PREACHING IN THE PRESS
This is already well-known. Local papers are asked to accept large (say six inch, double column) advertisements which set out, in two or three hundred words, a salient fact of the Truth and name and address for further enquiry.

Since in these last two sections we have stepped fairly and squarely out of the realm in which individuals can do much on their own, we can pursue this matter of printed preaching a little further. It has its dangers, and because of this, the suggestions here are coupled with strong warnings against acquiring a pamphleteering mentality. A ready pen (or a pen which believes itself ready-and what frantic perversions of our native tongue are sent irretrievably through the post from this delusion!) can too easily put half-formed thoughts on paper, with less-than-half-envisaged consequences, and commit our body and our faith to whatever response they evoke; this book dare not be party to encouraging this. There is much writing which can be done with profit, both on a national and on a local scale, but it needs to be done responsibly. There are local needs which can be well met by a discerning use of the pen, but it must be discerning.

Our counsel now is therefore the paradoxical one (as it might seem) of asking most who read this book to think about writing as a means of preaching, and then think twice and abandon it. Or rather, not abandon it, but admit frankly that our knowledge is inadequate (if it is), our command of language too feeble (if, for example, our letter-writing tells us that our pen is lame), or our judgment too erring (for most of us have means of knowing whether we are really as shrewd and well-balanced as we would like to be); and if then we know that we are not the people to do the writing, commit the endeavour into other hands. Or it may be that we have some ground for hope in ourselves, but not enough for trust: in that case there is well-qualified censorship of which we can avail ourselves; brethren well instructed in the matter of the Truth who can criticise frankly but fairly what we have to say; brethren whose own writing is good to give their observations on our style.

Obviously, the effective inclination to write can come only to the few. But these also are at present too few. In the field of literature also the Truth needs more preachers. It is well, therefore, that brethren who have the capacity and qualifications should set about equipping themselves for the work. There are possibilities beyond the scope of this book to be hinted at, but there are others within its range which might be named.

One of them concerns canvassing. It happens not infrequently that we come across a neighbourhood which is noteworthy for some particular sect entrenched there. There are areas predominantly Catholic-many of them-or Baptist, or Jewish. It is surely mistaken to accept this (so far, at least, as it concerns Catholics and Jews) as a signal to retreat. It is altogether within the spirit of Apostolic preaching that we should promptly take advantage of the situation with weapons specially designed for it. Earlier in this book, issue was taken with destructive preaching for its own sake; but here, at the risk of seeming inconsistency, we advance the suggestion that our preaching, verbal and written, should point itself directly at what it finds. If, therefore, there are many Catholics, who will not talk, who are satisfied with their religion, bound to their priest, fettered with tradition, here is a golden opportunity to distribute a leaflet which gives a reason for our hope (as against blind superstition), a Bible to be read (as against a priest to be followed) and a promise of a Kingdom to come with Jesus to the earth (as against an infallible and impotent Church). So also, with the requisite changes, for Jews and the rest. The wording can be deliberately challenging, provocative, albeit kind and humble, and prepare the way for a message which cannot be misunderstood when the preacher calls.

The other concerns our lectures. Two courses have been given by the writer, each of three successive lectures on a single theme. They were of such a kind that those who were interested would need to read further. Each lecture was therefore accompanied by a script which summarized its main points and gave suggestion for reading. These scripts, which were duplicated on a " Gestetner" duplicator, but could with a larger prospect have been printed, were distributed to all the visitors, and seem from present reports to have well justified their production. The method is worth developing.

One other word about literature, this time on the use of it. In several places there has now been tried the experiment of to use a name which is quite inadequate. On campaigns there has been taken a stall in the public market on which our literature has been displayed, with one of us in charge to keep the material .in order and answer enquiries. The display was obviously bound up with the other work we were doing at the time, and so it had a direct advertising value, but there was quite a keen demand for the material itself, which was principally of the smaller kind, and was, of course, supplied free. One ecclesia (at least) has gone further, and taken a shop in the centre of its town, in whose window our publications are displayed, and whose counter is manned by brethren and sisters whose manner of life permits them to do it. The idea could perhaps be more widely adopted and developed. Such a place could perhaps become a borrowing library for our works (or works we are prepared to sponsor), and even a reference library for those who wish to satisfy some enquiry from the books or the helper present. A rota could be established of brethren and sisters whose business it would be to look after the premises-shop or room or stall-at the hours when they would be most frequented. No doubt the results would not be startling; perhaps they would be hardly encouraging. But we only truly find the answer to that by trying.

And that ends our suggestions. It does not exhaust the possibilities. It is the aperitif and not the dinner. It is meant to stimulate thought and not to replace it. It is the proper way to bring this book to a close, for it expresses what it is: a series of sign-posts on the road many of its readers have not yet trodden far; a few markers to a smoother and surer path to those who have-like the writers, blundered from time to time into heavy going which could have been avoided; a confession of fellow-pilgrimage in a common service between the provisional guides and the co-operative convoy; a right hand stretched forward beyond where any of our feet have trod, and a left beckoning on to the path which reaches, to the end of our mortal opportunity.

The book opened with an appeal to the Spirit of the Preacher; an invocation of the mind of Christ. Let it close with an appeal to the God of our Salvation, through the Author and Finisher of our Faith, to sanctify us wholly in His service, and use us to speed His Word that it may run, and be glorified.6