MEETINGS OF OTHER BODIES
Here we cannot make our opportunities-at least not generally-but we can accept them when they come. They may be requests that brethren should address young men's or young people's mixed classes of other religious or ethical bodies, or perhaps of purely secular societies, on the Christadelphian faith, or on some matter of doctrine of which they wish to know our views. Such requests used to be very frequent, and they are not uncommon now. Unless there are larger duties which these would impede, they should be accepted gladly. Certainly many of those who hear us will have no better than an Athenian curiosity, 4 but that is better than no curiosity at all, and it is not impossible for the state of mind to change. Results may not be startling, but at least on such an occasion we have many strangers to listen to us, a state of affairs which compares most favourably with many of our own public meetings.

Other variants of the method are possible. Sisters have visited ladies' classes arid performed a similar office. A brother has accepted an invitation to address the conscientious objectors living in an agricultural hostel. An ecclesia has been asked to participate in some movement originally intended to explore the possibilities of Christian re-union, and has consented to the extent of showing willingness to discuss the Christadelphian attitude to the variations in Christendom's doctrine. This occasion (which lasted actively for some two years, and was fruitful of much interest in our message) permitted Christadelphians speakers to expound our faith, without the least mitigation of its exclusiveness, to a zealous and conscientious group of young people.

One word is necessary. Nothing must be permitted to interfere between us and our duty to maintain the gospel undefiled. Politeness must not cause us to temporize on such occasions as these. Yet frankness need not cause us to be rude. We can be plain and frank as to our belief when we know it differs from theirs, stating the Truth in such a manner that those who think cannot fail to see the contrast. But we can do this without being abusive. We wish to convince and convert, not to confute and confound.