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 *********************************************************