A Listing Of Preachers
Volume II of Preachers of Today, listing biographical date and including pictures of hundreds of gospel preachers, is in process of preparation. Every gospel preacher in the brotherhood, whether a full-time or a part-time preacher, is invited to send his biographical sketch and picture.
Volume I, published in 1952, containing 1360 biographical sketches, has been very useful to elders who have found it of value in locating men for gospel meetings and for local work. It is hoped that every preacher in the brotherhood will be listed in the new edition.
"Information Blanks" were mailed to every preacher whose address was available, but many others could not be reached. If you did not receive a blank, send your name and address immediately to: Preachers of Today, Box 6126, Nashville, Tennessee.
We received the above item a few days ago with an accompanying letter from brother Batsell Barrett Baxter:
"Dear Yater:
If you can see fit to include the enclosed announcement in a forthcoming issue of the Guardian both Norvel Young and I (editors) will appreciate it.
We do not wish — in this publication, or elsewhere — to draw a line, excluding our brethren with whom we do not agree on certain brotherhood issues.
Sincerely Batsell Barrett Baxter"
We share brother Baxter's reluctance to "draw a line" against brethren, and herewith publish the announcement he sent. We add to it our own suggestion that such a book as "Preachers of Today" may well be a useful move in counteracting the influence and efforts of those who are seeking to promote a "quarantine" against brethren with whom they are not in agreement. If a breach is to come in the body of the disciples (and our own conviction grows daily that such is inevitable), then let it be postponed as long as possible, and let every effort be made by all of us who are concerned about the matter to do everything we conscientiously can do to postpone the evil day — and to minimize the magnitude of the breach when it does come. The longer the final break can be delayed, the more individuals and congregations can be saved for the truth. Indeed, if an open rupture can be held off for as much as fifteen or twenty years, we believe the vast majority of congregations, including thousands which are now going along with the promotional ideas and projects of the "social gospel" movement can be saved.
For it is certain that the more liberal congregations will NOT slow down nor be delayed in their wild rush toward denominationalism. They will but increase their carnal and materialistic ventures — and great numbers of brethren, seeing the inevitable course of such teaching and influence will most surely be repelled by it, and will disassociate themselves from such worldliness. Once the restraining "leaven" of these conservative Christians is removed from the "social gospel" churches, they will go rapidly and with ever increasing momentum into the maelstrom of worldly-mindedness. As they have accepted benevolent societies to do the church's benevolence they will come to accept similar arrangements for evangelistic work. And since the basis of "Bible authority" will have long since been watered down or abandoned, the only thing excluding the instrument will be prejudice and traditionalism. That barrier will weaken and give way before the rising tide of a new generation inexperienced and untaught on the fundamentals of Bible authority. We conceive it highly probable that several of our larger congregations will gradually work out a sympathetic basis of unity with the Conservative Christian Church, fellowshipping one another, exchanging preachers freely, and with each congregation determining for itself whether it will, or will not, have instrumental music. Indeed, that is about the only thing now dividing them.
Dr. A. T. DeGroot, of the faculty of Texas Christian University, recognized this probability several years ago, and forecast the possibility of such union provided the liberal Churches of Christ could find some way around the instrumental music problem. We believe they will find it, all right.
But that will leave several hundred thousand Christians, in some thousands of congregations, still seeking to go by a "thus saith the Lord." And as the inexorable consequences of compromising that stand are seen in the rush to liberalism, brethren will be more determined than ever before to find solutions to the problems of orphan homes, Christian colleges, organized evangelistic combines, and other factors which will have encouraged and precipitated this breach.
Anyhow, it is our feeling that this listing of preachers will be a good thing. In the division that came about over the missionary society and instrumental music one of the historically significant events was the compilation of a list of preachers omitting the names of all who were known to oppose the organ. Brother Baxter and Brother Young do not want to repeat that kind of mistake. Some of the readers of this page may differ from the editor in their judgment of this matter, which is their privilege, of course. But we vote "aye" for the book.
— F. Y. T.