Origin of “The Great Commission”

Ever wonder who coined the term “The Great Commission” in reference to Matthew 28:18-20? Reading a piece in the Themelios journal, I noticed this account of the origin of the term:

“In all the commentaries I had used...none addressed the question...Who coined the term ‘The Great Commission’?...It turns out this passage got its summary label from a Dutch missionary Justinian von Welz (1621-88), but it was Hudson Taylor, nearly 200 years later, who popularized the use of ‘The Great Commission’. So, it seems like Welz or some other Post-Reformation missionary probably coined the term ‘The Great Commission’ and since that time, the passage has been the theme for countless mission talks and conferences...What I realized both from my exegetical work, and somewhat confirmed by this historical find, was that for the first 1600 years of the greatest exponential mission-driven expansion of the life of church, this passage was read and understood as the trinitarian foundation of ecclesiology, not as fanfare for missiology. The disciples, as the apostolic authority of the soon-to-be-empowered-Church, are called together in order to be drawn into, to be called into, the on-going mission of the triune God.”

From “The Last Word: The Great Commission: Ecclesiology,” by Robbie F. Castleman, Themelios, Vol 32, No 3, April 2007, p. 68

[Castleman mentions finding “this bit of history” in a book about the history of world missions, which belonged to a colleague of hers at John Brown University. She does not mention the name of the book. According to the Gospel Fellowship Association piece on von Welz, he was “the son of Austrian nobility…born in 1621 into a Lutheran family…migrated to Lutheran Germany. His school days were spent in the Netherlands.” Castleman may have called him “a Dutch missionary” because of his time spent in the Netherlands, coupled with where he went as a missionary, Dutch Guiana in South America.]

Are Arminians “Saved,” reprise

In 2006 I created a brief post, Are Arminians “Saved”?. It included a link to a website called Outside the Camp. Apparently that link is not good any longer. For that reason, I am posting some material from an article on that site – “Three Reasons Why Arminians are not Saved,” by Christopher Adams. This is a good example of the flavor once available on “Outside the Camp.”

One of the most important issues faced by those who profess to believe the doctrines of grace (commonly called “Calvinism”) is how to relate to professing Christians who reject the doctrines of grace. Should they be approached as brothers in Christ? Should we take their “conversion experience” at face value? In answering these questions, the writer would like to submit the following “Three Reasons Why Arminians Are Not Saved.”

Reason Number One: Arminians are not saved because they worship an idol. By an idol, I mean “a god who cannot save.”...Arminians have fashioned a god in their own image. They are no more saved than the Jews who had done exactly the same thing.

Reason Number Two: Arminians are not saved because they do not believe the truth. This is related to the previous reason but has more to do with the evidence of a person’s salvation.

Any Calvinist who defends the salvation of Arminians must explain 2 Thessalonians 2:12, which says, “That they all might be damned who believe not the truth...”...Again, a saved sinner may not necessarily use all the same words that I have used here, but he will never believe the opposite of these doctrines, nor will he ever oppose them when confronted with them (1 Cor 2:12).

Reason Number Three: Arminians are not saved because they hate the truth. This reason also has more to do with the evidence of a person’s salvation...

The very fact that there is any debate over this issue indicates that the majority of professing Calvinist churches are not true churches at all.

The fact that Arminians are unsaved also leads us to a few conclusions:

1. We must not fellowship with Arminians...2. We must treat them as unsaved...3. We must be willing to exercise church discipline on those who turn out to be Arminians or consider Arminians to be their brothers in Christ...

These “Outside the Camp” people even come to the conclusion that “Calvinists” who think “Arminians” are saved, are not themselves children of God!

More on A. M. Stewart

I have found some more bits of information on Angus McAlister Stewart, from copies of a few issues of the Harvest Gleaner, published at Phenix, Alabama by J. H. Jenkins, a Free Will Baptist minister. Thanks to Robert Picirilli for supplying scans.

Corresponding the Harvest Gleaner periodical – published October 28, 1896, p. 4 – Angus M. Stewart wrote,

Bryan, Texas.

Bro. Jenkins,

            “Have just returned from our Association. Had a most pleasant session. It was the best attended in the history of the association, a spirit of progress and aggressive work seemed to pervade the entire body. A cultured and intellectual minister, who had held important pastorals in this state and Nebraska, united with us from the Missionary Baptist denomination, evidently actuated by the most conscientious convictions.

            “Had it not been for the hard times the Gleaner would have some substantial help, all that could be done was to recommend that the ministers and delegates do all possible toward its support rustling subscriptions.

            “At the same time and place a preliminary organization of a convention of Texas Free or Freewill Baptists was made. The constitution is such that all Liberal Baptists, the main feature of whose work is identical, may participate in its work. The main object of this convention is to unite the various bodies of Free or Liberal Baptists, and to secure co-operation in general church work in the state. Officers are A. M. Stewart, Bryan, Tex., president, Joseph Apperson, Lone Star, Tex., and A. G. Graham, Aldorado, Tex.,[i] vice-presidents, C. W. Turrell, Taylor, Tex.,[ii] secretary, J. W. Orr, Hollis, Texas, assistant secretary, and W. T. Wood, Welborne, Tex., Treasurer. We invite correspondence with all Liberal Baptists in the State.

A. M. Stewart”

In September 16 through October 7, 1896, of available issues of the Gleaner, A. M. Stewart’s address is St. Louis, Mo., but in the October 14 issue (p. 4) he is listed at Bryan, Tex., with this note from the Editor:

STEWART.

“Rev. A. M. Stewart has changed P. O. from St. Louis Mo. to Bryan Tex. We are glad to welcome brother Stewart back, and still gladder to note that arrangements have been made, that he will continue in the field, as an evangelist. He has been very successful in the West, and we expect much good to result from the action of the Texas association. We congratulate them, and pray for God’s blessing upon the work.”

---

[i] Aldorado, Tex is probably an error. There is Eldorado in Schleicher County, Texas, and Alvarado in Johnson County, Texas. A. G. Graham may be Arthur George “A. G.” Graham buried at Salem Cemetery, Lavaca County, Texas. This A. G. Graham was in Glen Rose, Somervell County in 1899, which is a neighbor to Johnson County.

[ii] C. W. Turrell is identified in another note by the editor, J. H. Jenkins, as the “cultured and intellectual minister” who came over from the Missionary Baptists. Turrell’s church hosted a convention of Missionary Baptists meeting at Taylor on June 4 (The Galveston Daily News, Thursday, June 4, 1896 page 3; Austin Weekly Statesman, Thursday, June 11, 1896, page 11), but he was with the Free Will Baptists by October. C. W. Turrell apparently moved on to the Christian Church and served with them (The Lampasas Leader, Friday, December 30, 1898, p. 1).

63% of Non-Citizen Households, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• 63% of Non-Citizen Households Access Welfare Programs -- "Of non-citizens in Census Bureau data, roughly half are in the country illegally. Non-citizens also include long-term temporary visitors (e.g. guestworkers and foreign students) and permanent residents who have not naturalized (green card holders)."
• An exploding meteor may have wiped out ancient Dead Sea communities -- "A superheated blast from the skies obliterated cities and farming settlements north of the Dead Sea around 3,700 years ago, preliminary findings suggest."
• Child Euthanasia without Parent Approval Pushed for Canada -- "Remember, the issue here is whether doctors should be allowed to kill children. One would think that — at a bare minimum — such homicides should require parental permission. But no."
• Coptic Woman Details Horrors of Living as a Christian Female in Egypt: ‘It’s Hell’ -- "Magdy stated that Christian women are afraid to file reports because they fear police will discriminate against them if they do."
• Character Matters: George H. W. Bush -- "George Bush was beacon of civility in a cruel profession."
• Does God Try? -- "Think about the notion of God ‘trying’ to do something. Is the idea of God ‘trying’ actually a sound way to think about Him?"
• Missionary Martyrs: Are We Paying Too High a Price to Evangelize the World? -- "In following Christ by laying down their lives, Charles and John did no more than follow the example of Jesus."
• New CPRC Research: Mass Public Shootings are much higher in the rest of the world and increasing much more quickly -- "The U.S. is well below the world average in terms of the number of mass public shootings, and the global increase over time has been much bigger than for the United States."
• Pontius Pilate’s Name Is Found on 2,000-Year-Old Ring -- "The language of the ring’s inscription is Greek, which Roman officials used to communicate with the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean."
• Southern Baptist agency warns ‘eugenics is real’ in Supreme Court brief about Down syndrome and abortion -- "This country will one day shudder at the thought of a child being snuffed out in the womb simply because that child had an extra chromosome. The abortion industry’s defense of abortions based on sex, race and disability exposes their thirst for profit."
• The decision to close BTSR was gut-wrenching. It was also necessary. -- "There were many difficult but honest discussions, sometimes leading to tears and always undergirded with prayer."
• The substitute teacher who told kids Santa wasn’t real gets the boot -- "School officials say a substitute teacher who told first-grade students in New Jersey that Santa Claus isn't real will not be returning to the school."
• Video: Man Confronts Teacher Who Put His Grandson in a Dress -- "Irate leftists have posted the video, originally shared by the grandfather, to demonstrate his homophobia and bigotry."

Grace and its obligations

Grace lays us under the greatest of all obligations to its free and bountiful Giver, and especially to render a believing obedience to his revealed will and word. It is his free, sovereign, and distinguishing grace alone which makes and manifests us to be his children, and therefore it demands of us, as a feeble and most insufficient tribute of grateful praise, that we should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and glorify him in our body and spirit which are his.

J. C. Philpot (1802–1869)

Give to the Winds Thy Fears

Short Meter, Double.

1. Give to the winds thy fears,
Hope and be undismayed.
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears,
God shall lift up thy head.
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears thy way;
Wait thou His time; so shall this night
Soon end in joyous day.

2. He everywhere hath sway,
And all things serve His might,
His every act pure blessing is,
His path unsullied light;
When He makes bare His arm,
What shall His work withstand?
When He His people's cause defends,
Who, who shall stay His hand?

3. Still heavy is thy heart?
Still sinks thy spirit down?
Cast off the world, let fear depart
Bid every care begone.
What though thou rulest not;
Yet heaven, and earth, and hell
Proclaim, God sitteth on the throne,
And ruleth all things well.

4. Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command;
So shalt thou, wondering, own that way,
How wise, how strong this hand.
Far, far above thy thought,
His counsel shall appear,
When fully He the work hath wrought,
That caused thy needless fear.

5. Thou seest our weakness, Lord;
Our hearts are known to Thee;
O lift Thou up the sinking hand,
Confirm the feeble knee!
Let us in life, in death,
Thy steadfast truth declare,
And publish with our latest breath
Thy love and guardian care.

Paulus Gerhardt (1607–1676) 1656 in Pietatis Melica Praxis; translated from German to English by John Wesley, 1737

On the Lighter Side, Sort of

“Scripture passages marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, NavPress Publishing Group.”

“MSG can be bad for your health in large amounts.” – Dr. Ryan Phasouk, St. George’s University School of Medicine

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Our local news Tuesday morning reported on a song that had run afoul of the #MeToo movement – “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” This isn’t a song I am familiar with, so I had to look it up. Here’s a couple of links on the brouhaha.

Radio station stops playing “Baby It’s Cold Outside” after listeners voice concerns about lyrics in #MeToo era

The song was written by popular Broadway composer Frank Loesser, who originally performed it as a humorous number with his wife. But the lyrics, in today’s context, have taken on somewhat more sinister connotations.

Star 102 Abruptly Stops Playing This Christmas Song. Here’s Why

Now, I do realize that when the song was written in 1944, it was a different time, but now while reading it, it seems very manipulative and wrong. The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place.

I won’t lose any sleep over the absence of this song. It doesn’t fit my Christian viewpoint. Nevertheless, I wonder why it in particular got picked on? The various musical media is full of vile and vulgar songs that are available for regular consumption. This one seems “sinister-lite” in comparison.

Righteousness without tears, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify when possible.)

"Righteousness without tears is arrogance." -- Heard

"Nothing can be lonelier than the creature dissatisfied with his creator’s will, for he does not even have fellowship with himself. He has given up knowledge of himself as he really is to cling to a fantasy of himself as he wishes to be." -- Matt Bell

"Truth is that which corresponds to the mind of God." -- Jason Lisle

"Be a glow-in-the-dark Christian." -- Church sign

"The King’s speech which he uttered in Parliament, being translated into French, Dutch, Italian and Latin, is still the King’s speech, though it be not interpreted by every translator with the like grace, nor peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor so expressly for sense, everywhere." -- King James Bible translators

"It doesn’t help the world for Christians to hide their allegiances, placing their lamps under baskets." -- Mark Ward

"How do two parents - two human parents - create offspring that is not human, but later becomes so?" -- Scott Klusendorf

"Only a fool seeks peace by inciting violence." -- Heard

"When the high spring of gratitude to God fails at the top of the mountain, soon all the pools of thankfulness begin to dry up further down the mountain. And when gratitude goes, the sovereignty of the self condones more and more corruption for its pleasure." -- John Piper

"To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society." -- Theodore Roosevelt

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried." -- G. K. Chesterton

Why is the Lord’s Supper reserved for believers only?

In the past Baptists have debated over the restrictions on communion, often using the terms open, close, and closed.[i] A decade ago I wrote about “theoretical unrestricted communion” as the belief that there are absolutely no restrictions placed on who can take communion. In practice, this would mean actively soliciting members of other religions and even the non-religious to participate in the observing of the Lord’s Supper. My understanding at the time was that for Baptists this could only be theoretical, in that they at the least believe the Lord’s Supper is for God’s people and is ideally restricted to them. Probably that was not accurate then, but I am certain that it is not now true. As ecumenism, liberalism, and tolerationism have made their inroads among Baptists, many of these now ask, “Why is it reserved only for born again believers?” The answer, to many, is that there is no limitation or barrier to observing the Lord’s Supper, and all who wish to participate are welcomed.[ii]

The Lord’s Supper is intended for the Lord’s disciples. This can be seen in the following.

1. It is a memorial or remembrance of the Lord’s death (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
2. It is an expectation of the Lord’s coming (1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:29).
3. It was observed when the church came together out of the world rather than in the world (Acts 2:42; 20:7ff; 1 Corinthians 11:18).
4. It is the new “Passover feast” of those who observe it in sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:6-8; cf. John 4:24).
5. It is a communion for the partakers of “that one bread,” Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
6. It is not ecumenical, in the sense of embracing other religions (1 Corinthians 10:20-21).
7. It requires a self-examination and discernment in relation to the body and blood of Jesus Christ, with associated judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

The points above might be fleshed out for greater edification, but I present them in skeleton form for the time being. The point of this post is not to jettison the idea of closed communion for a more open version for all who believe, but to briefly point out that “all who believe” is the lowest common denominator for communion, and we must begin building on the biblical truth from that foundation.

---

[i] Although these terms don’t always mean the same things to all Baptists.

[ii] John Wesley, for example, believed that communion was a means of grace and that someone invited to the table might be converted to Christ at the table (The The Works of John Wesley, Bicentennial Edition, Richard P. Heitzenrater, editor, Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1984, Volume 19: Journal and Diaries II (1738-1743), p. 159). While I disagree with Wesley, his motivation was not the same as modern ecumenicists. He viewed these as unbelievers in need of being born again. Many ecumenists, on the other hand, believe all religions are valid expressions on the way to God – therefore receiving with open arms and free communion those who reject Jesus as the only way whereby we must be saved.

Can People Learn to Read, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• BreakPoint: Saving Some, Killing Others -- "Prenatal Surgery Exposes Abortion for What It Really Is"
• Can People Learn to Read the English of the KJV? -- "Exactly how is a pastor, with all his other duties, supposed to 1) notice when people are misunderstanding KJV English and then 2) teach them to read it?"
• Can the Ussher Chronology Be Trusted? -- "Up until fairly recently, nearly all printings of the King James Bible included dates in the marginal notes which helped place Biblical events in their chronological context."
• Can we all have press passes into the REAL seat of power – the courts? -- "... to demand that the government take a definite action left up to the executive branch, not the judiciary, such as granting a visa or a press badge, is beyond any scope of judicial power."
• Church seeks to intervene in lawsuit over IRS tax exemption -- "A Baptist church in the nation’s capital is requesting a day in court before a federal court rules in a lawsuit by an atheist group that lost its tax-exempt status for failing to file a form not required for churches and other religious organizations."
• Court Bars Father from Teaching 6-Year-Old Son that He Is a Boy -- "A Texas court has barred a father from teaching his 6-year-old son that he is a boy or from dressing him like a boy – even though the child chooses to be a boy around the dad."
• Democrat Corruption is a Clear and Present Danger to America -- "The mystery is why so many Democrat candidates who are so obviously ethically challenged won in races that should not have even been close."
• Five Advantages of Church-Based Counseling -- "Many of the secular counseling paradigms advocate no contact with counseling clients outside of the counseling office. But being in the same church helps..."
• Flawed Media Coverage of Obama Hurts America Still -- "One of the more frustrating aspects of our current political debate is the extent to which differences from administration to administration are exaggerated and distorted."
• If, Then, But, Therefore: How Psalm 124 Instructs Us for Thanksgiving -- "Psalm 124 is a psalm of corporate thanksgiving, a psalm that instructs us how to thank God together. This psalm also instructs us as to one of the ways for how to thank God as well."
• Jewish Leaders Demand Bible Publishers Print “Anti-Semitism” Disclaimers In New Testament -- "Translations of the New Testament, the Qur’an and other Christian or Muslim literatures need marginal glosses, and introductions that emphasize continuity with Jewish heritage of both Christianity and Islam and warn readers about antisemitic passages in them."
• John Allen Chau and the Ethics of Christian Missions -- "Pulpit & Pen contributor Seth Dunn addresses those questions in an episode of his podcast, The Christian Commute."
• Mom Dresses Six-Year-Old Son As Girl, Threatens Dad With Losing His Son For Disagreeing -- "A Texas custody case splits a 6-year-old child’s gender identity in two."
• On the Road Looking for God’s True Church -- "All of the churches in this post are Baptist churches located in Monroe, Michigan — a city of 21,000 people. Polly and I have never seen this many Baptist churches in a Northern community this size, especially when you consider that this post does not list all of the Baptist churches in Monroe."
• Our Founders never thought the courts had the final say — and neither should we -- "Restoring this balance of power away from judicial supremacism as our Founders envisioned does not require a constitutional amendment the same way it would if we wanted to alter a presidential veto or congressional control over the purse."
• Roy Clark, country guitar virtuoso, 'Hee Haw' star, dies at 85 -- "Country Music Hall of Fame member and versatile entertainer Roy Clark died Thursday at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma,  after complications from pneumonia, his publicist said."
• The Common Core, (Hopefully) R.I.P. -- "Untold hours of effort and massive amounts of money were used to write, train teachers, and implement the Common Core agenda. Yet, it has failed."
• The Geneva English Bible: The Shocking Truth -- "The Geneva Bible was ‘killed’: but it is alive."
• Thoughts on Suicide -- "There is perhaps no more difficult and heart-wrenching situation than for someone to take their own life.

The Bullying Breakthrough, and other reviews

The posting of book reviews does not constitute endorsement of the books or book reviews that are linked.

• Book Review: Art Lindsley’s C.S. Lewis’s Case for Christ -- "The section of Lindsley’s study that a reader is destined to find most helpful concerns the coherence of Lewis’s apologetic scheme."
• Book Review: The Bullying Breakthrough -- "I give The Bullying Breakthrough five out of five stars!"
• Christian Pacifism: Fruit of the Narrow Path – A Review -- "This book runs just under 100 pages, but it packs quite a punch. It’s written by an ex-marine gone pacifist..."
• Mapping the New Mating Market: A Review of Cheap Sex -- "It is very difficult to dispute Regnerus’ map or his cautious assessments of future trends. For those hoping to curb cheap sex and its negative effects, the book is a framework for future action."
• Profit Motive: What Drives the Things We Do -- "Ultimately, the author succeeds in making his case for the importance of profit motives, and anyone interested in enhancing a business or building up a community will profit from reading this book."
• Review: It’s Dangerous to Believe, by Mary Eberstadt -- "This book is a diligent concatenation of stories of anti-Christian liberal prejudice in the modern West. Not one was new to me."
• SBC FAQs answers your questions -- "The book includes the SBCs guiding documents and the mission assignments of all the entities."
• ‘Unfriended’ Author Shares Harmful Impact of Social Media, How to Get Back to True Community -- "In Unfriended, the New Jersey native wishes to help readers shake off their digital fatigue and get back to ‘real-life, real-world relationships with real people’."
• Woke Church by Eric Mason: A Book Review -- "Mason calls for us to open our hearts and minds and listen to each other even if we disagree. I found my heart aching with Mason through many of the stories he shared."

God is trying

I often hear the word “trying” used as a verb attached to the noun “God.” It comes out in a phrase “God is trying…” Such as, “God is trying to tell you something.” Or, “God is trying to get your attention.” When used in the way it has the idea “to attempt.” It occurs to me that God doesn’t “attempt” to do anything. Either he does or he doesn’t (e.g. cf. Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 28:18). I searched the Bible to see if I could find the idea of “God trying.” I did not. I found another meaning of the verb “try” – to put to the test – used in conjunction with the noun “God.” As in, “God tries a person” or “God tries the heart.”

1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Even in this case of God “trying,” it is the person and not God who is the primary benefactor. 

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Crazy or Called, Moron or Martyr

The recent death of missionary John Allen Chau has captured the interest of Christianity and the world, often for widely varying reasons. Here is a collection of some of the articles available online.

• All Nations Grieves Reported Death of ‘Humble, Courageous’ Missionary on Remote Indian Ocean Island -- "Leaders, members and friends of All Nations (www.allnations.us), an international Christian missions training and sending organization, are mourning the reported death of one of its missionaries, 27-year-old John Allen Chau of Vancouver, Wash., U.S.A."
• A Man’s Last Letter Before Being Killed on a Forbidden Island -- "You guys might think I’m crazy in all this, but I think it’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people."
• A millennial martyr? The complicated legacy of John Allen Chau -- "Certainly, we must learn all we can from the missteps of Christian mission in the past to avoid them in the future, but let’s not fail to recognize the concrete contributions to human flourishing Christian missionaries made."
• A sober and sensible look at the danger of missionary work -- "The death of Chau raises questions for Christians and non-Christians alike. There are ethical questions...questions about the wisdom of risking one’s life...theological questions..."
• ‘Crazy’ or called?: Missionary’s death debated -- "Chau’s apparent death has drawn reports in major media outlets across the world and has sparked discussion among evangelicals."
• Incomprehensible Evangelicals and the Death of John Allen Chau -- "The core convictions of evangelicals, including the need for salvation through Christ and the mandate to share one’s faith, are becoming increasingly incomprehensible to a post-Christian American culture."
• John Chau and the dangers of missionary work -- "Last week we were reminded of a harsh lesson: The Christian missionary mandate, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” is a dangerous endeavor."
• North Sentinel Island -- "The square-form island is mostly covered in forests which makes the task of counting its population even more difficult."
• The most remote tribe in the world — untouched and uncontacted -- "In 1967, the Indian government began a series of “Contact Expeditions” to the island, under anthropological guidance. They wanted to establish contact with the tribes in the archipelago. Spoiler alert: it didn’t turn out so well."
• The tragedy of murdered missionary John Allen Chau: Some questions -- "...this tragedy raises questions that sadness cannot be allowed to silence."

What is a church?

By simply breaking down the word “church” (ekklessia) in the Bible we learned that the church was an assembly of “called out” ones.

We also found the classic definition wonderfully practical. This definition requires three things before a gathering of Christians is considered a “church”:

• The proper preaching of God’s Word (Proclaim the Gospel)
• The proper administration of the ordinances (Portray the Gospel)
• Exercising restorative church discipline (Protect the Gospel)

From You Can’t Plant a Church If You Don’t Know What a Church Is, by Nathan Knight of Washington, D. C.

The Voice of Jesus

“The Voice of Jesus,” written by Frederick Whitfield, is found on pages 14-15 of Sacred Poems and Prose.

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am the life, the truth, the way;”

He led my footsteps to the well,

I heard Him there its virtues tell;

The healing stream my spirit cheered,

And to my soul His name endeared.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am thy God, thy strength, thy stay;”

I brought my burden to His feet,

I found the Saviour’s promise sweet:

The cross was sweet, the yoke was light,

I stood in Him whose strength is might.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way;”

My soul had fainted in the strife,

But Jesus looked, and all was life :

He shewed His heart—my name was there,

I felt how sweet His love to share.

4. I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I will wipe thy tears away,

I will hush thy childish fears,

I will treasure all thy tears;

Thy need my fulness shall supply,

Till thou shalt come to dwell on high.”

To Revise and Amend The Sacred Harp

In the book of Ecclesiastes (ch. 12, v. 12), the wise king Solomon wrote, “of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Those of us who undertake to write about the history of Sacred Harp well-know that lesson. In recent newspaper searches, which issues were unavailable to me when I wrote Songs Before Unknown, I have gleaned some new information about the origin of the Sacred Harp revision by W. M. Cooper in southeast Alabama at the turn of the 20^th century. The new information clears up a few things, but leaves questions on other counts. Perhaps more newspaper accounts of the revision process will eventually turn up to clear these up.

From whence?

The idea of revising the Sacred Harp may have arisen in the Southeastern Musical Convention. The Southeastern Convention is one of the oldest (oldest existing) in southeast Alabama, organized in 1858. Unfortunately, the Southeastern Convention is not currently able to speak for itself (as far as I know). Nevertheless, I did find a reference to a vote for revision in a report of the Sweetwater Musical Convention, held August 30, 1902 in Butler County, Alabama. It is not clear whether they had accurate information, but the Sweetwater Convention passed a resolution against revising the Sacred Harp, particularly noting, “…the Southeastern Convention did, at its last session, appoint a committee of twelve to revise and amend the Sacred Harp so as to change the music therein from sacred to instrumental music…” (Minutes of the Sweetwater Musical Convention, The Greenville Advocate, Wednesday, November 12, 1902, p. 1) At this late date it is hard to know if that was the original intent of the Southeastern Convention, or a misunderstanding on the part of the Sweetwater Convention. We do know that the revision as undertaken and completed did change keys of many songs to those most likely actually used (and therefore corresponding to instruments), but retained the four staves and four shapes. It seems reliable, though, that there was at least some kind of move on the part of the Southeastern Convention to revise the book, whether or not it was under their standard that the revision was eventually made. Since the meetings of the Southeastern Convention that I have seen referenced were in the fall, later than the meeting of the Sweetwater Convention, the assumption would be that the Southeastern Convention appointed a committee on revision in the fall of 1901.

Perhaps three or more possibilities exist for this explaining this information:

• The Sweetwater Convention was mistaken concerning the intent and extent of revision to be considered by the Southeastern Convention.
• The revision committee eventually steered the revision in a different direction than the extent of revision intended by the Southeastern Convention.
• The revision prepared by W. M. Cooper and others was not under the auspices of the Southeastern Convention.

With the information I currently have, I tend toward the first as the most likely explanation.

The necessary rights

An article in the Elba Clipper (“Newsy Notes, Of South Alabama Happenings,” Thursday, July 10, 1902, page 6) tells us that “(a)t the urgent request of many friends, Mr. W. M. Cooper, the Sacred Harp Singer of Southeast Alabama, has consented to revise the Sacred Harp…” and further that “Mr. Cooper has secured the necessary rights for a revision and new compilation, and he will begin the work at once.” This latter note is interesting and important, suggesting Cooper may have been in contact with the White family to obtain “the necessary rights.” The article doesn’t add much more that we don’t know – mentions retaining church songs, adding alto, more poetry, changing keys, removing old songs & adding new ones, and retaining the “Four-Shape Notes.” It calls for a meeting at Newton, Alabama on July 17, 1902, and the creation of an “Inspection Committee” to inspect new songs to be inserted in the book.

It is a fortunate circumstance that the Weekly Enterprise newspaper in Enterprise, Alabama published a report of this meeting – “Revision of the Sacred Harp--Meeting of Committee,” Thursday, July 31, 1902, page 1. It was front-page news! “The committee on revision of the Sacred Harp” met at the Baptist Church at Newton, certainly implying there was an elected committee existing. They permanently organized by electing officers, etc. W. M. Cooper was chairman and S. C. D. Brown secretary. In this report there is discussion of “placing the sharps and flats in such as position that they will accord with an instrument.” Might this be what the Sweetwater Convention heard and feared? The article also mentions that a committee of the Clayhatchie Musical Convention “was received, and later on added to the Revising Committee.” As good Sacred Harp singers they also included singing in their meeting! The committee of twelve that we see listed in the 1902 book was appointed at this meeting. One name included in this newspaper article, Armsted Armstong, is replaced in the 1902 book with the name T. W. Loftin (at least in the earliest book I have seen). No accounting of this at this time. They agreed to meet again in Newton September 22, 1902, but I have found no notice of this meeting.

Committee listed in the Weekly Enterprise newspaper:

W. M. Cooper, Chairman; B. P. Poyner; W. R. McCoy; D. F. Stevens; J. M. C. Shaw; W. L. McGee; W. A. Robinett; W. I. Thompson; J. F. Helms; J. C. Ross; Armsted Armstong; S. C. D. Brown, Secretary.

Committee listed in The Sacred Harp, 1902:

W. M. Cooper, Chairman; B. P. Poyner; W. R. McCoy; T. W. Loftin; D. F. Stevens; J. M. C. Shaw; W. L. McGee; W. A. Robinett; W. I. Thompson; J. F. Helms; J. C. Ross; S. C. D. Brown, Secretary.

The late unpleasantness

Two newspaper sources I have found mention Cooper obtaining the rights to revise The Sacred Harp. It seems at some point a misunderstanding may have arose. In the fall of 1908 T. J. Allen writes to The Troy Messenger newspaper about “some unpleasantness between J. L. White and Prof. W. M. Cooper…” (“Card from Mr. Allen,” Troy, Alabama, Wednesday, September 23, 1908, page 6). It is hard to tell from only this letter just what happened, but one might guess it had to do with The Sacred Harp songbook – perhaps a difference on what was meant by the permission given to Cooper? Whatever it was, it appears to have gone to court in Pike County, and White had to pay court costs. Here are some excerpts from Allen’s letter:

“…this unpleasantness was settled by outside friends voluntarily paying the costs, with a distinct agreement that no more be said at the matter.”

“…since the agreement in Pike and he [Monroe Revill] was one to help pay the costs in the Law Court, where there was a charge against Mr. White.”

“…everything has been fairly settled in Alabama…the matter is settled so far as we know.”

This letter or card from Allen is in response to a blurb appearing in The Troy Messenger, September 16, 1908, page 1 “endorsing the character of Prof. J. L. White…” Unfortunately, there is nothing in this short piece to indicate why he was endorsing the character of Professor White – other than saying “about whom there was some friction among a number of singers in this county.” The upshot of Allen’s letter is that Revill was bringing something back up that had been settled. It would be interesting to discover what happened, though we would also be bringing something back up that had been settled! (Certainly long since, by these deceased singers.)

We probably still suffer from some idea that the southeast Alabama singers were isolated and unknown to the Atlanta singers, but I think this is probably a result of them being unknown to later writers of Sacred Harp history. For example, a report of the 1906 Chanehatchie Sacred Harp Musical Convention (sp.? Perhaps Chanahatchie or Channahatchee? Eufaula Times and News, Thursday, November 8, 1906, page 3) mentions the presence of Prof. E. T. Pound and Prof. J. L. White. Further, White taught at least one singing school (probably more) in southeast Alabama at a place called Rodgers School House, probably in Pike County (The Troy Messenger, Wednesday, July 28, 1909, page 5).[i]

It will not be long

Newspaper articles suggest some of the timeline for the Cooper’s revision of The Sacred Harp. Perhaps it begins with an act of the Southeastern Musical Convention in 1901. By July of 1902 Cooper had consented to revise the Sacred Harp and had secured the necessary rights. At least two committee meetings are referenced in newspapers. On July 17th the permanent organization on revision was set in place with officers W. M. Cooper, chairman; W. A. Robinett(e), vice-chairman; and S. C. D. Brown, secretary. New compositions were solicited. Another meeting, of which we presently know nothing else, was set for September 22, 1902. By December, the work must have been substantially finished and ready for typesetting – since the preface of this revision was dated December 12, 1902. Quoting an undated Dothan Home Journal source, the Elba Clipper on December 18, 1902 says “But so far as can be seen everything has been arranged, and Mr. W. M. Cooper will go North and superintend the printing of the revised edition of the Sacred Harp” (“The New Sacred Harp,” Thursday, December 18, 1902, page 5). It is not known just how long or how many times Cooper was “gone North” (or what his superintendence entailed) but we know that “North” was Cincinnati, Ohio.[ii] On Tuesday the 3rd of February the Dothan Home Journal reported that “Mr. W. M. Cooper returned Sunday night from Cincinnati. He has been there some weeks superintending the printing of the revised edition of the Sacred Harp (“The Sacred Harp,” Tuesday, February 3, 1903, p. 4).

Though the newspapers reference the book being “printed” in Cincinnati, this apparently means the creation of the plates for printing (of which some of you know much more than I). The book itself was printed and bound by Bigham & Smith in Nashville, Tennessee (“The Revised Sacred Harp,” Elba Clipper, Thursday, April 9, 1903, page 2; “The Revised Sacred Harp,” Montgomery Advertiser, May 8, 1903, page 5). Advertising in the Roanoke Leader, October 12, 1904, on page 1 Cooper emphasized revised rudiments that were convenient for teachers, pieces not generally used replaced with new songs “some of which are very fine,” alto or counter added to every piece in the book, and superior paper and binding. (I can testify to this compared to the very brittle cheap paper on the Byrd/White reprint of the 1870 book that I own.)  Books were $1.25 with special prices to teachers & dealers, and he says the first edition of several thousand copies sold out in six months. 

While researching, I found it interesting to see where you could purchase The Revised Sacred Harp. For examples and where mentioned, see below (the price is given where that is included):

Agents

• J. F. Patterson, Elba, Alabama, The Elba Clipper, May 28, 1903, page 5
• Jeff D. Compton, Troy, Alabama, The Troy Messenger, June 22, 1904, page 2; $1.00
• J. D. C. Durham, Fyffe, Alabama, The Fort Payne Journal, September 27, 1905, page 1; $1 each, $10 dozen
• J. D. Compton, Troy, Alabama, The Troy Messenger, May 13, 1908, page 8 (has the latest revision and offers to exchange the new for the old, apparently pro-rated! “will allow what’s right for them”)
• J. F. Barton, Andalusia, Alabama, The Andalusia Star, July 1, 1909, page 4; $ 1 each, $9 dozen
• John W. Miller, Athens, Texas, Corsicana Daily Sun, September 7, 1909, page 2
• C. M. Wiggins, Andalusia, Alabama, The Andalusia Star, June 20, 1912, page 4
• C. A. Pippin, Newton, Alabama, Southern Star, May 3, 1916, page 4; $1 each; $9 per dozen  

Businesses

• Young’s Drug Store, Dothan, Alabama, Dothan Home Journal, May 26, 1903, page 5
• Tucker & Harp’s Drug Store, Elba, Alabama, The Elba Clipper, September 26, 1905, page 7
• Knox’s Book Store, Troy, Alabama, The Troy Messenger, September 5, 1906, page 6
• Adam’s Book Store, Greenville, Alabama, The Living Truth, October 19, 1906, page 5
• City Drug Store, Enterprise, Alabama, The People’s Ledger, March 5, 1908, page 1
• Fort Payne Journal office, Fort Payne, Alabama, The Fort Payne Journal, September 6, 1911, page 1
• Luverne Journal (newspaper) office, Luverne, Alabama, The Luverne Journal, February 20, 1913, page 5
• Dixie Central Company, Troy, Alabama, The Troy Messenger, 14 May 14, 1913, page 2; $1  

It was most appropriately sold at Tucker & Harp’s in Elba, and could, of course, be ordered from W. M. Cooper in Dothan as well.

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[i] A J. L. White book singing was held at Enon Church near Brundidge in Pike County in June 1920 (The Clayton Record, Clayton, Alabama, Friday, August 06, 1920, page 1).

[ii] The Ozark Tribune in February 1903 says Cooper “has returned from Cincinnatti (sic), where he has been for several months” (Tuesday, February 10, 1903, page 5). From this, it seems he could have stayed there from mid-December to early February.