The Arlington Meeting
We are talking about the one they had down at Arlington, Texas, a few weeks ago. We give a brief factual description of it on the front page this week. We find it difficult to see how anyone could object to such a gathering -- and at the same time are fully aware of the fact that the meeting COULD be a tactical error by brethren who are committed to the conservative point of view. Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, the meeting has come like a breath of fresh air into a very stale and oppressive prison. The brethren who promoted the idea are to be commended for even attempting the meeting. We believe the initial moves for such came from Brother Reuel Lemmons and Brother James W. Adams. Each of them invited about a dozen men on "his" side of the controversy; a time and place were agreed upon, and the friendly discussion took place. Nothing was "settled" in the meeting; the basic differences between the two groups which were present when they met were still there when they parted. Surely nobody with any understanding at all would have supposed for a single moment that these twenty-five or thirty brethren could "settle" anything for the brotherhood. Certainly none of them thought so! The meeting was not for that purpose. It was a sincere and prayerful effort on the part of BRETHREN to discuss and study their differences. It was simply that and no more. We had grown so far apart during these last fifteen years that it began to look like there could not even be discussion between us, much less agreement.
This gathering has demonstrated that there CAN be an exchange of ideas and points of view. It is tremendously heartening to all of us who are concerned for the peace and continued progress of God's people. This writer noticed one of the effects of the meeting almost immediately. Attending the Abilene Christian College lectures just three weeks after the Arlington meeting, we were given a reception like we had not had in fifteen years! Friendliness, warmth, even affection were evident on every hand. Life-long friends who had avoided us (or, at least, we thought they had) for many, many years now went out of their way to hunt us up under the "big tent" and to express their prayerful anxiety that the Arlington meeting might be followed by more and more such gatherings, in all parts of the country, looking toward a healing of the breach that has developed. To one who has grown more accustomed to kicks on the shins than to kisses on the cheek it was a rather heady experience — and a bit bewildering.
Anyhow, we have some ideas up our sleeve on this "unity" business which we intend to set forth in due time. We think they are good, and will work. (Modesty is a handicap in an editorial chair — if a man doesn't think he has something worthwhile for his readers, he'd better get out of the business.) But it is going to take more than a page or two to declare them; and we need some more time to see what "jells" from the Arlington meeting. Meantime, we would like to encourage many, many brethren from all parts of the country to attempt similar meetings. Perhaps not on quite so formal or systematic a plan as this, but rather informally, and AS FRIENDS, even if they find it impossible to regard one another as true brethren.
F. Y. T.
Church Music "Special"
Two weeks from now (the Gospel Guardian of April 4) we will bring out another "Special", devoted entirely this time to Church Music. Brother Joe Ed Furr of Longview, Texas, has worked on the material for this edition for many months. It is varied, stimulating, and provocative of thought and study. Brother Furr is interested in sounding out the possibilities for a regular journal devoted to the field of church music. If undertaken, it would appear either as a monthly or a quarterly; and would be designed to help not only song leaders, but song writers, as well as every individual Christian who is interested in carrying out the New Testament injunction to "teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." We suggest you look over the "Special" carefully, show it to others, and then drop Brother Furr a line indicating your interest (or lack of it) in the venture he proposes.
The "Special" will be approximately 32 pages in size. It will sell for 20 cents per copy, or for 15 cents per copy in lots of one hundred or more. (Incidentally, the present Gospel Guardian is reduced in size, which will also be the case for another issue or so, to enable us to give the additional pages to the "Special." We would prefer combining two or three issues into one for this, but postal regulations prohibit our doing so.)
F. Y. T.