Okay, good morning everybody. Welcome to BC 309. The recording is on. We're going to get our class started. Could I request somebody to please pray and then we'll start? Anybody? Or just lead us in prayer this morning? I can pray, Pastor. Go ahead, hope, please. Father, we bless you for this nice day that have lavished to us. And we are very proud of it because it is by your grace we are here.  We ask your Holy Spirit to help us to understand your miseries. We pray for our pastor, Ashish, that I went to help him to explain to us those your willingness in our life. Father, we pray that you are going to change us through this course and that you are going to save you in a good order that you want us to reach. Thank you, Father, for each one of us who have trained the class and I ask for your Holy Spirit to help us to understand all that we're going to learn today. I pray in Jesus' name when I believe. Amen. Amen. Thank you and welcome, everyone, this morning. We are continuing this course on BC 309 Urban Church Planting. We're just going to pick up from where we stopped last week. We had one class last week where we just introduced the course and got started. We just went through a little bit about my own personal journey in starting small groups, fellowships, and so on. And then we came up until this point where we said, as we think about starting churches and ministries in our urban centers, our first priority is to be dependent on the Holy Spirit. Now, just to quickly recap or mention once again why we are doing this course. We are doing this course because globally we are seeing a movement, a migration of people towards urban centers. It could be small towns, it could be towns, or it could be large cities. People are moving. Of course, for many reasons, practical reasons, for jobs, for better access to better facilities, so on. So there is this movement of people and cities, towns are a great opportunity for us to reach people. And it also gives us opportunity to reach people from many different backgrounds because in a city, you don't have just the people from that region. Many times you have people from all over. They're right there in that city. So it's a tremendous opportunity. It is also very complex. It's very challenging because there are many variables as far as cities concerned. We'll talk about that as we progress. So there's a tremendous opportunity and this is the trend that is going to continue. There is going to be a constant movement of people towards cities. And so we as ministers of God, we need to prepare ourselves. How do we minister in cities, whether you're planting a church or any other kind of ministry that you're planning to do in an urban setting? What are some things that we have learned so that we can reach people and serve the Lord better? So the first thing we said is even though in this course we're going to be talking about all these practical things and I'm going to share with you, do this and do this and so on. And we must never forget, ultimately our dependence is on the Holy Spirit on God to work through us. Psalm 127 was one very familiar scripture. It says, if the Lord does not build the house, those who labor, they labor in vain. In other words, if God's not building it, if God's not building the work, if God is not in it, then all our efforts really will amount to nothing. Or Jesus put out the same truth, but he put it in a different way. He said, I'm the wine, you are the branches. If the branch doesn't abide in the wine, it doesn't bring forth fruit. And he said, without me you can do nothing. So both these metaphors, that of building a house or the wine and the branches are telling us that, look, in the work we do and the fruit that we bear, it's only going to come from God, our connection with God. God has to do it through us. So whatever work that God has called you to do in the city, whether to plant a church or start some other kind of ministry. And of course, if some of you are called to work in smaller settings in a town or a village or doesn't matter the same things applied there as well, our dependence is on God. And a very important thing is when we labor, we must keep in mind that our increase comes from God. In 1 Corinthians 3, 6, and 7, Paul says, one man waters, one man sows, another man waters, but God gives the increase. So we could sow, we can water, but only God can give the increase. The increase comes from God. We do our part, of course, of sowing and watering. And we must do it properly, must do it well. Do it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And then all increase comes from God. We depend on God for the fruit, for the growth, for the impact that comes from God. And Jesus, you know, is teaching us in John chapter 4, Jesus said, we are gathering fruit unto eternal life. John chapter 4, 35, 36, you know, we are gathering fruit for eternal life. So imagine, you know, the result of the work we do, its outcome is lasting for eternity. We are gathering fruit for eternal life. So, you know, in contrast to natural work, which of course we almost do, natural work, day-to-day work, of course, its impact is natural. Its impact is here and now. But in the spiritual work we are doing, Jesus is saying, we are going to gather fruit for eternal life, for eternity. It's going to last beyond here and now. And what the apostle Paul brings out for us in 1 Corinthians 3, 12 to 15 is, you know, when we are doing this kind of work, where we are gathering fruit for eternal life, we have to be careful how we do it. We can do it by natural means, earthly means, wood-hay and stubble. Or we can do it with divine means, with gold, silver and precious stones. And only what is from God, gold, silver, precious stones, when we build with that kind of material, that will stand the test of fire. That will be eternal. So, this is some things to keep in mind. You know, we, in this course, and I'm repeating myself here, in this course I'm going to talk, we're going to talk about all these practical things, you know. Don't forget that everything has to be done under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, these things mean nothing. Okay. So, in 1 Corinthians 3, 12 to 15, Paul says, you know, you can build a house, you can build it with wood-hay or stubble, or you can build it with gold, silver and precious stones. The contrast is, you see, we can all build a house, but what do you use to build it? It will make all the difference.  But instead, if you build a house with divine means, with what comes from God, that will stand the test. So, in this course, we are going to discuss natural methods and means. We're going to talk about practical things that we can do. But remember, everything is subject to God working through us and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Now, the other thing I wanted to say is that it takes wisdom. It requires wisdom to take a city. In Proverbs 21, you know, 22, it talks about a wise man, the man through his wisdom. Let me look at it. Proverbs 21, you can turn with me there if you have your Bible then. Proverbs 21, verse 22, he says, A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the trusted stronghold. Proverbs 21, verse 22, A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the trusted stronghold. So, it takes wisdom to capture the heart of the city and to transform the city. And it takes wisdom. So, we must look to God for wisdom, where each one of us, you know, where whichever city God has placed you, whichever area that you're working in, look to God and say, God, give me wisdom to show, for me to know how to impact my city. How can I make a difference in my city? How can I take my city, so to speak? How can I influence, you know, the community or the communities or the people in the city that you want me to impact and touch, right? So, let's just, you know, open up a little time for discussion. Let's, you know, when you and I are doing ministry and you and I are, you know, either planting a church or starting a ministry, what are the struggles that we have in trying to balance the two? That is other plans and organizing and strategizing and listening to the Holy Spirit. You know, what kind of challenges we would face or struggles we go through, right? If any of you have experienced that, feel free to share it. This is not to, it's not to, you know, judge or criticize anybody. It's more for us to learn from each other. So, you know, in your ministry, what have you found difficult in trying to balance listening to the Holy Spirit and developing strategies and ideas and so on? Anybody can share, just for us to learn, learn from each other, okay? This is not about criticizing, judging anybody. Whatever you share will be a benefit to somebody else. Okay, so I see Kennedy's thought there. Uncertainty, lack of funds, okay, that is true. All of us would think of that, you know, when we want to start something, we think about it. You know, in fact, that's a very common thing and it's definitely something we have to think about. Shrikumar, you raised your hand. Yeah, the lack of leadership, mentorship was there and there was no proper direction and a lot of, like, feeling that nothing is moving. So, that is few things which I should say. Thank you. This is very true, you know, especially as a young minister, as a young person, as you're getting ready to start a ministry you wish you had somebody to talk to and guide you and interact with and mentor you, so to speak, to kind of journey with you, help you in the process, you know, to encourage you and so on. That definitely is a very valid point. Hope you wanted to say something. Yes, Pastor, though I do not have my ministry, but I can share what I understand. I think also it gives us difficulty because we have poor intimacy with God. We do not have a good relationship with God, we say. So, we do not trust in Him because God needs us to trust Him as Abraham did. Abraham trusted God and moved from his country and he goes to a place where he didn't know and he didn't have money, he didn't have anything but he trust, he had faith, he believed God. So, what give us struggling in establishing a ministry? It is because we have, we do not know the God we saved. So, we just saved by our mind or we have passion to save God but we do not have any intimacy with God. We do not know His ways. We do not trust Him and sometimes we are afraid of trusting Him because we can face a lot of persecutions because even when we see people who now have great ministries they started very poorly and they get a lot of suffering. So, a lot of us nowadays young ministers we do not have, we do not want to suffer. We do not have, so that is what I think is the big problem even for nowadays, yeah. That is true, you know, starting something, starting a ministry is a big step of faith and it is a journey of faith, right? We, it's, there are so many unknowns and we have to take that step of faith and make the journey of faith and we can only do it if, as you said, our relationship with God is strong and that's very important, definitely. And out of that, only out of that strong relationship we can step out, good point. Harrison, please. Come on in. I've seen, for about 21, about 22, about 23 to 24, you know, thought a lot of young ministers. Another thing I've also seen is lack of teamwork. A lot of them.  Or recognizing or realizing that there's a need for teamwork. And at the end of the day you begin to ask questions, why is there no growth? What do you think of them? A lot of them. A lot of them. Good. Thank you. Yeah. So Harrison is highlighting lack of teamwork as, you know, and I think it's very valid that especially when you are starting a ministry or starting a church or any ministry whether in the city or elsewhere, it's important to be able to work with people and teamwork, you know. Sometimes, I mean, and we will talk about this as well. Sometimes it's difficult to find the right people. And sometimes even if you find the right people, you know, how do you work as a team and all those things, there's a very important, yeah, good thoughts. Anybody else? Anybody else? Asha Rani talks about a sharing here on the chat. She mentions miscommunication. And she mentioned lack of planning, not well planned. That's true. That's true. Good. Prabhakar. Prabhakar shares on the chat here questions. You know, is it from God or is it from self? Fear of facing the challenges, the ability to be consistent in this journey and also the importance of faith. Yes. All these are important, you know, points and challenges that we face.  Anyone else? Okay. So thanks, thanks to everyone for sharing. You know, all of these things are, our struggles we all face, you know, and I think not only, not only in the early stages like this, when you are starting out a ministry in the early stages, but I think even in later times in the ministry, there are many of these things come. You know, for example, just this past Saturday, we had a pastors' meeting here and we were discussing some new initiatives, you know, that we are considering and are trusting God and that, you know, the same things, you know, we go through. But of course now as a team, you know, so all of us are sitting together, maybe about 2025 of us are sitting together and we are praying and we are seeking God. You know, but similar things, you know, we want to be sure that these new initiatives in which we are going to announce to the church and invite people to participate, are these from God? Second, what about the money to do these things, you know, and then of course, we need to have a clear plan, how are we going to do it? You know, it can't be just random, it can't just happen. So, you know, so all these things, so even though, you know, we have journeyed this far, as we think about these new things, we are getting ready to move into. It's the same thing, you know, we have to come before God. Lord, we want your guidance, we want your direction. We, of course, we need the money to do it, believe God for it, and then also plan, execute well, have the right people to do it, you know, all those things. So, hopefully as we go through this course, we will learn some things and we will be able to, you know, those of you, those of us who are going to start ministries will be better positioned to start and later on, we will be able to do some things. Now, I just want to, Christopher, you have a question. Go ahead. Yes, Pastor. Actually, two questions or, you know, kind of, I guess, comments. One is in regards to, you know, the sort of ministry that happens, you know, in rural areas versus urban, and, you know, I guess the approach and the strategy, again, given by God and the guidance by God may be different. And even the, you know, the people who are going into that, into those ministries may require a different set of skills, you know, which, you know, just to get that sort of beach and, you know, that thrust into those areas. So, for example, I just, Google search on India specifically. So, India is like 69% state rural and, you know, the rest is urban. As you mentioned earlier, that, you know, this urban population, that is, sorry, this rural population that is going into the urban areas.  And what were some of the things that some of the characteristics of that population that helped, you know, to make that choice? I'm not sure if I'm clearly sort of vocalizing what I'm trying to say over here. That is one point.  So those are the two broad areas, yeah. Okay. I hope I understood your question correctly but if in case I'm going off in the wrong direction, please stop me and please correct me. I think from the, to answer your first question, you see, when initially, when missionaries would go overseas to go to, you know, developing countries, coming to India and so on, the motivation was to take the gospel to those who have not yet heard. So that was one. And secondly, it was the approach was what we would refer to as social evangelism, that is, you address their felt needs and this is something we, which will also be a part of our strategy in urban context, but you know, just going back to the missionary context, it was to address a felt need which was either medical, usually just medical, set up hospitals, educational, set up schools or homes or orphanages, you know. So the approach was you address a felt need and you genuinely care for the people and then through that, you bring them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And in some cases, they also had to engage in language learning translation. Now, I should say in times past, that was extremely important. So language and literacy was, was, was, it's almost like the stepping stone, you know, it was a prerequisite. So when you look at missionary work in times past, the motivation was, let's take the gospel to those who have not yet heard the gospel and let's reach them through felt needs. But language, literacy, Bible translation was a necessary stepping stone. So you would, sometimes you would have, you know, people and, and, and, and, and we have ministries that are still doing this for tribes or regions in our country where the language doesn't have a script and so on.  So that was the process. Now, here we are, say about 200 years later to 300 years later, since the, you know, the major missions movements. And things are slightly different because there is, there has been movement from rural to urban so on. Technology has begun to penetrate even the rural areas. So governments have set up schools, hospitals, a lot of things are there. And so today the dynamics are a little different. So when you look at India itself, and today to go set up a school in a village or it's a good thing. I'm not saying it's not needed. There are places where it's still needed. But then there are other questions, you know, today people will question, why are you setting up a school? You know, why are you setting up a hospital? So on, you know, which was not the case, you know, a hundred years ago, they would welcome schools and hospitals. Today they questioned, why are you doing it? You know, so the dynamics are different. So, but the first, that's the first part of the question. The motivation in days past, days gone by was let's reach people who have not yet been reached and use, you know, these social means to, you know, enter their communities, connect with them, build relationships, show that we love them, care for them and then, you know, and then share the gospel with them. The second question, which I'm not sure if I understood clearly, but let me try to speak something what I thought I understood was in the urban context, yes, so in a city like Bangalore, yes, there are hundreds of churches, probably, you know, maybe crossing a thousand marks as well. But the city is so big, you know, so we have, we probably have more than 15. We don't know the exact number, but let's just say, you know, more than 15 million people in Bangalore or the greater Bangalore area. And it's also very diverse, you know, we have people from different cultures, different languages, different social strata that are all here in the city. So one church cannot serve everybody, obviously, or even a hundred churches will not be able to serve everybody. We probably need thousands of churches that are serving, you know, different languages, different social strata, different, of course, different parts of the city. So that's why we need, you know, a multiplicity of churches, even churches of the same kind but located in different parts of the city to be able to reach such a densely populated region of people, right? The challenge, of course, like you pointed out, is to maintain a consistent message. You know, how do we all preach the gospel without fighting with each other and how do we all serve the same God in a way that's complimenting each other and not competing with each other? That's the big challenge from the church, within the church itself, right? So I hope I address both your questions, Christopher, and if I missed it, please let me know, yeah. Yeah, I think, yes, definitely, if we could answer the question. I think the only thing I guess I just want to add is that the profile of the people in the urban areas will obviously be different, you know, from point of view of, you know, possibly in your education and, you know, more cosmopolitan, more use of technology relative to the rural area.  Yeah, so I just thought I'd like that. Yeah, that's true. And that is why I feel that urban churches also have a responsibility towards rural work, you know, because the resources, of course, are in urban centers and therefore we should be more of a giving and ascending type church or a ministry because we have access to the resources. We should be able to, you know, support the work that's happening outside the rural centers. Good point. Okay, so thank you everyone for participating. It's interesting to hear your comments and ideas and thoughts. Appreciate that. That's going to take this a little forward here. So we understand, you know, that there is a struggle here of all of us face in doing, starting a ministry, especially in the urban context, and we will hopefully in this course learn some of these things. Now, how to overcome and how to work through these challenges. Now, let's go forward. Let's start talking about church planting. And like I said last class, our focus in this course is on church planting. That means starting a local church, but things that we learn could be applied even to starting a different kind of Christian ministry.  It could be something else. Now, in Matthew 28, 18-20, which we are all familiar, Jesus said, you know, all authority is given unto him, unto him in heaven and earth, going therefore and make disciples of all nations. You know, baptizing, teaching them to observe all things, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you, and lo and with you always, even to the end of the age.  Go to the whole world, make disciples. So you and I have this commission to make disciples of all nations. Now, when Jesus gave the great commission, he didn't actually tell us how to do it. He just said, go do it, right? So then we'll have to look into the Book of Acts to see what happens. And now there was, of course, the great empowering of the Holy Spirit that came to help the early disciples go out and fulfill the great commission. So they went out preaching and so on. But what we see unfold in the Book of Acts is the establishing of local communities of believers. So this is key. This is very key, very important. And the fulfilling of the great commission. That is, there is the establishing of communities of believers, whether they went to villages, towns, or cities, wherever they went, the established communities of believers, which we call as local church, which the Bible refers to as the local church or the house of God, different terms, right? But essentially, what is a local church? It is a community of believers. That is this grouping, this coming together of these believers. Those people have made a decision to believe in Christ. And they are going in some way to share life. They're going to do things together. They're going to grow together. They're going to journey together. And they in turn are going to be, they are going to be nurtured and equipped. And they're going to continue to make more disciples in those regions and beyond. So that is what we see happening in the Book of Acts. The great commission, fulfilling the great commission results in the establishing of these communities of believers or what we would call as church plants. If you want to use a technical term, some people don't like it. It's okay. It doesn't matter. It's referring to these communities of believers. And ideally, these are self-sustaining communities. That means when the gospel, when there may be a messenger, there may be a person who comes into a city or a village or a town bringing the message of the gospel. But then the community of believers that is established there are able to continue by themselves. They're not dependent on somebody else bringing the gospel to them. It started with somebody else, but bringing the gospel to them. But then now they become self-sustaining. Leaders are being nurtured, are equipped, and the work is going on. And then they are able to make more disciples. So our objective here is this, right? A church plant is this establishing of these self-sustaining communities of believers. They are growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ. They are hosting God's presence in wherever they are. And they're influencing their region so that they can bring more people and nurture more people as disciples of Jesus, right? So that's what we're talking to, what we mean when we say church plant. What is a church plant? It's the establishing of these self-sustaining communities of believers that are growing together. They're hosting God's presence. They're influencing the region. And this whole thing keeps on happening. More people are coming to faith in Christ. They're being nurtured as disciples. And it's going on and on. And very often the influence of that community goes beyond their region. They may plant churches outside and beyond their region. Additionally, when we say self-sustaining, we mean there to be self-sustaining in leadership. That means leaders should be raised from amongst themselves. They should be self-sustaining financially. That means to whatever extent possible, money should come from amongst themselves to keep this work going in practical ways. And also they should be self-sustaining as a community, meaning it shouldn't die off with one generation. It should keep going generation after generation. The Gospel continues to abide and increase in that place. So it's going on. So these are things that we need to keep in mind as we plant churches. And I want to present this to you that when you plant a church, or in fact even if you start a Christian ministry, think in terms of doing something that's self-sustaining, that's going to continue. You know, sometimes people like they go to a place, they do ministry for two years, three years, and they leave and everything just dies out after they leave. And then you're wondering like, okay, so much investment was made in those two to three years. I'm not saying nobody was touched. Of course definitely some lives were touched, but were they thinking of just doing something for two to three years or were they thinking of establishing something that would continue for the long term? I would like to impress on us the importance of establishing something with the long term in mind. That should be our desire. Lord, if I plant a church, if I start a ministry, may it be for the long term. You know, of course there may be some things that God may want you to do temporarily, it's okay, fine. But I'm not saying that never happens, but especially when it comes to planting of churches, think long term. Think beyond yourself, beyond your lifetime. Think about establishing something in that community that will continue on to impact generations to come, right? Self-sustaining, which means leadership, financially, community-wise, they need to be able to continue for the long term. Okay, so what are the objectives we're looking at in church planting? We want to establish communities that can host God's presence. We want to be able to disciple new believers. I mean, new people are coming and they come in, they should automatically know that discipling should happen. They come into a community and people are telling them, you know, how to pray, how to read the word and how to grow in their faith and how they can get equipped themselves so that they can then become very fruitful people. You know, so it should, I use the word automatically. I mean, it should just happen as people are being brought in. They should also be influencing the region. So the church is not, you know, an isolated unit of people who are cut off from their society. No, they are people who are influencing their society. So you have to think about that when you plant a church, I also want to equip these people to influence their region.  And then additionally, we should be multiplying. We should plant more churches. Whether you're planting more churches in that same city or planting more churches in other cities, right? So in church planting, these are some of the objectives we are going after, establishing communities where the God's presence is brought into that region where people are brought to faith and disciple, where the society around is influenced and where multiplication can happen from this community to plant more churches. That's what we're going to try to seek to learn how to do, how to make this happen in a practical way. Right? So let's pause here. Tomorrow we'll talk about God's heart for cities and how we must have the heart of God for cities before we close. I wanted to see if you had any questions, any comments here so far. Any questions on this? And what our objectives are in church planting? What are we trying to do? Any questions, any thoughts? All right. So let's take a moment. I'm assuming if you're keeping quiet, me, I think you've understood it, right? There are no questions. So I think everyone is together. Shikumar, please go ahead. Yeah, thank you. Pastor, I just want to know establishing and costing God's presence. Is it preparing the believers in the Word of God and in worship, is it being set up? So it's a second, it's a latter part, meaning this community of believers, they're engaging in prayer, in worship, and in the Word. So they become a community among whom God is dwelling. Right? So we're not just gathering people for having a crowd on Sundays. We're not just gathering people for some social activity. No. We're gathering the people among whom God dwells. That happens to prayer, the worship, and the Word. Yeah. Thank you. Maggie. Maggie, your question, please. Thank you, sir. Sadia, when we establish church or plant church, we establish God's presence in the believer and in that environment. Can church and plants be regarded as a revival to a region or to a village of people who didn't know God first, and now they've received Him? Thank you, sir. It could happen and it sometimes does happen through revival where there is a movement of people. And usually it's many people into the kingdom of God in a short period of time. It could happen. But it doesn't always happen that way. Sometimes it could be one soul, two people, three people. Slowly they are being brought into the kingdom of God. And then eventually a community of believers is established. So it can happen both ways. It can happen in the sovereign move of the Holy Spirit as in a revival that sweeps many people into the kingdom of God, which is wonderful. Or it could happen in one's, two's, three's, progressively increasing. But what happens eventually in both cases, a community of believers is established where people are praying, worshipping, engaging with the word of God and becoming the house of God in that place. And God is dwelling among them, moving them. They are the carriers of God's presence in that community. Okay, hope. Your question, please. Yeah, go ahead, hope. Can I ask you a question?  Oh, sorry. Okay, it was not a question. All right, I'm blind. Okay, everyone. We'll close in prayer. And tomorrow we will talk about getting the heart of God for our cities. Or you could say towns or villages, wherever you are in the community where you are capturing the heart of God. So Kennedy's question, what is the role of outreaches and crusades in church? I think it's very important. Kennedy, it is something every church must be involved in and reaching out. The only thing is, which we will talk about later in this course, is it has to, it will change, or it varies depending on where we are doing the outreach, where we are planting the church. And we have to tailor that outreach or the crusade to where we are planting the church. For example, in the city of Bangalore, today if we want to plant a church, we would not do the traditional gospel crusade. We wouldn't do that. Maybe I would say, maybe 25, 30 years ago, having a gospel crusade in the city of Bangalore was relevant. Today, having a gospel crusade is no longer relevant. If you rent a big ground and preach the gospel, it's no longer relevant. Why? First, 90 to 95% of people who will come would already be believers. So you're not really reaching the people you want to reach. Secondly, the environment, I'm just using Bangalore City as an example. The environment here is not conducive because there's a lot of anti-conversion, anti-Christian sentiment. So the government may not even give permission for something like that. So things have changed in the last 30 years. So if somebody wants to plant a church in the city of Bangalore, today the strategies would be different. We have to look at other ways in which you penetrate and reach people in the city. But it will vary from city to city depending on what's happening. But the point is we still have to come up with strategies that can reach the multitude of people. And we'll have to, by the Holy Spirit, look for ways to do that. So let's close and pray. May I request somebody to please pray and then we will pause for today. Because we know that what we will have this morning is asking about this evening. It is not your will that you pray that we know. We thank you for the word of God. Father, we shall not just be here as others want. We shall be with them for what it all has. And here it should be. So now that every instrument we call you are using the God to make this possible. So that you will watch it through those of you who are using the God to make this possible. Father, everything that we have to do shall come to them that I hear at the end of the word. We ask that you give us grace to talk, not just to the people who go out there to ask the Father to talk to you, to those who are watching, but in a call that should be the call. Father, we shall do that to God. We see this in the Holy Spirit but not in the Holy Spirit. You are the good for God to speak to God through. You know your will, Father, that we know we can speak to God. Thank you Father for wanting us to meet with you because we appreciate you. Amen. Thank you, Harrison. Thank you, Rowan. I appreciate you joining the class. I'll see you all tomorrow. Have a good rest of the day. God bless each of you. Thank you. God bless. That's good too. See you all again. Thank you.


Lux presents Hollywood. Leverbrothers Company, the makers of Lux Flakes, bring you the Lux Radio Theatre, starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman in Magic Town. Tonight, the Lux Radio Theatre comes to you from Hollywood as usual, but your producer speaks to you from Washington, D.C. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. William Keely. Greetings from Washington, ladies and gentlemen. This morning, I started shooting my forthcoming picture at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. And that is why I come to you tonight from Washington, D.C. And rest assured that nothing less imperative could keep me from being on your stage in person, especially at tonight's performance. For Magic Town, I think, is one of the season's most refreshing screen hits, and should be doubly rewarding with the two stars of this RKO release, James Stewart and Jane Wyman. I won't give away the plot except to say that it's based on a unique and typically American phenomenon, the public opinion poll, which sooner or later ferrets out our taste in everything from radio to a robot. Of course, one national poll that goes on every day is your selection of the things you buy, from a seat at the theater to a box of soap flakes at the store. And when it comes to the latter, your preference for Lux reflects not only on the product, but on you yourselves. For every time you ask for Lux, you're casting your vote for a better, more discriminating way to care for nice things. It's curtain time and we present act one of Robert Riskin's production, Magic Town, starring James Stewart as Rip Smith and Jane Wyman as Mary Piederman. Rip Smith got out of the army. He resumed his practice of taking the pulse of the American public. No, Rip Smith is not a doctor. He's head of the Institute of Public Opinion, which is one way of saying that he, well, suppose we explain it by hearing from one or two of his former clients. I manufacture automobiles. Before we put our post-war model on the market, we hired the Institute of Public Opinion. They canvassed the entire country, found out exactly what the public wanted in a new car. I'm editor of a woman's magazine. Last year we doubled our circulation. How? By putting the Institute of Public Opinion on the job. They discovered just what our magazine needed to get more leaders. Yes, that's Mr. Smith's business, finding out what the American public thinks. But in recent months, clients have been very scared and overhead has gone up and up. Until on this particular morning, Rip Smith is no longer in business. Well, Rip, you can say I didn't warn you. I'll pull up a chair and gloat, Charlie. I don't mind. Well, I was right, wasn't I? What a boss. Not my method of pulling public opinion. Too expensive, you said. You were going to find some miraculous shortcut. Well, somewhere there is a shortcut, Charlie. A mathematical miracle, some way to question, say, 50 or 100 people. All in one little small town, perhaps, and find out exactly what the entire country is thinking. Rip, that's just nonsense. It costs money to get public opinion. It takes time. A lot of both. Not now, Rip. I want you to come in with me. Oh, thanks, Charlie. I'll think about it. Now, you're in no position to be fussy. Yeah, look at this report. It's your report. Rip to the McKenzie Company. No wonder they canceled your contract. Well, what's the matter with that report?  These are the figures we got on exactly the same subject. You weren't even close. I'll see. In favor, 68.1. Against, 24.5. Undecided, 7.4. Quite a discrepancy, I'd say. Wait a minute. Now, wait a minute. Charlie Stringer, I love you. Huh? With all my heart, I love you. Then you accept my offer? No, Charlie. I don't accept your offer, but thanks. Thanks very much. Mr. Twiddle, hey, I come in here. I get wonderful. I told you with a quart. Get in here, will ya? What's the matter with you? Where's Charlie Stringer? He's gone, but locked the door. He may change his mind and come back. Boys, boys, I think I've found it. The shortcut I've been looking for. Remember that letter I got from Hoop and Decker? Oh, yes. Your schoolteacher friend. Ex-Sergeant Hoop and Decker. What a man. Listen to this. Listen to what he wrote me. When I got your letter, Rip, I tested public opinion here in Grandview on the subject you suggested. And here's the result. In favor, 68.1, against, 24.5, undecided, 7.4. What's Hoop and Decker got to do with... Now look at this. Stringer's poll from McKinsey and Company. Stringer canvassed thousands of people all over the country from coast to coast, cost of fortune. Hoop and Decker canvassed a handful of people in one little small town. All right, Ike. All right. Read Stringer's figures. In favor, 68.1, against, 24.5, undecided, 7. Just the same. Identical. One small town that thinks exactly the way the whole country thinks. You're talking about Utopia. Well, maybe it is Utopia. Ike, Mr. Twiddle, all right, get me Hoop and Decker on the phone. No, no, I'll call him off myself. Call up the Census Bureau. Get me the Almanac too. Get me the Atlas. Grandview, huh? This could be it. This could be it. It's four o'clock, Rip. We haven't had lunch. All right, I'm finished, Ike. Boy, oh boy, I knew that somewhere there was a town like this. Look at these figures. Even the population breaks down exactly the way the whole country does. Males, females, the whole country in a test tube. What Grandview thinks what Grandview does, the entire nation thinks and does. Exactly. Mr. Twiddle, you know, we're going to Grandview. We are? Pick up the phone, Rip, it's Mackenzie. Oh, oh. Hello, Mr. Mackenzie. You got my message, huh? Now listen, I know you gave Stringer a contract for a poll on progressive education, right? He's been working on it for months, hasn't he? All right, now suppose I start right now and I finish in three weeks. What would you say to that?  And I'll guarantee to come within one percent of Stringer's figures, huh? All right, now let me get this straight. You put me on trial and if this thing goes over, you renew my contract, right? That's all I want to know. Thanks, Mackenzie. Grandview, you good old mathematical miracle, here we come. Well, did you see your old pal, Hoop and Decker? Did I see Hoop and Decker? Certainly I saw Hoop and Decker. Can you imagine that I can, in the armor we used to call him dirty face, not either over there on the high school, teaching romance languages. He knows what we're up to, huh? Yeah, and he's going to help us, too. Hoop knows everybody in town. I'm meeting him later this afternoon. You know where? The Old Town Meeting Hall. Best place in the world to get acquainted with the leading citizen. Well, let's pray that these good people here stay average, that they don't change. What do you mean, Hoop, says they haven't changed in 50 years. Oh, I promised him I'd help him with the basketball team. He's coaching the basketball team or something. Where'd Mr. Twiddle go, anyway? Back to the hotel, if you'll pardon the expression. It's a matter. It's a wonderful hotel. Please, mansion out. I tell you, I did. Everything about this town is just perfect. Look, Rip, supposing this bird is America, we can't go around getting opinions from the same people over and over again. They're going to get self-conscious, and once they do, you can toss their opinions right out the window. That's why they're never going to know what we're here for. You and Mr. Twiddle and me are now insurance salesmen. Come to Grand View to go on a business. Oh, no, Rip, no, no. As insurance agents, we can contact everybody in town, get answers on anything we want to know. It won't work. It will work. It will work. I've got enough money to keep us going until we get started. Where are you going now? Over to the municipal building. Get acquainted with the city fathers. Well, anything you want me to tell Mr. Twiddle? Yeah, yeah, tell Mr. Twiddle to sharpen his pants on, rough on a chart. We're in business again, brother. Dear young man, there's a council meeting going on in there. Well, do you suppose I could go and listen? Go on in if you want to. Well, thank you. Thank you very much. The park and the playgrounds would go right here, gentlemen, as you can see they're clearly indicated on this map I made. Oh, oh, and here's where the hospital would go. Does that answer your question, Mayor Barnes?   Oh, Mary Peterman's been coming here for a year. There ought to be a what's it? A law against having to listen any longer. This is a free country, gentlemen. The girl has a right to be heard. Oh, thank you, Mr. Nicolby. And I shall continue to exercise that right until I've drilled it into your thick skulls that Grandview needs this new civic center. Well, what about the hoses, huh? The upkeep. That'd mean more. What should we call it, wouldn't it? Taxes! Mr. Diggit, did it ever occur to you that social improvements would attract new industry so that we could afford it? Oh, we're wanting changes. Chases, changes. Of course I want changes. It's about time we grew up and made Grandview a better place to live in. Oh, no, Mary, you talk like this place was the back bumper of the universe. Why, this is a very fine community. Of course it is. Oh, I'm, uh, I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to butt in like this. Well, that's all right, young fellow. Speak up. Well, I don't know whether I have the right to speak up or not. I just arrived in Grandview today. Well, what do you think of it? What do you think of it? What do I think of it? I've been searching for a community like this for years. Oh, you like Grandview, do you? I've just walked through your town, folks, with its stately elm trees and its lovely old homes. I said to myself, here is a sturdy challenge to the evils of this modern era. Oh, you did, didn't you? I watched your people on the street. I felt their vitality, their sense of security. All in about an hour, huh? There's real beauty here. It's almost indescribable. But you take it for granted. To me, a stranger is a hope and a dream of a lifetime. I, too, want to become a part of it. Now, folks, please don't change Grandview. Please don't ever change it. Why, hearing him talk like that makes me feel what you're gonna call it. Proud. That's the kind of new blood this town needs. I move weird journey and forget all this nonsense about a civic center. Well, thank you, thank you very much. However, I'll be here again at the next meeting. Young man, come into my chambers. I'd like to talk to you. Doctor, you know where I've been saying the town was Mayor Barnes? And what a wonderful town. Oh, we like it, anyway. Well, here's our old town meeting hall. Hey, this is great. Just an old-fashioned community hall where folks drop in and say hello to each other. Well, if you're ready to meet some of our citizens, how... Oh, wait a minute, what's that newspaper? This is Grandview Dispatch. Let me look at it, Lee. I may be wanting to take an ad out in a couple of days. Lawrence Smith and associate's general insurance. Well, why not? Your name's already in the paper. It is. Oh, I wouldn't know about that. Let's see. Hell yeah. Mr. Lawrence Smith on his first day in town managed to poke... managed to poke his unwelcome proboscis into the council meeting. Well, that's pretty cute, isn't it? That's not all, pal. If you're really here to sell insurance, Mr. Smith, you would do well to start building goodwill and confidence before you tell us how to run our local affairs. Where's the slaughterhouse that publishes this thing? Just down the street, why? Well, because I'm going to see the editor. That's why right now. Where's the editor? I want to see the editor of this imitation newspaper. Where is she, anyway? Uh, stranger in town, huh? The editor died ten years ago. Come on, come on, will you tell us? Uh, the gentleman here, kind of purple. Well, young man, I gather you've a complaint. Well, it's this story about me in the town tidbits, right? Have you seen it? Oh, yes. I proofread every word we print. Now, what's your complaint? Well, it's snide. That's what it is. Taking advantage of an innocent stranger, these nasty, weasly little digs. You're not no decent newspaper. If you want to attack the policy of this newspaper, young man, write us a letter. We'll be glad to print it. Meantime, you can do your complaining to the acting editor who wrote the story. All right, I'll talk to the acting editor. Oh, Mary, this young man wants to speak to you. Oh, did you wish to see me? Oh, yes, yes. You were the young lady at the conference meeting this morning, weren't you? Well? Well, well, you, uh... I just wanted to thank you for that very nice little story you wrote about me. No, I thought you came in to complain. Complain? Me? Oh, no, no. Not at all. I... I've always believed in what the fellow said. They're just one thing worse than being talked about, and that's not being talked about at all. Hmm?  No, not at all. Not at all. If you'd excuse me, I'll get to work. Go right ahead. Go right ahead. Hey. Hey, look here. Now, look at this story you wrote about me. Here, you say right here, quote, if you're really here to sell insurance, Mr. Smith, you'll do well and so on and so on and so on. What's that? What's what that creates suspicion? All grand views are already overcrowded with insurance agents.  A clever man like me doesn't mind competition. Now, wouldn't you like to sort of just write a little retraction, something about being a little hasty maybe, but on further observation, as fellow Smith seemed like a very charming fellow, wouldn't you like to do that? No, I certainly wouldn't. No, you certainly wouldn't. Oh, Mr. Hodges. Yes, ma'am. That's getting a little sticky in here. I think I'll go across the street and have a soda. Hi, sis! Hey, I've got a great scoop for you. Who do you think's in town? Who? Rip Smith. Mr. Hoopendick, I told you... Now, now, calm down, Bobby. Calm down. Hi. Hi. Hi, who are you? Well, I gather his nickname is Rip. Are you kidding? Mr. Smith? Gosh, we were just going over to the hotel to see you. Oh, that's all. Who's we? Some of the fellows on the basketball team. Mr. Hoopendick, I said it was all right. He said you were the greatest guy in the world. That's right. Well, I think he might have exaggerated a little. And he said you agreed to help coach the basketball team. Gosh, I can hardly believe it. Well, I think I'll leave you two to discuss your business. It's true, isn't it, Mr. Smith? Well, yes, sure. Yeah, that is if you think I can be of any help. Oh, boy. Let's, uh, talk about things over at Soda or something.  Well, I'll be with you in a minute, Mr. Smith. Well, it'd be a mystery. Well, I'll have the same as that young lady ordered over there. I ordered a headache, county. That's just what I need. To buy, Mr. Smith. Oh, now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Don't go.  You have to get used to me. Maybe you're right. I've gotten used to some pretty weird goblins in this town. Goblins, huh? How'd that thing go about goblins? What was that goblins? Goblins, you'd better mind your parents and your teachers' home and their cherry stem that loves you dry the orphan's tear and help the poor and needy ones that's clustered all about or the goblins will get you if you don't watch out.  That's from a poem called Little Orphananny. Little Orphananny. Oh, by George, that's right. Here you are, Mary. And one just like for you, Mr. Oh, a headache pot. Thank you. Chocolate flavor, huh? Say, tell me, tell me about this civic center of yours.   Oh, yeah. Hope it didn't do any harm. No, only set progress back a few years, that's all. Why did you butt into the meeting? Because I was just busting with good spirits. That's all. The town looks so perfect to me. I couldn't imagine anybody wanting to change it. Sure there wasn't some other reason. Well, let's do it. Well, let's miss. Some of the fellas had to go home and we thought maybe you would go for a starter. You could explain the backpast dilemma to us. It says in the basketball guide that Rip Smith used it to perfection. It does, huh? How are you, fellas? I'm a rock dilemma. A rock dilemma? Quiet, please. I brought along a basketball, just in case you'd like to show us some play. Well, no, I don't think so. Well, why not? Come on out. Come on. Let's go outside and I'll show you what I mean. Okay, fellas. Glad you brought fun. Bye. Bye. Well, that's the backpast dilemma, huh? Well, I was building goodwill and confidence. Well, I'm sure you made an excellent impression, Mr. Smith, with the boys. No, well, don't rush off. Now, you were going to tell me about the new Civic Center. Was I? Oh, uh, by the way, I paid for my own soda, Mr. Smith. Goodbye. Ouch. You too, Mr. Twiddle. Now we can start peddling insurance. We've got our own office and everything set. Now here's what we do. We start gabbing with the folks about insurance and then very gradually, very cleverly, we sort of sneak up on the subject. Yeah, yeah. Talk to a man about his life expectancy but find out what he thinks of progressive education. Right. Okay, here I go. Not all today's Sunday. Start tomorrow. Eat your meals at different restaurants. Talk to the waiters, cashiers. Go to the barbershop.  I just had it cut. Have it cut again. Find out what the man at yours thinks to pull out the newsstand. What do I do? You get out your little old tabulating sheet, Mr. Twiddle, and start arriving at conclusion. Yes, indeed. Then there's nothing to do today, huh? Well, I'm going back to bed and sleep. Wait a minute. No, you're not. Come on. We're all going to church. Well, this is it, Mary. This is what I was telling you about in church. It's quite a walk up here. Gosh, isn't that beautiful? Look over there. You can see the whole town from there. Well, if I ever get to New York, I'll show you the site.  Good for their legs and basketball team. Frankly, I never expected to make the basketball team. Oh, now come on. Sit down. Sit down. Relax. All right. I'm relaxed. Good. Good. Now, start telling me about it. That civic center. Whose idea was it? Yours? Well, actually, it was a legacy from my father. He never could put it over, though. But you will. You bet I will. Of course, you set me back a little, but I'll put it over. The only thing my father left me when he died a worthwhile job to do. I thought he left you the newspaper. No, no, we just worked there, mother and I. You call yourself acting editor. Who's the editor? Papa. There could only be one editor for that paper. He still runs it sort of, you know. Oh, I like that. You know, you sound like him.  Papa wasn't so desperate. What are you desperate for? Money? Power? Are you rearing the bumps in my head? The air always gets all charged with electricity around desperate men. I feel it now, strong. You having fun? Do you mind? No, no. What causes it, Mr. Smith?  Or was your childhood so terribly ugly? You see, it doesn't all add up. The electric currents and selling insurance. Or maybe you need a new crystal ball. No, no. No, nothing wrong with the old one. Want to know what I see in it? Before you're through, you'll be running for mayor of this town. Well, what's so awful about that? Well, the awful part of it is I'll probably vote for you. Well, shall we get back to town? In just a moment, our stars will return with magic town. Hmm, uh, new hat, Libby? I thought I just had to have one after William Powell showed me all of his. He has a terrific wardrobe of hats for the new Natalie Johnson production the senator was in discreet in which he starred. Do senators need such a lot of hats? Well, Universal International thought this one did. For campaigning.  I understand Ella Raines as a part of a career woman in the senator was industry. Yes. And she gives a good account of herself. She has a terrific fight with Peter Lindhay. Oh, who won? Well, Ella, of course.  Ella came through with only a broken fingernail. Not even a stocking run. Well, naturally, Ella is a luxe girl. And barring outright accidents, stockings washed with luxe flakes last considerably longer. Strain tests by a scientific laboratory proved that. Ella says she learned about luxe for stockings years ago. Her maid never uses anything else. Just why so many smart girls have such good luck with stockings. Those strain tests showed that stockings actually last twice as long when they're washed with luxe flakes. Identical stockings washed with a strong soap or rubbed with cake soap went into runs quickly. But the luxe ones lasted twice as long. So that makes luxe practically a Santa Claus. Because with luxe, it's just like getting an extra pair of stockings every time you buy a pair. Act 2 of Magic Town starring James Stewart as Rip Smith and Jane Wyman as Mary Peterman. Convinced that Grandview is the perfect barometer of American thinking and hence a potential gold mine, Rip Smith and his two assistants under the guise of insurance agents are secretly gathering all the information they need for their trial poll of public opinion. But Rip has developed other interests in Grandview. The high school basketball team is named Mary Peterman. It's about 10 o'clock at night now and in the classroom in the high school. How did the basketball practice go? Good, good, good, good. Did my brother tell you I was here? No, he said something about a meeting going on. Oh, yes, a final committee meeting for the basketball dance tomorrow night. The, um, the others just left. Oh, uh, excuse me. Hello, Mr. Quincy. Uh, I'd sure like to sweep up in here. Yeah, if you don't mind. Well, beyond a minute, Mr. Quincy, just looking around.  Oh, it gets me. Was this, was this one of your classrooms? Mm-hmm. Amazing. Say, look, those pictures on the wall there. Graduation pictures, don't they? Yeah. Are you, are you here? Yeah. Uh, uh... Well, no, no, don't show them. Don't show them. Wait a minute. I can pick you up. There you are. I knew you right off. Oh, go on. I showed you. No, you didn't show me at all. I just sent you. I picked you up myself. But just like that, you got the same, you got the same, uh, same, uh, firecracker eyes. You got beautiful eyes. You were, you were pretty then, weren't you? You think so? Very pretty. Well, that happens to be Helen Klein's speaker. This is me over here in the fourth row. You know, they're all in the fourth row. So that grew up to be you. You had an age we live in. Say, where did you sit in this class? Did you sit around here? Right there. You got wonderful. Yeah, the seat used to have a squeak in it. It drove everybody crazy. Wait a second. That's very shh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Same as always. Oh, look. Look at the books in the desk. Ah, things that... What's that one? What's that one? The poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Oh, look. Hi, Wadsworth. Oh, hi. By the shores of Gitchy Gumi. You know, me, I was always a charge of the Light Brigade fellow. Oh, I loved Iowale. I loved it. How did that used to go?  By the shores of Gitchy Gumi, by the shining Gitchy Water, Gitchy Gumi, forward the Light Brigade. Daughter of the Moon Accommodation. Charge for the guns, he said. Into the Valley of Death, forward the Light Brigade. Wasn't there a man dismayed? Not though the soldiers knew. Someone had blundered. There's not to make reply. There's but to reason why. There's but to do or die. Into the Valley of Death, forward the Light Brigade. Cannon of the right arm, cannon of the left arm, cannon in front of them, volleyed and thundered, stormed at with shot and shell, boldly they rode, but well, into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell. Hush. The naked bear will hear thee. Oh, a charge with guns, they said charge. Who is this? Would you mind charging out of here, Mr. Smith? I still got a sweet burp. Okay, okay. Hiya, boys, how's it going? I'm a little late, sorry. I just took Miss Peterman home. Well, Mr. Twiddle, how do we stand on progressive education? Here it is, Miss. Finished and tabulated. Now just start praying that our figures will be close to stringers. Give me that sheet. Look at it, boys. Just wait till Mackenzie sees this. All right, I take that report and catch the midnight plane. Me? But I thought Mackenzie asked you how we did it, just turn your baby blues on him. I'd like to see his...  Don't be silly. We play Waverly Academy tomorrow. Look awful funny if I suddenly disappeared all of a sudden. Aw, Rip, look, look.  Kick it over. Kick it over? Yeah, you don't have to keep it up on our account, Rip. What's the matter with you? I've worked all my life for this and there it is all wrapped up in a nice, neat package.  Do you think I've been pushing up that hill all these years? Okay, okay, okay. I guess I was way off the beam. I guess you certainly were. Now get going, Ike. Here's a plane ticket. Tell Mackenzie we can handle two or three or four jobs at once. Maybe more than that. Sure, sure. Call me tomorrow night, will ya? But tomorrow night's the game with Waverly. Call me at 11 o'clock. I'll be right here. Ike. Miss? Afternoon, Miss Peterman. Hi, Mr. Quincy. We've been using the gym for a dance floor, Mr. Quincy. Did you ever do the samba? No, sir. Can't say I ever did. Don't. I just had a demonstration. Do you know what a back-pass dilemma is, Mr. Quincy? Don't know that one either. Well, I'm gonna get a demonstration of that right now. My, my. I'm sure ignorant. Okay, okay, Mary. Now, here's a passball, see? I'll pass the ball to you like that. There. Hey, hey, what are you trying to do? Knock the wind out of me? Well, throw the ball. Go on, throw it. Well, there. Oh, no, that's, look, that's no way to throw a ball. Like this. Okay? Now, here, try it again. Oh, okay. There. No, Mary. Mary, look, that's no way to throw a ball. Look, it's sort of a forward snap. You sort of push it. Look, suppose a wolf's on the make for you. What do you do? Well, what do you do?  Yeah, that's right. Will you help me up? Well, I'm sorry. No, let's try something else. We'll try the layup shop. No rough stuff, huh? No, no rough stuff. All right. Now, the principle of this shot is to sort of stretch yourself as far as you can, and just lay the ball up on the basket, see, like this. Oh, I can't reach like that. Well, you can fly, can't you? Come on. Now, just stretch. There you are. Now, over here, I'll help. Come on. There you are. There you are. Hey, you got stuck up there. Hey, Mary. I, I said I got... Still am I, huh? That ain't what we used to call it. Some basketball game tonight. Well, what, Hoopendagger? Thinking of Mary, huh? Must be having an awful tussle with that conscience of yours. Don't worry about my conscience. What's going on over there? Oh, it looks like the mayor's going to make an announcement.  All right, Mrs. Peterman. Hey, what is this, Hoopendagger? The dispatch wants to erase any doubt it created about Mrs. Smith's integrity. He's been here over a short while. Get all ready. He seems an old friend. He'll apologize for the dispatch. And tell him how we all feel. Happy and grateful to call you one of us. Don't worry about me. I doubt very much whether I can live up to them. I'd prefer that you reserve judgment and tell you, well, that you get to know me better. Much better. Thank you. People going around making speeches. Just give me one year. Just one year. Rip, you've made a lot of friends here. That's worth something, isn't it? I'm going up to my office, Hoop. There's a long-distance phone call coming in for me any minute now, and it's going to tell me that I've got the world by the tail. It may be a rat race, but I'm out in front, and I'm going to grab mine. I'll be seeing you. Where were we? How did we match up against Stringer Survey? I don't know. Crab anything. Cut it, will ya? We came here to do a job, but nothing's going to end her. Call me back, will ya? Develop an instinct for snooping. All right, well, why'd you come here? I'm looking for you. I heard you on the phone. I found this piece of paper on that desk in there. The miracle of grand view. We do what we think. We rest about Ma's speech tonight. Very funny. Well, we had to work secretly. Nobody's been hurt by it, have they? That's right. Nobody. Well, what are you going to do? You couldn't stand any changes, could you? By all means, hold back progress. It has to make an extra dollar for himself. I certainly take that stooping very low. Mary, Mary, will you listen to me, please? Stop at the office in the morning, Ripley. I have something very interesting to show you. You're too early, Rip. I'm not quite finished with my story. Mary, I want to make a deal with you. You're graduating to our front page, Rip. Here's the headline. Lawrence Smith, found to be pole expert. Grand view revealed as miracle town.  It isn't for myself, Mary, it's for the people here. I wouldn't like to see them get confused. What I was doing couldn't harm any of them. But when they read what you were writing, well, I don't know, they're human. You can't go around telling people they're special, not even these people, they're deadly. Now, if you love them, Mary, don't do it. I'll have this for you in a minute, Mr. Hodges. Hold on page one, Mary. If you just stop pounding that machine and listen to me, I suppose you think I've got some sort of an angle or something, Mary. You just have to take my word. Here it is, Mr. Hodges. Here it is. It's saved the first copy for Mr. Smith. As for you never showing your face around here again, it wouldn't make the least difference to me one way or the other. Any other deals in mind, Rick? No, no. No more deals. When do you plan to return to New York? Well, I'm staying in Grand View. There's a circus coming to this town, like the greatest, gaudiest, three-ring circus in the history of Pony Baloney. I don't want to see it, Mary, but I guess I'd better hang around. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Our stars will return in Act 3 of Magic Town in a moment. It's a pleasure tonight to welcome back to the Lux Radio Theatre guest box Miss Martha Hire, who has achieved stardom since she made her bow here last year. What's the secret, Martha? Hard work? That's right, Mr. Kennedy. Also, the wonderful training I received at RKO and the privilege of studying great actresses like Roslyn Russell at work. She was thrilling in Morning Becomes Electra. Eugene O'Neill's celebrated drama was certainly an expert hands. Britain's Michael Redgrave and Leo Genn also contribute to one of the great pictures of our time. Another exciting experience for me was watching John Wayne in The Rain Day in the love scenes for RKO's new picture, Ty Coon. You didn't go on location with the company, did you? No, but Lorraine told me about her experiences when she came back. They had a regular city of 85 tents set up in the high sierras for the outdoor technicolor shop. With her own water tower, electric plant, mess hall and laundry. So I guess life wasn't too rugged. No, Lorraine said even the laundry had all the comforts of home, including Lux Flakes. Hollywood studios are so conditioned to using Lux Flakes for nice things that they just naturally have a supply wherever there are washables to be cared for. I know myself how wonderful Lux is, especially for colors. You're quite right, Martha. Tests prove that. A famous laboratory washed slips in 90s the wrong way, with strong soap, hot water and rough handling. Then identical garments to Lux's way. Those that had Lux's care stayed color-fresh three times as long. That's handy to know when you're trying to stretch a dollar. Actually, Lux's care makes it possible for a girl to have three times as many under things without spending any more. How do you figure that, Mr. Kennedy? Well, instead of spending money just to replace worn-fated looking undies, a girl can buy extra new ones. Because Lux's care keeps those she has lovely looking three times as long. Thank you for coming, Martha Hire, and best wishes for your continued success. Act 3 of Magic Town, starring James Stewart as Rip Smith and Jane Wyman as Mary Peterman. The news that Grandview is the perfect barometer of all American opinion has struck the front pages of every newspaper in the country. Overnight hordes of reporters, promoters and experts of a dozen different varieties have poured into what was once a little community that minded its own business. At the municipal building, Mary is attending a special meeting of the town council. Come in, Mary. Sit down. Sit down. I was just telling the councilman why we're being talked about from coast to coast. People coming in on every train. By car, too, and by bus. Even on what to call it, thought. Why not? Who would want to live in a perfect town?  Things are moving so fast. That's just why we sent for you to handle our publicity. Another long distance call, Mayor. Who is it this time? Manufacturer wants to build a plant here so he can advertise made in a typical American town. Get his name. I'll call him later. Collect. Yes, sir. Just watch real estate value. Hey, look out the window. The Texas Gap Company is starting a touring service. Wonderful. Look at what that sign says. Typical tour of the typical town. One dollar. See the public opinion capital of the USA. Where they live, where they work, what they eat. I still say we'd better do some careful thinking. That's just what we've been doing. And here's our first project, Mary. We're going to build booths all over town. Official polling booths where folks can cast their opinion on the question of the week. Oh, now, now. Wait a minute. We find out what our services are thinking and we sell the results. Take a fortune for the town.  Oh, yeah. I mean, what's the matter with it? Well, that's our chief export, isn't it? Our whatchamacallit, our opinion. Well, we're through giving them away. Well, I guess I've seen everything now. Excuse me, Mayor. It's the broadcasting company. They want approval to conduct sidewalk interviews. A daily broadcast from coast to coast. Certainly we approve. Suddenly we approve. And now that Mary about to... Hey, where'd she go? Mary! Well, Rip, I just spoke to Charlie Stringer in New York. He says we can go to work for him whenever you say. Oh, sit down.  I told you this was a wonderful hotel. Great big veranda to watch the three-ring circus from. Ring side seat. Hey, bring on your bamboo! Oh, Rip, look. What are we hanging around here for? Not a hang around here, but I helped put on this show, you know. Come on. Come on. Let's take a bow. Cut it out, Rip. Cut it out and pipe down. All right. All right. Cut it out. Pipe down. Now, come on. Let's get ahold of that phone and give Stringer your answer, huh? All right. Let's give Stringer the answer. Good idea. Now, wait a minute. There's Mary. Hey, Mary. Afternoon, Miss Peterman. Afternoon, Miss Peterman. What can I do for you? Oh, nothing I can do to see Mr. Moody. Excuse me, please. How do you like your town now, huh? How do you like your fancy, beautiful circus of a town now? Hey, I... Get ahold of some train tickets. Come on. We're getting out of here today. We've called this open meeting of the Town Council to discuss plans for our new Civic Center. Oh, but her plan is no longer big enough, Mr. Weaver. We've added a million dollars for the project. Yeah, but what about pay for all this? I mean, suppose something should go wrong. Listen, my friend, in 1890, our grandparents built our municipal building with their own hands. If it comes to it, we can do the same thing. Thanks for talking out in your life. Grandview Township Public Opinion Survey. And, uh, think, uh, think I was worried about those experts. Hey, get a rip in here. No, brother. I, uh, I'd rather not disturb a Mr. Stringer. Rips, uh, rips stinking. You mean sleeping? How long's this gonna continue? He slept through most of the conference this morning. Suddenly he woke up and said, I hope they remember the back-pass dilemma. Put some out of it, that guy. Makes a lot of noise, doesn't he? Well, rip, here it is. The first Grandview poll. Yeah, let me see it. Gallup also released figures today on the very same subject. How do you feel about a woman for president? Well? Ah, exactly opposite results, rip. That town's gone nuts. Grandview will be laughed out of existence. It's already started. The newspapers and radio have been at it all day. What are they saying? Well, listen, listen to this guy on the radio. I guess he's still at it. Let's see. He's been right. It's turned out to be ridiculously wrong. Completely out of tune with the country. Well, there should be a moral to all this. No one has the right to assume they know it all. Now, what this little town of Grandview lost was humility. And when you've lost that, my friends, you've lost everything. Grandview-Piosca results in wholesale departures. Hundreds of families leaving town daily. Dozens of business frames closing. Is Grandview troubled persons? First in the dark. Hello, Mr. Quincy.  No, I just got off the train. I guess you heard about us, huh? Yeah. You suppose anybody's in there tonight? There, in Old Meaden Hall? Yeah. Not very likely, Mr. Smith. He seems like everybody's sort of hiding these days. I guess it's all right if I go in. Oh, sure, sure. Go on in. Good to see you again. Well, I didn't know anyone was... Oh, Mary. They, uh, they don't come here anymore. They don't even talk to each other. Well, that's no good, is it? People ought to talk to each other. How's...how's Ma? Oh, Ma's the same. Rip, why did you come back? I had to come back, Mary. I don't know. I had to. I couldn't work. I couldn't even thank God. Mary, I... I love you. Oh, the night I lay awake hearing you say that. I love you, Mary. There was...there was a news story came over the wire the other day. A married woman who fell in love with another man.   We murdered a town rent. You and I, we killed an idea my father devoted a lifetime to, and nobody cared. Nobody cared. But there must be some way to... there must be something we can do. Just what is it you're trying to tell me? That something's got to be done to save this town, Mr. Nicolby. They've always followed you. Get them to do something startling, something that'll give them that old bounce again. Why don't you get them to start that dueling, that civic center again? With what? The town's broke. With taxes. Tax yourself at such a fantastic rate it'll be the talk of the country. You're crazy. Okay, I'm crazy, but it'll take something crazy to wake them up. Look, when I was here before, I used to hear a lot of talk about Senator Wilton. This was his hometown before he went to Washington. What Senator Wilton got to do with this? Well, he was on the same train I was. He's here now on a visit. He told me he's willing to do anything he... anything he can to help. Now, suppose we got a group together to do the initial financing. Would you take charge? Try anything like that and I'll stop it. This town's through. Finished. Come in, come in. Thank you, Senator Welles. Mira's mother's already here. I got hold of her right after you phoned me this morning. Rip. Rip is at you. Hello, Ma. Oh, it's good to see you, Rip. Thanks, thanks. Well, what's happened? Can you look? I saw Nic will be last night and the others this morning. They all tell me I'm crazy. When I think of all those big statements they were making a couple of months ago, what was that the mayor said? We'll build this civic center with our own hands if necessary. Mary wouldn't let us print it, though. What was that? Ma, that... that story, that statement from the mayor made. Is there a copy of that around anywhere? Oh, yes, I think so. Senator, may I use your phone? Help yourself. We're going to print that story in today's paper. And the mayor wasn't the only one that made fancy statements. But that was weeks ago. We mislaid the story. Just found it. Let them sue us. Well, what all that accomplished, Rip? Well, for one thing, it'll wake these people up, maybe get them back in that town meeting hall again, talking to each other, taking sides. Hello. Hello. Let me speak to Mary Peterman, please. Story, Rip. Right across our front page. Good. Wonderful. Mary, I gave the story out to all the wire services. We're going to print it all across the country. We're going to get these people so much flattering publicity they'll have to do something. They'll string us up to the nearest creed. Well, at least they'll be doing something together. Now, get your mark. Come on over to the town meeting hall. There's going to be a battle. You know, that's where they'll stay. Come on, I'll see you over there later. There they are, ma'am. This is Peterman and Mary. Hello. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Hello, ma'am. What do you mean by printing that we're going through with the civic center? Haven't we been lasted enough? It's outrageous! I'm going to sue for what then? Libel or something? Can any of you claim that our paper failed to quote you correctly? But that was long ago. One the difference. Look, I'm sensitive. Where's Nicol B? He'll know how to handle this. I wish you, gentlemen, would quiet down as a broadcast we want to hear. Quiet down while I'm... Hey, he's Nicol B now. I always thought you were a sensible girl, Mary. Is this story your idea of a practical joke? If you're interested in practical jokes, Mr. Nicol B, read some of your own statements. Very fun. Do you realize we have a case against you? And against that fellow Smith, too. He's back of all of this. Turn up the radio, Mary. Wait a minute, please. Listen to the radio. Just a minute. Please. We see it ridicule. These wonderful people of Grandview are now plunging into a project of such vision as to arouse the envy of every community in America.  We didn't... They're going ahead to the plan to build a theater. We're talking about us. Even though it may mean sacrifice on the part of every man, woman, and child in Grandview. More power to your Grandview. Godspeed and good luck. That's all we wanted to hear, Mr. Nicol B. Some of you may be crazy, but no one's going to treat talk me into going broke. Now, what I learned half the town's coming here. Look, there's Rip Smith now with those high school kids. The basketball team. Hey, there's my what's this? My son. You're too, Nicol B. Come on in. Come on in. All right, Junior. What's all this about? Well, Pop, you promised us all a new... Whatchamacallit. High school. And... Well, we want it.  Yes, sir. Except... Well, except we've talked this over, Dad. And we've decided if men like you could the team we're going to quit, too. We don't want to live in a town we have to be ashamed of.  We're not trying to run your affairs, Dad. Pip says you're all wonderful people. But you've just lost your nerve. Well, listen to me. Why not? Why can't we do it? Our fathers didn't quit when they were in a jam. That's when they started to fight. Now, just what is it that's so wrong with us? For heaven's sake, Mary. It takes money to build. Where's it coming from? Well, let me read a statement of yours, Mr. Mayor. If necessary, we'll build it with our own hands. Well, I've had a long time before. Mary, are you suggesting that we do that? Actually build it with our own hands? Well, certainly. I suppose if everybody picks in and helps... This is idiotic. The property's been sold. The council approved it. All right, Joe. Go on. Speak now. Okay, Rip. Hey, Dad. Hey, Pop.   Rick says you had no right to approve it. Rick says a thing like that's got to be put up to the voter. Well, of course it's got to be put up to the voter. Well, what about it, Mr. Nickelveed? We were going to do that, of course.  Wouldn't care? This business life, we just plain lost on it. Wouldn't care if we didn't get a chance to vote? No, sir. Maybe whether a town lizard dies isn't important to some people, but it is to me. I feel like more and families breaking up, and I don't like it. And if starting part of the Civic Center, like, say, a new high school can save it, then I'm for it at any price. I'll organize all the workmen in town. Supervised the whole project. Oh, see, that's what you're going to call it, Pop. Well... Well, I'll finish the coverage. I'll put in the fixtures. Well, I have a couple of them. Anyway, we'll do them all right. Oh, Rick, it's so wonderful. Everybody's going to help. Oh, and I'll wait a minute. Oh, no, no, no. That's something we'll be able to take care of ourselves. Our stars will return to their curtain calls in a moment. How come, Libby, you're reading Mother Goose Run? Why, I've discovered how Mother Goose solved the dishwashing problem, John. How was that? Well, she ate with a spoon. And when she was finished, the dish ran away with a spoon. Oh, Libby! Well, I know lots of women who wish dishes would run away after a meal. Since they don't, let's make a suggestion. Use Lux Flakes for dishes. You're right. With Lux, you avoid one of the worst things about dishwashing. Horrid dishpan hands. Yes, ladies, you can prove for yourselves how soft and smooth Lux leaves your hands. Even if they are rough and red now from strong suds, you'll see definite improvement in just a few days. Yes, changing from strong soap to Lux Flakes actually takes away dishpan redness. Many tests have proved it.  You ought to say that Lux is really thrifty for dishes. It goes further. Because Lux suds are so rich, they wash up to twice as many dishes as the same weight of ten other leading soaps tested. Yes, indeed. Lux is thrifty. Now, here's Mr. Keely with our stars. Mr. Keely in Washington, D.C. and the stars on the stage of the Lux Radio Theatre in Hollywood. If Rip Smith could poll our listeners on their reaction to the nice Lux Radio Theatre play, I'm sure he'd get enthusiastic answers. Thanks to the good work of our stars, Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman. I only wish I could have been there to have watched you two in person. Well, we certainly missed you, Bill. It seems strange to see that producer's chair unoccupied. Well, thanks, Jimmy. But I don't know any way in which I could have added to your fine performance. You say that you just started your new picture, Bill. The street with no name. Yes, we spent the day at the FBI Academy in Quantico, getting some authentic scenes and their drive against crime. Well, it sounds like a very interesting, much-needed picture, Bill. And you have two fine young stars in Mark Stevens and Richard Whitmark. Yes, I certainly have. And I'm extremely grateful, too, for the cooperation that we're having in Washington. When do you get back, Bill? Well, not for another 10 days, I'm afraid. But incidentally, Jimmy, before I left, I caught a preview of your latest picture of Northside 777. I enjoyed it immensely. Bill, right after Christmas, I go to work again on another one with Alfred Hitchcock. Oh, and speaking of Christmas, I understand, Bill, that you have something very special coming up on Luxe next week. Yes, next Monday night, in Keeping with the Holiday Spirit, we're presenting one of the greatest Christmas stories ever filmed, with all of its original fine stars. Marino Hatter, John Payne, Edwin Gwen, and Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street. Well, you couldn't have a better play for Christmas, Bill. Yes, a prize Santa Claus package, because it concerns none less than Chris Kingel himself, bringing that gentleman to life in a warm and human Christmas story that he should appeal especially to the children in your family. We hope they'll join us. Well, it sounds like a treat for a young and older like, Bill. We'll be listening. Good night. Good night. And a very merry Christmas to you. Christmas is a time for sharing and giving. And this year, we Americans have an opportunity to give the greatest gift of all, that of life itself to millions of starving Europeans. We can do it by pledging ourselves to observe to the letter the Food Conservation Program, by eating no meat on Tuesdays and no eggs on Thursdays, and by saving at least a slice of bread a day, a small sacrifice for us, but one that can help those nations that believe in freedom and democracy, make peace on Earth a permanent reality. Lever Brothers Company, the makers of Lux Flakes, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday evening, when the Lux Radio Theatre presents Morino Harrah, John Payne, Edmund Gwynne, and Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street. This is William Keely saying good night to you from Washington. Jane Wyman appeared by arrangement with Warner Brothers, producers of The Voice of the Turtle. Our music was directed by Louis Silvers. This program is rebroadcast to our men and women overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. And this is your announcer, John Milton Kennedy, reminding you to have all your children join you next Monday night to hear Miracle on 34th Street with Morino Harrah, John Payne, Edmund Gwynne, and Natalie Wood. Pepsidon's One by Three to One. Yes, in a recent survey, families throughout America compared new pepsidon toothpaste with a brand they'd been using at home. By an overwhelming average of three to one, they preferred new pepsidon witherium over any other brand they tried. They said, new pepsidon toothpaste tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter. Yes, with families who made comparison tests. Pepsidon's One by Three to One. Be sure to listen next Monday night to the Lux Radio Theatre presentation of Miracle on 34th Street with Morino Harrah, John Payne, Edmund Gwynne, and Natalie Wood. Stay tuned for my friend Irma, which follows immediately over most of these stations.