An Overwhelming Minority. Series

Larry Love, an associate of Billy Graham, saw an unusual and

striking piece of advertising in a London railway station. It pictured

a copy of a very exclusive and expensive magazine. Beneath the

picture were the words, "Read by an overwhelming minority." It is

a catchy and clever idea that is so often true. History is so often

most exciting just at those points when the action is in the hands of

the overwhelming minority. The majority rules in the business

meetings of men, but in God's business it is often the overwhelming

minority that rules.

Noah was practically alone in his stand for righteousness and his

labor for God, but he was an overwhelming minority who won the

day. Joseph was alone against his brothers who easily overwhelmed

him and sold him into slavery, but it was he who came out on top in

the end. Gideon had only a drop in the bucket force compared to

the Midianites, but with his overwhelming minority he put them to

flight and gained the victory. Elijah was an obvious minority when

he withstood hundreds of the prophets of Baal, but it was his prayer

that was heard, and fire fell from heaven to give him the victory. It

is a popular saying that one man and God are a majority. The

meaning is true, but technically they are still only 2. It is more

accurate to say that one man and God are an overwhelming

minority.

Emerson said, "All history is a record of the power of minorities

and of minorities of one." The whole history of the church is in this

category. Luther did not face his inquisitors with arms outstretched

pointing to the army beside him saying, "Here we stand." He stood

solitary and alone and said, "Here I stand. I can do no other-God

help me." God did help him and he became an overwhelming

minority.

Dorothy Dix was a 33-year-old school teacher in Cambridge,

Mass. when she became aware of the terrible conditions under

which the insane had to live. She decided to do something about it

even though the majority were indifferent and thought of them as

beasts. She was strongly opposed by those who profited from

human misery. She gathered data on the conditions and presented it

to the state legislature. If shocked them into action. She kept it up

all across the country, and she saw more than 110 mental

institutions built before she died at age 87. After 33 years of being

among the complacent majority she spent 54 years as an

overwhelming minority.

Helen Keller, the blind and deaf girl who became a world

traveler, was asked by Queen Victoria of England, "How do you

explain the fact that even though you were both blind and deaf you

were able to accomplish so much?" Without hesitation she replied,

"Had it not been for Anne Sullivan the name of Helen Keller would

be unknown. Anne gave of her life to teach Helen and develop her

skills and personality. One person who cared enough changed her

life, and then her life changed that of millions. One who cares

enough can do what millions of the uncaring can never do. There is

tremendous power in being an overwhelming minority.

Carnegie free libraries are over the United States giving every

person in our society the opportunity to read and learn. This did

not happen because of some great movement of the masses. It all

started with Major Anderson of the Revolutionary War fame. He

owned a library when few did, and he was not selfish with it. He

opened it up for young boys who wanted to use it. Every Saturday

morning the young Scottish lad Andrew Carnegie came and spent

the day reading in his library. He went on to become one of the

richest men in America. He was ever grateful for one man whose

generosity opened up new worlds to him. He gave millions to make

this possible for others by setting up free libraries all across the

country. Multiplied millions have been blessed and enriched

because of one man who shared his resources. Great things seldom

start with crowds. They start with one person, or a few persons

doing what is wise and right.

In 1619 the Virginia House of Burgesses met. It was the first legislative

body in America. 22 men had been elected. As soon as

they met they were interrupted by 6 Polish men who were respected

in the colony for their craft in making pitch and tar. Being Poles

they had been denied the right to vote. Only Anglo-Saxons, or those

of English heritage, were granted this right. There was a dispute

and the Polish workmen were granted the right to vote. This

minority group won that right for the millions of Poles who would