Have We Forgotten So Soon?
I have recently read two news accounts that made me go back and cheek my file. I found this in the "Gospel Guardian" of July 26, 1951:
"The recent letter from Brother George Hook stating that S. D. Garrett had been teaching premillennialism at Wuyuwuyu in S. Rhodesia made very interesting reading to me. Brother Garrett has in the past worked with . . . . and has been in full fellowship with nearly all the workers in Northern Rhodesia. He had charge of Brother W. N. Short's printing while Brother Short was in the States about two years ago. While Garrett was printing 'Rays of Light,' a gospel paper for the white people of South Africa, he printed frequent articles from R. H. Boll, E. L. Jorgenson, and other well known premillennialists.
"During a discussion we had last year (the night of May 21, 1950) Brother Short was subjected to some criticism for having called on S. D. Garrett to preach at Namwianga. Brother and Sister Short both warmly defended Garrett, and denied that he was a premillennialist. Brother Short said he had known Garrett for ten years, had worked closely with him, had often discussed the doctrine, and knew that Garrett was not a premillennialist."
So I was a little surprised when I saw in the Christian Chronicle of August 18, 1954 the picture of W. N. Short and an article telling about his work. In this article Brother Short lists the needs of the work as more dormitory space, more teachers for the school and more printing equipment. He ends the article by appealing for contributions from congregations or individuals. In the first part of the article he lists the work in Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia with the total number of evangelists and students thus lumping all the work together. (I take it from this that Brother Short is still working in fellowship with the premillennialists and their sympathizers.)
The next article to catch my attention was in the Firm Foundation of February 22, 1955 on the editorial page. It told of Brother Short's visit to the Foundation office. I will quote part of it.
"Brother Short reports that the peoples of those areas are anxious for the gospel, and that the British government is most cooperative, even to the extent of providing most of the funds for schools, buildings, etc. The great needs, according to him, are more men willing to go, and more support from churches to sustain them."
Now what I would like to know is just what the "Chronicle" and the "Foundation" have in mind by giving Brother Short such favorable publicity. Do they mean to leave the impression that they endorse his practice of working with premillennial brethren and their sympathizers? Does it mean that they endorse the school work in Northern Rhodesia, a combination of state, church, and school, as shown by his reports? Do they mean that they will endorse the Churches of Christ Missions, N. Rhodesia (an organization that is a legal body, controlling the property, thus controlling much of the work, by hiring teachers, etc.). Do they endorse this missionary society under another name? Do they know that since the article mentioned in the Guardian above that Short has continued to send reports and to receive support from them (M.M., Nov. '52) to the Missionary Messenger (premillennial publication out of Louisville, Kentucky)? I have received no information that would indicate that Brother Short has changed either his doctrine or practice since the Guardian report of 1951.
The native African field certainly needs workers. I would like to see a number of faithful men enter that great ripe field. However, I would want to see them go supported either by free will offerings from Christians and sent directly to the field or to work and support themselves. I would not care to see any go out as a member of the premillennial party (or for that matter of the Church of Christ party) but as simple free Christians and members of the Lord's church. I would like to see them working as independent Christians and not under and as a part of the "Churches of Christ, Missions, N.R."