History happens quietly. For several weeks now people have worked and prayed diligently for the 24th Southside Lectures. Flash! They’ve come and now they’ve gone—passed into history. Now we will look, God willing, to the 25th.

The subject. This year’s theme Choose Ye This Day was timely, in some ways imposing, and always relevant to our needs. Time after time, lesson following lesson, the theme challenged us to a deeper faith, to higher commitment, to a greater love for God and His word. The subject was one that is close to home for each of us. No one was exempt from its challenges, not one left out of its demands. We were all-each one of us—impressed with the fact that life is comprised of a series of choices—choices ranging from relatively insignificant to vital, choices that have to do with both the here and the hereafter. Choose Ye This Day was treated by the various speakers with skill and scriptural precedent. Each sermon was complete within itself, but each was tied inseparably to the overall theme.

The speakers. Preaching is the gospel in personality. This year’s program gave sufficient evidence to that fact. Each man had his own distinct style, but each one gave his personality to the examination and recommendations of the word of God.

Sewell Hall is always the picture of sincerity. His enthusiasm for souls—his own as well as others—was readily apparent in his approach to his assigned subjects. He called us to greater piety in his lesson Take Time To Be Holy. He gave us an otherworldly view in his sermon on This World Or That One, showed us the value of a good marriage and how God hates divorce in his timely lesson on To Stay Or Not To Stay: The Sin of Divorce. His lesson on Hard Choices was a fitting conclusion to this year’s lectures. We are indebted to Sewell Hall for his timely admonitions.

Robert Jackson is unique, a preacher of great magnetism, one who chooses his words well and says them succinctly. He was certainly the shortest speaker—both in terms of size and duration—but he said things that are everlasting—both in quality and duration. He charged us to a cautious life in his look at Choosing A Master. He called us back to the scriptures in his sermon on The Church Of Your Choice. His lesson on Choosing A Mate was both instructional and motivational, especially for young people (and there were lots of them!). Why Do You Wait provided a fitting conclusion for our series this year. Robert Jackson was a vital part of this year’s program.

Jason Moore was outstanding. In the midst of some of the finest preachers of our day, he was not a wit behind any of them. Not that any of us were surprised, of course. He got us started on Monday in with an excellent presentation on To Serve Or Be Served: That Is The Question. His sermon on Choosing Entertainment was one of the highlights of the whole series. It was timely, convincing, well illustrated. He spoke convincingly, too, about Foolish Choices, then gave us a stirring encouragement in his sermon on Choosing A Way Of Escape. We are all proud of Jason and the job his did.

Buddy Payne is an immensely talented preacher. His sermons were well conceived, carefully and elaborately presented, completely scriptural. He spoke with great skill on family values in his As For Me And My House. His lesson on Choosing The Right Words was one that fits all of us in some way or the other. It was excellent. He provided fine spiritual advice when he spoke on Choosing Your Friends. His final lesson on Friday was an excellent doctrinal discourse on Whose Choice Is It Anyway, one which deserves a re-visit periodically. We feel fortunate to have had Brother Buddy Payne with us this week.

R.J. Stevens, “the Sweet Singer Of Israel” in this age, was his usual dignified and expressive self. What can we say about him and his work? The singing speaks for itself. It was, again, beautiful. He led for the twenty-fourth year in a row. He is a vital part of the Southside Lectures.

The Audience. The crowds were wonderful! Although the crowds were large, they were orderly, interested, and respectful. The participation of our people here at Southside was outstanding. What a fine group you are! We had outstanding attendance from our members; they were friendly and courteous, and responsive to the needs of our visitors. Our young people were wonderful—a picture of what young people ought to be. We finished on Friday night with a record crowd—753 people were present for the final program. Our deacons handled the large crowds with skill and efficiency and we compliment them for the splendid work they did during the week. Our elders led us in wonderful, sincere prayers. Bubba’s announcements were filled with good humor and appropriate pathos. I’ve been criticized for saying this, but Southside is the best!

The Result. Four were restored, one was baptized during the meeting. In addition, many people—in fact all who listened carefully and honestly—made new resolutions to do better, to be more concerned about their spiritual welfare.

The future. Let us begin again to build. Let us take what we’ve heard and bring it into reality in our lives. Let us make the choices that are wise and meaningful, that have lasting value, that connect us to eternity. Choose ye this day…