Where Are They Now?
"When the college goes in, I go out!" Sound familiar? Of course it does. Fifteen years ago this was the stock answer given by brethren who were anxious to remain in the liberal-learning churches, but who felt a growing uneasiness about some of the promotions in which their congregations were getting involved. When thoughtful men warned, over and over again, that the REAL issue was not orphan homes (this was only a diversion to try a flanking movement for an end run) but the massive effort to line up regular church support for the schools, the usual response was, "When the college goes in (the budget), I go out."
Well, in an increasing number of those congregations the college IS "going in." And has anybody seen any significant "out" movement by these "anti" church-support-of-the-colleges brethren? What happened to Foy E. Wallace, Jr.?, and his cousins Gervais Knox and Glenn L.? And where are Paul Wallace, and Hulen Jackson, and Melvin Wise, and Earl West and Thomas B. Warren? What happened to George W. DeHoff? And what is Reuel Lemmons doing to stay the tide these days? Who has seen anything recently from Bill Humble, Waymon Miller or J. T. Marlin opposing the 'college-in-the budget' promotions. And how about E. R. Harper (who, incidentally, is under a fifteen-year-old solemn promise to debate this writer on the scripturalness of the Herald of Truth in the city of San Antonio, Texas, "as soon as my health permits.")? Has anybody seen any strong stand by him against the growing movement to line up the churches in support of the colleges? We believe ALL of these men are on record, both publicly and privately (and most of them on the pages of past issues of the Gospel Guardian) as being adamantly opposed to church support of the schools.
How well do we remember Earl West's recitation to us (on more than one occasion) of the dramatic way in which he returned a teaching contract to Clay Pullias unsigned when the latter informed him of his own convictions concerning church support of the colleges. Brother Pullias had invited West to join the faculty at David Lipscomb College, and had sent him a contract to sign accepting the post. West had made up his mind to take the job, and he and Pullias were eating together, talking over their prospective association. The subject of church support of the colleges came up, and West made a positive statement of his unyielding opposition to such. Pullias then informed him that he felt such support was entirely scriptural, and that when the time was favorable David Lipscomb College would certainly make an appeal for such monies. Whereupon West dramatically took the unsigned contract from his pocket and handed it to Pullias with the statement that he could NEVER teach in such a school.
And where is he now?
Take a look at the following letter appearing in the January, 1970, "Freed-Hardeman Alumnograms" published by Freed-Hardeman College under the editorship of W. A. Bradfield.
An Outstanding Example Worth Imitating
Below is a letter prepared by R. Wayne Estes, member of the Advisory Committee of Freed-Hardeman College, which he sent to his home congregation. Will you please prepare a similar letter to present to the elders where you work and worship? We commend all such efforts in behalf of teaching the Bible to over 750 students this year.
The Elders Church of Christ
Savanah, Tennessee 38372 Dear Brethren:
Within a few weeks you will begin making plans for a budget for the calendar year 1970. I have a suggestion that I desire to make — subject, of course, to your decision and wishes. This suggestion has to do with Freed Hardeman College.
The contribution that this college has made to the cause of Christ throughout the world is not news to any of us. However, I would like to emphasize the contribution — both directly and indirectly — that the school has made to this congregation. Not only have many of our young people attended the school, but many of our ministers have received at least part of their training there. Most of us are debtors, in one way or another, to its influence.
We include in our budget support for men teaching the Truth in many areas. I would like to respectfully suggest that we include in our 1970 budget regular monthly contributions to help defray the cost of teaching the Bible at Freed-Hardeman College. Men like H. A. Dixon, Claude Gardner, Thomas Warren, and others are busy training and teaching the future leaders of the church. A regular contribution of $100.00 per month during 1970 would be helpful to the college in fulfilling this important work. I suggest the contribution be earmarked for the Bible teaching program.
The college administration has indicated that it will welcome such contributions. Similar widespread help from many congregations will have a dramatic effect in strengthening the financial position of the college.
At this time it is more difficult for a small privately supported liberal arts college to survive financially than at any time in recent years. Think what it would mean if Freed-Hardeman College were required to close its doors. The loss would be impossible even to contemplate. The college is not in such financial straits, I am happy to say. We must not let it get into such a condition.
I believe we have taken the college for granted too long, and it is now time to recognize the vital opportunity and responsibility it presents.
I hope your decision will be favorable. If you desire, I or a representative of the college would be pleased to provide additional details.
Respectfully submitted, R. Wayne Estes
A few weeks ago the Nashville papers carried the story of a $25,000.00 gift from the Reid Avenue Church of Christ to David Lipscomb College. We do not have the clipping before us as we write, but we believe the Reid Avenue congregation due to the changing neighborhood decided to terminate itself as a congregation and dispose of its property. We presume the handsome gift was made possible by the sale of the church property. Not many churches would have a surplus of that much cash except in some such unusual situation.
These melancholy facts simply emphasize what we have stated on this page with monotonous reiteration: once a man compromises his convictions of right and wrong, even in seemingly inconsequential things and decides to "go along" with that which he believes to be WRONG, he has broken his integrity, seared his conscience, and destroyed his own moral honesty. We have not a doubt in the world that the brethren who so strongly proclaimed, "When the college goes in, I go out," meant every word of it at the time. But by gradual acceptance of that which they believed to be wrong they weakened their moral fiber, opened their hearts and lives to total compromise and eventual surrender. And where are they now?
— F. Y. T. —