READERS' EXCHANGE

 

Are you interested in joining me as I start a new denomination? We should call it The Generic Church. It will of course be the only path to unity if others will stop their nonsense and join us. You can be the pope. — Danny New, Long Branch, Tx 75669.

(I am reminded of the response made by that great economist, Ludwig von Mises, when asked what he would do if he were made dictator of the world. “Abdicate!,” he said. So if I somehow become a pope, my first official act would be to resign. Since generic means inclusive or general or “the whole thing,” the church is already generic. But in your jest you name the sin of sectarianism: it emphasizes some part to the neglect of the whole. — Ed.)

In re-reading your Stone-Campbell Movement I was reminded of a significant meeting back when I first came to Louisville in 1939.Daniel Sommer accepted E. L. Jorgenson’s invitation to speak at his church. He spoke for three nights, and on the third night a kindly looking, white-haired gentleman stood to pay his respects to Sommer. This was the first time I saw R.H. Boll. Daniel Sommer speaking at a so-called premillennial church at the invitation of E. L. Jorgenson and with R.H. Boll giving his blessing was a novelty. But I did not realize the novelty of it back then since I knew nothing of the dispute. This was before Sommer suffered blindness. Your book tells how Sommer made some enormous changes for the good. I recall being impressed by his fine spirit. — Ernest Lyon, Louisville, KY.

(I too saw Sommer that same year when he came to Freed-Hardeman College while I was a student there. I recall his booming voice and commanding presence, and the way he held his Bible against his chest and began by bellowing “Disciples of the Savior!” I suspect we were all afraid of him and we were certainly not aware of the history unfolding before us. — Ed.)

May God bless you abundantly and may this be the year of His coming. Enclosed is a check to renew my sub. For I do not want to miss an issue or a bound volume. Great Songs of the Church, Revised will make its appearance in February, Deo volente. This will culminate five years of labor of love on my part. May God be pleased to use it to His glory. The first copies will be in the auditorium for use at the ACU lectures. —Forrest McCann, Abilene, TX.

(Great Songs of the Church is almost certainly the most important hymnal in the history of Churches of Christ, and I am pleased that a revised edition is at hand. I recall visiting with the original compiler of the hymnal, E.L. Jorgenson, and talking with him about the hymnal, to which he gave a lifetime of labor. It was important to him that our churches have a quality hymnal. If your church is interested in this revised edition, you might write to Dr. McCann at ACU Station, Abilene, TX 79699. By the way, brother Jorgenson, like brother McCann, believed strongly in the imminent coming of our Lord. Strangely enough, the hope of His coming is rarely referred to in our prayers at church. Have we let this hope slip? — Ed.)

I know that God through Christ understands, loves, and cares for his people. So despite the deep grief and loneliness I feel the warmth of God’s love and seek it more now than ever before in my life. I now live alone in the little house which she and I shared the past 35 years, and though I will not become a recluse I do enjoy some time with the feeling that she is still near me. —David Bobo, Indianapolis, IN

(This letter, dated 29 August, was in reference to the passing of David’s beloved wife, Madolin. We regret to inform you that David also died a few weeks later. Longtime minister to the Fountain Square Church of Christ and part-time instructor in biblical languages in area seminaries, David was a man for all seasons, full of the Spirit and free in the Lord. The Churches of Christ of tomorrow, when they at last remember their real heroes of the past, will honor David Bobo more than the Churches of Christ today have honored him. But I applaud his noble work now in death as I applauded it when he lived. — Ed.)

After years of faithfulness to the Church of Christ jots and tittles, and having served as an all-wise elder reading Firm Foundation, Gospel Advocate, Contending for the Faith, I am out of my bondage and able to tolerate all those who love the Lord and seek after his glory. I cried, I hurt when I came to realize the very unity we expounded is unity we would and could not allow to happen. For several years I have studied the word to let it teach me without any help except the Greek text. I had come a long way, but then a friend handed me Free In Christ and the walls of bondage came down. I never heard of your publication until I began to search. — Roger Woodward, Jr., Enid, OK

(You may receive a free copy of Free In Christ by writing to Cecil Hook, 1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, TX, 78130. — Ed.)