The Neglected Message, or Homeseekers Excursion o'er the Heroic Route Illustrations by Monte Crews

Ballew, Emmit

Published by Journal Printing Company, Kirksville, MO., 1925

About this Item

Blue cloth, spine is plain, front decorated in black & gilt, 6 x 8 1/2 inches, binding with a few small stains, bottom of backstrip frayed, rest fine. 1976 gift inscription in ink on the ffep. Frontispiece portrait of the author, 165 pp. with additional b/w plates. Rear end papers and last few leaves of text with damp stain in the bottom margin. A scarce title with only one holding at WorldCat. The illustrator, Monte Kendrick Crews (1888-1946), was a Missiouri-born artist, a teacher at the Kansas City Art Institute, and later at the Phoenix Art Institute, New York City; the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, and at the Moore Institute of Philadelphia. His illustrations appeared in Boys' Life, Liberty, Colliers, The Saturday Evening Post, Argosy, and Blue Book Magazine.A Christian allegory in which the author presents himself as "Skinner the Land Man," running an excursion over Life's Practical Railway. "His coach is picked by the through Express, which is drawn by a powerful double header, Justice and Hope. They are fired with the blood of the innocent Lamb, which perpetually trickles down thru the channels of love from the Rugged Cross, God being the Supreme Superintendent, and Christ the Universal Conductor." Makes several references to the Great War, the suffering of the American soldiers, and the need for Christians to unite in evangelistic work. Also relates the author's near-death experience of January 25, 1918, wherein he saw the gates of heaven opened to him by a recently-departed friend. He is turned back at the last moment when it is discovered that he had failed to spread the gospel during his life, and this book is his answer to that demand.Charles Emmit Ballew (1871-1933), b. & d. in Missouri. The 1930 Census has him as a farmer in Chariton, Missouri. Seller Inventory # 7854

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Neglected Message, or Homeseekers ...

Publisher: Journal Printing Company, Kirksville, MO.

Publication Date: 1925

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Monte Kendrick Crewss

Condition: Very good

Edition: First Edition.