The Overflow
Not yet
We still have no response from Brother E. R. Harper as to what he plans to do about his solemn, public, and unequivocal pledge to debate the Herald of Truth with this writer in San Antonio, Texas, in the Highland Boulevard building there. Incidentally, we'd like to hear from any who may have taken him up on his invitation to visit his office and see the "manuscripts" of the Abilene debate. What did he say when you asked to see the chart on the "Church and the Individual" (which was deleted from the printed debate), and what was his response when you asked to see the outline on "Bible Authority Analyzed," which was also deleted? Advertisements and editorial cornment in James Walter Nichols' Christian Chronicle" give assurance that no material was deleted. That is a deliberate and cynical falsehood. Nichols and Harper know better.
No women presidents
One of our married readers (married to a woman) suggests that he is confident no female will ever occupy the White House as the chief executive of our nation. The reason? He says that no woman could ever bring herself to reply to a question with, "No comment."
Preacher of the week
One of the visionary publications in the land is going to feature an "Elder of the Month" column, giving a tribute to some "outstanding" bishop each month. One of our readers suggests that the Guardian get on the ball, and not be out-done in this fine "recognition" business. Only he wants us to do four-foldmore than others, and feature a "preacher of the week" section (and later on a "Christian of the day"). He proposes that all preachers who desire to compete for the honor shall submit an information sheet listing (1) how many invitations they turn down each week to bigger churches at higher salaries, (2) how many meetings they have to decline each month because they are already "booked up through 1965," (3) how many times the building has had to be enlarged to take care of the huge crowds coming to hear them preach, (4) how many hundreds of "responses" they average each month. Anybody want to compete for the honor of being listed in our "recognition" column?
Frascati to close
After several years of increasing difficulties of operation, the elders of the Brownfield, Texas, congregation have made decision to close down the orphan home at Frascati, Italy. This will be of more than passing interest This marks another major retreat in the ill-advised efforts of brethren to do "evangelism through benevolence."
"By majority rule and going to law"
The disgraceful action of certain brethren in Bakersfield, California, in going to law against the elders of the East Bakersfield congregation, in advocating 'majority rule' in place of the rule of elders, and in mob action to intimidate faithful Christians has called forth many letters of indignation and protest. Among them Brother Tant Williams of Houston, Texas, sends us an interesting quotation from Maurice Meredith's tract, "Instrumental Music In the Worship." Here is the quotation: "After some time the Christian Church did manage to gain control of this church and took the property (17th and Olive Streets church, St. Louis, Missouri) as they did in so many other places by majority rule and by going to law."
Keeping the record straight
Just to keep the record straight, the Harper-Tant Debate book can be ordered from the Gospel Guardian at $3.75 per copy. This gives you the garbled, incomplete version as put out by the now bankrupt Chronicle Publishing Company plus the "Supplement" added by us, which gives a part of the material deleted by Harper and Nichols. Our supply is limited. It will soon be exhausted. If you want the book, order now.
Central Christian College
Oklahoma City papers recently carried the announcement that George S. Benson of Searcy, Arkansas, had been appointed Chancellor of Central Christian College of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and that this school would shortly be moving to Oklahoma City. James O. Baird is president of the school.
Modernism
In the November 29th issue in our editorial "Modernism in Chicago" we carried several quotations from modernistic preachers as to their faith and attitude. These quotations were copied from a bulletin which comes to our desk, and we have misplaced or lost the original. Will the preacher who sent us that bulletin please send another, or else give us the source of the quotations your bulletin carried? Thanks:
The difference
In big cities the papers refer to him as "the eminent society playboy." But in small towns he is known as the town drunk.
Thomas Campbell on the conscience
"It is not the voice of the multitude, but the voice of truth that has power with the conscience, that can produce rational conviction and acceptable obedience. A conscience that awaits the decision of the multitude, that hangs in suspense for the casting of the majority, is a fit subject for the man of sin."
— Declaration and Address, 1809
"A building from God"
I saw a mourner standing at eventide over the grave of one dearest to him on earth. The memory of joys past came crowding on his soul. — "And is this," said he, "all that remains of one so loved and lovely? I call, but hear no answer. 0, my beloved one will not hear. 0, Death! inexorable Death! what hast thou done! Let me lie down and forget my sorrow in the slumbers of the grave!"
When he thought this in agony, the form of Christianity came by. He heard the song and transport of the great throng, which no man can number, around the throne. There were the spirits of the just made perfect — there was the spirit of her he mourned! Their happiness and hers was pure, permanent, and perfect.
The mourner then wiped away his tears, thanked God, and took courage. "All the days of my appointed time," said he, "will I wait, till my change cometh." He returned to life's duties no longer sorrowing as those who have no hope.
— Millennial Harbinger (1847)
Surrender!
Brother L. R. Wilson, new editor of the "Voice of Freedom" a paper dedicated to exposing and opposing Catholicism, has recently come forth with a public statement which is a clear, unequivocal, and undeniable surrender to the basic $ tenet of Catholicism! His contention is that when God commands us to DO something (like preaching the gospel or caring for the orphans) and does not give a specific law stating "how" it should be done, we have liberty to form additional organizations through which the church can work in doing the job (orphan homes, church-supported Christian colleges, etc.). This is an implicit denial of the "all-sufficiency" of the church, and provides the foundation for the building of a super ecclesiasticism — Catholicism.
Baptizing the baby
Brother C. M. Rhodes, gospel preacher in Tripoli, Libya, sends us a wry bit of humor from "Stars and Stripes," the army newspaper. Under the caption, "Weight Of All Flesh Falls Heavily On United Kingdom Baptizer," the following item appeared:
"Engield, England (AP) — The Re. Gordon Girling has appealed to his parishoners to baptize their babies sooner — and spare his aching back. 'To have thrust into one's arms at the font a baby weighing anything up to 30 pounds to hold and baptize at the same time is no light thing,' he wrote in his parish magazine."
Progress
From a brother in Texas we quote: "Here in we have learned this summer that a cow has a soul, and that a man's soul weighs three-fourths of an ounce. At the present time we have a petition up in the front of the building for people to sign to hold an election to vote this precinct dry from beer or whiskey. I understand the young people in another congregation in the city are getting up a "Church of Christ Bowling League . . . . We wonder what another fifteen or twenty years will bring forth."
Correction:
In the December 6 issue of the Gospel Guardian in Brother Marshall Patton's article on "Authority For Expediencies" a portion of a sentence was omitted. In paragraph 6, page 4, Brother Patton was made to say: "THIS IS NOT SO! Human judgment on the part of many people says that the piano is not sinful in itself." What he actually said was: "THIS IS NOT SO! Human judgment on the part of many people says that the piano is an aid. The piano is not sinful in itself."