Overflow
One For The Records
Brother James P. Needham of Haynesville, Louisiana, informs us there is a Negro congregation in that area which proudly calls itself the "Sanctified, Made Holy, And No Condemnation Whatsoever To My Soul Church." Whew!
Bible Names
That reminds us of the common practice in the England of Cromwell's day of giving children names of mottoes or Bible verses. In English cemeteries to this day can be found stones bearing the names of "Be-Steadfast Eylarde," "Flee-Fornication Andrews," "Hew-Agag-In-Pieces Robinson," "Praise-God Barebone," and "If - Christ - Had - Not - Died - For -Thee - Thou - Hadst - Been - Damned Barebone." This last named was a very famous English physician, and was known to his contemporaries as "Dr. Damned Barebone."
Who Said That?
"A congregation has no right to build anything larger than it is able to support." — E. R. Harper (Tulsa Lectures, 1938)
And Who Said This?
"It has no right whatever to bind any other congregation to any program of work of its own selection. Each congregation must retain its autonomy. Any effort that destroys the independence of the local congregation runs straight toward sectarianism, if not Romanism." — E. R. Harper (Tulsa Lectures, 1938)
And Who Has Changed?
Those two quotations sound like some of the fanatical "Guardian boys" — one of whom Brother Harper was which back in 1938. And while we're on the subject: In 1933 or 1934 (our informant is not certain of which year) Brother Harper solicited contributions from churches to Freed Hardeman College; ten years later he opposed such contributions. In his fight against Harding College Brother Harper was against the school; then for it; then against it; then for it — and all of his switches on this subject are a matter of record. H-m-m-m, who was it who said something about "Too many of you boys have 'changed your positions' too many times on too many things"?
Corresponding secretary We've had several inquiries as to the identity of the "corresponding secretary" of the Digressive (Texas) congregation in Liberal County who had an appeal in the Gospel Guardian a few weeks ago for help in a program for world-wide evangelism. Dr. John J. Brainstorm is the worthy preacher of this fine congregation. And the corresponding secretary, who prepared the letter we published, carries a name that is well known to all faithful Christians everywhere. His name is Wallace.
A "Gentle Man" Has Gone
We cannot think of Brother W. W. Freeman, who left us last month, in any term other than that of "gentleness." Suffering cruelly and unjustly at the hands of his brethren some thirty years ago, he came through the ordeal with his faith in God unshaken -. — and, what's more, with his faith in man (his brethren) not embittered. His was a gentle and lovable spirit, gracious always, and incapable of malice or ill will toward any man. He died as he had lived, with a calm dignity and an unwavering trust in God. Those who loved him will miss him, but their sorrow will be the normal grief at a brief separation, not the wild despair of those who have no hope. We honor his memory.
Sister Hailey
On the same day that Brother Freeman died, and about ten hours earlier, Sister Homer Hailey took her leave of earthly friends and earthly scenes to return to Him who is the Father of us all. Death to her came with frightening speed and unexpectedness. But she was not unprepared. Her faithful companion and her children will know that they do not weep alone in their sorrow; throughout the nation there will be many thousands who knew the Hailey family who will grieve at this blow which has fallen. But the worth of a life is not measured by its length; and the influence of Lois Hailey on her children, her husband, and her friends will live on. This writer rejoices that his son, David Tant, could be present with the Hailey family to lend some small aid and comfort during those first benumbing hours after the grim reaper had struck. Elsewhere in this issue we publish an article from Brother G. K. Wallace relative to Sister Hailey's illness and death which we think will be of particular interest to the many Hailey friends.
Sister Joe H. Blue
The death of Sister Joe Blue leaves another great veteran of the Cross to continue his earthly pilgrimage without the help and comfort of one who had been his faithful companion for nearly fifty-seven years. Of her, Brother Blue wrote not long ago, "We have been married fifty-six years and Mary has made two trips with me for meetings. She has been busy on the farm. Mary has been the bridge that has taken me over. She has always said, 'You go preach, and do all the good you can, and I will take care of the things at home'." A long illness and the final expenses of burial fall heavily on the shoulders of this grieving man of God who has given his life in preaching in places where his support has been meager and insufficient — and often non-existent. A letter addressed to Joe H. Blue, Salem, Arkansas, will reach him — and it won't hurt a bit if that letter has a check in it.
Out Of The Past
"I have never published, or approved without publication, the assumption of the elders of one church sending out a man to induce members of other churches to divert their means from their own church treasury, and to take it from the direction of their own elders, and place it under the direction of that one church. All such concentration of power is destructive of the activity and true liberties of the church. It tends to exalt the elders of the one church and degrade and dishonor those of the others. Why is not the church in Murfreesboro or Chattanooga as competent to direct the means of its members and its preachers as are the elders of the Woodland Street Church to do it for them? The whole movement is an effort to concentrate in a few hands the control of the activities and means of the churches. All such courses are subversive of God's order."
— David Lipscomb (G.A., 1890)