The Overflow
Paralogism That's a word this writer had never used. So when William Wallace sent in an article with that word in the title, we pulled down the trusty desk dictionary: "A fallacy in reasoning of which the reasoner is unconscious; any false reasoning." Now we know the right word to describe the character of several articles we've seen in print (not in the Guardian). They were written by men who were unconscious!
A drop-dead attendance We see where some of the churches over the country are developing "friendly feuds" in their campaigns to out-do one another in Bible School attendance. Why doesn't one of them put on a "Drop-dead Attendance Campaign"? What is a drop-dead attendance? Why that's the attendance figure they can publish in the Gospel Advocate and it will be so big the other crowd will immediately drop dead with envy.
The best Then there was that church whose preacher had a reputation for raving, fuming, ranting fanaticism. Over and over again through the years decent and respectable elements of the congregation left and went to other churches. But in spite of it all, year after year, this congregation was able to get some of the best "big-name" preachers in the country for their meetings. They pay handsomely. Which led a slightly cynical observer to remark that "they get the best preachers money can buy for their meetings' H-m-m.
Mariolatry It is not without significance that two of the three dogmas defined by the Roman Catholic Church since the Council of Trent (1543-63) have concerned the Virgin Mary: her Immaculate Conception (1854), and her Assumption into heaven (1950). The other dogma defined was the Infallibility of the pope (1870). John A. Flynn, president of Catholic St. John's University in Brooklyn recently said, "It is not unlikely that Mary will be proclaimed in a definition of doctrine as Co-Redemptrix of the human race, that next the dogma of Mediatrix of all graces may be promulgated, and that finally the definition of her queenship, as participating with her Son in the power of ruling the world, may be proclaimed."
"In a neighborly way"
"We have received a copy of the 'List of Preachers' gotten up by Brother Shepherd. Brother Shepherd has done much correspondence and paying postage in getting up this list of preachers. A few days before this was ready, the list he got up last year was reprinted, with a few additions, and sent out in a neighborly way by the Firm Foundation." ( — David Lipscomb, Gospel Advocate, January 20, 1910.) And how is that for a "sneaky" sort of trick?
"The proof' he says!
Brother Harper says he has "the proof" that this writer now approves of the "one man missionary society" as practiced by Don Carlos Janes and others. Well, well. We suspect he keeps that "proof" in the same folder with his scriptural proof of "Herald of Truth's" right to exist. Because both are non-existent. It wasn't long ago that he informed us he had ABSOLUTE-PROOF Cleon Lyles of Little Rock, Arkansas, had entered into a conspiracy with the Gospel Guardian to "crucify E. R. Harper"; He doesn't have proof; he has delusions.
Thornton Crews ill Friends of Brother Thornton Crews will be concerned to know that he underwent an extremely serious operation on May 18 for the removal of a section of the large intestine which showed a cancerous condition. If the entire affected area was removed, Brother Crews can expect a normal recovery; but it will probably be some weeks before it becomes evident whether any of the growth was missed in the lengthy operation. Meanwhile, his friends may write him at Route 5, Box 664, Pensacola, Fla.
Warren-Fuqua debate Brother Thomas B. Warren and Brother E. C. Fuqua, both of Fort Worth, will begin a written debate on the marriage question in the August issue of the Vindicator. We do not have the exact wording of the proposition, but the discussion will have to do with whether or not a person living with a second or third companion is required to dissolve that union upon obeying the gospel.
Guam needs help We ask you to read the report by Brother William D. Medearis elsewhere in this issue. The brethren in Guam are deserving of help, and this appeal should not go unnoticed.
Opposed to sin!
Some brethren get wonderfully enthusiastic in their opposition to digression from the New Testament pattern — until you begin to get specific in pin-pointing certain digressions. Then they excuse and justify every single one of them. A lecturer at the Abilene lectures last Spring set forth clearly, positively, and distinctly the New Testament teaching on congregational, local church autonomy, etc,. etc., and then declared, "I am familiar with all the programs and projects now being promoted among the brethren; and I don't know of a one of them that tends in any way to violate a single one of these principles!" Whew! We're sure this brother opposes sin; he could probably work up a good sweat fighting sin — but of course nobody in his congregation would ever in any way be the least bit guilty of any of the things he opposes! Oh, no.
Pity the poor devil We've mentioned this once before on this page, but we always get a chuckle every time we recall a cartoon that appeared several years ago in one of the popular magazines. The preacher was taking five-foot strides into the pulpit with an angry and determined scowl on his face. Off to the side one deacon happened to see the fire in the preacher's eye and turned to his fellow-deacon with: "Oh, brother! I'd hate to be in the devil's shoes this morning?'
From Tarrant, Alabama
"Since we have begun the systematic distribution of 1,000 copies of "Ancient Landmarks" each month to people in Tarrant and Birmingham, we have been having twenty-five to thirty new people present each Sunday morning whom we had never had in services before. The only way we can account for this sudden increase is through Ancient Landmarks and the full page ad we carry on the back each month. We are highly gratified." — R. H. Parish, Tarrant, Ala. (If you are interested in the plan which has been so highly successful at Tarrant, write us for particulars.)