The Asbury Seminarian Journal • 1949

VOL IV 1949 No. 1

1 THE ASBURY SEMINARIAN Copyright 1949 by ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Wilmore, Kentucky

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor Harold B. Kuhn

Associate Editors George A. Turner Robert P. Shuler, Jr. James D. Robertson

Published in March, June, September, and December.

Publication and Editorial Offices: Asbury Theological Seminary, N. Lexington Avenue, Wilmore, Kentucky.

The subscription price is $2.00 per annum; $3.50 for two years.

Entered as second-class matter March 19, 1946 at the post office at Wilmore, Kentucky, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

Vol. IV SPRING 1949 No. 1

Table of Contents Pare

The President's Letter Julian C. McPheeters 1

In This Issue 2

Faith and Understanding Editorial 3 Searchings of Heart Ralph Earle 6 Our Wesleyan Heritage After Two Centuries Paul Stromberg Rees Article IV: Is the Heritage Larger Than We Have Realized? 13

Alumni Letter Don A. Morris 18

Early English Hymns of the Pre-Wesleyan Period Anne W. Kuhn 19

The Pastor As Teacher Harold C. Mason 26

Book Reviews 29 Vol. IV, No. 1 The Asbury Seminarian Spring, 1949

IKe fmlAtaVs Itittr

Julian C. McPheeters

The winter revival and the Ministers' Conference stand out as two significant events at Asbury Theological Seminary during the winter quarter. The students of the seminary have the opportunity of attending two revivals during the school year. The fall revival is held on the campus of Asbury College, which is our sister institution. The winter evangelistic series was held in January with Rev. James DeWeerd as the preacher. The winter revival is held under the auspices of the Methodist church of Wilmore. The Methodist church was crowded to capacity every night during the meetings. The power of the Holy Spirit was definitely manifest in every service in conviction, regeneration, and sanctification. There were many high moments of victory in the altar services where souls prayed through to a new way of triumph in Christ. The Ministers' Conference attracted an enrollment from sixteen different states, extending from New York to California, and from Michigan to Missis sippi. The Lizzie H. Glide Lectures were deUvered by Bishop Arthur J. Moore and Dr. Chester A. McPheeters. Outstanding statements by Dr. McPheeters in cluded the following: "The greatest weakness in preaching today is lack of authority." "A man should believe and say it like he believes it." "There is a great deal of hesitancy in the pulpit today." "A man speaks with authority because he has authority." "The call to preaching must be kept current. I have a notion that God has recalled some preachers, but they have not heard the call." "The gospel of Jesus Christ is not relative. It is absolute." "The Bible is the central book of the preacher." Bishop Arthur J. Moore emphatically reminded us that : "The world has come to the edge of an abyss where the choice is God's way or the utter destruction of all hope."

"Paul was serene because he was sure." "Paul had one of two things in every town which he entered, a revival or a riot. I know some preachers who do not have either." "Paul forgot himself into immortality because of his sure confidence in the adequacy of the gospel." "It is not the presence of the miraculous in your church that keeps anybody away, but it is the absence of it." "You can't be a first class pessimist and a first class Christian." We have in the student body of the seminary 28 denominational groups rep resented. A new movement in one of these denominational groups is the Asbury Methodist Fellowship. Among the eight objectives of the movement as set forth in their publicity, we mention two. 1. "We shall launch an aggressive progp^m of evangelism, as was witnessed in early Methodism." 2. "We shall withstand any theological trend which denies the following: The deity; the vicarious atone- 2 THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER

ment the resurrection ; bodily ; the second coming of Jesus Christ ; the authority of the Scriptures, as the infallible rule of faith and practice." The Jesse H. Jones Scholarship Fund for foreign students was established by Mrs. Jesse H. Jones of Houston, Texas, in February. The fund is in the amount of $1,000 per year which has been made available for the next five years. This fund will make it possible to bring additional foreign students to the sem inary for the school year 1949-1950. We now have 18 foreign students enrolled in the seminary, representing ten countries other than the United States. The latest enroUee among our foreign students is Mr. Helmut Wipprecht of Neustadt, French Zone, Germany, who arrived on February 20th, and will be enrolled in the Spring Quarter.

RALPH M. EARLE (Th.D,, Gordon Divinity School) is professor of Biblical Literature in Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a contributor to a number of Christian periodicals.

PAUL STROMBERG REES (M.A., University of Southern California) is pastor of First Covenant Church, Miimeapolis, Minnesota. This issue carries the fourth in his series of Glide Lectures delivered in Asbury Theological Seminary.

DON A. MORRIS (B.D,, D.D., Asbury Theological Seminary) is retiring president of the Seminary Alumni Association and pastor of First Methodist Church, Saginaw, Michigan.

ANNE W. KUHN (A.M., Boston University) has been a fellowship student in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is an occasional contributor to this journal.

HAROLD C. MASON (Ed.D., University of Indiana) is professor of Christian Education in Asbury Theological Seminary. Faith and Understanding

For those who seek to conserve the his that which cannot be mathematically demon toric message of Christianity, the problem strated. It asserts the primacy of God over of the relationship of objective historical man, the superior altitude of His thoughts facts to faith is assuming a new prominence above our thoughts. At the same time, it in the light of several contemporary presents its data to man in terms of a rev thought-movements. The sphere of science, elation set in history, history in which resting upon sense experience, and the places, dates, and men of all types figure sphere of religion, resting upon revelation, prominently. As such, faith mi!st be nour have never been able to reconcile their com ished by a certain amount of evidence and peting claims. An uneasy peace was reached sustained by a reasonable measure of con in the view, once more common than now, gruence between the facts in which its that science seeks impersonal truth capable specifically spiritual content is set, and the of expression by universal concepts, and as realm of accepted historical fact. not touch the inner life of man, such does Some will see at once a major problem and whose which is the province of religion, in the words "reasonable measure of con stock in trade is mystery and image, these gruence" and inquire whether the Chris of being personal and capable expression tian can expect to find his faith verified, only in terms of their inner truth. The com- point by point, in historical and archaeo licating factor in this attempted solution is logical research. To the individual holding the Christian the character of Scriptures, a high view of the inspiration of the Bible, the area of inner which not only deal with this would mean a great deal, for the seg religious meaning, but with a vast amount ment of history thus involved is large, and of historical material. the events are set well into the past. It Moreover, the circumstances surrounding seems to this writer that this entire problem the production of the Bible are such that the has not received the attention which it de historical garment clothing its spiritual serves, and while the question is one in meaning is not so easily disposable as was volving a vast amount of research for that there is a cer is not he draw once thought. It is true which he qualified, would tain independence of truth from time and attention to two or three considerations historical event; nevertheless, the circum which seem to bear significantly on the forth as stances under which what is set question. reasonable men truth are such that may It should be noted that in any under its unless the legitimately question validity standing of events in antiquity, there are in which it is set are true. historical events large and tantalizing gaps. The data which much to assert that his Nor does it help we possess concerning the first century of in the torical facts can only be understood the Christian era, and the centuries immed is meant that faith light of faith, if by that iately preceding it, are at best fragmentary. historical does not seek factual meaning. This is shown by the manner in which that faith is not a mere It is true, of course, archaeological studies are constantly throw historical data. Its most char collector of ing light upon the usages of the period. a realm acteristic operation is in deeper Moreover, archaeology tends to put flesh in the inner citadel of than that, namely, on the dry bones of the literary remains of the heart. the period, so that an appeal to its discover is The appeal of the Christian message ies is in itself a confession of both the lim is to essentially an appeal to faith. That say. itation of the quantity of historical data to it always summons the life to devotion and of the essentially artificial character of 4 HAROLD B. KUHN

the When we move demands surviving writings. that we recognize how little we back into the of the Old period Testament, know in these areas. Perhaps, therefore, we find that the hiatuses are more numer the matter of the selection of our options in ous and more Most historians the gaping. agree inevitable filling in of the blanks in our that it is difficult to establish with accuracy knowledge deserves more thought than our back any chronology of about 800 B.C. age has given to it. And the acceptance of the � biblical � does not But man is concerned and vitally so option necessarily mean that we must with events far more remote than this. His first wait for criticism, and to the origin and early history are more than .mat archaeology exegesis say last word the ters of antiquarian interest. Certainly he upon structure and content of This ought to know something of these. Yet the Scripture. would be to place the bibli cal at a tangible data at these points, for example, option disadvantage which is not al lowed in case of alternate solutions. In are meager and fragmentary. Monuments other and fossils remain; traditions linger, and words, it is time to abandon the with which biblical faith is ancient literatures speak, but with no united squeamishness and reinstate it in its voice. Science has attempted to piece to treated, rightful place gether the bits of evidence, but hss been as a tenable option, with the added value which comes virtue of the historic compelled to rely heavily upon an hypothe by recog nition it the centuries. sis for a framework. One gets the feeling given through This will be hard on our from reading the scientific explanations pride in the in of that there is a certain amount of regiment fallibility twentieth-century knowledge, for we � have so made the outlook of our ing of the facts and back of this, still a long the stick of truth in all vast amount requiring explanation. day measuring ages that we fail to recognize our bondage to its While archaeology is assisting in some limited methods. Similarly, there is not a areas of the recovery of ancient history, its little of pride in our high-handed work is slow and fragmentary. Meanv/hilc. judgment of naivete upon much of the past. We need the gaps remain. Hypotheses CQm>e and go. the perspective of history if we are to eval Some, formerly confidently accepted, have uate our time. gone into the discard. New options appear This brings us face to face with certain and are entertained. But there is one op problems of fact, especially that involved tion which is seldom entertained among the in the acceptance of the option that in the men of scientific temper, namely the bibli first century of the Christian era, God be cal one, which asserts the special creation came incarnate and walked among men, and recent advent of man, his primeval in leaving in the sand of that century the foot nocence and his historical fall. True, this is prints of supernatural works, culminating an option of faith; but perhaps this is one in His rising again. Any who have felt the of the specific functions of faith, to fill in of our time can realize that the mod the hiatuses in available data. Some will pulse em man finds it much easier to believe that object that this is an appeal to ignorance. the reports of these events are faulty than But is not some option of faith inevitable? that such events actually occurred. An as Is not the developmental hypothesis an ap sertion of the reality of the events seem to peal to faith? Does not its use leave vast be a pronouncement of judgment, not questions unanswered? Has it not been only upon the philosophical structure of our sustained by the sheer weight of numbers time, but a science which in a re of those accepting it? These facts the sci upon has, markably short of time, a entists ought not brush off lightly. space brought standard of living unparalleled in man's At the it is present moment, extremely history. This is no light matter. that men now unlikely living will possess, At the same time, the records of the New from and related suf- archaeology sources, Testament are with us, and were not only ficent data to enable them fill in the ma to accepted by men far nearer to the events in human with to jor gaps thought respect which they describe than research can ever the noted. A realistic view questions just take us, but were held in the face of great FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING 5 odds by selfless persons whose final impact tion to the ultimate mysteries of the uni upon the world is undoubted. Even the verse becomes cold and detached, and must skeptical observer of European history be finally unsatisfactory. must admit the historical impact of the In view of the foregoing, it may be noted Gospel. The real question is, whether this that faith, in the sense in which we have impact could have grown out of supersti considered it, becomes a characteristic way tion and misinformation. We think not. But of viewing things, in which the total mean if not, then the problem remains with us. ing of the universe is sought in terms of the The position here set forward is, that the Christian Scriptures. These are viewed, not entire question posed by the appearance and simply as containing a central core of re spread of Christianity is one which only liable "redemptive truth", but as embodying faith can answer. And he who rejects the a characteristically Christian way of view biblical option seems to be throwing away ing the whole of reality, and as being in the only key by means of which such a consequence reliable as they touch conti phenomenon can be understood. guous areas, such as history, geography, an It needs to be noted in this connection thropology and cosmology. To him who is that faith, no less than the scientific out immersed in the modem way of looking at look, is confronted with a pattern of sig things, this will seem nothing short of rev nificant problems. It creates no new myster olutionary. Perhaps this is precisely what ies, for mysteries are already with us. The the Bible ought to be. problems of the origin of the world, the In any case, he who will take the Scrip origin of man, and the origin of evil exist tures seriously must ultimately face the quite apart from whether or not we con problem of faith and its content in under sider the option of faith. These antedate the standing. This will proffer no easy route to appearance of Christianity. But as myster the thoughtful man; indeed, we need to di ies, they seem to the devout Christian to be vest ourselves of the idea that Christianity less strange than they evidently appear to offers an easy intellectual road. But he who be to the scientist. This is due to the fact can accept the momentous proposition that that the Christian is himself immersed in "by faith we understand that the worlds the larger program of faith, namely the re were framed by the word of God" may demption of man. Without this, the "God" shortly find himself understanding, through of the scientists is strangely foreign to faith, a great many other things. man's tragic fate, and any supposed solu Harold B. Kuhn Searchings of Heart

By Ralph Earle

even for another The period of the judges in Israel was a ter. It had perhaps hoped Pentecost. At there were of turbulent time of transition. The theocracy Pentecost, tcHigues fire from heaven, and human beings like ready under Moses and had and the Joshua died, lamps, waiting to be lit. At Amsterdam, there under and Solomon had monarchy David were committees, agenda, resolutions, debates, not yet been born. The key verse of the and trilingual earphones. The men of Amster did not and did not receive flames Book of Judges sums up the difficulties of dam expect from heaven. They had not met to be inspired the times : "In those days there was no king but to "get something done." They were moved, in Israel; every man did that which was not by tongues of fire, but by reasonable an right in his own eyes." Anarchy brought xiety, cautious good will, Protestant practtcality. turmoil and trouble. One of the recurring crises of this per The great purpose and drive of the Am iod produced the Song of Deborah and Ba sterdam Coference was the attainment of rak. In it we find these suggestive words: ecumenical unity. A rather wholesome anti "For the divisions of Reuben there were dote to the present over-absorption in ecu-, great searchings of heart." (Judges 5:16.) menicity is Marcus Bach's latest book. Re Every student of history recognizes that port to Protestants. It is a supplement to his we are now living in a period of transition. earlier volume. They Have Found a Faith We are entering the air age, the atomic age. (1947). Those who read that fascinating Thoughtful men are asking: "Whence?� description of the various cults and sects of Whither?. .Why ?" As man contemplates our country will need no urging to read the mess that he has made trying to run the Bach's 1948 sequel. world without God, there cannot but be The first three chapters of the book tell great searchings of heart. There are some of his attempt in his first pastorate, at Fair in the literature reflections of this religious field, Kansas, to unite two churches across of 1948. the street from each other. All his efforts The outstanding religious event of the ended in dismal failure. Then the town was was the of the first World past year meeting invaded by a Pentecostal Church. Some of of Churches at in Assembly Amsterdam, Bach's members were swept into that ag devoted August. The Christian Century gressive movement, while others joined the practically an entire issue (October 6) to Christian Science and Catholic Churches. on and the of this his comments reports Why? That was the question that plagued toric occasion. were made in Reprints large the young pastor, who finally resigned and quantities for wider distribution. Here one quit the ministry. can much the whole of read pretty story After floating around for awhile looking Amsterdam. for a job, he found himself directing the But the keenest comment on the perhaps choir for a Pentecostal group in Milwaukee, was made one of Amsterdam meeting by The book's fourth chapter, "The Latter Time. In the 13 the editors of September Rain is Falling," describes his experiences issue the column is headed "No Religion in this strange association. Most amazing of Here we find one of the most Pentecost." all. Bach himself received "the baptism." paragraphs in recent religious significant The fifth chapter, "The Cults are Com reporting. Let us weigh the words carefully. ing," portrays the rapid rise of cults, espec the rackets in Southern Cal The watching Protestant world had hoped, in ially religious its dim and sentimental way, for something bet ifornia. While many of these can be classed SEARCHINGS OF HEART 7

as sheer hoax, Bach points out that large ommended to Protestants for its excellent numbers of people are finding help and suggestions on how to reach the unchurched satisfaction in Christian Science, Psychi- millions of America. and the like. The ana, Unity, distressing Our Protestant Heritage contains seven thing is that most of the accessions to these lectures delivered publicly by members of movements come from the ranks of Pro the faculty of Union Theological Seminary testant churches. What is to happening in Richmond, Virginia. Two are on the Old Protestantism ? Testament, two on the New, and three on church es Bach feels that the crux of the problem history. It is delineation of the is to be found in Protestantism's neglect sential Protestant tradition as represented of the individual. While Protestantism is in these three fields. Of interest to Old Testament students is the on the using up its energies constructing plans and emphasis as reformers innova programs for world unity of denominations, prophets rather than the cults are gathering in the thousands of tors. William Warren Sweet of has hungry hearts that crave individual atten Chicago us another volume from his tion and personal warmth. Here is a book given prolific that forward-looking Protestants cannot pen. The American Churches is modest in size but a afford to miss. It leaves one with uneasy (153 pages) gives good summary of American church It a feelings of conscience about our neglect of history. presents for the of revival the needy man in the street, who too often strong appreciation place ism and the doesn't find God in our Protestant churches. influence of the Methodist Church in the winning of the West. It also The need for a revival of vital religious shows the reason for the emphasis on the is also D. Elton experience emphasized by social gospel in the United States. A mildly Trueblood in his Alternative to In Futility. anti-Catholic tone pervades the discussion. The Predicament of Modern Man he diag Perhaps the most outstanding church nosed the ills of our day. In Foundations historian in this country today is Kenneth for Reconstruction he insisted that an en Scott Latourette of Yale University. His during society must be built upon adherence seven massive volumes on The to the ten commandments. In this third book Expansion of Christianity have given him a preeminent of the trilogy. Dr. Trueblood has gone "Be place in this field. His new book, The Chris yond Diagnosis" (the title of chapter one) tian Outlook, is an authoritative treatment to offer a cure. He says that something of the present and future of � should be done now and advocates small Christianity Eastern, Roman, and Protestant. Because groups meeting for fellowship. In this pro of his prodigious research, his generaliza posed method one senses the Quaker back tions are valid. The book is remarkably ground of the author. conservative theologically. A blast the against present organizations As the Lightning Flashes, by Frank Wil for church is to be found in Ernest unity son Price, is a good up-to-date treatment of Gordon's book. An Ecclesiastical Octopus, the importance of missions. Dr. Price is a the of Bos published by Fellowship Press, Presbyterian missionary born in China and calls it "a factual on ton. The subtitle report speaks from experience. the Federal Council of Churches of Christ Among the many volumes of sermons, in America.". It is an impressive exposure. only a few can be mentioned. In Paul minister in this country ought to Every Scherer's book. The Plight of Freedom, read the book to balance current concep we find a liberal criticizing liberalism. He tions about the Federal Council. says that it is our inordinate desire for Mention has been made of the Catholic complete freedom which has brought us invasion of Protestant ranks. Winning Con into our present plight. Sin is pride, pride verts, edited by John O'Brien and published in our self-sufficiency. Here is a liberal by P. J. Kennedy of New York, tells the searching his own heart and the heart of secret of this success. It is to be highly rec humanity. s RALPH EARLE

Jwo of Paul Tillich's books were pub course in homiletics for pastors." One lished in 1948, The Shaking of the Founda would need a refresher course in Latin and tions contains sermons delivered, for the German to read everything in the book. most part, in the chapel at Union Theolog John Sutherland Bonnell's Psychology ical where he is These Seminary, professor. for Pastor and People is one of the best sermons are marked a by profound pessim books on this subject. This is not an arm ism. H the reader finds sufficient enjoyment chair, academic treatment, but rises out of in these moving meditations on Scripture, wide experience of the author. he want to tackle the more difficult may / Would Do It Again, by F. E. Davison, book. The Protestant Era. is filled with practical advice for ministers. Clovis Chappel has given us another of While some suggestions could not be fol his books of sermons, entitled Questions lowed, the book is very readable and will Jesus Asked. The illustrations in it are incite one to take the ministry more serious- worth the of the book. price ly. The Lost Gospel, by Robert Luccock, is Turning to the Biblical field we note first a unique volume of sixteen sermons based a little volume of only 53 pages, an essay on short stories. It suggests an effective by Frederick Kenyon, entitled The Bible variation from usual sermon procedure and and Modern Scholarship. Its opening sen good illustrative material. provides tence reads: Kyle Yates, in Preaching from the offers nineteen sermons on as many Psalms, The main thesis of this essay is that in the is Psalms. The book conservative, devout, study of the Bible we have passed from a prim and devotional. It provides a good back itive stage of unqestioning and sometimes un ground for a series of sermons on the intelligent acceptance, through a period of crit icism and sometimes sound Psalms. doubt, but often hypercritical, to a position where we are en and Brothers is a val Harper beginning titled to claim that the best and most untram uable series of selections of the best ma melled scholarship can be shown to have vindi terial written by pulpit princes of the past. cated its authenticity and trustworthiness. The first. The Best of John Howard Jow- ett, edited by Bishop Gerald Kennedy, is a Still the Bible Speaks, by W. A. Smart, promise of good things to come. Pastors professor of biblical theology at the Candler will certainly want to get this series. School of Theology of Emory University, Probably all would agree that the out is disappointing in its uncritical statement standing 1948 book of sermons is No Un of the usual liberal viewpoint. The author certain Sound, edited by Petry and pub considers the Bible to be merely a literary lished by the Westminster Press. The sub expression of the religious development of title, "Sermons that Shaped the Pulpit Tra Israel culminating in Christ. dition" suggests this as a "must" book. Robert M. Grant's The Bible in the Here are sermons by Origen, Chrysostom, Church traces the history of Biblical in Augustine, Bede, Anselm, Bernard, St. terpretation through the various periods of and others Francis, Aquinas, Wyclif many the Christian church. It presents good fac of the It forms an pre-Reformation period. tual data, but is written from an unques excellent supplement to The Protestant tioning liberal point of view. Pulpit, by Andrew Blackwood, which we John Paterson of Drew has given us a reviewed last year. very useful volume on the Old Testament Andrew Blackwood This year (1948) prophets. Called The Goodly Fellowship contribution in has made another important of the Prophets, it is published by Scrib- Sermons. Written a The Preparation of by ner's. It is more thorough than Raymond in this it teacher of long experience field, Calkins' The Modern Message of the work. will be a standard Minor Prophets, which we reviewed last John Fritz, a Lutheran, has given us in' year. While not endorsing some of the The Essentials of Preaching "a refresher moderately liberal points of view, we do SEARCHINGS OF HEART 9

recommend this as one of the best recent terpretive paraphrase rather than an exact studies of the prophets. translation. He holds that a translation Covering both the Old and New Testa should not seek primarily to be an inter ments is Biblical Theology, by Geerhardus pretation. Vos, professor emeritus of Princeton. The desire of recent years for the re This is a thorough presentation of the con printing of devotional classics has contin servative Calvinistic interpretation of the ued through 1948. It appears to reflect the Bible. spiritual hunger of a confused generation, Perhaps mention should be made at this looking for a light in the darkness. It also point of the continued reprinting of Cal indicates a reaction against the spiritual vin's Commentaries. Eerdmans is doing barrenness of much modern Protestant a beautiful job and rendering a valuable preaching. service in this project. The Life of God in the Soul of Man, by the seventeenth In the New Testament field we find Henry Scougal of century, the Westminster Gains Glenn Atkin's From the Hillside, a has been published by Press. The of this book study of the Sermon on the Mount. The early importance 18th book is worth reading for intellectual is attested by the fact that "during the it was on an of stimulus and for beauty of style, as well century reprinted average at least once in three and dur as its insights. every years, the first half of the 19th the Charles W. F. Smith's The Jesus of the ing century rate of more than doubled." Parables emphasizes the Jewish back publication (Preface, p. 5.) John Wesley put out an ground of the parables. It is liberal in abridged edition, which went through sev tone, particularly in its treatment of pas en printings. It still has value today. sages as not being genuine, without man uscript evidence for such claims. Methodists should be interested in Wil- iam Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Jesus, Son of Man, by George S. Dun Holy Life, since it had epochal significance can, is a comprehensive study of the por for Westminster has pub trait of Jesus in the Gospels. One appre John Wesley. lished a edition of it. has al ciates Duncan's assertion that "Jesus did good Harper so put out Selected Mystical Writings of regard Himself as (in a unique sense) William Law. We could wish that the the Son of God" (p. 106), but at the same only of these books to time wishes the author were more speci reprinting might help another for the twentieth fic in defining that sonship. produce Wesley century. Johns The Gospel of Belief, by Prof. The outstanding anthology of the year is Merrill of Wheaton, is an excel Tenney Thomas Kepler's The Fellozvship of the lent analysis of the contents and teach Saints. Here one finds a varied selection of of that Here is a thoroughly ings Gospel. Christian devotional literature from across conservative, constructive study of a book many centuries. This is probably the most now usually misinterpreted. Another good valuable of Kepler's anthologies. One re commentary is J. C. Macaulay's Devotion grets the rather prohibitive price of $7.50. al Studies in the Epistle to the Hebrews. to the field of Both these books are published by Eerd Turning fascinating biog we find a well written volume mans. raphy very on General Booth P. Before leaving the Biblical field we note Evangeline by W. Wilson, a newspaper man. He has two opposing discussions of the Revised pro duced an excellent factual Standard Version of the New Testament. presentation, Understanding the Scriptures, by Mont with a s)rmpathetic appreciation for the of is a manual for use greatness Evangeline Booth. It forth gomery Shroyer, is study and almost a model of what with that version. Oswald AUis, in Revi right frank, a should be. sion or New Translation?, has given a biography thorough criticism of the 1946 version. He Alexander Zabriskie has written about demonstrates conclusively that it is an in Bishop Brent: Crusader for Christian 10 RALPH EARLE

Unity. Both the strong and the weak char and valuable ma'terial here. Dr. Lewis, pro acteristics of Bishop Brent are presented. fessor of theology at Drew, is dealing with the ancient, and ever new, of Mahatma Gandhi has been praised rath yet problem the origin of evil. He gives us the result of er extravagantly in the new interpretive his mental with this biography by E. Stanley Jones. But again long struggle haunting we feel the challenge of this Hindu who question. The first of the three sections of the was in many ways more Christianlike than the majority of so-called Christians. book is called "Creation Through Conflict." Lewis asserts that God had to create. But One feels humbled and ashamed at every remembrance of this sad fact. creation inevitably involves conflict. The second section is called "The Creator as Edgar DeWitt Jones has presented an Participant." Here we find the distinctive interesting study in his Lincoln and the view of Lewis. In this chapter on "The Ad Preachers. He documents his claim that versary" he says : "Creation is creatively in Lincoln was a religious man. strife with discreativity" (p. 132). Again One of the great missionaries of our day he writes : "God cannot act creatively with was Cecil Troxel, whose life has been writ out making it possible for the demonic to ten by his widow and Mrs. John Trachsel, act discreatively." (p. 138). both of the National Holiness Missionary But it is on page 140 that Dr. Lewis Society. comes out bluntly with his unorthodox The biography which stirred and stimu view. He declares: "It is not to be taken lated me most was Giant Against the Sky, for granted that in the beginning was God by Alfred M. Pierce. It is the story of and nothing else. In the beginning was the Bishop Warren Akin Candler, who spent Adversary as well." Again he says, on the thirty-six years as bishop of the Methodist same page: "God never began to be. The Church, passing away in 1941. "When he Adversary never began to be." left us, it was as if a great tree had fallen Edwin Lewis shows the influence of his in the and left a lonesome forest, place great teacher and predecessor, the sainted the Candler is here against sky." Bishop Olin A. Curtis, who was a great divine as a portrayed powerful preacher, evangel even though he swerved aside from the ist, and editor, college president, bishop, truth at some points. Lewis follows in the university chancellor. As bishop he did a tradition of Curtis in his appreciation of wonderful work in Cuba and Korea. He the incarnation. Here are two sentences was a man of endless seemingly energies. (p. 155) that sum up the significance of Methodists could well listen to this today the incarnation: "The final strategy of the voice of one their of a re of great bishops demonic is to frustrate the divine where cent time. Here is what he said about re the very image of the divine has been vivals : (p. 47) stamped. The final strategy of the divine is to meet the demonic precisely where this The church which is without revivals is a has been defaced." church which is ready to die That church will image be most influential which has the deepest and We rejoice in the renewed recognition most wide-spread revivals We rejoice that of the reality of sin and Satan. That has Methodism makes much of her revival meetings. been one of the most significant develop ments in theology during the last ten or Methodism is reminded that she was born fifteen years. But it is a pity that Edwin in a revival, and that revivalism affords her Lewis has to swing clear to the other ex most healthful climate for spiritual growth. treme, pendultim fashion, and postulate the One of the more significant theological eternal existence of the devil and evil. It books of 1948 was The Creator and the sounds at some points very much like Zor- Adversary, by Edwin Lewis. Although we oastrian dualism, with the important ex would take exception to the main thesis ception that he posits a third ultimate, "the of the book, there is a great deal of true residue." SEARCHINGS OF HEART 11

It has been claimed that Brightman's Erdmans awarded $5,000 to Edward J. conception of a limited God was forged on Camell for his Introduction to Christian the anvil of deep personal suffering. The Apologetics. The subtitle indicates the ap only solution he could find to satisfy his proach and method. It is "A Philosophic mind was that God must not be all power Defense of the Trinitarian-Theistic Faith." ful. And now Edwin Lewis has given us This reviewer's reactions were not all another of a limited God. It portrait favorable by any means. Carnell is obvious comes out of of heart and deep searchings ly much more at home in philosophy than mind. But it seems to this writer that we in the Biblical field. He uses technical and cannot rest our restless spirits in any but obscure terms unnecessarily. He gives one the omnipotent One and Only. the impression of being decidedly clever Another outstanding theological work and brilliant, but immature. Then, too, the of 1948 is The Faith of the Christian book is really a defence of Calvinism. Church, by Gustaf Aulen. The importance One quotation will serve to underscore this of contemporary Swedish theology is be point. Discussing the original manuscripts ing increasingly recognized in America. of Bible books he says (pp. 198, 199) : This volume is one of the best representa the reason the tives of that view. It is being hailed as a First, clinching why autographs are all lost is that God, the source of all wis contribution for our day. significant dom and right decision, elected to have them echo In this country Nels F. S. Ferre is lost As to the more difficult question why God ing the Swedish emphasis on love as the did not extend inspiration to the copyists, when central thing in theology. In Pillars of He could have done so because He is the Al He elected not so to do. Faith he develops his thesis that Eternal mighty, first, Love is the ultimate basis of authority in Another significant volume in this area religion. His five "pillars" are Jesus Christ, was Alan Richardson's Christian Apolo the Holy Spirit, the Church, the Bible, and getics. Here is a book both stimulating and Christian Experience. These must all be convincing. It gives a very good treatment in harmonious balance. kept of relation to philosophy, science, and his the T. A. Kan- In Resurgence of Gospel, tory; the relation of general and special for a return to the central em tonen calls revelation; arguments from miracle and in order to save phasis of Luther's theology prophecy; the inspiration and authority of first on the world of our day. His chapter, the Bible; and the relation of faith and "The Scene," Contemporary Theological reason. The last, in which he pays high of the situation. is a good analysis existing tribute to Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, of the Chica Harry E. Jessop, president is especially helpful. While not every posi has a brief go Evangelistic Institute, given tion of the book is acceptable to a conser Holiness As outline of what the National vative, yet its main arguments are eminent sociation stands for in We the Holiness ly valuable. clear. People. It is very brief, but sane and Nothing superlative has appeared in the The co-winners of the 1948 Abingdon- field of fiction during 1948. Lloyd Doug Cokesbury Award were John Wick Bow las' The Big Fisherman is being carried and on the momentum created his man, with The Religion of Maturity, along by Georgia Harness, with Prayer and the real hit. The Robe. The new book is defi Common Life. Both books are well worth nitely inferior. Its distortions of Biblical with in rela reading, though one would not agree and historical material, especially tion to cannot but offend the every position set forth. Pentecost, One of the interesting developments of lover of Scripture. Nelia the present time is the revival of apologet No Trumpet Before Him, by of of Gardner was the winner of the ics. For years the study philosophy White, religion has dominated the theological field. $8,000 Westminster Annual Award for Fiction. It is of a Methodist min Apologetics was definitely considered the story has dawned. ister and his The character passe. But now a new day parishioners. 12 RALPH EARLE portrayals are excellent. The book has the man needs both science and religion. Our qualities of a good, readable novel. But present distress is due to our worship of the final scene with Paul Phillips and materialistic science. We must be governed Jeannie seems to let one down a bit. On again by God's eternal truths. the whole, however, it is a powerful book. This Atomic Age and the Word of God, Wilbur is the the best Argye Briggs' Root Out of Dry by Smith, probably book on the of the atom bomb. Ground, winner of the Erdman's $,5000 significance It is very thorough and comprehensive. Fiction Award, is perhaps not quite as well The author studies the concept of the atom written as a novel, but probably has a more among Greek philosophers and the church helpful spiritual message. It is the story fathers. Then he a rather technical of the spiritual development of the under gives discussion of nuclear fission. The second privileged hunchback, Jansie Sanders, and of Second Peter is treated careful her protege, Chrissie. It is interesting to chapter valuable reference note that the author, Mrs. Briggs, paid the ly. Appendices give data on the atom and atomic research. church and sent $1,500 to the mission field. The book has three indices. One marvels After giving another $1,500 to her long- at the erudition of this Bible teacher, who suffering husband and paying the govern is now at Fuller Seminary. ment tax, she had enough left over with One of the greatest historians of our day which to buy herself a new typewriter. is Arnold Toynbee, of Oxford. His seven One hopes it may be used for the writing of volumes on the are mas another good book. Study of History sive and impressive. They have been At the of this review beginning sketchy abridged into one volume by Somervell. of the literature of we religious 1948, But most readers will find the greatest that this a of noted is period searchings pleasure and profit in reading Toynbee's of heart. We wish to conclude on the same latest book, Civilisation on Trial. It de key. clares that materialism is ruining civiliza Charles Lindbergh, in his little book, tion and only a return to religion can save Of Flight and Life, asserts that modern it. Our Wesleyan Heritage After Two Centuries

Paul Stromberg Rees

IV.

Is the Heritage Larger Than We Have Realized?

Not many years ago a Presbyterian science, and is the chief source of our mod clergyman of Toronto, Canada, went to ern liberties."' This thesis he ably main London to pursue graduate studies. While tains against the popular theory that our working in the Library of the British Mu social and political liberties stem from the seum on documents relating to the Indus French Enlightenment as symbolized by trial Revolution, he developed an unex such names as Voltaire and Rousseau. pected fascination. He was "captivated," This story of Dr. Bready's sudden a- to use his own word, by the "sheer majes wakening to the larger meanings of the ty" of the man who had been the Abraham Wesleyan movement is suggestive both of Lincoln of the socially depressed classes in the paucity of knowledge from which many England�Lord Shaftesbury. "I could do people are suffering and of the need of a none other," says he, "than pause for years fresh inquiry into the vast social and cul and write his life." Then he adds, in a com tural ramifications of that vitalized evan ment that is extraordinarily interesting, gelicalism which flowed across and beyond "When I began that task, I had no special England in the eighteenth century. "Wes interest either in Wesley or the Evangel ley," according to the Cambridge Modern ical Revival. . . .But soon I was challenged History, "brought forth water from the by the fact that Lord Shaftesbury, the rocks to make a barren land live again." prince of social reformers and a mighty That water, we must now see, flowed in statesman, considered Wesley 'the greatest many and diverse channels. To return to character in modern history.' Soon, too, I the figures of "estate" and "inheritance," came to realize that one could never un our legacy from Wesley is larger, much derstand Shaftesbury until one understood larger, than most of the sons and daugh the Evangelical Revival, of which he was ters of the twentieth century have been a product, and which had inspired his ev made to realize. I shall endeavor to show * ery ideal." that it is larger (1) in its creative refus in its historical and Thus it was that John Wesley Bready, als, (2) accruals, (3) in its social now one of the world's foremost authori espousals. ties on Wesleyana, came to write his vol I. ume on England: Before and After Wes For one thing, it is larger in what I ley. After running through five large edi shall call its creative refusals. Probably no tions in Britain, it was condensed and re prophets of spiritual awakening ever had published in America under the title This more reason to be intimidated by the bleak Freedom�Whence? Dr. Brady's thesis is ness and barrenness of the conditions they that the Evangelical Awakening which was faced than did Wesley and Whitfield and mediated chiefly by John Wesley, "marks their associates. The England into which the birth of a new and sensitive social con- they were born has been designated by the

*Bready, Wesley and Democracy, pp. 17, 18. 'Bready, op. cit., p. 14. 13 14 PAUL STROMBERG REES

Modern as Cambridge History a land of think that there has never been in any town "materialism," "dim ideals," and "expiring or in any age a population which could hopes." Now and again a voice is raised to compare with them.' warn us the aginst danger of thinking that Now when conditions in Church, State, the England of the first three was Georges and Society are as corrupt as they were in wholly bad. The caution is not without Wesley's day, three courses of action are reason. Yet can obscure the fact nothing open to those who have within them the that for politics, and re business, society, seed of Christian faith and life: (1) they it was a of ligion period astounding cor may compromise with these conditions and ruption and callousness. eventually succumb to them; (2) they may Deistic rationalism was in full bloom. withdraw from them and become nothing The of this pollen poisonous weed had more than pietistic islands in a heaving traveled far. With undisguised satisfaction, ocean of corruption; (3) they may chal not without though exaggeration, Montes lenge the vicious status quo with the quieu, while visiting among the English anointed vigor of Christ's redemptive her intellectuals, could write back to France alds. that everywhere in the circles in which he Fortunately, both for themselves and for moved religion was obsolete. "If anyone the world, Wesley and his helpers whole mentioned it," said he, "everyone laughed." heartedly chose the last course. They were not bound fatalistic view of The Church was venal, incredibly world by any escha- which ly, and tragically sterile. Ecclesiastical posi tology required them to believe that this was the final and there tions, whether those of curates or primates, apostasy that, curative could were bought and sold like seats on a mod fore-, nothing radically be ern stock exchange. One of the primates done about it. Writing for our day in his brave little The used to excuse himself for his much swear book. Uneasy Conscience Modern Fundamentalism, Dr. F. ing by saying that he "swore as a baronet of Carl H. "The and not as a bishop." It was not that such Henry says: despair (that is, profanity was widespread but that such among many fundamentalists) over the reasoning was prevalent! present age is grounded in the anticipated lack of response to the Drunkenness and debauchery were nau- redemptive Gospel, rather than in inherent defect in the seatingly rife. Gin-shops hung signs which any message itself."* read: "Drunk for 1 penny. Dead drunk, No such 2 pence. Free staw." Something of this "anticipated lack of response" soddenness spread to high places, for it paralyzed the witness or withered the pas sion of those whom was not altogether uncommon for the God used to promote Mother of Parliaments to adjourn early the Evangelical Awakening. Theirs was the creative refusal ! because "the honourable members were too Declining to despair, they inebriated to continue the business of set their inflamed hearts on something be State." yond the need of revival, namely the pos sibility of revival. Brazenness and bestiality were common II. enough to be accepted almost without pro Consider a second of our test. For example, such performances as aspect Wesley cock-fighting, bull-fighting, badger-baiting, an heritage which has wider and richer substance than and bare-fisted prize fighting were not many of our contempor aries realized: its staged clandestinely but were popular pub historical accruals. More than a hint of is lic sports. London had its own precursors my meaning contained in of the modern "zoot suit" riots. The mobs a statement made a few years ago by the that ranged and raged through "London late Lord Baldwin. "Historians," said Brit town" have been described by Sir Walter ain's one time Prime Minister, "who filled Besant as "brutal beyond all power of 'Bready, op. cit, p. 73. words to describe, or imagination to under *Henry, The Uneasy Conscience of Modern so stand; bestial that one is induced to Fundamentalism, p. 29, OUR WESLEYAN HERITAGE AFTER TWO CENTURIES 15 their pages with Napoleon and had nothing the work of such men as William Wilber- to say of Wesley, now realize that they force and Thomas Buxton in the field of cannot explain nineteenth century England slavery reform; such pioneers as John until they can explain Wesley." And he Howard and Elizabeth Fry in the area of added: "I believe it is equally true to say penal and prison improvement ; such that you cannot understand twentieth cen friends of youth as Robert Raikes with his tury America, unless you understand Wes Sunday School movement, Sir George Wil ley." liams with his Y.M.C.A., Thomas Barnar- I have already referred to the curious do with his homes for destitute and neg "accident" by which the scholarly attention lected children; General William Booth with his Salvation and Frances of Dr. J. W. Bready found an entirely new Army; focus. That experience of his has immense Willard with her Women's Christian Tem implications. He wants to know about the perance Union. evolution of industrial liberty in Britain. It is with such facts in mind that Dr. The quest leads him to Lord Shaftesbury. Bready declares: "During fifty-three years Lord Shaftesbury in turn leads him back of inimitable labor, as a single-minded cru to the Evangelical Revival and to Wesley, sader for God and righteousness, Wesley whom Shaftesbury regarded as "the great created character-values, organizations, and est character in modern history." institutions which at a hundred points were to affect the voluntary heritage of the Shaftesbury's father was an alcoholic Anglo-Saxon Democracies." and his mother was a social butterfly, but his nurse, Maria Millis, was an earnest III. Christian. She was a true daughter of the Closely linked with its historical accruals Wesleyan revival. It was she who led the are the social espousals which form a legit future prince of reformers to Christ and imate part of our Wesleyan heritage. If moulded his sensitive Christian character. Mr. Wesley's preaching and planning had not been weighted with a sense of social Look now at his achievements through responsibility, the movement with which the years that followed. He authored such his name is identified would have taken a enlightened economic enactments as the very different turn. It might have con Ten Hours Bills, the Mines and Collieries gealed in a theological backwater or eddied Act, the Lodging House Acts, the Chim- in a pietistic cult. It did neither. It called Acts. He was the first presi ney-Sweep � � for and produced regeneration of per dent of the Y.M.C.A. and of the Ragged sonal character and reorientation of social School Union. He was the originator of activities and responsibilities. the Crimean Sanitary Commission, which her Mr. "is gave Florence Nightingale opportunity "Christianity," Wesley insisted, and brought her before the world. In total essentially a social religion, and to turn it into a is indeed to he was associated with approximately two solitary religion destroy hundred societies for the moral and social it." While modern extremists in the camp improvement of the people. After his death of the so-called "social gospel" should be ware of their characteristic one of the most discerning tributes paid reading super remains to him was that of the Duke of Argyll, ficialities into that sentence, it who said in Parliament: "The social re true that for John Wesley, as for an earlier forms of the last century have not been due "John," it was a piece of folly to talk about God unless there were the fruits of mainly to the Liberal Party, but to the in loving man also. It was incon fluence, character, and perseverance of one love for equally or � to about the man Lord Shaftesbury.'" gruous prate "Gospel" gloat over "orthodoxy" when there was patently In much the same manner it is possible no living in faith in Christ by which the to trace the authentic connections which power of sin was broken and life was re existed between the Wesleyan revival and directed along "the paths of righteous ness." �F. W. Boreham, A Casket of Cameos, p. 256. 16 PAUL STROMBERG REES

When Mr. Wesley told his preachers, typical of the treatise from which they are "Remember you have nothing to do but taken, his Thoughts Upon Slavery. They save souls," his concept of soul-saving was gave direct and dynamic inspiration to the bigger than most non-evangelical social Committee for the Abolition of the Slave historians have realized. It was likewise Trade which was formed a few years after bigger than some of our fervid evangelical they were published. As for the ardent and contemporaries have been aware. For ex active support which Mr. Wesley gave to ample, the flaming little prophet who had the Parliamentary struggle to free the "nothing to do but to save souls" was not slaves, the whole world knows of the clas too preoccupied to concern himself, and to sic which he wrote to William Wilberforce, urge others to concern, regarding the ref in which he implored, "Oh, be not weary in ormation in prison procedures and condi well doing. Go on in the name of God, and tions for which the eighteenth century in the power of His might, till even Ameri stood in such dire need. Denouncing the can slavery, the vilest that ever saw the infamous Newgate prison, he said: "I sun, shall vanish away before it." know not if to one of thinking, sensible Again, consider the liquor traffic. The turn like of mind, there could be anything man who had "nothing to do but to save it this side of hell." Nor did he stop with souls" was at the same time concerned with mere denunciation. According to Thomas the creation of a new and healthy con Dodd, in his John Wesley: A Study for science, both personal and civil, with re the Times, he and some of his confreres of spect to the manufacture and use of alco the Holy Club directed some of their vig holic beverages. Indeed Dr. Bready as orous personal efforts "to the amelioration serts: "That Wesley became the most of prison horrors." Mr. Wesley, moreover, effective temperance advocate the English- to the work of gave strong encouragement speaking world has yet reared, is a claim whose name will remain John Howard, which will square with facts." Some of the forever lustrous in the history of penal en sentences that Dr. Bready quotes from lightenment. Wesley's Thoughts on the Present Scarcity Provisions sound as if have Or, take the question of human slavery. of they might been uttered Sam Morris or Cut- The traffic in the African "blacks" was by Guy shall in the hour. is food so proceeding unblushingly when the Spirit of present "Why dear?" asks Then, in God began to blow mightily on the hearts Wesley. self-reply, he "The cause is because of the early Methodist leaders. It flour proceeds: grand such immense of com are con ished in part because it was immensely lu quantities consumed in .. crative to the traders and owners, and in tinually distilling. .Nearly half of the wheat in the part because the deistic rationalism that produced Kingdom is consumed, not in so harmless a as was in vogue afforded no ethical leverage way it into the but for opposing it. This philosophy was well throwing sea, by converting it into that summed up in Pope's line: "One truth is deadly poison, poison naturally clear. Whatever is, is right!" destroys not only the strength and life but also the morals of our countrymen."* Yet the man who had "nothing to do Take one more of the social espousals but to save souls" was not too busy preach which appear clearly in the original Wes ing free grace to sinners on the common to leyan movement. I refer to the cause of engage in a vigorous crusade against "that education. An anecdote has it that when a execrable villainy which is the scandal of brother arose in a �I � "Can human law," he religious meeting slavery. � religion" know not where and declared that he cried, "turn darkness into light or evil in "thanked God for his ignorance," there was to good? Notwithstanding ten thousand a wag present who remarked that he "had laws, right is right and wrong is wrong a lot to be thankful for!" John Wesley still.... I absolutely deny all slave-holding even to be consistent with of � any degree 'Bready, This Freedom Whence? quoted on p. natural justice." These burning words are 161. OUR WESLEYAN HERITAGE AFTER TWO CENTURIES 17 would have approved the viewpoint, if not preach on "education expressly"? Mr. the spirit, of the wag. "Preach expressly Wesley would do both. on education," he told his preachers. He Professor Carl Henry, in the volume to enlisted their aid in circulating the Chris which I have previously referred, tells tian Library, a set of fifty volumes which about a question he put to a group of more he personally edited and arranged. It was than a hundred evangelical pastors. "How this sort of far-visioned planning and pro many of you," he asked, "during the past motion that the editors of the Encyclopedia six months, have preached a sermon de Britannica have in mind when they say voted in large part to a condemnation of that "No man in the eighteenth century did such evils as aggressive warfare, racial so much to create a taste for good reading, hatred and intolerance, the liquor traffic, and to supply it with books at the lowest exploitation of labor or management, or price s." Such authorities as Stopford the like�a sermon containing not merely Brooke willingly acknowledge that the first an incidental or illustrative reference, but impulse to popular education in Britain directed mainly against such evils and pro came from the Wesleyan awakening. As posing the framework in which you think a consequence, millions of Anglo-Saxon solution is possible?"' Not a single hand children received the benefits of voluntary was raised in response! educational before the State agencies long If John Wesley were to appear among this it accepted responsibility. Incidentally, us, he would say to liberalism : "You have is when one to trace the links in only begins social awareness, but you lack depth in a series of causes and effects that he long your understanding of man's depravity and discovers how colossal is the debt which of the Gospel's supematuralness." He owes to a reviv contemporary democracy would say to fundamentalism : "You have in al of religion eighteenth century Eng a realistic view of man's sinfulness and an land. adequate Christ, but you fail to make ex Yes, the heritage which rests in our plicit the relevance of your Gospel to the hands is bigger than most of us have been ills and evils of society." He would say aware. There are yet other riches contained to neo-orthodoxy : "You have a great Grod in it that I have not made any attempt to and a profound grasp of man's evil, but explore, as, for example, Mr. Wesley's you undervalue the integrity of the Scrip ideals with respect to the stewardship of tures and responsibility of man for carry property and money or the global mission ing the witness of the Word into every ary obligation which he felt so poignantly. area of life and society." which must now most The question greatly These criticisms over, prehaps he would us is this : what are we with concern doing then help us to fashion a neo-evangelical- as been committed to so great a trust has ism in which we should feel ourselves un were to rise from the us? If John Wesley der a dual obligation: to "spread Scrip dead and look us over with an appraising tural holiness" and to "reform the nation." he feel that we are our eye, would serving It is no more necessary to envisage Utopian with the same total day and generation success in the second direction than the Gospel with which he confronted his era? first. But the obligation is there just the is it To state the issue succinctly: enough same ! that we preach on "Christian Perfection" "frequently" and "explicitly," but never 'Henry, Ibid., p. 18. Don a. Morris

There are many things of which one might well write that would be of social interest to all alumni of Asbury Theological Seminary. A report of the recent ministers' conference would be worthy of the entire space allotted here to our Association. It was a truly inspiring conference. Or, some account of the building program at our alma mater might well be given here. A visit to Wilmore would delight anyone as he looked upon the new buildings of our Seminary. Again, the story of the travels of our President, Dr. J. C. McPheeters, and his many fine and helpful contacts for the Seminary would be of interest to all alumni.

But there is one thing of which we must specifically write. It is the program of the coming Commencement season. The "great day of the feast" is to be on Sunday, May 29. Baccalaureate services are scheduled for the morning, and the Seminary graduation will take place at the evening hour. This is an occasion when all alumni ought to be present. The day following is to be designated as our own day. Alumni Day ! While all the plans are not complete, it can be said that we are arranging for an alumni service with an outstanding special speaker for the oc casion. Following this service, we will hold our annual business meeting.

This business session is of special interest for two reasons. First, we will possibly consider a plan whereby the Alumni Association will participate in the election of one member of the Seminary Board of Trustees annually. Such a plan will be most wholesome for the Seminary, as well as an important feature of our annual alumni day. It will effect a closer co-operation between the admin istration and the alumni, as well as promote interest among alumni in the semi nary and all its affairs. It is therefore advisable that we have a large attendance at this coming Commencement season.

Secondly, we must elect a new President for our Association. The consti tution distinctly states that a president can serve for only three consecutive years. This is a very commendable arrangement. Consequently, every alumnus ought to feel very keenly the need of his presence in Wilmore for May 29 and 30.

And now, please indulge me a more personal word. I am about to sing my "swan song." As your alumni president it has been my happy privilege to be responsible for this page during my term of office. This will be my last such op portunity to greet you through this fine publication. Let me commend both this publication and the institution it represents once again to all of you. My heart and soul are wrapped up in the progress and future of the institution we all love, Asbury Theological Seminary. It is my hope that I shall be able to greet the larg est number of alumni ever to attend the Seminary commencement exercises when we meet together, D.V., next May.

18 Early English Hymns of the Pre-Wesleyan Period

Anne W. Kuhn

I of England." No doctrinal change was The Reformation in England took in involved in this procedure; there was no many respects a very different course from implied admission of freedom of consci that upon the Continent. In Germany, ence or religious toleration. The mediaeval France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands conception of the necessity of religious the revolt against Rome was initiated by unanimity among all subjects of the State men who sprang from the ranks of the peo was rigorously asserted. ple. Notwithstanding the complication of The old Germanic spirit of liberty and motives which drew princes and common individual determination, always especially ecclesiastics and into the re ers, laymen, strong in England, was however certain to bellion,* the movement was primarily relig assert itself when the great European in ious. It was first a protest against abuses; tellectual awakening of the fourteenth and next, a demand for free privilege in the fifteenth centuries had taken hold of the was followed restatements Gospel; and by mass of the people, and it might have been of belief and the establishment of new foreseen after Luther's revolt that England fol forms of worship. Political changes would soon throw herself into the arms of lowed in the train of the revolu religious the Reformation. With the passage of the tion because in most instances there was Act of Supremacy the Catholic and Prot such close alliance between the secular estant parties began to align themselves powers and the papacy that allegiance to for conflict. Henry VIII at first showed the former was not compatible with re himself favorable to the Protestants, in to the latter. sistance clining to the acceptance of the Bible as the final instead of the decrees and In England this process was reversed: authority political separation preceded the religious traditions of the Church. After the Cath olic rebellion of the changes; it was the alliance between the 1536, however, king his and with the government and the papacy that was firit changed policy passage of the Six Articles which decreed to break. The emancipation from the su the doctrine of the of the premacy of Rome was accomplished at a transsubstantiation, celibacy the value of single stroke by the crown itself, and that clergy, private masses, the for auricular he be not upon moral grounds or doctrinal dis necessity confession, a which ended agreement but solely for political advan gan bloody persecution only with his death. tage. In spite of tokens of spiritual unrest, there was no sign of a disposition on the The boy king Edward VI, who reigned from 1547 won part of any considerable number of the to 1553, had been over to English people to sever their fealty to the Protestantism by Archbishop Cranmer, Church of Rome when, in 1534, Henry and with his accession reforms in doctrine the and went on VIII issued a royal edict repudiating ritual rapidly. Parliament was papal authority, and a submissive Parlia again rendered subservient and a modified ment decreed that the "king, our sovereign Lutheranism took possession of the English lord, his heirs and successors of this realm, Church. The people were taught from the shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the English Bible ; the Book of Common Pray Church er took the of the Messal and Brevi- only supreme head on earth of the place 20 ANNE W. KUHN

ary; the Mass, compulsory celibacy of the down to the present time. Conscious per clergy, and worship of images, were abol haps to excess of certain harmful tenden ished. cies in ritualism, he proclaimed that every Under Mary the old religion and forms thing formal and artistic in worship was were reenacted and a persecution memor an offense to God. Instruments of music able for the martyrdoms of Cranmer, Rid and trained choirs were to him abomina ley, Latimer and others was carried on tion, and the only musical observance per with ruthless severity, but without weaken mitted in the sanctuary was the singing by ing the cause of the reformed faith. Eliza the congregation of metrical translations beth, whose long reign made her the guid of the Psalms. ing figure in EngUsh religious Hfe from Metrical versions were substituted for 1558 to 1603, had no pronounced religious the chanted prose versions of Psalms for convictions, but under the stress of Euro the reason, no doubt, that a congregation, pean political conditions she became of nec as a rule, cannot sing in perfect unity of essity a protector of the Protestant cause. cooperation except in metre and in musical The reformed service was restored, and forms in which one note is set to one syl from Elizabeth's day the Church of Eng lable. But, one is tempted to ask, why the land has rested securely upon the Consti Psalms alone? Why supress the free ut tutions of Edward VI. terance of the believers in hymns of faith II and hope ? The rise of an English hymnody The revised liturgy and musical service corresponding to that of Germany was, by this more of the Church of England had not long very circumstance, delayed for been in operation when they encountered than one hundred and fifty years. English adversaries far more bitter and formidable religious song-books w e re exclusively than Catholics. The Puritans, who strove to Psalm-books, down to the eighteenth cen Poetic the noncon eflfect a radical overturning in ecclesiasti tury. activity among formists consisted in cal affairs, to reduce worship to a prosaic translations of the Psalms in or versions of the simplicity, and also to set up a more dem metre, rather, ocratic form of church government, vio existing translations in the English Bible. The in lently assailed the established Church as singular passion that period for Papist. The contest between the antagon putting everything into rhyme and metre, sometimes such istic principles, Ritualism vs Puritanism, produced grotesque results, as the of in and the rival forms, Anglicanism vs Pres- paraphrase "Paradise Lost," byterianism, broke out under Elizabeth, rhymed stanzas. but was repressed by her strong hand only There are few, if any, English hymns to to increase under the weaker James I and be found before the beginning of the sev to culminate with the overthrow of Charles enteenth century. To the fifteenth century I and the temporary triumph of Puritan belong a few hymns addressed to the Vir ism. gin and Christ. These have been edited The antipathy of the Puritan party to from the Lambert MSS. No. 853, by Mr. everything formal, ceremonial, and artistic Furnivall, for the Early English Text So One of on "The in worship was powerfully promoted if not ciety. these, Sweetness of originally instigated by John Calvin, the Jesus" is very tender and beautiful; an chief fountain head of the Puritan doc other on "The Love of Jesus" likens love to a fire trine and polity. The extraordinary per which cleanses us from sin, and sonal ascendancy of Calvin was shown not joins man to God. But since worship had only in the adoption of his theological sys not yet come to be offered through the it is all but certain tem by so large a section of the Protestant vernacular, that such world, but also in the fact that his opinions hymns were only for private reading and concerning the ideal method of public wor meditation. ship were treated with almost equal rever Before the seventeenth century, there is ence, and in many localities have held sway much noble sacred English poetry; but EARLY ENGLISH HYMNS OF THE PRE-WESLEYAN PERIOD 21 there are few, if any, hymns capable of And call me not to strict account How I have being sung in the congregation. And these sojourned here; For then my guilty conscience know* poems, as it has been well said, were "too How vile I shall appear. subtle and fanciful" ever to come home to the hearts of the people. They were written So come I to Thy mercy gate. for a choice few to enjoy. They were full Where mercy doth abound. of those subtle allusions, half the pleasure Imploring pardon for my sin. To heal my deadly wound. of which consists in the ingenuity re to understand as well as to invent quired Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask, them. Such hymns could never be sung, This is the total sum; like Luther's by little children at Christmas, For mercy. Lord, is all my suit: O, let Thy mercy come. or as a nation's battle-song ; nor could they, as could Gerhardt's, distil peace at mo is a much more notable ments when heart and flesh failed and mor George Sandys contributor to the of the tal effort was impossible, when the soul hymnody early seventeenth called him had lost its power to cling to anything. The century. Dryden "the best versifier of his He verses of this period bear witness to the age." wrote, "A the Psalms of David, poetical power of the writers rather than Paraphrase Upon and the to the faith of the times. This appears true Upon Hymns Dispersed Through out the Old and New and especially when the general ignorance of Testaments," poetical versions of the of Solomon, the people of that time is taken into ac Song Job, and Ecclesiastes. The most notable of count. The spread of education in our his renderings is of the 61st Psalm, time has, of course, quickened intelligence begin ning, "Happy sons of Israel and made men capable of appreciating a In style of hymn which in earlier times was 1623, George Wither had brought out, beyond them. This will account for the under a patent from King James the first to a real presence in our hymnals of verses known approach h3rmn book of the in early times only to those of the literary Church of England. Wither's h3rmn-book, while it was made of "canonical" class. Indeed, the really hymn-singing age up partly was not yet, and did not begin till the time poems rhyming about as well as they of Watts. could be rhjmied, was made up partly of Ill his own original compositions; and as he was now in an of "Psalms in The hymn "O Lord, turn not Thy face living age meeter" for religious song he from me," attributed by some to John exclusively, had small success with the hymn-book. The Mardley, and by others to John Marchant, people were not ready for the free and belonging to about the middle of the hymns, and he was not himself ready to write suc 16th century is probably the earliest really cessful ones. This is not that Wither did English hymn to be found in present-day not write good verses. He did write hymnals. Sir Egerton Brydges is inclined good religious poetry, but his poems are not to attribute some versions of the Psalms in quite hymns. Steinhold and Hopkins signed M, to Mard Of no small significance, however, is ley. The hymn to which we referred is not Wither as a He had the taste to without merit. Here is the original: hymnist. see that the metrical Psalms of Stemhold and Hopkins were poor poetry and he O Lord turn not Thy face from me. knew that something better was possible.' Who lie in woeful state, The other promising thing about Wither Lamenting all my woeful life. was the strenuousness and storminess of Before Thy mercy-gate. his life. He knew deprivation and hardship and The main reason A gate which opens wide to those imprisonment. that That do lament their sins; Wither, in his two best books of hymns, Shut not that gate against me, Lord, But let me enter in. 'See his Scholar's Purgatory on the Psalms. 22 ANNE W. KUHN

did not have one hymn such as Ambrose, much singing of the measures of Stem- the Bernards, Luther or Wesley could write hold and Hopkins, and later of Tate and was that he lacked what may be termed Brady. At the same time there were many 'hymn sense'. He had no popular judgment religious songs written and set to music, to pass sympatheticlly upon his efforts and but the singing of these songs in the to furnish the communal feeling without Churches was a rare occurrence. Many of which it seems impossible for a good hymn the fine Elizabethan songs of piety were to be produced. So the first hymn book� set to music. Sidney, Raleigh, Donne and not the Psalm book�of the Church of Herrick doubtless sang their quite lovely it was England failed, though approved songs, but not in assemblages of public himself. and granted patent by the king worship. Three of Wither's best hymns are: Sir Thomas Browne, the well-known with "Be "Come, O Come, pious lays"; author of the "Religio Medici" is known hold the Sun that seemed but now"; and in religious circles even better by his lovely here we are." This last is a "Lord, living Evening Hymn, 'The Night is Come; like for the anniversary of marriage, hymn to the day," than he is by his famous book. and beautiful: quaint This hymn probably contains the germ out of which Bishop Ken's far better known Lord, living here are we, As fast united yet "Evening Hymn" grew. As when our hands and hearts by Thee Browne's Hymn reads as follows: Together first were knit ! The night has come like to the day; And in a thankful song Depart not thou, great God, away; Now we will sing Thy praise. Let not my sins, black as the night, For that Thou dost as well prolong Eclipse the lustre of the light. Our loving as our days. Guard me 'gainst those watchful foes But let these frailties prove Whose eyes are open while mine close; Affection's exercise. Let no dream my head infest, And that discretion teach our love But such as Jacob's temples blest. Which wins the noblest prize.

Sleep is a death; I make me try So time which wears away By sleeping what it is to die! And ruins all things else. And as gently lay my head Shall fix our love on Thee for aye, On my grave as on my bed. In whom perfection dwells.

Howe'er I rest, great God, let me is an illustration of With The following Awake again at last with thee; er's paraphrasing of Scripture: And thus assured, behold I lie Securely, or to wake or die. The Father likewise God and Lord; These are And God and Lord the Son; my drowsy days ; in vain I do And God and Lord the Holy Ghost, not wake to sleep again; O Yet God and Lord but One. Come, that hour when I shall never For though each Person by Himself Sleep again, but wake forever. We God and Lord confess, Yet Christian faith forbids that we The lyrical poets of the Jacobean and Three Gods or Lords profess. Carolean period count George Herbert as their chief glory. The immediate circle sur authorized the Although Elizabeth had rounding Herbert may almost be said to of singing of "hymns and such-like songs constitute a family party, linked together by worship" in the churches and cathedrals, ties of blood or friendship or literary tastes it was not until the Restoration that there and presided over by the genial and kindly was any considerable singing of native fisherman, Izaak Walton. It is rather a won hymns in modern England. All through derful group, including as it does, besides this stretch of English history there was Herbert himself, Donne and Wotton, Cra- EARLY ENGLISH HYMNS OF THE PRE-WESLEYAN PERIOD 23 shaw and Bishop King, Dean Farrar and The Church with psalms must shout. Bishop Ken. No door can keep them out; But above all, the heart The in which these men Hved is it age Must bear the longest part. self remarkable in the annals of English lit Let all the world in every corner sing. erature. The years of Izaak Walton's life My God and Kang! time, which spanned almost a century, saw the production of the Authorized Version of Robert Herrick is better known by the the Bible, of Bacon's Essays, of Shakes secular poetry of his Hesperides, than by peare's great masterpieces, Hamlet and his contributions to sacred song, which are Macbeth, and of Milton's Lycidas and Par included in Noble Numbers, but his "Lit adise Lost. It was the time when the com any to the Holy Spirit," though containing mon speech of the people reached its zenith verses which are not suited to public wor of beauty, redolent of nature and the open ship, as will be seen below, yet is in parts air and rich in natural, poetical feeling. The tender and beautiful. devotional poetry of the age is marked by In the hour of my distress, a splendor of workmanship which has nev When temptations me oppress. er been before or since. Some of equalled And when I my sins confess. it is almost too rich for human nature's Sweet Spirit, comfort me! daily food, "sweet even to a sense of faint- ness," bewitching in its jewelled beauty; but When I lie within my bed, Sick in heart and sick in this excess of ornamentation is nearly al head. And with doubts discomforted. ways atoned for by the devoutness and sin Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! cerity of the writer's lines.

The most familiar of these writers is no When the house doth sigh and weep. And the world is drowned in doubt George Herbert. Nothing is finer in sleep. Yet mine eyes the watch do keep. the than his book of ver English language Sweet Spirit, comfort me! ses entitled The Temple. Izaak Walton tells us how fond Herbert was of singing to his When the artless doctor sees lute or viol his own hymns, but unfortu No one hope, but of his fees, And his shill runs on the lees. nately very few of them ever found their Sweet Spirit, comfort me!^ way into the service of public worship. Such hymns as: John Milton translated nine of the 1. of of Peace. King Glory, King Psalms in meter. They are remarkable for 2. Truth, My Life. Come, My Way, My fidelity to the original as well as for their 3. My Crown. My Joy, Life, My poetic beauty. The best known of these is 4. Throw Thy Rod. Away of the 136th: "Let us with a gladsome 5. Love Bade Me Welcome. mind." Not less worthy are his renderings 6. Let All the World in Every Corner of parts of the 82nd, 85th, and 86th Psalms : Sing. of the 86th: "The Lord will come and not which should be in con The last hymn be slow," and of the 84th Psalm, "How stant use must suffice as illustrative mate lovely are Thy dwellings fair." These are rial: so fine in quality and distinctive in charac ter, as to deserve rank as Let all the world in every corner sing, original composi tions. My God and King. The heavens are not too high; It seems a misrepresentation of Jeremy thither His praise may fly. Taylor, to quote him as a hymn poet; but The earth is not too low; he wrote a volume. Festival Hymns, which His praises there may grow. in 1665. Not one of them is even a Let all the world in every corner sing. appeared A master of My God and King! moderately good hymn. Eng lish prose, a man distinguished for sense, Let all the world in every corner sing. * My God and King! There are eight more stanzas. 24 ANNE W. KUHN

and a saint for and he never piety goodness, "Ye holy angels bright," a Psalm of praise, attained to true hymnody. The first Hues of has merit, but lacks the distinctiveness and his "Hymn for Christmas Day" show how individuahty of the former. a verse be devout, and may lyrical poetry With Grossman and Ken in the English still not be a : it is a "readable hymn lyric," Church, and Austin who had left it for the not a singing one. Roman, we may begin that succession of modern English hymn writers which has Awake, my soul and come away! never failed up to the present time. Samuel Put on best thy array, Grossman was one of the ejected ministers Lest if thou longer stay, of 1662, but afterwards he conformed, and Thou lose some minutes of so blest a day. became Dean of Bristol. In 1664 he Go, run pub lished The And bid good morrow to the sun. Young Man's Monitor, to which was appended The Young Man's Medita tion, or some few sacred se Contemporary with these hymn writers poems upon lect and was subjects Scriptures. These are in Henry Purcell, considered by many to the Psalm metres and are have been England's greatest composer. In clearly hymns. Two of these were to notice addition to his contribution as a secular hymns brought Lord Selborne and are found in current composer, he developed the anthem, which by Grossman's work was a form combining the ancient choral hymnbooks. suggests rather than influences. motet and the German cantata. Since he is Puritan, Catholic, not known as a hymn writer, and since the A striking group of thirty-nine hymns consideration of the anthem would require appeared in John Austin's Devotions, in another study of the length of this one, we the Ancient Way of Offices; with Psalms, have purposely omitted it from this article. Hymns and Prayers, for every day in the It should be borne in mind, however, that week, and every holiday in the year. It was the anthem had a development parallel to a most influential book, of which four edi that of the hymn, and that it was influenced tions preserved its Roman form, and which, by the same religious, political and literary modified twice for Anglican use, was re currents which affected the growth of the printed as late as 1856. Except for two or English hymn. three from Crashaw, the hymns are origin and Austin a It required Ken, Watts, and Wesley to al, give distinguished place the earliest writers. There is develop the hymn, but it took a hymn- among hymn evidence that these minded England to develop Ken, Watts and ample fervid hymns found immediate the Wesley. Richard Baxter produced a met acceptance beyond bounds of Austin's own Church. As we rical version of the Psalms, which was pub shall lished after his death, and also two volumes see, they were at once appropriated those of poetry. From the latter, two hymns have by endeavoring to introduce Hym into passed into collections. "Lord, it belongs nody the Church of England. Thomas Ken not to my care," is part of a larger hymn is of special interest to us consisting of eight verses of eight lines today. This writer, the most eminent of the each, called "The Covenant and Confidence non-juring bishops, was educated at Win of Faith." It is so evidently the utterance chester College and at Oxford, and ordained of the heart, and so tenderly expressed, that in 1662. After ten years, in 1672 he re it has won for itself a wide and deserved turned to Winchester as a prebendary of the popularity among all sections of the Church. Cathedral, Chaplain to the Bishop, and The finest verse is the one which reads as fellow of Winchester College. Here he follows : spent several years, composing hymns and preparing a Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester Christ leads me through no darker rooms College which in 1674. In Than He went through before; appeared 1679 he was He that into God's Kingdom comes appointed by Charles II as chaplain to Must enter by His door. Princess Mary, but he incurred the dis- EARLY ENGLISH HYMNS OF THE PRE-WESLEYAN PERIOD 25 pleasure of William of Orange and re Teach me to live, that I may dread turned to England. In 1684 he became Bish The grave as little as my bed; Teach me to die, that so I may op of Bath and Weels; and in 1688 when Rise glorious at the Judgment Day. James II reissued the 'Declaration of In dulgence,' he was one of the seven bishops Be thou my Guardian while I sleep. who refused to publish it. At the Revolu Thy watchful station near me keep; My heart with love celestial fill. tion he took the position that, having sworn And guard me from th' approach of ill. allegiance to James, he could not conscien tiously take the oath to William; therefore, Lord, let my soul forever share The bliss of thy paternal care; he lost his bishopric and was imprisoned. 'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above. After his release, he spent his last years in To see thy face, and sing thy love. retirement at Longleat, in Wiltshire. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, In his Ken the Manual, gave injunction, Praise Him all creatures here below. "Be sure to sing the Morning and Evening Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Hymn in your chamber devoutly." The two Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. thus referred to : Soul, hymns "Awake, My It should be noted in conclusion that the and with the sun," and "Glory to Thee, development of the English hymn in this my God, this night," were not included in period was conditioned by the peculiar cir the Manual until 1694, but they were evi cumstances which attended the English used the students soon after Ken dently by Reformation. The fact that the leadership became fellow of Winchester College. They of the movement from Rome was in the so much the influence of Puritan show not hands of political leaders, instead of the antecedents as of the Roman Catholic hands of men rising from the ranks, plus Each consists of several stanzas Breviary. the fact of the division of the reformed and both concluded with the doxology that is Church into two violently hostile camps, now known Christendom, and throughout profoundly affected the hymnody of the is Sabbath millions of voices. sung every by time. In consequence we find no writer of religious song in the England of the period Glory to Thee, my God, this night comparable to Luther, Gerhardt or For all the blessings of the light; Tersteegen. The compromise which Keep me, O keep me, King of Kings, was finally effected within the Angli Beneath thine own Almighty wings. can Church was such that there was an arid of a and a dur Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, period nearly century half, The ill which I this day have done; ing which the torch of hymn writing was That with the world, myself and thee, passed on to a new dissenting movement, I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. that which produced Watts and Wesley. The Pastor As Teacher

Harold C. Mason

The pulpit is the center of the evan eration to generation. When Jesus said gelical Christian movement. It is the spear "I am the truth" it was a dated statement head of the Christian advance. But Chris as well as a timeless one.* Once ultimate tian nurture, Christian teaching, has from truth is found tentativeness is ended. This the days of the Meeting for the Word in statement is so significantly true that to the early church been one of the basic preserve the doctrine of "creative activity" functions of the church. While it is true on a basis of evolutionary naturalism the that preaching and teaching are distinc idea of the finality of truth has been sacri tive as functions yet there are indispen ficed. It is this basic principle, that Christ sable didactic elements in preaching. The cannot be improved upon, which Robert preacher must be informed, yet he must E. Speer so strongly defends in The Fin not merely dispense "certain intellectual ality of Jesus Christ.'^ diristian teaching nothings". The heralding of the Gospel must include the claims of Jesus concern involves majestic content; the statement ing the Kingdom of God, concerning truth and defense of doctrine involves intellec and concerning ethics. This involves the tual and spiritual aclimen. transmission of a body of truth from gen The pastor as teacher, then, functions eration to generation. And at the cost of in the pulpit, in prayer-meeting, in group life and property, amidst untold suffering meetings, in counselling, in the class room, and with matchless heroism the church has and in supervision or the projection of his maintained its witness and transmitted the teaching office throughout the educational truth down through the centuries. The pas ministry of the church. tor, then, cannot be true to the Christian As the ambassador of Christ the pastor tradition as a preacher and false to it as is deeply concerned to know what Jesus a teacher. The pastor is responsible for taught' and how He taught.* He must also the theology of his class rooms. This the know why Jesus taught, which question ology will be reflected in personnel, plant projects the basic problem of aim in Chris- and equipment, program, curriculum, pro ian education. motion, methods of teaching, finance�^the whole program of the church in Christian Aim Controls Method education.* Doctrine is a pervasive thing Aim in Christian teaching has been de and cannot be departmentalized in a fined Murch as man to live in by "Fitting church. perfect harmony with the will of God."* This is, of course, the inclusive aim and The Supervision of Instruction its accomplishment involves various im Supervision properly begins with the mediate aims. A very basic aim is the pass selection of personnel. In Christian teach- ing on of the Christian tradition from gen- * Jacob Sheatsley, The Bible in Religious Edu *G. Campbell Morgan,, The Teaching of Christ. cation. (The Book Concern, Columbus, Ohio), (Fleming H. Revell Company), pp. 13-14. pp. 107-111. "Charles F. McKoy, The Art of Jesus as a "Robert E. Speer, The Finality df Jesus Christ, Teacher. (The Judson Press), Chapter I. (Fleming H. Revell Co.), 1933. 'James DeForest Murch, Christian Education 'W. C. Bower and P. R. Hayward, Protes and the Local Church. (Standard Publishing Co.), tantism Faces Its Educational Task Together. p. 31. (C. C. Nelson Publishing Co.), 1949, p. 52. THE PASTOR AS TEACHER 27

ing the Holy Ghost speaks through hu Christian educators can endorse or es Un the other hand mere didacticism man personality, which means simply that pouse. 'and the soul the Christian teacher must be yielded to in hanahng the Word of God of a child is not the Holy Spirit, and that His presence must enough. be in the activities of the class recognized i he pastor will recognize that a soul out room. can take the of the Nothing place of harmony with Uod is not ready tor Pes- New Birth as a basic in ' requirement per taiozzi s harmonious development"; that sonnel. The teacher to be most effective xierbart s mere subject matter cannot must evidence holiness of heart and life. cnange the nature ot an unregenerated per Whatever else a school teacher or Sunday son; mat Christian methodology cannot be leader of in the of youth possess way based on Dewey s experimentalism, nor and without Christ intelligence charm, they on the progressive educationists' idea ot an can do nothing.' eternally ongoing process in the natural overseen on this ' Having appointments realm, ihe term "creative activity will be basis it is the scriptural pastor's responsi dealt with by the pastor in its true connota to his teachers and bility guide doctrinally tion that the mind is not merely a physical This he do in educationally. may many organism acting in response to a material some of which are noted here. ways istic environment; he will explain to his For his teachers he may conduct pas teacliers that the term "creative activity" tor's classes in Christian in de doctrine, as projected by those who devised it means nominational in in beliefs, missions, psy that the mind is active only as a muscle and education on the various lev chology is active and that "creativity" is based up els of and He should en age experience. on the concept of a "fortuitous combina in doctrinal with a sense gage preaching tion of circumstances" entirely in the nat of for the responsibility teaching ministry ural realm, producing the unique, de nova. of his church. He must make sure that his t here is no concept of God as supernat teachers doctrinal and that enjoy clarity ural and personal, or of man as a living there is them and fellow among unanimity soul in the "creative activity" of progres ship on basic matters of faith and conduct. sive education. Explanation of these shall, The must no uncertain sound trumpet give to the Christian mind, constitute a warn either in the pulpit or in the class room. ing against them. When he speaks to a luncheon club or the On the other hand he will the chamber of commerce, when he preaches recognize of to do the funeral sermon of an outcast or that principle "learning by doing" which decades before of the most influential man of the city or many contemporary educationists used the term was of the church there must be occasioned no being pro the Moravian bishop, Comenius, feeling of ambiguity as to his basic posi jected by Pestalozzi, the Swiss innovator tion as a minister of the Gospel of Christ. by Johann advocated Colonel Francis Parker He will be concerned that everything and by in u i n c as which accords with the basic aim of his Q y, Massachusetts, early as 1880.* The method is ours to church be employed for the betterment of project use, as is the discussion method, within its the educational program of the church. He true limits. Within the few a will ask that his teachers be both child-cen past days senior school told this writer tered and Bible centered; that they teach high boy in was an how his teacher Sunday school tak with a passion for souls and undying child-cen the problems of boyhood as they wer^ loyalty to the Word of God. A ing named the in his class from Sun tered philosophy of education which does by boys in to Sunday as the ground of each suc not recognize the central fact that belief day school lesson. The wisdom the Bible and its presentation of the plan of ceeding Sunday of that teacher is if he uses salvation is necessary to the salvation of beyond question sinners is not the type of thing which 'Elwood P. Cubberley, Public Education in the 'John 15:5. �d States, (Houghton-Mifflin Co.), p. 328. 28 HAROLD C. MASON the Bible as authority and guide. He is In his doctoral dissertation The Pas reaching boys in the area of their life situa tor as Educational Director'' J. Clark Hen- tions, of their pressing problems. Thus sley sets forth some of the ways in which did Christ teach, but with a totally differ the teacher may be aided in her work. ent philosophy from present day human She should be encouraged to visit classes ism or emergent evolution. in other schools or in the same school to observe methods and reactions. She should Workers' conferences afford opportun ity to the pastor to indoctrinate his teach regularly attend teachers' meetings, both ers in the field of true Christian educa departmental and workers' conferences. faith tion. While the pastor is earnestly preach She should know her pupils, calling ing Christian doctrine in the pulpit, unless fully at their homes, visiting with them he and his teachers understand the impli often as friend and counsellor. She and cations of liberalism for present day relig should know about tools and supplies best to use them. She should be ious education, some one in the class room how given to attend conven may be sweeping from under him the very opportunity institutes, schools and ground on which he stands. tions, workshops, laboratory courses with expenses paid, if At all times the pastor must be aware training of the fact that his workers are volunteers, possible. The teacher should not be without salary. Out of the goodness of incompetent continued in her Her removal their hearts they give of their time and position. from a teaching position should be very strength. To hurt one of the least of these thoughtfully and kindly arranged by find is a serious thing. Hence supervision in another worthwhile task for her so as Christian education is a thing of love, ing to a sense of stigma or frustra patience, understanding and utmost tact. prevent tion on the part of herself or her friends. The church library should be an instru Conclusion ment in the hands of the pastor for the as teacher must guidance of the teachers in his church The pastor supervising work within the framework of a school. With what care and understanding philos education. this library should be selected and used! ophy or theology of Christian Also, there should be provided for the No supervision is adequate or possible of teacher the best literature available for her without clear insight into the purposes method in the performance of her task. How to the program and the relation of to and in Chris understand children, young people and ology philosophy theology adults should be seriously considered by tian education. He must realize and meet in the his to God and man for the every Christian teacher, and always responsibility He light of the Christian revelation and the accomplishment of the basic -objective. Christian faith. must see to it that every opportunity for be and that The new teacher or worker should be in-service training provided acquainted with the aim, the organization, tools and materials with which the teacher the personnel, the curriculum, the plant, can work are at hand. He must be human and in his and avoid and the program of the whole church. brotherly supervision ' Time schedules should be provided indi wounding or crushing one who with the cating time of arrival of workers, time of best of intentions has been endeavoring to serve in the of closing of class periods, schedule of week God church's program Christian education. In all how ly and monthly meetings, staff meetings, situations, he must make it known that his first special days, etc. There should be an over ever, is to the Lord Christ and the all schedule of the church's program for loyalty Jesus revealed Word of God. the year in the hands of every worker. The schedule should be arranged by the *J. Clark Hensley, The Pastor as Educational and the staff of workers in a meet pastor Director, (Central Seminary Press, Kansas City, if 64-65. ing, possible. Kansas) , pp. Reports to Protestants, by Marcus Bach, primary emphasis upon a personal spirit IndianapoHs: The Bobbs-Merrill Com ualized faith. "The individual (has) been pany, 1948. 277 pages. $3.00. lost in Protestantism's exemplary world outlook. The far horizons of the social gos "The strength of the Christian faith is pel (have) thrown him out of perspective. in the individual, and faith demands per The unending cycle of institutionalized sonal work." Thus Marcus Bach brings religion, conferences, councils, and move to a focus the insights of a highly read ments (have) overlooked the spiritual The volume able and fascinating story. worth of the average churchgoer. He (is) should be required reading for every waiting for organizational activity to be Protestant. Its message is both timely and scaled to his personal needs." (p. 270) relevant as the non-Roman world gropes The educational and spiritual worth of for a recovery of its heritage and spirit the book is enhanced by a story technique ual strength. not unlike the sustaining power of a novel. New of reformers now consti groups it discover the vast lethar Through many may tute a real challenge to Protestant power and importance of believing some and dissension. A great and persuasive gy thing with uncompromising dedication and exodus has been made from Protestantism loyalty. the direction of Qiristian Science, the in Chilton C. McPheeters Unity School of Christianity, the Oxford and Group, Psychiana, the Baha'i Faith Jehovah's Witnesses. Why? "The new Protestantism Faces Its Educational Task of religions demanded complete dedication Together, by William Clayton Bower what the self to a cause, and that is peo and Percy Roy Hayward, Appleton, ple wanted. They were asking for a change Wisconsin: C. C. Nelson Publishing of in the static routine religious life; they Co. 1949 286 pages. in the were looking for a full-time job king dom." (p. 200.) This book attempts to give a history and a of the International Council On the right, Catholicism is on the definition Education. It is a valuable march with organizations and techniques of Religious of the involved of the de scaled to the believer's personal life. Her study process of the Council. In it are named greatest strength is precisely at the point velopment direct encounter a net-work of and activities of an emphasis on man's organizations in some related to the Internationl with God. Through all of her forms, cer way individual is Council. emony and symbolism the assured that the Church is the divine chan The book is well organized and beauti written in a nel of grace for him. fully flowing, dignified style. The lack of for of The challenge before Protestantism is perspective appraisal the work of the Council is revealed in an again to provide personal spiritual direc occasional of the hat to sur tives for 'the people in the pew. The indi journalisic tip and in the vidual Protestant must once again embark viving contemporary figures movement. of an unlimited on the high adventure per are: I. An Adventure in sonal faith. The miracle of an ecumenical The chapters church will avail little toward the conquer Cooperation; II. Organizational Structure; from a III. IV. Curric- ing of a growing secularism apart Underlying Philosophy; 30 BOOK REVIEWS

ulum Development; V. The Religious Edu tions of a functional concept of the cur cation of Children; VI. The Religious riculum involving vastly more than courses Education of Youth; VII. Religious Edu of study began to appear. Every phase of cation in Adult and Family Life ; VIII. the experience of growing persons has Leadership Education ; IX. Vacation and potential religious significance." The his Weekday Religious Education ; X. Field tory of the conflict over the use of graded Work and Conventions; XI. Research in and uniform lessons is briefly outlined. the Council's Program; XII. Bible Revi In introducing the chapter on the reli sion XV. Main Directions. ; Choosing gious education of children the scripture The Christian Education movement as is made to read, "Who of you, in separa a cooperative enterprise is traced from the tion, is sufiicient for these things?" The organization of the First Day or Sunday child is influenced by many social condi School Society of Philadelphia in 1791 to tions hence the approach to children must the American Sunday School Union in be a community wide approach. Note 1824; through a period of conventions to worthy also is the statement: "Around the one in which uniform lessons were pro year 1940 a need for evangelism came to jected and a lesson committee was chosen be felt." in 1872; to the of the name of the change The Youth Movement as related to the International School Convention Sunday International Council began with the days to International Sunday School Associa of the Young People's Division of the In tion, in 1902 and to the organiza finally ternational Suday School Association and tion, in of what is now known as the 1922, is now the Christian Youth Movement International Council of Educa Religious "which has always been concerned with tion. social issues and action." "Seminars in such With to the respect underlying philos areas as race relations, political education, auth ophy of the International Council the world order, and the problems of labor "The account of the Rise and De ors say: and management are important activities." as forth in velopment of the Council set Concern is expressed that the evangelism I and II indicates that it Chapters clearly of youth "shall come, not as the result of has been self-conscious, self- throughout spasmodic effort but through its being re and under the control of ideas criticizing, cognized as a primary and continuing task formulated which it has reexamined and of the church." from time to time as it faced new condi The of the term "Teacher Train tions in a changing intellectual, theelogi- change cal and social situation." The Council has ing" to "Leadership Training" is referred to as of the trend from brought together more than forty denom significant away authoritarianism trans- inations "representing the widest possible indoctrination, and missive This trend is referred to divergence of theological convictions from teaching. as the "new current Leaders the very conservative to the very liberal. . underway." has and are to be from .... The one condition of membership guides distinguished teachers in their been that the constituent communions methodology. historical should be within the evangelical It was the hope of the Council that the tradition." Referring to the 1940 statement Weekday School "would realize for the Council's the of the theological position modern world a religious training more dif statement is made that "Two widely nearly adequate to meet present condi ferent systems of theological thought, each tions." After its initial stages in -Gary and different based upon fundamentally pre a period of expansion there followed a suppositions, lie side by side in the report, period of examination and self-criticism. of the Coun as they do in the constituency The chapter closes on a note of hope that cil." the Champaign decision, by forcing the With respect to the curriculum it is church back upon its own resources, may noted that "by 1930 the broader implica prove to have been a blessing in disguise. BOOK REVIEWS 31

War and post-War activities are discus to a consideration of the Reformers for sed, a brief story of the Revised Standard they seek a satisfactory analysis of the con version of the New Testament is given tent of the Christian faith and message. and the book approaches its close in an in Next to the primitive era and the litera terpretation of the program of the Coun ture of the New Testament, no period has cil. Christian education must create a fa so much to offer to the theological analyst vorable climate of pubHc opinion. This can as the Reformation. not be done through the technique of evan- The author is bringing to the attention gehsm though evangelism has its indispen of the English-speaking world the results sable values. "Public opinion is created by of four decades of intensive research in information, by the dramatic presentation to the theology of Luther by Swedish of facts and ideas, by sponsorship by per scholars. The work of such men as Bill sons of social prestige, and by repeated em ing, Soderblom, Aulen, and Nygren is re phasis through the press, radio and other viewed, and a splendid analysis of the public media." Lundensian theology is given with its em The Council is defined as a "process" phasis upon the Agape type as opposed to in which continuity and change have been the Eros type of Christian interpretation. indissolubly united. The basic pragmatism The final chapter suggests a possible con- and naturalism which pervades the book tribuion that the Swedish interpretation of is a faithful reflection of Dr. Bower's Luther may be able to make to us in this functionalism in education. Such terms as time of theological revision and revival. "process," "sharing of experience," abound He shows that American Protestantism is in the book. less directly descended from the original One is almost amazed at its naivete in Reformation movement than is Protes tantism in and contends that we some areas. An example of this is the state Europe, have resorted to a rather ment "Around the year 1940 a need for piece-meal ap or of Luther's views. emphasis on evangelism came to be felt." propriation rejection It will be to understand what What a long and dreary period of incu helpful just Luther did teach. bation from 1922 to 1940 that "feeling" "In behind the historical Confes passed through. Apparently it remained going sions to the core in Luther's for Barth and Brunner, the worst war in evangelical Swedish Lutheran research has history, the breaking of the heart of the theology, addressed itself to all the descendents of world juvenile delinquency and insan the Reformation." The author offers some ity on an unparalled scale to awaken the definite contributions. these Council to the beginning of a feeling that very Among contributions the ones there is a need for evangelism. following pertinent may be offered by way of illustration. Those with the acquainted unequivocal 1. The Swedish reinterpretation of Lu humanism and of Dr. Bower pragmatism ther may assist in overcoming the theol not wonder at the mildness of this will ap ogical legahsm inherent in Lutheran the to After all, how could proach evangelism. ology, as well as in other branches of Pro he stress in terms evangelism evangelical testant theology. without a certain of the feet? dragging 2. It will assist in withstanding the pow Harold C. Mason erful but erratic subjectivism of the en thusiasts, as well as others who may over- The Reinterpretation of Luther, by Edgar stress subjectivism and experience-center M. Carlson, Westminster Press Phil ed religion. 3. It will added to the crit adelphia, 1948. 256 pages. $3.50. give impetus ics who are re-thinking the questions There is a decline of Liberalism and a posed by liberal thought. American theol shift to a more evangelical interpretation ogy is profoundly challenged by the funda of Christianity throughout the world. It mental character of the Swedish criticism, is only natural that scholars should return which is unalterably opposed to the human- 32 BOOK REVIEWS istic, anthropocentric character of our Lib be, thinks our author, a re-thinking of the eralism. entire question of authority. 4. It maintains a fine balance beween The heart of the volume is to be found religion and ethics, faith and works, and in the three lengthy chapters, sketching the justification and sanctification. It deline Mid-Twentieth Century View of Revela ates the nature and province of each. tion of Sin, and of Christ. Of these, the "The fundamental distinction is not be first is the longest and the most crucial tween the individual and the social, or be for the development of the author's thesis. tween man and his environment, but be He cites the contemporary embarrassment tween a theocentric and an anthropocentric of the evolutionary Naturalistic movement, view of both." The Swedish theology is observing that it was not a Fundamentalist, emphatically theocentric. but a Swiss Old Testament scholar, Wal- This is a significant study which will be ther Eichrodt, who pronounced the eulogy welcomed by those who are looking for over the classical liberalism of Harry Em something deeper than mere surface think erson Fosdick. He recognizes, further, that ing. Its close study will be rewarding. the most formidable attack upon the liberal Wilder R. Reynolds view of revelation has come from the Dia lectical Theology. Henry is correct in his The Protestant Dilemma, by Carl F. H. treatment of Emil Brunner as the classic Henry. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, exponent of this theology's view of the he has assembled a mass of 194�. 248 pages. $3.00. Bible; quota tions from Brunner's writings, particularly It is refreshing, in a day when the diag Revelation and Reason. nosticians of the illness of our civiHzation In this analysis, Henry frankly recog so consistently trace the present crisis to nizes the foibles of many of the champions "the lag of our spiritual growth behind our of high views of Inspiration, finding their technological development" or to some oth dogmatism to be matched only by the dog er well-worn explanations, to find an auth matism of the scientists. At the same time, or who has the forthrightness to trace the he exposes Brunner's treatment as being disease to the abandonment of some spe chiefly an attack levelled at Fundamental cific form of the spiritual life, and the sub ism. One wonders how long the great Swiss stitution of religious makeshifts. Professor can maintain his reputation simply upon Henry staked out his ground in his Re the basis of his tirades against the "biblio- making of the Modern Mind; in this pres lators" and the alleged Fundamentalist ent volume he cultivates more intensively "bondage to the Biblical text." Henry's a portion of that field. In both works, he conclusion at this point is, that the dialect emphasizes his belief that the period, 1914- ical view of the Scriptures is fundamental 1945 is one of sudden crisis, marking a ly unstable, and that its chief weakness is transition "unprecedented in human his the manner in which it raises a crucial tory for suddenness, and surpassed on few question which by its own inner logic it occasions for significance." (p. 17) cannot answer, namely, that of the prop- The author's thesis is, that the crisis of ositional significance of the Scriptures. our time is focalized in the theological di The arguments in the chapters treating lemma in which the modem man finds him of the Neo-Supernaturalist views of Christ self as a consequence of the manifest fail and of Sin follow much the same pattern: ure of theological liberalism. Unwilling to the liberal-critical views upon these sub consider the option of Biblical Theism, and jects led to such confusion that some re yet dissatisfied with the Neo-Supernatu- action was inevitable. At the same time, ralist attempt at a synthesis of historic the "Mid-Twentieth Century" views have Christianity with the major premises of grown out of philosophical soil which in modern thought, the twentieth-century man escapably retains must of the pattern of seeks a new set of premises. Underlying denials characteristic of the older liberal such a re-statement of basic principles must view(s). In the dialecticians' view of both BOOK REVIEWS 33

sin and there a Christ, is series of tensions, as others see them" far more clearly here representing an attempt to mix disparate than, for instance, in The New Modernism. substances, and resuhing in an unstable And for the beginner in apologetics, Hen emulsion. ry's volume might well serve as an intro The final chapter, under title of "The duction. The book is made readable by the Protestant Horizon" is a summons to the author's inclusion of quoted material as well positions of historic Christianity, based as more technical observations in footnotes. upon the necessity of rebuilding our shat Harold B. Kuhn tered civilization upon the groundwork of other principles than those which have led We the Holiness People, by Harry E. Jes to the collapse of modern values and ideals. sop. Chicago: The Evangelistic Insti This the Neo-Supematuralists have not tute, 1948. 95 pages. $1.00. had the forthrightness to do. Few movements in our time The general tone of t he volume religious have been more misunderstood by foes and is indicative of a growing ability upon misinterpreted by friends than the contem the part of this creative young porary branch of Wesleyanism known as writer to assess movements of thought the Holiness Movement. One needs to appreciately, and to differ with them in only read the newspaper to hear snake-handlers, a constructive manner. Dealing, as poison-drinkers, and fanatics of every sort he does in this volume, chiefly with the pro denominated as "Holiness In the blems posed by the neo-supernaturalists, he people." of this, it is to all who seems to this reviewer to find a wholesome light enlightening will take the trouble to read to have in brief middle path between the unthinking accept and compact form a statement of the prin ance of their positions on the one hand, and the Holiness Movement a wholesale denunciation of them on the ciples underlying as represented by The National Association other. At the same time, the writer has dis For the Promotion of Holmess. cerned the basic issues between the "Mid- Dr. writes from within the move Twentieth Century" view and that of his Jessop ment, and is recognized as a leader in its toric Christianity, and especially, the pro ministry, both as a clergyman and as an blem posed by the insistence of the dialec educator. He is, therefore, in a position to ticians that they represent the simon-pure answer the questions posed by the two ma Reformation position. jor divisions of the volume, namely "Who The final chapter, under title of "The are the Holiness People?" and "What Do Protestant is an 'if Horizon", essentially the Holiness People Believe and Teach?" that it turns the chapter; is, upon question An examination of the former division of whether or not the Protestantism of the yields the information that the Holiness future will a form of authority which accept People are the present-day version of orig will sustain an view of Christ. adequate inal Wesleyanism, and are to be found in is convinced that the view of Christ Henry both the parent church (Methodist) and in which as because of its parades higher sup a number of derivative bodies. Their distin severance from the narratives posed Gospel guishing mark is that they maintain the em has a show of which will deceptive vigor, phasis of John Wesley upon "the witness unable to disappear as it moves into circles of the Spirit" and "entire sanctification" maintain the which its adher higher gnosis with a remarkable fidelity to his Plain Ac ents profess. count of Christian Perfection. The Protestant Dilemma deserves a read Concerning the question posed by Part makes its ing by those whom it opponents Two, the author not only states his person no less than those interested in the historic al position (which he does with conciseness Christian position. While it deals primarily and freshness) but also documents the sev with the dialectical theology, it is not a ti eral points of belief by quotations from rade against it. It seems to this reviewer men of sanctity of other days whose lead themselves that the dialecticians might "see ership in the great denominations was un- 34 BOOK REVIEWS

questioned. The overall impression given is, is not disconcerted either at the inclusion that the Holiness People are the legitimate or exclusion of some piece. An editor's heirs of a spiritual movement whose power choices must necessarily reflect somewhat and influence are matters of record, and his own prejudices. Kennedy's objective ap that they bring actively into contemporary proach to his study commends itself to us, life the characteristic emphasis of the Wes for instead of reading biographies and leyan awakening of the eighteenth century. gathering anecdotes about his subject he It seems to the reviewer that Jessop' s first studied all that Dr. Jowett himself had work has a two-fold value ; it is, first of all, ever written. an interpretation of the movement he de That Jowett's sermons should be selected scribes. As such, it a conservative places for re-publication is not at all surprising. statement of the Wesleyan perfectionist in In his own day he was recognized as a easily accessible form, it available rendering great preacher. His preaching emphasis, to all who desire to clear away their miscon moreover, is especially needed in our time; ceptions concerning the basic of this sanity for Jowett is at his best when he is telling As an theological position. interpretation, of God's love for man the individual. His it reflects the clear thinking of the author, is essentially a gospel of comfort and good whose abilities as an have been expositor news. "Preach to broken hearts" was the recognized, not only by those of his per advice he gave in his Yale lectures. So suasion, but by those of other traditions. great is his stress on man's personal needs The volume is likewise to be commended that his messages are almost entirely lack as a manual for those within the theologi ing in social emphasis. To quote again from cal tradition which it describes. The general his "Lectures," "Men may become so ab tone is one of affirmative exposition, with sorbed in social wrongs as to miss the deep out disparagement of contrary views. The er malady of personal sin." The Biblical author breathes through his work the Per texture of the sermons should give us fect Love which is, after all, the goal of pause. Finally, the superb craftsmanship of true Christian experience, and which the the master-preacher has contributed much Movement he describes asserts to be avail to their enduring quality. Divisional clar able through grace for the believer in pres ity, concrete diction, smooth sentences, ent time. vivid � these are some of the Harold B. Kuhn imagery stylistic traits notoriously absent in all too many of today's "great" sermons. Jowett The Best of John Henry Jowett, edited by is a model not only for him who seeks to York: Gerald Kennedy. New Harper interpret God's grace to men but for him and Brothers, 1948. 167 pp. $2.00. who would become a master of lucid pulpit style. first The appearance of this volume, the James D. Robertson in a series of compilations of the enduring sermons of past masters of the pulpit, testi fies to the awakened interest in preaching The Christ of the Poets, by Edwin Mims. that is being felt these days, a revival long Nashville : Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, overdue. The Jowett series is to be followed 1948. 251 pages. $2.50. by individual collections of the "best" of G. A. Studdert-Kennedy, Alexander Mc In our perplexed time when men are so Laren, John A. Hutton, and George Math- freely giving themselves to things of lesser ieson, all edited by men especially fitted for value, this little volume from Edwin Mims, the task. The present volume seeks to professor emeritus of English at Vander- furnish representative selections from Jow- bilt University, comes to remind us that of ett's sermons, meditations, short addresses, the majority of the poets both England these and America were men of faith in Christ. prayers, and lectures. Many of writings have been out of print. It will be We welcome gladly the privilege of re with the unusual if some admirer of the preacher newing acquaintance g^eat poets. BOOK REVIEWS 35

whose religious insights qualify them in in Christianity as it is reflected in literature some measure as guides in our bewildered should ignore this book. age. James D. Robertson In his introductory chapter, "Doubt and Mims calls attention to the Faith," rightly Great Saints, by Walter Nigg. Hinsdale, unfavorable in which our modern light Illinois: Henry Regnery Company, writers and critics hold Christian verse. 1948. 286 pages, $4.75. The absence of many good Christian poems in the Oxford Book of Verse and in other This book has been translated into six widely used antholgies, he sadly deplores. languages and has made its author inter In spite of the influence that the Christ-in nationally famous. Walter Nigg is Profes toxicated Donne and Blake have had upon sor of Church History at the University of contemporary poetry, and notwithstanding Zurich and is a leading theologian in Eur the high quality of their Christian verse, ope. He has written several books�includ our anthologists give the greatest space to ing some of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche� the non-religious verse of these men. Why having specialized in biographies. He writes should Browning's "Saul," "Cleon," and not in a "debunking" vein, not as a senti "Karshish" be consistently omitted in fav mentalist, nor as advocate of some sectar or of "Andrea del Sarto" and' "Era Lippo ian eccentricity. This is no ordinary hagio- Lippi"? In the same spirit of neglect and graphy. He writes with a profound sym intolerance is the reaction to T. S. Eliot pathy for the genius of sainthood : his treat and W. S. Auden, who some time ago re ment is not superficial, nor patronizing, nounced their earlier satirical position for nor inspired by idle curiosity; it combines one of Christian faith. In accounting for admiration, discrimination, and spiritual this situation Mim^ feels that the vision of sensitivity. our writers and critics, too much steeped in The "saints" described here are nine in the contemporary, is clouded by the "pro- number, Francis of Assisi, Joan of Arc, vinciaUsm of time." Nicholas von Fliie, Therese of Avila, John The author seeks to recover for us Chris of the Cross, Francis de Sales, Gerhard tian affirmations as expressed in the works Tersteegen, Vianney of Ars, and Theresa of such men as Spencer, Herbert, Milton, of Lisieux. The author champions a new Arnold, Tennyson, Browning, and Gerard kind of "hagiography," in which he urges Manly Hopkins. The reader may find some the importance of a loving, patient removal fresh insights, especially in the chapters of "the film of dust and grime which, in the devoted to Donne and Hopkins. The one course of time, has settled on the figures dealing with Milton will seem a bit dull for of the Saints." He points out that hagio some. Unevenness of length in the treat graphy calls for an initial spiritual under ment of these poets is no doubt in part a standing growing out of a common exper reflection of the author's own preferences. ience in the things of God. "The religious Blake and Tennyson are given most atten quality can only be comprehended by the tion. When it is remembered that Ameri religious quality. Every other description were This book well can poets of the nineteenth century of it is superficial." may in strong in faith, some will wonder why a mark a new departure modern analysis more extended treatment is not accorded of sanctity, the result of orientation in mod them. The Christ of the Poets is neverthe ern psychology combined with an ample less a clear and concise statement of the theological perspective. Christology of the leading English and Like his contemporaries, the Spanish of was an American poets, and as such it should be Conquistadores, John the Cross, profitable reading either as a "refresher" adventurer�but his were spiritual discov of and He was so taciturn to or as an introduction to the poetry eries conquests. Christianity. Its emphasis on the positive be almost inaccessible, however, and an ex meet is before the Christian message of these poets helps traordinary campaign required one interested saint is Thus, drama- a great need of our time. No "conquered." Nigg 36 BOOK REVIEWS tizes the delineation of one of his heroes. First Baptist Church, Minneapolis and the John, an ascetic reformer of the Carmelite "Northwestern Bible Schools" of that city. order, although suffering persecution from Dr. W, B. Riley garners a storehouse of his fellow monks, soon learned that it is the homiletical values which should not fail to "dark night of the soul" which makes challenge and inspire ministers young and possible the shining of the true light. From old. Recognizing the variety and worth of this modern John the Baptist the world has many current books of preaching, the auth learned�in his own words�"Never take a or justifies his present venture by drawing our attention to the need of a man, however holy he may be, to be your similar, free from the dis model .... Follow rather Jesus Christ, who straightforward text, is the summit of perfection and of holi cursiveness and from the technical lore fre ness." quently found in a book of this type. The author devotes five to the Archbishop Soderblom observes that "the chapters preacher and nine to that idea of Saint is so important, and is so ut preaching, rightly feeling the and his are terly neglected by evangelical Christianity, preacher preaching insep arably intertwined. Some interesting chap that it requires very special treatment." ter titles are, "The Proposed Standardiza Gerhard Tersteegen is the one Protestant tion of the "The Ministry for for whom Nigg reserves special treatment. Ministry," Our "The Preacher and His Pro This Lutheran saint deplored the ration Day," fessional Ethics," "The Genesis of a Ser alism of the day in Germany, was counsel "The Soul "The lor of Frederick the Great, and protested mon," Winning Sermon,"

� Sermon Series." a "dead orthodoxy" in his church a many- If the will follow the sided soul. Tersteegen represents a certain young preacher "Protestant monasticism" which insisted suggestions for the gathering and preserva that sanctification of the believer is no less tion of materials as outlined in chapter important than justification of the sinner, three, "Secrets of Success in the Ministry," he will be well rewarded for the a reaction against antinomian tendencies in reading sole fidism. book. To the man who is especially seeking a wholesome readable orientation to the These two "saints" are typical of the work of this little book will be other seven in this hall of fame. The author preaching, an asset. tends to overstate the case occasionally, and D. Robertson to indulge in superlative. A few more bio James graphical data would make the "saints" more mundane and hence more intelligible The Christian Faith and Secularism edited the how to the average reader. On whole, by J. Richard Spann. Nashville: Ab as it is ever, the treatment is as readable ingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1948. 296 The book to be anoth challenging. appears pages. $2.50. er "straw in the wind," indicating a reaction from a Christianized humanism of the first The opening sentence of this symposium in the direction of quarter of this century, expresses the key thought of the volume: of other a greater concern with sin (sins "Secularism is no longer, as it was a hun and a people and nations, of course), dred years ago, an intellectual revolt greater appreciation of sanctity. against theological domination," rather, it George A. Turner has become the atmosphere of our civiliza tion. From this premise the several authors of Part I of the book introduce the reader The Preacher and His W. Preaching, by to both the nature and the historical de B. D.D. Wheaton, III: Sword Riley, velopment of secularism. of the Lord Publishers, 1948. 146 pp. In the Exiitor sum $2.00. Foreword, Spann marizes the definition of secularism as "an often Out of a long and fruitful preaching and evasive, unconscious, philosophy teaching ministry, in connection with the which does not deny but ignores the pres- BOOK REVIEWS 37 ence and ethical influence of a living God." religious liberalism's close association with (p. 5) In short, this volume is simply an the modem "scientific temper" and human examination � of the havoc wrought upon ism an association to such a degree that contemporary culture by the growing in a virile Christian faith very nearly disap fluence of humanistic thought and practice. peared and in its place stood an open door secularism within the ranks of Parts II, III, and IV have to do with the inviting itself. It is to be application of secularism to various phases Christianity appreciated, that Charles Darwin and David of contemporary culture, political life, and however, Strauss are indicted for their social issues, particularly economics. The rightfully effect in It thirteen chapters which comprise these sec secularizing Christianity. might also be wished that more stress had been tions deal with the problem in higher edu a return to historical ortho cation, in motion pictures, in the church, placed upon and a definite in politics, international relations, organized doxy evangelical emphasis the which would best combat labor, crime, and individual personality Christianity secularism. maladjustments. The list of outstanding Paul F. Abel contributors, including such names as J. Edgar Hoover, Sherwood Eddy, and George N. Shuster, guarantee both the high Kierkegaard's Philosophy of Religion, by quality and the thoroughness of these an Reidar Thomte. Princeton: Princeton of modern culture. alyses University Press, 1948. 228 pages. The final section, "Christianity's Witness $3.50. in a Secular World," attempts to bring an The need for and answer to the problem which has been ex urgent interpretative posed. Each of the authors in this section introductive literature to the study of Kier emphasizes the fact that Christianity, with kegaard here finds, within the limits of re markable a its saving knowledge of God, its devotion brevity, very satisfactory and answer. Professor a to the worth of spiritual ideals, and its goal stimulating Thomte, of translating the faith of the church into native of Norway, clears a path which will the daily lives of people, is the sole effective bring understanding and insight to the neo as well as to the more serious student challenge to secularism. Dr. Stuntz, presi phyte the Danish dent of Scarritt College, insists that "mis of great philosopher-theologian. A volume of a sionary passion is the genius of Christian timely, helpful worthy place on the shelf of the ity." He calls, therefore, for redoubled ef library contemporary minister and seeker after Tmth. fort on the part of the church in her mis sionary enterprise which speaks not only to The contemporaneousness of one whose in non-Chris the soul but also to the soil pen was stilled a century ago is emphasized tian or sub-Christian cultures. Bishop Ger by the fact that all but one of Kierkegaard's ald Kennedy reminds the reader of Toyn major works have been made available in bee's contention that the secular is a prov English within the short span of twelve Christian ince of the Kingdom, and the years. The Kierkegaardian influence upon should realize that "secular affairs demand modern religious and philosophical think spiritual foundations." Another author ing is something yet to be reckoned. The points out that secularism leaves man's evils of his day have lingered despite the needs immet. Christianity, on the other passing of the years. desire of the hu hand, meets the deepest Kierkegaard belonged to an era which man heart. had reduced Christianity to an objective The Christian Faith and Secularism de system of doctrine and rote-recitation. Tn serves room on the bookshelf of every pas popular fancy one became a Christian as a an excellent tor and religious leader. It does matter of course, since one had been bap job of analysis, although some readers tized in childhood. Speculative contempla would probably agree with the reviewer tion and a purely objective attitude of de that more might have been said concerning tachment replaced choice and decision in BOOK REVIEWS

human striving. Hegelianism, with its the At the religious level Kierkegaard dis ory of the higher unity, removed the cutting tinguishes between what is called Religion edge from all contradictions and reduced A and Religion B. The former is human re Christianity to a triviality which might at ligiosity which regards God as immanent in any moment be transcended. human personality so that a normalcy in The burden of Kierkegaard's work as an moral and religious life can be achieved by author, therefore, was dedicated to a revi means of an inner effort or concentration sion of the concept of what it means to be a of the personality. The latter corresponds Christian by providing an answer to the in to Christianity and makes existence para dividual's ultimate quest, "How am I to be doxical and particularistic. The appearance come a Christian ?" The task he set for him of the Eternal in time constitutes the absurd self was admittedly a Socratic one. His and is a break with all human thinking. The writings are calculated to stimulate self- paradox of the God-man cannot be compre activity and to motivate personal decision. hended by human understanding. Thus Ever the bitter foe of Hegelianism, the faith becomes the final Christian medium title of his initial work. Either/Or, was it of existence and the revelation of God in self a battle-cry against the Hegelian watch history resolves the great problem of the word "both/and". Unconcerned to establish "reconstruction of personality in inward the objective validity of Christianity, Kier ness". kegaard marked out his realm of philoso The experience of the forgiveness of sins phical investigation by the now famous means to become a new man. Sin itself, as thesis: "Truth is subjectivity." The refer the severance of the union between God and ence is to a person's mode of existence rath man, reduced humanity to a new medium er than to any theory of knowledge. There of existence. The Incarnation makes pos is no quarrel with objective knowledge in sible "sin consciousness" which Kierke the realm of science. However, essential gaard held to be the only means of entrance knowledge or ethico-religious knowledge is into Christianity. "Sin consciousness", to be that knowledge that has an essential rela distinguished from "guilt consciousness", tionship to the knower. His definition of marks man's awareness of the severance of truth may also be regarded as the formula the union once existing between God and of faith: "An objective uncertainty held man. Redemption and restoration are made fast in an appropriation-process of the most possible by "a descent of the Deity". passionate inwardness is the truth, the In this search to restore respect for hig-hest attainable for an existing individ Christianity and what it means to be a ual". Christian, Kierkegaard advances beyond the Three "existence-spheres" arranged on a indirect maieutic method to a new educa scale of values contained every mode of life tional principle. Reduplication. By this is for Kierkegaard. In the aesthetic, in which meant simply that the teacher must be what the individual is magnified as the greatest he teaches. Reduplication means the trans eood and goal in life, existence is essential formation of life in accordance with the ly enjoyment. A stage higher is the ethical, truth one objectively knows. Since Chris reached when the sovereignty of self is de tianity is not a doctrine but a communica throned by a recognition that man is a part tion of existence, unless Christianity is re of a social order and under the obligation duplicated in the teacher Christianity is not of becoming the "universal" man. Ethical taught. This accounts for Kierkegaard's existence is essentially struergle and victory. great emphasis upon Christ as Pattern as At the religious level a collision takes place well as Atoner. The atoning work of Christ between the universal-ethical and the de serves further to furnish the disciple with mand of the Absolute, a collision which a confidence and boldness to imitate the pat produces in the individual a sense of reli tern. Christianity is not a comfort or an gious "fear and trembling" and reduces ev escape mechanism. It means to follow and ery other relationship to something relative. imitate the Pattern, to accept the judgment Religious existence is essentially suffering. of God upon one's life, and to seek the for- BOOK REVIEWS 39 giveness of sin as one who is altogether un gal tendencies at work in modern family worthy of receiving it. Those who are not living concern him no less here than in the vitally interested in "bringing ideality into volumes of his Trilogy. He sees as a reality" will never fully understand or ap cure for this a recapture of the frame of preciate Kierkegaard. reference of reverence in the presence of Chilton C. McPheeters the giving of new life. This chapter, as well as the one entitled "Marriage" abounds in reverent common sense. Back of nearly The Common Ventures of Life, by D. El every paragraph lies a problem through ton Trueblood. New York: Harper & which our author has sought to think. His Brothers, 1949. 124 pages. $1.00. effort is at every point bent toward produc This writer of The Willson Lectures for ing a wholesomeness which grows out a sense of of social un 1948 is too well-known to require introduc wholeness, solidarity der God, and in a sense by tion to the alert reader. As an analyst of the issuing strong the sacredness of all life. In this he seeks times, Trueblood has released three volumes here, as in all his to overcome the since the close of the war, all of which have works, radical dualism of sacred-secular which enjoyed a deserved popularity. Now comes severs the common of life from a work, designed primarily for those who enterprises endeavor. are outside the formal confines of Chris religious The author's of the tianity, aiming at a recapture of the pattern analysis contempor of his feel of life which has been so rudely fractured ary problem of Work grows out that the crisis of our time has in our time. Trueblood seeks to re-inject ing destroyed the basic insights of the Christian faith in the basic pattern of incentives by which man's endeavor is considered to to the thought of such as will read at four productive be sacramental. The "interim points common to human experience, mar mentality" riage, birth, work, and death. produced by world events, the sense of fu Underlying his development is the idea tility and fatalism, and a loss of the sense relevance of have con that in all these "ventures" we are part of of the Christianity, tributed to this loss. We have lost our sense a society which is interconnected by a thou sand (often invisible) ties. He seeks to ex of vocation. To undertake to reconstruct pand the meaning of the term "common" this destroyed foundation is no small thing ; into its larger meaning of community, the Trueblood recognizes that his will be a slow relationship here being something like that and many-sided task. He suggests the re of the sense of creative suggested by the german words gemein and capture production. sense of la Gemeinde. Applied to marriage, the en a revival of the of the dignity an of larged significance of its common quality bor, and adjustment employment- of so that the laborer in some appears in the persistently social quality techniques may the marriage bond. Our author seeks to manner participate in, and take pride in, More point out that marriage in the Christian the end-product of his work. impor tant there must somehow be reinstated manner (and he is frankly committed to the still, a sense of vocation. value of the Church or Meeting House wedding) involves the essential factor of Concerning Death, our author is exer community participation, implying that mar cised by the evident failure of men to act the of the of their riage is a public affair. In contrast with this, upon impulse certainty in it. He sets the increased vogue of court or 'marriage own personal participation task the to parlor' ceremonies is indicative of the fun himself to the of pointing way sorrow which death damental loss of wholeness in current so the glorification of the At the heart of his effort ciety. inevitably brings. is the faith in God, an em In his chapter on "Birth" Trueblood emphasis upon but lost in our time. He shows seeks the social significance of the family, phasis all of burial cere this being capable of being sustained only the elaborate development of the monies, Parlors, etc. as poor substitutes for upon the more fundamental ground the Church of the time sacramental character of life. The centrifu faith, and challenges 40 BOOK REVIEWS to repair the breach in the old foundations. iar theme of the essential continuity of all His practical suggestions concerning a re forms of life. This seems to be the accepted vision of burial customs are aimed in this thing in books these days. Some will feel direction; one gets the impression, how that the most important single fact we know ever, that the chapter ends too soon; per about the universe is that spirit is an abrupt haps Trueblood should have given a num appearance, rather than a part of the con ber of further pages to the question of the tinuous cosmic process, if by spirit is meant rebuilding of the faith which has been lost. that which distinguishes man from the oth Taken in the overall, the volume is an er forms of life. However, the volume excellent contribution to the literature de is not intended as a solution of the problem signed to assist the modern man to live. of the matter-spirit dualism, but as a guide The author seems to overwork, in his open to the recapture of the wholeness of life ing chapter, the argument from homology which Cjod intended. It is well suited to this in the direction of a repetition of the famil purpose. Harold B. Kuhn Wilmore, Kentucky

An Accredited Member of the American Association of Theological Schools

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Approved by the University Senate of the Methodist Church

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for the spring quarter of 1948-49; an increase of approximately 25 per cent

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SUMMER TERM REGISTRATION: JUNE 7, 1949 The Asbury Seminarian Journal • 1949

About First Fruits Press Under the auspices of B. L. Fisher Library, First Fruits Press is an online publishing arm of Asbury Theological Seminary. The goal is to make academic material freely available to scholars worldwide, and to share rare and valuable resources that would not otherwise be available for research. First Fruits publishes in five distinct areas: heritage materials, academic books, papers, books, and journals.

In the Journals section, back issues of The Asbury Journal will be digitized and so made available to a global audience. At the same time, we are excited to be working with several faculty members on developing professional, peer-reviewed, online journals that would be made freely available.

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