A Valuable Project


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     We take particular pleasure in announcing that we are working on one of the most significant volumes to be produced by restoration heirs in this century. The large book will be called Thoughts on Unity, and it will contain the approach to oneness in Christ as seen through the eyes of men of prominence in the major factions of our day. It will be edited by Stanley Paregien, currently working toward a Ph.D. in Speech at the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, the Speech Communication Association and the International Society for General Semantics. He has gathered up for publication some of the outstanding material of our generation.

     Read this list of authors and their subjects: Jimmy Allen, How to Attain and Maintain Unity; Arthur W. Atkinson, Jr., Fellowship; David Bradford, The First and Second Commandments; Harvey C. Bream, Jr., The Unity of the Faith; Grayson H. Ensign, Is Unity Possible in Diversity?; Leroy Garrett, How Men Use the Bible to Justify their Divisions; Perry E. Gresham, An Abiding Basis for Unity; LaVern Houtz, Why Are We Divided?; Vernon W. Hurst, After Unity -- What?; Ferrell Jenkins, Dwelling Together in Unity.

     W. Carl Ketcherside, Agape -- Foundation of Christian Fellowship; Thomas A. Langford, Unity and Law; P. L. Lemley, Toward Unity; Ronald E. Osborn, New Life Through Christian Fellowship; Erskine E. Scates, Jr., The Holy Spirit and Certain Inevitabilities for the Church; Robert W. Shaw, The Path to Unity; Gene Shelburne, When Brethren Disagree; Carl Herbert Stem, Unity and Fellowship in the Congregation.

     There will be a full page photograph of each of the writers, together with a brief biographical sketch. In addition the book will have appendices, one of which will list Christian colleges supported by all segments of the restoration movement Another will give a catalog of papers published by those affiliated with every party, so that concerned readers can further their investigation of the particularities which brought the various factions into existence. A third section will recommend certain material for reading by the researchist who would like to know more about the struggle for unity within the movement.

     It is intended that this shall be one of the fairest attempts ever made to compile information dealing with the frightful problem of schism within the framework of a noble movement which began, as Alexander Campbell said, as "a project to unite the Christians in all of the sects." The book will be a veritable handbook of the thinking of brethren in our day, and it will long be cherished as setting forth honestly and fearlessly the various positions occupied. No other such volume has ever been attempted and we are honored to be in the vanguard in such a publication.

     The book will be attractively done in a format which will be appreciated by students of the printing art. It will be bound in cloth, and have a pleasing jacket, which will make it an outstanding contribution to the library shelves in the brotherhood of saints. In reading over the copy which will be embodied

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in it, one can only imagine how often it will be used in quotations and in pulpit messages. We want it to be the kind of volume that our readers will want to use as a gift to friends. We want it to appeal to the younger men and women who are still in college and university, and especially to those who are ignorantly cynical enough to think that nothing is being done to alleviate our tragic state. To all such we will offer renewed hope and courage.

     We expect the volume to be attacked by certain editors and will welcome such attacks as overt indications that we have been non-partisan and free in Christ Jesus. It must always be remembered that carping criticism from some circles is the highest form of applause for what we are attempting. We hope you will look forward to Thoughts on Unity with high expectations.


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