"That The Brethren May Know" -- No. 2
This is the second installment in my review of a brochure entitled, "That the Brethren May Know," compiled and circulated by the elders of the Highland Church in Abilene, Texas, in defense of their radio and television projects which they have built, but are not able to support.
In the expressed opinion of the Highland elders (Brochure, page 1, paragraph 2), this booklet is the best they have to offer in justification of the way they are operating a radio program which they call "Herald of Truth." Therefore, I am reviewing this pamphlet, rather than other matter which they think is inferior to the brochure, because I want to give due consideration to what they think is their best.
5. The Allegation Of Coercion And Pressure Tactics.
Brother Glenn Wallace, a minister in the College Church of Christ, Abilene, wrote an article in which he raised a question as to the scripturalness of the way the Highland brethren were conducting "Herald of Truth." This article was the topic of much conversation among members of the churches in Abilene and other places (Brochure, page 1, paragraph 1). All this eventually became the occasion of a meeting of the Highland elders with some of the elders of the College Church where Glenn worked (Brochure, page 9, last paragraph).
When the events of that meeting were made known, many brethren in many places over the nation interpreted (and still do interpret) said events as "pressure tactics" by the Highland elders on the College Church elders to suppress Glenn Wallace in his criticism of the way Herald of Truth was being operated.
A surprisingly large amount of space in the Highland booklet, "That the Brethren May Know," is devoted to this charge of coercion and pressure; more than is devoted to any other topic. The Highland elders, E. R. Harper and Logan Buchanan, all vigorously attack this charge.
Why they attach so much importance to it, I do not know. If they should succeed in proving that the allegation of "old Digressive pressure tactics" is as false and vicious as they think it is, that still would not prove that Glenn Wallace is wrong and the Highland elders right, in their endeavor to build and make permanent something they are not able to support. It would only prove that hundreds of brethren all over the country are wrong in their interpretation of the actions of the Highland elders in going into that conference with the brethren where Glenn was preaching.
6. The Highland Elders Answer The "Pressure" Charge.
Under the heading, "Tant's 'Pressure' Charges Answered," (Brochure, page 9) the Highland elders admit that they did go into a conference with elders of the church where Glenn Wallace preaches; but they add that "this meeting was characterized by the true Christian spirit," that there "was no pressure exerted by either group," and that the "charge is false."
What does this "answer" by the Highland elders prove? Does it prove the scripturalness of the way Herald of Truth is being promoted? Of course not. Does it prove that hundreds of brethren are wrong in their interpretation of the conduct of the Highland elders? Certainly not. What does the "answer" mean? It means that the Highland elders did not intend to use "pressure tactics"; it means they do not think that this meeting with the College Church elders should be interpreted by anybody, as "old Digressive pressure tactics." Has anybody charged the Highland elders with intentionally using "old Digressive pressure tactics"? Many brethren think the Highland elders committed "a grievous mistake," and displayed "a lack of judgment which is appalling," and some have so stated; but I do not know of any person who thinks they deliberately and purposely used coercion and pressure. I do not think the Digressives deliberately and purposely used "pressure tactics" in trying to stop opposition to their missionary society centralization; they have another name for their coercion and pressure. I do not think the Highland elders deliberately and purposely used Digressive pressure methods to suppress Glenn Wallace; they have another name for their coercion and pressure; they call it a discussion of "a mutual problem," "characterized by the true Christian spirit"; but as I see it, it is just plain "old Digressive pressure tactics" unintentionally exerted, and I am not alone in this opinion.
Is it possible for either the missionary society promoters or the sponsoring church promoters to exert pressure without knowing it? If it is possible for one, why is it not possible for the other?
7. Brother E. R. Harper's Testimony On Pressure And The Right Of Elders.
Brother E. R. Harper, a minister in the Highland Church, contributes two articles of six pages in the Highland booklet, in which he makes long and frequent attacks on the "pressure tactics" allegations.
I had heard charges of coercion and pressure against the Highland elders, but I was not convinced that they were guilty until I read these articles by Brother Ernest Rosenthal Harper. His two pieces reveal, beyond reasonable doubt, that the Highland elders did exert pressure on the College Church elders to "discipline" Glenn Wallace.
Ernest declares in vigorous words that the Highland elders, when falsely charged by a preacher, have the right "to go to the elders of the church where that preacher works and bring it before the elders"; thus he defends the right of the Highland elders to do precisely what they are charged with doing. Hear some of his own words:
"Now the elders at Highland are not going to any elders because of any preacher's 'scriptural objections' to our 'cause.' I deny that and ask for the proof. They have only become concerned when they have been falsely charged and they have the right, when so charged, to go to the elders of the church where that preacher works and bring it before the elders and that is the only right they have so far as getting corrections made.
"Suppose they went to the members of the churches where these elders work and undertook to discipline them? You talk about a 'howl' going up, why the church has never heard such protest as would be made against the Highland elders." (Brochure, page 5, paragraphs 2 and 3.)
Now let us analyze Brother Harper's declaration and implications: (1) The Highland elders did not go to Glenn Wallace and undertake "to discipline" him. (2) They went to the "elders of the church where that preacher works." (3) "They have the right" to do this. (4) They did not go because of Glenn's "scriptural objections to our cause." (5) "They have only become concerned when they have been falsely charged."
If the Highland elders did not go to the elders of the church where Glenn Wallace works to get them to "discipline" Glenn, why is Ernest trying so hard to defend their right to do it? Is he talking about some other case in which the Highland elders went to other elders to get a preacher disciplined? Did they ever do such a thing, except in Glenn's case? If he is not trying to prove that "they have been falsely charged" by Glenn Wallace and for that reason the Highland elders went to "the elders of the church where that preacher works," then what is he talking about?
On page nine of the Highland booklet the elders expressed wonderment as to the source of information which would lead one to conclude that they are guilty of "pressure tactics"; the source of information that convinced me that they are guilty of "pressure tactics" is Brother Ernest Rosenthal Harper. And I think every lawyer in Abilene would agree that Brother Harper's ardent endeavor to prove that the Highland elders "have the right" to do just what they are accused of doing, would very likely cause any competent juror to think that the Highland elders are guilty as charged.
8. Brother Logan Buchanan's Testimony.
On page twelve of the Highland booklet, the elders have seen fit to present a full page of testimony from Brother Logan Buchanan, under the heading of what Logan calls "Brotherly Rebuke," but in reality is a vicious attack on all who interpret the conduct of the Highland elders as "coercion and pressure."
Let us notice some of the ugly epithets and vicious phrases of Logan's testimony which the Highland elders think will "bring the truth to more brethren." Logan calls the pressure charges "a most vicious kind of falsehood"; an "ungodly example of slandering the elders of a church of the Lord"; "slanderous charges"; "entirely unwarranted and unjustified attack"; he goes on to say that those who continue to circulate "idle rumors" are "not worthy of the confidence of these fine brethren" of the Highland Church.
So that is what Logan and the Highland elders think of the brethren all over the nation who think that pressure was used to suppress Glenn Wallace in his criticism of the way Herald of Truth is being operated.
After reading Logan Buchanan's stout words, some may wonder who Logan is. Well, at the time of these events, Logan was a student-preacher in a Methodist school in Dallas. When he first heard of this allegation of pressure, he "was skeptical enough of it to fly to Abilene and learn that it was not so." He proceeded to write "a discussion of it." Upon being told by Brother Tant "that it would not appear in print until perhaps in March," he hastened to "send this short squib to place on the record in time for brethren to consider it at once." So he got it "on the record" on page twelve of the Highland pamphlet, and brethren are blessed with this Methodist school student's opinion as set forth in his "squib," and a few brethren have utilized the edifying privilege "to consider it at once."
I do not mean to imply that Logan has joined the Methodists; he is just one of their school boys. What they finally will make of him, if he doesn't flunk his courses and quit school, is anybody's guess. If the Highland elders would have another meeting "characterized by the true Christian spirit," and repudiate the testimony of this student-preacher of a Methodist school, and apologize for letting him "fly to Abilene," and get on the witness stand at all, they would do more for the cause of Christ than they accomplished in that other meeting "characterized by the true Christian spirit," but which brought trouble and anxiety to Glenn Wallace, a gospel preacher whose soundness had never been questioned until he publicly opposed the Romish doctrine of centralization, as imitated by the Highland elders. They ought to be ashamed to circulate with approval Logan Buchanan's unrighteous attack on scores of Christians who have criticized them for their coercion tactics. These Christians who have criticized Highland's methods love truth, righteousness and fair play as much as any man connected with Herald of Truth.
9. No Testimony From Glenn Wallace Or The College Church Elders.
Why is there not one word of testimony in the Highland booklet from Glenn Wallace or the College Church elders? I do not know why such testimony is absent; it may be that the Highland elders could have obtained favorable testimony from them, if they had wanted it; I do not know.
I do know that one of two things is true: (1) the Highland elders could not get any favorable testimony from the College Church elders on whom the alleged pressure was put, or from Glenn Wallace, the victim of the alleged pressure; or (2) they could have obtained favorable testimony from them, but selected Logan Buchanan's testimony as more convincing.
(1) If they could not get any favorable testimony from Glenn Wallace and the elders of the College Church, they ought not to be surprised that so many Christians are of the opinion that they did use "old Digressive pressure tactics," as charged; (2) if they could have obtained that favorable testimony from Glenn and the College Church elders, but preferred to use Logan's testimony instead, then I think every lawyer in Abilene would agree that the Highland elders displayed "a lack of judgment which is appalling," in their selection of testimony and witnesses.