It Ain't New
`Twas many and many a year ago, in Atlanta, Ga., area. I was minister of the East Point, Ga., church, James H. McBroom was with South Pryor Street church, and B. C. Goodpasture was at West End. We always met with each other (the three congregations) voluntarily, of course, the first three Lord's Day evenings of the New Year. This custom was begun when S. H. Hall was in the area, I think.
Well, we all met that year (whatever the date); first at East Point, then at the other locations, and somebody was M. C. (though we didn't call him that), and called on different brethren from visiting churches to make extemporaneous talks. They were usually both good and inspiring. We thought much good was derived from such meetings. But we also knew Proverbs 14:12.
I thought this was too good to keep to ourselves (but that was many and many a year ago); so I wrote up the meetings for the Gospel Advocate, of which James A. Allen was editor. Well, Brother, Allen "took us apart." He said that perhaps the meetings were not really, in themselves, sinful, but that they were nevertheless, at least in their tendency, a step toward Rome, instead of Jerusalem, though a little, seemingly innocent step.
Well, we had a "meeting" at my home, as I recall. Brethren McBroom and Goodpasture and I (mostly they) formulated a letter to brother Allen also to brother Hall. We were (at any rate, I was) very incensed at brother Allen's criticism of us. But now I think I can see where he was wise. Even though it was a little and seemingly innocent step, it was a beginning, and it was not toward Jerusalem. Watch it. brethren! Remember, the elder J. D. Tant's constant warnings: "Brethren, we are drifting." But we younger, and many older, preachers, and many, many others, thought J. D. Tant, The Texas Preacher, was being cranky and just wanted to criticize.