News

Rufus R. Clifford, Old Hickory, Tenn., April 12: "From March 18-25, I preached in a meeting with the Grant & Summitt St. Church of Portsmouth, Ohio. Two were baptized and one restored. I began in Pine Bluff, Ark., last Sunday and will continue until April 19. One has been baptized and one restored to date. S. Leonard Tyler is doing a great work here. The church has a new building under construction."

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Frank L. Smith, Box 975, Shawnee, Oklahoma: "Closed at Ada, Oklahoma, Southwest Church, on the 12th. Three were baptized. Attendance was fine with records on Sunday. Brother Orrin Utley is doing a good work there. I begin with Jesse Wiseman at Chandler, Oklahoma, on Sunday evening, April 15. Shawnee work is good with attendance well above same period last year."

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A.L. Harbin, 173 DeWitt Ave., Napa, Calif., April 9: "One baptism here yesterday, one restoration the preceding Sunday."

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Floyd J. Spivey, Box 153, Ranger, Texas, April 13: "Brother Hugh Boydston of Breckenridge, closed a fine meeting here on April 1. Thirteen were baptized, three placed membership, and several confessed faults. Because of a change in dates I have time for one meeting in May. I begin a meeting at Breckenridge on April 22."

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Ross 0. Spears, Dyersburg, Tenn.: "The sad news of the passing of brother A. 0. Colley of Dallas, Texas, was received by this congregation last Lord's day. Brother Colley served this congregation from 1938 to 1943. His great knowledge and love for the truth; his fearless proclamation of the same and his spotless Christian character has wielded an influence here that will live on. I personally feel that the progress of the work at Dyersburg in spiritual and doctrinal soundness as well as numerical growth is in a very large measure due to the influence of brother Colley. As he rests from his labors, truly his works do follow him. Roy E. Cogdill will be with us in a meeting the first two Sundays in June. Great good is anticipated."

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James W. Nichols, Box 1108, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 12: April 24-27, brother G. K. Wallace will meet Mr. Julian 0. Hunt of Lexington, Kentucky, in a series of debates on instrumental music. This debate will be held at Ottumwa, Iowa. The propositions are as follows: RESOLVED that a local congregation of the church of Christ may use song books from which to sing praises to God; a pitch pipe with which to get the pitch of a song; install a microphone in the church building for the purpose of broadcasting the gospel in sermon, prayer, and song; use a recording machine to make a record of the gospel in order to preach, sing, and pray by record later; use a collection basket in taking the offering; use a communion set in helping serve the Lord's Supper; and use all other aids and helps in the same category in obeying God's commandments—AND, during the same service in which all these things are being used refuse to accept a piano as an aid to those who sing, on the grounds, that such use of all mechanical musical instruments is sinful. AFFIRMANT—G. K. Wallace; NEGATOR—Julian Olyn Hunt. RESOLVED that according to the New Testament, the infallibly safe side is for Christians to use mechanical instruments of music in connection with praises to God. AFFIRMANT—Julian Olyn Hunt; NEGATOR—G. K. Wallace. You will remember that this is the debate that was scheduled for last November at Ottumwa. The brethren who heard the series at Cedar Rapids feel that every gospel preacher who is able should be present for the Ottumwa debate. Let's show our support of the Truth by being present."

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Glenn R. Sheumaker, Sr., Box 143, Hollywood, Fla., April 9: "We have had four baptisms, one to place membership, and a restoration recently. Brother R. E. Henson, well-known Bible scholar from Henderson, Tenn., preached in our spring meeting from March 11-22. Sickness has hurt our attendance, but interest and contribution remain high."