The Fishermen's Club
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The Fishermen's Club was an evangelistic organization connected with the ministry of T. C. Horton and centered at Biola. It, along with the Women's Lyceum Club formed the nucleus around which the whole Institute was founded.The King's Business, Vol. 2.6, June 1911, pg 111, [
Founding
The first meeting of what was to become The Fishermen's Club was April 16, 1906, so it predates the founding of the institute by about two years. It was begun "under the leadership of Rev. T.C. Horton]" as "a systematic and inspirational study of the Bible. In the following summer of 1906, it was first organized as "The Fishermen's Club," taken from Matthew 4:19. The King's Business, Vol. 7.5, May 1912, pg 103, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/3/5/8
Structure
The Fishermen's Club had a strong sense of being official and institutional. The club was a night class, with membership, and business meetings that occurred "once in six months."The King's Business, Vol. 2.6, June 1911, pg 114 [ From the earliest days they had oaths, pledges, pins, officers, meetings, sub-groups, and plans. The club as a whole contained many participates that were not official members. "Young men are invited to the class, but are not solicited to join. Every applicant is thoroughly tested before being received. The doctrinal test for membership is more stringent than any organization we know of."The King's Business], Vol. 2.6, June 1911, [ In November 1911, around 200 "Fishermen" came to their annual feast, each bringing one friend.The King's Business], Vol. 2.3, March 1911, [ However, according to The King's Business] June 1911, the "enrolled member" did not vary much from 100 to 150.The King's Business, Vol. 2.6, June 1911, [
In January 1911, The Fishermen's Club was incorporated in order "that the name might always be associated in this State with devotedness of life to the Word of God and to the winning of souls." In addition, the pin of the club was copyrighted, which was said to provide the fellows with "renewed obligation upon them to live the life of the Lord Jesus and defend His Word."The King's Business], Vol. 2.1, January 1911, pg 27, [ This pin belonged to the club and could be recalled from a member at any point if those in charge saw fit.The King's Business], Vol 2.6, June 1911, pg 114, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/2/6/6
Ministry Events
In March 1910, The Fishermen's Club and The Lyceum Club conducted a series of Young People's Meetings. These meets were different, and the publication refers to them as "most remarkable." "The meets were different from any we have ever attended," it states later, "commencing at 7:30 sharp and closing at 9 o'clock. Fifteen minutes were allotted to the speaker if one was in evidence, but on dependece was placed upon any set address. The young people themselves had buring messages which carried conviction to all hearers. Two things were emphasized--Salvation by faith in the crucified, risen Son of God, and the full surrender of the will to Him as Lord. No adults were permitted to take part."The King's Business, Vol. 1.4, April 1910, pg 63, [ On the next page, the magazine relates the closing event of this series of meetings:
The closing episode in the Young People's meetings was a supper at the Institute of the evening of the 17th of March. Between three and four hundred jolly young people filled the auditorium, where the women of the Auxiliary had prepared a splendid repast.
There was no effort at entertainment. When the supper was over, the after-dinner speeches were givin in the form of testimonies to the joy of living a surrendered life. Mr.J. M. Irvine], chairman of the committee, presided. It was worth wile to hear the happy hearty voices, telling out the sweet story of victorious Christian living. It was so different from the ordinary banquet, terminating as it did in a service of dedication to the Lord. There is not greater mistake made by the church than that the young people are not susceptible to deep spiritual teaching and that they cannot enjoy themselves heartily in spiritual gatherings.The King's Business, Vol. 1.4, April 1910, pg 64, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/4/16
For two weeks in June 1910,"The Evangelistic Band" of the Club, led by Elliott H. Barrett, J. R. Pratt, and Theodore P. Smith, (insert full names when found) held meetings in the Sunnyside M. E. Church, "resulting in the quickening of the church and the salvation of a number of young people." A similar two-week program was carried out in the Epworth M. E. Church "of this city," and more than 50 young people were saved. Following this, the Fishermen's Club announced plans to buy a wagon, tent, and "and other paraphernalia for a first class work" in smaller towns. The King's Business, Vol. 1.7, July 1910, pg 113, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/7/17
In November of 1910, the Los Angeles Times gave a report on The Fisherman's Club annual turkey dinner. The King's Business quotes it saying, "
A remarkable meeting was held at the Bible Institute, Monday night, when 200 members of the Fishermen's Club appeared there, each bringing one more as his special guest at dinner. It was a demonstration of their skill as fishermen, and when the 400 whistled and sang gospel songs together, it was a chorus worth going far to hear.
Director Garth, who conducted the music, has few superiors as a leader, and has developed chorus whistling among the members of the club, until it is a delight to hear the young fellows, which the singing was of remarkable volume.
The notable part of the gathering was to see 400 young fellows congregated there, the larger part of them being active Christian workers in the Los Angeles High School, Polytechnic High School, Occidental College and U. S. C., each burch standing, when called for.
Perhaps 100 of the young fellows stood up, without being called for, and told for the benefit of the others, the delight they had found in taking Christ into their life."The King's Business, Vol. 1.12, December 1910, pg 210
Purpose
"The Club was originated with a two-fold purpose in view. The study of the Word of God and the doing of the will of God." The King's Business, Vol. 2.6, June 1911, pg 114 [ This later goal was accomplished by each and every member being involved in his own personal work]. In the July 1910 issue of The King's Business, Institute Items gives this testimony from a former "Fisherman," Charlie Nelson, "he states that he has never let a day pass for the last two years in which he did not speak personally to some one of the Lord." It then continues, "This is the kind of testimony we like to hear and the kind of Fishermen we hope to see going out from the Club."The King's Business, Vol. 1.7, July 1910, pg 113, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/7/17
Ministries
In the May 1911 issue of The King's Business, an article lists these branches of ministry which The Fishermen's Club was closely involved in.
Fisherman's Club Evangelistic Meetings meeting in different churches and young people societies. (For instance, over the summer of 1910, this club held tent meetings in Elsiore, Perris, Winchester, and Nemit.The King's Business, Vol. 1.10, pg 166, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/10/20)
Big Brother Work a ministry to handicapped boys.
Evangelistic campaigns conducted by the Fisherman's Club Evangelist which were followed by Bible Classes conducted by Harry J. Hill.
The King's Business, Vol. 3.5, May 1912, pg 103-104 [& http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/3/5/9]
Missions Involvement
By it's sixth year, this club was able to list a great deal of foreign and missions involvement which it either supported, or had members actively participating in.
It supported H.S. Kimura in Japan, Frank Peer Beal in China, Rev. Cas. E. Hurlburt, the superintendent of the African Inland Mission and also a member of the club in Africa.
In the United States, their representatives included Jesse Baldwin and Theodore P. Smith among the Navajo Indians, and William Sloan and George Hampton in the Oil Fields.
The King's Business, Vol. 3.5, May 1912, pg 104, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/3/5/9
Presidents
End of 1906 - Edward H. Jones
Beg of 1907 - Frank K. Galloway
End of 1907 - Elliott H. Barrett
Beg of 1908 - E. Donald Youngkon.
End of 1908 - Hugh H. Wallace
Beg of 1909 - Stanly R. Pratt
End of 1909 - Andrew J. Johnson
Beg of 1910 - Roy E. Creighton
End of 1910 - Jesse J. Martin
Beg of 1911 - Earl W. Haney
End of 1911 - Robert E. Glaze
Beg of 1912 - Dwight G. Wallace
The King's Business, Vol. 3.5, May 1912, pg 104, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/3/5/9