 | CLB-3-001 Bulletin: Correction (or spoiling a good story) |
From: "Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list"
Sat, 25 Jan 2003
Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list Bulletin No. 3-001 -- Fri 24 Jan 2003
Item:
CORRECTION (or SPOILING A GOOD STORY WITH FACTS!) - CLM-3-013:
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
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We apologise for having been less than diligent in not ensuring
that the above recent posting was fully factual.
We thank a list member for drawing our attention to our lapse.
David B. recalled reading 'Test All Things', an article by Don
Prout that sought to set the record straight on this story (and
others). Thankyou also to Don who responded quickly to our request
for a critique of the version of the story we ran.
Using Don's research, we need to advise that, whilst many of the
points made are true in themselves, there is no connection known
between F B Meyer and J Wilbur Chapman's conversion.
A couple of minor points first. The correct spelling of the name of
one of the preachers is of course 'Mordecai Ham', not 'Hamm'. Also,
his meetings in North Carolina were in 1934, whilst the Billy
Sunday meetings were in 1925. The connection between the two is not
immediate, but cannot be ruled out.
A biographical note about J WILBUR CHAPMAN reads:
J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) was an American evangelist,
revivalist and pastor. He wrote the words to the hymns One Day,
Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners (Our Great Saviour) and 'Tis Jesus.
Chapman was born into a Christian home, son of Alexander H. and
Lorinda (McWhinney). His mother died when he was thirteen. In his
youth he attended a Quaker First Day School on Sunday mornings and
the Grace Methodist Church Sunday School in the afternoons.
He recalls that he never could set a date for his conversion, but
an incident at age seventeen crystallized his beliefs. Mrs.
Binkley, a Sunday School teacher, helped him during an invitation
time. He describes, "Mrs. Binkley put her hand under my elbow...and
I stood up with the others. I do not know if this was the day of my
conversion, but I do know it was the day of my acknowledgment of
Christ."
In 1877 he went to Lake Forest University where he graduated with a
B.A. in 1879, then he completed his training at Lane Seminary in
Cincinnati in 1882. He was later given a D.D. degree by the
University of Wooster and an LL.D. by Heidelberg University.
While at Lake Forest studying for the ministry, he attended a Moody
crusade meeting in Chicago in 1878. Chapman had some doubts about
his commitment, sometimes feeling saved, sometimes not. So he went
forward and into the inquiry room, where Moody personally dealt
with him using John 5:24 to give Chapman the assurance that he
needed.
The 'ripples' from there included Billy Sunday, Mordecai Ham and
Billy Graham.
Of course, the point of the posting still stands true:
Only Eternity will reveal the tremendous impact of that one
Sunday School teacher ... who invested (his) life in the
lives of others.
It appears though that the Sunday School teacher to be honoured was
a Mrs Binkley.
Makes you think, doesn't it? Everything we do in the name of
Jesus Christ has an effect which will be viewed through
Eternity.
Amen!
- Ron Clough (Moderator, Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list)
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End of Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list Bulletin No. 3-001
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