Noel Smith
1900 - 1974

"Gratitude is not a spiritual or moral dessert which we may take or push away according to the whims of the moment, and in either case without material consequences. Gratitude is the very bread and meat of spiritual and moral health, individually and collectively. What was the seed of disintegration that corrupted the heart of the ancient world beyond the point of divine remedy...? What was it but ingratitude?"

How we thank God for Noel Smith and what he contributed to the world, what he contributed to the Baptist Bible Fellowship, what he contributed to the Baptist Bible College, and what he contributed to High Street Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri, where he and his family held membership.

Dr. Smith was a scholar in many fields. And being founding editor of the Baptist Bible Tribune (1950), he was truly one of the great religious editors of America for 24 years.

When we think of great men, we always are impressed by, first of all, one particular quality of character. And Noel Smith's quality was quality. He despised that which was cheap in the religious life of America, whether it was in music, or in preaching, or in writing. He had no patience with liberalism and modernism.  

Noel Smith never denied his Lord, never betrayed a friend, never compromised a principle. And when one thinks of Noel Smith, he thinks also of fortitude and faithfulness. He was a man of unquestioned integrity, and he was a man who had unmovable convictions. What he believed, he believed. What he believed, he said. If he didn't say it with his mouth, he wrote it with his pen. And he didn't apologize for it—ever!

When Heaven gets the checklist out for Noel Smith and the Lord says, "Check on him," Dr. Smith is going to get an A+ in the fight department. Surely the Lord will have up there some special comfort for those who fought down here the good fight of faith.

Another thing about this good man: he lived by the principle that there is no substitute for hard work. So he died in 1974 at work. Now, praise God, he's enjoying the respite from the battle! Heaven grows sweeter as our friends go over to the other side!