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 According
to the rule which seems to have been set by critics of such
meetings, I am truly qualified for this article. I wasn’t
there! A case of “flu” entered the scene, and my
paper on “Cooperation” had to be read by a “stand-in”. I
am told that bro. Hulen Jackson replied to my material — after
a sort.
Reports
I have from five or six who were there indicate this was not a
meeting of the caliber of “Arlington” — seems to have been
a small —arm skirmish, with repeated requests from
institutional brethren to “cut out” this speech, “eliminate”
rebuttal, or “hurry on” to something else. I am reliably
informed that few institutional brethren had prepared
manuscripts, as the rules required. Well, this is not an
earth-shattering revelation; it simply says “human nature”
and “one-of-those-things.” There are people, and then there
are people.
One
thing is outstanding, in this and in the Arlington meeting.
Conservative brethren report, discuss, and “appreciate”
those of the opposition who make an effort to produce some kind
of scriptural argument. They are disgusted, almost to the point
of nausea, with those who seem to think “brotherhood practices”
or “what we have done” proves a thing right.
Brethren
of the opposition, we are
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interested in your souls! We want to
attain and maintain the kind of unity among brethren
for which Christ prayed. But we are convinced, and you will
admit, that this can only be had within the frame of divine
authority. So — we are interested in measuring our faith and
practice — particularly those points upon which we differ and
which divide us — by God’s word. If you know us well
enough to make dialogue meaningful and profitable, you should
know that we will not be moved by ridicule or contemptuous
treatment. “A parrot can say ‘give us the scripture’”
— indeed!!
But
we must not despair. Brethren who seem to expect some great “result”
or history-making “change in the brotherhood” are neither
realistic nor mature. Those who think all would be well if such
meetings were thrown open to the public are forgetting the facts
concerning the case. These have not been “conferences” of
delegated representatives, but private studies, among men who
stand as individuals.
As
previously announced, the “Arlington” meeting was recorded,
and is being transcribed into a book which will be offered the
public. I am told it is about 90% complete now, and we hope will
soon be printed.
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