(Continued From Previous Post)
While some "historians" would lump GGSR in with other radicals, he was NEVER considered right-wing or even mainline Louisiana UPC in the same sense that some of his peers like A. L. O'Brian and even G. A. Mangun were.
John Wilkins said "George Glass Sr. was a pillar of the old Glass/Caughron liberal wing of the Louisiana District." Now, Wilkins said this in the context of saying that T. F. Tenney, who GGSR mentored, was a "liberal."
Wilkins was pompous and frankly I think a bit unbalanced since his plane crash but he was astute and observant as far as knowing where the bodies were buried in the Louisiana District and here I think he was quite accurate.
Now ... let's look at how some of his peers viewed GGSR's soteriological views. These run the gamut from ultraliberal to archconservative.
I am referring here to "Christianity Without The Cross" - page 166. Thomas Fudge's many interviews with first and second generation UPC history makers and shapers are invaluable.
Here is the most pertinent statement on this thread and in this discussion.
Fudge says:
Howard Goss did not preach the UPC distinctives. He did not stress Acts 2: 38. Other well known Oneness figures likewise may not have held to this idea but their literary legacy leaves few clues and their disciples present conflicting evidence."
CWTC p. 106
This is footnoted as follows: (any bold in green is mine)
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Examples would be George Glass, Sr., long-time Louisiana pastor. According to
T. F. Tenney, Glass was strong on the
Acts 2: 38 message, adopting a view closer to that of the PAJC than the stereotypical PCI position.
T. F. Tenney interview, 20 April 1999, Tioga, La.
Others state that Glass did not admit any association between
John 3.5 and
Acts 2.38 but saw no point in contending for his views.
Roy Gerald interview, 23 April 1999, St. Louis Missouri.
Tenney confirmed this, noting he and Glass did not agree.
So ... even Tom Fred Tenney admits that GGSR did NOT equate the "birth of water" in John 3.5 with water baptism in Acts 2.38. Now that is significant but that alone would not a plausible theory make. More to come though ...
A. D. Van Hoose recalls preaching against an equation between
Acts 2.38 and the new birth in the 1940s in Port Arthur, Texas and being congratulated by Howard Goss and George Glass. A. D. Van Hoose interview, 31 August, 2000, Evansville, Indiana.
"George Glass was more liberal than conservative on the new birth." -
Murray Burr interview, 13 January 2001. Junction, Texas.
Now Burr was the king of the archconservative intellectuals. He had a mind like a steel trap and believe me, just like the radicals in northern Mississippi and even more so - the radicals in Louisiana and Texas, Burr chief among them, could smell out a preacher who didn't conform to their views on salvation or "standards" like a prize-winning Catahoula cur on a fresh trail.
(H. L. Bennett of DeQuincy was another labeled as "weak on the message" and like Papa George, he also had a Tennessee and PCI connection. He was not the prominent preacher GGSR was so was more vulnerable to the salvoes.)
But I believe that Burr was right on in his views of GGSR's views on salvation.
"I know T. F. Tenney privately holds PCI philosophy as did his mentor, George Glass, Sr. whom I also knew. Correspondence from Loren Yadon, 28 April 2000.
I knew Loren Yadon well and those acquainted with him know that no one worked more closely with TFT for a period of years. While this material may disturb some and some may not agree, these are definite statements from credible sources from liberal to arch-conservative and they can NOT just be swept under the rug or dismissed with empty assertions.
William E. Gamblin told David F. Gray that Glass was not very strong on the new birth - David S. Gray interview, 7 January 2001.
Uh ... no Pastor G. I assure you that Reformed Dave doesn't belong in the "cheap seats" like you asserted.
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Now to conclude this; back to Papa George's sermon notes.
I don't doubt Pastor G has some and that's a great treasure.
However, George Glass Sr.'s Bible is in the George Glass Sr. Memorial cabin in Tioga, La.
I've seen it and I'm sure many others have.
His Bible is open to
Acts 2-4 and near the text of
Acts 2: 38 is the marginal note: "the plan of salvation."
Papa George had noted sermons preached by ministers on
Acts 2 and 3.
What's pertinent to my theory?
The preachers he notes are men like W. M. Greer - L. H. Benson and M. H. Hansford.
AND .... these men are undoubtedly from the PCI tradition that believed salvation was at repentance and gave the UPC a link with mainline Christianity from the very beginning.
So ... I believe the theory I espoused (and I emphasize only theory) is a sound one that cannot just be flippantly dismissed as Pastor G attempted on the "Mystery Solved" thread.
While some may feel they have "backslid", I feel that George L. Jr. and George Lee are simply preaching and espousing their heritage - and in preaching a message of grace without extrabiblical legalism they are simply logically progressing from what their father and grandfather - one of the finest men who ever walked the earth - believed in his heart of hearts.