July 1925
TH E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
293
and their influence is hurtful instead of helpful. When people accept a tract and find it has no real message, they become prejudiced, naturally, against accepting any kind of tracts. The indifferent tracts are those which, while true to the Bible, have no strong, convincing message, and thus are harmful not only because they are not definite and strong, but because, like the bad tracts, they hurt the work of those who are passing out the right kind. Again, a tract may be essentially good, having a defi nite lesson to impart, but be poorly printed upon cheap paper and not attractive in its make up. A good tract thus becomes the foe, of the best. The best tracts are
THE DICTATOR’S DICTATION— “Thou Shalt Not be a Premillennialist!” Zion’s Herald, the Boston Methodist Journal, last f a ir published the following statement from Bishop Adna Leonard, of the Pacific Coast; “In response to your request for an outline of our plan in the San Francisco area to counteract the pernicious effect of the premillennial movement, I would say that for several years I have encouraged the conferences, through their boards of examiners, to ascertain definitely if the candidates for our ministry, coming before them for admis sion into conference, were premillennial in their views. I have urged this so constantly and have been supported so splendidly by. the District Superintendents, that is is now PRACTICAliliY IMPOSSIBLE FOR A YOUNG MAN STAND
ING FOR THE PRE MILLENNIAL THEORY TO BE A D M I T T E D INTO ANY CONFER ENCE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA.” What a wonderful progressive is t h i s good bishop! Now if he had said that no one who denies the authority of the inf.; spired Word of God, the Virgin Birth of J e s u s Christ, H is physical resurrection, ascension and personal return,; could be ad mitted into their con ference, we could have said a hearty “ Amen” ' to the edict. But when he selects a doctrine so definitely held by- John W e s 1ey,v the founder of the Meth odist Ch u r c h , and held by many of Wes ley ’s . followers, we, wonder “ Why?” W h a t is w r o n g about the doctrine? Is it not Biblical? Is it not held by the loyal
t h o s e w h i c h are attractively printed on a good quality of paper, w i t h a title which will catch the eye and arouse inter est in the contents. An appropriate pic ture, also, will often attract attention and awaken a desire to know what it is all about. “ S o b b y , ” senti mental tracts are of , no value. A Scripture message, rightly pre sented, is of the great est possible value, b e c a u s e it has the sword point of the Wo r d , and He has promised t h a t H is Word shall n e v e r “ return u n t o Him void.” One of the best tracts we have ever known was prepared by Mr. Lyman Stew art, a busy business man, and President of the Bible Institute of
"No;Mr.Wesley,you cannot preach inmy pulpit. Youaré & premillennialist/*
Los Angeles from the time of its organization until his death. This little tract contains nothing but Scrip ture. Hundreds of thousands have been distributed in English and Spanish, and at the Easter service held at the “ Hollywood Bowl” this spring, which was attended by immense throngs of people, 40,000 were accepted and read before the program began, many requests being made for additional copies. The wisdom of God is needed in the distribution of tracts. The best possible preparation for the work is prayer. The manner of approach is most important. The attitude must not be that of a supercilious saint, but that of an ambassador from Heaven’s court, with a message which should be courteously, kindly but faithfully delivered. If rebuffed, accept it in the spirit of Christ, ask pardon for intruding, and prove yourself a real Christian. Follow your effort with prayer and leave the resplts to the Lord. He will do His part.
legions of all denominations? Here is what a good Methodist leader said in the Central Christian Advo cate of August 17, 1921: “The question as to the belief entertained by John Wesley concerning the second coming of our Lord would scarcely be raised by those familiar with his works. He certainly was a premillennialist.**** The Moravians, who led Mr. Wesley into the deeper Christian life, and with whom he worked, were all premillennialists. In his notes on the Book of Revelation, he states that ‘guilt is incurred by every one who hinders the church from constantly watch ing for the coming of the Lord.’ Mr. Wesley had strong faith in the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and in their subsequent acceptance of Christ, after the great tribulation of the last days.” Poor John Wesley! Were be alive today what would he say to this episcopal edict? Would he bow and scrape and acquiesce, or would he rise up in his wrath and say what be did to Tom Paine and the higher critics of his day? We are sure that the latter would
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