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 By
the time you receive this issue another “confrontation” of
differing brethren will have taken place — a meeting similar
to that last January in Arlington, Tex. It is my understanding
that bro. Frank Dunn asked bro. Stanley Lovett if he would
invite twelve brethren who opposed current institutionalism, to
meet face to face with twelve who favored it, and study the
issues in the light of the word of God.
Bro.
Lovett asked me, and he asked bro. Joe Fitch, and we accepted. I
do not know all of the others with whom I am in agreement who
will be there, but have been told that bros. James Adams, Robert
Farrish, W.L. Wharton, and Elmer Moore are among the number. We
are to meet, at our own expense, in the H.E.B. camp near Leakey,
Tex. The same topics, and general rules as were used in
Arlington, will prevail. This is not some sort of “program”
or public “campaign” (the participants will be the only “audience”)
and it warrants attention here only because it promises to be
another example of the kind of frank facing-of- issues and
genuine Bible searching we have long recommended to all who
differ in their understanding of the Bible.
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Subjects for discussion will be:
(1)
How to Establish Bible Authority; (2) Distinction Between Church
and Individual Action; (3) How churches may Scripturally
Cooperate; (4) What is the Work of the Church, and (5) How
Fellowship May Be Attained and Maintained.
It
is heart-breaking to think of divisions that have taken place
all over the country because brethren would not consent to make
careful Bible studies of these subjects in the past years. In
fact, I pled with some of these opposing brethren who are to
speak at Leakey, for some such study as this, to no avail. I do
not know what has changed their minds, but I am thankful for it.
I do not understand why they refused to study with me in years
past — any more than I understand why some of my
non-institutional brethren refuse now to engage in such studies.
This
is debate in its finest form, (continued, page two,)
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