"Living Issues"

W. W. Otey, Belle Plaine, Kansas Since brother Cogdill mentioned brother McMillan and his nice compliment (?) to me, perhaps it may be in order to publish my letter to brother McMillan in response to his page and a half in the Firm Foundation. One reason why I did not think I would offer any comments on this article in the papers is that I have quite a number of articles in the offices of some of the papers now (not the Guardian), which have quietly rested there for months. One can grow weary of writing in defense of the truth, the peace and unity of the church, when one's efforts are pigeon-holed or else consigned to the waste-basket.

Whether I have "dishonored" my "long and useful life" (as brother McMillan seems so anxious to prevent) is a matter about which I have very little concern. My record is first of all with God whom I have tried so imperfectly to serve these many years, and so fondly with the faithful members of the church of our Lord.

My second and most important reason for not deferring anything in reply to brother McMillan is that I have given full attention to the things he advanced in my new book, Living Issues, the manuscript of which has now been in the offices of the Firm Foundation Publishing House for more than a month.

I did, however, write brother McMillan the following letter:

Dear Brother McMillan:

I shall offer nothing in reply to your page and a half in the Firm Foundation, July 31 issue. I have almost ready the manuscript for a book to be published by the Firm Foundation, in which I deal with you and the Union Avenue Church, Memphis, Tennessee.

If you will affirm that: The work being done by the Union Avenue elders is official work assigned by the Lord as part of their official duty as elders; and The work proposed in the pamphlet, "The Voice of Opportunity In Japan," now being carried out in Japan, is work assigned to the church of the Lord. If you will affirm these propositions, or any others that clearly state the issue, I will hold up my manuscript, and we will discuss the issue, and incorporate the discussion in the book soon to be printed. You to bear your proportionate part of the cost, based on the amount you contribute, and take a like proportion of the books. If you accept this offer to discuss the issue as above stated, or in any other form that clearly defines the issue, wire me collect; and I will hold the manuscript until details can be arranged. Should you prefer an oral discussion, it will be better.

In faith, hope, and love, W. W. Otey

To this letter brother McMillan replied, "I therefore can not see the wisdom of spending time over it."

I am not trying to sell a pamphlet to hundreds of churches, with any view of a big profit. In fact, there will be no profit at all, but rather a heavy loss, in my bringing out the book, "Living Issues." But here again is my offer: "LIVING ISSUES" is the title of the new book. It will be a first class job as to workmanship, with cloth binding, and a jacket. I am paying cash for 1,000 copies of the book, and would like AT ONCE to receive the name and address of 1,000 brethren who would like to receive the book as soon as it is off the press. Here is my proposition: Send me your name and address. I will mail you the book as quickly as it is off the press. You read it. If you like it, send me $1.00. If you do not like it, hand it to some member of the church, and you owe me nothing.

This book is costing me considerably more than $1,000.00 to print and mail out. It is being paid for out of the meager savings my wife and I have earned with our own hands after we passed the 80th milestone. I would particularly like to send the book to several hundred who may be receiving brother Cecil N. Wright's "Wrong Tract." I'd like for them to see with their own eyes exactly what is happening in quotations from brother McMillan and the Union Avenue elders. Exact quotations from their publications can be compared with brother Wright's "explanations" of what is happening in foreign mission work. The comparison ought to be revealing—and will be to honest minded brethren.

—O—

Rufus R. Clifford, Old Hickory, Tenn., Sept. 17: "The meeting in Christiansburg, Va., resulted in three baptisms and one restoration. A. Lowell Alitzer preaches there. One night of the meeting all of the preachers from Bristol, Tenn.-Va., to Washington, D. C., were present, save two."