The Overflow
"Upper-Chamber" Disciples
We've heard about it all our life, but only last month happened to run into the "real McCoy." That is, we found a church building in Abilene, Texas, which is used by a certain group of negro worshippers who are determined to follow "The Book" in everything. So they have built their simple frame meeting house about twelve or fourteen feet off the ground, perched precariously atop some sawed-off telephone poles. There is no ground floor or lower story; it is strictly an "upper chamber" congregation!
Peter's Plea
The pioneer Methodist, Peter Cartwright, uttered many wise, odd, and witty sayings. He was often annoyed at one sister, more noisy than pious, who would go off on a high key at every opportunity. At an animated class-meeting one day she broke out with, "If I had one more feather in the wing of my faith, I could fly away and be with the Savior." "Stick in the feather, 0 Lord! and let her go," fervently responded Cartwright.
(Harper's Weekly, 1872)
"The Jericho. Sermon"
Brother Luther W. Martin of Rolla, Missouri, sends us an AP dispatch in which Halford E. Luccock, professor of Yale University, describes what he calls "The Jericho sermon." Says he, "Some preachers have implicit faith that if they march around the outside of a subject seven times, making a loud noise, the walls will fall down."
A Better Thief
Also from Brother Martin comes this item: "Recently a well known gospel preacher was waxing eloquent on the subject of the importance in this life of being a Christian. He was more or less paraphrasing the old nursery rhyme . . . `Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief; Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.' He soared to a grand climax by emphasizing that as a Christian, a person makes a better doctor; as a Christian a man will be a better lawyer; as a Christian he will make a better merchant; and finally, as a Christian, he will make a better thief!"
That Sin Of The Body
The late Ben M. Bogard, like most Baptist preachers, contended that it was impossible for his soul to sin, and that any sin of which he might be guilty would only be a sin of the body, and not of the soul. Said he, "My soul sin? No. 'Has Brother Bogard ever sinned?' In my soul I do not. I am as perfect as God himself so far as my soul is concerned. Then what about my body? It does sin." (Hardeman-Bogard Debate, page 309) It is right interesting to compare Bogard's declaration with the statement of Paul that "Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1 Cor. 5:18) Bogard said only his body sinned; Paul said the only sin within the body is fornication. Hm-m-m!
Removing Unqualified Elders
When the editor's son, Jefferson David Tant, goes to Florida Christian College in September he will have as his room-mate Nathaniel Cooper, a fine young gospel preacher from Ireland, who is spending a few years in the States. Nat was telling us a few days ago of a harrowing experience he had recently when he preached one Sunday at Elk City, Oklahoma. There had been a bit of unrest in the Elk City congregation, and about 1:30 o'clock in the morning Nat was roused out of sleep by the frantic ringing of the telephone, and an excited voice urging him to go immediately to the home of one of the elders; it seemed one of the more bellicose brethren was already enroute to this elder's home for the avowed purpose of giving said elder a liberal dose of shot-gun pellets. "Why was he going to shoot the elder?" we asked Nat as he was later recounting the story to us. "Well, I don't know exactly; but I did hear some talk to the effect that the brother wasn't scripturally qualified to be an elder." Wow! Have they started already shooting them for that? (P.S. At latest reports there hadn't been any blood-shed yet in Elk City; let's hope there won't be. It would be an awful precedent to set.)
Books?
Books ? Bibles ? Commentaries ? What do you need? The Gospel Guardian can supply you with just about anything in print. Write us at Box 980, Lufkin, Texas, and let us help you get the book you want.
Ancient Landmarks
This fine gospel paper was started six years ago, and has enjoyed a steady and consistent growth ever since. It's circulation now is at the highest point in the six year period, and is growing constantly. The paper is an eight-page monthly, and is designed especially for the non-Christian. Write us for particulars concerning our unique mailing plan. Many congregations are finding this the most effective literature they have ever used in attempting to reach the outsider.
Remember When?
If you get discouraged now and then at "too much wrangling" in the papers, we can think of nothing more salutary than to read some of the back issues of the Gospel Advocate and Firm Foundation. We happen to have a bound volume of the Firm Foundation for the year 1909. And we see an announcement in it of a debate to be held in Dallas, Texas, in January of that year between Geo. W. Phillips and A. W. Young. The subject of debate was the "order of worship." Is there anybody in the church now who still contends for the "order of worship" idea?
Correction
In the June 25 issue we published the copy of a letter from Brother Gayle Oler to Roy D. Spears, in reply to an enquiry Brother Spears had sent concerning the control of Boles Home. The letter, as published, was dated September 20, 1953. Well, we're fast — but never quite that fast. Correct date for the letter: September 20, 1950.
Available
"I am available for full time preaching work. I would prefer to preach for a congregation not able to support a full time preacher. If anybody is interested, write me at once."
Wayne T. Hall 512 S. Logan St.
Denver, Colorado
"Sound" Brethren, No Doubt
From a news report in the June 11 Gospel Guardian: "Brethren of our own membership filled the pulpit in my absence, and obviously did it yell." (P.S. June 11 was the week the editor himself did the proof-reading. Choice Bryant, when he sent in the report, wrote it "well.")