CHRISTIA tTY TODAY ...... ::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::~\~~:~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~...... ~ A PRESBYTERIAN JOURNAL DEVOTED TO STATING, DEFENDING III AND FURTHERING THE GOSPEL IN THE MODERN WORLD III SAMUEL G. CRAIG, Editor H. McALLISTER GRIFFITHS, Man.ging Editor Published monthly by THE PRESBYTERIAN AND MID-JUNE, 1930 $1.00 A YEAR REFORMED PUBLISHING CO., 501 Withenpoon Bldg., Phil •. , Pa. Vol. 1 No.2 EVERYWHERE

• What IS Christianity? T may seem strange that in this year CHRIST-and, as though nothing was too professedly Christian schools of learning I of our Lord, 1930, men should be dis­ extreme to lack advocates, of a Christian­ essentially the same answer would be cussing the question, What is Christian­ ity without GoD. Moreover Christian given to this question. Such is not the ity? But whether it be strange or not, Science and New Thought and Theos­ case. The situation is rendered even the question is being everywhere debated ophy and Russellism and Mormonism and more serious by reason of the amazing and the most divergent answers given, Spiritualism-and what not ?-either call ignorance that exists among the rank and and passionateiy defended, even by those themselves Christianity or claim to in­ file of the Church. In no respect has the calling themselves Christians. Nothing clude its essential values. Surely if modern Church failed more signally than in fact is doing more to render matters everything that is called Christianity to­ in the exercise of its teaching function. "confused and confusing" in the sphere day is rightly so-called it must be con­ As a result there are multitudes in the of religious discussion at the present time fessed that the word, "Christianity," is a pews unable to discriminate between true than the fact that those who are carrying meaningless word, a word into which we Christianity and Christianity falsely so­ on the discussion have radically different can pour whatever content may suit our called. Do we need to look further to notions of what Christianity is. When converuence. account for the fact that so many mem­ the doctors disagree-men of equal abil­ The seriousness of the situation is bers of Christian churches fall easy vic­ ity and sincerity it may be-what is the greatly enhanced by the fact that diver­ tims to every popular expounder of a new plain man to do? Many will agree when gent answers to our question are being Ism, provided it is labeled with the Chris­ a "modern scholar says: "I can imagine a given within as well as without the tian name? The saddest phase of the man exclaiming, in no flippant spirit, that churches. It would be natural to expect matter is that multitudes are embracing it is more difficult to discover what Chris­ that in the pulpits of professedly Chris­ systems of thought and life that lack tianity is than to believe it when it is dis­ tian churches and in the class-rooms of everything distinctive of genuine Chris­ covered." tianity, that in fact are positively hostile to Some define Christianity as "the reli­ all that is distinctive of such Christianity, gion of JESUS," meaning the religion that IN THIS ISSUE: while cherishing the delusion that they JESUS Himself taught and practiced, and are Christianity's purest confessors and The Study and DeFense of the Bible in exemplars and as such its heirs and bene­ so look upon JESUS as little more than the Westminster Seminary...... 5 first Christian. Others think it little short R. Dick Wilson ficiaries. of blasphemy to speak of JESUS as a The Concentrated Life...... 6 Weare not indeed to suppose that our Christian at all, as such a mode of speech H. H. MacOuilkin age is the only age that has debated this erases the distinction between the Saviour IF One Resorts to Ordinary Logic. . • . • 9 question. In the nature of the case it Gertrude Smith and the saved, between the Lord and His takes precedence of all others whenever Books of Religious SigniAcance: followers; and so define Christianity What is He"? . • ...... • ...... 11 Christianity becomes a subject of discus­ rather as the religion that has JESUS as Humanism •....•.•.•.•...... 12 sion. Such questions as, Is Christianity its object. Some identify Christianity Voices From Many Quarters (Second true? What is the value of Christianity? with loyalty to a cause or ideal, some with Series) .•.•....•...... 14 What are its claims on our belief and ac­ altruism, some with CHRIsT-like moral­ General Assemblies: ceptance? are meaningless until we know ity, some with man's religious and ethical Pres. Church U. S. A ..•...... • 17 what Christianity is. Christianity may Pres. Church in Canada...... 22 life at its highest. We hear of a Chris­ Pres. Church in U. S.. _...... 23 or may not be true; how can we judge tianity without miracles, without doc­ United Pres. Church...... • 23 until we know what it is? It may be trines, even of a Christianity without An Important Appeal. . • • • . • . . . . • .. 24 worthless or beyond price; how can we 2 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930 appraise its nlue until we know the thing meanest, least developed specimen of a rational question, \Vhat is true? or with that is to be appraised? It mayor may man that exists. Otherwise there would the ethical question, 'What is moral? or not be entitled to our belief and accept­ be something in our definition that all with the practical question, What is valu­ ance; how can we decide until we know men do not possess. Surely when we able? \Vhen men argue that certain doc­ \vhat sort of thing it is? \\-henever ask, \\'hat is a man? we want to know trines are not truly Christian because Christianity has been discussed, there­ what constitutes a normal representative they are irrational or immoral or worth­ fore, this question has been central. This man. .-\nd surely when we ask, \"hat is less, they are forgetting that history and was the question at issue in the first cen­ Christianity? what we want to know is history alone can decide what doctrines tury between P ACL and the J udaizers, in not what is the most attenuated. content­ are truly Christian. Christianity may be the fifth century between ACGCSTIKE and less form of thought that can possibly be as false as some suppose, as worthless as PELAGICS, in the sixteenth century be­ called Christianity but what constitutes others suppose, as harmful as still others tween the Reformers and the Romanists, typical, representative Christianity. Vo/e suppose; but what has that to do with in the eighteenth century between the may learn much by questioning those who the question as to what manner of thing Evangelicals and the Deists. There is call themselves Christians, but we need it is? \Ne have no more right to ap­ this significant difference, however, in only remind ourselves of that diversity proach the question, \Vhat is Christian­ the situation in the twentieth century as of belief that exists among professed ity? with the assumption that it is the compared with previous centuries, at Christians to perceive how impossible it rational, moral and ideal religion than we least if we except the conflict between is by such a method alone to obtain any­ have to approach the question, What is Christianity and heathenism in the first thing like a satisfactory answer to our :'10hammedanism? with the same as­ three centuries. In . previous centuries question. sumption. vVe mayor may not agree the issue was, for the most part at least, In seeking an answer to our question, with those who think that the time has between more or less perfect and more it is of first importance that we realize come to abandon the religion founded by or less imperfect answers to our ques­ that it is an historical question, and that JESCS CHRIST and practiced ever since tion. Today, however, the issue is be­ history and history alone can supply us by His disciples, and substitute some­ tween answers that involve the very right with the right answer. Our question does thing better for it, but at any rate we of Christianity, as it has all but univer­ not differ in kind from the question, can discover what is truly Christian, what sally been understood, to exist. \"hat is Darwinism? In answering the is legitimately called Christianity, only by It is often assumed, especially by popu­ question, \Vhat is Darwinism? much help an appeal to history, more particularly to lar writers and the less responsible advo­ may be obtained from the writings of that period of history that is recorded in cates of Church union, that we can ob­ DARWIK'S disciples, but unless there is the New Testament. This is not to say tain a sufficiently exact answer to our constant reference to the writings of DAR­ that nothing is to be learned from the question by ascertaining what is held in \\,IK himself we may find at the end of the later historical manifestations of Chris­ common by those professing and calling day that we have substituted what is tianity. ATHANASICS and A.UGUSTIKE themseh'es Christians, what is held in merely called Darwinism for what is and ANSELM and LCTHER and CALVIN, common being regarded as essential and really Darwinism. And so in answering not to mention others, have not labored what is held in distinction being regarded the question, What is Christianity? unless in vain. But it is to say that everything as non-essential. Suppose, however, that there is constant reference to the :'( ew that is essential to Christianity must be among those who profess and call them­ Testament, in which alone the beliefs able to present New Testament creden­ selves Christians there are some who are which are specifically Christian are tials. not Christians at all. Then what is held authoritatively set forth, we may end by It is true, of course, that even those in common would include nothing dis­ substituting in greater or less degree who recognize that the question, What is tinctively Christian and the answer ob­ what is merely called Christianity for Christianity? is an historical question, the tained radically false. But even if all what is really Christianity. Only as we authoritative answer to which is found in those who profess and call themselves realize that Christianity is an "historical" the Bible and the Bible alone, do not al­ Christians were really Christians, such a or "positive" or "founded" religion that together agree in the answer they give to method would at the best give us an had a definite beginning in the life, teach­ the question. Lutherans, Calvinists and answer that expressed the minimum of ing and work of a particular historic per­ Arminians give answers that differ in Christianity, the very least that a man son, and so derive our conception of what important respects. The time is past. can hold and still honestly and intelli­ Christianity is from the teachings of however, when 'Cnitarians and such like gently call himself a Christian. Other­ CHRIST and His apostles, will we arrive can claim that their peculiar views are wise the most attenuated forms of Chris­ at results that will enable us to say to taught in the Bible, true as it is that the tianity of which we have any knowledge what extent the things called Christianity older unitarians so claimed. Now it is would be excluded. Suppose we are today are real Christianity and to what all but universally recognized that the asked the question, \Vhat is a man? extent they are Christianity falsely so­ Bible is on the side of orthodoxy as ex­ "'ould it be sufficient to include in our called. pressed in the great historic creeds. answer only what all men have in com­ There is ,pecial need, perhaps, to point Everywhere it is confessed that accord­ man? If so. our definition of a man out that the question. "'hat is Christian­ ing to the Bible Christianity is that spe, would Tully apply onh' to the poore"t. :t\-~ :,~ l:~)~ ',-) "f (' li:fu:;,td \,-ith the cific ~eligion that had its origin, and that June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 3 has its continuance, in the person al~c! the pri!-:;.!::':-= C~::-:.3:~:'~-::=: l:::t i:~ ~he Inir'~ri £'):-th the trclth. no matter in how pure work of JESUS CHRIST, He being con­ CJt JESUS himseii, ChristianiIY is a reli­ a form, in an unloving manner. The his­ ceived of after so exalted, so super­ gion that centers in JESUS CHRIST as the tory of doctrinal controversy teaches us natural a fashion that He is placed side GOD-:'u.x and in Him as crucified. only too clearly that the truth may be by side with GOD as a proper object of \Ve mayor may not like such a reli­ proclaimed in pride and bitterness and worship; more particularly that redemp­ gion. \Ve may accept it or we may reject hatred rather than in love, to such an tive religion that brings to man salvation it. V/ e may regard it as rational or ir­ extent that it is often uncertain to what from sin, felt as guilt and power and pol­ rational. \Ve may think it moral or im­ extent the world's hatred has been pro­ lution, through the expiatory death of moral. \Ve may value it as our chief voked by hatred of the truth itseli and JESUS CHRIST, for eternity as well as for treasure, as that without which we would to what extent it has been provoked by time-a religion, therefore, that is con­ be utterly undone, or we may regard it lovelessness, bitterness and fanaticism on fessedly through and through super­ as without value or even as a thing to be the part of those proclaiming it. natural not only as regards what hap­ gotten rid of because positively harmful. Love itself, provided it be an intelli­ pened some two thousand years ago but But be our judgment of it what it may, gent love, will sanction no paltering with as regards what happens in human hearts it is utterly futile-in the presence of the the truth. It will insist that the truth be today and as regards what is yet to hap­ informed-to deny that as a matter of proclaimed without fear or favor not only pen in the days to come. fact Christianity is the sort of religion because it is worse to offend GOD than to But while modern scholars of diverse we have indicated. offend man but because the truth as it is types freely admit that the Chris­ in JESUS (which PAUL had in mind when tianity set forth in the Bible is the kind he penned this maxim) is the supreme of religion that has been indicated, and "Speaking the Truth in Love" need of our fellows, that without a knowl­ that such is the meaning that it has all T is an important but difficult obliga­ edge of which they can have no well­ but universally had for its adherents, it I tion which PAUL lays upon us when grounded hope either for this life or the is well known that this is not the concep­ he exhorts us to speak the truth in love­ life to come. In proportion therefore as tion of Christianity that prevails among important because the truth as revealed we truly love our fellows, and so desire "liberal" scholars. In order to maintain in CHRIST is the supreme need of our fel­ to promote their truest and their highest that genuine Christianity is other than lows, but difficult because it is so hard to welfare, we will feel constrained to bear what we have indicated, however, they maintain that healthy union between witness to the gospel of the grace of GOD are compelled to maintain that the zeal for sound doctrine and love for whether men bless or whether men curse. Church has all but universally been mis­ others which is necessary on the part of It is equally true, however, that in pro­ taken as to what true Christianity is. those who would bear effective witness portion as we love our fellows there will What they assert is in brief, that Chris­ to the gospel of the grace of GOD. be lacking in us an .egoistic interest in tianity was no sooner established than it In this exhortation the primary empha­ salvation, unconcern and indifference as departed from type, that "the religion of sis is on speaking the truth. Here the to whether others share our faith and JESUS" almost immediately after His golden words of CALVIN are to the point: hope. In fact in proportion as we both death was transformed, refashioned, "Necessary duties must not be omitted rightly value the truth and truly love our made over, under the influence of the be­ through fear of any offence; as our lib­ fellows will we be able to appreciate liefs of His earliest followers; that a erty should be subservient to charity, so those other words of PAl:L'S: "I have little later it was still further modified by charity itself ought to be subservient to great sorrow and unceasing pain in my the theological constructions of P Al:L; so the purity of the faith. It becomes us, heart. For I could wish that I myself that it is with Paulinism rather than indeed, to have regard to charity; but we were anathema from CHRIST for my Christianity with which Church history must not offend GOD for the love of our brethren's sake." Such was PAl:L'S reali­ for the most part concerns itself since it neighbor." zation of the indispensableness of the is only recently, thanks to modern re­ At the same time the emphasis on speak­ Gospel and such was his concern for the search, that true Christianity has been re­ ing the truth ill love is hardly less strong. salvation of his "kinsmen according to covered, dug out as it were from the V·/ e must place the emphasis on both the flesh" that he would have been will­ debris that had covered it for some 1800 nouns if we would rightly grasp the mean­ ing to sacrifice his own salvation if there­ years. Weare confident, however, that ing of this exhortation. Love should be by he could have redeemed his brethren. a sounder scholarship has abundantly the element in which the truth is spoken But while PAlJL expressed himself as shown the flimsy basis on which this re­ and speaking the truth should be a man­ willing to sacrifice hilllself in the interest writing of Church history rests. As a ifestation of love. On the one hand we of his fellows he never manifested any matter of fact there is no such line of can do our fellows no greater disservice, tendency to sacrifice the truth in their clea vage between PAUL and the primitive can no more clearly exhibit our lack of interest; and that because love itself, not Christians, or between the prumtlve intelligent love for them, than by with­ to mention loyalty to Him whose he was Christians and JESUS, as these would holding from them the truth. On the and whom he served, would not allow have us suppose. Not only in the mind other hand we render them an almost him~to pare down or otherwise weaken of PAUL but in the minds of the primitive equal disservice, in some instances per­ his testimony to the gospel of the grace Christians, and not only in the minds of haps an even greater disservice, if we set of GOD as made known in JESlJS CHRIST. CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930

The Passing of ProFessor tention should be directed to the fact that desire to be just and fair in his rulings there is today a vigorous revolt against and exhibited no tendency whatever to Harnack the conclusions of the "liberal theology" railroad matters through the Assembly. HE death of ADOLPH VON HARNACK even in unorthodox circles (see review of What is more while maintaining the dig­ T on June 10th, at the age of 79, was DR. BRUNl'.""ER'S The Theology of Crisis in nity of his high position he kept the As­ widely reported in American newspapers our last issue) and that as a result the in­ sembly in happy mood by his genial yet under the date of June lIth, as was to fluence of HARNACK and his school is de­ always courteous wit. In our judgnlent be expected in view of the powerful in­ cidedly on the wane. If reports are well­ he plainly erred when he ruled that the fluence he has exerted on religious think­ grounded it is the lecture-rooms of the writer was out of order in raising the ing, in America as well as in Europe, Barthian rather than those of the Ritsch­ question whether a signer of the" Auburn during the last three or four decades. lian theologians which are being crowded Affirmation"-an Affirmation which was Professor HARNACK'S influence was by present-day students in Germany. an attack on a deliverance of previous As­ particularly significant in furthering the I f we mistake not the death of Pro­ semblies to the effect that the Virgin interest of the so-called liberal theology fessor HARNACK marks not only the pass­ Birth of our LORD and four other verities with its identification of Christianity with ing of a great scholar but the passing of of the Christian faith are essential the "religion of JESUS" rather than with a religious epoch. The epoch to which doctrines of the WORD OF GOD and our the religion that has JESUS as the object we refer is that of the dominance of the Standards-is a proper person to be the of its worship, trust and obedience. so-called "religion of JESUS." We do editor of the "official magazine" of the According to Professor HARNACK "the not mean to imply that the "religion of Church. But apart from that ruling we Gospel, as JESUS proclaimed it, has to do JESUS" movement is dead. It still sup­ have nothing but praise for the manner in with the FATHER only and not with the plies the main content of countless ser­ which he presided over the Assembly. SON." This means that according to mons and popular articles, but Professor In recent years those who have been HARNACK, JESUS Himself occupies no in­ HARNACK who did so much to secure for elected Moderator of the General As­ dispensable place in the Christian reli­ it such wide-spread acceptance lived to sembly have manifested a disposition to gion, any more than CALVIN occupies an see its influence begin to wane. Had he look upon themselves as the official indispensable place in Calvinism or WES­ lived another decade we are confident spokesman of the Church until their suc­ LEY in Methodism, that the uniqueness of that he would have been conscious of cessor is elected. There is no warrant, JESUS lies in the fact that He was the occupying an outgrown point of view. however, in the Standards of the Pres­ first Christian, and that to be a Christian There is something pathetic in the byterian Church for any Moderator tak­ is to hold views concerning God and man thought of a great scholar having devoted ing himself so seriously. The Assembly and the world similar to those held by his splendid talents with unwearied en­ having adjourned DR. KERR'S work as JESUS and to manifest in our lives those ergy for more than fifty years in the Moderator is ended except as the General graces of the SPIRIT that were so con­ erecting of a scholastic superstructure Assembly itself has assigned certain spicuous in Him. that begins to crumble ere he lays down duties to him. His utterances during the Inasmuch as according to the all but his tools; but that, sooner or later, is the coming year will carry no more weight universal belief of the Christian Church, fate that awaits every worlanan who than they did during the year that pre­ at least until the rise of modern religious fails to give adequate recognition to the ceded his election as Moderator, that is to liberalism, JESUS occupies an absolutely fact that the Bible is the Word of God, say they will carry only such weight as indispensable place in the Christian reli­ and that "other foundation can no man attaches to the words of a man of his gion-He being in fact its present object lay than that is laid, which is JESUS ability and wisdom. This is not to min­ of worship and the constant source of its CHRIST" - JESUS CHRIST being none imize beforehand what he may say-DR. vitality-it is obvious that in order to other than the GOD-MAN who bore our KERR is admittedly a man of conspicuous hold that JESUS Himself is not central to SinS in His own body on the tree. gifts-but it is to say that his election the Gospel we must hold that almost the as Moderator has not made him a sort of entire historical manifestation of what The Moderator of the Presbyterian Archbishop and hence that we call Christianity has to do with some­ he has no more right to speak "officially" thing other than the Gospel as JESUS 142nd Assembly for the Presbyterian Church than has any taught it. This is in fact what those who R. HUGH THOMSON KERR was other Presbyterian Minister or elder. define Christianity as the "religion of D elected Moderator of the l42nd There can be no difference of opinion at JESUS," rather than the "religion that has General Assembly of the Presbyterian this point between well-instructed Pres­ JESUS as its object," hold. What HAR­ Church in the U. S. A. on the first ballot byterians. NACK, BousSET, WREDE, and their host of by the largest vote received by any can­ followers, assert in this connection has didate in recent years. As a presiding An Explanatory Statement been mentioned in our leading editorial. officer DR. KERR would be difficult to im­ E apologize to our subscribers for In addition to what was said there-the prove on. He was particularly felicitous W the delay in getting out this issue "sounder scholarship" to which we there in his responses to delegates and others of CHRISTIANITY TODAY even though this referred is represented by such men as who brought g,eetings to the Assembly. delay has been due to circumstances be- WARFIELD, DENNEY and MACliEK-at- Throughout he m"niic3t·:t.: a commendable (Coltti1l!tcd on Page 16) June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 5 The Study and Defense of the Bible In Westminster Seminary By R. Dick Wilson, Ph.D., D.O., LL.D. ProFessor of Semitic Philology and Old Testament Criticism, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

(Dr. Wilson is by common const:nt the h:oding schof.,r in the world holding to the historic position of the Christian Church conceming the Old Tcstdment. Recently Professor R. H. Ch.uics ond Dr. H. H. Rowlcv, ftlmed British critics, hove attempted to dnswt:r Dr. Wilson's criticism of the lotc Dr. S. R. Driver with rdeu:ncc to the: signi~c4ncc of the Arom4isms of Doniel, 4S hOI likewise Professor W. s.umgdrten of !V\csrburg, Gcnn4ny. It is s4fe to S4y th4t no Old Testome:nt scholdr in the: world is tod4Y commanding such attention 4S is Dr. Wilson.)

ESTMINSTER Seminary has been absurdities that underlie the objections and no work of Goethe or Schiller, no Dante or W founded by men who believe that the doubts which he has had; and, on the other Victor Hugo, makes claims like these of Moses Westminster Confession is a correct synopsis hand, his faith will be awakened and and David and Isaiah, that God speaks through of the Word of God, the Scriptures of the Old strengthened by presenting the evidence in favor them; nor grips like them at the very vitals of and New Testaments, which we hold is the of it and the reasonableness of it in the light our intellect and imagination. Here are works only infallible rule of faith and practice, teach­ of the divine revelation presented in the Scrip­ which treat of God the author of aU beings, ing us what we are to believe concerning God tures. the Alpha and the Omega of the ages. He and what duty God requires of man. This This then, as I understand it, is the great lifts the veil that hid His face and the bright­ God whom we worship is a Spirit, infinite, work that is incumbent upon us at Westminster ness of His glory and the revelation of His eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, Seminary. Weare defenders of the Christian will from Sakya Mouni and Confucius and power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. faith: negatively, by the removal of doubts and Plato, and speaks apparently face to face with The Boaz and Jachin of the temple of our objections; positively, by the increasing of it His chosen ones as a man speaketh with his faith are: Our God is the God of the Word; through showing the reasonableness of it, and friends. Can these wonders of love be true? and, The Word of God is true. In short, our more specifically, by presenting its content and Come, let us see. A revelation, we must admit, motto is: The God of the Word and the Word its claims,-the subjective and objective evi­ is what we must expect from the Creator who of God. dence for it made us what we are, and who is represented We professors are set to do our level best by For example, to illustrate from my own de­ by the prophets as being what they portray tongue and pen to remove the doubts from the partment which is that of Old Testament criti­ in their writings. minds of the doubting Thomases in the semi­ cism: I have made it an invariable habit never But could these works have been put into nary and in the Church, and to produce such to accept an objection to a statement of the writing as early as Abraham and Moses? faith in God and in His Word among all who Old Testament without subjecting it to a most Why, certainly, they could and must have been. hear or read our words that they will go and thorough investigation, linguistically and fac­ For writing was practiced in Egypt and Baby­ preach the gospel and teach Christ's com­ tually. If I find that the obj ector bases his lonia long before their time. Can they have mandments to every creature. Now, fifty years objection upon a general theoretical considera­ been written in Hebrew? Yes. For we have ago, most of the men who came to the semi­ tion such as the denial of miracles or of pre­ documentary evidence in both Egyptian and naries believed with all their heart in the God dictive prophecy, I just smile at the objector Cuneiform that Hebrew was known in Syria of the Bible and in the Word of God. Today, and turn him over to the department of Theism and Palestine and Egypt as early as the times alas, many of them come filled with doubts as to learn who and what the God of the Bible is. of Abraham. And was this Hebrew written the sparks fly upward. They know little about "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh" at in Palestine down to the time that the last the Bible but are bristling with objections to them, and I for one laugh with Him. But if a book of the Old Testament was written? Yes. it like a porcupine with spines. And yet many man believes in the probability or certainty of For we have Ecclesiasticus in Hebrew from of them have never learned that there are cer­ miraculous events wherein God is working but the second century B. C, and the Zadokite tain rules that govern thinking, commonly em­ is precluded from faith in the claims of the Fragment and the Pirke Aboth from about the braced under the head of logic, such as: that Bible to be a divine revelation by doubts arising time of Christ And the forms of literature the validity of a conclusion depends upon that from obj ections to its trustworthiness based from the earliest book of the Old Testament of the major and minor premises; that a state­ upon alleged historical, scientific, or philological down to the latest-unless we except the some­ ment as to fact is never self-evident but al­ evidence, then I consider it to be my duty to what peculiar style of the prophetic rhapsodies ways is true only as the evidence is in its do my best to show that this alleged evidence ( ? )-are found in the literature of Egypt and favor; that a definition is correct only when is irrelevant, inconclusive, and false. Assyria and Babylon. based upon a complete induction of the facts At last, then, behold the professor and his But, admitting that these works could have entering into and bearing upon it; and, espe­ boys sitting down together and taking up with been written, could they have been handed cially, the introduction of the fourth term, that avidity the investigation of the writings of the down? Why, certainly. We have a part of "nigger in the woodpile." They have never old Hebrew prophets. Where shall we begin? the: Egyptian Book of the Dead in manuscripts learned that it does not prove that a thing is Why begin, of course, with a careful reading from the twelfth, the eighteenth, the twenty­ not true that you cannot prove that it is; nor, of the books to see what they contain and what second, and the thirtieth dynasties. The three that an event is not impossible simply because they claim to be. Read them all through once last are not copies from the first, but all are you cannot see how it could have occurred. at least. Do they claim to contain a revelation from an earlier and complete original. Some N ow, in the fifty years since I began to teach, from God and to have been written under .his lines of these manuscripts are exactly alike I have learned that if they give me a student supervision? They do. Then here we have a although the earliest and the latest are sepa­ who wants to believe in God and his Word, new and marvelous thing among the literary rated by two thousand years at least And, his obj ections and doubts as to both will be productions of the world. No class work of further, Assurbanipal has left us thousands dissipated by showing him the fallacies and the college curriculum, no Homer, no Vergil, of tablets which were copied by his scribes 6 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930 from other tablets going back to the time of Assyria, Babylon and Persia And, thirdly, torical character of the divine records) may be Abraham. So the works of Abraham and because a scientific examination of all the for­ taught to the future Ministers of the church. Moses could have been handed down to the eign words to be found in the Old Testament It is our firm belief that a revival of the old­ time of Ezra and to that of the translation of shows that the foreign words occur just where time religion for which we hope and pray, will the Seventy. we would expect to find them if the dOCllments only come when faith in the trustworthiness of But have we any evidence that the text not in which they occur were written near the time the simple record shall have been restored. We merely could be but that it has been handed when the eveats meationed in the documents can not expect an educated people to believe down from the original writers to our own are said ill the documellts themselves to have a book which they think to be untrustworthy. time? Yes. Here again God has not left us occurred. Thus, in the records of Abraham Let us waken up. Let us begin our scientific without sufficient witnesses. More than a thou­ and his predecessors, we find the foreign words defense of the historical character of the Scrip­ sand manuscripts of the Old Testament, in embedded in the documents to be Sumerian and tures by gathering together a library of books whole or in part, now exist in the libraries Babylonian, the languages of Ur of the Chal­ containing all the published documents from of the world, from 250 to 400 of every book. dees; in the history of Joseph and Moses we Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and elsewhere that From these we learn that the variations of one find Egyptian words; in the records from the contain any evidence whatsoever bearing upon manuscript from the others are unimportant, times of N ebuchadnezzar and Darius we find the Bible and its times. These books are what mostly affecting neither the form or the sense Persian words. As you determine the age of we now need most. For without them we of the common text. The notes of the old the rocks by the foreign substances embedded in cannot thoroughly investigate the objections oi scribes, which were affixed to the Hebrew text them, so you can determine the age of the the critics of our times. And then let us secure about 500 A. D., corroborate the care and documents by the foreign words embedded in young men of faith who love the Lord, and accuracy with which the manuscripts were them. And my contention is that these for­ train them till they are able to use all the copied. And, finally, a large number of ver­ eign words demonstrate that the history of evidence of all the documents, so that the sions from the third century B. C. down to the God's chosen people follows the chronological doubts of God's people, and especially of present time show that the same original text lines laid down in Chronicles and Ezra-Nehe­ Christ's Ministers, may be removed and their lay back of all of them. The New Testament miah. No scientific philologist will deny the faith confirmed. and the Targums also show that their writers facts in evidence. They are to be found in But enough for the present. We defenders had substantially the same text of the Old every Hebrew Bible. They can be investi­ of the faith-professors and students in West­ Testament that we now possess. gated and tested scientifically by all who have minster Seminary, Ministers and laymen who But can we go back of the time of Christ sufficient knowledge or who trust the most are supporting us-are in this fight for God's and of the Septuagint? Yes. We can even do modern of scientific grammars and dictionaries. Word to a finish. We want to confound that. For scores of proper names in the Old It is scientific work. Its statements can be infidelity by laying the foundation of belief on Testament are to be found also in the con­ tested just like the rocks in mineralogy. a scientific basis of fact and knowledge. This temporary documents of the Egyptians, Assy­ And so, strong in an enlightened faith, we basis lies in books and documents. We must rians, Babylonians, and Persians, carrying us lead our students on to defy the allegations of have them or we are bound in 'the long run back to the times of Shishak and Solomon and the objectors to the infallible rule of Holy to fail. We cannot make bricks without straw. even to that preceding the Exodus. Shishak, Scripture. We thoroughly believe that the Who will supply the straw? We depend on Tiglath-Pileser III, Sennacherib, and Cyrus Scriptures are right and the objectors wrong. believing laymen to supply what will enable us also mention events, more or less at length, We fervently hope that Westminster Seminary to train and strengthen the faith of God's Min­ which correspond to events recorded in the may be a place where an intelligent defense of isters in this world-wide war for God and the Scriptures. And the very ruins of Palestine are the fundamentals of the Christian religion Word. Let us all do our best for Him who now giving- their testimony to the general (which is grounded upon a belief in the his- loved us and gave Himself for us. accuracy of the Old Testament history. And lastly, the languages in which the books of the Old Testament are written, are now ris­ ing up from the sleep of millenniums to testify to the trustworthiness of the documents which The Concentrated LiFe were written in them. For more than a cen­ tury the objectors to the veracity of the Old A SERMON Testament Scriptures have been appealing to the evidence of the languages in which the by the Rev. Harmon H. McQuilkin, D.O. books are written to prove that they are not Minister, First Presbyteriln Church of Orlnge, N. J. historical. And many Christians, even pro­ fessors in our seminaries, and almost the whole "Strive to enter in by the narrow door; Nor are many of us in a position with im­ Protestant church at home and abroad, have for many, I say unto you, shall seek to punity to bring any railing accusation against accepted these dicta of the critics instead enter in, and shall not be able."-Luke this unmoral interrogator, for fear the Master of the Bible; so the whole church has been 13: 24. might once more "stoop down and with his fin­ shaking in its shoes. The Pentateuch, Daniel, ger write on the ground" and lifting himself up HROUGH the query of this unnamed in short the whole Bible has been reconstructed say to us, "He that is withQut sin among you, questioner there echoes a curious interest and largely rewritten, and largely on the basis T let him first cast a stone at him." For the in the destination of human existence. "Are of the forms and the meanings of words found temptation is strong to separate between. the they few that are saved?" It is the ultimate in the documents. future and the present and to divorce religion self, the culmination of the career, the abound­ Now it is my claim that the prima facie evi­ from life. ing and the abiding environment in the world dence of the languages of the books themselves But, as He so often did, our Lord answers is in the light of our present know ledge correct. to come, that kindle his imagination and pro­ voke his inquiry. In his mind the problem is more than the man asked, replying to the inner First, because the critics themselves assume need rather than to the formulated question. that text to be correct whenever it suits them. most likely speculative, remote and detached In doing this, He transposes the whole problem Secondly, because an examination of the proper from actual life. He is moving with an from the future to the man's present; rivets the names of kings and countries shows that the academic frame of mind through the shadowy present text of the Scriptures spells these fields of eschatology and asks his question end to the means; relates the termination to the names exactly as they are spelled in the con­ mainly in order to satisfy a curiosity that has way; and shows him that direction spells des­ temporary documents of the kings of Egypt, no Issue in moral ?3.rLlestness. tination and destination destiny. Speculation is June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 7

suddenly exchanged for exhortation when themselves. God forbid I Salvation is "not of cess, while whole areas in their soul are veri­ "Are they few" turns sharply into "Strive to wo~ks, lest a;-.y 17f~n s::or;;C boast,'J It is all of table jungles of darkness and iniquity. But in enter." How practical and how pungent the grace. Only the infinite sacrifice of Chr:st, the sainthood the whole continent must be sub­ whole matter is on the lips of Jesus Christ! Lamb of God, can ever effect tIle salvation of jugated and brought under spiritual cultivation. The principle which Christ poured into the a sinner. But we must put forth zealous effort And 50 at last it comes about that the narrow­ verbal mold in this text is that concentration is to enter into possession of the blessed fruits of ness of the door, really lies in the reluctance the secret of efficiency. Effort is the mother the Redeemer's reconciling death. "Work out and resistance of our own selves. And while of excellence. He who would triumph must your own salvation" cries the apostle, as if we our moral reluctance and resistance are the toil. The narrow door demands the narrowed alone could bring it about: "For, it is God most stubborn and persistent, there are no purpose, from which promiscuousness has been that worketh in YO)l, both to will and to work," spaces in our experience where they do not expelled and in which throbs the condensed he rushes on to say, and that gives balance and manifest themselves. passion of the soul. The antithesis is not be­ power and promise to the whole redemptive The business man concentrates his time, at­ tween the two words "strive" and "seek" ex­ process as it unfolds itself in our experience. tention, energy, on his business. He narrows cept as our Lord may have imposed a different And SO God's mighty working, waits upon our his life down that he may succeed, and counts emphasis on them; but it is rather between human working. "W ork ... for it is God the sacrifice well worth while. With an eye "the narrow door" and the wide door which that worketh." It is a stupendous thought that to the issue he toils assiduously on without is implied in the whole contrast. He is Himself our feeble, commonplace operation should mean complaining, in order that his ledger may show the "narrow door" primarily, and whosoever nothing less than divine cooperation. Never­ a heavy balance on the credit side in the day of tries to climb up some other way is a thief theless such is the case. Our every effort, in reckoning. and a robber. So that the direction of our life, His name, releases God's effectual power. We The farmer strives to enter into his harvest. as well as its concentered intensity, is included. open our mouth, He fills it: we stretch forth He plows and sows and cultivates and reaps. We must enter into eternal life through Him as our hand, He heals it, fills it: we call, He Day after day, week after week, month after our Saviour and we must bend every energy to answers us: we "strive to enter in by' the nar­ month, he labors on, and all the while he is accomplish our entering in, and striving will be row door" and He leads us across the threshold thinking of his granaries and expending his seeking, when we seek "with all our heart." and behold! we are in "the Father's house." thought and muscle and money that they may It is the impeachment of diluted devotion, the And 'so concentration becomes coronation. overflow when the autumn days come round. arraignment of lax loyalty, the indictment of The Scriptures reiterate the outworking of The musician spends years at his instrument miscellaneous motives. Jesus is proclaiming this principle. "If we suffer, we shall reign" or practicing his scales, that through the nar­ again, only in direct and hortatory form, the ... "He that overcometh shall sit with me row door he may enter into the performance parable of the sower. We see once more the on my throne, even as I overcame and am set that will bring a sure reward in satisfaction or wayside hearers and the thin-soil hearers and down with my Father on His throne." ... fame or recompense. Some Paderewski, some the care-choked, world-seduced hearers passing "Thou hast been faithful-I will make thee Kreisler, some Schumann-Heink, moves the in melancholy procession, while the dirge that ruler." And from this law there is no depar­ people as a magician with his wand; but back never dies away wails itself on and on. "They ture. Look at the picture again in the words of it all lay weary years of painstaking labor. shall seek to enter in and shall not be able." that follow our text. Crowding about the Through a narrower door than others could Here belong those, who, in the words of a re­ closed door of spiritual life are the multitudes squeeze their way through, they, by terrific cent writer, devote to religion "only their re­ who dreamed and drifted with the world's cur­ condensation of their powers, have passed, while laxed and marginal hours." And all such will rent but who now desire to enjoy the results of the world cheers them and hangs upon the ex­ at the last "seek to enter," that is they will Christian living. And they are pleading for hibitions of their talents. attempt to wrest with unprepared hands the admission on the grounds that they had eaten Watch the children and youth of your com­ fruits of moral completeness and to enter into and drunk in Christ's presence and that he had munity go trooping away to the school or the the inheritance without having desired or taught in their streets. They trusted that their college morning after morning. What are they claimed sonship. And they will discover for privileges would furnish them a passport into doing? They are striving to enter in by the themselves that the tree of life is still guarded heaven. But juxtaposition is not fellowship, narrow door of mental proficiency into the with a flaming sword against the invasion of and so, although these people had moved in His educated life. They are laboring patiently day the spiritually unfit. vicinity, their hearts had been far from Him. after day to enter into spelling or arithmetic, But if this principle sounds the death knell of Without doubt there are multitudes today, in or biology, or Latin, or engineering. To me the religiously careless and lukewarm and un­ the churches and outside the churches, who will there is something pathetic, almost tragical, I substantial, it puts the crown of everlasting life at last come to the same deplorable situation. might say, about the dog-eared, dirty pages of on the brow of the religiously intense, the Nor is Christianity isolated from the great a boy's school book, for they are the footprints morally earnest, the innumerable multitude currents of human life in the unfailing opera­ of his travail of soul over the lessons he had to who, "faithful unto death," shout back from tion of this selective, judicial principle. The master. But there is no escape. The wild, the opening portals of glory, "The time of my application of the principle is universal. In free life of boyhood must be curbed and departure is come. I have fought the good every department of our life we must bore our cramped into intellectual concentration or the fight, I have finished the course, I have kept way into success. Every door is narrow that boy will grow up to curse those who left him the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me leads into fuller life. And the higher the life, to wander like the wild goat of the mountain the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the narrower the door. But as sainthood is as­ in ignorance and inefficiency. the righteous judge, shall give to me at that suredly the highest form of experience, the door Who does not know the story of Demos­ day; and not only to me, but also to all them leading into it must necessarily be the narrow­ thenes, how with pebbles in his mouth to over­ that have loved his appearing." In his letter est of all. The concentration and elimination come his stammering, or declaiming beside the to the Romans, St. Paul declares that God, in move in the highest ranges of the soul and in­ roaring waves of the sea and speaking while the day of judgment, "will render to every clude all lower levels in their movement. There running uphill, in order to strengthen his weak man according to his works: to them that by the temptations are most subtle and terrible. voice, he overcame apparently insurmountable patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor There the struggles fill the heart with sorest obstacles and became the most illustrious ora­ and incorruption, eternal life." So that the travail. There the whole life must be yielded, tor of all history. Through the narrow door final reward will be only the final recompense: the whole heart presented "a living sacrifice." by grim determination he gained oratorical fame.. the "patient well-doing" ripens into the "eternal In business, in politics, in literature, men may So also does the doctor, the teacher, the life." Not that men can ever earn salvation for "enter in by the narrow door" to eminent suc- lawyer, the preacher, compress his way through 8 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930

the narrow door of endeavor to the place of wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, the holy God in Christ as Isaiah saw Him and power in his calling. Sir W. Robertson Nicol yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my was led through the vision into fellowship with speaks of the late Alexander McLaren's "fierce disciple." This is nothing short of a self­ Him and service on His behalf. This we concentration" on the work of the preacher crucifixion and into the vernacular of the cross should seek through close applicatoin to the and declares his motto was, "This one thing I he puts it. "Whosoever doth not bear his own mastery of the intellectual content of our holy do-preach." But he passed through a door cross, and come after me, cannot be my religion first of all. We should concentrate on so narrow that at last all Christendom accorded disciple." Every conflicting relationship must the study of the Bible as we do on the study him the solitary distinction of being the world's be sacrificed for the sake of Christ. Every of mathematics or language or the sciences. greatest extempore preacher. selfish ambition must be put away. The center Christianity will not yield up its truth to the All these have striven and have succeeded. and goal of the life must be found in Him, so intellectually lazy and careless. Through ear­ Millions have idly wished to succeed in busi­ that it will be an accurate statement of the facts nest, importunate prayer, we shall also find ad­ ness, agriculture, music, art, oratory, the to say, "For to me to live is Christ." And we mittance to "the secret of the Lord." Prayer learned professions; but they were not able and must enter into Him through the narrow door is a teacher, an energizer, a guide. A prayer­ were excluded and passed their days on the of repentance, confidence, affection, obedience. less life is a powerless life. And then in the flat lowlands of mediocrity or worse. It is the That means the narrow door of holiness of worship of God's house we shall find the nar­ law of God.. And it has always been in opera­ character at last, and it will probably mean the row door opening for us to pass into God's tion, is now, and ever shall be. narrow door of persecution at the hands of an presence, if we join in it with mind and heart. So that religion is no different from any ungodly world, according to the last beatitude. It is a tragedy that to so many the ordinary other aspect of our lives in this regard. But How very narrow the door is I The emblem on church service seems to bring no real help and that religion is also subject to the working of the gravestones of the Covenanters with its that just because they wrap themselves about this law needs no verification. The manifesta­ cross and crown interlaced inseparably is a true with indifference until neither sermon nor tions of that working are all about us, as well representation of the demand for the concen­ prayer nor hymn can penetrate to where they as in our own experience. And yet is it not trated life in Christ. Self-immolation is the live. sadly true that vast multitudes of the people, true path to perfection of character and fulness Our inertia and indolence and disinclination and many of them in our churches, never seem of joy in Christ Jesus, and He would frankly to holy things must be overcome by a stout to realize this keen-edged principle that goes inform the inconsiderate of that fact at the determination of the will. Obstacles must be cutting its way right down through men's very outset. brushed aside. And we must "run with patience souls? At least they do not act as if they Again and again I come back to the marvel­ the race set before us." Our hand once put to realized it. I really wonder if it would not be lously penetrative and illuminating words of the plow, we must not stop to look back, for a healing ministry to the church to have a St. Paul in the second chapter of his first letter the desire to look back may unfit us for enter­ special day in the calendar of preaching when to the Corinthians in which he discloses the law ing in at the narrow door. sermons should be preached enforcing the of spiritual cognition and I find there the am­ Let us concentrate our attentions, energies, ceaseless working of the law by which concen­ plification of the principle Jesus Christ lays volitions, thus upon upon the things of Christ's tration must precede spiritual efficiency. down in the words of our text. Only Spirit­ kingdom, and for us in the spiritual firmament, And it would not be difficult to find ample filled men can know the things of God, Paul "day unto day" will "utter speech" and "night material either in the Word of God or in says. The Holy Spirit alone can make men unto night" will ''bring knowledge." That is, human life to furnish the preacher with illus­ spiritual. "The natural man receiveth not the there will be the gradual accumulation and aug­ trations. Go back and see how our Lord was things of the Spirit of God: for they are fool­ mentation of our experiences, satisfactions, and always dwelling on it in some form or other. ishness unto him; and he cannot know them, achievements as time progresses. We will obey The Rich Young Ruler comes running to Him because they are spiritually judged." The nar­ the apostle and "grow in grace, and in the and asking what he should do in order to in­ row door excludes him, because he will not knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus herit eternal life. He is "seeking to enter in." strive to enter in at it. He will not yield his Christ," until He will truly give us "grace The Master narrows his moral life down to proud, selfish, wicked heart to the Spirit's con­ for grace" and we shall pass up "from faith the dimensions of the commandments, and he trol, and so he is shut out in outer darkness unto faith" as upon alabaster steps into the believes he can get through. "What lack I already. And as one reads on through Paul's holy of holies. It has been written, and it will yet ?" "Are there any narrower doors ?" Yes. solemn analysis of the spiritual deadness of never be annulled, that "Unto him that hath there is one. "Go sell all that thou hast, and the "once-born," one can hear the challenge of shall be given and he shall have abundance." come, follow me." Ah! that was different. the Lord Jesus Christ flinging itself out across God is saying it to every creature in His sov­ The uprooting of the affections set on riches; the centuries to the men and women of every ereign dealings with them daily and hourly. the plans, the prospects that would have to be race and nation, "He that hath ears to hear!" By a vital, immutable, self-registering law, He reconstructed-it was too painful, too impos­ "He that hath ears to hear!" And it sounds is saying it. sible. And "he went away sorrowful." And like the creaking of the bar that fastens the Science foreshadows the principle of the his sorrow only intensified the tragedy and the door against unlawful intrusion, against those narrow door in its emphasis on the "struggle guilt of his going. "He went away"-that is who "shall seek to enter in and shall not be for existence" and "the survival of the fittest," the part that counts. He sought to enter in, able." The bar is already up for many a one, indeed it only translates it into a different but was not able. and when the Master has risen up and closed phraseology. Observation writes it with a pen It is instructive also to turn to Christ's dis­ the door at last, the exclusion will only assume of iron. The ageless Word of God declares it, course to the multitude that crowded around finality. It is dreadful to think of how many illustrates it, pleads with us to obey it. The Him as it is given to us in the fourteenth there are all about us upon whom this awful door of opportunity keeps closing against the chapter of Luke's gospel. Drawn to Him by doom is slowly settling. Their fearful state unfit. Let us "strive," let us "agonize," as the various motives, He proceeded to weed out the ought to drive us to our knees in agonizing Greek puts it, to enter in at the door, which, prayer for them that they might be roused crowd by placing before them the stern de­ vlhile it may be narrow, is still open. Seize mands of discipleship. He would show them before it is forever too late. the tide in our own affairs at its flood; recog­ how narrow the door is that opens into true To every one of us the conclusion comes with nize the hour of our visitation: lest the door allegiance to Him. \Vhat consternation t.'1at overwhelming force that we should concentrate first word would create among this hetero­ our every energy on the culti\'ation of spiritual be shut never to open, the tide go out and genous throng! "If any man cometh unto me, susceptibility, that we may have "the eyes of leave US stranded on the rocks, the hour pass and hatest not his own father, and mother, and c-ur heaI"~ ':r;J1ght~i1~2~: so :~at we tnE..y behold by and leave our house desolate forever. June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 9 If One Resorts to Ordinary Logic A PROTEST FROM A LAY MEMBER By Gertrude Smith

N the Cincinnati Enquirer of Wednesday, vast number of us do. Not many weeks ago I matter, confirms such Affirmationist in his posi­ I June 4, 1930, Dr. Franklin C. Ward of had a letter from a. friend in the north in which tion and votes to supply a deficiency in the New York, Executive Secretary of the pro­ she told me, "As a child I took religion to expenses of the paper. In other words, the motional department of the General Council heart. But when I grew older and saw what Assembly goes on record by an all but unani­ is quoted as saying, regarding our church mem­ ministers were doing to religion I got out of mous vote that it holds it of no moment bership, "The showing is not good. The the church and I haven't been inside one for whether: 1. The Bible is or is not trust­ church is losing ground in membership as com­ years. That doesn't mean that I haven't any worthy. 2. Christ was or was not Virgin­ pared with the gain in population." He asks, religion. It means that I have. You can't tell born,-which involves the question as to "Why is it that so many thousands of church me anything about ministers. Three of my whether He is God Eternal or mere mortal members fail each year, when they move from best friends are reverends!" As it happened, man. 3. The doctrine of the death of Christ community to community, to call for their it pleased me to make mention in my letters to as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice is true church letters? That is a question which her of a certain young and very sincere min­ or false. 4. Christ rose or not. S. Whether should be pondered deeply. Is it because the ister who had been a great help to me in my or not the accounts of His miracles are true. church has a loose hold on its people? Is it own living. In due time she commented in a because the churches, for the most part, lack later letter, "How I wish I could hear your As a member of the laity, I rise to remark a program equal to the needs of their members? young minister preach! After all, some min­ that it appears to me that the General As­ Are we losing ground because some of our isters are worthy of their pUlpits." It seems sembly has thereby gone on record as pro­ pastors have lost some of their enthusiasm for to me this woman is representative of a large claiming that it makes no earthly difference their real job?" number of the "falling off membership." She what anybody believes or doesn't believe,­ took religion to heart,-grew so disgusted with and "What the Dickens does religion matter, As a passionately religious woman who fought the insincerity of the modern church that she anyhow?" To a dispassionate person, it looks present day conditions in another denomina­ left it altogether,-but, confronted with the -peculiar. We, the laity,-draw conclusions. tion till I arrived at the heartbreaking realiza­ facts about a young clergyman who is both tion that when I put my money into my church preaching and living a consistent and beauti­ There are those of us among the laity who envelopes I had no assurance whatever whether ful religion,-my friend, who "has not been in­ have been honest enough to ask ourselves what it was to be used to preach for or against the side a church for years," said frankly, "How life is all about,-what God is and what He Divinity of Christ, and who, as a direct conse­ I wish I could hear him preach I" wants of us. We are not infected with the qwence of that realization, came out of that happy irresponsibility of many of the c1ergy,­ church and joined the Presbyterian Church,­ To you tolerant, loving, peace adoring, amity or with the eager willingness to sell out all I wish to answer Dr. Ward's question from seeking ministers, I answer Dr. Ward's ques­ our verities and sanctities for the joy of the point of view of what I believe to be a tion as to what is the matter with some of us. considerable number of thinking men and wom­ Weare "holding loosely" something we are crowded churches and large contributions,­ en of today. The answer is this. Weare considering discarding altogether,-as not (one is interested to note, by the way, that the tired of impossible logical contradictions and worth keeping. contributions are falling off! In my Own case, nauseated with insincerity and lies. the reason is not far to seek!) We look at A thing cannot both be and not be at one many of our ministers thoughtfully,-and with­ The primary rule of logic today, as always, and the same time. That is the first law of out the old, and no longer appropriate, rever­ would seem to be "A thing cannot· both be,­ logic. Christ either is God,-or He is not. No ence and deference which we had once for the and not be,-at one and the same time." This person, no matter what his or her individual genuine "men of God" who through prayer and is not a dogma of religion but an axiom of view on the subject, can deny this perfectly consistent efforts to lead helpful and saintly sane thinking and an inviolable rule of common obvious statement. Every atheist, every Jew, lives really had come into such relations with sense! And we, the laity, do not share the in­ every heathen,-whether Buddhist, Moham­ God that we were justified in looking up to tellectual adjustability of the present day medan or what not,-as well as the most pas­ them and regarding them as men who had been "enlightened" clergy. sionate Christian,---can and must assent to this taught of God. declaration. Really sincere persons hold de­ cided views, one way or the other, on important It seems that it might be well for the clergy \Ve cannot take seriously a minister who of all the churches to remember that in this topics,-or seek to ascertain the truth on them. says, "There should be no ill feeling between day many of their hearers have a fairly good Cnitarians, orthodox Jews, atheists and those who think that Christ was God and those education. Some of us have been interested heathen think He was not God. I do not who think that He was a noble man, but both enough to study religion rather extensively on agree, but I yield them the respect due to an parties in our church should not feel other than our own account,-and are better informed honestly held conviction. I do not agree with than some of the clergy as to the actual facts their views, but I do not feel any impUlse to Christ-like each to the other." I quote from and the authorities from whom these facts are scorn, derision or contumely as to the person the remarks of a Cincinnati minister last De­ obtained. The church leaders are no longer who sincerely holds this belief. cember at a gathering of the clergy of a cer­ dealing with the ignorant peasants of medieval tain denomination (not Presbyterian), of that times. \Ve have been trained to use the brains But-hear our honored clergy! The ques­ city. I am not a ~Iinister but God gave me God gave us,-and we look at ministers,­ tion is raised in the General Assembly in Cin­ a certain amount of brains which I have been and we do not admire our "spiritual advisers cinnati whether a signer of the Auburn Affirma­ pleased to lise. He also gave brains in gener­ and overlords." We have studied logic and tion is a fit editor for the official magazine ous measure to other members of the laity. psychology. We are able to reason,-and a of our church,-and it refuses to discuss the I do not find a great deal of this twisted think- 10 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930 ing among the ordinary members. It seems Christ is God one can believe,-and the most your levity, your insincerity, and your lack of to be confined almost entirely to the clergy. confirmed atheist, Jew or heathen must respect ordinary logical consistency. I am not a Ro­ our honesty of conviction on the point. But to man Catholic, but I happened to be present a You ask why we lose interest in church,­ take the ministerial position,-that it doesn't short time ago at a Roman Catholic service. why contributions fall off,-why ministers lose matter whether He is God or not-! What The priest, in the course of his remarks, made their leadership? Well, look at the facts! can you ministers expect us to think of you? the following statement,-not with any rancor You stand as a whole, (regardless of those Theoretically, at least, you stand for the Chris­ but with the calmness of one making a plain who may be preaching sane doctrine in their tian religion. Are we to think that you are and obvious statement of fact. He said, "Today individual churches,) and you tell us, "It too ignorant to know what it is,--Qr too in­ the Protestant clergy do not know what they doesn't matter whether or not you believe the ferior mentally to be capable of coherent rea­ believe. They are merely playing with religion, main doctrines of Christianity." We, the laity, soning,--Qr merely too lazy to lift a finger to and the churches are going to pieces." It is apply reason and logic to that statement,-and maintain the faith entrusted to your care? true. There is no strength in insincerity; and consequently we apply cold judgment to our the final issue of adherence to the present min­ analysis of you ministers and as to whether If you yourselves proclaim that it doesn't isterial policy of compromise, illogical pro­ we consider you worth listening to and sup­ matter whether we have any consistent religion mulgations and unwise conciliation will merely porting with our money, our service and the or not,-why should we rush to connect our­ be that the sincere and thoughtful and devoted full weight of our lives. selves with churches and eagerly offer our Christians will either be driven out of the money for your schemes of social service and, churches altogether or else will band together, incidentally, your own support and honor and procure them sincere and spiritually minded "It doesn't matter whether a man believes influence? Why? If Christ is not your Master, Ministers and start a new church or churches Christ is God or not." Suppose we follow out what claim have you on us at all? Why on altogether. For-Jesus of Nazareth can still the two positions. earth should we give you our time, our money, call out His own. There are still those of us our influence, and our work? What are you who will follow Him "both into prison and to If Christ is God,-from this premise comes to us? If Christ's claim on you and us is not death." It is the Ministers who have fallen the inevitable conclusions that He is our valid,-for what earthly reason should we pay below grade. There is nothing wrong with Master; that He has a right to issue orders a man to run around and make personal calls God or Christ or real religion. as to all we say and do; that subject to His and talk a couple of hours on Sunday and make will is every thought and action of our lives; himself generally agreeable? Why should we God gave us, the laity, minds and consciences that our welfare in this world and in the next build churches or support them? What is the and wills. We will not prostitute our minds depend on our relation to Him; and we kneel good of religion? To be honest, if the indi­ to absurdity in our thinking. \Ve will not and pray to Him in all sincerity for forgiveness, vidual churches didn't stand for something violate our consciences by disloyalty to our for strength to meet temptation, guidance to better than the consensus of opinion expressed Lord. We will not yield our wills to the direct the course of our lives,-and some of us officially at church councils-it is my own vagaries and the exceedingly inconsistent and -simply go into His presence and stay there opinion and that of a lot of other thinking wabbly leadership of our present day min­ in sincere love and adoration, without even individuals-that the church is not any good, isterial incumbents. I do not believe in Min­ asking anything at all back,-just to be with and the sooner we get rid of it the better! isters in general any more. Every individual Him and absorb His loveliness and truth and one must prove himself against the undesirable beauty and strength. But individual churches,-a lot of them,---do presumption of insincerity they as a class have stand for something definite and worth while. chosen to establish against themselves. To If Christ is not God,-after nineteen hun­ Why do not the ministers of these churches those who are standing fast I yield an extrava­ dred years His very body is long since dissi­ rise up in the councils of our official bodies and gant admiration and loyalty and an utter thank­ pated into gasses and vapors and dust,-and is express themselves? "Whosoever shall deny fulness that God has not left us entirely with­ so disintegrated that one bit is probably part Me on earth I will deny before the angels of out leaders. of a wall,--Qne particle a component of a God." Loyal Christians look at ministers in flower,--Qne puff of vapor part of the breath conclave assembled with wonder which merges From a considerable and passionately inter­ of some living man. If He is not God,-He into scorn, contemptuous, understanding and ested observation of two Churches--one of them ranks only with Buddha, Confucius and Moses tolerant acceptance of them, rebellious discon­ the Presbyterian-I believe it to be true that as one of the sages and teachers of mankind,­ tent, or utter repudiation. the vast majority of the laity are still, in all and it is no more sensible to pray to Him than sincerity and truth, ready to say, "I believe it would be to pray to the brass bed in my Why in the name of logic and reason and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord." room. Yet-ministers say the Creed and pray commonsense, don't you split the churches And though I have less data to support my "for Jesus' sake" and then get up in the pulpit into sane divisions? If those who believe that opinion as to the other denominations, I am and say He was not God. What do you sup­ Christ is not God go together,-it makes a perfectly willing to believe that the mass of pose we think as we watch all this? coherent and sensible operative entity. And their members are just as loyal to Christ and if those who believe He is God go together, His Gospel,-and no less able to use their rea­ Cannot even a minister perceive that it re­ then we would feel like giving ourselves, our soning powers. quires no religion whatever to make one revolt substance, our prayers, our service and our against such a manifest and hopeless absurdity love as we used to give it. We, the laity, can exist in perfect sufficiency, as the position taken by many Protestant peace and comfort without this modern variety ministers today? It is not necessary to resort But it does seem as if, whether you ministers of Minister. But without Jesus of Nazareth to spiritual arguments,-though heaven knows are aware of it or not, that the great mass of we and all civilization will eventually simply there are enough of them we could put for­ the church laity are still loyal at heart to Christ smash. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the ward! But such a contradiction is just a hope­ Himself. You harm us, turning our church living God." "I am not ashamed of Christ less offense against mere commonsense, reason loyalty to disgust and our sacred things into Jesus, my Lord." "~ly sheep follow Me, and and logic. That a man may believe that Christ light sacrilege. But-it is r,ot to you that we they know My voice, and a stranger's voice was a man,--Qne can understan'd.-and his con­ took our vows,-it is not to yolt that we hold will they not follow." Lead on, oh King Eter­ victions one may respect. while one wishes to ourselves responsible,-and there is an increas­ nal,-and rid uS of such ministerial obstacles! convert him to one's own view that Christ is ing disposition or: our ~art to look at you and For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and God Eternal. That a mar: may belieye that ]ucge YOl.! 2.!1C :-~·jc~~ '_'.,. \Ye ct,:, :lOt like the glory, and we would have it so! June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 11 Books of Religious Significance WHAT IS HELL? By Deal! TV. R. Inge, Sir phere which those breathe who are the chil­ authority of the Bib!t:, Dr. Norwood's con­ Oliver Lodge, Abbot Butler, Warwick dren of God. a state to which we need not be victions come from e..xperience, first, last, and Deeping, f. E. C. WeI/don, fames Moffatt, strangers even now. How almost ridiculous always. His experience happens to coincide Annie Besant, Sheila Kaye-Smith, W. E. it is to believe in Heaven without also believ­ with Scriptural teaching on occasions, and Orchard, F. W. Norwood, G. Hay Morgan, ing in its terrible opposite. If Heaven is, or consequently he writes as follows. and Irwin Edman. Harper and Brothers, may be, a matter of experience to us while "I am not foolish enough to suggest that New York and London, 1930. 186 pp. $2.00. we live here, so unquestionably is Hell. \Ve men can decide the operations of the Divine know there is a Hell, for we have been there, Will by a mere popular vote. I disagree with ERE we have a book written by British or very near it. It is hardly too much to say those who vote Hell out of e..xistence. Men celebrities. One is a Spiritualist, another H that Heaven and Hell stand and fall together." have always had Hell in their feelings. That is a Theosophist, another a Pagan. Two are Then he cites the Scriptures. why they keep stating it in their doctrines. novelists whose religious affiliation is not clear. "The doom of the rej ected is explicitly The man who repudiates it absolutely has A Roman Catholic writes a chapter and so stated to be eternal punishment. No sound either had a shallow experience, or is not true does an Anglican bishop. Dean Inge, Fred W. Greek scholar can pretend that aeonios means to the experience he has had. He will find it Norwood and W. E. Orchard present the Eng­ anything less than eternal. Our Lord's words before he dies, and when he has crossed the lish Protestant point of view, and perhaps rep­ about the nature of future punishment need ri"er bf death he will discover that by no trick resent that view-point fairly. not be taken literally, but we have no right to of legerdemain has it disappeared. For Hell The impressive thing about the book is the ignore or twist His perfectly plain language ;s as permanent as the mind of man. solemn seriousness of the discussion. The usual about its duration. Modernist Protestantism, "I believe in Hell as I believe in man. I jibes at Jonathan Edward's sermon on "A Sin­ though it may be reluctant to admit it, be­ know that he does not escape the consequences ner in the Hands of an Angry God" are there; lieves in Purgatory, but not in Hell. The as­ of his wrong-doing until he has paid 'the very but the reader is spared the customary carica­ sumption behind this belief is that there is a last mite.'" ture. Every writer subscribes to the idea of process in the universe tending toward perfec­ The Rev. Dr. W. E. Orchard, minister of retribution for sin, awful to contemplate, and tion. And yet this is certainly not the Chris­ the King's Weigh House Church, on Duke in substance echoes Browning's famous line: tianity of the New Testament. In the New Street, in London, preaches well and writes "There may be a Heaven; there must be a Testament, as von Hugel says, 'there is every­ well. Of the so-called "intellectual" preachers Hell." where an affirmation of man's life here below in England, he seems to be among the most Articles by Inge, Norwood and Orchard are as a choice between immense alternatives with popular. It is difficult to resist quoting him at interesting to Americans as forecasting what corresponding abiding consequences.' If there length. The following excerpts, chosen from our own church leaders may be saying. British is any future probation, it is absolutely un­ a twenty-one page essay, will have to do. culture weighs heavily with the Liberal church known to us, and we have no right to assume "Purgatory, so completely repudiated at the party in America. Probably most of our pres­ any sLlch thing. Reformation, has been adopted by Liberal ent day heresy arrived via Driver, Cheyne, "Hell, which is where God is not, and the theology. Indeed the idea has returned with a Sanday, Marcus Dods, George Adam Smith, Devil is; is not at all like the Modernist pur­ vengeance, for now the idea of purgatory and the last writings of the once stalwart Bruce gatory, where one trains for the next examina­ threatens to blot out Hell. The New Testa­ and Denney. The influence of our cousins tion; a place really bracing to the constitution. ment however contains such clear predictions across the sea is never so potent as when they Such thoughts are cheap and frivolous; the and such solemn warnings about the fate of the discuss religion. reality is much more tragic and terrible. We wicked as we can hardly reconcile with a For years Dean Inge has attracted attention face a dread alternative, the choice of which, process of remedial punishment. Further, it by his writings, and his gifts in this field have so far as we know, is for us endless in its must be remembered that changing our destiny been remarkable. As a preacher, his success has results. I have no wish to revive the use of in the other world might have to work in two been far short of the attainment one expects hnguage, which, as I have said already, is dis­ directions, and while introducing hope into in a man of his talent. He preaches to small honouring to the Father of our Lord Jesus Hell, might introduce uncertainty into Heaven. congregations in the vast spaces of St. Paul's Christ. But if the superior smile with which For this type of thought often feels constrained Cathedral in London, probably because few the mention of Hell is received by our modern to picture a Heaven of continuous progress people are capable of deriving spiritual help guides is part of a plan to banish fear from which w0uld surely involve some degree of from the beauty of the fine, Hellenic prose religion, and to paint God as a good-natured dissatisfaction and struggle, and therefore of which too richly adorns his thought. The Dean and easy-going ruler, it is necessary to protest pain. This whole doctrine is rightly suspected is innocent of any loyalty to the prevailing that this is not the Christian religion. by many, because if the life we now live does schools of opinion. He is a scornful patrician "We wrestle not only against flesh and blood, not decide the life to come, then either its pur­ in theology, looking upon the orthodox in but against more spiritual and intangible and pose is not clear, or it is not properly designed derision and holding himself aloof from the Malignant forces of evil. We dare not forget for its purpose, and might as well have been learned Anglo-Catholics in his own com­ those words of Christ Himself: 'Fear not them altogether omitted. munion,-for example, Dr. Charles Gore. Nor that kill the body, and after that have no more "When we consider all the facts, we are has he enthusiasm for Modernists. In his they can do. But fear him who after he hath bound to admit the reality there is in the idea orthodox moments he preaches sermons of killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea, I of Hell, as well as the sanity of Christ's teach­ power. They have power because they are at­ 5ay unto you, fear him.''' ing and of the orthodox theology in maintain­ tended, not by the persuasions of Plato, but by The Rev. Dr. Fred \Y. Norwood is an Aus­ ing the actuality of Hell. Warning thereiore the authority of God's Word. Several sen­ tralian. For ten years he has occupied the should be uttered by all true and serious evan­ tences from his article on Hell are memorable. pulpit of the City Temple Congregationalist gelism. Moreover the warnings need to be They are quoted herewith apart from their con­ Church in London. The eloquent and earnest addressed to those who have seen the light, text, a method justified only by a lack of space Gospel preacher, Joseph Parker; and the for it requires disobedience and rebellion to sufficient to carry his argument. brilliant and erratic Reginald Campbell were constitute Hell. Dean Inge explains the elements of space among his predecessors there. As we read "The New Testament symbol of fire has been and time in his consideration of the future life his article on Hell, we discover that whereas retained by Roman Catholic theologians, and and says: "We think of Heaven as the atmos- Dean I nge depends more or less upon the understood as if it were material fire. They 12 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930 concede that material fire cannot have the same HUMANISM: A New Religion. By Charles tion, What is religion? No doubt if we say effect in the other world as in this, but the Francis Potter. Simon and Schuster, New with E. S. Ames that "Religion is the con­ affirmation of the notion conveys to the York. 132 pp. $1.50. sciousness of the highest social values," or with imagination the sense of intolerable pain. Those A. Eustice Haydon that "Religion is the shared HE purpose of this book is to set forth who demand that fire is only symbolical of quest of the good life," or with Dr. Potter "the main outline and principal points of torment of mind, must recognize that this makes T himself that "Religion is the attempt to unify the new religion called Humanism." Its author things even worse. For there is torment of one's personality and relate it to the world is the founder of "The First Humanist Society mind far worse than anything fire can inflict without," Humanism (defined as "faith in the of New York," an organization that since its on the body. The idea of the materiality of supreme value and self-perfectibility of human formation last September, has received wide­ fire seems, therefore, rather to offer some personality") is rightly spoken of as a religion. spread newspaper publicity. relief. But if with B. B. Warfield, we say that "Reli­ It should not be supposed that Humanism is "There is no need to assume that the vast gion is, shortly, the reaction of the human soul of recent origin inasmuch as there were Greek majority of mankind is bound for such a Hell in the presence of God"-surely the only cor­ Humanists as far back as the fifth century of suffering as it is impossible for us to think rect type of definition of religion-it is obvious before Christ The early rise of Humanism of. It is not required of us to hold that any that it is a misnomer to call Humanism as un­ finds its explanation in the fact that God, the single soul is at this moment in Hell; we must derstood by Dr. Potter a religion at all. In world and man are the three realities with not dare to judge. All the New Testament a word, the God-idea which Dr. Potter relates which human thinking has ever concerned it­ tells us about individual destiny is that there to the Santa Claus idea is indispensable to self with the result that in the history of hu­ will be many surprises when the Day reveals religion: hence whatever else his Humanism man thinking there are but three types of it. Moreover we must not mUltiply conscious may be it is not a religion, true as it may be world-view that are distinguishable in prin­ suffering by endlessly protracted time. Eter­ that it is a substitute for religion for many ciple-the theistic, the naturalistic and the hu­ nity cannot be simply identified with the ever­ today. It is true that Dr. Potter defends his manistic according as the emphasis has been lasting sequence of time. Eternity is a con­ associates against the charge of atheism but placed on one or the other of these realities. dition which time cannot measure; but it may only to the extent of claiming that they are But while there is little that is new in con­ be measured by intensity of consciousness. not dogmatic atheists. For all practical pur­ nection with present-day Humanism, the move­ Hell, therefore, may simply mean an intense poses, however, he aligns them with the ment probably has a vogue today never pre­ sense of the deprivation of God, combined with atheists when he writes that if by God "one viously enj oyed and there are not lacking indi­ an equally intense determination to deprive means a supernatural personal deity, most, if cations that in its various manifestations it oneself of Him; both together and all at once. not all, Humanists would deny such." Else­ constitutes the chief modern rival of Chris­ where he correctly maintains that a non-super­ "It is possible to hold that there is a solution tianity, inasmuch as materialistic naturalism is natural, impersonal God is virtually no God at of this painful problem which has not been re­ held by few thinkers of repute. all. \Ve concur when he writes: "The salva­ vealed to us. But if we are to retain even a It would be no less a mistake to suppose that hope, it must depend upon a perfect revelation tion of God by identifying him with the cosmic Dr. Potter's Humanist Society is the only or­ of God's Love made to all souls when they energy is a vain compromise of last-ditch ganization devoted to furthering the creed of reach the other world, far surpassing in effi­ theists. When they sacrifice the personality Humanism. As a matter of fact it is being cacy the revelation of the Cross in this wor Id. of God in order to assure his mere existence, preached in all essentials in thousands of pul­ Some have found hints in the New Testament they might as well admit defeat." pits including many classed as evangelical. of something lying beyond even its farthest They are not far wrong, if they are wrong at The fundamental question at issue between horizons; a restoration of all things, when all all, who speak of "Modernism as only as un­ Humanism and Christianity, as Dr. Potter per­ shall be reconciled, and Hell itself shall be acknowledged Humanism." Dr. Potter is ceives, is the question of the reality of the destroyed. But there is nothing sufficient to never more convincing than when he is en­ supernatural as a factor in human life. H u­ contradict what is elsewhere clearly set forth. gaged in twitting the Modernists for their manists, he affirms, are unanimous in rejecting We can only stand by what has been revealed. inconsistency in trying to hold fast to Chris­ belief in the supernatural while supernatural­ ]I; 0 natural or spiritual considerations over­ tianity while disavowing supernaturalism. ism "is woven into the very fabric of Chris­ throw, and nothing in modern psychology dis­ Surely he is right in maintaining that Chris­ tianity." Dr. Potter thinks that this spells the proves the orthodox doctrine of Hell; nor do tianity is through and through supernatural doom of Christianity but in our judgment it they diminish the gravity of Christ's teaching to such an extent that no naturalistic scheme spells the doom of Humanism; and that be­ on the subject Every soul must be warned." of thought has any right to call itself Christian. cause any thinker who leaves God out of con­ Dean Inge, and Drs. Norwood and Orchard In our judgment it would be great gain if this sideration deals with only a part of reality, and write opportunely even when they write inade­ distinction between acknowledged and unac­ that not the most significant part. The Hu­ quately. Hell is a neglected truth in the knowledged Humanism was done away with. manist ignores the Lord God Almighty whom Christian religion and its omission from the Dr. Potter may not be particularly learned or the heaven of heavens cannot contain, to whom counsel of God in our preaching is an act particularly gifted as a thinker but it is at the earth is less than the small dust in the of malfeasance and treachery. No revival of least to his credit that the organization he has balance. Dr. Potter's allegation that even if religion can come without it Christ's shed launched does not sail under a false and mis­ there is a God we have no knowledge of Him blood cannot be understood without it. leading banner. is purely gratuitous. As a matter of fact we If the black pit against which the Cross of Dr. Potter, we suppose, will for the most possess a knowledge of God that is just as de­ the Son of God was raised is ever so imper­ part agree with what we have said thus far pendable, even more dependable than we possess fectly described by the preacher, that fear of on the ground that the adjective "new" as used of any other reality inasmuch as God himself the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom be­ by him qualifies the word "religion" rather has revealed himself not only in nature and in gins to work mightily in the sinner's heart. than the word "humanism." In harmony with human hearts but through prophets and From the gate of Hell it is but a short step this he claims that Humanism as understood apostles and above all in Jesus Christ, His Son to the Cross, and when a man is constrained by him is a religious movement whereas as and our Lord. Dr. Potter is perfectly right, to turn to the Cross on which his guilt has understood by his predecessors it was a literary however, in holding that Christianity stands or been expiated, for the first time he knows what or philosophical movement. \\'ha!, then, are ialls with the reality of the supernatural. If, it means to "pass from death unto life," and we to think of his claim that Humanism is "a as he alleges, "the so-called supernatural is "being justified by faith" to "have peace with new type of religion?" Obviously the ques­ only the not-yet-understood natural" it is high God through our Lord Jesus Christ." tion whether Humanist:! is a religion turns on time that Christianity be relegated to the mu­ FR.'~K H. STE\"E:'SO~. the ans~yer that ~:,·J~l': ~e bJ'~'efl :'J the ques- seum oi dead religions as nothing is more cer- June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 13 tain than that Christianity de-supernaturalized Ne:4~These ideas are unimportant in reli­ Yet again to say that the chief end of man ~s C~ristianity extmct. Dr. Potter, however, gion. is :0 glorify God is not to deny that it is man's IS qUite mistaken in thinking that the super­ We have arranged these ten alleged differ­ duty to improve himself both as an individual natural is the not-yet-understood natural: hence ences in the above order in order to call atten­ and. as a race. As a matter of fact Christianity whatever part Humanism may play in the tion to the fact that only as regards the last stresses both duties, maintaining however that thinking of the immediate future we are con­ three points is there anything like an absolute only as we make the former our chief end will fident that its vogue will be short-lived. Gen­ difference between Christianity and Humanism we succeed, in any desirable way, in improving uine Christianity-based as it is on "the super­ as understood by Dr. Potter-a fact fitted to ourselves either as individuals or as a race. natural fact, which is God; the supernatural direct attention to the superficiality and incon­ But while as far as the first seven points' of act: w~ich is miracle; the supernatural book, sequential nature of Dr. Potter's thinking. Dr. difference are mentioned the contrast between which IS the revealed will of God; the super­ Potter would have us believe that Christianity Christianity and Humanism is by no means as natural redemption, which is the divine deed of is affirming the ten articles of belief ascribed to absolute as Dr. Potter would have us believe the divine Christ; the supernatural salvation, it necessarily denies the ten articles of belief yet in as far as Humanism denies the existence ~hich is the divine work of the divine Spirit"­ ascribed to Humanism and vice versa. That of God, or his saving activity in the world, or IS too firmly grounded to fear any contention is not necessarily the case except as regards man's obligation to worship and glorify Him, it of man. Real Christianity, in distinction from the last three articles of belief mentioned, as would be difficult to exaggerate the absolute­ its modern substitutes, can no more perish from a moments consideration of each will make ness of the contrast between the two. Not the earth than the sense of sin can disappear only does Christianity live and move and have clear. from the hearts of men, than the knowledge To affirm that "the world and man evolved" its being in God, it owes its existence to the of God can fade from the minds of dependent is not necessarily to deny that "God created the fact that God not only can but does save creatures, than God Himself can cease to ex­ world and man." Evolution of itself offers no sinners. "God so loved the world that He gave ist The Christ of the New Testament is not solution of the question of origins. There must His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth only a fact of the past, He is a fact of the be something to evolve before there can be any on Him should not perish, but have eternal present; and though hand join in hand, His evolution. Evolution cannot act as a substi­ life"; "Faithful is the saying and, worthy of all plans and purposes will not fail of realization. tute for creation, but at the most can only acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the Dr. Potter enumerates ten points of differ­ supply a theory of the method of Divine provi­ world to save sinners"; "I am what I am by ence between Humanism understood by him­ dence. We believe indeed that it is inadequate the grace of God"-it is these passages and se~f a.nd the religion known as Christianity. In even as a theory of Divine providence, because passages such as these that express the very ~IS mstance these ten points appear on the we believe that history exhibits the super­ essence of Christianity, that apart from which Jacket. of the book, not in the body of the natural in the form of the miraculous, notably there is just no Christianity at all. book Itself, but it is clear that they were for­ in the case of the God-man, but at any rate There are of course Humanists and Human­ mulated by Dr. Potter himself. For our own to say that "the world and man evolved" affords ists. All Humanists would not subscribe to purpose, as will be seen below, we arrange no answer to the question: "In the beginning" the Humanism of Dr. Potter. Many of them these alleged differences between the "old" -what? would react rather violently to many of his religion .( Chri~tianity) and the "new" religion The second alleged difference contains a mis­ contentions. If we were to become a Human­ (H umarusm) 10 the following order: statement of fact Christianity does not teach ist we hardly suppose we would be a Humanist 1. Old-Cod created the world and man: that man is "inherently" evil but rather that he of the Potter type. But while Humanism in New-The world and man evolved. became evil and as such is capable of redemp­ all its forms is, in our judgment, inadequate as a life and world view yet the attitude of 2. Old-Man is inherently evil and a worm tion. Humanism regards fallen man as glori­ the Christian toward it ought to be one of of the dust : New-Man is inherently good ous: Christianty says that as compared with appreciation as well as criticism. In as far as and has infinite possibilities. what he ought to be, and what by the grace of God he may become, he is worthless. We Humanism ignores God, or makes man his own 3. Old-Man should submit to the will of saviour, or places exclusive emphasis on the God: New-Man should not submit to in­ reject Humanism's conception of man not be­ cause it makes too much of man but because it life that now is, the attitude of the Christian justice or suffering without protest and should be one of unrelieved opposition. But should endeavor to remove its causes. makes too little, asserting as it does that man is glorious even in his fallen state. in as far as the Humanist merely pleads for a 4. Old-Hell is a place of eternal torment proper valuation of the life that now is as for the wicked: New-Suffering is the To say that man should submit to the will of God is not of course to say that he should over against asceticism, or stresses man's duty natural result of breaking the laws of right to improve himself both as an individual and living. submit to wrong and injustice without protest and with no effort to remove its causes. Only as a race, the Christian finds his teaching in 5. Old-Heaven is the place where good peo­ as the will of God is done will wrong or in­ harmony with his own. Christianity yields to ple go .when they die: New-Doing right justice disappear. none in the value it attaches to human per­ bnngs ItS own satisfaction. Again to say that hell is a place of eternal sonality; moreover it believes in the perfect­ 6. Old-The truth is to be found in one reli­ torment for the wicked is not to deny that suf­ ibility of human personality, not indeed in its gion only : New-There are truths in all fering is the natural result of breaking the self-perfectibility-man can no more perfect religions and outside of religion. laws of right living. Both statements may be himself than the Ethiopian can change his skin 7. Old-T~e chief end of man is to glorify true, in fact are true. Equally true is it that or the leopard his spots-but in its perfectibility God: IV ew-The chief end of man is to to say that heaven is the place where good 10 and through Jesus Christ. Humanism knows improve himself, both as an individual and people go when they die is not to deny that of no dynamic, no source of energy, save that as a race. doing right brings its own satisfaction. Here whic.h inheres in man as man; but it i~ a glory S. Old-Religion has to do with the super­ too both statements may be true, in fact are of Christianity that it proclaims a living Re­ natural: New-Religion has to do with true. deemer and so makes available a dynamic the natural. The so-called supernatural Again to say that "the truth" is to be found power, an energizing force other than that is only the not-yet-understood natural. in one religion only is not to deny that there which belongs to man as man. The tree of 9. Old-Salvation comes from outside man: is truth in all religions and outside of religion. humanity must be made good before it can New-Improvement comes from within Christianity does not claim to teach all truth bear good fruit: Jesus Christ alone is capable Ko man or god can save another man. . or deny that other religions teach truth. 'What of doing this: hence He alone makes possible 10. Old-The ideas of sin, salvation, redemp­ it claims is that it alone teaches that knowledge the perfectibility either of the individual or of tIOn, prayer, and worship are important: that is necessary to salvation. the race. S. G. C. CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930

second part. :K ow in the sample copy of your :1t'X paper I discover that clearness of defini­ Voices From Many Quarters tion for which I have been longing. To be (Second Series) able to slate the problem and at the same time poiHt Ihe way out as you did is fulfilling the (In our first issue we published .s selection from the hundred) of letten received by Dr. Craig after his function of true leadership and should inspire rdircmcnt as Editor of "The Presbyte:ricSn." Those letter! showed the demand of IS grc~t constituency for such IS paper as CHRISTIANITY TODAY. In this "second series" we print IS similar selection of letten from among your readers, as it did me, with confidence for the gre,H Rood of communications that has come to us. They show the reaction to the Rnt announcement "nd then to the Rnt issue of CHRISTIANllY TODAY. We regret that our 5p.dCe is so limited.) the future. May God's blessing rest on your endeavors. From "three loyal laymen" in Oklahoma: have a Christian magazine that is Christian, • • • Joy, joy, joy is in our hearts this day. For whose Editor and contributors are unafraid, Two letters from Ohio: last night my brother brought home your letter and unhampered by the domination of any in­ I was delighted yesterday to receive sample of April 29th. Words cannot express our deep fluence save that of their own devotion to Divine copies of your splendid paper CHRISTIANITY satisfaction and gratitude, first, for answered truth. Those of us who have been pained by TODA Y, and thank God with all my heart that prayer, then for the rest of spirit. After read­ all that befell faithful men in the Presbyterian He is sending forth this new champion of His ing the letter-headings and the first paragraph Church-the chief seminary and its sole believ­ glorious truth in these tragic days when our we had to stop several minutey.-the boys ing publication-are now rejoicing over the dread adversary is wielding the subtle and couldn't think of anything to say, for we advent of 'Nestminster Seminary and of CHRIS­ deadly weapon of Modernism with such devas­ just could not realize that our prayer had TIA~ITY TODAY. For the men who sacrificed tating effect in many hearts and lives. As we been answered so soon. It seems little short of persona\1y that these two institutions might live contemplate the heart-breaking situation in the miraculous, truly! \Ve are indeed "whole­ as a true witness in the midst of apostate Christian Church today, when men who have heartedly" with you "in this effort to rally and "brethren" for these and the great work they been ordained as "ambassadors for Christ" are strengthen the cause of the Gospel at this have undertaken in His name and for His glory found false witnesses of Christ, proclaiming critical time." Thank you for using the word. alone, we make humble petition to Him in their "another gospel, which is not another," and And well we know the truth of your argument, behali that He may grant great grace to each leading souls into the mazes of unbelief and for the people here are certainly more than one and bless the oblation which their service down to eternal ruin, how we are cha\1enged to five to three for Modernism. \Ve wish to offers. \Vith abounding good wishes, I bid bear constant, fervent, faithful witness for our assure you that you can always depend upon us you Godspeed in this new enterprise. beloved Lord and to "earnestly contend for the three as "loyal laymen"-and how we do need • • • faith which was once delivered unto the saints," CHRISTIA~ITY TODAy-pUn or no pun. Not From a Retired 11inister: and how joyously and steadfastly we ought to meet that cha\1enge! In all "your work and subject to domination and dictation of others? Yesterday a friend handed me a copy of the labor of love" during the coming days may Herein we will rest from all fears for the first issue of your new paper, CHRISTIANITY our precious Lord ever be to you, as He was future. For the paper, led of the Holy Spirit, TODAY. That was the first time I had ever seen to Abraham your "shield and exceeding great will be sufficient for all needs. This is indeed or heard of it. Within the first half hour I had reward." God's work, and we are entirely in sympathy read quite a little of it, reading it aloud to my with CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY in all its aims. By wiie, and I then and there determined to send * • • I am sending a do\1ar bill for which send me all means send us the subscription blanks, and you my subscription at the first opportunity. a copy of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. I have read anything else you think we can do for you. Yesterday being the Lord's day, my first op­ it from first to last, the first issue; and, as I • • • portunity is today, and I enclose herewith my have followed you for years in a noble, devoted, From Massachusetts: dollar. (You are charging one dollar for a unbeatable fight, I want to te\1 you the great paper we\1 worth two dollars.) I am now a My heart just sang for joy when your letter help and ministry you have been to me. Thank retired Congregational minister, having been in awaited me last night. I knew you would have God for the stand you take and the place you the active service for fifty years, graduating to do this thing eventually but to think fill-hold it at any cost, which I know you will from Andover, the Andover that was. But it has come about so quickly-yet that is what -and I predict the paper and Westminster since the rise of this heart-breaking modernis­ we can expect from your group of men Seminary will both be a great success. They tic apostasy, I have been ashamed to be known in Philadelphia. Thank God He has pressed cannot be otherwise, since God and the faith as a Congregationalist. My son is a Congre­ His live coal from off the altar right to the are behind them. And while I shall soon be gationalist minister, as indeed were my father hearts of everyone of you and you are glow­ "retired," I only wish I could begin again, and and one of my grandfathers; but my son and I ing forth His worth to a hungry longing peo­ get behind them and you. But others will rise have wished that we were Presbyterians. I ple. Oh, I'm so glad-now we'll know of and see you through. May there be many years rejoice in the new 'Nestminster Seminary, and Westminster regularly and its glorious stand granted you to head the host that will win! for our Lord. I simply can't tel1 you my joy a grandson of mine is to enter there this next Fall. I donated to their library a number of • • • over this publication. I love the name­ A few welcome words from Wisconsin: valuable books a few months ago. And now I straightforward and true. The first number of CHRISTIANITY TODAY is do thank God that you ha ve been led by the • • not only a journalistic triumph but a precious • Spirit to launch this new paper. I want to From Xew York: jewel as well so far as contents are concerned. tell you that I read practica\1y the whole of the After such a delightful and heartening ex­ My subscription dollar is enclosed. twenty-four pages yesterday, and would like perience as I have had in reading the first issue to see it oftener than once a month. . * • • of CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY. it is only fair that in A minister of the Presbyterian Church in Can­ some small measure I should make known to • • • ada writes from distant British Columbia: the Editor my sense of indebtedness to him and Another voice from New York: The church of Christ has waited long for the contributors to this inspiring new magazine. Enclosed please find my check ior a two just such a paper as CHRISTIANITY TODAY ap­ :Kot for a long time have I thrilled so con­ years' subscription to CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY. pears to be. I'm sure it wi\1 be very welcome cordantly with the message of any publication, At the beginning of your great undertaking I in our Presbyterian Church in Canada and I and I am sure that many another reader will wish to say in Tennyson's words: "Hold thou will do my part in its extension. "Ve need a derive new courage from its tone of color and the truth; define it wei!." I have come to paper like yours. Your statement of preface conscious possession of truth that must be her­ believe that the first part of this admonition is very fine and gives a man courage for the alded. God be thanked that once more we depends for its success for a good deal on the struggle that lies before every minister that June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 15

loves Jesus Christ in truth. I predict a great when we can have sllch an article published in com promisingly the thoroughly false and per­ future for your paper and I'm sure our Pres­ our so-called "QrEc:a: ;~£::J:-''':~: f)rgar:: J as 'was !llcioU5 philosophy which underlies the whole byterian Church in Canada will welcome it written by Dr. Abbott in the ~farch issue of fabric of Modernism. with much heart. the Presb)1eria:1 Magazine, go unchallenged * * • • • • \\'e pray for some one to come to the An elder from Missouri makes a pertinent ob­ Illinois has a good word: rescue. The article referred to would have servation: I received, a few days ago, the first issue of done credit to Tom Paine or Bob Ingersoll. Through some unknown source I am in re­ CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY. It was a surprise to me, In fact, instead of being an evidence of pro­ ceipt of Vol. I, No.1, of CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY. and it is the simple truth that I read the paper gressive religious thought, it was identically When I read the third paragraph of "By Way from beginning to end with rare delight. For the same belief that was taught by these men of Preface" I was convinced that I wanted myself I wish to say that-whatever the mind years ago. And the fact that it could pass your paper-here is my dollar. As a Sunday of the world may finally decide as to ultimate without a challenge from our church papers School Superintendent and worker for many truth: whatever may be the present or future that are not the "official" organs shows the years I have watched and wept over the spine­ course of the Presbyterian Church or of the great need of CHRISTlA~ITY TODAY. less literature which is put into the hands of different religious journals published in its • • • and is available to Presbyterians, for the homes name-(and I have charity for them all, and Some encouraging words from Iowa: and for Bible study, by our Board and our so approve of many excellent things which they I am so glad to receive the first copy of your called "Church Papers." In all my years of contain)-yet souls like mine, born, nourished excellent paper with the familiar true Holy experience I have been loyal to our Board and and sustained in faith, hope, and life in historic Spirit ring and I pray God's blessing and ap­ its publications but it is certainly little short and evangelical Christianity, must still be fed proval and assistance in making the paper a of a crime to have the Board beg for support upon these truths stated fully, clearly, earnestly, clarion call of God's people under the banner of BECAuSE IT IS PRESBYTERIAX and and even militantly-for only thus are they ade­ the cross of Christ. And I hope to see the same then put out the stuff they do which has no quate to our need. Hence it is with malice published weekly very soon. Rest assured that marks of Presbyterianism except the advertise­ toward no one, but only for my own good our God has many true ones who have not ments. I defy anyone to pick up any paper or and the good of what I conceive to be a great bowed the knee to the Modern Baal. I enclose lessoll help issued by our Board for the past cause, that I have decided immediately to be­ my check for three s ubscri ptions and a few 25 years and find one (just one) doctrinal sug­ come a subscriber to the new paper. names for sample copies. gestion or one item which could not be ac­ • • • • • • cepted in toto by Methodist, Congregationalist, From a Middle-\Vestern banker: Texas sends assurance of support: Lutheran, Campbellite or Baptist; and yet, in A ministerial friend once wrote me saying Enclosed you will find my subscription to the face of this they wonder why our Schools "controversy is of the pit." Well, if that is CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY. I was delighted with the are not loyal to them and why so few people so, our Lord certainly has much to repent of, sample copy of the first issue. I am wtih you know what the Presbyterian Church stands for for the waves of controversy never towered to the last ditch. I am a direct descendant of and believes. Yours for the Bible and the higher than when He was meeting the unbelief the first and second Presidents of Princeton Presbyterian Church. of His day. And what a treasure of divine L"niversity, but I deplore the present situation • • • truth we should have missed had He avoided there. I rejoice with you in your success in A voice from the Southern Church-in the per­ meeting error with His overwhelming truth. the establishment of an organ which will speak son of one of its most outstanding leaders: Every time a minister, professor or editor puts in behalf of the truth and the Gospel. My best I like the motive leading to the publishing of up the white flag against Modernism and wishes go to you and also to the cause as CHRISTIA~ITY TODAY, and I like the policy as Humanism my heart aches for him. He has represented in Westminster Seminary. You announced in the May No., Vol. 1, No.1. Per­ joined the ranks of "the fearful and the un­ will find that your friends and supporters will sonally I am not in favor of Organic L" nion believing" and he has become a shorn Samson. be counted by the thousands. with any Presbyterian Church in America, for Now that Modernism is so completely in the '. • • the reason that the terms of union would have Presbyterian saddle, those who still sing with A word from Pennsylvania: to be so broad that it will forever be impos­ heart and soul I have enjoyed CHRISTIANITY TODAY to the sible to silence any minister or ruling elder "How firm a foundation ye saints in the Lord fullest. It is instructive and inspirational who may be loud-mouthed in blattering the rot­ Is laid for your faith in His excellent word," throughout. How good it was to hear again ten est misinterpretations of the eternal word of need as never before to stand together with un­ the true devotion, clear expression, concise God. I wish we could segregate the conserva­ camouflaged fellowship and tell their faith and statements, and deep spirituality that we used tives in the U. S. A. Church and persuade them give their testimony with aggressive frankness. to hear every week in the Presbyterian. So to come in with us so that we could form a • • • far as I am concerned, the new magazine is a bulwark against the risen wave of ancient From Kentucky: complete success. It has a great mission to heresies that has assumed to itself the name y..-e received the first copy of CHRISTIA~ITY perform in the church today. Allow me to of "Modernism." It looks to me that the TODAY and the four in our family read it with express my appreciation for your noble endeavor U. S. A. Church, or rather the conservatives mnch interest, profit and thanksgiving. We and to promise my full support in prayer in that Church, waked up too late to stem the have long seen the need of just this kind of always, in circulation now, and financially as tide. The one consolation is that THE Christian religious paper, and our prayers go soon as I am able. My copy is being passed CHURCH is GOD'S CHURCH, and He is up to Him for you and those who assist you in around the house where I am boarding and I immensely MORE interested in its welfare this good work. have one elder very much interested in it. I that we can possibly be, and He has the power • • • hope to arouse more interest as time goes on. to roll back the tide of the destructive enemies Indiana presents a matter that ought to be * • • of His Church. He is pleased to use His own faced: Illinois again: true followers in this work, and may be stand­ Enclosed please find my check for which Will you please enter my name on your mail­ ing out of the way until His true followers at please send me CHRISTlA~ITY TODAY for one ing list for a year's subscription to CHRISTIAN­ least begin to work together to carry forward year. I am delighted with the prospect of ITY TODAY. It seems to me that you should the BAXNER OF THE CROSS. The condi­ having a reliable sound Fundamental Church have great success with CHRISTIANITY TODAY, tion may not be quite so bad in 'the U. S. A. paper since the "Directors" decided that we as the need of such a paper is so great and Church as it sometimes seems. I know the needed a change in the editorship of the Pres­ widespread. It is high time that able defenders disposition of all opposers of the word of God, byterian. That was a great shock to me. And of the faith should challenge militantly and un- their noisiness and their claims. I'm hoping 16 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930 that the tide will soon turn, and the truth of the truth: there where a hard struggle is. Presbyterian Church will be saved by cutting God be like a great tidal wave that shall ca~:-y out this cancer oi unbelief, painful as such very far over the realm of His Kingdom. From two Ministers of the Reiormed Church operation may prove. * • • in the U. S.: From a noted Minister of the United Presby­ Kindly accept my congratulations upon the An Explanatory Statement terian Church: publication of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. You have (Continued from Page 4) I received from an unknown source a copy of a splendid policy and I highly appreciate your CHRISTIANITY TODAY. It came at a time when endeavor to maintain the heritage of the fathers. yond our control. vYe plan to go to I was much distressed and burdened a bout * • • press about the middle of each month. things in the church today. Our own United This is to acknowledge receipt of your paper This issue, like the preceding one, has Presbyterian Church has been sitting back com­ CHRISTIANITY TODAY. I read with keen inter­ been sent to many from whom, or in be­ placently boasting about all absence of modern est and consent. The struggle is to abide with unbelief in her midst. And all the while Satan the word as the fathers of our Church have half of whom, no request for a copy had has been making his inroads and we are entirely explained it. been received. vVe have been much en­ too complacent to even make a good protest. • * * couraged by the response, in the way of Your good paper certainly warmed my heart Two more letters from the East, the second subscriptions, we have received from and I feel confident it will fill a much needed letter being written by a well-known mem­ those to whom copies of the first issue place. It will not be long until the matter of ber of the Pennsylvania bar: organic union of all Presbyterian bodies will be Please put me down as a charter subscriber, were sent; and hope, it is needless to say, accomplished. Can oil and water be made to and send me ten copies of this initial number to that we will receive like encouragement mix? A great majority of our churches will distribute among my people and my friends. from the recipients of this our second be for the union. Some will not be. Not be­ This first number is a classic. It is valuable issue. We could wish that our financial cause we have anything against our brethren as a statement of the church situation today, resources permitted us to look forward in the Presbyterian Church nor yet because of and of the remedy. Back to the BOOK and denominational pride or prejudice. Things back to the Christ of the BOOK. CHRISTIAN­ to making an equally wide broadcast of have gone too far for trifling about denomina­ ITY TODAY will be welcome to the "seven thou­ our third issue; but, our financial re­ tional pride especially when the leaders of one's sands," to the millions, who have not fallen sources being what they are, we will be own church have ceased to bear any testimony for Baal. It ought to have a million subscribers able to send our next issue only to sub­ for the living Lord. Is not the day rapidly in a short time. Long live CHRISTIANITY To­ scribers and to those from whom, or in coming when there must be a new alignment, DAY. Best wishes-showers of blessing! behalf of whom, we receive a request. not along denominational lines, but rather a * • • "coming out" of those individuals and churches The first copy of your paper has been placed We therefore urge those who have not who still believe in historical Christianity? I in my hands and I wish to extend my heartiest subscribed, but who intend to subscribe, hope your good paper may be the means of blaz­ congratulations and to wish you strength to to do so at once, so as not to miss the ing the light of that new day. battIe for the great fundamental doctrines of next issue. 'vVe also urge our friends to * * • Christianity. As a member of this church since From a well-known Minister of the Reformed my twenty-first birthday, some fifteen years send us the names of non-subscribers who Church in America: ago, I can truly say that it is my deliberate they think would be interested in receiv­ You say there is need of a "militant pre­ opinion that the signers of the Auburn Affir­ ing a copy of our next issue. In this con­ sentation of the truth." Yes, indeed. Life is mation and their followers have definitely pro­ nection we would again appeal to our a stuggle. Education is a struggle. Politics is claimed themselves followers of a doctrine friends and sympathizers to become sus­ a struggle. And when we are after THE which is neither Presbyterian nor Christian. I taining subscribers, as they may be finan­ TRUTH why must struggling cease? Is not give them credit for stating their convictions, error militant? And were not the new masters but I feel they are not acting in accordance cially able. There is no truth in the of Princeton militant to drive through their with ethics when they deliberately use the rumor that has come to us that one or desires-seemingly "nice" and "reasonable" and pulpit of the church to preach doctrines hostile more wealthy individuals have underwrit­ "broad-minded" as they were in going about it; to its very existence. I gladly grant to every ten the expense of this enterprise. Only but relentlessly thorough and persistent? May man the right to believe as he wishes, and to as the paper has the help of a large num­ we not be militant when error in every form preach those beliefs; but I deny to him the is so brazen and hoodwinks even the children right to advocate those doctrines from a pulpit ber of individuals of moderate means can of light? I have no sympathy with "middle-of­ in the Presbyterian Church, a church brought it hope to succeed, financially speaking. the-roaders" : they are constructive traitors. into existence by the faith and labor of our Vie repeat that CHRISTIANITY TODAY is Error does not believe in a middle-of-the-road. fathers. Let those who hold to the principles not operated for profit-and never will The great reformers never got anywhere ex­ of the Auburn Affirmation at least have the be-but wholly in the interest of what its cept through their positive stand. Lincoln did dignity and common decency to take themselves not believe in it. Kuyper gained his great eccle­ out from under the shelter of our church and founders believe to be a great cause. siastical and political victories in Holland by set up their own church and advocate therein Expressions of opinion by our readers being uncompromising. He believed in the their doctrines; but NOT to continue to clothe for publication under their own signatures motto: "In our isolation lies our strength." themselves with the name Presbyterian, the are welcomed. "Questions Relative to \Ve live in a time which is as a stream which doctrines covered by that name having been Christian Faith and Practice," as an­ has its quiet drift in the direction of terrible deliberately forsaken by them. If they fail to rapids. do so, I trust that faithful and courageous nounced in our first issue, will receive God bless you in your undertaking! May churches will at once take steps to expel them consideration in our next issue. Those He raise up strong friends to support you. from their midst. /Ii 0 one wishes a fight, much having questions to submit are urged to wish I were financially able to help subsidize. less a church worker; but a fight has been send them in without delay. vVe expect Worldly ventures of all kinds get their millions, forced upon us. Let us rally behind our lead­ to add other features soon. In the mean­ and even shady ecclesiastical ventures do not ers, put our trust in God, and purify our lack for cash and endowment. This seems to churches. As the body is often saved by the time we welcome suggestions and criti­ be a pretty good criterion for knowing what is cutting out of a cancer, so let us hope that the cisms from our readers. June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 17 The 142nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. HE l42nd General Assembly of the the working of the machinery of the Presby­ of the Board of Christian Education, and his T Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. for­ terian Church U. S. A. that a relatively small fame as a radio preacher. Both those who mally convened on Thursday morning, May 29, clique, composed mostly of officials connected nominated Dr. Kerr stressed what they de­ 1930, in the Taft Auditorium, Cincinnati, Ohio. with some of the boards, really dictates the scribed as his "loyalty to the standards of the The sermon was, as usual, preached by the policies of the Church and the Assembly. This Church" and the Assembly was assured that Moderator of the last Assembly (Dr. C B. grouJ)-{ioubtless well-meaning according to its Dr. Kerr "had never sounded a false note" in McAfee), following which the Sacrament of lights-usually picks the Moderator for the en­ his preaching. the Lord's Supper was administered to the suing year some months in advance, so that Those who nominated Dr. Master did so on commissioners. much preparatory political work may be done the ground of his great service to the Church long before the Assembly opens. And then, in conceiving and bringing' to pass the pension Pre-Assembly Conference on Evangelism to insure that its candidate has an opportunity system for its Ministers. While Dr. Master But while the Assembly was officially opened to impress those commissioners not already is known to be conservative in his theology, that in this traditional way, the real beginning was pledged, it is often arranged that he deliver fact was not mentioned by his sponsors. The on the Tuesday before, when the Pre-Assembly one of the principal addresses to the Pre­ result was, that many who came uninformed Conferences commenced. They were held in Assembly Conference on Evangelism. The ad­ as to candidates, but desiring to vote for the the Church of the Covenant, the largest down­ dress of Dr. Kerr to the Conference this year conservative candidate, whoever he might be, town Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, of was of a very high order. He said nothing gained the impression that Dr. Kerr and not which Dr. Frank R Elder, is Minister. disloyal to the standards of the Church. He Dr. Master was the conservative. Dr. Kerr Most of the commissioners to the Assembly was reverent, persuasive and winning. Whether was elected by a majority far exceeding any­ arrived in the city of meeting for most, if not he so intended it, or calculated it no man may thing that his supporters had expected, and in all, of these Pre-Assembly gatherings. Surely say or even surmise, but it is certain that when the opinion of experienced observers this con­ the object for which these conferences are de­ he ended his address, hundreds of commis­ fusion in regard to the identity of the con­ signed is above all praise. The most important sioners were deeply impressed with the idea servative candidate gained him between one is the "Pre-Assembly Conference on Evan­ that Dr. Kerr was a conservative, and his elec­ hundred and fifty and two hundred votes. The gelism," to which Tuesday afternoon and tion was thenceforth assured. result of the balloting was: Dr. Kerr, 605, Dr. Wednesday morning are allotted. The win­ It seems a great pity to many that the Pre­ Master, 303. Rather strangely there was no ning of men to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Assembly Conference on Evangelism-the most motion that the election be made unanimous. Christ as Redeemer and Lord is the great task sacred work of the Church-cannot be kept Dr. Kerr was escorted to the platform and of the church. Any services that will bring entirely free from even the remotest suspIcion assumed the Moderatorship with a short and men to a new consecration and faithfulness in of ecclesiastical politics. The fact that the graceful speech. the proclamation of the blood-bought gospel political use of these conferences is quiet, ought to be sacred. But the difficulty is, that reverent and unobtrusive, makes such use, in Chairmen of Standing Committees in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. the judgment of many, even more unethical. On Friday morning, appointments of chair­ there runs the same line of cleavage so apparent One Commissioner expressed it by the simple men of standing committees were announced. in all the Protestant communions today. His­ word: "Blasphemy." While this may be per­ They were as follows: toric Christianity offers one Gospel, Modern­ haps too strong, it is surely high time that Bills and Overtures, Dr. C. W. Kerr. ism offers "another,-which is not another." these conferences be divorced from anything Pensions, Dr. Mark A. Matthews. Which Gospel are we to preach, the Gospel that seems to smack of Church politics. Theological Seminaries, Dr. Arnold H. Lowe. of redemption through the Cross of Christ 1'i"ational Missions, Rev. C. Waldo Cherry, alone, or the Gospel of salvation through hu­ Election of Moderator D.D. man improvement and effort? Those speaking On Thursday afternoon Dr. Kerr was elected Foreign Missions, Rev. Howard A. Johnston, for both views make use of much of the same :\foderator of the Assembly. The only other D.D. vocabulary-but when they speak of evangel­ candidate was the Rev. Henry B. Master, D.D., 01ristian Education, Rev. Henry B. Master, ism, each means a process of salvation exactly Secretary of the Board of Ministerial Relief D.D. opposite to the other. Yet to many of those and Sustentation. It had been expected that Polity, Rev. Henry Sloane Coffin, D.D. who love the old faith the fact is often never two other names would be presented,-those of Finance, Elder Charles E. Benedict. suspected that Modernism's new wine is, some­ the Rev. Howard Agnew Johnston, D.D., of Mileage, Elder George E. Cryer. times, for policy's sake, poured into old bottles. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Rev. Samuel G. Leave of Absence, Rev. E. Floyd Rippey, True evangelism is absent, nor will we be Craig, D.D., of Princeton, N. J. But neither D.D. blessed with a revival, until we are agreed Dr. Johnston nor Dr. Craig would permit his Synodical Records, Rev. Glenn L. Sneed, upon what message we are to proclaim, until name to be presented, for reasons which seemed D.D. we are willing to insist lovingly but immovably, best to each. Dr. Kerr was nominated by the Nomination of Members of General Council, that the Church preach only the Gospel set Rev. H. C. Swearingen, D.D., of St. Paul, Rev. Hugh T. Kerr, D.D. forth in the Word of God and our great doc­ Minn. This nomination was seconded by the Nomination of Members of Permanent Judi­ trinal standards. Conferences on "evangelism" Rev. C. W. Kerr, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. cial Committee, Rev. R M. Kistler, D.D. that ignore the question of the substance of :\faster was nominated by the Rev. Henry Mar­ Resolutions, Rev. Stanley Hunter, D.D. the evangel, relegating discussion of it to the cott, D.D., of Evansville, Indiana. His nomi­ Canvass on Overtures, Rev. George W. Benn, forbidden realm of "controversy," are a shining nation was seconded by the Rev. Ralph D. Hall, D.D. example of the confusion· of so much that is of 1'i"ew Mexico, a home missionary. Dr. Kerr Dean J. D. Hoskins, of Knoxville, Tenn., called modern thought. was nominated on the ground of his pastoral was announced as Vice-Moderator. It is well known to all those familiar with success, his distinguished career as President Three of these chairmen,-Doctors Coffin, 18 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930

Rippey and Hunter, were signers of the affirmationists, to the confidence of the church. under them null and void. The last Assembly Auburn Affirmation. Ilow any At1b~.Hn .--\.~rrT.::r:icnisr can be ex­ instructed the new Board at Princeton to "take pected honestly to support the historic Prince­ all steps necessary to ensure the validity of the Memorial Service ton position is a proiound mystery. Ii he did amendments." This the board had failed to do, Considerable miscellaneous business was support that position he would be repudiating and thus had disobeyed the instructions of the transacted on Friday. The work of the As­ the "Affirmation," for the two are mutually 1929 Assembly. All the board had done was sembly was suspended for a time while the exclusive. Neither of them have, however, so to secure the opinion of its own lawyers that Rev. W. H. Foulkes, D.D., led the Assembly far as our knowledge extends, withdrawn their it could legally proceed, and had thereupon in a Memorial Day Service. Three veterans signatures from the "Affirmation." purported to make the charter changes, and ·of the Civil War were given places of honor deposit a copy of the changes, as required by upon the platform and the Stated Clerk read Dr. Craig's Amendment law, with the Secretary of State of New Jersey. the names of 189 Ministers of the Church who At the conclusion of Dr. McEwan's amiable The Board had, to be sure, received a document had died since the last Assembly. assurances that all was well, and after the re­ from the Secretary of State of New Jersey port had been seconded by the ubiquitous Dr. certifying that the "changes" had been de­ "National Loyalty Commission" M. A. Matthews, the Assembly was surprised posited with him, but this was no proof that The report of the "National Loyalty Com­ to see Dr. Craig take the floor to offer an the changes were legal. The Secretary of mission" came on Friday afternoon. The Com­ amendment to the report. His amendment was State was not empowered by law to decide upon mission was appointed by the last Assembly. as follows: the legality of the amendments-his document First Dr. C. B. McAfee was heard. He was "1. That the approval or disapproval of the was simply a receipt which he was required by :followed by Dr. Wm. H. Foulkes, who intro­ portion of the report of the Trustees of the law to give. That receipt had no bearing on .duced four of the winners in the National Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian the legality or non-legality of the changes, and Loyalty Oratorical Contest. Dr. Mark A. Church at Princeton in the State of New could not be relied upon as being the approval :Matthews spoke at some length upon the de­ Jersey, which deals with the amendments to of the State of New Jersey. Since counsel of liverance proposed by the Commission, which its Charter, be withheld until the General As­ the highest reputation and standing declare was enthusiastically adopted by the Assembly. sembly may be informed by Court decision as flatly that the amendments are illegal, while It pledges the Assembly to support Constitu­ to the validi ty of these amendments. the board's attorney's say they are legal, there tional government, recognzies the right of the 2. That the Moderator be authorized and is only one way to settle the matter; to have it people to change the constitution if they so directed to appoint a Committee of five, none adjudicated by the Supreme Court of New rlesire, and endorses Prohibition. of whom shall be Trustees of Princeton Theo­ Jersey. For this purpose Dr. Craig advocated logical Seminary, or otherwise officially con­ that the Assembly institute a "friendly suit" Princeton Seminary Report nected with Princeton Seminary, who are to determine the matter. As long as it was left On Friday afternoon carne the report of the hereby authorized, empowered and directed in in doubt, the trust funds of Princeton were en­ new Board at Princeton Seminary. It was the name of and on behalf of the General dangered. The Assembly ought to take every presented by Dr. W. L. McEwan, President. Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the precaution to see that the changes were law­ With evident sincerity, Dr. McEwan read United States of America, to take such action ful. "Law observance" held good for the his report stressing particularly the sentence as may be proper and appropriate to obtain a church as well as the nation. "Every action has been adopted, every delibera­ decision from the Court of last resort in the Then Dr. Craig turned to the other horn tion has been estimated, every detai 1 of admin­ State of New Jersey, as to the legality of said of the dilemma into which the Assembly had Istration has been undertaken, with the avowed amendments." been maneuvered by the advocates of reorgani­ purpose of viewing distinctly and regarding The resolution having been immediately sec­ zation. Suppose the amendments were legal? sacredly the traditional and recognized position onded from several parts of the house, Dr. What then? Why, worse! of the seminary for conservative theology and Craig spoke in its behalf. In opening his re­ strict evangelical teaching." This strong marks, he said: "My purpose in presenting Assembly Control Lost? declaration naturally made considerable impres­ this resolution is not to reopen the question of The reorganizationists had for several years sion upon many, but if the uninformed could the wisdom or the un wisdom of the reorganiza­ almost made a slogan of "Assembly Contro1." have noted, as the writer did, the hearty tion of Princeton Seminary-that is a question They had led the Church to believe that the chuckles and winks exchanged between two that was settled by the last Assembly. In pre­ trouble at Princeton was that control by the Modernists of great fame in the Church as this senting this resolution, I am not opposing the Assembly was too remote. The new plan, it sentence was read, they might have wondered. action of the last Assembly; rather I am seek­ had been assured, would bring effective legal This is not said to discredit the sincerity of ing to bring it about, that this General As­ control over the Seminary by the Assembly. Dr. McEwan in making his declaration. His sembly see to it that certain instructions given Had it done this? No. Instead of assuring sincerity is granted. But one wonders how by the last General Assembly in connection Assembly control, it had, if the amendments long it is going to take Dr. McEwan and with its approval of the reorganization of are legal, destroyed it. others to wake up to the fact that all the power Princeton Seminary be carried out." "The question of the validity of these amend­ of Modernism in the Church was not expended Dr. Craig then proceeded to explain to the ments is important, because if the Trustees of for the purpose of keeping Princeton conserva­ Assembly the legal tangle into which the re­ Princeton Seminary have acted legally in mak­ tive. How can anyone really believe anything organization of Princeton Seminary had in­ ing these amendments to their Charter under so incredible as that? And although Princeton volved the Church. the Act of 1918-1920, they can also under the may be outwardly orthodox, yet all will agree On the One hand, he showed that "eminent authority of the same Act, rescind them at any that she has ceased her militant witness. If she New Jersey lawyers" (a phrase that the pre­ future meeting and substitute such other speaks the same words, she whispers them, vailing party found so distasteful that it tried Amendments as the Act authorizes as suits when once her voice rose clear and strong to laugh it down) particularly the Honorable their pleasure-and that without consulting any­ around the world. Nor did Dr. McEwan E. L. Katzenbach, formerly Attorney General body, except themselves. The Certificate of make any reference to the fact that two mem­ of New Jersey and the great law firm of Amendment which the Board of Trustees filed bers of the Board are actually signers of the Lindabury, Depue and Faulks of Newark held with the Secretary of State of New Jersey, Auburn "Affirmation," that no protest at re­ positively that the Act of New Jersey of 1918- last December, under its Corporate seal and ceiving them as fellow directors of Princeton's 20 under which the Trustees purported to make signed by its President and verified by the policies was made by those on the Board who their charter changes in Princeton, did not ap­ Oath of its Secretary, states that 'There being emphasize their own orthodoxy; that the Board ply to Princeton Seminary, that any so-called no membership of this Corporation to which a has actually commended itself, including these changes would be illegal and everything done Resolution of the Trustees may be referred for June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 19

approval .... the Trustees of the Theological well, that instr'xtions had all been carried out The Assembly as a Deliberative Body Seminary of the Presbyterian Churcr. at Prince­ to t..~e lette~. a:1': ::-::::.: :~e:'>;; wa~ :1othir:g tc The .-'I.5sembly, following Dr. Stevenson's re­ ton .... do hereby determint that the Charter fear. marks adopted the resDlution proposed without .... granted to it by t;"e Legislature oi the At this moment someone made a point that debate or much consideration. In a few State of New Jersey by Act passed ~ovember Dr. Craig's motion was out of order, and that moments the Assembly had definitely committed 15, 1822, with the supplements thereto and the it should be presented when the Committee on itself to Union by instructing the Department -amendments thereof, be further amended and Theological Seminaries reported. After some to "cooperate with the Commi ttees in the prep­ changed to provide as follows ... .' What hesitation the Moderator ruled the discussion aration of a complete plan for organic union to does this mean? It means that according to out of order at that time, (after having allowed be submitted to the next Assembly." If there the Trustees themselves there is no superior the discussion for a considerable period) and were any pressing reasons for this action, they body to which they must submit their actions Dr. Craig was allowed to withdraw his resolu­ did not appear in the discussion. But everyone in amending their Charter. If this be the case, tion with the understanding that he would pre­ seemed to be under the impression that what the -any instruction which the General Assembly sent it when the standing Committee on Theo­ Church needs most of all is to be bigger,-that may give them relative to amending their logical Seminaries reported. size will guarantee quality. Noone pointed out Charter is purely advisory, not at all manda­ Dr. Coffin Applauded that a much larger Church will mean either a tory. It is no doubt true that these particular much larger Assembly or that the basis of rep­ -amendments were submitted to the last General On Saturday morning one of the most sig­ nificant events of the Assembly took place,­ resentation from the Presbyteries will have to Assembly for its approval, but that was not at be radically reduced. The action of the As­ -all necessary. If the Board of Trustees can the address by Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin, of New York, who told of his experiences in Scot­ sembly on this and other matters emphasizes amend their Charter under the Acts of 1918- anew the fact that the Assembly has become so 1920 these Amendments could have been made land at the time of the recent Church union. It was a brilliant address packed full of valu­ large that it is no longer a truly deliberative just as well if the General Assembly had with­ body. It is absurd to imagine that a body held approva1." able information but replete with the Modernism composed of nearly one thousand commissioners All that had been said related to the powers for which Dr. Coffin is known to be un­ over half of whom are at an Assembly for th~ of the trustees as a property holding and man­ ashamed. He told of the now reunited Church first time, will be a true deliberative body. aging body. Some lawyers thought that it of Scotland, the ceremony of re-union, and Such size makes a perfect setting for manipUla­ might be possible for the Assembly to preserve prospects for the future. With great pride he tion On a large scale. It opens the door to let -control over the Trustees so far as their edu­ pointed out its new latitudinarian creed-subscrip­ real efficiency out and machine domination in. ·cational functions alone were concerned even tion, which is extremely acceptable to Modern­ Many of the commissioners found that the most if it lost financial control over them. This was ists. He told of the "spiritual independence" they had to do as representatives of their pres­

erence due to the great Presbyterian tradition, in its incidental meetings. Dr. Machen's fearless ligious temper of our day that there be stricken and if he failed at times it is only because one ar:d neartiel: !c5t~~"!:C:::' t'.:· tte Gospel W::iS a from our Confession of Faith Chapter 24, Sec­ man cannot always control a few members of a refreshment to the souis of many. In the even­ tion 2, the following words: large group who are on a vacation and act like ing Dr. Craig preached on "The Christ of To­ "'And, therefore, such as profess the true a crowd of college boys at a party. This sede­ day," his text being Hebrews 13 :8. Again a reformed religion should not marry with in­ runt also considered the report of the standing large number of commissioners were present, fidels, papists or other idolaters; neither committee on Pensions, which was favorably listening closely while Dr. Craig expounded the should such as are goldly be unequally yoked received, and a much deserved resolution of \Yord regarding the everlasting Christ of the by marrying with such as are notoriously tribute to Dr. 1!aster was unanimously passed. Gospel, who is the living Christ of today. In wicked in their life or maintain damnable the First Church of Walnut Hills, the Rev. heresies.' " Report on Overtures C. E. Macartney, D.D., preached in the morn­ The assault upon the recommendation was After the Pension report the Assembly ing, while the Rev. Mark A. Matthews, D.D., led by the venerable but vigorous Dr. Geo. B. listened to an able address by the Honorable occupied the pulpit in the evening. Both spoke Bell of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Others Meyers R. Cooper, Governor of Ohio. Follow­ to large congregations. rallied to his support, and when the vote was ing the Governor's remarks, and after he had Among other noted visitors to Cincinnati put, the amendment to strike out the recom­ been escorted out by his officer in uniform, who occupied prominent local pulpits were, the mendation was overwhelmingly carried. the official canvass of the overtures was an­ Rev. W. E. Jordon of Philadelphia, Dr. Henry Final Action on Princeton Report nounced as follows: Sloane Coffin of New York, Dr. Howard A. (On the Election and Ordination of Agnew Johnston of Milwaukee, Dr. Minot C. The report of the standing Committee on Women as Bishops or Pastors, and as Morgan of New York, Dr. Charles R. Erdman Theological Seminaries was made, and its recommendations approved. When the items Ruling Elders.) of Princeton, Rev. C. W. Kerr of Tulsa, Dr. concerning Princeton Seminary came up, Dr. For ...... 109 Wm. H. Foulkes of Newark, and Dr. Wm. C. Craig took the floor and offered his resolution, Against ...... 171 Covert of Philadelphia. which was seconded. It was moved and sec­ No action ...... 3 Budgd for 1930-1931 onded that the resolution be laid on the table. B. (On the Election and Ordination of Monday morning the Assembly adopted the On the question being put, the motion was de­ Women as Ruling Elders.) budget for the coming year, which is as follows: cisively lost. Then Dr. Craig spoke briefly in For ...... 160 Board of National Missions ... $3,903,500.00 favor of his resolution, warning the Assembly Against ...... 120 Board of Foreign Missions.... 3,024,750.00 that its rejection was tantamount to a declara­ No action...... 7 Board of Christian Education.. 1,581,750.00 tion that the Assembly did not care whether the C. (On the Licensure of Local Evangelists.) Board of Pensions...... 647,500.00 Princeton funds were in jeopardy or whether For ...... 145 American Bible Society...... 74,000.00 the Assembly possessed any control. Following Against ...... 130 Federal Council of Churches.. 18,500.00 Dr. Craig, Dr. C. B. McAfee took the floor, No action ...... 8 and gently assured the Assembly that "this was D. (On the Incorporation of Particular $9,250,000.00 but an echo ·of last year, the matter had been Churches.) Women's National Missions. 1,375.000.00 settled by the last Assembly, there was no need For ...... 140 Women's Foreign Missions.... 1,375,000.00 to prolong it further," etc., etc. Like Mr. Paul Against ...... 133 Martin, Dr. McAfee did not attempt, for very No action ...... 13 $12,000,000.00 good reasons, to answer Dr. Craig's conten­ E. (On the Call to the Pastoral Office.) In addition to this, the budget of the office of tions. He simply relied upon the desire of the For ...... 242 the General Assembly (including the $87,000 commissioners not to quarrel, and upon the Against ...... 28 expenses of this meeting) was fixed at $212,341. natural lack of information with regard to the No action...... 7 subject that was so noticable among those who F. (On Directors of Religious Education.) Miscellaneous Reports were present for the first time. Upon the ques­ For ...... 140 The standing Committee on Christian Edu­ tion being put the motion was decisively lost, al­ Against ...... 121 cation gave its report, which was presented by though the sentiment in favor of the amend­ No action ...... 14 Dr. Master, the Chairman. Addresses were ment had noticeably increased since the Friday Since an overture must receive 147 affirmative made by the' Rev. W. C. Covert, D.D., General before. Dr. Craig had his dissent recorded votes to be adopted, only overtures B and E Secretary of the Board, and the Rev. H. L. and on Tuesday's sederunt he filed the follow­ were declared part of the law of the Church Bowlby, D.D., General Secretary of the Lord's ing protest, which will appear in the minutes by the Moderator. Day Alliance. of Assembly, and reads as follows: Other matters discussed at this sederunt were, Sabbath Services the American Bible Society, the American Dr. Craig's Protest Saturday afternoon was devoted to sight-see­ Tract Society, the Waldensian Church and the "The undersigned, a Commissioner to the ing. On Sunday most of the pulpits in and Western Section of the "Pan-Presbyterian Al­ 142nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian near Cincinnati were supplied by Assembly liance." Church in the United States of America, here­ Commissioners. Dr. Kerr preached in the First Monday afternoon the Assembly devoted con­ by respectfully records his deliberate and Presbyterian Church, official host of the As­ siderable time to hearing of the project for a solemn protest against the action of the As­ sembly, of which the Rev. John Garretson is National Church building in Washington. The sembly on Monday, June 2nd, 1930, in approv­ Minister. His sermon dealt with Christian Assembly approved the project, which calls for ing the Report of the Trustees of the Theo­ unity and organic cooperative effort. the Union of the Church of the Covenant in logical Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, In the Church of the Covenant the morning Washington and the First Church, and the at Princeton, in the State of New Jersey, inas­ sermon was delivered by the Rev. J. Gresham erection of a new building at a cost of about far as said report has to do with the changes Machen, D.D., D.Litt., on "the Gospel and two millions of dollars. which said Trustees purport to have made in Modern Substitutes." A great congregation, When the report of the Committee on Mar­ their Charter under the authority of an Act composed largely of commissioners to the As­ riage was called up, the Assembly seemed more of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, sembly, heard a brilliant, moving and passion­ like an Assembly than at any time during its entitled 'An Act to Authorize Charitable and ately earnest plea for the old Gospel and the old sessions. The portion of the report that met Educational Corporations to make Changes in Book. After the vaugeness and incoherence with disfavor was as follows: their Charters, or Acts or Certificates, of In­ of so much that was said at the Assembly and "We recommend as consonant with the re- corporation and their Organization,' approved June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 21

in 1918 and amended in 1920. He does so for taken woule ;".2.'"" c.r:~" .:-f the nature of a recommendation prevailed, although a large the iollowing reasons: 'friendly suit.: " negatiye vote \\'as heard. (1) The Board of Trustees did not obey After Dr. Craig had read his protest on All the retiring members of the Board of the instructions given it by the last Assembly Tuesday, it was voted that no reply be made. Foreign Missions were nominated and re­ to take all the steps required to insure the This is rather unusual, for as far as our infor­ elected to the Board. validity of these amendments, inasmuch as (a) mation exter,ds, this is the first time in many eminent New Jersey Counsel hold that the Act years that no answer to such an important pro­ The State 01 the Church of 1918-1920 is not available for amending the test has been attempted. It is hardly to be The report of the Standing Committee on Charter of said Trustees, and (b) eminent wondered at, however,-for no effort was made National Missions was presented by Dr. New Jersey Counsel hold that even if the Act to deny anything Dr. Craig contended. Since Cherry. The Assembly indulged in a season of of 1918-1920 is available for making certain he was standing on solid legal and factual self-examination upon the general topic of changes in the Charter of said Trustees, it is ground, a reply would have forced upon the "What is wrong with the Church?" Out­ not available for making the change in the Assembly the unpleasant task of facing the facts. standing among addresses from the floor were manner of selecting the Trustees, or for making the remarks of the Rev. Walter E. Jordon, of the change in the beneficiary of the T rust funds Honorary Degrees Philadelphia, who said in part: held and managed by the Trustees, which is On Tuesday morning the Assembly spent a "Weare losing faith in our message. There attempted by these Amendments. The circum­ great deal of time over the weighty question is the crux of the matter, and now we have stances being what they are, he holds that as to whether all honorary degrees should be come to the place where the public is finding there is no way of insuring the validity of omitted from the minutes. An amendment that it out. People realize that the church doesn't these Amendments short of a judicial decision would have made the motion include all degrees believe the Gospel. Machinery will never save by the Court of last resort in the State of New was lost when the votes for and against it were the world, no matter how well oiled the ma­ Jersey. Moreover he holds that the only evi­ found to be equal, 331 voting each way. After chinery is. It is all very well to preach about dence advanced before the Assembly in sup­ this the recommendation eliminating degrees the boards, but it is more fundamentally neces­ port of the validity of these amendments, (to begin in 1931) was adopted 423 to 224. sary to preach the Gospel." namely the reference to a certified copy of the 'Certificate of Amendment to the Charter of Membership 01 Boards One elder took the floor to say that "what the Trustees of the Theological Seminary of The next item was "overture 13" from the we of the pews are asking is not theology. \Ve the Presbyterian Church at Princeton in the Presbytery of Westchester, "Asking the As­ are asking the deeper questions and meanings State of New Jersey' has no bearing whatever sembly to rescind the present rule that no of life." Any comment upon this profound on the question of the legality or illegality of member of any of the boards of the Church statement is superfluous. And the Assembly these amendments, inasmuch as the Act of should be eligible for re-election after having responded with hearty applause. 1918-1920 merely provides that when a Charter served for two full terms until one year has is amended under this Act, 'A certificate of elapsed, and to enact again the rule which was The Presbyterian Magazine such Action under the Corporate seal of such the law of the church for the years preceding The report of the Presbyterian Magazine Corporation, signed by the presiding officer 1926." The boards are divided into three-year was presented by Dr. Wm Hiram Foulkes, and Secretary of such meeting, verified by the classes, and the rule as it was from 1926 to Chairman of General Council's Committee, who oath of said Secretary, shall be forthwith filed 1930 would provide that not more than one­ paid a glowing tribute to Dr. Wm. T. in the office of the Secretary of State.' third of the membership of the boards could be Hanzsche, Editor. Dr. Hanzsche and Mr. (2) If these Amendments have been made changed in one year. Therefore, there would Horace P. Camden, publisher of the magazine illegally, Trust Funds of Princeton Seminary always be a board of at least two-thirds for 27 years, were heard. Before the recom­ have been placed in jeopardy. If these Amend­ "veteran" members. The object of the rule mendations were adopted, Dr. Craig arose to ments are valid, the General Assembly does was to draw more from the church at large ask a questiolL He wished to inquire whether, not possess an effective legal control over the for members of the boards, and was based upon in view of the fact that the "five points" of the Trustees of Princeton Seminary as the cor­ the idea that there is abundant good material 1923 Assembly were still the Law of the poration which holds and manages the prop­ throughout the country for the boards. Those Church, and since Dr. Hanzsche had signed erty of the Seminary and may not possess an controlling the church, however, like to keep the "Auburn Affirmation," which denied the effective legal control over them as the gov­ the same members of the boards in office in­ necessity of belief in those facts, Dr. Hanzsche erning body 01 the Seminary as an Educa­ definitely, as is most natural. So the organi­ was a proper editor for the official magazine of tional InstitutiolL He holds, therefore, that zation's desire that the rule be changed back the Church? For some strange reason Auburn the Assembly in approving the report of said was complied with. But this was not done Affirmationists do not like that fact cited, and Trustees, manifested indifference, not only as until the Rev. H. C. Welker, of Sidney, so the Rev. James Clement Reid, D.D., of regards what happens to the Trust funds of Nebraska, had presented some pertinent and San Francisco, another Affirmationist, jumped Princeton Seminary, but as regards the meas­ eloquent facts. Pointing out that these mem­ to his feet declaring that Dr. Craig was out ure of effective legal control, which the General bers of the boards, who were always exhorting of order and that so far as the Affirmation Assembly has over Princeton Seminary. the Church to raise apportionments in full, was concerned, "that matter had all been (3) The approval of the report of said were supposed to be so indispensable to the settled." (When, he did not say.) Dr. Kerr Trustees by the General Assembly, together boards, he gave the following facts: then ruled that Dr. Craig was out of order, with the refusal of the General Assembly to That only 13 out of 40 pastors who are mem­ and that the matter should come up in the take such action as may be proper and appro­ bers of the boards and the general council had Presbytery of New Brunswick, of which both priate to obtain a decision from the Court of led their churches in raising their full appor­ men are members. Dr. Craig did not attempt last resort in the State of New Jersey, as to tionment: of six in the General Council, only to appeal from the decision of the Chair, which the legality of said Amendments, makes it pos­ one; of fourteen on the Board of National Mis­ was obviously an error, but contented himself sible, even probable, in view of the large In­ sions, only four; of ten on the Board of For­ with asking that his negative vote be recorded. terests involved, that some other party or eign Missions, only four; of six on the Board Dr. Kerr's ruling was manifestly an error in parties will take such action, and thus that of Christian Education, only two; of five on that Dr. Craig was bringing no formal charges the matter come before the courts under cir­ the Board of Pensions, only two. Amid, ap­ against Dr. Hanzsche, but was simply dis­ cumstances that may be attended by consider­ plause, Mr. Welker remarked that these were cussing his theological qualifications for that able bitterness, and bad feeling, whereas, if the men who were supposed to be so indis­ particular post, a matter clearly within the the General Assembly had itself instituted suit, pensable to the boards that a rule must be jurisdiction of the Assembly and the Assembly it would have been certain that the action changed to keep them in office. However the alone. 22 C H R 1ST I A-N I TjY TOO A Y June, 1930

Permanent Judicial Commission as to the doctrine or the Presbyterian Church. Canada to the full extent of our ability and re­ The following were elected as members of There was :lnd is a c.r:it rswarc.s unitarianism. sources." It was moved by the Rev. 1L A. Campbell, the Permanent Judicial Commission: \ Ve were forced to think of the foundation of Dr. George A. Frantz, Indianapolis, Ind.; Dr. our belief. of Montreal, and carried, that "v,' e continue Andrew Magill, Jamaica, N. Y.; Rev. Rasmus "The different religious sects springing up our part of the policy of Ministering to all Thomsen, Amarillo, Texas; !>Ir. Paul Martin, today are probably occasioned by the starving people in Canada to the best of our ability." In the course of discussion upon this point, Dr. Springfield, Ohio; Mr. A. G. Studer, Det~oit, to death for strong evangelical food in many Michigan. Churches, so that people wander away. The Nelson remarked that "we believe the l7nited Of the three Ministers thus elected, two, Dr. people want to be fed. Sheep will come where Church will be a Christian organization when Frantz and Mr. Thomsen, are signers of the there is pasture. Let us not be afraid of our they drop their insane objections to our name, "Auburn Affirmation." great responsibilities as though they were af­ stop padlocking the doors of our churches, and flictions. They are divinely granted oppor­ cease going to the courts of the mw for tainted Foreign Missions tunities. money." On Wednesday morning, the Standing Com­ "As a Church we have been greatly affected. Judge John MacKay, Port Arthur, con­ mittee on Foreign Missions made its report We have been chastened, sanctified in the loss sidered that overlapping in a new country was through Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston, Chair­ of churches, manses, ministers and people. largely imaginative. "Cooperation," he said, man. Miss Mary E. Moore, Young People's Many minority groups in lonely and small "leads eventually to organic union and Church Secretary of the Foreign Board, gave an ex­ places were cast adrift. Some of these are history has shown us that the natural conse­ cellent address, and quite captured all her still very needy. We that are strong should quence is disruption. Let us keep clear of hearers. Dr. Francis Shunk Downs, a Secre­ seriously help them. cooperation. Look over the last five years. tary of the Board gave what was, in the judg­ "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, Results were never better and you can't im­ ment of the writer, the clearest and best pres­ without which no man shall see God, looking prove on the program. I heartily approve of entation of any of the boards to the Assembly. diligently lest any man fail of the grace of Dr. Campbell's motion." Speaking with great fervor and evangelical God." Rev. G. C. Taylor, of Montreal, drew a zeal it was an inspiration to hear his clear-cut After the sermon, the Rev. A. J. McGillivray, parallel between the C nited and Presbyterian message. A number of foreign missionaries a former Moderator, presided at the request of Churches and a situation which arose between were also heard. Dr. Buchanan. Two men were nominated for Russia and Great Britain some years ago. The After having completed its docket, and fin­ Moderator: the Rev. S. Banks Nelson, D.D., of Russians had been anxious to confer on points ished its business, the Assembly adjourned to the host Church, and the Rev. Frank Baird, and the British had expressed their complete meet in 1931 in Pittsburgh, Pa., as the guest D.D., of the First Church of Pictou, Nova willingness so long as the other side abandoned of the Shadyside Church of which Dr. Kerr Scotia. Dr. Nelson was nominated by the Rev. their vicious propaganda, which was doing is Minister. Thus concluded an Assembly of Robert Johnston, D.D., of St. Catherine's, harm, and act with sincerity. some diverse characteristics. The most out­ Ontario. He was seconded by Dr. A. S. Grant, "There is no use putting our head into the standing fact about it was that the ecclesiastical of Toronto. Dr. Baird was nominated by the mouth of a lion just because he happens to machine worked so smoothly that many com­ Rev. D. G. MacQ~een, of Edmonton, Alberta, a look good-natured," Rev. Mr. Taylor said. "I missioners were unaware of its existence. This former Moderator, who pleaded that the Mari­ would move that a letter be written to the made of it an Assembly conforming in every time Synod, in the extreme East, be recognized United Church informing them that conditions way to the desires of those now in power in in choosing a Moderator. Dr. J. Keir Fraser, being such as they are we cannot entertain any the Church. The machine is working smoothly, of Renfrew, Ontario, seconded Dr. Baird's thoughts of meeting in conference." taking the Church along. But-whither? nomination. The election, which was close, At a later sederunt, the following motion -H. MeA. G. resulted in the naming of Dr. Baird. Dr. was passed, after considerable discussion: Nelson personally moved that the election be "That the General Assembly of the Pres­ made unanimous. byterian Church in Canada, consistent with its Presbyterian Church in Canada Dr. Baird is a native of New Brunswick, and practice in the past and with the spirit of Pres­ HE fifty-sixth General Assembly of the has spent his entire Ministry in the Maritime byterianism through all its history, records its T Presbyterian Church in Canada began its Provinces. During the disruption of 1925 he readiness to meet in conference with representa­ sessions on Wednesday evening, June 4th, in was a fower of strength to those who fought to tives of other evangelical bodies 'upon matters of Knox Church, Hamilton, Ontario. One hundred maintain the Presbyterian Church in Canada. common interest in their prosecution of the and fourteen Ministers and an equal number He is known as an accomplished scholar, a work of the kingdom of Jesus Christ." of elders sat down to listen to the opening preacher of dignity and power, an author of It was evident, however, that the Assembly sermon by the Rev. John Buchanan, M.D., D.D., note, and as a conservative in his theology. felt that since the United Church still was Moderator in 1928. The Rev. David Perrie, On Thursday and Friday the Assembly spent prosecuting legal cases against the Presbyterian D.D., of Wingham, Ontario, Moderator of the considerable time in discussion of a letter from Church, attacking basic Presbyterian principles fifty-fifth Assembly, died suddenly some months the United Church of Canada tn which the United and spreading a propaganda abroad that the ago, and Dr. Buchanan, a Foreign Missionary, Church expressed a desire for a conference with Presbyterian Church in Canada did not exist, no presided as nearest predecessor. regard to "overlapping." Dr. A. S. Grant, who close relations could be expected until the Dr. Buchanan had been injured in an auto­ brought up the matter, stated that the United United Church changed its aggressive attitude. mobile accident the day preceding the fifty-fifth Church had sent an invitation to the Anglicans Consideration of the budget and the financial Assembly, and had not been able to deliver his and to the Baptists. The latter had declined. state of the Church occupied a large part of the sermon personally at that time. At this sede­ He could not see why the United Church talked Assembly's time. The synods had fallen short runt he still showed the effect of the accident, about "overlapping" when they had built of their allocations. While the condition was a having to make use of two canes. His text was churches and forced the Presbyterian Church general one, yet the Church faced an emergency. in John 17 : 19.-"And for their sakes I sanctify to build churches all over the Dominion, the It was resolved to urge upon all the membership myself." His discourse was devoted to an ap­ most extensive kind of overlapping ever known of the Church true sacrificial giving, that there peal to the commissioners to be willing to sacri­ in Canada, dividing many communities that might be advancement, and not discouragement. fice any pleasures or habits which would lessen had formerly known only one Church, the Pres­ In other respects than financial, the statistics their effectiveness in leading men to Christ. byterian. "'We have to apologize to no one for were encouraging. Concluding, he said, "The very nature of the our existence or continuance," said Dr. Grant. The membership of the Church now stands disruption called upon us to sanctify ourselves "'vVe propose to promote Presbyterianism in at 179,530. The net increase since December June, 1930 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 23

31, 1925, is 25,287. During last year, 7.387 Prior to dissolution the Assembly, according Assembly was not willing to close the door were received into the Church upon proiession to custom, ro~e al~d 5ari.g' tO~t:the: the last por­ 011 ail iuture negotiations, and would con­ of faith, and 7,050 by certificate, while 10,913 tion oj the stately 1nnd Psalm as rendered til1ue a union committee consisting of the are reported as removed by death, transfer or in the Scottish Psalter, words made doubly 1foderator and one representative irom each oi otherwise. The number of families is reported dear in the testing-time of the last few years: the seventeen synods. Upon the motion being at 90,698. This shows a gain of 13,510 families put, the Assembly adopted the substitute by a since 1925. Congregations and preaching sta­ Pray that Jerusalem may have vote of 164 to 119. This is accepted as being, tions now number 1,325, an increase of 185 Peace and felicity. in effect, a victory for those who wish the since 1925. All the eight synods report an in­ Let them that love thee and thy peace Church to "go slow." crease in membership. All synods but one re­ Have still prosperity. A complaint against tl1f action of the Pres­ port an increase in the number of families. Six bytery of Little Rock in the case of the Rev. synods' report an increase In the number of Therefore I wish that peace may still Hay Watson Smith, D.D., came before the preaching stations. Within thy walls remain, Assembly. The Presbytery had recognized that And ever may thy palaces he was not in full harmony with the doctrinal Greetings From Prcsbytcrian Church Prosperity retain. in China standards of the Church, but decided that his views were not of such a seribus nature as to Dr. J. G. Inkster presented a letter from Now for my friends' and Brethren's sakes warrant action. The complaint was referred to Allan Reoch, bringing greetings from the Pres­ Peace be in thee, I'll say, the Synod of Arkansas, the Assembly taking the byterian Church in China: And for the house of God the LORD, ground that it lacked jurisdiction until the "In this report I will give briefly the main I'll wish Thy good alway. matter had been passed upon by the Synod. facts in connection with the Presbyterian The Assembly was dissolved to meet in 1931 Church in China. I was the fraternal delegate The Assembly was dissolved by the Moderator at the School of the Ozarks, in Hollister, from our mission to their general assembly, just and another Assembly ordered to meet in 1931 Missouri. held at Tenghsien, Shantung, China. in Knox Church, Toronto. "The situation existing in China is much the same as in our own Church after the disrup­ United Presbyterian Assembly tion of 1925. Here, in China, until the as­ The Presbyterian Church in the U. S. sembly of 1929, the last legal assembly of the HE Seventy-second General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in China, was held in 1918, HE Seventieth General Assembly of the T the United Presbyterian Church of North for at the 1922 assembly which voted to unite T Presbyterian Church in the U. S. met America, convened in the Beaver Avenue United with the English Baptist Congregationalists May 22nd, in Charlottesville, Va. About 300 Presbyterian Church of Des Moines, on May and London Missionary society, to form the commissioners listened to the strong sermon of 28th. The Moderator of the Seventy-first As­ 'Church of Christ in China,' eight presbyteries the Moderator of the last Assembly, Rev. Wm. sembly, the Rev. John MacNaugher, D.D., already in the 'Church of Christ in China' sent Ray Dobyns, D.D., of Birmingham. LL.D., of Pittsburgh, opened the Assembly with a scholarly and impressive sermon. Fol­ representatives to the Presbyterian assembly The Rev. Thos. W. Currie, D.D., President lowing the sermon, Dr. MacNaugher read the and voted unionist. At the 1927 assembly, of Austin Theological Seminary, in Texas, was Nicene creed, while the Assembly, standing, which voted to consumate the union, more than elected Moderator. one-half the delegates were from presbyteries gave silent assent. He then constituted the already jn the Church of Christ in China. The most pressing matter before the As­ Assembly with prayer. "As in Canada, so in China, the unionists sembly was the question of organic union with The Rev. T. C. Atchison, D.D., of Lawrence, the Presbyterian and Reformed bodies of the declare that the Presbyterian Church is in the Mass., was nominated by Dr. W. 1. Wishart Cnited States. The Committee on Closer Re­ union. This view was opposed by the Pres­ for Moderator. This was seconded by the lations with the Associate Reformed Presby­ byterians of North China synod, which refused Rev. Johnston Calhoun of the Presbytery of terian Church recommended continued coopera­ to enter the union and carries on the continuity Los Angeles, and by the Rev. John H. Griggs, tion, amity and negotiations for Union. This of the Presbyterian Church in China and will of Cambridge, Mass. There being no other recommendation was unanimously approved. carry on under the old name and constitution. nomination, Dr. Atchison was unanimously The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church "Opposition to the union was almost entirely elected. on doctrinal grounds because the leaders among lies wholly within the Southern Church. On Thursday morning the Moderator nom­ the unionists refused to acknowledge the doctrine The Interim Committee on union with the inated and the Assembly approved, the standing of the Trinity, the plenary inspiration of the Cnited Presbyterian Church of North America committees. The business coming before the Bible, and the vicarious atonement. The general reported that negotiations had been eclipsed Assembly was largely referred to the appropri­ assembly, meeting in 1929, reaffirmed its belief by talk of the larger union. The Interim Com­ ate committees. A telegram was sent to Presi­ in the Bible, and declared its credal statement mittee on union with all Presbyterian and dent Hoover pledging support to Prohibition en­ to be the Westminster Confession .of Faith to­ Reformed bodies reported hearty and favor­ forcement. Action was taken looking to the gether with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. able action and recommended that negotia­ changing of the Conference on Evangelism "The Presbyterian Church in China now con­ tions be continued in order to find a possible from the days preceding the Assembly to "the sists of large presbyteries containing 17,776 basis of union agreeable to all. afternoon and evening of the Assembly Sabbath, Christians, cared for by 88 ministers, of whom Overtures were received from various pres­ to be preceded by Communion." 21 are Westerners. A well-trained and con­ byteries, some opposing, some favoring union. secrated ministry is assured through the North An appropriate memorial service was held China Theological Seminary at Tenghsien. The committee to which these reports and for the thirteen Ministers of the Church who "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian overtures were referred came to the Assembly had died during the year. Fraternal delegates Church in China voted unanimously to enter with two reports. The majority report opposed were heard, among them, the Rev. J. A. Mac­ the League of Christian churches. all union. The minority report favored union. Keigan, from the United Church of Canada; the "The Assembly appointed Dr. J. G. Inkster, After extensive debate, the minority report was Rev. W. D. Vandwerp, from the Christian Re­ of Knox Church, Toronto, to represent that substituted by the Assembly for the maj ority formed Church; the Rev. Watson Boyce, from body and carry the greetings from it to our report, by the close vote of 159 to 148. There­ the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in upon a substitute was offered, to the purport and the Rev. "V. M. Rochester, D.D., from the Canada." that, without committing itseIi to union, the Presbyterian Church in Canada. 24 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1930

On Friday morning. :Memorial Day Services Westministu Seminary were held in charge or D!'. A. C. Doug;ass. Reports of ether Assemblies will The Honorable J. lit Lasiliey, of St. Louis, An Important Appeal made the Memorial address. appear in the July issue. Statistical reports showed that the increase l\. 11A Y I be given space in CHRISTIANITY on the year was, by Profession of Faith, 7,320 1V. TODA Y to ask friends of "Vestminster Theological Seminary to consider its needs? -less by 3,406 than the year before. The net and Reformed Churches to prepare a complete The Seminary is not in debt Every bill is loss in membership was 2,005. Total members plan to make this organic union effective, to be paid. God raised up contributors to the funds received by profession and certificate, 12,989, submitted for ac!option to the properly constitu­ required for the first year from all parts of or 4,415 less than in 1929. This decrease is ex­ ted authorities of these Churches. America and from points as distant as North plained by the fact 'hat no Easter accessions "3. That the committee on Presbyterian Ireland, France, Brazil, West Africa; India, are reported in these figures. Contributions for Unity be given authority to request assistance Siam and China. We think they will repeat budget and special work were $1,423,213, an in­ from members of our Church, who may be re­ their gifts. But' we shall have far more than crease of $199,576 over 1929; and to Minister's garded as experts in such matters, when details fifty students in the autumn according to every stipends $1,511,194-a decrease of $40,573. The Qf a plan of union are being considered." indication, and while our present contributors number of Licenciate students of theology de­ It will be noted, however, that this action provided amply for fifty, what shall we do if creased from 25 in 1929 to 15 this year. The and the action of the next Assembly, if any, seventy or eighty students knock at our doors? number of young peoples societies is 1,118, an will have to be sent down to the Presbyteries It is hardly fair to demand of pioneer sus­ increase of 26, with the total membership of by way of overture, before the proposed union tainers that they carry the increased e.xpense 31,542. can be effective. alone. They should be reinforced by hundreds On Saturday morning the discussion centered Resol utions were adopted regarding the Chris­ of additional contributors. "Ve have no doubt around the matter of organic Church Union. tian Sabbath, Prohibition and World Peace. these can be found among the subscribers to Dr. MacNaugher sharply criticized an anony­ Regarding marriage and divorce, the Assembly CHRISTIAXITY TODAY, and we ask their help. adopted the following: ous pamphlet being circulated at the Assembly Perhaps it is God's will that for the moment "In view of certain proposed activities, in as being false. [This pamphlet contained a par­ Westminster Seminary shall be utterly de­ ecclesiastical circles, looking toward the sanc­ tial reprint of Dr. ~fachen's article entitled pendent. A great purpose certainly is served tioning of marriage of all kinds and the legaliz­ "The Present Situation in the Presbyterian just in demonstrating to a modern world the ing of divorce, and in view of the fact that the Church." The Editors of CHRISTIANITY TODAY willingness of faithful Christian people to deny Church has ever stood as the guardian of the had no part in the issuing of this pamphlet, themselves to the extent of real sacrifice that home, and without such guardianship the home and do not know who issued it. They did not the Seminary's banner may be kept flying. will disintegrate, and in view of the fact that see a copy of it until after the Assembly, which Modernism has wealth in abundance, is in­ our criminals are coming largely from broken was their first knowledge of its existence. So creased in goods, and has need of nothing. homes, we recommend: far as statements quoted verbatim from CHRIS­ Here is an institution maintained by the prayers "1. That the Assembly go on record as re­ TIANITY TODAY are concerned, the Editors as­ and sacrifices of a comparatively small com­ affirming our position on the sanctity of the sure our readers of all churches that every pany whose gifts are precious because they are home and as opposed to divorce save on Scrip­ statement made is true. If any proof to the all they have. If something of the glory of tural grounds. contrary is forthcoming we will be glad to con­ early Christianity returns in our lives through "2. That we urge our ministers to exercise fess error publicly.] Dr. MacN augher said heroic endeavor, who can say the lesson will care in solemnizing marriages where the divorce that from his own knowledge of the splendid be altogether unheeded, even by those who question is involved. character of the Presbyterian Church in the view us with derision. "3. That the Assembly recommend to pastors The Seminary office will be glad to furnish U. S. A, fully 95% of the Ministry of that the necessity of a sermon at least once a year, information about any type of contribution, Church are sound doctrinally. [Editor's note on the home-stressing the evils of di vorce." general or specific. Some who will want to -since this is evidently an attempted denial of Recommendations were adopted looking for­ give might like to pro\'ide the entire expense of conditions as Gc ribed by Dr. Machen in his ward to close cooperation and union with the a student for a year; some might be able to article, we feel ~".md to point out two facts: Presbyterian Church in the U. S. (Southern take care of a student's room rent. Individ­ (1) there are 9556 \finisters of the Presbyterian Church) alone if the larger movement should uals or churches might be interested in provid­ Church in the U. S. A. If Dr. MacNaugher fail. ing the salary for a professor, and the value knew the doctrinal soundness of 95'}"0 from After dealing with many other routine, bu! and far-reaching results of such a contribu­ personal knowledge, he would have to know and important matters, the Assembly was dissolved tion, is, of course, immeasurable. speak with 9077 "len personally, finding them all to meet next year in the South Church of Already Westminster Theological Seminary to be sound. (2) The percentage of "unsound" Youngstown, Ohio, on \Vednesday, ~fay 27. Ministers Dr. MacNaugher places at five--{)r has taken its place among prominent institu­ about 478. How does he account for the fact University of Dubuque tions of higher learning. As a home of sound that about 1300 Ministers signed the Modernist scholarship, conducted by distinguished teachers, In our last issue ""e published an item on Auburn Affirmation?] with a student body representing a proportion "Seminary enrollments" from figures furnished of college and university equipped men un­ Following remarks by Drs. R. "V. Thompson from the office of Rev. Frederick E. Stockwell, equalled in the seminaries of the Presbyterian and C. J. Williamson, favoring the report and D.D., General Director of the Department of Church in the U. S. A., Westminster ranks its recommendations for Union, Mr. David P. Colleges, Theological Seminaries, and Training with the foremost schools of the world. Linduff, of the Presbytery of Allegheny, moved Schools of the Presbyterian Church. That \Vill you give what you can, whether five that the whole matter be laid on the table for item included the enrollment at Dubuque at 16. dollars or five thousand dollars, that West­ one year. This motion was decisively defeated, The Rev. David 1. Berger, D.D., Dean of the minster Seminary may supply the demand for and the recommendations adopted as follows: Seminary, writes us as follows and we are glad ministers who believe Christ's gospel; who "I. That we approve organic union with other to publish his statement: will preach it; be able to defend it, and never Presbyterian and Reformed Churches on the "During the past year we have had 16 resi­ be ashamed of it, in these dark days? basis of the existing standards of the uniting dent students, 2 graduate students. 17 students The Board of Trustees of Westminster Theo­ Churches. in our summer school of Theology, 3 :\Iinisters logical Seminary, "2. That our representatives be instructed to taking work by correspondence, 10 college FRAxK H. STEVENSON, President. cooperate with committees of other Presbyterian students taking Seminary courses." 1528 Pine Stred, Philadelphia