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By Verna Thompson (Gaston Collins’ daughter) April 21, 2014
Received Frank’s book (on) E. Gaston Collins. It brought a tear and these words — (It’s a) shame man lives not long enough to see how great he was, in his obituary.
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By Bill Steensland April 24, 2014, Amazon.com
A Book Worth Reading!
When I discovered that Frank Cook had written a book about my grandmother’s brother I thought it might be interesting to read, but I found much more. Frank has done a wonderful job of revealing the heart of a man that I knew as a child, but did not know how really important his life was until I read this book. Even if you have no idea who E. Gaston Collins was I would highly recommend the book, because it will make you curious about people in your own family and how they impacted the world around them. So many times the people we know so well are virtual strangers.
I want to thank Frank for helping me understand the life of a man who truly made a difference in his time. It makes me proud that I called him “Uncle Gaston.”
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By Larry Miles, May 2014 Word and Work
Several of our “old-time” readers in the Southern Indiana and Louisville area might remember the name E. Gaston Collins (1890-1970). He preached at Borden Church of Christ from 1952-1957. His grandson, Frank N. Cook of Lewisburg, TN has written an excellent biography of Bro. Collins.
Last year Bro. Cook contacted me (Larry Miles) asking permission to use some material from Word and Work. Of course we gave him permission as Word and Work was never copyrighted. He and I have talked on phone a few times over the last year and via e-mail and FaceBook.
I wholeheartedly recommend the book. He has done a wonderful job of telling his grandfather’s life. The book contains 216 pages, has over 100 photographs, and some excellent endnotes for each chapter and is a very easy read.
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By Paul Linn Dale, Canadian Churches of Christ Historical Society:
Over the past few years, while researching Canadian church of Christ history, I have come to know and appreciate Tennessee born evangelist, Gaston Collins, and Nova Scotian born, Ada Simm. They were married in 1913 in Nova Scotia, and served the Lord for over 50 years.
About a year and half ago, through the assistance of Geoff Ellis, I connected with Gaston’s grandson, Frank N. Cook, from Tennessee. In April 2014, Frank released a book about his grandparents: “Buy the Truth and Sell it Not – The Life of E. Gaston Collins”.
Frank’s book is a well told story of a North American family’s faith in, and response to, God. He provides a fascinating look, in a very readable style, at his grandparents’ lives and service. Readers are taken on a journey back in time to the 1770’s, when the U.S. was fighting the British for “Independence”. Frank had ancestors on both sides. He brings us forward to the U.S. Civil War in the 1860’s, and its effect on the church, families, and society. Several “Collins” relatives’ stories are told, including well-known American preacher and educator, David Lipscomb who founded Nashville Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee with James A. Harding. It became Lipscomb University.
Gaston’s relationship with Canada began when a Canadian born evangelist, Dr. O.H. Tallman, from Smithville Ontario, held meetings in Gaston’s home town of Salem, Tennessee. Gaston’s 2 sisters were baptized. O.H. was educated at Potter Bible College in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he had become a professor, along with his brother O.E. Tallman (the father of Ontario’s Oliver Tallman).
In the fall of 1909, O.H. Tallman planned to open “Maritime Bible and Literary College” (MB&LC) in West Gore, Nova Scotia. West Gore church of Christ, in Hants County, Nova Scotia, sponsored the development of the college and built a school building (2014 – now a house). O.H had been preaching at West Gore since 1908. Gaston was 19 years old in 1909, and travelled by train to Nova Scotia, to begin classes in the first session of MB&LC that started on October 25th, 1909. A young West Gore church member began attending classes the same day, and became life-long friends with Gaston. His name was Charles Gordon “C.G.” McPhee.
Gaston preached his first sermon in Nova Scotia. He was a gifted singer and became a member of the school’s, “Maple Leaf Singers” quartet, along with O.E. Tallman, Lemuel James “LJ” Keffer, and Fred Wallace. All 4 men would serve the Lord throughout their lives. They preached in Nova Scotia churches of Christ during their time at MB&LC.
“L.J.” Keffer helped establish the Richardson church of Christ on Deer Island, Charlotte County, New Brunswick.
Gaston spent the summer of 1913 in Manitoba, where he held gospel meetings at various Manitoba preaching points and churches including Carman and Winnipeg. When he returned to Nova Scotia, he married Ada Simm, a Nova Scotian born teacher. Ada’s parents owned a general store in West Gore, and were active members of the West Gore church of Christ.
Maritime Bible and Literacy College closed in 1915, as did its’ older sister, “Beamsville Bible School”, in Beamsville, Ontario. Following the school’s demise, the Collins moved to Tennessee, (which was Ada’s first trip south). Gaston furthered his education, preached and worked at secular jobs to provide for his family. In 1925, Gaston, Ada, and their daughters, Claire, Verna, and Wilma, moved to Meaford, Ontario, Canada, where Gaston became the evangelist for the Meaford church of Christ. He also served the churches meeting in Cape Rich, Collingwood, Griersville and Thornbury. Frank provides some insights as to how this move occurred.
While in Meaford, Gaston became the editor of the Canadian churches of Christ magazine, “Christian Monthly Review” (CMR), a position he held for 5 years. Donald McDougall, from West Gore, Nova Scotia, had been editor since 1918 when he took over the ‘Christian Quarterly” from Dr. H.M. Evans. Nearing his 80’s, Donald felt it was time for someone else to take over responsibility.
The “CMR” was published from 1919 to 1933, when the “Great Depression” forced its closure. Nearly 50% of subscribers were at least one year behind in paying their subscriptions. Three years later, in 1936, a 21 year old Western Canadian church of Christ member, Robert Sinclair, founded the Gospel Herald.
Gaston resigned his role as editor of the “CMR” in 1929, when he moved from Meaford to serve as the evangelist for a new church planting in the Detroit Michigan suburb of Dearborn. My grandfather, Lloyd Snure, was asked to serve as “Business Manager” of the magazine which he agreed to for about a year.
The Dearborn church of Christ had strong growth with Gaston and Ada’s assistance.
From Michigan, the Collins returned to Tennessee. Gaston served as the “gospel Advocate” magazine’s “Office Manager” for nearly a decade; and held numerous evangelistic meetings. He often was invited to join well-known evangelists as their song leader at gospel meetings.
As all evangelists face, Gaston had heart-wrenching challenges in his position as an evangelist. Frank outlines some details of those experiences.
Gaston lost his eyesight later in life, but his faith never wavered. As many of the obituaries in the early 20th century read, he “went home to his reward” on March 6th, 1970 at the age of 79. Ada followed the love of her life on May 4th, 1978. Frank Cook’s mother, Claire (Collins) Cook, eldest daughter of Gaston and Ada, wrote a letter to each of her children at her father’s passing, and included the following statement: “I have never met anyone who loved and revered it (the Bible) more than your granddaddy.”
“Buy the Truth and Sell it Not” is available from: Barnes & Noble, e-book, $2.99*; paperback, $12.99; hard cover, $23.41 *The paperback and hardcover book contains numerous photos. The e-book does not.
Sources for this Book Review include: “Buy the Truth and Sell it Not”, by Frank Cook; “The History of the Disciples of Christ in Canada Since 1830”, by Reuben Butchart; “A History of Religious Periodicals in the Restoration Movement in Canada, by Eugene C. Perry; “Maritime Bible and Literary College Paper”, by Geoffrey Ellis; “THE BIBLE STUDENT” magazine; “CHRISTIAN QUARTERLY” magazine; “CHRISTIAN MONTHLY REVIEW” magazine; “GOSPEL HERALD” magazine; ancestry.ca.; Googlemaps
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By Nada Howes, Westvue Church of Christ bulletin, June 15, 2014
Buy the Truth and Sell it Not: The Life of E. Gaston Collins by Frank N. Cook is a well-written, entertaining story of a faithful Christian man whose single desire was to preach the word of God. The story takes us back to a much simpler time when the preaching was most important, and the cares of the world seemed not to interfere. We are drawn into the story as if the characters were our very own family. Mr. Collins, along with his wife and children, moved about the United States and Canada where he preached and led singing at many churches and gospel meetings. It was a life of service and devotion to teaching that was not without heartaches but more fulfilling. Daughter Claire Cook said about her father that she had never met anyone who loved and revered the Bible more than he. Check out this amazing story and read for yourself about E. Gaston Collins and his life’s work. Good job, Frank!!
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An Amazon review
This is an informative and interesting story about a man who gave his life to God and had many wonderful experiences serving Him through the years.
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The Gospel Advocate magazine, August 2014
this is a “delightful” book about “a life devoted to the church and to Jesus Christ.”
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