Uiv
Charity and Children
'‘BEHOLD HE THAT KEEPETH ISRAEL SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP'
VOLUME 68
THOMASVILLE, N. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 10,1955
NUMBER 33
Editorially
Speaking
Next Seminary Should Be
Located in the Midwest
AU signs are pointing to at least
one or two more Southern Baptist
seminaries by 1960. With 6,500 minis
terial students enrolled in Baptist
colleges this year—and 7,200 expected
by 1960—provision must be made for
them to attend Baptist seminaries in
stead of non-Baptist.
Where should these additional sem
inaries be located? In a convincing,
sensibly-written editorial, the Word
and Way of Missouri advances the
case for a midwestern site and we are
inclined to go along with Editor H. H.
McGinty until someone presents a
stronger case.
Ha suggests St. Louis as a possibil
ity and if there’s criticism that it is
too close to Louisville (about half a
day’s drive), he will be satisfied with
Kansas City, Mo., which is further to
the west or Springfield which has two
senior collegef and is an established
cultural center. This north central
section of our convention territory
needs a seminary, not only for conven
ience’s sake, but it would greatly
strengthen the Baptist witness in that
section of the United States.
The five seminaries we have are
scattered over a wide area—South
eastern serving this section of the
country; New Orleans for the south
central section; Southern for the
northeastern; Southwestern at Fort
Worth, Texas; and Golden Gate for the
Far West. Missouri’s bid should be
carefully considered. The only other
section that could .submit a compar
able argument would be the Memphis,
Tenn., area and since so many of our
Baptist offices are already concen
trated in Nashville, perhaps it would
be best to select a site in another
state.
• e •
Friend of N. C. Bajitist
Boys Will Be Missed
It’s not often that W'e mention pas
toral changes in this editorial column,
hut this one is^unusual because the
change Involves an unusual man.—
Fred Forester of Bessemer City who
becomes Brotlierhood Secretary of
Louisiana on March 15.
In his leaving. North Carolina will
lose its busiest and most effective
Royal Ambassador leader. Fred
Forester has a way with boys that is
envied by all who have ever"tried to
work with them. To say that he is
unique is putting it too mildly. There
never was and never will be but one
Fred Forester. His warm heart, his
evangelistic zeal, and his drive in
getting things done will long be re
membered in this state. Thera are
“bigger” preachers and more polished
pulpiteers among us, but when it
comes to his special gifts, Fred
Forester is in a class by himself.
He is not only a boys’ man, but a
man’s man; hence, he is perfectly
fitted for his new work which will
also include supervision of R.A. work.
In his “part time” work as an R.A.
specialist he has influenced many
boys in thinking of the mission field,
among them the editor’s brother,
Worth, in Japan. There’s no telling
what he will accomplish on a full
time basis. Bon voyage, Fred, you’ll
be missed in North Carolina!
* « *
Editorial-ettes: Brief
And To The Point
J"wo Billy Grahams
Two “Billy Grahams” were “fight
ing” in Madison Square Garden last
week. On Friday night, Billy Graham,
the boxer, was fighting Chico Vejar.
The night before w'hen Evangelist
Billy Graham was holding his first
New York service, ha drew a laugh
from the crowd when he mentioned
the fight signs posted prominently in
the Garden. One thing is sure—the
“fighter of sin” attracted the biggest
crowd as 22,000 were inside the Gai'-
den and more than 5,000 outside.
Powerful Witnesses
Tims magazine last week referred
to Roy Rogers and his wife. Dale
Evans, as “two of the most active
spokesmen for the Lord in the United
States.” More and more they are
injecting the Christian message into
their television programs by urging
children to go to Sunday school and
reminding parents to take them. Dale’s
touching book, “Angel Unaware” tell
ing the story of their mentally defec
tive daughter who died at the age of
two has sold over 400,000 copies and is
holding a level of 2,000 copies a week.
Her newest book is “My Spiritual
Diary.” On Edw’ard R. Murrow’s
“Person to Person” television program
last Friday night, the famed news
caster was caught a bit off guard by
the straightforward testimonies of
Roy and Dale. It was apparent he
wasn’t accustomed to such bold Chris
tian witnesses on his program. This
didn’t deter Roy and Dale from put
ting in a good word for their Lord.
Ladies Meet In Asheville 3Iarch 15-17. . . .
SPEAKERS ON WMV CONVENTION PROGRAM
MRS. C. GORDON MADDREY
—busy president will speak on
“The Sufficient Saviour.’’ This
message will be one of the many
responsibilities on her shoulders
during the meeting.
MRS. MARVIN GARRETT—
has been missionary to Nigeria!
since 1946, teaching in Woman’s!
Training College and Boys’ High!
School. She is now in states,
living at Wake Forest.
MISS lONE GRAY—associate
editor of The Commission and
press representative of Foreign
Mission Board. Last year she
took three months’ trip to mis
sion fields in the Orient.
MRS. W. W. LAWTON, Jr.—
is well-known in North Carolina,
wife of the Rev. Wesley W. Law-
ton, Jr. Their most recent duty
has been in Manila as evangelis
tic workers.
MISS FRANCES L 0 R E N E
TILFORD—now in states on fur
lough. After Communist inva
sion of China, she was trans
ferred to Formosa and she is
expected to tell about it.
MISS LUCY ERNELLE
BROOKS—native of Bridgeton,
N. C. and Mars Hill graduate has
been missionary in Nigeria since
1947. She is now home on fur
lough.
DON’T CRY OVER THEM . . .
Rapid Growth of Baptists Producing
Problems, But Lefs Rejoice In Them
Southern Baptists face so many problems we should shout and praise
the Lord. Most of the time when problems are mentioned it is time for
sadness rather than rejoicing. But not so in our case!
Most of the problems facing Southern Baptists and many of our churches
are caused because God is being so good to us. For one thing Southern
Baptists constitute one of the fastest growing denominations in the history
of the Christian religion. Rapid growth always produces “growing pains”
and causes situations for adjustment to arise. Adjustment of plans and
policies always is problematical.
For another thing God is calling so many Southern Baptist young men
into the ministry that our seminaries are filled even beyond their capacity.
More seminaries seem to be the only answer to this problem. Building and
financing is always problematical.
We know of scarcely one church in the western part of the United States
that does not face a serious building problem. There is only one thing that
causes this problem and that is people. We thank God for the building
problems facing our churches. We would have cause for alarm sure enough
if we had half-filled churches and had to shut down churches as some other
groups have been known to do.
God is honoring the Southern Baptist witness to his gospel in such a way
as to cause us missionary and financial problems, leadership training
problems, Christian education problems, Christian life problems, fellowship
problems, and others.
We have no complaint. We would not evade our problems, and we would
not shift them to other shoulders. Rather we thank God for counting us
worthy of his blessings, and we pray for his guidance as we seek solutions.
—Baptist Beacon
iDoctors And Preachers
f
Doctors and preachers have a natur
al meeting in their service's to man
kind. The doctor is seeking to retain
life in the body and the minister seeks
to prepare that life to depart in good
shape. As a minister should seek,
through his spiritual ministry, to aid
the doctor in his task of keeping a
person healthy and alive as long as
possible, even so doctors can aid great
ly in encouraging the individual to lay
hold onto spiritual life also. It is true
that the doctor ministers to physical
life and the preacher to spiritual life.
Both of these types of lives are what
personality is composed of and these
two professions will naturally have to
meet at the individual’s bedside to
give him the full ministry he deserves.
Neither the doctor nor the minister
should feel an independence toward the
other. These two professions could
work together with great mutual bene
fit in the services they seek to render
mankind.
Preachers, in their ministries to the
sick, should develop a definite tech
nique. This is too important a min
istry- to leave to chance. There are
many good books on visiting the sick
and working with doctors and it would
do well for us all to develop the best
skill in this service possible.
—Alabama Baptist
V.: , 7-^ - -it VJ/
BUT KEEP IT ON HIGH PLANE . ..
No Institution Perfect; Hence,
Some Criticism Can Be Expected
Criticizing institutions seems to be a favorite pastime of some people.
The late Dr. Z. T. Cody once wrote a very good editorial on this subject;
and we have decided to borrow the subject and make a few observations of
our own on it. Incidentally, what Dr. Cody .wrote, about 1927, is still quits
applicable to current conditions; and this editorial is strongly influenced by
what he said.
First of all, let us note that all institutions are criticized more or less.
Also, since no institution is perfect and since most institutions belong to the
people, all are subject to criticism. The problem is that of keeping criticism
on ..a high plane and guiding it on sound principles toward constructive
ends. Much of the criticism which is directed toward institutions, such as
schools for example, may be neither on a high plane of principle nor con
structive in its approach. Instead, it may be merely a general intimation
that something is wrong, and it may be given publicity so as to put the
institution on the defensive before its constituency. It may, therefore, do
more harm than good.
Also, as Dr. Cody suggested in his article, a critic of an institution may
use facts in such a way as to deal falsely with an institution. In any
institution, there may be some things that are not good; but that w’ould not
necessarily mean that the people who are responsible for the institution
approve and support the wrong. To state certain .facts which in themselves
are not good, or which at least sound bad, may be totally unfair unless the
report of the facts is properly related to the whole truth about the institution.
As a practical suggestion, would it not always be the fair, scriptural,
Christian thing to do if one withheld his criticism of an institution until he
had gone, personally, to those in charge of it and talked over the question
at issue? Too often, it seems, critics of institutions engage in indiscreet
public and private talk which is hurtful without any previous discussion
with those most closely concerned.
Let us note also that there is- a tendency for institutions, or those wFo
are closely connected with them, to get on the defensive too easily. After
all, institutions and those who w'ork in them are imperfect and subject to
criticism. Also, all of us should have enough Christian grace to keep us from
any bitterness or resentment, even when we are criticized unjustly and
hurtfully. It is only fair to respect the motives of one’s critics and to
seek to ascertain the substance of their criticism and learn from it. Criticism,
properly received, is helpful.
Then criticism may not be so effective as the one offering it might
suppose. Institutions have a w'ay of resisting and absorbing criticism,
and many good institutions are still doing quite well despite the fact that
critics have tried long and hard to discredit them. Criticism of institutions
might be taken too seriously, by either the critics or the institutions and
their supporters. Generally speaking, however, we believe people are
inclined to take “with a grain of salt” what critics have to say to the
detriment of w'ell-established and honorable institutions.—Baptist Courier
Churches^ Like Pastors^ Ought
To Be Honest In All They Ho
Ci.arches. ought to be honest, as
they expect their pastors to be.
Churches expect their pastors to pay
their debts and often at the same time
are slow to pay their own. Corporate
church honesty is as important as
personal honesty. Churches may not
intend to be dishonest, but their
attitudes and methods of doing busi
ness often result in the same thing.
There are two areas in which
churches are frequently dishonest.
One of these is in their attitudes to
wards merchants and their suppliers.
Many churches take the attitude and
expect the merchants to give them
special consideration and price cuts
on every thing they buy. After the
price has been cut, they often ask
the merchant to throw in something
else. After the cheapest price is
obtained, on credit, there is a period
of waiting to pay the bill. The bills
can go unnoticed and unpaid for
months.
If churches run accounts they
should be paid promptly. If the church
■has a fall-off in offerings, or there is
some unusual financial difficulty,
someone should immediately visit the
church creditors and tell them of the
situation. Ask the creditors to give
the church a little more time to pay
their obligations. It is the height of
r senurtesy and dishonesty for an in
dividual or a church to ignore and
dodge creditors. Being straightfor
ward and explaining the financial
core ition of the church will do much
to elevate its place of respect in the
community.
'The second field is expecting to get
something for nothing, especially a
free sermon. Churches which give
their pastors a vacation ought to fur
nish and pay the person who supplies
the pulpit. If there is no provision in
the budget for a pulpit supply, one
should be made, or an offering taken
to compensate the visiting preacher.
—Illinois Baptist
Clarity Of Preaching
There will always be some in a con
gregation who do not get the speak
er’s message. Their minds are on
something else and, therefore, they
cannot concentrate on what is being
said. The clarity of any message
largely depends upon getting the
hearer’s attention.
Inability to learn, and hear what is
being said, is largely bound up in the
tendency of the person not to concen
trate. God knew this and constantly
called on people to hear His voice and
Jesus was constantly seeking the at
tention of men by using expressions
like Behold!, Lo!, and 'Verily, Verily!
Some of our best preachers are not
understood and the fault does not rest
entirely with the speaker but with the
people in the congregation who fail to
alert themselves to what is going on.
■We practice listening when one is
speaking and find that it is most re
warding. Even when the speaker does
not say something deep we find our
thoughts with depth in them becauss
he suggests deep things. A sermon,
like food, will taste good only when
we concentrate on the receiving of it.
Many people eat tasty meals and get
up without realizing they have eaten
such good food simply because their
minds were on other things. Effec
tive preaching depends upon the hear
er’s giving attention as much as it
does upon the one who has composed
the speech and delivered it. Many
rewarding messages have fallen on
rocky ground because the hearer paid
no attention.—Alabama Baptist
Steady Me
- '
" SrSii " . ji ti ^
BIBLE FOR ALL NATIONALITIES—Home Board missionaries placed the Bibles in the
hands of these Spanish girls, part of the program financed by the Annie Armstrong offering of
Woman’s Missionary Union ■which is being received in many churches. (Home Board Photo)
I steady me, 0 God!
Life moves at such a pace;
I need Thy hand upon my shoulder, so
I may go slow, and see Thy face!
Steady me, 0 God!
Life is so full of noise;
I need Thy steady quietness until
I may grow still—and know true poise.
Steady me, 0 God!
I. '•> is so full of ways;
I need Thy light upon my road, so I
No wrong ways try—through all my
days!
Steady me, 0 God! Till I at last arrive
"Wherever Thou dost want me," and
there may
Full quiet stay—and cease to strive!
—Joh» H. Strong
TALENTED G-W EDITOR—
Miss MaiT Philbeck, sophomore
from Boiling Springs, is respon
sible for much of the fine mater
ial about Gardner-Webb on Page
2 this week. She is editor of the
student newspaper, The Pilot,
and also a member of the debat
ing team.