701
November 1927
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
minister, watched as the balky Ford was put once more in running order. “How much do I owe you?” said the man. “Nothing.” “Well,” countered the man, “you might at least tell me who you are.” “I happen to be,” was the reply, “the Methodist preacher over in town.” At that the would-be traveler extended his hand and said, “I am certainly indebted to you and I would like to pay.” “Well,” replied the preacher, “you can pay me by coming to church.” Now, the story relates that the man .not only was not a church attendant, but had never attended church in his entire life. As a result of this chance meeting on the highway he ventured to go, brought his entire family, and in due course of time they were all baptized and those old enough, including the- husband and wife, were re ceived into the church. This is quite a story in itself,- but in order to be altogether truthful we have to add that the new church member, who had his cellar full of jugs containing unauthorized liquid contents, carried them out, one by one; and poured their contents upon the ground. The story is not yet completed, for other fam ilies have become interested in the church as a result of these recent events, and there are likely to be still fur ther increases in church attendance and membership. W idest Read Books Next to the Bible, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” by John Bun- yan, which first appeared in 1678, has been translated into more languages than any other book. According to infor mation received through the reference librarian of the New York Public Library, the number now exceeds 107 languages and dialects. In commenting on this, Frank H. Mann, general secretary of the American Bible Society, said: “This is a remarkable record for any book and only goes to emphasize the more remarkable record of the Bible in this respect. The Bible has been translated in part into 770 languages and dialects; more than seven times as many as ‘Pilgrim’s Progress.’ ”
whole church is Babylon and that all are on the highroad to hell who do not come out of her. Unfortunately, there are many well-meaning Chris tians who do not do much thinking for themselves. They are influenced largely by the talk or writings of a few men who can quote many passages from the Bible and make it appear that they are the mouthpieces of God in rebuking apostasy. It does not occur to their readers that these men usually build upon second-hand information, which very often is biased, and that often this critical type of leader does not make a fair investigation before he launches his attack. We feel sorry for those who feed themselves con tinually on this type of literature, until their attention is wholly engrossed with the faults of the church and the ministry. They think that the whole visible church is apostate and all ministers are hirelings of the devil. The next thing we know, they have decided to “come out of Babylon.” They say that we are in the last times and that those who would be true to God must leave the church and walk with God alone. And yet our God has left us a word for these very times: “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves to gether [referring to the church] and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”1 Let us be sure that we know what Babylon is and what God’s will is before we start “coming out,” for the critical spirit is very con tagious, and one may become hypercritical by imbibing too much of the views of a certain type of leaders. ¡sp A Real Ford Story World Service News, a secular periodical, carries the following story: M OST Ford stories are jokes, but this is no joke. One of our home missionaries in Nebraska was driving across country when he came to a man who was having trouble with his car. The missionary stopped and of fered to help, but the troubled brother, who happened to be a Bohemian farmer, did not have much faith in the proffered assistance.' He accepted it, however, and, not knowing that the tinkering mechanic, was a Christian
We Thank Thee — For the colors o f a sunset, for a moonlit night at sea, For the scent of flowers in gardens, for the droning of a bee. For the little summer breezes, for cobwebs wet with dew, For little fleecy cloudlets that float in skies of blue. For the rivers, cool and shady, for the busy little streams, For a bog with waving cotton over which the sunlight gleams.
We Thank Thee — For the hazy blue of distance, for the stars that shine by night; For the little children playing, and for a child’s delight. For music great and wonderful, for friendships proved and true, For thoughts of worth and beauty, and for the good we do. For the sympathy and kindness that Thou hast spread abroad In the hearts of men and women — for these we thank Thee, Lord.
sjfi -By K. M. Smith.
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