News
Sidney Astin, Box 452, Elizabethtown, Ky.: "Our work here is encouraging . . . We recently set new records in the Bible study and at the morning worship. Evening attendance is running about 65-70 percent of membership. Contributions are at all time high. Two more placed membership last Lord's day. Many outsiders are attending our services. Service personnel are coming into Fort Knox, just sixteen miles from us, daily. Tell all friends and relatives the church is located at 229 N. Miles St., Elizabethtown. Services are at the usual hours. We are just two blocks off U. S. Highway 31-W. Visitors passing through are always welcome."
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Bill Humble, 1010 Eighth St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida: "James P. Miller concluded a meeting with the Ninth Avenue congregation on January 28. His style of preaching is expository, forceful and highly interesting. Attendance at all services was excellent with folding chairs necessary every Sunday morning of the meeting and at some evening services. Three were baptized, one restored."
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Thetus Pritchard, 131 Seward Ave., Bristol, Va., Feb. 5: "Brother Wilson Wallace, Oklahoma City, closed a good meeting here last night. This is his second meeting with us since I have been in Bristol. The church here considers him one of our outstanding young preachers of today. One man was baptized and other good prospects will undoubtedly obey the truth in the near future as a result of brother Wallace's teaching."
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Thomas F. Shropshire, Duke, Okla.: "I began work with the church in Duke last November. The interest is good and the attendance has shown an increase. The churches of this area have been cooperating in a daily radio program, Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. over station KWHW in Altus. Some results have been reported from it. I will be free to hold two or three meetings this summer. Address me as above."
Sgt. Elvis Bozarth, USMCR, Special Services, Supply School Battalion, Camp Lejune, N. C.: "The Newport church profited from an eight day meeting with Wilson Wallace this month. Four were baptized and one restored. Interest and devotion continues to grow. The meeting place is five miles south of Newport on the "Nine-foot" road. Anyone knowing service personnel at Cherry Point Marine Air Base may contact M/Sgt. Miles Cooley, MACG1, MGIS5, telephone 19170, for further information. My extension at Camp Lejune is 3293. Our Sunday radio program is at 8:15 a.m., WMBL, Morehead City, 750 on the dial. Please write if you hear this program."
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T. H. Tarbet, Box A, Hobbs, N. M.: "Thirteen have been baptized in Hobbs since my last report to the Guardian last October. The work seems to be in good condition. There are about 300 members. During 1950 the weekly contribution averaged $346.00. Twenty-five were baptized, 20 restored to their first love, and 39 identified as Christians during the year. This church is fully supporting brother Ben Cano in Chihuahua City, Mexico, and is paying part of the salary of brother Charles Anderson who works with the colored church of this city. For several months I have planned to make a change after my boy is out of school this year; but don't know yet where I shall move. Neither has my successor been chosen. Success to the Guardian."
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Lloyd Frederick, Graford, Texas, Feb. 11: "The work of the church here continues to be encouraging in every way. A 46-year-old man was baptized Wednesday evening. Our Bible school attendance is above average for this time of year. The contribution just about doubles that of a year ago. A preacher's home purchased in September will soon be paid for. Brother Thomas McDonald will conduct our spring meeting and brother Trine Starnes will hold our summer meeting. My first meeting will be in April with the church in Graham, Texas. In the coming months spend your vacation and holidays at Possum Kingdom lake and worship with us."
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Preston Cotham, Box 229, Childress, Texas, Feb. 12: "Since last report two have been baptized, one restored and two placed membership. The work here continues to grow. The past eight days I have been with E. A. Sanders and the church at Kirkland, Texas, in a meeting. Despite much sickness the attendance and interest were good. I am to be in a meeting with Curtis Camp and the church at Tulia, Texas, March 4 through 14; and with Jimmy Wood and the Crescent Hill church in Brownfield, Texas, March 18 through 25. Brother Homer Hailey will be with us in our spring meeting June 1 through 10."
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Will M. Thompson, Box 262, Atoka, Okla., Feb. 12: "Please announce through Gospel Guardian that Cled E. Wallace will be in a Gospel Meeting with the church in Atoka, Okla., embracing 3rd and 4th Sundays in April."
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Glenn R. Sheumaker, Sr., Box 143, Hollywood, Fla., Feb. 9: "Our attendance has been down due to sickness in the congregation. N. B. Hardeman preached at the morning service last Sunday. Worship with us when you pass this way."
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Lloyd Moyer, 416 Lewis Ave., San Leandro, Cal., Feb. 8:
"The visible result of our labors in 1950 was 211 responses 105 of which were baptisms. Contributions were over $18,000. It was because of this growth and development in the church here that we were able to begin a new congregation in Hayward, Cal., last December. With approximately 100 people going from this congregation to begin that new work, the San Leandro church was given room to continue its growth. I held meetings in Berkley, San Jose, California; Buhl, Idaho, and Bremerton, Washington, and I engaged in two debates. These meetings resulted in twenty-one baptisms and seven restorations. We look forward to a pleasant and profitable year's work in 1951."
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Richard Donley, 206 Gale Ave., Peoria, "The church meeting in Richland school is still making progress in spite of some severe cold. This month eight have been restored and ten baptized. I would be glad to schedule a meeting or two in Texas for this summer."
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Harry L. Starling, 2908 Vernier Ave., Belleville, Ill., Jan. 30:
"The work of the church in Belleville is going along well. In spite of severe cold we had two good services Sunday. At the morning service brother Crawford of San Antonio, Texas, placed membership with us. Sister Weaver, who formerly lived near Nashville, Tenn., was restored to the fellowship of the church upon her confession of wrongs. They will now be working with the church here and we feel that they will be happy in the work with us. Brother Crawford has just recently been stationed at the Scott Air Base, but he was not long locating the church. We are wondering if there are not others who would do well to follow the example of brother Crawford and sister Weaver. We urge all members of the church to be faithful to the Lord, though you are far from your home congregation. We want all service men and others near us to know that a hearty welcome awaits you at all our services. May we again suggest to those of you who have relatives or friends at the base to write them concerning the church here. Remember the place of worship is two blocks east of the city square at 112 N. Jackson St., between "A" and "B" streets, in the Philharmonic Hall."
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DEBATE — MARCH 6-9 AT BOONEVILLE, ARK.
Sterl A. Watson, 1284 Morton Ave., St. Louis 14, Mo., Jan. 29: "Issues involving classes and women teachers will be discussed four nights, beginning March 6. Lester Hathaway will be the representative of his Anti brethren and I his opposer. We will expect large crowds to attend and hope to do much good."
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J. Edward Nowlin, Box 101, Maryville, Tenn., Feb. 7: "My stay with this congregation will terminate this summer. Any congregation may contact me at the above address."
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Olen Holderby, 3117 E. Flower, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 26: "The past Lord's day concluded one year's work for me with the Catalina congregation here in Tucson. It has been a most successful year, both in numbers and in spiritual growth of the church. We have added 42 new names to our ranks, and have lost 20 by removals, giving us a net gain for the year of 22. Attendance and interest continue to increase month by month. We have taken on an expanded program for 1951, which was recently outlined to the congregation. Recent developments in the city appear likely to force us to go far beyond what we had expected to do this year however. An unprecedented opportunity for work among the Mexicans of Tucson will call for a considerably greater outlay than we had thought ourselves able to make. Also our present rate of growth seems likely to make us consider a new building for ourselves before the end of the year. We are enjoying the best of harmony, and are putting forth every effort to expand the borders of His kingdom in this community. All who come our way are invited to worship with us."
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George T. Jones, Box 453, Nacogdoches, Texas, Feb. 3: "One baptized here in January. Our regular contributions for the month of January averaged $309.06 per week. This is an all-time high. Bible school attendance was off some. We are looking forward to using our new building in the spring."
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An Opportunity In Church Publicity
A "Writer's Short Course in Church Publicity" will be offered to all interested persons April 5 by the Department of Journalism of Texas A. & M. College. A committee selected from local preachers in College Station will assist the Department of Journalism in arranging the program. Serving on this committee is James F. Fowler, minister of the College Station Church of Christ.
Brother Fowler stated that the short course will be divided into three main divisions: (a) Writing church news and feature articles; (b) Identifying religious news; (c) Creating the desired relationship between the church and the press. The course is not to deal with various religious beliefs, but is designed to instruct the individual how best to discover and write good religious news articles. It is to be a study of journalism rather than denominationalism.
In emphasizing the need for this course, Professor Otis Miller, member of the Journalism Department and director of the short course, said, "Much religious news is never printed and much is misinterpreted because of the poor form in which it is presented to the press. If the writer wants his story accepted and printed in his own words, he must understand the principles and procedures of good journalism."
The short course will last only one day. Registration will begin at 8:00 or 8:30 Thursday morning, April 5, and will close with a dinner that night. A guest speaker of outstanding ability will give the banquet address. Other than traveling expenses, the course will cost the individual not over $3.00, including the banquet. A large number of preachers and other church workers from this section of the state are expected to attend this short course.
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Clements Street Church Prospers
Joe H. Morris The Clements Street Church of Christ has long been a fine and faithful congregation, directed by a faithful, consecrated and enthusiastic leadership. It has a national reputation of standing firmly upon the truth of God's word. It has had as its local and visiting evangelists some of the best and most faithful preachers in the brotherhood. These men have done no little to build this strength in Clements Street. They have certainly left God's stamp on this congregation. It is a great privilege to follow this type of teaching and preaching.
Renewed energy and enthusiasm is universally recognized among the members which is clearly seen in the progress made through four months. The close of January shows that all previous records have been broken. As a preface to this the church raised $4,750.00 during December and purchased the adjoining property on which to build a new meeting house. We expect to begin construction as quickly as the weather clears. The old building will be used as an educational department. Average contribution for last year was $165.00 per week. The average for January was $300.00 per week. Bible school attendance grew from 165 to 224, while the mid-week attendance increased from 147 to 205. Regular attendance on Lord's days taxes the auditorium.
Two new classes have been started. A ladies Bible class on Wednesday afternoon and a men's class on Friday evening. These classes together with the rest of our teaching and preaching program, are designed to develop material capable of carrying on after the present leadership has passed on. It is a genuine pleasure to work with these brethren whom I have known and loved through the years. Two were baptized last Wednesday night. This brings total additions to 38 in four months.
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James W. Reynolds, 611 Broadway, Pueblo, Colo., Feb. 2: "Since my last report several have responded to the invitation. Nineteen-fifty was a good year for the church in Pueblo. Possibly the best in its history, and with the response to the invitation good for this section with some 75 having responded. Our contributions have increased one-third over 1949. March 3, 1950, we moved into our new building and it has proven to be a great asset to our work here. We believe during this year of 1951 we can accomplish greater things than ever before."
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Holt-Garner Debate
James W. Adams On January 25 and 26, brother Charles A. Holt, Jr., evangelist for the Mt. Pleasant, Texas, congregation, and Mr. Albert Garner, Baptist, met in a discussion on the instrumental music question in the meeting house of our brethren at Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Garner is Dean of Texas Baptist Institute at Henderson, Texas, and preacher for the Bethel Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas. He has a B.A. degree from Harding College, an M.A. degree from Baylor University (I am told), and a D.D. degree from Bogard's school in Little Rock, Ark. He is the author of a tract on "Instrumental Music In Christian Worship." His brethren in this section consider him to be their finest scholar.
In the debate Mr. Garner did not manifest any ability as a scholar, debater, or public speaker for that matter. His voice is poor, his delivery awkward, his personality and pulpit presence mediocre in the extreme. His brethren seemed to feel that he was doing pretty well, all of which causes one to wonder whether they know when they are given a drubbing. Some of Mr. Garner's arguments were so ridiculous as to be silly.
Practically, the whole issue was suspended on the Bogard argument on The Law and the Prophets. They quote Lk 24:44, "... the law, prophets, and psalms... ;" Lk. 16:16, "The law and the prophets were until John ... ;" then, they argue: The Old Testament consists of law, prophets, and psalms; the law and the prophets were done away; the psalms are still binding; Ps. 33 and 150 teach us to praise God on instruments; Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 teach that we are "to teach and admonish in psalms;" hence, mechanical music in Christian worship is scriptural. Brother Holt showed that this division of the Old Testament is correct but the Psalms is a part of the Old Testament and was done away at the cross. Garner seeks to divide Psalms into general and specific. He argues that the general Psalms are binding and the specific done away. He was challenged to prove this point. All he offered was an allusion to Moulton's Bible Reader. When confronted with John A. Broadus' comment on Mt. 5:17, 18, in which he takes the position that the expressions in Lk. 24:44; 16:16 refer to the whole of the Old Testament, Garner repudiated Broadus to the chagrin of some of his debating brethren who were present. He said that both Broadus and Holt were wrong.
Brother Holt had never debated the music question before, but did his work in a creditable manner. The brethren who were present were satisfied with what he did to Mr. Garner. It was not hard for even the children to see that Mr. Garner failed to sustain his position.
The building was filled and overflowing each night. There were probably 750 or 800 present and others turned away for lack of room. Excellent order prevailed throughout. The Baptists behaved themselves with an appreciated degree of decorum, and our brethren treated them with every courtesy due them as our guests. The people of Mt. Pleasant could not help being impressed with the fact that debates can be conducted on a high plane.
The writer served as moderator for brother Holt and Mr. A. J. Kirkland served as moderator for Mr. Garner.
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