Mid-April 1933
:n 11 ~ co V) 1..l vi rc -' CHRISTIA1a!Y TODAY '"Ll n - .xn > .>-0'\ > Q-Np: ~ CL 1.1)>-0"" "A CONSERVATIVE BUT NOT A FUNDAMENTALIST" Editorial Notes and Comments ECENTLY the Christian Century referred to a well known individual as "a conservative but not a funda "GERMAN CHRISTIANS" mentalist" and commented as follows: "There is a radical difference between the two. A fundamental ROM Germany comes the ominous news of a move- ist is a conservative become militant. The funda· ment within the Protestant churches having as its mentalist is militant, not becaus~ he holds con ' objective a reorganization of the churches along servative views himself, but because he holds that Nazi lines in a manner that would make the Church the truth of Christianity cannot be expressed in an adjunct of the State. According to these reports any other form of speech save those which belong not only is the government of the churches or rather to the orthodox system." According to this repre of the unified church to be placed in the hand of sentation the distinguishing mark of a fundamentalist is state officials but the creed of the church is to be militancy in behalf of "a special form of words or a particular f rewritten in a manner that will bring it into system of concepts." Small wonder that the Christian Centu'ry harmony with the ideals and aspirations of an holds the fundamentalist in slight esteem! "awakened Germany" as understood by those in sympathy with HITLER and his supporters. We are told that the Old Testament There is truth, of course, in the representation that the words, is to be banned from the churches because its heroes and prophets "conservative" and "fundamentalist," as currently used, do not were Jews and the sagas and mythical figures from Valhalla always connote exactly the same conception. While they are Thor and Wotan and such like-together with stories of World often used as synonyms yet to call a man conservative is not War heroes and leading personalities of German life substituted necessarily the same as to call him a fundamentalist. Fre therefor. We are told also that in the new church the swastika quently the word "fundamentalist" has a narrower connotation is to have a place beside the Christian cross and that out of this than the word "conservative." For instance the word "funda new alignment there is to arise a new theology in harmony with mentalist" is still frequently used to deSignate a pre-millennial the new order of things that is being established in Germany. conservative. More frequently, however, it is used to designate The "German Christians" are said to be out-and-out in their the evangelicals as over against Roman Catholics on the one nationalism, rejecting all idea of an international Christianity hand and Modernists on the other. Roman Catholics may rightly and holding that if CHRIST were to return'to earth He would align be spoken of as conservatives but it is not usual to call them Himself with HITLER as a leader against Marxism and inter fundamentalists. Most frequently, therefore, the word "funda nationalism. mentalist" is used to deSignate evangelical Protestants as over It remains to be seen how much of truth these reports con against those non-evangelical Protestants known as Modernists. tain. It is to be hoped that they contain even less truth than From this point of view, there is not a great deal of difference have many other reports that have emanated from that distracted between calling a man a conservative and calling him a funda country. They are not altogether incredible in view of the mentalist. Personally we prefer the word evangelical as inclu liberalism of the German churches and of the fact that 750/0 of sive of both conservatives and fundamentalists. We mayor may German Protestantism is said to be sympathetic to Hitlerism. not like the word "fundamentalist." Be that as it may, the Certainly these reports, if true, are 'fraught with tremendous distinction which the Christian Century makes between the con significance inasmuch as a reorganization of the churches along servative and the fundamentalist has no basis in fact. these lines would mean the end of the historic churches of Ger In representing the fundamentalist as a conservative become many. What is more, Church members who submit to such a re militant it seems to us that the Christian Century has compli organization of the Church would cease to be Christians in any mented the fundamentalist. In our estimate at least a pacifist adequate sense of the word. If these reports are even measure conservative is not a very commendable figure. What is more ably true, the age-long problem of the proper relation between it seems rather anomalous for the Ohristian Oentury to condemn Church and State is about to take on an awakened interest. the fundamentalists for their militancy. Apparently, in its Basically there are but three possible solutions-that of the judgment, militancy in behalf of modernism is commendable subordination of the State to the Church, that of the subordina but not militancy in behalf of New Testament Christianity. tion of the Church to the State, and that of the equality and When, however, it pictures the fundamentalist as militant independence of State and Church as co-ordinate powers each merely in behalf of a special form of speech it seems to us that supreme in its own sphere. It is to be feared that the second the Christian Oentury, wittingly or unwittingly, is guilty of sheer of these theories is to be adopted by the Nazi government in a misrepresentation. The fundamentalist's primary interest is not form more extreme than has hitherto been known in the history in a form of words but in the great facts and truths that these of Christianity. words have been used to express. He could view the passing of (A Table Of Contents will be found on Page 24) 2 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April,1933 the words with equanimity if it were evident that the realities the Great Commission of our LORD as authoritatively laid down for which they had stood were still preserved. The sad thing for us in the New Testament. in his judgment is not the dying of words but the dying out of "Middle-of-the-road people will try to make it a semi-good the hearts of men of the things for which the words stand. What or semi-bad Report. But is this a time to walk in the middle the evangelical objects to in connection with so-called modern of the road? Sincere respect may be accorded to humanist expressions of Christianity is not their modern terminology, but who declares his stand by the Report. It is his idea and rather the fact that they are expression not of Christianity but ideal. But as true evangelicals we should absolutely decline of a somewhat that lacks every distinctive mark of real Chris to accept the findings of the Report and repudiate its humanism tianity. "Christians of today," so militant a conservative as the as inadequate for the relief of mankind, definitely declaring late Dr. WARFIELD once wrote, "must state their Christian belief for the distinctiveness of that Gospel which alone has brought in terms of modern thought. Every age has a language of its Goo's redemption to uncountable multitudes in every genera own and can speak no other. Mischief comes only when, instead tion and in all lands, by affirming that 'there is none other of stating Christian belief in terms of modern thought, an effort name given among men whereby we must be saved' than is made, rather, to state modern thought in terms of Christian through the atoning sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST and the reo belief." If we .mistake not, it is the latter of these two thing~ generating office of the Holy Spirit. that the Christian Century is busily engaged in doing. It makes "If the Appraisal Report is right, the Bible is wrong. If large use of Christian terms but the thing it commends is some that Report is true then the Church has no distinctive Gospel thing other than Christianity. for this age. This Appraisal Report has raised the issue as to whether or not the Church has a Gospel. The answer is ready. Millions of redeemed sinners are ready to declare with PAUL: THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE RE·EMPHASIS OF NEW 'I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST for it is the power TESTAMENT MISSIONS of GOD unto salvation.' That is our answer. As between these two such utter and irreconcilable antipodes, evangelicals take .-----,N our last issue we reported the formation of the their stand on the Word of GOD and dedicate their humble organization named above and offered certain pre· lives and means to obedience to its revelations and directions." liminary comments. We gave expression to our sense of satisfaction at its formation but at the The "Declaration" of the Association (defined as "a voluntary same time stated that we were considerably dis fellowship consisting of those who accept the Great Commission turbed over the fact that its chairman, Dr. JOHN of our LORD JESUS CHRIST to evangelize the nations of the world") W. BRADBURY, has been reported (New York Times is' an official pronouncement which indicts the Laymen's Mission of March 10th) as having said that this particular Report on twelve counts and sets forth the position of the Asso association "marked a cleavage between humanism ciation. We cite it in part: and evangelism rather than between modernism and "We repudiate this distinctly modernist attempt to appraise fundamentalism"-a statement that would be quite acceptable foreign missions in the Far East.... We aim to meet this to liberals in general including Auburn Affirmationists. challenge and to explore and improve upon the situation created by the Appraisal Report's publicity and consequent activities. We are now glad to be able to report that we have received a letter from Dr. BRADBURY in which he says: "The statement "We, therefore, unite to reaffirm our loyal support of and which a reporter ascribes to me and which gives you so much adherence to evangelical Christian Missions. To promote a concern is not a quotation of anything I have said .... It is wider knowledge of, and a more sacrificial interest in the cause something the reporter thought I said, which is a vastly different of world evangelization. matter. I recall being asked if we were a Fundamentalist organi "We further unite for the promotion of an increasing fellow zation. I had no right to say we were. While our members are ship among those Christians, of whatsoever denomination of all loyal to the fundamentals of .the faith we are separately assembly they may be a part, who believe in fulfilling the Great organized to do what our title declares.... The Association for Commission of our LORD JESUS CHRIST without evasion, reserva· the Re-Emphasis of New Testament Missions is opposed to tion, or subversive qualification as to the content of that Gospel modernism and engages itself to fight to the end against the which was once for all delivered to the saints. great steal which is going on in certain sections of our Foreign "We declare our faith in the inspired Scriptures 'which are Missions enterprise." able to make men wise unto salvation.' We believe that the If further evidence that Dr. BRADBURY and the organization risen LORD JESUS CHRIST is the only begotten Son of GOD, and he heads is opposed to modernism in general and not merely to that He died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that more radical form of modernism known as humanism, it that there is salvation in no other name. We believe that this may be found in the address that Dr. BRADBURY delivered as declaration is the heart of the Christian missionary message. chairman of the Mass Meeting held in Calvary Baptist Church "We declare it to be the primary duty of Missionary Boards, of New York City on March 20th and in the "Declaration" issued Executive Officers and Missionaries representing evangelical by the Association for the Re-Emphasis of New Testament churches to faithfully proclaim and practice the Scriptural Missions. teachings pertaining to the Person, Word and Commandments The theme of Dr. BRADBURY'S address was "New Testament of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and under the leadership of the Missions Versus the Appraisal Report of the Laymen's Foreign Holy Spirit, to seek the regeneration of sinners throughout Mission Inquiry." With the Report of the Laymen's Inquiry in the territories where their ministry extends, and by these mind he said: efforts to establish bodies of believers as indigenous, witnessing churches or assemblies." "The humanism of the Report leads it to ignore and refute the Bible, the Deity of CHRIST, His sacrificial death, the re In view of what has been related above, it would seem that the generating power of the Holy Spirit and the consequent effects misgivings we expressed in our last issue were unwarranted. It resulting from these sacred sources.... From the point of looks as though the aims and purposes of this organization were view of the New Testament faith and practice its -theories and beyond criticism. We commend it to the attention of our readers. recommendations are non·Christian and anti-biblical. ... The The secretary of the Association is PAUL H. GRAEF, 75 Maiden Report is not 50% good and 50% bad. It is not 85% good and Lane, New York City. Dr. BRADBURY'S address is Wadsworth 15% bad. It is 100% bad for the evangelical who believes in Avenue and West 184th Street, N. Y. Aprit 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 3 CHRIST AS OUR CONTEMPORARY of the Christian religion, as has often been shown, and acknowl edged even by opponents, lies in the person of CHRIST. All other T is basic to Christian faith and life that JESUS religions are independent, to a certain degree, of their founders, CHRIST is an historical character plus. If He were because. these founders were nothing more than their first con merely an historical figure, Christianity would be fessors. But JESUS was not the first Christian; He was and is at best an extreme form of hero worship. In that ~ ... the CHRIST. He is not the subject, but the object, of religion. ~; case we could know of the CHRIST that was, but we Christianity is not the religion of JESUS, still less JEsus-worship, '. could have no fellowship with a CHRIST that is. The but CHRIST religipn. Christianity is now as dependent on Him, difference is abysmal between those who have merely from moment to moment, as when He trod the earth. For He is a CHRIST of history and those who have also a not a person who lived and worked only in the past, but He f CHRIST of experience. The virility of the Christial). lives and workS still, is still Prophet, Priest, and King, and religion, the secret of its abiding effectiveness Himself upholds the church, which He established, from age to through all the changing centuries, is inextricably bound up with age, and assures to her the victory" (The Philosophy of Revela the fact that it brings men into contact with the living, ever· tion, p. 227). present CHRIST as one from whom they obtain not only the for· giveness of their sins and strength to walk in newness of life but Our recognition of CHRIST as our contemporary should not a hope that faileth not no matter what the strain and stress to and need not lead us to ignore or neglect the life He lived in the which they are subjected. days of His flesh. The object of our faith as Christians is indeed CHRIST as He exists today. We are not the worshippers of a dead It is one of the merits of Barthianism that it stresses what it CHRIST, of one whose body moldered under the Syrian skies; we calls the contemporaneousness of CHRIST. Dr. WALTER LOWRIE. are the worshippers of the living CHRIST, of One who clothed puts it thus: "The School of Crisis has learned from KIERKEGAARD with power is even now at the right hand of GOD. That, how to regard CHRIST as contemporary. Of CHRIST we must say that ever, does not lead us to underestimate the significance of His He is by no means a CHRIST of the past, but He is the CHRIST of earthly, historical life. Nothing is further from our minds than the future, the CHRIST who will come to be our judge. But pre to emphasize the risen and exalted life of CHRIST at the expense cisely in that character He encounters us now and here in our of His earthly, historical life. Both must be emphasized if. we present, as our contemporary. In His earthly life JESUS emphat· are to be true to the emphases of the New Testament and of the ically pointed to Himself, but to Himself as the End, as the Son church of all ages. The earthly life would· indeed have small of Man who was to come on the clouds to sit in judgment, like a siguificance for us if it had not been followed by the risen and shepherd when he separates the sheep from the goats. It is this exalted life; but it is equally true that the life that CHRIST lives that makes Him so contemporary; and such contemporaneousness today would have little or no Significance for us had it not been as this serves ever to fix our attention on the End. We are no preceded by the earthly life. The virtues of the earthly life further from CHRIST than were the Christians of the first genera have been perpetuated, as it were, in the risen and exalted life. tion. He was their contemporary and He is ours" (Our Concern To mention only what is most important in this connection, with the Theology of Crisis, p. 97). We would not be understood CHRIST as He exists today would have little or no significance as approving all that the Barthians say about CHRIST as our can· for us if the virtue of His death was not perpetuated in His temporary. It seems to us, however, that the stress they put on life. It is not to be supposed, therefore, that we need not con this thought should be welcomed as over against the teaching of cern ourselves about the life CHRIST lived on earth because the modernism which neglects or rather frankly turns its back upon object of our faith is CHRIST as He exists today; rather it be the living CHRIST and bids us seek inspiration for our lives and comes us to realize that CHRIST as He exists today would have hope for our future in a JESUS who lived and died in Judea two little or no concern for us were it not for the life He lived on thousand years ago-as though that were the end of His career as earth. The earthly life was indeed but a stage in the career of far as exerting any direct and immediate influence over the lives the Son of GOD, but it was a necessary stage if He was to be the of men is concerned. The Barthians are quite right in main saviour of sinners. This means that the life He lived on earth taining that those to whom JESUS CHRIST is only a figure of the and the death that He died were prerequisites to the functions past-seen· only through the ever-increasing obscurity of the He now performs. Apart from what He experienced on earth, gathering centuries-are not Christians at all in any legitimate sense of the word. CHRIST would not be qualified to bestow upon us the forgiveness of our sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified But while it is a merit of Barthianism that it stresses the fact through faith in Him. that CHRIST is our contemporary, it should be obvious to all that it has this merit as over against modernism, not as over against Barthians assert that to regard CHRIST as contemporary is to orthodoxy. Christianity as it has found expression not only in create a crisis-a situation that compels a decision. We need not the New Testament but in the gTeat creeds of the Church is be Barthians to perceive that in so speaking they are expressing simply unthinkable apart from the conviction that "JESUS CHRIST a truth of vital importance. If JESUS CHRIST were merely one is the same yesterday and today, yea and for ever." What is who lived and wrought some two thousand years ago, the ques more, in orthodoxy this doctrine of CHRIST as our contemporary tion of our personal attitude toward Him would not be im is not vitiated by the errors with which it is associated by the portant. In fact in that case it would be as impossible for us to Barthians. Here HERMAN BAVINeK as elsewhere is a better assume a personal attitude toward Him as it is to assume per teacher than BARTH or BRUNNER. "The Christian religion," he sonal attitudes toward other historical figures of the past. writes, "is an historical, but also a present religion. Whoever BRUNNER rightly says that in that case not only could we have seeks fellowship with GOD, excluding all history-that is to say only an indirect relationship to CHRIST but the strength of the without CHRIST-experiences a religious feeling which misses impulse men receive from CHRIST would grow weaker ,with time. the objective reality, which feeds only on itself, and therefore n is otherwise, however, in view of the fact that CHRIST is a con also digests itself. On the other hand, whosoever conSiders the temporary who functions in a manner similar to but more effec Christian religion simply and alone as historical, and does not tive than in the days of His flesh. Now it is seen not only that make it a religion of the present, wipes out in principle the such a direct relation is possible. but that the question of its distinction between Christianity and the other religions, and actuality is a matter of weal or woe, life or death, heaven or reduces it to a phenomenon which belongs only to the past, and hell. A neutral, spectator, attitude toward CHRIST, is impossible. loses its Signficance for today and the future. The peculiarity They who are not for Him are against Him. 4 CHRISTIANITY TODAY Hospital Evangelism By William H. Chisholm, M.D., F.A.C.S. [The Editors feel fortunate to publish, especially at a time when the work of Missions is under such critical scrutiny, an article so stimulating, informative and loyal to the Gospel. Dr. Chisholm, who is still a young man, is outstanding both as a surgeon and as a soul-winner. His work is centered at "In His Name Hospital" Syen Chun, Chosen (Korea). He i s a missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Part one, dealing with the message appears here. Part two, on methods, will appear next month.] N dealing with the subject of hos condition men are in. One may be a good pital evangelism I wish to consider organizer and do much work of a superficial first the Message, and second the character but he will never have genuine zeal ···~··~~ Methods which we have found in saving men until he realizes they need sav ' .. helpful in passing .on that Mes ing, that as the Scriptures say, they are with sage. There is only one message, out God and without hope, are already dead, J the one that the apostle Paul gave. dead in trespasses and sins. f "Christ died for our sins according Furthermore one must know, first by his to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and own experience, that Christ can do something that He rose again the third day according to for the one dead in trespasses and sins. He the scriptures." (I Cor. 15:3, 4.) And again, can do that which no one else in the history "There is none other name under heaven of the race has ever been able to do, namely, given amongmen, whereby we must be saved." DR. CHISHOLM sa ve the sinner from his sins; give him full (Acts 4:12.) The most important thing in and complete deliverance from the penalty hospital evangelism is the message. Simply to and power of sin. As medical men we see depend on what is generally spoken of as the men constantly saved from death. What a manifestation of the spirit of Christ is not enough. Multi joy it is to see those at the gates of death brought back and tudes of our patients know nothing of or have no adequate that strange thing called life again pulsating through the conception of Christ. They have never read the Bible. veins. However as workers together with Him we can go They have, multitudes of them, never been inside a church. a step farther. We see men dead spiritually. They are The great majority of those we reach in hospital evangelis utterly devoid of the life of God, and then they hear the tic work are truly heathen, probably most of them idolaters, voice of the Son of God and live. (John 5:25.) By exercis spirit worshippers. There is one message that will give to ing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they become God's such life and will do it in short order. That is the message children. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in of salvation from sin through the shed of blood of our Lord Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26.) They can then in truth call Jesus Christ. God their Father. It is only by the reception of the new life by the new birth that the Fatherhood of God is The lost, wretched, hopeless estate of sin and misery that established. the human race has fallen into is nowhere more in evidence There are those who insist that all men are now the than in the hospital. The doctor sees men as they are, and children of God. They speak of the "Fatherhood of God not as the poet and philosopher would have us believe they and the Brotherhood of Man." They argue that because are. Being constantly in contact with human waste and God is the Creator of all mankind He is therefore the ravages caused by sin and disease and facing the horrors of Father of all men. Such teaching however is unscriptural death constantly one cannot but face the awful fact of sin. as we see from the passage just quoted from Galatians. And one is constantly reminded that sin when it is conceived Not only is it unscriptural but it is also unscientific. God's bringeth forth death. relationship as Father is not based on His work as Creator. The Word of God clearly states that all men have sinned In addition to man He has also created the animals, but and come short of the glory of God. Men because of sin He is not their Father. His J;elationship as Father is estab are without God and without hope. They are dead in tres lished by the impartation of His own, holy, sinless and passes and sins and are utterly helpless to lift themselves eternal life. The word "father" implies that one has be out of their terrible condition. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew gotten life. Among the millions of earth each of us can call and meant just what He said when He uttered those solemn only one man father. Why? Because we have received our words that those who did not believe on Him would die in natural life through that one. The life we receive from our their sins. (John 8:24.) He spoke of a place where the parents is of the same kind they have. That is all they can worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:46.) pass on. Why are we subject to sin and death? Because No more awful indictment of mankind is found anywhere our parents are subject to the same. The life we receive than in the first and third chapters of the book of Romans. from them is by means of the "corruptible seed"-a life Before one can become effective in hospital or any other subject to sin and death. kind of evan~elism he must realize the awful hopeless (Oontinued on Page 8) April,1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY The One Page Sermon THE ROCK OF OFFENCE By the Rev. Harold S. Laird, Minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, N. J. "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and His own words, "And whosoever shall fall on t):Li~ rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it _sha,l! shall not be ashamed." Romans 9 :33. fall, it will grind him to powder," Matthew 21 :44. HE "Beholds" of God's Word are Let us conSider some of the things that cause a emphatic. They earnestly invite our man to stumble at Christ, at the same time hold attention to the consideration of im ing forth the Word of God which, is declared to mensely important divine truths. be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Wherever they are found at the The only way to walk and not stumble by the beginning of a verse of Scripture we way in our faith is to make use Of God's lamp. do well to stop for a moment to Thousands of honest and earnest men and women ponder over that which is to follow. are stumbling at Christ today siIl1-Ply because they It is because of the "behold" which are not walking in the light, the true light of introduces this verse of our text that God's revelation concerning His Son. we do well to make it the object of our con The things that cause men everywhere to sideration. stumble at Christ as the divine Son of God and The text itself is a quotation from two other THE REV. H. S. LAIRD man's only Saviour may be divided, into two great texts in the Word of God, two distinct groups. First, there are some things in Christ prophecies in the Old Testament which the apostle that cause men to stumble. I do not mean to say brings together here in order that he may emphasize a Single that there is anything in or about Christ at which men ought to great truth. The first part of the text is a quotation from Isaiah stumble, but such is the d,epravity of the human heart and such 8: 14, "And He shall be ... for a stone of stumbling and for a is the power of the great enemy of our souls, that men will find rock of offence to both the houses of Israel." There can be no difficulties even in the way of salvation. They raise mental ob doubt that this Old Testament prophecy refers to the coming jections to the very method by which the Creator of the world Messiah and foretells how all Israel would be offended in Him. has chosen to redeem a rebellious and lost race. In the days of Even so, history now proves that because the Lord Jesus Christ His sojourn upon the earth Christ was a stumbling block to many was not that great temporal deliverer for whom they looked, He because of the very manner in which He came into the world, as became to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, and well as because of the life He lived and the things He did, but instead of accepting Him as the Messiah that He was, they cried, in our day He is a stumbling block to many because of the death "Away with Him; we will not have this man to reign over us." He died. Paul declared in His OWIl day that Christ crucified was The second part of our text is a quotation from the same prophet, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishnes~. Isaiah 28: 16, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a Even so, now it is the cross of Christ that is the stumbling tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that block to many. They are quite willing to acknowledge Him, as believeth shall not be ashamed." Again there can be no doubt that the greatest of all teachers, the finest of all examples, but t)1ey this Old Testament prophecy also refers to the same coming stumble at the cross. It is to them foolishness. They see no need Messiah and foretells that, while Israel as a nation shall be for His having died as a sacrifice for sin because they are bli!ldEld offended in Him and stumble at Him in their faith, there will to their need of such a sacrifice. Those who accept Christ as "'a be at the same time some here and there even in Israel, such as great teacher and reject the true doctrine of the atonement are Paul himself, and Peter, and Andrew, and Nicodemus and others hardly consistent. If Christ taught anything at all He most to whom He shall be a precious stone, even the foundation of surely taught that His death was to be a sacrifice for sin. If not, their faith. why did He permit John the Baptist to say of Him, "Behold the Thus in our text we have these two great prophecies already Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world?" He spoke fulfilled brought together to form for us a single great truth, of laying down His life for His sheep and when He instituted the namely this~ that the Lord Jesus Christ, whose coming was fore Lord's Supper He clearly indicated that His death on the cross told in Old Testament prophecy and who nineteen hundred years was to 'be the leading thought in the commemoration of that ago fulfilled that prophecy to the letter by His coming, stands feast, "This is my body broken for you and this cup is the, New before the world this day destined to be to every human soul Testament in my blood, shed for many for the remission of si~." that listens to the Gospel either a rock of stumbling or a rock If men stumble at the cross they stumble at the very threshold of standing. While He is ever the rock of stumbling to the un of the Gospel. believing sinner, He is at the same time ever and always the Again, there are certain things in men themselves that cause rock of ages to the penitent, believing sinner, where he hides them to stumble at Christ. There is human pride. 'If we ar~ to and rests and builds. be saved by Him then we must confess that we are guilty sinners and need a Saviour. For some reason this is hard for most people "Below the storm mark of the sky, to do. They prefer to think that while they may not be perfect Above the flood mark of the deep," yet they are not so very' bad. Then, too, if they are to be saved In other words, our text suggests a warning. If He is not the by Him they must put aside all confidence in their own ability one, then He is the other. If the Lord Jesus Christ is not the to save themselves by their own good deeds, This, too, is diffi Rock of Ages to you, then He must be the rock of stumbling to cult for many. Then there is the natural .love of self, human you, and if such He be, He would have yOU to be reminded of (Ooncludecl on Page 9) , ,_, 6 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April,1933 Unto All the World A Missionary Page By Elizabeth Willet Thompson Foreign Missions territory in the world lies in the heart of Think About," is, "Do you feel the Board of this great Valley. To these murderous tribes National Missions is justified in using Home LATIN AMERICA went Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Tylee of the Mission funds in aid of such projects as "The entrance of thy word giveth light." Inland South America Missionary Union, the Homes of Neighborly Service, where the Psalm 119 :130. and there, just a few years ago,' Mr. Tylee missionary is a woman whose first job is and his baby daughter were brutally mas that of being a Christian neighbor?" The y Latin America is meant all the sacred. "Except a corn of wheat fall into material abounds. in such filmy phrases as, B republics comprising Central and South the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if "Although a foreigner and a Jew, Jesus has America. They are a priest-ridden people, it die it bringeth forth much fruit." meant much to us all," And, "their lives intellectually and spiritually deadened, and The Latin American Evangelization Cam are being touched by those who minister in morally degraded by the domination of the paign is an interdenominational work the name of Christ, and they are being Roman Catholic Church. Drunkenness and founded on faith lines to reach the unsaved molded into finer characters." The "aims" crime prevail. In most of the republics millions of Latin America by a forward of the Forsythe Memorial School are, "First, Romanism has sunk even lower than the movement of aggressive evangelism, carried to train Mexican girls as home-makers, with people whom it has degraded. _The rate of on in co-operation with the missionaries a vision of the need of the people about illiteracy, and of infant mortality is higher already on the field. Their Bible Institute them, and with the technical equipment to in this "Neglected Continent" than any in Costa Rica trains young natives, and the meet that need as lay workers and members where else in the world. It is almost con various denominations send for them to con of a Christian community. Its second ob stantly in the throes of revolutions or earth duct evangelistic services in their churches, ject is to train girls for definite Christian quakes, or both. The picture is indeed that much as the Bible Institutes do here, The service as pastors' assistants," etc. of a sin-darkened Continent, and it is our Presbyterian missionaries write that they This is all very fine and noble, but we responsibility to heed the call from over the are greatly strengthened by the consecrated searched in vain for some statement such Rio Grande, and proclaim to these heathen and forceful work of this organization. They as, "The missionaries faithfully preach the the unsearchable riches of Christ. also conduct a Hospital, a Farm School, and pure gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in The Presbyterian Church is at wo'rk in an Orphanage at Costa Rica. The entire season and out of season labour in the Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, work is to a large extent the outcome of an winning of souls." We find no description Chili, and South Brazil.' The prevailing accumulation of small gifts and very of evangelistic efforts, to warm our hearts language is Spanish, though numerous earnest prayers. and cause us to open our purses. Doubtless Indian dialects are in use, and many of the there are consecrated Presbyterian mis less civilized tribes still cling to their Sun sionaries in this field who are really doing and spirit-worship. There are about 100,000 National Missions the work of ambassadors of Christ, but pure Indians in the southern part of Chili there is no hint of them in the literature who are practically untouched by Christian SPANISH-SPEAKING AMERICANS which the Board publishes. About the most civilization. The work is largely itinerant in "Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to worth while and to-the-point of their senti character, but little native churches are God is, that they might be saved." Romans ments is on the subject of race prejudice. organized wherever it is financially pos 10:1. Americans, even those in the Church, are sible. In Colombia they are now desirous guilty of this most unChristIike attitude. HE Spanish-speaking people in the of having such a church, but the principal Mexicans are ostracized and humiliated. United States are to be found mostly difficulty is the fact that only one couple out T "A Spanish-speaking Presbyterian family in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, of the six or eight who would form the happened to be living in a northern and California. Some have come directly nucleus are married. They are raising their Colorado village in which no mISSIOnary from Spain, but the majority have emigrated families without this formality because they work was being done. They all spoke from Mexico. Their proverty-stricken con did not have the money to be married by English fiuently so decided to attend the dition has urged them into the United the priest, whose minimum charge is $15.00, English-speaking Presbyterian church there, States to find work. Today one-fifth of the usual price, being $30.00! In Mexico The reception they received was such that Mexico's Spanish-speaking people are living much fruit has come from a campaign to they never ventured to return. It was not in our country. put a million copies of the New Testament long before they became members of a local Merely reading reports of missionary in the hands of persons who will promise to Adventist Church." National Missions is endeavor is never as thrilling and inspiring read it. The Mexican people are very fond attempting to remove these racial border as seeing with one's own eyes the work in of music, and many of them learn the Gos lines, and for this they are to be heartily progress. But the reports of the Board of pel through hymns, ,which they love to sing. commended. National Missions on its work among these In Venezuela the elders and other members The Bible House of Los Angeles is doing people is about as cold and disappointing hold services in their homes, and the greater missionary work among these foreigners, as any we have yet read. It goes by the part of those who come to the Church in the real sense of the term; and there are name of missionary work, but it is primarily services have first attended these house a few other faithful workers in this field. Social Service and Christian Education, meetings. That great man of prayer, George It is not enough for us to sing, with "Ed'ucation" emphasized, and "Chris Miiller, was converted in just such a meet "Look from the spheres of endless day, tian" meaning almost anything, and dragged ing, and is it not possible that God may o .,God of mercy and of might! in at the tail end at that. There are pages In pity look on those who stray, raise up a _ similar witness for Latin and pages' of accounts Of the various Benighted, in this land of light." America? Schools, and "Homes of Neighboi:ly Service," "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Then there' is that vast section known as etc" of which the Board is complacently . And; "Moreover it is required in stewards the Amazon Basin. The largest unexplored proud. One of their questions, headed "To that a man be found faithful." April/1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 7 whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And Jesus answered "Thou art not far from the Sunday School Lessons For May kingdom of God." God had given him grace to see, perhaps only dimly, through the (International Uniform Series) symbols of the sacrificial system the goal of redemption, a kind of life that would be Lesson for May 7/ 1933 hailed Him as King. Jesus accepted the wor able to love' God and man as Jesus had re ship, the praise, and commended it. It was quired. That life, of course, comes only JESUS FACES THE CROSS His due. But kingship for our Lord meant through the new birth. (Lesson Text-Mark 10:32-45. Also Study i\ more than royal titles and honors. It meant The first and greatest commandment! The Matt. 20 :20-28; Luke 22 :25-27. Golden Text responsibility and rule. commandment whose very conception is -Luke 9 :31.) i The Temple must be cleansed. The com foreign from the life of the natural man, mercia1 instinct of the Jew is no new phenom lOUR Lord found in His disciples, a in the apostolic age or in the twentieth 1 group slow to learn. One sometimes enon. And the Jew with an eye for busi century. If this is the first and greatest wonders at His infinite patience (Today as ness saw vast possibilities in the Temple command, that man love God with all his well as then). For the third time now since area. Doves for sacrifices must be bought powers, it does not require much logical \ the Transfiguration He told them of His ap by the pilgrims coming from the, country. power to realize that the violation of this proaching passion and death. Their reaction Why not set up booths for dove-seliing and command must be a very great sin. "Sin" is not set down in Scripture, excepting as it money-changing (at a price!). But the to most people means something outwardlY may be inferred from what happened ap ecclesiastical authorities also saw the Pos socially flagranr;'-theft, adultery, murder, parently immediately afterward. Their own sibility of big profits. So parts of the Temple treason. The Bj!WLI~IS that the very minds may have been so full of ambitious area were "farmed out" to favored dealers_ characteristic that gives sin its power, the dreams that the words of Jesus fell o'n their The profits, which were enormous, went to very act that makes sin sinful, is the state \ ears almost unnoticed. the ecclesiastical leaders who permitted this of a1i.enatlQ!l"f!:2!!l..il:2d in which men live,- ! James and John, two of the best of the sacrilege, and to the dealers. a state in which they do not and cannot love Apostolate, came to Jesus with a not-so When Jesus stepped into the Temple He Him. The outward sins are merely deadly strange request. Would He promise now ,did not adopt "modern methods" of meeting and to be shunned,-yet they are but the that when He came into His glory, they ithis situation. He appointed no committees, necessary out _'I'UU",king,ILQ(Jhe, !itl:i~ ~ should sit beside Him, one on the right, the [arranged no conferences, proposed no com soul that cl,q,eILl!qi, love, that. t The Rock of Offense-Concluded· selfishness. While .there are many in the The Comfort of the Scriptures world who are in no sense slaves. fa );~e: grosser sins of life, yet at the same time they A Devotional Meditation are slaves to worldliness and self. Knowing that they cannot serve Christ and the world By the Rev. David Freeman, Th.M. and that they cannot please Him and self; they stumble at Him and choose .the waY of "That I may know Him, and the power of we are clothed with the righteousness of least resistance, and so they,' maKe their , His Resurrection." Philip. 3:10. Christ. choice, and like Esau sell their right into the family of God for a. ,mess of pottage: E know the bodily resurrection of The Resurrection has power. to sustain. It They are not ready to, follow Him who said; . Christ to be a fact. There is no better furnishes the enabling power to endure the W "If any man would come after me, let 'hini a ttested fact. sufferings which are laid upon us. How deny himself and take up his cross daily we need to come to know such power. now! and follow me." . Together with a multitude who had seen We shall be able to count everything but But how great the loss and what 'a:' sad the Risen Lord, Paul had no sort of doubt loss for the excellency of the knowledge of mistake they make who reject Christ for about it. But to know that Christ rose from Christ when we experience it. the tomb is one thing and to know the power anyone of these reasons, for He is a tried of that stupendous event is another. It is "0 death, where is thy sting" we shall be Stone, a precious Stone, a sure Foundatio'n;' the power of His Resurrection that Paul able to say when Christ's victory over death and whosoever believetli on Him shall not yearned to know. This is the yearning of becomes ours. The grave will be to us only be ashamed. every Christian heart. a portal of entrance to where Christ sitteth "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, on the right hand of God. "That I may Let me hide myself in Thee; In desiring to know the 'power of His know Him, and the power of His Resurrec Let the water and the blood Resurrection we long to come into posses tion." It is deSiring much but God wiIi give From Thy riven side which flowed sion of an experience that flows from the it to us. "Him that cometh to Me I will in' Be of sin the double cure, mighty miracle of the empty grave. We want no wise cast out." Cleanse me froni its' guilt and' power.'" to be able to do justice to it in our hearts and lives. We come to know the power of the Resur rection when we too experience a resurrec tion. Nothing less than a resurrection Letters to the Editor experience will do justice to the Resurrec [The letters printed here express the convictions of the writers, and publication in these tion. "If ye then be risen with Christ" columns does riot necessarily imply either approval or disapproval on the part of the implies that a resurrection has taken place in Editors. 1.f correspqndents do not wish their names printed, they will please so request, us. For, "like as Christ wa,s raised up from but all are asked kindly to sign their names as an evidence of good faith. We do not the dead by the glory of the Father, even so print letters that come to us anonymously.] we also should walk in newness of life." It back for the Presbyterians, taking proper is a resurrection from sin. . We can no To Presbyterians North and. South care of the graves adjoining. ' longer serve sin. The old life was buried To the Editor of CHRISTIANITY TODAY: Winchester is on the great Lee Highway; with Him to die no more unto sin. SIR: An epochal event has occurred, and tourists through the Valley of VirginIa which should be known throughout our Pres This experience must be just as real to pass through this fine center of loyal Pres byterian world. In the early days of the us as the open grave was real. To know the byterianism. country, before there was a North or a power of the Resurrection is to experience The historian of the Presbyterian Church South, much of the strength of our church in actuality a cuttirig loose from the times of Winchester is Miss Mary E. Bush, resid" lay in Virginia. Thence came men of the past of our former sinful life. It is to know ing on North Loudoun Street. Archibald Alexander type. And when our what it is to possess a new and spiritual (THE REV.) HUGH W. WHiTE. people were almost swept away by the wave life in the soul. It is to seek those things Yencheng, Kiangsu, China. (pro tern: Neuse, of infidelity with which the Bolshevists of which are above. N. C.) that day flooded us, a revivai started in the For Christ did not rise to render us more hearts of three or four boys in Hampden Philip Mauro: View One secure in our sins. He did not triumph over Sidney College, Virginia, swept their 'own To the Editor of CHRISTIANITY TODAY:' death that we should be the slaves of that college and the Eastern states of our coun SIR: I certainly am sorry you gave Mr. which is worse than death. To know the try, and ultimately brought America back to Philip Mauro's new book so m,uch spa,c~ in. power of His Rising will not be ours if we God. the current issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY: do not rise from a spiritual death. In those early days the Assembly usually This will grieve the majority of your readers met in Philadelphia, but on one occasion, who, we are confident, are pre-millennialist. Now Christ liveth unto God. To know the 1799, met at Winchester, Virginia, in the Pre-millennjalism ,does not baseH§ belief power of His Resurrection is to know what building where also the Synod of Virginia upon, the "futurist" interpretation of. the it means to live continually with and for was entertained on eleven occasions. book of Revelation but rather upon the hope God. It is not to know what it is to yield It was from this same building that Gen. of Israel. What are the "a-millenniilists}' to unrighteousness. Daniel Morgan was buried in 1802, for in and "post-millennialists" > goin~ to .do with "J esus lives! for us He died: later life he joined the Presbyterian Church. all the prophecies regarding the restoration Then, alone to Jesus living, This building of gray limestone, on the of the Jewish race? What on earth,ha's God Pure in heart may we apide, east end of Piccadilly Street, and not far preserved the Jewish race for if Christ, is Glory to our Savior giving." from the new George Washington Hotel, was not coming back to the earth to' be their He justified all for whom He died when sold to the Baptists, and later used by the king? Can you not see that the ZioniSt. He burst the bonds of death. To experience colored Baptists as church and as school. movement, the great activity and transforma the power of it is to. have the assurance that Now public spirited ladies have bought it tion that is going on in Palestine ,today, 10 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April, 1933 even the anti-Jewish movement in Germany presents his case and the fullness with will men receive the life of God and be is but the budding of the "fig tree." The which he sets before the reader, not only come His children. church (organization not organism) is going his conclusions, but the steps by which they The Scriptures speak of men as dead to the dogs fast. What is going to prevent have been reached and the grounds on which dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2: 1.) A the world from going to smash if the Lord they rest, I have found to be very stimulat dead person is one devoid of life. In the does not return to stop it? And if the Lord ing to independent thought. natural world when life passes out, what winds up this old earth and brings in His But to this reader the, supreme merit of remains 'we call the corpse. I find the new heaven and new earth with no mil Mr. Mauro's books is, that it is all but im Koreans are amused at our Occidental way lennium of earthly peace and prosperity, possible to read them thoughtfully without of conducting funerals. We call the under what sense ~ould there be in His bringing seeing, how utterly contrary to Scripture is taker. He dresses the corpse and makes it His "sons from far" and then destroy that most deadening heresy that is today all look beautiful. But after all it; is only a ing them and their land. We would then be but, universal. The view "That all things corpse and we hasten to get it out of our tempted to suggest the accusation Moses continue as they were from the beginning" Sight before decompOSition sets in. God said the Egyptians might make if Israel were and that they shall so continue for ages yet says the unbelievers are dead. The life of destroyed in the wilderness. "Because the to be. Nothing could be more completely God is absent. They are walking corpses. Lord was not able to bring this people into contrary to the teaching of the New Testa Christ says that out of the heart of man the land which He sware unto them, there ment, and yet to me it seems that today proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries; fore He hath slain them in the wilderness" there is no doctrine that is more widely fornications, thefts, false witness, bIas· Numbers 14:16. taught, or taught with more assurance. phemies. (Matt. 15:19.) One other matter. If there is not to be a In the Patmos Visions published in 1925 How much of the so called Christian work literal thousand years of peace and prosper Mr. Mauro rejects both the futurist and is much like the work of the undertaker! ity upon a populated earth with Christ Historicist views of the Apocalypse, but does Really the great need of one who is dead is reigning, where is Satan going to get that not present a formulated view of the not expensive clothes, it is not money, it is vast number known as Gog and ,Magog Millennium. not one of a hundred things we might men which He is going to gather together to In the Hope of Israel; What Is It? Pub tion. What a dead man needs is life. So battle when He is released at the end of the lished in 1929 he presents with overwhelm with the unregenerate. His one great need thousand years, Rev. 20:7-9? It distinctly ing force the evidence that the Scriptures is to receive life-that is the life of God. says that there are "nations in the four have no place for an earthly Millennium of And we have the message, the Word in our quarters uf the 'earth." peace and material prosperity, either before possession which will give him that life. Much harm has been done by the or after the coming of Christ. In this, as Why then turn our attention to something spiritualizing method of scriptural interpre in the Commentary just published; Of else? It- is God's Word that He promises tation. We believe eGod gave the Bible Things That Must Shortly Come To Pass, will not return unto Him void. (Isa. 55: 11.) chiefly for common, plain every day folk and he leaves upon the mind of the reader the , Do you remember Ezekiel's great vision expected them to accept what He says in a impression that the New Testament seeks of the dry bones? He was carried out in the literal way, except where He distinctly says to make; That the Coming of Christ may be Spirit of the Lord and set down in a valley He is speaking figuratively. If God says very near and it behooves His servants to which was full of bones. He says there were His Son is to "Sit upon the throne of His be ready. very many and they were very dry. (Ezek. Father David" Luke 1:32 let's believe it. Yours most cordially, 37: 2.) God's question to him was, "Can When God says thru His prophet that "His (THE REV.) DAVID M. OGILVIE. these bones live?" Ezekiel did not have the (Christ's) feet shall stand in that day upon faith to say "Yes." He replied "Oh Lord the Mount of Olives" let's believe it literally. Hospital Evangelism-Continued God, thou knowest." (Ezek. 37:3.) Then When Jesus says that He will come and judge ruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth he was commanded to preach to these bones all nations Matt. 25:31-32, let's believe that and abideth forever." (I Peter 1:23.) . the Word of God. And as he preached God's these are actual nations, earthly nations and If a farmer wishes to raise corn he must Word there was a "shaking," and the bones again when the Word says Christ will rule sow the seed that contains the life of corn. came together, "bone to his bone." Then natIons, nations mind you, literal nations, In the same way if a man wishes to receive God told him to prophesy unto the wind . . . with a rod of iron whether the iron be the very life of God in hIs heart and thereby "Come from the four winds, Oh breath, and literal or not let us believe that Christ is become in reality a child of God he must breathe upon these slain, that they may going to have His chance of ruling the earth. receive the seed in his heart which contains live."; (Ezek 37:9.) You remember the re Man has made a mess of ruling long enough. the life of God. As Peter says this seed is sult. He preached as he was commanded We like CHRISTIANITY TODAY. It's a great the Word of God. It liveth and abideth for and breath came into them and they lived paper. God bless its editor and staff but ever. When planted in our hearts and acted and stood on their feet. please do keep the "a-millennial" and the upon by the Holy Spirit it imparts to us the Have you ever felt like Ezekiel as you "post-millennial" stuff out or I shall have to un created life of God Himself and we be have gone among men utterly devoid of the pray God to forgive me for getting mad. come His children. life of God? Is it possible for these bones Very cordially, The current method of sowing everything to live? Can those dead in trespasses and (THE REV.) A. H. GlLES. but the Word of God explains why many see sins rise in newness of life? Yes it is pos no fruit. Sowing beautiful moral precepts sible. If one like Ezekiel, will take the life· Philip Mauro: View Two and preaching social service instead of the containing and life-giving Word of God, and To the Editor Of CHRISTIANITY TODAY: Word of God explains why the ministry of preach it in the power of the Holy Spirit he Sm: I have read with pleasure your many is so barren. Suppose a farmer strews will see miracles of grace continually. Those article in the March issue, concerning the his field with precious gems. Will he reap dead in sins will receive the life of God and new edition of Philip Mauro's Commentary from them a crop of grain? He will not. live. on Revelation. It deserves to be widely He knows that he will receive a crop only if So much for the Message used in hospital read and carefully studied. he sows seed containing life, and' that the evangelism. While there is only on~ mes I have studied the 1925 edition with life of the crop he wishes. If we in our sage which has made good its9ffer to de pleasure and profit. Nowhere else have I ministry wish to see men receive the life liver mcn from sin and death, still the found so clear, so satisfying and so scrip of God let us sow the seed in the hearts of methods of conveying that message may tural an elucidation of the apocalyptic men which contains the life of God. Then differ. symbols. The modesty with which the writer and then only, according to scientific law (robe concluded.) April,1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 11 lowed the usual practise of including all immediately or remotely connected with the church. It reports 1901 members. The News of the Church First Church of Tacoma has been growing in active membership, yet it has placed on Correspondence, General the roll of suspended members hundreds who moved out of the city years ago. California Column Washington-Oregon-Idaho Notes By actual count the attendance at the weekly church services is equal to the mem By the Rev. Stanley H. Bailes By Dr. Roy Talmage Brumbaugh bership. There have been public confes HURCHES damaged by the recent AMODERNIST preacher has just given sions almost every Sunday for the last four C earthquake are coming back to nor .I\.. a lecture on psychology before a months. Four hundred attend the mid mal. Thousands of workmen have been group of University students in the North week service almost every week. Hundreds given employment and that is one of the west. He, as usual, had to discredit the gather together at numerous prayer meet silver linings to the cloud of sorrow. testimony of the Bible in his lecture. At ings held weekly.. The church is enjoying Our Long Beach churches suffered more the close of his lecture the meeting was a revival for which it has prayed for over than those of the neighboring cities. Al thrown open for questions. A University a year. though all of the churches of brick con student who was not a Christian said, Nine hundred attend the main Church struction were damaged. Earth tremors of "Dr.--, you are a minister in the Presby School every Sunday and more than three a gradually diminishing character have terian Church, are you not?" The preacher hundred are found in the Branch Schools. been felt for three weeks' after the first replied, "Yes." "You evidently do not hold God will bless prayer, Bible study and soul distinct shock, but all is peace again. to the teachings of that body as regards the winning anywhere. Bible," said the student. The modernist Easter gatherings at the various churches TACOMA, WASH. flushed slightly and answered, "Well, some are not so large this year as in previous of us interpret it differently." "But," con years. While the finan~ial shortage has caused some to return to church, many will tinued the seeker after information, "the Presbyterian Church has not changed its Denver and Vicinity not assume the financial obligation of interpretation of these doctrines, has it?" Rev. H. Clare Welker, Th.M. church membership. The modernist had to answer, "No." The LANS are being perfected whereby the Our St. Paul's Church with its aggres University student looked the preacher ,Strasburg, Byers and Wolf Creek sive and hard-worklng minister, Dr. G. A. P squarely in the face for a moment, and then Churches will be served by one pastor. It Briegleb reports the culmination of a very said, "Dr.--, you are obtaining money is contemplated to have the Rev. W. Rollin successful year despite financial difficulties. under false pretences. You are living a McCaslin who has been serving the Byers The church in a somewhat difficult com lie." The modernist had to take it squarely Church as stated supply carryon this work. munity has made a real gain and the out "on the chin." One who was there said The union effort is made necessary by the look is promising. that the irreverent doctor actually turned extreme financial stringency locally and by Our spring meeting of Presbytery is to pale. We commend the student. the limited amount available from the be held April 18, at our Euclids Heights, Dr. P. A. Philpott of Chicago led thirty Board of National Missions for the support Church in Los Angeles, when the annual churches of Portland, Oregon, in union of pastors on these home mission fields. It reports of the various lo~al boards will be meetings. These services were well at is also contemplated that the Rev. Benj. S. considered. The election of twenty-six tended. Christians were revived. Those Woodruff who was the former pastor at members to the general assembly at who participated in the campaign said that Strasburg will undertake, to serve the Columbus will also be a matter of business. these meetings were "tremendously worth Sedalia and Berkeley Gardens fields. Drs. Herbert Booth Smith, Hugh K. while." Mr. James W. Harris, a student in the Walker, and William S. Young extended In these three Synods salaries of pastors Presbyterian Theological Seminary of greetings and felicitations to the Rev. have been cut from twenty per cent to fifty Chicago will again supply the Otis, Bethany Augustus B. Prichard, D.D., celebrating his and more, yet the work goes on. The arm and Burdette fields for the summer months. seventy-ninth birthday at our Vermont of the Lord is' not shortened. The flocks Mr. Harris is the son of the Rev. James E. Avenue Church recently. Dr. Prichard, need to be shepherded and the Gospel is Harris, pastor at Beaver City, Nebr. '" the church's first pastor, preached with his still the power of God unto salvation. The rewards will be given later. In the, mean- Plans are being perfected for including old time vigor to a very large congregation. Grand Lake, Granby, Frazier, Tabernash A surprise birthday gift of seventy-nine , time, God's workers are "getting by" some how. and West Portal in a single parish to be dollars was presented to him by one of the served during the summer months by Mr. elders present. Dr. D. H. Hare, The Synodical Executive of Idaho, has been giving an illustrated Norman Horifer, a student in Col~rado Uni Dr. W. H. Reherd, President of West lecture in many churches on our work versity at Boulder and a candidate for minster College at Salt Lake City was a among the Indians. licensure by Denver Presbytery. This recent Los Angeles visitor. Dr. Reherd The Rev. Claude Richmond of Pocatello, larger parish is in the heart of the 'Rockies was entertained by the writer, Dr. Reherd Idaho, is chairman of the Young People's northwest of Denver. reports Westminster in a thriving condi Summer Conference. Mr. O. J. Bowman, 'who for fourteen tionwith more than two hundred students The Rev. E. W. Hallowell, Sabbath School years has conducted a Tourists' Bible Foruin in at~endance. missionary, writes, "certainly the Mormons at Estes Park each summer and who, as a The Rev. Milo Jamison, pastor of the are not retrenching in Idaho. Why should c\lnsequence, is known to many Presby University Presbyterian Church, Independ we?" terian people throughout the whole country, ent, whose dismissal from the Presbytery Do church statistics mean much, or little? recently conducted a campaign of Bible was one of the features of a recent meeting, It takes as much prayer and' effort to lead evangelism in the North Presbyterian conducts a radio devotional hour over a one soul to Christ in the Northwest as it Church, Denver, the Rev. Benj. F. Judd, prominent station at six-forty-five every does two in the east, or three in the south. pastor. , morning. He has a large following., The First Church of Tacoma could report The Rev. John C. E. Fry, D.D., field Los ANGELES, CALIF. twenty-eight hundred members if it fol- representative of the Board of Pensions, 12 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April,1933 was a recent visitor to Denver and vicinity. Minnesota, Wisconsin Letter him greatly for he was beloved brother in the gospel ministry. We wish him God's The Church Extension Board of Denver By the Rev. H. Wan'enAllen Pr!!sbYtery held its regular monthly meet richest blessing in his ministry in that ing. at the Auditorium Hotel, Denver, April HE Presbytery of Minneapolis met on strong hold of Evangelical Christianity. 12th. As this was the last meeting of the T April 3rd, at the Highland Park MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Board as now constituted the wives of the Church. The retiring moderator; Rev. H. members were present as its special guests. Warren Allen, preached the sermon, taking Ohio-Indiana-Kentucky Letter Under a ruling of the presbytery members as his subject, "The Church For the World By the Rev. GeTara H. Snell of the Board serve for three year terms and Today." Presbytery voted to have the ser ASTER time brings a host of special not eligible for reelection until at least mon printed and distributed to the Churches are services in its train. Many ministers a'year has intervened. Under this rule two of the Presbytery. Rev. Norman B. Harri E by their adherence to the original and God very able elder members, Messrs. F. Marion son of Oliver Church was elected moderator founded messages of Good Friday and Chelf of the South Boardway Church and for the ensuing year. Easter Day will make the season an op Wm. T. Wolvington of the Twenty-third Another young man, Frank Walkup was portunity for preaching with renewed A venue Church retire from the Board with licen:;;ed and ordained to the Christian min fervor the fundamental truths of the this meeting. Fitting words of apprecia istry. Dr. N. B. Harrison, Rev. Paul Gospel. Others will miss the point of the tion of their services were voiced by the Wright, Mr. R. D. Robb and Mr. C. D. Mann Cross and Empty Tomb, and preach president 'of the Board, the Rev. Thomas were elected commissioners to the Assem generalities. Such must be the case for Murray, D.D., of the First Avenue Church. bly, being the full quota for the Presbytery. Plans are being made for the Churches of example with a certain Presbyterian min Last month we reported the serious sick Minneapolis to take over the support of ister in Cincinnati who has asked a ness of,the Rev. Frank March of Elizabeth. Allan Clark, recently appointed missionary Unitarian minister to speak at his Good For a number of weeks his life was to Korea. Friday service on the words, "It is finished." despaired of but in answer, as we believe, Other Annual 'meetings of Presbytery A Uilitarian speaking on Christ's finished to the prayers of God's people he has made are, Duluth, at Duluth April 10th and 11th. work is understandable;' that he should a remarkable recovery and has recently Adams at Stephens, Minn. April 11th and speak on Christ's finished work in a Pres been removed from the Presbyterian Hos 12th. St. Paul at Goodrich Avenue Church byterian Church is or should be inconceiv pital, Denver, to his home in Elizabeth. April 18th. Red River at Baker, Minn. St. able. Has the finished work of Christ be ,The Rev. Andrew W. Hollars of Eckley Cloud at St. Cloud, Minn., Mankato at Lu come the same for both Presbyterian and receiltly conducted special evangelistic serv verne, Minn. on April 18th and 19th. Unitarian? God forbid. ices in the Bethany Church (rural) with Winona at Rochester, Minn., April 25th and To let the news of the church speak for gratifying results. 26th. itself: On March, 26th the Berkely Church, The Synod of Minnesota meets at Maca Denver, the Rev. George R. Edmundson, lester College, St. Paul, June 13th to 16th. Presbytery of Chillicothe, Ohio D.D., pastor, observed the 25th anniversary Dr. 'J. T. Bergen has accepted a call to The Rev. F. A. Johnson, minister of the of its founding with appropriate services. the Homewood Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro Church brings a welcome note. The Yuma Church, the Rev. Steele D. Minneapolis where he has been supplying He writes: "Our canvass is about completed Goodale, pastor, recently joined with the for two years. He will be installed on and we will do as well as last year. A few Methodist Church in a series of special April 13th. Rev. George Stickney has ac raised their pledges and practically every evangelistic services. The report is that the cepted a call to the Federated Church of one gave the same as last year." whole cOInmunity was greatly benefited. Fergus Falls, Minn. succeeding Rev. The Brotherhood of the First Church of The date of the Estes Park Young Charles Gerlinger who has gone to Sioux Chillicothe, Rev. P. B. Ferris, minister had People's Conference has been announced for Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Stickney comes as their guest speaker Monday evening, June 10-17. from the Congregational pastorate at April 3, Rabbi Jacob Tarshish of Columbus, Beloit Falls, Wisconsin. Rev. Paul Wright who spoke on "The Three Fundamental At the annual meeting of the Brighton of Minneapolis of Bethlehem has been se Problems of Life." Church of which the writer is pastor, the lected as chairman of the committee on Miss Margaret E. Hodge representing the session was enlarged by two members to World Brotherhood of the State Federation Board of Foreign Missions, and Mrs. Henry provide for two elders elected by the local of Churches. We believe his time could be Roe Cloud, representing the Board of Na Spanish Mission (Presbyterian). The com better employed. tional Missions spoke before the Presby municant members of the Mission are en The Minneapolis Presbyterial holds its terial at their meeting March 28 and 29 in rolled as members of the Brighton Church. annual meeting at Westminster Church the Concord Church near Frankfort, of These two new elders who are Spanish Minneapolis on April 13th and 14th. ' which Rev. R. L. Reynolds is pastor. Dr. Americans will have special oversight of Rev. Thomas F. Higgins has been called Willis B. Kilpatrick, pastor of the First tlle spiritual interests of the mission people. to the Stewart Memorial Church of Minne Church of Greenfield, presented "A Critique The religious services of the mission are apolis as stated supply. He has been for on Re-thinking Missions." conducted by the Rev. Jose I. Candelaria of the last year or two with the Moody Bible Presbytery will hold its regular spring theJ erome Park Mission of Denver, while Institute extension department. session April 17, 9.00 a.m. in the First Pres its week-day activities are carried on by Dr. E. Stanley Jones, Missionary and byterian Church of Chillicothe. Rev. J. Miss Lela Dillon. Both the above are sup author will speak at Mankato, Minnesota Stanley Mitchell, pastor of the Washington ported by the Board of National Missions. on June 6th. Court House Church is Moderator, and Dr. Dudng the past year the Mission received Willis B. Kilpatrick of Greenfield is Stated ten. inembers on confession of faith and one Rev. Evan D. Welsh of Bethany Presby Clerk. by certificate.. The present net membership terian Church, Minneapolis has accepted a is now thirty-seven. call to the College Church of Wheaton Illinois. Mr. Welsh will be greatly missed Cincinnati Presbytery ,The Rev. E. Irwin Gilmore, Ph.D., is in Minneapolis Presbytery where he was a The Church of the Covenant, Dr. Frank opening up an entirely new work in the strong contender for the faith, and on the R. Elder, minister, had noon-day services neighborhood of Dupont. So far his efforts University of Minnesota campus where he Monday to Thursday during Holy Week, have been attended by considerable success. wielded a great influence for Christ among and a three hour service on Good Friday in BRIGHTON, COL. the students. Your correspondent will miss which Dr. Elder and Rev. Gerard H. Snell April,. 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 13 illteriJ.atedspeaking on the seven words Rev. Mr. Harold also preached at Decatur. In the course of his discussion Dr. Jones from the Cross. In the evening of Good In the churches of Rev. Paul E. Ferguson, gave his evaluation of the "laymen's re. Friday an organ recital preceded an ap Sardinia, and Rev. Vernon P. Martin, port." The speaker commended the report propriate play entitled "Thy Kingdom Georgetown, cottage prayer meetings were for its opposition "to denominationalism, Cometh" by Florence Converse. Easter' held each night of Holy Week. The Green declaring that in their experience of Christ Day opened with a Sunrise Service at 6.45, evangelistic party held services in West all Christians are one. He further agreed and closed with the evening service at Union, Dr. Robert McInturf, minister. with the Report that the missionaries were which the Hansellmann Commandery of not all that could be desired. "We mis Knight Templars were guests. Toledo Presbytery sionaries recognize that we have a job that The First Church on Walnut Hills held Two hundred officers and pastors, meet is too big for us. Send us your better men. a Sunrise Service in Eden Park under the ing for the second annual officers fellow Let the makers of the Report come out and auspices of the young people, at which Dr. ship, heard Dr. Cleland B. McAfee, the eve join us in the work; and it is possible that Frederick 'N. McMillin, minister, spoke. ning of April 3, in the Bowling Green in one or five years they will be more Rev. E. P. Westphal of the Board of Church, Rev. Arthur R. Siebens, minister, humble about their own abilities." In the Christian Education spoke at Palm Sunday, with Rev. J. RWalter, moderator, presid third place Dr. Jones commended the Re Holy Week, and Easter'services of the ing. Said Dr. McAfee (as quoted) "No man port for inculcating a sympathetic approach Pleasant Ridge Church of which Rev. W. disbelieves in foreign missions; he only dis to the non-Christian faiths. He declared L. Schmalhorst is minister. believes in an ignorant concept of foreign that Christ, the light that lighteth every - Rev. Frank R Elder was elected to the missions. Every man believes in the re man, had been before the missionaries in Moderatorship at the March meeting of moval of tumors, the removing of cataracts, the non-Christian systems, that every bit Presbytery. Rev. Earl R. North, Executive the healing of lepers, etc" etc. In foreign of truth, goodness and beauty in these sys Secretary, was elected Stated Clerk for the countries this has been possible' only tems was from Him and ought to be assimi term 'ending January 1936. through foreign missions." lated by Indian Christianity. In opposition Presbyterian participants in the union to the Report the speaker' found Ghandi's Mahoning Presbytery, Ohio Good Friday services in Fremont were "rose-perfume" method of spreading reli gion by life without words insufficient. Hubbard Church, Hubbard, received Reverends J. R. Walter, First Church, Speech is a necessary and normal part of twenty-one new members at its Communion George C. Gerlach, East Side Church, and the expression of one's life. Further Dr. Service April 2. In the evehing of the same John Todd. At the last meeting of the Fre Jones pointed out that a blunting of the day the ministers of Hubbard surprised mont Ministerial Association a paper was distinctivities -period of modernism it abhorred not only painful conflicts, succeeded in bringing tinues to the end of May. The winter ses the standards of the church and every other l'Eglise REiformee-the largest denomina sion is the period of hard study. There has confession of faith but also any formula tion numerically-to a proclamation of the been the usual number .of American and tion of faith whatsoever. For it appeared evangelical faith in the general sYnod of Canadian students at these centres of impossible to formulate the religious feel 1872. When in 1905 there came the separa learning, pursuing post-graduate studies ings. But as time went on the peculiar tion ·of the churches and the state, about with a view to the degree, D.Phil. This de features of the old modernism disappeared. two-thirds of the Reformed churches (400 gree is s'ought for more eagerly by stu Then came a second and third generation, out of 600) rallied round the Declaration of dents from abroad than by Scottish stu liberal as its predecessors, without doubt, faith of 1872 and took the name of Eglise dents, as it is regarded by the former as but with some understanding of the his reformees evangeliques. One might have a highly commendable qualification for as torical rights of the doctrinal standards hoped that having the liberty to apply their pirants to chairs in the seminaries of their and of the significance and necessity of a principles, which were no other than the respective countries. The D.Litt. degree is confession. Especially the prematurely principles of the Christianity of the more highly prized by Scottish stUdents, as deceased professor Roessingh, a man of apostles and reformers, these churches, it is undoubtedly the hall-mark of the high great knowledge and kindly spirit, had little by little, through their faithfulness est proficiency in divinity studies to which much influence in this new direction. And and with the aid of God, would succeed in a student can attain who must have had this month there appeared a kind of modern reconstituting around these principles honours in his previous studies before he confession of faith which had been pre protestant unity in France. Rationalism is eligible to submit a Thesis. But the most pared by a committee of scholars who had has not acquiesced. Under the name 01 coveted of all degrees is the honorary one designated themselves as the Roessingh Modernism it has infiltrated deeply into of D.D. or LL.D. The latter is conferred Committee. This confession has five ar the Eglises rEiformees evangeliques and also mostly on others than ministers, but the ticles (God, Revelation, Jesus Christ, The into the Lutheran, Methodist, Free, Baptist former almost exclusively on ministers. New Man, Kingdom of God). It is quite and other churches. Profiting from the un The four Scottish Universities confer on an liberal. Nevertheless, it is an important settled condition of mind and heart follow average five each annually; and as the fact that the liberals also, amidst the ing upon the war of 1914-18, the Protestant choice of the Senatus is on an entirely un spiritual troubles of our time, are impelled Federation of France, founded shortly be denominational and world-wide basis, the to formulate their faith. fore for the defense of the common inter number of Scottish ministers who are AMSTERDAM ests of all of the protestant churches of privileged to wear the hood of D.D. is rela France, succeeded in obtaining the collabo tively very small. In the yearly list issued ration on religious grouncls of the most quite recently by the University of Edin Evangelical Protestantism in France diverse elements of protestantism, due to burgh, for example, the name of only one Scottish minister appears, the remaining By Pastor A. Cruvellier, of the Eglise the lassitude or to the ignorance of the four are well known divines outside of Scot l'eformee evangelique. evangelical churches and to the weakness of their leaders, a collaboration which had land. Among them is President George W. HE situation of .evangelical protestant been expressly forbidden to the Federation Richards of Lancaster Seminary, Pennsyl T ism in France is at the present moment at the beginning. This is the triumph of vania, and President of the Presbyterian highly confused. Indeed it is a true halt, the old liberal principle: the legitimacy of Alliance. not to say backward movement, which must all the tendencies within the church of The Free Church College, Edinburgh, had be noted in the advance march, slow with Christ. It is the triumph of doctrinal its own complement of students from out doubt, but real, which evangelical skepticism. abroad. The instruction in this college is protestantism was making in France up to This is where we now are. One after in strict conformity with the Westminster the time of the world war in 1914. another the societies which according to Confession of Faith, but it is of such a To properly understand the situation of their fundamental principles were most standard as qualifies any of its students, protestantism in France sight must not be evangelical have opened the doors of their who have graduated in Arts, to sit at the lost of the fact that protestantism, after boards of directors to the modernists. examinations appointed by the Universities having, in the heroic epoch of the Reforma There is, therefore, at present the greatest for degrees for their own divinity students. tion in the sixteenth century, conquered confusion. The work of God cannot but There were in attendance at this college two-thirds of France, was almost entirely suffer and it has suffered greatly; deficits, during last session: two students from the wipeg out by three centuries of violent per both spiritual and financial, are growing. continent of Europe; two from Australia; secutions. When the revolution of 17.89 However, all is far from lost, for God two from Ireland; one from South America, gave liberty of conscience to the Protest who "forsaketh not his saints" (Psalm and one from North America. The last ants, there remained only a very small num 37:8) has not ceased, in response to their referred to is Rev. Alfred E. Eppard, an ber of them. Under the protection of the fervent prayers and to their activity which alumnus of Westminster Seminary of Phila state, protestantism reorganized its nothing discourages, to send the breath of delphia. He gives promise of reflecting churches and rebuilt its houses of worship, His spirit over our churches in France. much c~edit on that young seminary. but the protection of the state could not be Movements of revival appear here and A striking feature of life among the enjoyed without very grave drawbacks. there and permit us, in spite of the sorrows youngest students at the Universities of Such protection favors rationalism which of the present, to look forward to the future this country is a strong tendency to return thus instals itself officially in the church. with confidence. That will be the subject to dogma. In English Universities, per Its influence was such that when, under the of our next letter, God willing. haps more markedly than in Scotland, gentle courses of the revival of the nine VAUVERT, GARD. young scientists are entrenching themselves teenth century, the evangelistic and mis behind the ramparts of a mechanist mate sionary societies were founded, this had to Scottish Letter rialism, reinforced by political considera take place outside of the church. Further tions. But more notable and popular than By the Rev. Prof. Donald Maclean, D.D., more schisms resulted. New ecclesiastical this is the movement among all kinds of FI'ee Church College, Edinbltrgh. groups were constituted to propagate intellectuals towards Rome as she offers Christian faith and life. The evangelical HE winter session at the Universities them the authority for which they crave, Christians who, in spite of the powerful T and Divinity Colleges has now come and the symbols for which there is an in rationalism present in the church, had re to a close. A brief summer term of six creasing reverence. fused to leave it, at last, after long and weeks begins on .the 15th April and con- Dreary rationalistic criticism with its 18 CHRISTIANITY TODAY Aprit 1933 issue in quicksands of religious thought is "Sermons by Rev. W. L. Baxter, M.A., logical Faculty-Presbyterian, Congrega rapidly proving its futility to satisfy the D.D." to be obtained from G. and 1. Innes, tional and Methodist. rising generation. Thoughtful young peo Crossgate, Cupar-Fife, Scotland for 2/4 There is no question as to the learning ple are losing confidence in that form of postpaid. and ability of Dr. Angus. The question is Protestantism, hitherto so popular, that is Dr. W. E. Orchard who, as Presbyterian as to the nature of his teaching, and there unwilling to make any dogmatic statements minister at Enfield, accentuated his ad can scarcely be any question as to that. while it at the same time toys with all sorts vanced liberalism by openly associating He is the author of a book which was re of modernisms. It would seem as if Cal himself with the notorious "New Theology" viewed by Rev. J. Ward Harrison, Editor vinism might have again to rescue Scotland propaganda of R. J. Campbell in the heart of "Glad Tidings." In a series of articles, from Rome and infidelity as it did in the of London, has, after years of toying with this editor gave excerpts from the book seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. ritualism and sacredotalism while an ac with trenchant criticisms. In his book EDINBURGH credited minister of the Congregational "The Religious Quests of the Graeco Roman Union of England, gone over to Rome. He World" Dr. Angus makes the death of has published what he describes as "An Christ simply that of a martyr. Autobiography of Religious Development," English Letter Dr. Angus also gave addresses to which and he makes the extraordinary statement, the Sydney "Morning Herald" gave pub By the Rev. R. Wright Hay, Secretary, The in describing "The Crossing," "I do not licity. His teaching was challenged by Rev. Bible League, London. know whether I should ever have looked R. J. H. McGowan, a Presbyterian minister T is of significance to all Bible-Believers, this way" (that is Romewards) "if I had of high standing who has consistently stood I that the Servant of God who confronted never had an evangelical conversion." It is for the great essentials of the faith, by Wellhausen's Prolegomena, when it began pathetically, nay tragically clear that Rev. Hugh Paton, the welI-known minister to menace the Christian Faith in pre BIBLICAL conversion would have made im of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church and dominantly Presbyterian Scotland, with a possible the eccentric career as a religious by Rev. D. Hughes, Methodist. Prof. Angus reply which shattered all its pretensions teacher and leader which has culminated also has his supporters. Interest in the as constituting a valid claim to recognition in his "Submission to the Holy See." Dr. controversy has extended through Aus as genuine scholarship, has quite recently' Orchard's failure even since entering the tralia. The right of Dr. Angus to use an rendered like service in relation to an out Roman Catholic Church to apprehend the environment and emoluments consecrated standing British representative of the fact of the finished propitiatory work of to the teaching of the historic faith in order rationalistic school of Bible Criticism. Dr. Christ as the sufficient ground of a sinner's to promulgate his modern views, so called, W. L. Baxter, Senior Minister of Cameron, salvation, shows itself in his description is also in question. of the ordeal of submission when he says, Fyeshire, in an able pamphlet "The Bible's The marvel is not that a storm has arisen First Verse: Moses or Moffatt," has done "Whatever pains were entailed, I feel I could offer them up in union with His suf but that it has not come before. The in for Moffatt's capricious treatment of Holy fluence of teaching of this kind, if not quite ferings to make some atonement for errors Scripture what his "Sanctuary and Sacri so pronounced in type has been seen in a and mistakes of the past." fice" did for Wellhausenism nearly forty weakening of doctrin~l teaching for some years ago. The late Professor Sayce, the The autobiography gives the impression time. eminent Assyriologist of Oxford University that Dr. Orchard regards himself as hav Dr. Angus published a creed which might has highly commended it and the Editor of ing been walking in God's light every step very well be put side by side with that of The Bible League Quarterly speaks of "This of his way even when denying the inerrancy Dr. Major of Ripon ColIege, England. invaluable booklet" and adds "Dr. Baxter of Holy Scripture and questioning the There is much beauty of sentiment, but the demolished Wellhausenism, and the same Reformed Faith. And where one would same partial statement and tragical omis knowledge and reasoning power, combined have welcomed some sign of contribution with true piety, are here brought to bear towards the Lord Himself in respect of his sions. on Dr. James Moffatt's perversion of Holy public denials of revealed truth all that For there is nothing new about Modern Writ.. The antidote should be applied wher Dr. Orchard says in that connection is in ism, except perhaps the great daring with ever the poison is operating." his Epilogue where expressing his gratitude which it sets the teaching of the apostles, to "Holy Mother Church" he says "If I particularly Paul, at variance with that of This concise exposure of the baselessness have spoken anything that seems like un the Master, etc. of the self-called Higher criticism is now filial criticism, or uttered unsound opinion, Christ promised to the disciples the' Holy incorporated in a volume of remarkable I am profoundly sorry, I unreservedly with Spirit to guide them. We know the claim sermons which Dr. Baxter has published. draw it and gladly at all times submit my of Paul in regard to his gospel. Dr. Angus The presentation of saving and sanctifying self to her loving connection and wise judg and other teachers evidently believe that truth in the series of eleven sermons con ments." What a warning to those who dis Paul and the other apostles were mistaken, tained in the volume exemplifies the type regard the authority and sufferings of the and that it was left to Modernist teachers, of preaching which disparaging views of Word of God written! nearly two millenniums after, to free their the Bible have made rare on the part of LONDON gospel from the influence of "Graeco-Roman preachers trained to think of matters of categories," or Jewish influences and give revelation apart from the revealing Spirit us what Christ really taught or what He and, His holy oracles; and it is to be hoped meant to teach. For it seems that on some that there will be a demand for the book in Letter from Melbourne, Australia matters they know better than He did. It the United States and Canada, that the By Rev. H. T. Rush (Secretary of the Bible seems amazing assumption and presump veteran prota-gonist against destructive Union of Victoria). tion. They turn back the story of the criticism of the Bible may at the age of Christian centuries, and they do it in the ninety-three exercise a wider ministry of N a previous letter it was stated that name of evolution too! the Word than ever before. Readers on I Australia in so far as its religious life both sides of the Atlantic will be helped to is concerned, is just waking up to the real Dr. Angus has done this service. He has realize that the evangelical and evangelistic ization of a great crisis. brought out into relief and focused, teach preacher is the man to combine with his The realization has come through a storm, ing that has been in our midst in some preachings painstaking defence of the and the storm has been raised by Dr. Angus, quarters, at least, for a long time. Gospel which he preaches. The volume is of Sydney, professor of the joint Theo- MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Aprit 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY Korea Letter to the Chosen Christian College (union in Thereupon it was moved by the Rev. D. stitution supported by Presbyterian and Wilson Hollinger, pastor of Bethany Church, By the Rev. Bruce F. Hunt Methodist Boards). Trenton, that Drs. Machen and Speer be HE first Sunday in March is Christian. The Korean Presbyterian Church is sup allowed one hour each, that subsequent de T Education Sunday in the Korean porting three missionary families and one bate be limited to ten minutes for each per Presbyterian Church. .A collection has single evangelistic woman worker in son who wished to speak. This motion was been taken by which a scholarship aid fund Shantung. This missionary enterprise is carried. Dr. Machen then proceeded to the has been established. Three young men carried on with the Thanksgiving offerings front of the church .. After consultation with have been helped through their University of the Korean Church, which last year the Moderator, he mounted the stairs to the courses by this fund and two are already amounted to Y7,499.80 or approximately pulpit. The debate began. rendering valuable service in Mission Insti $1,499 at present exchange. This work in Dr. Machen opened his case with disarm tutions as teachers. Six are still pursuing Shantung', China, embraces 55 churches and ing informality. After references to the their work in institutions of higher learn groups with a total membership of 1308. use of material furnished by the Rev. A. B. ing, four in Japan and two in the United Seven schools for Chinese children are also Dodd, of the North China Theological States. Thus the Korean Church is training conducted. Seminary, he explained that Dr. Dodd's its own future leaders. A wave of spirit-worship is sweeping testimony was supplied at his (Dr. A new agricultural program, sponsored through one portion of Korea like a con Machen's) request, and that Dr. Dodd had by the Japanese Government, advocates the tagious disease. The strange part of it is already presented his evidence before rep abolition of superstitious practices. One that it is the men who are guilty this time. resentatives of the Board of Foreign Mis is glad to see every effort to abolish sorcery In this day of schools, radios, newspapers, sions. Dr. Dodd could not, therefor, be ac and worship of evil spirits. But one won autos and airplanes people are perplexed cused of having taken his dissatisfactions ders just what the definition of super that such a fetish could take such common to the public without first having given the stitious practice is when he sees Buddhist hold. The superstitious practice has to do Board an opportunity to act. Dr. Machen temples renovated and Shinto Shrines' set with a devil post made of a grain crusher, then pointed out a few minor verbal errors up in every village in Korea boasting as used to ward off small pox. All the men of citation in his printed brief, and wel many as two or three Japanese homes. of a village go en masse to a neighboring comed any other corrections of the kind that A recent Japanese newspaper carried the village and steal a foot-worked grain mill readers might notice. following headline, "New Association Seeks (consisting of a long rough pole, forked at Plunging then into the main stream, he Prosperity by Religion" 'and went on to say, one end and with a mallet at the other) said courteously that he was glad because "Promotion of national prosperity through from some farmer. It must be stolen to be of the presence of Dr. Speer. Notwith religion is the aim of an association called of any value. This is decorated and set up standing differences, he had never lost a the Nippon Kokoku Domei. It will co in front of their own village, and offerings high regard for Dr. Speer. Dr. Speer was operate with the Ministry of Education in of food are placed before it. With the ex eloquent,-without doubt one of the out assisting religious welfare." Someone evi ception of a few predominately Christian standing figures of the Christian world. Be dently thinks God and Mammon may be communities, every village in the affected cause of Dr. Speer's eloquence, Dr. Machen linked. section has put up one or more of these felt himself at a disadvantage. Yet he was Recently Mr. H. D. Chang ·donated a col charms. glad, for all that, because Dr. Speer was lection of plants valued at Y20,000 ($4000) CHUNGJU, KOREA the best exponent of certain views, and he would rather oppose its strongest than its weakest exponent. He (Dr. Machen) was not eloquent,-could not be. If this overture Machen-Speer Debate Historic Event received any votes at all, it would not be due to the arts of persuasion of any speaker, but because of the power of the truth. in Presbyterian Church Dr. Machen then read a telegram from the Rev. Clarence E. Macartney, D.D., min By a Staff Oorrespondent ister of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, as follows: OT in many years has the Presby documenting his charges concerning the "YOU ARE AT LIBERTY TO USE N terian Church witnessed such a Board and its work. LETTER FROM OUR SESSION BUT NOT dramatic and significant event as thec1ash The Fourth Presbyterian Church, where THE LETTER FROM THE BOARD." ing in debate on April 11th, before the Pres the meeting was held, filled up rapidly as Then he read the letters referred to in bytery of New Brunswick of Dr. Robert E. the hour for the debate, 2:30 P. M., neared. the telegram. They are found in another Speer and Dr. J. Gresham Machen. Dr. Ministers and laymen from several Eastern column. Machen had introduced an overture concern states, professors and students from Prince Dr. Machen observed that he had read ing the Foreign Board, at the preceding ton and a few from Westminster, crowded these letters, in order to show that, in being meeting. (Text in another column.) Dr. the church. The usual humdrum Presbytery disquieted by the actions of the Board, he Speer had been invited to attend and speak atmosphere soon gave way to a sense of did. not stand alone. There were a host of to the motion. So for the first time the suppressed excitement. others throughout the church who felt and outstanding militant conservative scholar Balloting on Commissioners to the As believed as he did. stood on the same platform with the fore sembly having been completed, and matters One further preliminary statement should most representative of religious pacifism to of a routine nature having been disposed of, be made, he said. So often men do not meet discuss the missionary policies of the the Moderator announced the order of the on common ground in debate. This is be church. day, and called upon Dr. Machen. Immedi cause they have no common criterion of Prior to the meeting of the Presbytery, ately the latter arose, announcing that he truth. The Board was on trial,-as was Dr. Machen had prepared and sent to the would read the overture and would be glad proper, the responsibility resting ultimately members of the Presbytery, and to the to speak to it if it were seconded. Having upon us all-and we must judge whether its members and secretaries of the Foreign read it, seconds came at once from various course is right or wrong, true or false. Board, a llO-page pamphlet, completely parts of the floor. What is the standard of judgment? He 20 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April,1933 wished to be perfectly clear, His standard Bible without hesitation or fear to learn of judgment is simply and solely this Dr. Machen's Proposed Overture it duty in faith and practice, finding its Blessed Book which lies open before us on norm always in Jesus Christ who is its this pulpit. The only method by which the The Presbytery of New Brunswick ultimate authority. The Bible can always truth is to be found is to compare the re respectfully overtures the General be relied upon in these two vital fields and ports of the Board, the speeches of its Assembly of 1933. hence it is called the only infallible rule for secretaries, the testimony of its mission this purpose. This does not deny the 1. To take care to elect to positions aries, with the things written in this Book. existence of truth in many places; it locates on the Board of Foreign Missions If the things that are being said and done complete reliability in the Word of God." only persons who are fully aware of by all these persons are not in accord with But this is wrong. You cannot separate the the danger in which the Church spheres of faith' and practice from the rest the things written in this Book, then we stands and who are determined to of truth, because there is nothing that is must correct them in loyalty to Christ and insist upon such verities as the full not included in them. Men tried to lift the the gospel. truthfulness of Scripture, the virgin Other standards of jUdgment are freely birth of our Lord, His substitution Bible out of controversy by saying that it was not a book of science and history. offered. For example, the Rev. President ary death as a sacri~ce to satisfy That is wrong. The Bible is a book of J. Ross Stevenson, a member of the Board Divine justice, His bodily resur of Foreign Missions, in the February, 1933, rection and His miracles, as being science and history simply and precisely number of the Missionary Review of the essential to the Word of God and because it deals with facts. Let no one mis World, in endorsing Buchmanism, had said, our Standards and as being neces understand. The speaker held the Bible to "Changed lives are as they always have sary to the message which every be true from beginning to end, and held that been, the unanswerable apologetic of a vital, missionary under our Church shall it is true because it is God's word. glowing Christian faith." proclaim. The test of truth is the Bible. The first This must be rejected, that was not the 2. To instruct the Board of Foreign sermon ,after Pentecost was Peter's sermon criterion of truth. Is the "life changing" of Missions that no one who denies recorded in the Second Chapter of the Acts. Buchmanism the new birth spoken of in the absolute necessity of accept Had Peter been preaching that sermon in the Word of God ?This first criterion, "ex ance of such verities by every modern fashion he would have said "Look at perience" must be rejected. candidate for the ministry can me! Look at my wonderful religious experi Another standard offered is "the mind possibly be regarded as compe ence. Don't you want to share it and be as of Christ." Of course if one could hear tent to occupy the position of I am?" But no. Peter presented Christ, the Christ Himself speaking, we would accept Candidate Secretary. Christ of history and fact. Today many people when they "preach Christ" mean the it as showing His will perfectly. But the 3. To instruct the Board of Foreign trouble is, the phrase as used today does "Christ in them"-and not the Christ of the Missions to take care lest, by the Bible. not mean that,-it means rather the com wording of the application blanks bined mind of the weak present-day fol for information from candidates If there is no power in the church today, lowers of Christ. This must be rejected. It and from those who are asked to the reason is perfectly plain. Men are is no substitute for the Bible. express opinions about them, or in preaching themselves or the "Christ in The same was true of other standards any other waYt the impression be themselves" instead of opening the Bible, offered today: the so-called "spirit of produced that tolerance of oppos and, as God's ambassadors, preaching the Christ" and "the teachings of Jesus." He ing views or ability to progress in Christ of the Bible. Paul in writing his did not wish to be misunderstood. Every spiritual truth or the liket is more first epistle to the Thessalonians said of word our Lord ever spoke is true. But as important than an unswerving faith- ' them that they had turned to God from idols. people often use this phrase today they are fulness in the proclamation of the Men must have preached to them the im doing despite to the teaching of Christ Him Gospel as it is contained in the mutable justice of God. They must be self' because they are doing despite to the Word of God and an utter unwill brought again into the presence of the rest of the Bible. ingness to make common cause Throne! Some people said that they In holding this view of the Bible he dif with any other gospel whether it preached Christ alone. That cannot be. It fered from the implications of what Dr. goes under the name of Christ or is an awful sin, this worship of a purely Speer had said in his latest book on "The not. human Jesus. It is an offense against God. Finality of Jesus Christ," whether Dr. Speer 4. To warn the Board of the great Paul also told them to "wait for His son himself did or did not observe those impli danger that lurks in union enter from Heaven." Where has this motive gone cations. Dr. Speer had in Lecture II in the in mission work today? To wait for the prizes at home as well as abroadt book classed "Judaism" among the non in view of the widespread error in return of Christ? The Bible taught that that Christian religions and had said that there our day. coming was to be catastrophic, glorious. was a "deep generic breach" between Chris Instead of this men are often exclusively tianity and Judaism, Christianity being "a interested, today, in setting up conditions new and incommensurable religion." There' of the Kingdom of God upon this earth. was, Dr. Machen said, just one religion against Judaism. The difference is pro And the Eternal Son of God is Jesus of based upon a supernatural revelation from found between a belief in the Old Testament Nazareth. "Even Jesus" Paul says, "who God, beginning with the fall of man and as a supernaturally given revelation of God, delivereth us from the wrath to come." As running all through God's dealings with his true in every word, and a belief in it as we read those words of Paul we think how covenant people in Old Testament and New merely a part of the preparation of the sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a be Testament times. The Bible included the world for Christ. He held up a statement liever's ear. Why is the name of Christ Old Testament as well as the New Testa on the ordination vows of the Presbyterian "sweet"? It was sweet to Paul "because ment, and the distinction between it and Church issued by the Candidate Depart He saved us from the wrath to come." Men any other book and between the revelation ment to prospective missionaries. It said in forget the wrath of God today. He asked that it records and any other revelation is part: Dr. Speer through the Moderator to tell the distinction between the supernatural and "The question about the Bible should be how much "the wrath of God" was empha the natural. This book unquestionably taught taken in its entirety. The Church has found sized today in mission conferences. In his that Christianity is a new religion as over during all its years that it can go to the recent book, referredcto before, Dr. Cleland April, 1913 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 11 B. McAfee, a Secretary of the Board, had were willing to sign it. But there had been up men and women who will go forth and referred to the doctrines of eternal loss no public warning by the Board to the not be ashamed to carry it to the ends of apart from Christ as a secondary motive, Church,-no speaking out against the great the earth. a motive that might be needed by some but attack on the Gospel contained in the re When he ended, silence remained un could be dispensed with by others. But if port. When this great attack came, those broken. Then the Moderator rose to his one would find the most uncompromising who would not speak out against it were feet, cleared his-throat, and spoke. And expression of the wrath of God, he needed violating not only one text, or a text here everyone was back in Presbytery again. not to look into the volumes of Church and there. They were violating the whole Dr. Speer. theologians. He did not need to go to Paul, Bible! One word, almost forgotten, should The promised eloquence was not forth but to Jesus, and hear from His lips the be learned over again by Christians. Chris coming. To say this is no injustice to Dr. solemn assertion of that motive of fear tians should learn to say NO! Speer. For he had consciously determined that is so despised today. He held up a red-bound book in his hand. not to be the orator before arriving in Tren Then he read a statement from one of It was the report of the Foreign Missions ton, preferring rather to read word for the application blanks used by the Board Conference of 1932. In the section dealing word from a typewritten statement. This for prospective missionaries. They are re with Latin-American work was the report statement did not even attempt to refute quired to apply in the following terms: "I of a committee. And that report expressed the matters alleged in Dr. Machen's printed have fully and prayerfully considered the itself as saying that one of the great ac argument. It could not, of course, have any challenge and privilege of Christian service complishments of the year was the publica relevancy to Dr. Machen's speech. It con abroad, and desire to share with my fellow tion in Spanish of ·the works of the Rev. sisted solely in an argument against the men the inestimable values of the Gospel Harry Emerson Fosdick. Glorying in that! terms of the proposed overture, based of Jesus." Would a man want to sign that And whose name was signed as Chairman mainly on the repeated argument that a if he belil?ved that apart from the gospel of the Committee? Not the name of some number of Assemblies during the past men are under the" awful wrath and curse well-known Modernist. He named several. hundred years had decided against the of God? No,-the name signed to that report as methods proposed in the overture. Turning to church unionism abroad, Dr. chairman was the name 0/ Robert E. Speer. But before commencing to read his manu Machen observed that some of the creeds He recognized the power of Dr. Speer's script, Dr. Speer made a preliminary state of these bodies seemed to reflect men who eloquence, the God-given ability to sway ment. He said that he had not come to are interested in seeing how little of Chris men as he could. He (Dr. Machen) would engage in any debate or controversy. He tian truth they can get along with. The rather have that power than all the king was glad to come at the invitation of the Bible, on the other hand, is interested in doms of this world. Yet truly, he would Presbytery to be of whatever help he could what the whole truth of God is. And when rather throwaway all his eloquence as as the Presbytery sought to deal wisely and we speak of the System of Doctrine con well as all those kingdoms if he had them, justly with the overture. The simple ques tained in Holy Scripture, we do not mean and account it all as filthy rags rather than tion is: what action is wise and right, for a collection of disjecta membra that men have his name signed to that report. [A the good of the Church, and the mind of have gathered together. We mean on the pause. The silence of death.] Christ? ["In the full sense of St. Paul" he contrary that the whole system itself is in He spoke of Mrs. Buck. She had written hastened to add, doubtless remembering Dr. the Bible. There is no power in an incon articles that were plain repudiations of the Machen's rejected criteria.] In order not sistent Christianity. Consistency demands gospel. Yet the Board retained her, appeal to be drawn into controversy, he had written defense, controversy. And to anyone who ing to both kinds of people within the out in advance a statement of facts and cares to take the trouble to study it, it is Church,-to those who approve her and to principles, which he began to read. plain that the missionary effort of the New those who would never give a cent of their But why, asked many, should Dr. Speer Testament was radically controversial. money for such departures from the gospel. wish to shun "controversy"? If he had not [All this time the speaker had, in a This appeal to both was not honest. Dis come to reply to whatever Dr. Machen had gradual process, step by step, completely honesty is always wrong,-even in a church! alleged or might allege, why had he come captured the attention and imagination of The Board would do well if it would say to at all? As for his rather weary citation" of his audience. A deathly silence hushed the those who support Mrs. Buck, and whose what this or that Assembly had decided, church, full as it was. Men's ears were gifts they fear to lose: "Keep your millions anyone else could have done it with access straining to catch every syllable. Like of dollars. Weare far poorer if we receive to the Minutes of the Assemblies and !J. some great figure of days gone by,-a Knox, them than if we reject them." As it is, sharp pencil. Noone, so far as could be a Luther or an Edwards, the speaker's face many pe"ople who give money have no idea ascertained, denied that the Assemblies was composed and serene, lit as with a that they are helping to support such a quoted had taken the action they did. The divine certainty and conviction. Here was thing as the Church of Christ in China. real concern was not about assemblies of true eloquence,-not the eloquence of the Dr. Machen ended his address with an long ago when different personalities and facile phrase and the sonorious period, but appeal of such strength and lofty thought circumstances exercised effects now in the eloquence of deep smoldering moral that the reporter was simply unable to calculable, and before the rise of Modernism earnestness that now blazed up like a con catch all the words. And even if he had all to power, but what should the Assembly of suming fire and now flashed downward like the words no printed page could ever con 1933 do? Dr. Speer must know full well, a shining sword. Eloquence as art faded vey the power, dignity and tenderness that of course, that one Assembly is not bound from men's minds in the presence of elo were mingled together. It was an appeal to by the acts of another, and that the As quence as truth. How many who saw, knew return to the power of the Word of God. sembly of 1933 is free to act as it sees best. what they saw? How many who heard, Here is God's truth: His Holy Book. It was Dr. Speer's main points in argument knew what they heard? Here was an hour a joy to speak for that Book,-to testify to against the terms of the overture were as for the ages.] the Christ of the Bible, against the whole follows: When the Laymen's Missionary Report current of the age that held the minds of (1) Concerning Section 1. It was unfairly came out, the Board had contented itself men so rigidly in its embrace of death. He discriminatory in that it singled out the with complimenting it in part, and with was glad to have spoken a word for Christ, Foreign Board and made no mention of the expre3~ing in cautious terms its own "evan to call men to return from the wisdom of other three boards. It rave expression to gelical basis"-a basis broad enough 50 that " the world to His wil!dom. For this wisdom aMumptions and sl,l!!picions that were ~ln" those who favored the "Laymen's Report" we thank and praise God, and may He raise founded. This was unjust and unfair be- 22 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April,1933 'cause the Board was recognized everywhere tive mIssIOnaries to show the Presbytery repudiated the doctrinal teachings of the as a bulwark of the gospel. The overture what a fine lot of young people they were. "Laymen's Report." When was this done? was of dubious significance and impossible [It was a little hard to see what this last What were the terms? interpretation. It did not ask for proof of statement had to do with the subject under Dr. Speer replied by reading the first "awareness" or tell what the "danger" is discussion, but it seemed to be the most paragraph of the letter written by Dr. in which the Church is said to stand. Thus popular of all Dr. Speer's contentions, be Erdman as President of the Board to the the first clause, he claimed, was "incom cause heads were nodding agreement all First Church of Pittsburgh. Somehow it petent." Further he declared that the around. No statements by these applicants did not seem to answer the question. In the prayer of the overture had been disallowed were actually read, however.] midst of his efforts to get an answer, the by the Assembly of 1924. (4) Concerning Section 4. Yes, he said, same member of Presbytery who had made (2) Concerning Section 2. The present there are dangers that lurk in unions, and the original motion regarding time allot Candidate Secretary was for six years a also dangers that lurk in separation. Then ments for speakers, moved the previous missionary in North China. At ordination followed another historical peregrination question. Since no debate had taken place he answered the constitutional questions in which finally arrived at the conclusion that from the floor, the effect was to reconsider the affirmative. He had spent six years in we ought in the mission field to unite only the action already taken, and shut off de the Southern mountains on his return from with evangelicals, and to avoid disunion bate. This flagrant abuse of the motion to China. He had rendered "devoted service" with those who believe. He did not, how cut off debate seemed to pass almost un since his selection as Candidate Secretary ever, take up the real point involved, namely noticed. Because of the former motion the in 1926. He was a minister in good and that the Presbyterian Church was fostering motion to close debate was not in order regular standing. The only way of im a union movement in China the evangelical until after at least some debate had taken pugning that standing was by trial. A letter quality of which had been challenged. Dr. place from the floor. But the motion was was read, written by Mr. Hadley (The Speer stuck to broad principles and not to put and carried, and Dr. Speer relieved Candidate Secretary) in which he said, embarrassing particularities. But it was from the annoyance of embarrassing ques inter alia "I am a conservative in theology." really only the particularities that were in tions. Dr. Machen protested this summary [The not-so-subtle humor of this statement issue. closure, saying that he had earnestly hoped will be apparent to all who are familiar with The great missionary statesman then to have Dr. Speer present to answer ques the Auburn Affirmation. Throughtout his went on to plead with the Presbytery not tions fairly and openly. Then the overture carefully prepared paper, -Dr. Speer blandly to have suspicion and doubt concerning the was defeated by a viva voce vote. This cor sidestepped all reference to the document work of the Board. He said, "If there is respondent estimated between fifteen and mentioned, although it was the whole issue one missionary of our Board who is not twenty votes for the overture out of a vot in the second section of the overture and faithful to the central message of our ing group of perhaps sixty. implied in the first.] The Board had no Church the Board does not know of it." He Then a partisan of the Board introduced authority to sit in judgment upon ministers. cited what he claimed was the inability of a resolution of faith and confidence in it. He engaged in a considerable historical critics of the Board to name any mis Dr. Machen immediately rose to speak to excursus to prove this point, which nobody sionaries guilty of heresy. Surprisingly, it, so far as the impatient temper of the had ever denied. The duty of the Board he however, he said almost immediately that majority of the Presbytery would permit said was to notify the Presbytery to which there were two exceptions to the statement even a word. He cited the case of Mrs. a minister belonged, if any doctrinal ques that if there were any disloyal missionaries Buck. He read a quotation from her writ tion arose. [The fact that the Board has the Board did not know of them. The Board ings, in which she roundly rated a religion never notified the Presbytery of French was greatly concerned for them. It hoped that would teach that people were bound for Broad, to which Mr. Hadley belongs, that a that the final result would be the winning Hell unless they were saved by Christ. "I question has risen concerning his orthodoxy, and not the losing of any lives. [Some hold this religion with all my heart," he is rather hard to reconcile with Dr. Speer's listeners knew he referred to Mrs. Pearl S. cried, "this despised religion upon which statement. The Board cannot deny that the Buck as one of 'these exceptions.] Dr. Speer despite is being poured by Mrs. Buck The question of his doctrinal fitness for his posi concluded by hoping that Dr. Machen could Board is dishonest in asking for money tion has been raised, directly and per be won over. Dr. Machen had shown what from those who favor Mrs. Buck and from sistently. If it has not notified the Presby kind of work needed to be done in his great those who believe in the gospel she despises. tery, it must confess its own violation of books "The Origin of Paul's Religion" and Dr_ Speer has not answered concerning Mrs. the principle upon which Dr. Speer so "The Virgin Birth of Christ." Then as a Buck He has not answered regarding the vehemently insisted. It can hardly claim shrewd tactical move he concluded by unchristian propaganda that has gone out that it has given the matter no considera quoting from a passage in Dr. Machen's from the Candidate department. It is on tion, for Dr. Speer's statement clearly in "Christianity and Liberalism" in which Dr. that Gospel, the Gospel that is being under dicated that Mr. Hadley's case had received Machen expressed the deep desire of his mined by work supported by the Board of special attention. In fact he said "The Board soul to live and work in a Church free from Foreign Missions that I rest my hope for would retain no Candidate Secretary who turmoil and dissension as a place of refuge time and for eternity!" This vigorous, did not represent its mind and the mind of from the unbelieving world. "Thank God," forthright statement brought the only ap the Church in this matter." It is quite said Dr. Speer, "that there is such a House. plause of the afternoon. It was obvious obvious, therefore, that by Dr. Speer's own It is our Father's house where we dwell to that if Dr. Speer had the votes of presbyters admission the Boara has sat in juagment gether in love and faith as brethren." [One who dared not offend the powerful board, upon this minister ana aeciaea that he is fatal flaw has been pointed out in the use yet Dr. Machen's appeal for honesty had WQ1·thy at conjiaence-the very thing the of this quotation, however. In the book struck home to the majority of the Board through Dr. Speer disclaimed any Dr. Machen was speaking of the kind of spectators. right to do.] Church that was free from dissension be Dr. Speer replied by admitting that Mrs. (3) Concerning Section 3. Dr. Speer cause it was free from unbelief. Dr. Speer Buck was not sound in the faith. "We read the questions in a number of blanks, applied it to the Presbyterian Church as it is, recognize that these are impossible views and declared that there were no questions including its varied theological menagerie.]. to be held by any missionary of the Pres that would warrant the words of this sec Dr. Machen then put a question to Dr. byterian Church in the U. S. A.," he said. tion. He only wished he could read some Speer. He had understood from something Yet further he intimated that there were of the application statements of prospec- Dr. Speer had said that the Board had factors in the case that could not be re- April,1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 23 ferred-to publicly. And he did not explain the Board did not include a direct condemna difficulty of the problem confronting the how, if his statement were true, the Board tion and repudiation of the doctrinal state Board, and pray that their action in the could honestly continue Mrs. Buck as a ments in the Report of the Appraisal Com matter shall be such as shall honor the great missionary. mission of the "Laymen's Foreign Missions Head of the Church and strengthen con The motion of confidence in the Board Inquiry, and they express the hope that even fidence in the work of Foreign MiSSions, as was then put and carried. Dr. Machen, Dr. yet such condemnation and repudiation shall carried on by the Presbyterian Church. The Samuel G. Craig and Dr. Casper Wistar be made by the Board. Session earnestly hope that in the course Hodge asked to have their dissent recorded. The Session of the First Church desires they take, the Board shall show that it loves Immediately upon the passage of this mo to express to the Board its conviction that the honor of the Lord Jesus more than it tion, Dr. Speer hurried away to catch a the sentiments contained in an article in fears the criticism of the world. train for New York. Harper's Magazine for January, 1933, by The Treasurer of our church sent you, Competent observers agreed that the Mrs. Pearl Buck entitled, "Is there a Case under date of March 4th, a check for $1,200, Board had won a pyrrhic victory, that its for Foreign Missions?" are contrary to the for the support of Mr. and Mrs. Espey in defence would allay few objections, arouse Gospel and irreconcilable with the faith of China, and for the college and hospital in many more. The material allegations in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. and Pyengyang. The Session enclose herewith Dr. Machen's printed argument had re with the aim of our Board of Foreign Mis a check for $450_00 for the maintenance of mained without a shadow of denial by the sions as expressed in its Manual. In view our work in Korea; and also a check for Board. of this, the Session desires to inquire of the $100.00 which they would like to go for the Repercussions of the debate will be fully Board if Mrs. Pearl Buck is still a mis purchase of an ice box for the Rev. Irvin reported in the May issue of CHRISTIANITY sionary under our Board; and if so, if the Underhill, of the West African station. Mr. TODAY. Board proposes to take any action concern Underhill has recently visited the First ing this article by one of its missionaries. Church, and has stirred and warmed our In thus addressing the Board of Foreign hearts with an account of his work in Letters of First Presbyterian Church of Missions, the Session of the First Church Africa. In contrast with the blasphemous assures the Board of its loyalty to the Pres proposal in the Laymen's Report, that our Pittsburgh to Foreign Board byterian Church, to the work of our Board Missionaries should look forward, not to the March 16th, 1933. of Foreign Missions, and to that Gospel to destruction of the heathen religion~, but which our church has made so glorious a "to their continued co-existence with Chris To THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE witness. tianity, each stimulating the other," Mr. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED Affectionately yours, Underhill, the SeSSion believe, is doing in STATES OF AMERICA: CLARENCE E. MACARTNEY, Africa the work of a true missionary, "open Dear Brethren: Moderator ing the eyes of the people, turning them from The First Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsyl ROBERT J. GIBSON, darkness to light, and from the power of vania, for more than a century has taken a Clerk Satan unto God, that they may receive the deep interest in the work of the Board of (The reply of the Board to the Session forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church was marked "In Confidence" and hence is among them which are sanctified." Wherever a'nd its witness among the peoples of this not available for publication.) the Board sends out and maintains mis earth to Jesus Christ as Saviour and King. sionaries who do that, it will have the loyal It was in the First Church of Pittsburgh support of the First Presbyterian Church, that the newly constituted Synod of Pitts April 6, 1933. as it has had ever since the Board was burgh, meeting on September 29, 1802, To THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS' OF THE organized in Pittsburgh in 1831, with an resolved itself into the Western Missionary PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A., elder of the First Church as the first Presi Society; and when the Western Foreign 156 Fifth Ave., New York. dent. Wherever and whenever the Board Missionary SOCiety was organized in Pitts Dear Brethren: maintains missionaries who are disloyal to burgh in 1831, the pastor and officers of the The Session of the First Presbyterian Christ and the Gospel, the First Church First Church took a prominent part in the Church at Pittsburgh, Pa., beg to acknowl will enter its earnest and prayful protest. establishment of that Society. Ever since, edge the receipt of the letter of March 23rd, Affectionately yours, the First Church has manifested its devotion 1933, sent through the President of the CLARENCE E. MACARTNEY, to the work of Foreign Missions and its gifts Board, in reply to the communication of the Moderator to this cause have not been inconsiderable. Session of March 16th, and to thank the ROBERT J. GIBSON, The Session of the First Church, meeting Board for their prompt and courteous reply. Clerk on Wednesday, March 15th, 1933, desires to The Session, of course, were aware that (These letters are appearing in Church express to the Board of Foreign Missions the Board of Foreign Missions had no con Life, the paper of the First Presbyterian its sense of deep regret and sorrow at the nection whatever with the Report of the Church of Pittsburgh, in its issue of April widely circulated Report of the Appraisal Appraisal Commission of the Laymen's 23rd.) Commission of the Laymen's Foreign Mis Foreign Missions Inquiry. Nevertheless, in sions Inquiry. The Session believes that asmuch as the Board issued a statement in the doctrinal implications of this Report are connection with that Report, the Session Great Valley Church Withdraws hostile to the Christian faith and irreconcil regret that the declaratiQn of the Board did Money from Foreign Board able with the aim of OUf Board as expressed not call attention to doctrinal implications in its Manual, where it is said, "The supreme in the Report which are hostile to the Gos ELOW is the text of a resolution re and controlling aim of Foreign Missions is pel, and contrary to the Scriptures. B cently adopted by the Session of the to make the Lord Jesus Christ known to all With regard to the other matter mentioned Great Valley Presbyterian Church, near men as their divine Saviour, and to persuade in the correspondence, the Session of the Malvern, Pa., one of the oldest churches in them to become His disciples." First Presbyterian Church express their Pennsylvania: The Session of the First Church, While sense of disappointment in the reply of the "WHEREAS, it has been brought to the in full accord with the statement, of the Board. They feel that the facts mentioned attention of the Session of Great Valley Board of Foreign Missions at its meeting on by the Board are altogether irrelevant, and Presbyterian Church that our Board of November 21, 1932, nevertheless expresses should not stand in the way of prompt and Foreign Missions has departed from the its surprise and regret that the action of courageous action. The Session realize the standards of Presbyterian doctrine, and 14 CHRISTIANITY TODAY April/ 1933 "WHEREAS, it is our understanding that pointed out by several speakers that the the prayer of the overture. The action was the majority of the members of the congre two parts of the report were in contradic taken upon the Presbytery's evident satis gation of Great Valley Presbyterian Church tion. The first part expressed confidence in faction that the Council reorganization did desire that their Mission contributions shall the Board's policy, and the second asked the not fulfill the promises that the Council be used only for the dissemination of the Board to reverse an important item in that would be reorganized along evangelical lines. historic doctrines of the Church, therefore policy. The first part was a general com The Rev. Harry Burton Boyd, D.D., minister "BE IT RESOLVED mendation of the board, the second part was of the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, led "THAT, the Foreign Mission contribu a condemnation of the Board for continuing the opposition to the overture. Its passage tions of this Church be diverted from the to retain Mrs. Buck. One speaker said that was advocated by the Rev. H. McAllister Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions he did not see how any intelligent group of Griffiths, who opposed the Council at the until such time as it shall be shown that the people could vote for both resolutions. This last General Assembly. Board has returned to the fundamental doc was, however, what the Presbytery did. A trines of historic Presbyterianism." considerable number of members voted On Monday evening April 2nd, at a con against the first part of the report. When Westminster Seminary gregational meeting, this resolution was the next part came up, those who had voted Commencement endorsed and approved of by an almost un "No" on the first part all voted "aye" on animous vote. the second. Many of those who had voted HE fourth annual commencement exer The pastor of the church, the Rev. Henry "aye" on the first part voted "No" on the T cises of Westminster Theological Semi L. Woll, is known as a staunch conservative. second, but enough persons voted "aye" nary will be held in Witherspoon Hall, on both parts to bring about the astonish Walnut and Juniper Streets, Philadelphia, ing adoption of both recommendations. The on Tuesday, May 9, at 8 P. M. The speaker League of Faith Meets in New York Presbytery of Philadelphia, has, therefore, will be the Rev. President J. Oliver Buswell, bQth commended the board's policy and yet D.D., of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. His MEETING of the members of the Pres repudiated a major item in that policy. address will be entitled: "Our Task as A byterian League of Faith was held on Ministers." Dr. Machen will, as customary, March 20, in the Broadway Presbyterian At the end of the debate, the proposed address the graduating class. The public Church of New York City. Presiding was overture of the Rev. John Clover Monsma has been cordially invited to these exercises, the Rev. W. D. Buchanan, D.D., LL.D., was rejected by the Presbytery with only a and a large crowd is anticipated. founder and President, New York's out few dissenting voices. The Rev. A. A. Mac· standing Presbyterian Conservative. Rae, assistant Professor of Old Testament The League voted to call the attention of in Westminster Seminary, then introduced The Overtures its members to the overture regarding the another overture that will be voted on at On April 18, the office of the stated clerk work of Foreign Missions introduced by the the May first meeting. It is identical with of the General Assembly reported the over Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.D., Litt.D., in Dr. Machen's New Brunswick Overture. tures as follows: the Presbytery of New Brunswick. A. (On amending the Directory for Wor A spirited discussion was held on the ship, Chapter XII), Yes, 90; No, 27; No subject of "Buchmanism." It was voted Philadelphia Votes for Severance Action,8. that attention be called to the evils of the E. (Making a Verbal Correction, Chapter movement, and that the pamphlet against from Federal Council XIV, Sec. V, Form of Government), Yes, it by the Rev. Harold T. Commons be HE Presbytery of Philadelphia, meeting 111; No, 21; No Action, 5. commended. T on April 4, debated the overture from Members were urged to introduce over the Presbytery of Hudson asking with tures in their respective Presbyteries asking drawal from the Federal Council of Further Postponement Necessary the forthcoming General Assembly to sever Churches, and after spirited discussion, all connections with the Federal Council of voted by a decisive majority to concur in Due to unforseen events the monthly ap Churches. pearance of Dr. Machen's "Notes on Biblical The annual meeting of the League will Exposition" must again be postponed. We be held June 12, at 2 P.M., in the Broad hope, however, to include them in the next way Church in New York. issue. IN THIS ISSUE: Presbytery of Philadelphia Asks Hospital Evangelism ...... 4 J. C. Monsma No Longer Secretary Dismissal of Mrs. Buck w. H. Chisholm of Reformation Fellowship HE Presbytery of Philadelphia, in ses The One Page Sermon...... 5 T has been announced that the Board of T sion of April 3, 1933 considered the Harold S. Laird I Trustees of the Reformation Fellowship report of the Committee on Foreign Mis meeting on March 28th, dismissed the Rev. sions in reference to the complaints against Unto All the World...... 6 John Clover Monsma as General Secretary, the Board of Foreign Missions preferred Elizabeth W. Thompson for cause. Gordon H. Clark, Ph.D., was by several members of the Presbytery. The elected as General Secretary in his stead. report of the Committee was a two-fold Sunday School Lessons...... 7 The reasons for the action were sent in a report. The first part commended the Board letter to each member of the Fellowship, of Foreign Missions, and was what is gener This Changing World...... 8 and laid before a meeting of the members ally described as a "whitewash." The second "Calvinise' held on April 4th. At this meeting the part of the report consisted of a resolution The Comfort of the Scriptures...... 9 members voted unanimously their approval of the action, and their confidence in the directed to the Board of Foreign Mi~sions, David Freeman asking that Mrs. Buck be dismissed as a Board of Trustees. It was later learned missionary. Letters to the Editor...... 9 that Mr. Monsma had begun another organi Debate on the committee's recommenda zation, the "Fellowship of Bible Believers" tions was sharp and explosive. It was News of the Church...... 11 of which he himself was to be sole head. IIENJ. F. EMERY CO •• PHILA