Editorial Potpourri
"Accepted The Oversight"
From Chattanooga, Tennessee, comes this interesting bit of news from the bulletin of the Brainerd Church of Christ, Maurice Howell, preacher:
"The Brainerd church has accepted the oversight of the East Brainerd work, as requested by the brethren there. Our plans include the erection of a new building with adequate facilities for future growth of that congregation, and to assist them in developing a strong congregation.
It came about like this: the East Brainerd Church was having internal troubles. About half of the members felt they could no longer conscientiously worship there, and left. The members who remained there then decided to ask "help" from the Brainerd Church, some five miles away. They asked for help. It was offered to them on the following terms: (1) the East Brainerd church property would be deeded to the Brainerd church, (2) the members of the East Brainerd church put themselves under the "oversight" of the Brainerd elders in exactly the same way in which Brainerd members were under their oversight, (3) no "hobbyist" be permitted to preach in the East Brainerd pulpit.
These terms were accepted, we understand; and the above notice in the Brainerd bulletin would seem to set things out in their true light. The Brainerd elders now apparently have the "oversight" of two congregations — the one in which the Holy Spirit made them bishops, and the other one in which Satan undoubtedly must have taken a hand.
— F. Y. T.
Bankruptcy
According to stories in the press Brother Billie Sol Estes, forced into bankruptcy last month, will probably be legally absolved of indebtedness of between fifteen and twenty million dollars when the final accounting and liquidations of assets have been made. He vows, however, that he is going to repay every cent of it!
That is the Christian and proper attitude. Bankruptcy says a man does not legally owe his creditors any longer. But surely every Christian would feel a moral obligation to pay off those debts when and if he is ever able. Many a man has had to take bankruptcy to protect his creditors; and then later in life has been able to recoup his fortunes, and has paid off every cent of those back debts.
Good luck and Godspeed to Brother Estes in his announced determination to do that!
Incidentally, another of our free-wheeling, big-dealing Texas promoters took bankruptcy a few years age — Brother James P. Nichols and his Christian Chronicle. His indebtedness when the final story was told was something in the neighborhood of $200,000.00. But a recent story in the Abilene Reporter-News gives a thrilling "come-back" story of success, reporting how his advertising agency, with the help of the "Herald of Truth" account, did $1,600,000.00 business last year. The "Herald of Truth" was Nichols' only account when he launched his agency but he has added a dozen or more accounts since then — the "Herald of Truth" still remaining one of the major accounts, however. His agency now employs nineteen workers, and business is expanding rapidly.
We will be interested in seeing how rapidly Brother Nichols is able to pay off the $200,000.00 moral (not legal) obligation he owes his creditors — one of whom is the Gospel Guardian Company. Billie Sol Estes has made an honorable and Christian decision in announcing that he will devote the rest of his life to paying off the men who have suffered loss because of his failure. We commend him for that, and think everyone will applaud his determination and will wish him well. We do not recall that Brother Nichols made any such announcement at the time of his bankruptcy; but his actions now that he is "in the money" again will reveal whether or not he had or has any such honorable intention .
-F. Y. T.
No Money, Please!!
We have been printing some articles by Brother Cecil Douthitt from time to time, announcing that those who wished copies for distribution might have such by writing to the Park Hill Church at Fort Smith. The announcement was that additional copies could be had "free and postpaid." But in spite of this many have been sending money when they write for the tracts. The Park Hill elders ask that those who write for the tracts please refrain from sending any money. They don't want your money. The tracts are FREE....
Now, that IS a switch from what we are used to these days.
— F. Y. T.
Bound Volumes Those bound volumes of the Gospel Guardian (Volume 13) are still going out. If you do not have yours, you should order it immediately. We have a few (very few) of Volume 11 left; a few more of Volume 12; and still an adequate supply of Volume 13. But, judging the future by the past, it is only a matter of time till the supply of all these will be exhausted — and then we will have urgent and desperate appeals from brethren to help them find these aback copies! Don't let it happen to you. The bound volumes are $5.00 each for the present. The price may be raised on that in time.
— F. Y. T.