Baptists and Their Business (Rare. First Edition.)
Nashville, Tennessee: Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention, 1919. First Edition. Hardcover. Rare, first edition. Only one copy found in 49 libraries on OCLC (#3407402). Author J. B. Gambrell is hailed as "one of the greatest statesmen in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention" by The Baptist Record, in which he founded in 1877. A giant of the faith and within the Baptist denomination, Gambrell served four terms as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1917-1920. When he was young, Gambrell was a scout in the Civil War for Robert E. Lee. The fighter he was, he snuck behind enemy lines to steal away his beautiful bride, Mary Corbell, whom he married at midnight. Gambrell fought to drive out saloons in the 1880's, as did his son, Roderick. His son was assassinated on the streets of Jackson, Mississippi in their crusade against the liquor trade. The leader of the liquor forces was found not guilty, and a mob collected to punish the acquitted man. Gambrell made a powerful plea to the mob to disperse, fighting to save the life of the man who had killed his own son. (Reference: Alex Sibley, swbts.edu)
DESCRIPTION: Bound in green publisher's cloth with gilt lettering on the cover and spine. Text is a medium-sized font. Contents include: The condition of the modern world; America in the modern world, The divided condition of Christian forces; At the dawn of the Reformation; The Reformation incomplete; The Lordship of Christ, the center and hope of Christian unity; Christ's program for world conquest; Baptists and other denominations; Obedience and progress; The unionizing movement; The unionizing movement (continued); Two working principles demonstrated; Priestcraft the world's burden; Mobilizing Baptist forces for their task; and Baptists at their task. 157 pp.
CONDITION: Very good with moderate wear to the cover with some discoloration spots. Hinges are strong and binding is sound. Unmarked except for previous owner's names written on the front flyleaf, pastedown, and title page. Leaves have lightly and evenly toned. Several pages are creased, yet text is uncompromised. A nice, rare copy of this first edition. Full refund if not satisfied.
EXCERPT FROM THE INTRODUCTION: "The following pages were written to help Baptists to more fully realize themselves and their unique task. The discussion were given a somewhat wide range for the sake of a proper understanding of the situation Baptists find themselves in. The great war turned loose on the country a vast and, to the uninformed, a confusing propaganda for a vague and doctrineless union of all sorts in one inarticulate mass of heterogenous elements. Men paid by money contributed by Baptists and others to help the soldiers went up and down the land disparaging the sacred beliefs of Christians of the different communions. That is passing, but movements continue designed to destroy the faith of Baptists and to divert them from their divinely imposed task.
It is hoped by the author that this series of discussions may clear the thinking of some Baptists and help them to appreciate their place in the world, a place marked off for them by their Leader and Commander. They are divinely set to a definite task. That task is to preach the Gospel to every creature so far as in their power lies, to baptize believers, and teach all things commanded by their Master. Their whole task is defined and limited by the Holy Scriptures. They have not made their program. It has been made for them, and they find themselves shut up to the task of carrying out the orders of Him they delight to own as Lord and Master. [...]" Very Good.
8vo.
Item #074168
Price: $475.00