Is Your Name Written There?

One of our great old hymns asks, "Is My Name Written There?" It of course is referring to the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 20:15). The question of this article refers to other records where one might find his name written.

Reading through the four volumes of Search for the Ancient Order, Earl West's definitive history of our brotherhood, we read of the change movement that wrecked the progress of the Restoration Movement in the late 19^th and early 20th centuries. The issues were much like those of our day: instrumental music, the sufficiency of the church to evangelize the world, the role of women in church leadership, the nature of the church (a denomination or the body of Christ), and fellowship with the denominational world. The names of those who led the way in wrecking the fellowship of the brethren and dividing the body constitute a wall of infamy. There was David S. Burnett who created the Missionary Society; L. L. Pinkerton who first introduced instrumental music; W. K. Pendleton who led Bethany College into the camp of the progressives; Isaac Errett, editor of the Christian Standard, who championed the cause of the progressives; J. H. Garrison, W. T. Moore, E. S. Ames, and H. L. Willett, who were the early theological liberals of the movement; and a host of others who played a part in rending the church for which our Lord died.

However, there is another wall—one of fame. On it are inscribed the names of the men who stood rock solid against the forces of change. Men who courageous