Two diseases Regarding the Huntington Park elder (issue of February 23) : "This is but a symptom of a disease in California. I trust it is confined to this state. The disease is: 'We must have elders, whether they are qualified or not. If none qualify, then appoint the best available.' Maybe he was the best they had. If so, that is two diseases."
--W. Glyde Poulin, Santa Rosa, Calif.
—O—
Both were disappointed Thanks to Brother Charles G. McPhee of Meaford, Ontario, we've collected another interesting incident out of the life of the editor's father, J. D. Tant. It seems some years ago the church in Garman, Manitoba, invited a certain Texas brother up to preach for them. After the brother had been there for some time, and made no mention of a wife or family, certain ones began to grow curious. With typical Canadian reserve, however, they would not approach him directly about the matter, but did appoint Brother Daniel Stewart (deceased) to write down south and make some investigation about the man. Brother Stewart wrote to the Leader-Way, the Firm Foundation, and to J. D. Tant, whom he knew. Replies are not on record from the two journals, but Brother Tant wrote back, "Yes, Brother_____ married the Widow Brown. He thought he was marrying a fine farm, and she thought she was marrying a man, and they were both disappointed."
—O—
Embarrassing We've been getting so many "nice" letters these past few weeks that it's getting downright embarrassing. We feel sort of like the coy spinster who was being outrageously flattered by a glib-tongued suitor. She said, "I know you don't mean a word you're saying. . . . but go ahead! I love it!" We did our best to answer all who wrote in to criticize; but we aren't even going to make the attempt to answer those who are handing us bouquets. All we'll say is, "Thanks from the bottom of our heart—and how about sending us a subscriber or two?"
—O—
Finally made it Our congratulations to a fine Christian girl who helped her husband get through school. He wanted to preach, but had no money for an education. His wife worked through four long years to enable him to go to a Christian school. There is one gospel preacher who can mean it when he pulls that old saw about "earning his education by the sweat of his frau."
—O—
From David King One of England's greatest preachers was Brother David King. From the gospel journal he edited, "Old Paths'', we take this short verse:
"Cowardice asks, Is it safe?
Expediency asks, Is it polite?
Vanity asks, Is it popular?
But Conscience asks, Is it right?"