"The Bitter Fruits Of Digression"
Bitter are the fruits of digression. The church of the Lord has been rent asunder and once faithful brethren are acting as complete apostates from the faith. The actions of brethren determined to "crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame" is a frightening piece of spiritual drama indeed. Consciences have been seared, actions have become more satanic than Christ-like; yet, perhaps the half has not been told nor seen.
The purpose of this article is to briefly relate the tragic result of brethren becoming dissatisfied with God's plan and devising their own. It is a report of the tragic happenings among God's people at Calmont Ave. in Ft. Worth, Texas. The events of recent months, leading up to the "invasion" of our story, should be briefly stated and I do so basing them upon statements from the elders and Brother Jady Copeland who preaches at Calmont. Brethren beware these things could happen to you!
Brother Copeland moved to Calmont approximately two years ago. He came with the elders possessing full knowledge of his views relative to current questions before the church. Later when the liberal forces began their opposition it was claimed that brother Copeland came under false pretenses. In the discussion, about which we shall shortly speak, between brother Roy Deaver and W. L. Wharton Jr., Roy spoke of preachers moving to a place pretending to believe one thing while actually believing something else. His reference was to brother Copeland and it was false to the very core. Brother Copeland discussed his views with the elders and he did not tell them he would not preach on the issues, though he did not do so until after the "underground" movement had its inception.
"One year passes; a year of fruitful labor as the records reveal. Agitation begins and the ugly forces of apostasy mark one elder as their chief target. Secret meetings are held, whispering campaigns started, and then open defiance. The elders finally react through "A Statement From The Elders". They meet the charges against the elder under fire. In this lengthy statement they take note of the unscriptural campaign of the ones having signed a petition asking the elder to resign, which petition was circulated without any knowledge of it on the part of any of the elders. The elders refute the trumped up charges and vindicate the elder who has been so viciously attacked.
But what motivated this rebellion by a few members at Calmont? The real reason was set forth in the petition and reveals their true motive in launching a personal attack against one of the elders. In their declaration to the church the elders noted this statement in the petition: "We desire to be recognized as a faithful and loyal congregation of God's people. Thus desiring the fellowship of other congregations in the city of Ft. Worth and being allowed to have part in good Christian works."
Here then was the battleground! Not disqualification of an elder but a desire for the church to support human arrangements and institutions. To this the elders replied: (1) "We are not aware of any church in town failing to recognize Calmont Ave. as a 'loyal congregation'." (2) "If we have been withdrawn from we did not know it." (3) They pointed out how they had participated in numerous activities along with the other churches. They remarked that the statement was designed to prejudice the minds of the people. But the mask had slipped! The church was not involved in supporting human institutions and the promoters believed this one elder stood in the way more than any other factor; thus, he must be smeared and forced into resigning. Concerning this factor the elders say in their statement: "He (the one under attack) believes the church is sufficient to do the work without the church building human institutions through which the work of the church is done." This was the one reason why the liberal faction wanted him removed at any cost.
The petition claimed that this elder's conduct had caused the church to suffer. To which the elders replied by pointing out that during 1957 they averaged more for Bible study attendance than for any previous year, reaching a high of 303. They pointed out that no trouble was known until these brethren began to make their accusations. This long statement was signed by the three elders.
Confusion reigns for eight long months. The elder under fire remains faithfully at his post until finally a group, including one of the elders, leaves and establishes the Sunset congregation. They secured the services of Brother Roy Deaver as preacher. Two elders remain though not completely united at this time upon the issues. During the Spring meeting of '58 the elder that had not been originally attacked along with one of the Deacons goes to the visiting preacher and asks him not to preach on the issues during the meeting. Thus future events are taking shape. The two elders discuss the plausibility of having two men come and speak upon the issues. It was decided that at some future date this would be done. In the meantime, the elder that had not been attacked in the beginning and who now is more vacillating than anything else, goes to brother Roy Deaver and asks him to come and speak to the Calmont brethren. As we have stated, Roy had been preaching for the Sunset church since it's beginning over four months previous. This invitation to Roy is unknown to the other elder, the preacher and most of the members.
The "invasion" occurred recently one Sunday evening. On Sunday morning the elder had the announcement made to the effect that brother Deaver would speak that night and also Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings., Imagine, if you can, the complete surprise of the other elder, the preacher and the members! Now bear in mind that Deaver comes over the disapproval of one elder and a vast majority of the members. Later the brethren at Calmont realized that they had blundered in allowing such rough shod tactics to occur but nevertheless it did happen. That evening Deaver and the Sunset group came. A liberal Deacon takes charge and Roy delivered his usual cartoons of misrepresentations and absurd logic (?).
After that first service, the Calmont brethren decided that they should invite someone to speak following Roy each evening. They contacted brother W. L. Wharton of Wichita Falls, and he came. The word of such an arrangement had spread and many of us were there on Monday night Deaver tried to get brother Wharton to come back and speak the next week as brother Deaver knew he was trapped and he didn't like it one bit. In his speech that night he sneeringly referred to the fact of Wharton's presence stating that no one should be there to speak as he (Deaver) was going to "give both sides". It takes a lot of gall even for Roy to make such a statement. When brother Wharton spoke he reminded Deaver that he was there under protest and that in truth neither of them had any right being there as it was Calmont's problem. Tuesday night Wharton followed again but on Thursday night Roy asked that W. L. speak first the last two nights to which brother Wharton agreed.
The arrangements were somewhat unique, that is in the beginning. Each was to preach not attempting as such to answer each other. This lasted for about one night and a fine debate without written propositions was on. Truly the truth has a most wonderful defender in brother Wharton. Brother Deaver was visibly shaken from the outset. The cunning deceit of Deaver's arguments were torn to shreds by one of the finest jobs this writer has ever heard. If space permitted we would like to mention many of the arguments pro and con but the purpose of this article would not be served in doing so; though we feel that perhaps one should be mentioned just a little later.
The Calmont brethren requested each speaker to limit himself to one hour out of consideration to the audience. This request was publicly made again by brother Copeland on Thursday evening. Bear in mind that each night these services were directed by a liberal Deacon at Calmont and that preachers standing not with the church at Calmont but rather with Deaver were asked to lead the prayers. The church at Calmont had been cruelly victimized if one could so be. But, following brother Wharton's one hour speech brother Deaver proceeded to speak an hour and continued on stating that he was under no obligation to honor a time limit as the ones that had asked him to come had told him to speak as long as he desired! Tuesday night he had carried on a one man filibuster. Roy, it would seem, has become incensed because brethren will dare to continue their fight against his liberalism and designs upon any church he can reach with his silly denial of the all sufficiency of the Lord's church. He evidently will respect the wishes of no one unless you are willing to bow down to the idol in his heart.
Brother Deaver's argument on evangelism and the right of the sponsoring church is very significant. He argued as before that: (1) A church may assume or obligate itself to a work beyond its means. (2) Another church may send money to the first one in order that the work may be done. He stated that a few years ago he too was worried when, as he says, he was on the other side, about the "stopping point". He remarked that such worries him no more. That if one church can help, ALL could do so and that if one church could send a dollar, it could send ALL IT HAD and so with all the other churches! Thus what would you have other than the power of the Pope in a single eldership? Then Roy stated that the stopping point in all this is left up to the judgment of the elders, so he isn't worried about it any more. Brethren that is the real fight! Whatever "elders decide" and not God revealing his plan unto us in the work of the church. Is it any wonder that men are teaching that the church may contribute to any private enterprise if for good local reasons the elders deem it wise? They dare to call such the free moral agency of man.
Thus a rather sordid chapter has been written into the history of Calmont Ave. Why did it have to happen? Truly history doth repeat itself. The invasion at Calmont was actually designed for the purpose of taking over the property and taunting boasts during the "debate" were made to this effect. However, such evil designs have been thwarted and the property is secure for the preaching of the gospel and the purity of worship and work of the church. In closing I'm reminded of one of brother Wharton's first statements to the effect: "I'm not here to make you brethren do anything as I have long since learned that when brethren decide to do anything, be it right or wrong, no power on earth can stop them." It is a shame that such is tragically true.