The Overflow
"Brother Odor"
A card from Murray Marshall tells us of the digressive preacher up St. Louis way who was advertised by his brethren as, "Brother Odor, a strong gospel preacher!" And no doubt his sermons were pungent. Or maybe just odoriferous.
Gospel Guardian — last year
"And James A. Warren is a typical product of Pepperdine College. More than some others he has absorbed and partake of the spirit and philosophy of his teachers; he did not resist and fight against that teaching as did men like John Wolfe, Otis Gatewood, Hoyt Houchen, and Floyd Thompson... Unless he can fight his way back to the simple faith of the gospel, he is utterly lost and will most certainly abandon the Lord's church to affiliate with some of the ultra liberal denominational groups.
GG, August 28, 1952 One year later
On October 4, 1953, the weekly bulletin of the ultra liberal First Christian Church in Paducah, Kentucky, had the following item: "New Members: On last Sunday morning the following united with our church: Mr. and Mrs. Glenn W. Maley, Jr., by statement from First Christian Church, Houston, Texas; Rev. James A. Warren by statement from Northwest Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois; and Mrs. Robert Vollmer by letter from the First Presbyterian Church, Paducah, Kentucky."
Elder's qualification Brother C. W. Bradley relates to us a strange incident that happened in a debate he attended in South Carolina. A Mormon elder was engaged with a gospel preacher in a rather warm discussion, during which the follower of Joseph Smith had referred several times to his own deep learning and wide education and had cast reflection on his opponent as an ignoramus. But it all came to naught when the Mormon debater began to read in all seriousness and in stentorian tones the qualifications of an elder, as follows: "For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no stinker, not greedy of filthy lucre ...." He got no further, for by this time the audience was uncontrollable.
Slightly out of date The Gospel Guardian last week got a letter addressed to "Brother B. W. Johnson" and ordering a set of his notes on the New Testament. The check in payment for them was made out to B. W. Johnson. Well, our customer got the books, all right; although Brother Johnson did not get the letter. Incidentally, if anybody else wants Johnson's Notes, we can fill your order. Only $5.00 for the set. And they make an ideal Christmas gift.
One man's influence The torrid election is over in Williamson County, Tennessee. The "Drys" lost the election to the "Wets" by a mere handful of votes. It is the considered judgment of some of the "Dry" leaders that the "soft" attitude of Brother J. M. Powell toward the liquor cause and his influence in the church and town defeated the prohibition effort. What a reputation for a gospel preacher to have earned.
Misprint.....
Did you see that "howler" in one of our gospel papers a few weeks back in which a brother in Oklahoma City (Twelfth and Drexel Church) was reporting that Brother McClung was to be the new preacher for that congregation. The brother wrote, 'We are glad to have Brother McClung as our preacher," but that wasn't the way it came out in the paper. It read, "We are glad to have Brother McClung, a sour preacher."
From Tice Elkins
"Dear Brethren: I am booking a few scattered meetings for 1954, and need more. My doctors assure me that I will be good as new when this winter is past. I am doing well, and full of hope .... I shall be ready by mid-April for a meeting anywhere west of the Mississippi, and eastward of same by mid-May. If any place needs or wants my service in a meeting, please write me, and give date you would like best." (Signed) Tice Elkins, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Remembering the poor We know a struggling little "mission" church up in Wyoming that is seeking to emulate the deeds of the Macedonian brethren in sending to "the poor saints which are in Jerusalem." This little band of Christians, receiving $100.00 per month from a church in Alabama, were so touched by the desperate plight of the poor saints in Lubbock that they are sending $10.00 per month from their scanty resources to relieve the suffering saints at Broadway!
Union meeting Comes now word to us of a church of Christ in a Texas town which has entered into an arrangement with the sectarian churches in that town to have "joint" services each fifth Sunday. It happened that the last such service took place in the building of the church of Christ; the sermon was delivered by the Baptist pastor; the singing was led by the Methodist preacher, who also led the prayer. This congregation also played host to a part of the Methodist District Conference in their regular meeting, and opened their meeting place to the Methodist preacher who conducted a "delegated youth conference" — whatever that is! No comment.
C. D. Crouch
"I noticed the editorial in the Guardian regarding Brother C. D. Crouch. He is one of the finest men I have ever known. He is solid and as sound as they come. I know of no man who has sacrificed as he has in the Northeast Arkansas section. He and his wife are a wonderful Christian couple, and any church will be blessed to have such a family with them. Brother Crouch never leaves anyone to guess where he stands on any question. I know the congregation in Dyess. They have been hard hit from the drought, and it is hard for them to have to let Brother Crouch go; but they simply cannot give him a living. Brother Crouch has the ripe experience of a long and useful work in the gospel; his mind is clear and keen, and he drives his car many a mile in furthering the cause of Christ. I want those who may be interested to know that here is a man who is solid for the truth. I can recommend him without any reservation."
— H. F. Sharp, Conway, Ark.