Third Anniversary Number CHRISTIA TY TODAY

A PRESBYTERIAN JOURNAL DEVOTED TO STATING, ,DEFENDING III JII AND FURTHERING THE GOSPEL IN THE MODERN WORLD SAMUEL G. CRAIG, Editor H. McALLISTER GRIFFITHS, Managing Editor Published monthly by THE PRESBYTERIAN AND MID-MAY, 1933 $1.00 A YEAR EVERYWHERE Entered as second-class mane, May 11, 1931, at REFORMED PUBLISHING CO., the Post Olfice at Philadelphia Pa., unde, the 501 Witherspoon Bldg., Phila., Pa. Vol. 4 No. Act 01 MalCh 3, 7.

ically anti-Christian views. Mrs. BUCK'S nov Is had little or Editorial Notes and Comments nothing to do with the matter, contrary to some newspaper reports. The resiination of Mrs. BUCK ,does not absolve the THREE YEARS Board of any responsibility,-in fact the manner in which the ITH this issue CHRISTIANITY TODAY begins its fourth Board accepted it rather increases knowledge of its looseness year. To its many readers and friends, scattered in facing its responsibilities to a degree hitherto unsuspected over the face of the earth, it sends greetings. The by most. The Board was only ungracefully forced, by a rising Editors believe they are developing a paper second tide of indignation, into an awkward situation 'from which it to none in its sphere. Its world-wide news service emerged with even less grace. And it should also be remembered is being brought to fuller completion each month. that the case of Mrs. BUCK is only one of many matters and No other American religious periodical is, so far policies for which the Board must give an accounting. For as we know, attempting anything like it. We have example, in Dr. MACHEN'S printed brief, the incident concerning recently added other special features. The Editors Mrs. BUCK took up only six out of one hundred and ten pages. pledge anew their determination to contend mili­ This should dispose of the idea that the whole protest revolved tantly for the faith, and, in so doing, to keep their readers around this one missionary. Even had the incident of Mrs. informed of what is happening' in the Church, either above or BUCK never arisen, the responsibility of the Board would be beneath the surface. They will try to "hew to the line and let essentially the same. ' the chips fall where they may." WE CANNOT SUPPRESS THE TRUTH 57 TO 16 HERE are some requests that no man has a right HE title of this comment is the poll of the vote on to make, and to which no man has the right to the "Machen Overture" on Foreign Missions when assent if they are made. The Editors of CHRIS­ it was passed in the Presbytery of Philadelphia at TIANITY TODAY issue this paper with one dominant an exciting session held on May first. A complete purpose: to bring to their readers, and to the whole account of the action is found in our news pages. Presbyterian Church, the truth, the whole truth, The decision of the oldest Presbytery in the Church , and nothing but the truth so far as in them lies, in thus passing the same overture that was rej ected about what is going on in the Church. No one has by the Presbytery of New Brunswick under the the right to give to the Editors of this paper pressure of officialdom, means that the issue is very information that belongs to the whole Church and much alive,-so much so that it will perhaps over-, then to ask the Editors to be a party in suppressing that infor­ shadow all other issues at the approaching Assembly. And so mation in such fashion as that the Church may gain an erro­ it ought. We believe that the action in Philadelphia, showing neous impression of what has occurred. Therefore, as our the greatest conservative majority in years, portends a great solemn duty, and as in the presence of the great Searcher of evangelical reaction. Elders and lay people are in revolt against all hearts, we publish below two letters recently received from Modernism and those who, while giving lip-loyalty to the faith, Dr. CLELAND B. McAFEE, a secretary of the Board of Foreign have supported and permitted anti-Christian propaganda in the Missions. No doubt there will be those who will criticize us for Church. Judgment is beginning at the House of -God. publishing these letters. To them we only reply that we had to choose between assenting to a request for confidence which MRS. BUCK OUT the writer had no right to make as against the Church he serves, and the claims of truth. Knowing what these letters told UB, EARL S. BUCK, famous novelist, has resigned as we could not be a party to suppressing that knowledge. The a missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the letters themselves need scarcely any comment. They speak for U. S. A. Her resignation has been accepted -(see themselves. Intelligent readers will be appalled at what they the next comment). There have been suggestions, reveal. That a secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions one even attributed to Dr. CHARLES W. KE~R, Mod­ should wish to be quoted 'accurILtely, is natural. But that he erator of the 1932 Assembly, that this will end the should consider it his right to forbid quotation while making controversy over foreign missions in the Presby­ absolutely no effort to correct, publicly and through the same terian Church. Nothing could, of course, be more sources, reports that he himself described as so "erroneous that absurd. Objections were not mainly to Mrs. BUCK, they need correction" is almost unbelievable. The second letter but to the Board of Foreign Missions for continu- convicts the Board through the mouth of its spokesman of ing Mrs. BUCK as a missionary long after it knew of her rad- desiring to conceal from the Church its exact action with regard .. (A Table of Contents will be found on Page 36) 2 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 to Mrs. BUCK. It also shows clearly that the Board accepted THE APPROACHING ASSEMBLY the resignation unwillingly. Knowing these things we would be breaking faith with our readers if we did not print them. 'The - N the interest of economy the 145th General Assem­ letters, which were sent to the Editors of the four Presbyterian bly will be held at Columbus, Ohio, instead .of Fort papers, follow: Worth, Texas,' and will be limited to four working days-two less .than usual. It is estimated that the ..>~.:. "April 21, 1933. change of place will mean a saving of about "Dear Brethren: -", ,"' $25,000, the shorter session about $8,000. We fully "I have received recently a large number of newspaper clip­ ,approve the change of place but are not so certain pings purporting to give quotations from myself or reference about limiting the Assembly to four days. We fear to my utterances, many of which are so inaccurate or directly ~f it will bring it about that the next Assembly even erroneous that they need correction. The process of correcting more than previous Assemblies in recent years will or undertaking such interviews has always proved to be hope­ be dominated by the platform. We trust the commissioners less. I am, therefore, making no public reference to them. Most will insist on their right and duty'to "consult, vote, and deter­ of the references are to the criticism passed by Dr. MACHEN mine, on all things that may come before that body" whether on the Board of Foreign Missions or to the relation of the Board or no the Assembly adjourns on May 29th. to Mrs. PEARL S. BUCK. The first matter to come before the Assembly will be the elec­ "On the extreme off chance that you may devote any of your tion of a Moderator. While it ought not to make much difference valuable space to such expressions of mine, let me say that I who is made Moderator, yet as a matter of fact it will. Not trust you will verify these before using them vr commenting on only is there a growing (though unwarranted) tendency to look them, and that I will give prompt attention to, any inquiry upon the Moderator as the official spokesman for the Church regarding anyone of these expressions which seems to you to at large but the Moderator, especially through his power to deserve attention. make appointments, wields immense influence over the delibera­ "I am sorry to tr,ouble you about such a matter, but I do not tions of the Assembly. Various names are beit1g mentioned and know any other way to protect the Board in the mind of the no doubt various names will be presented for consideration. It Church. 'is our hope that the Assembly will choose a working 'pastor "Sincerely, and one not identified with any of the Boards or agencies of "CLELAND B. McAFEE." the Church. At a time when so many of these Boards and "May 2, 1933. agencies are under fire, it hardly seems fair or fitting that one "Dear Brethren: of their representatives should preside over the Assembly. "At the meeting of the Board on Monday, May 1st, the fol­ lowing action was placed on the Minutes: Possibly the most important matter to come before the next "'A letter was presented from Mrs. J. LOSSING BUCK, of Assembly will be the Overture from Philadelphia relative to the the Kiangan Mission, requesting to be released from respon­ Board of Foreign Missions. This Overture which was adopted sible relationship to the Board. The Board had hoped that by a vote of 57 to 16 is, as we have already pointed out, the this step might be avoided but in view of all the considera­ same as that which was rejected by New Brunswick Presbytery tions involved and with deep regret it voted to acquiesce where it was presented by Dr. MACHEN. It would be carrying in her request. The Board expressed to Mrs. BUCK its sin­ coals to Newcastle for us to present reasons for its adoption cere appreciation of the service which she has rendered by the Assembly in view of Dr. MACHEN'S printed argument during the past sixteen years and its earnest prayer that (which is reviewed on another page of this issue) and which her unusual abilities may continue ,to be richly used ' in may be obtained free by applying to its author at 206 S. 13th behalf of the people in China.' Street, Philadelphia. An effort will doubtless be made, ,is "It is the desire of the Board that this Minute shall not be already being made, to make it appear to the Commissioners given publicity in its present form though its substance is now that the resignation of Mrs. BUCK has emptied this overture public knowledge. At the request of Mrs. BUCK the only pub­ of significance. As a matter of fact, as we have observed licity which we are giving is identical with her own and she before, it has given it added significance. If there wag. occa­ has proposed that the following sentence be used in pUblicity: sion to judge the Board unworthy of confidence on the part of "'After various friendly conversations and without ap­ evangelical Christiana previous to its acceptance of Mrs. BUCK'S pearing before the Board, Mrs. J. LOSSING BUCK has , resignation, there is much more occasion for such lack of con­ requested that she be permitted to retire from active con­ fidence today. Incredible as it may seem the Board of Foreign nection with the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. accepted and at its meeting on Monday the Board accepted her resig­ her resignation "with deep regret" despite the fact that Mrs, nation with regret.' BUCK in commenting on her action is quoted as saying: "I wish "I am troubled to observe in the New York Herald-Tribune to make it quite clear that in resigning I did not recede an inch of this morning a sensational account which is difficult to credit, from my position. I have neither reinterpreted, amplified or describing the meeting of the Board as 'stormy' which is the qualified anything I have said or written." However, even if the very last word that could have been used. The Board accepted Board had dismissed Mrs. BUCK for cause there would be little the resignation of Mrs. BUCK at her earnest request. She was change in the general situation. The attitude of the Board not under pressure of the Board to present it, but offered it toward Mrs. BUCK only supplies one reason among many why voluntarily and urged that it be accepted, as was done. we lack coilfidence in it as at present constituted. More need "We have reason to be grateful to you brethren for the not be said in this connection in view of what is written else­ kindly way in which the matter has been given to the Church where in this issue. 'A solemn responsibility rests on the com­ for the most part and we will appreciate the continuance of that missioners to the neXt Assembly. They may either render a courtesy. May I renew my suggestion of April 21st that before great service or a great disservice to Christ and His cause. accrediting any newspaper quotation from anyone connected The perennial question of our membership in the Federal with the matter it be verified. Our newspaper men intend to Council of Churches will again be up for consideration inasmuch be thoroughly honest, but much of the language with which as Hudson Presbytery (other presbyteries concurring) has over­ we are familiar is strange to them and they tend to describe tured the next Assembly "to sever all connections with the things in the sharpest possible outline, as of course you know. Federal Council including financial support." It will be recalled "Sincerely, that the last Assembly was restrained from taking such action "CLELAND B. McAFEE." only because of promises that the Council would be reorganized May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 3 along evangelical lines. It is contended by Hudson Presbytery and tians deny that Jesus ever lived but equally when they affirm others that while a reorganization has taken place yet that the that Christianity is not bound up with the question whether aims and policies of the Council remain almost as objectionable Jesus actuaily lived. When DR. WARFIELD wrote, "Christless as ever. We share that belief. More particularly we believe ChristianitY"-at least in America-had found little expression that the Council is under the control of Modernists rather than outside of academic circles. Here, however, and in this lies Evangelicals and as such misrepresents rather than represents the main significance of MRS. BUCK'S article, we find this Christ­ the evangelical churches. .It seems to us that there is about as less Christianity given attractive' literary expression by a then much likelihood that the Federal Council will change its char­ missionary of the Presbyterian Church ,and printed in a maga­ acter and aims as there is that the leopard will change its spots. zine that is read by millions. Separation seems long overdue. Lack of space forbids any extended discussion of this question It is not probable that the Plan of Union with the United in this connection. Suffice it to say that it is inextricably bound Presbyterian Church will figure largely in the next Assembly. up with the question, What is Christianity? There is nothing In the first place, to meet the wishes of the United Presby­ surprising in the fact that MRS. BUCK holds that it is not a terians, who celebrate their 75th Anniversary at their next Assembly, action will not be asked until the 1934 Assemblies. matter of life or death to Christianity whether Jesus ever lived. In the second place, changes in the proposed Doctrinal Basis We would take the same position if we shared her .conception of Union have been agreed upon that go a long way at least of what constitutes the essence of Christianity. According to toward removing the chief objection to the Plan of Union as MRS. BUCK, as to most modernists, Christianity is essentially originally proposed. It is now proposed to confine the Doctrinal a way of life. But if Christianity be primarily not a way of Basis- of Union to that now in effect in the Presbyterian Church life but a way of salvation from the guilt and power of sin in the U. S. A. with the following: "The Confessional Statement through the expiatoxy death of the God-man and' by the aid of· the United Presbyterian Church and the, brief statement of of the living Christ-as is taught in the New Testament-we the Reformed Faith adopted by the 1902 General Assembly of can assert that it is a matter of no vital importance whether the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. have been made a part Jesus ever lived only at the cost of repudiating what until the of the Plan of Union as 'historical interpretative statements'." rise of Modernism was all but universally known as Christian­ We confess we would like to be authoritatively informed as to ity. It may be a comfort to Modernists, especially to those who just what is meant by calling these statements "historical inter­ think that history affords us only probable truth, to be assured pretative statements." Pending such information we express our that essential Christianity is independent of the question sense of satisfaction over the fact that the Jomt Committee on whether Christ ever existed. It is no comfort to us, however, Organic Union reports such progress "toward the formulation because what we call Christianity would be little more than "a of a Plan of Union which will commend itself to the ministers tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" and members of the negotiating Churches as altogether worthy unless it be true that the Jesus of the New Testament not' only of their whole-hearted approval." lived but lives as Saviour and Lord. Lack of space forbids further comment. Much of the time of The main reason why it is vital to Christianity whether Jesus. the Assembly will be taken up with routine matters; While actually lived is that otherwise it is a matter of indifference these routine matters will figure little in newspaper reports whether' Jesus died 'for our sins. A Christianity without an they may concern the things most important for the well-being actual expiation of human sin through the atoning death of of the Church. Whether the matter under consideration be of a Christ lIickswhat is most essential to historic Christianity. routine nature or not, commissioners should not be unmindful "Expiation, in its very nature," to cite from Dr. Warfield's of their right and duty to utter the decisive w~rd relative to article referred to above, "is not a principle, but a fact, an whatever may come before the Assembly. event which takes place, if at all, in the conditions of time and place. A valid religion for sinful man includes in it, accord­ ingly, of necessity an historical element, an actually wrought DOES IT MATTER WHETHER JESUS EVER LIVED? expiation for its sin. It is the very nerve of Christianity and the essence of its appeal to men-by virtue of which it has HAT MRS. BUCK intimated in an article in Harper's won its way in the world-that it provides this historical ele­ Magazine for January, she expressly states in an ment and proclaims an actual expiation of human sin." It is article in the Cosmopolitan for May, viz., that what hardly less important to note that if it is a matter' of indiffer­ is essential to Christianity would remain even if ence whether Jesus ever lived it is also a matter of indifference He be a product of "men's dreams," "the 'personifi­ whether He lives today. Obviously it cannot be maintained that cation of the highest we human beings can know." Jesus liv~s today, in any proper sense of the word, if He did She puts the question and answers it thus: not live in the past. But as we pointed out, in the last issue "And what if he never lived? What of that? of CHRISTIANITY TODAY, under the title, "Christ as our Con­ Whether Christ had a body or not, whether He temporary," the secret of Christianity's influence in the world had a time to be born ,in history and a time to is inextricably bound up with the fact that it brings men into die as other men have is no matter now; perhaps it never contact with the living Christ as one from whom they obtain was any matter. What lives today is not 'the ephemeral not only the forgiveness of their sins but strength to live as body of flesh and bones. If once it lived, then well enough; He lived. if not, then, well too" (p. 170). If it is a matter of no vital importance whether Jesus bore It is not to be supposed that there is anything particularly our sins in His own body on the tree; if, moreover, it is a new in what MRS. BUCK says relative to the historicity of Jesus. matter of no vital importance whether Jesus lives today as one It is merely a popular statement in widely read magazines of who breaks that dominion that sin has over us and enables that "Christless Christianity" which, as ·DR. B. B. WARFIELD us to walk in newness of life; then, we may admit that it is a pointed out some twenty years ago in the Harvard Theological matter of relatively small importance whether Jesus ever lived. Review was even then "springing more and more into' view ... But otherwise all our hopes for time and eternity are ground­ and being exploited about us." In that notable article---reprinted less unless Christ-we mean the Christ of the New Testament­ in Christology and Criticism (Oxford University Press)­ actually lived and died and rose as the Scriptures record. We DR. WARFIELD showed that what he strikingly called "Christless submit that what MRS. BUCK calls ~hristianity is just no Christianity" exists not only when men calling themselves Chris- Christianity at all. 4 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

Why Does Our Board of Foreign Missions Approve and Commend Modernist IIMission Study Booksll? By the Rev. Joseph A. Schofield, Jr. Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Gouverneur, N. Y.

[The Editors consider this article to contain. material of great value, which is of extreme· importance to every Presbyterian. It is an examination of "Living Issues in China," by the late Henry T. Hodgkin, the inter­ denominational study book for 1932-1933. The significance of this whole matter, of course, lies in the fact that the book is recommended by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.]

HE entire Christian world This has to do with the interdenom­ was shocked when, in the inational mission study books, which late fall of 1932, there ap­ our Board aids in preparing and peared "Re-Thinking Mis­ which it commends to the church. sions," the book which It is my purpose to present this evi­ cOlltains the report of the dence of Modernism in our Board of Commission of Appraisal Foreign Missions in the present of the so-called " Lay- article. men's Inquiry" into foreign missions. As everyone knows, Mission Study And well Christian people everywhere Books are prepared by interdenom­ might be shocked. For the book, as inational committees for a united Dr. Machen has pointed out, "consti­ study of foreign missions, and are tutes from beginning to end an attack widely used in churches of many de­ upon the historic Christian Faith." nominations. In recent years these So much so, indeed, that the Sunday books, as least those prepared for School Times has called the group of adults, have been, almost without ex­ men and women who wrote the report, ception, modernistic in their point "The Betrayal Commission." At once of view. It is therefore difficult to see Presbyterians in large numbers began how our Board can co-operate in their to ask themselves a question which preparation, can urge the churches to for many months had been troubling use them and can advocate their wide certain members of our church, but distribution and still escape the THE REV. J. A. SCHOFIELD, JR. which had not come to the attention charge of favoring Modernism in mis- of any considerable number until sions. And many devout Christians , , Re-Thinking Missions' , came into are asking themselves the question their hands. This question was whether our own Board of how they can continue to ·support a Board which advocates Foreign Missions has taken any part in the sort of mission and promotes the study of such books. But let us make work that this dangerous report advocates; whether our clear, fust of all, the connection the Board has with these Board has been engaging in or encouraging any Modernistic books; and then let us examine a typical specimen and see work on its fields; whether, in a word, Modernism has begun just how Modernistic they are. to enter into the work of our Board. The answers that have First, then, let us note the relationship our Board has been coming from various quarters to this question have to these interdenominational mission study books. (1) Our not been reassuring. The rank and file of the church is Board of Foreign Missions co-operates in the preparation beginning to realize what certain men in the church have of these books. In the 95th Annual Report of the Board long known that our Board has permitted Modernism to as printed in the Minutes of the 1932 General Assembly, enter into its work in various lines of activity both at home page 24, we read the following: "In co-operation with and abroad. Dr. Machen has marshalled in masterly fashion the Department of Missionary Education of the Board of much evidence and has presented it to the church in his Christian Education, the Board of Foreign Missions has nO-page brief, containing the argument in support of an had a most successful year in promoting foreign missions overture he introduced in the Presbytery of New Bruns­ throughout the Church. Secretaries of the Board serve on wick, and printed under the title, "Modernism and the the committees of the Missionary Education Movement, and Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in on Central Committee of the United Study of Foreign Mis­ the U. S. A." There is one bit of evidence which is not sions, and help in the planning of the interdenominational touched upon in Dr.. Machen's argument and which has study books. . . . had little or no consideration up to the present time. (Continued on Page 21) May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 5

Samuel G. Craig, Editor of Christianity Today His Record and The Work at Hand By the Rev. Frank H. Stevenson, D.O.

[The Managing Editor has taken the responsibility of the publication of this brilliant piece of writing. In doing so it is only fair to say that he has 'not sought the consent or advice of Dr. Craig, whose modesty, in such an event, would doubtless have caused him to forbid its appearance. The Managing Editor hopes that he will be forgiven. Dr. Stevenson needs no introduction to the international C~lnstituency of Christianity Today.]

HILDREN, according to an Tribune Building on West Forty-first imperfect adage, should be Street he molds the opinions and judg­ seen and not heard. Edi­ ments of half a million people, very few tors reverse the precept, of whom will learn what manner of which remains imperfect man he is before his obituary is printed however, and endeavor to at some, let us hope, distant day. Sev­ be heard and not seen. eral years ago it was the writer's priv­ Usually the very editors we ilege to meet a professor of history in want to know about are most scrupu­ a university near New York City. I lous in observing this unwritten law of knew him in a casual way for months journalism, printing columns about before discovering that from 1918 to ditch-digger and king, but never a word 1923 he had been an editor of The New about themselves. York Sun. The career of the best edi­ Two contemporary magazines, Time tors is a tunnel of oblivion with rare and Fortune, offer an example of the exits to the light. peculiarity of many of their kind. One There is no guarantee therefore that is a news weekly candid to the point of the editor of CHRISTIANITY TODAY will excess about matters and people; the violate the custom of his profession and other a magazine de luxe whose jew­ permit the use of his story and his por­ elled pages display, in a wealth of trait in his own paper. He was not illustrations and text, the romantic THE REV. SAMUEL G. CRAIG, D.O. consulted when the article was prepared personages of the world's business and and when he sees it he probably will commerce. Mr. Henry Luce presides recall how Charles A. Dana said that over both publications with such originality and ingenuity a forehead of brass is necessary to an editor who features that if either Time or Fortune were to vouchsafe a few himself in the news columns he controls. But an exception words about his walk and conversation every subscriber can be made even in the sacred traditions of the press, and would be interested. But although they describe men.and for the sake of a cause which he always has valued above women of all degrees of importance and news value, neither convention, Dr. Craig may be induced to yield this one time. magazine spares it line for the slightest hint of the character He ought to yield. Defenders of the old Faith and the and habits of Mr. Luce; he is sacrosanct. old Book are too few in number to stand on formalities Editors of leading newspapers are equally sensitive to with each other. Following the violent controversies and publicity. How many readers of The New York Times misrepresentations of recent years, some of the men and know even the name of its editor? I do not refer to Mr. women who are his friends will be reassured if they are John H. FinleY, the member of the staff whose duty it is given a glimpse of his frank Cromwellian face and it will to make public addresses, but to the editor-in-chief. H~ is be helpful to others if they are furnished with a more the Rev. Rollo Ogden, once a prominent Presbyterian pastor intimate knowledge of his background, motives, and attain­ in Cleveland, Ohio, and subsequently a rather well known ments than they can find in his extremely impersonal writ­ missionary in Mexico. When he entered journalism he ings, self-revealing as these occasionally are. I am submit­ dropped out of sight completely. On the powerful New ting this sketch largely on the assumption that the sound York Herrild-Tn1nme the chief editorial writer happens wisdom of the staff of CHRISTIANITY TODAY will avail to see to be a Mr. Geoffrey Parsons who is that phenomenon in that it is printed unabridged, with a not too inconspicuous Manhattan, a native New Yorker in command of a paper photograph attached. Together we may render a consider­ in his own city. But in a remote room of the Herald- able service to the Presbyterian Church. 6 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

II. They had a willingness to bear pain without undue display Dr. Craig is a son of the prairies of Illinois and Missouri of wounds, and a do-or-die determination available for des­ and his youth was spent on the farm. He is 'as familiar perate situations. with seed-time and harvest, with hazards of weather, uncer­ If it is interesting to see the Princeton pictures and to tainties of markets, over and under-production and the rest read the record, it is especially gratifying to associate hard­ of agricultural economy good and bad, as he is with the earned victory with Dr. Oraig. The arena's corruptible troubled progress of Christianity in this perplexed and· crown is not a chief objective in life; its lustre is temporal cynical generation, and that takes in an unusual amount and its glory passes away. But there now must be substan­ of territory. tial cheer for a man engaged in a struggle seemingly end­ Tales such as he might tell of boyhood experiences on less, to be able to recall far-off happy days and battles the plains of the Middle West are the long ago when contests were neither stories of rugged pioneering to which draws nor defeats, but were won. In countless popular books testify. Dis­ early manhood God was preparing tinguished citizens brought up in the His servant for his future just as same region continually are laying surely as He prepared him when a claim to virtues secured from the boy. prairie soil, or failing to make the After completing five years of study claim for themselves, their biograph­ at Princeton in the University and ers do it for them, as Carl Sandburg Theological Seminary and enjoying a did for Lincoln. General Pershing share of play, the academic education ascribes a portion of his prowess to a of Dr. Craig was concluded in the boyhood spent in a Missouri rural rigid intellectual atmosphere of Ger­ community where the environment many, at the University of Berlin. taught him to meet recurring emer­ His pastorates were in Ebensburg and gencies, and to endure hardness, as a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From the patriot and Christian should. A vol­ North Presbyterian Church, the ume of ex-President Hoover's cam­ neighborhood church of Western The­ paign speeches shows the effectiveness ological Seminary in Pittsburgh, he of allusions to the blacksmith shop was called in 1915 to be associate edi­ and farm at West Branch, Iowa. The tor of The Presbyterian, at the time open spaces of the country are com­ the militantly conservative journal of mendable places for Presidents and our denomination. Since then with Generals-and Editors to come from. scarcely an interruption he has been Dr. Craig hails from this hardy hin­ THE REV. MAITLAND ALEXANDER, a Presbyterian journalist. terland and has had occasions to D.O., LL.D. thank God. for it. At times he has III. needed the patience and persistence Dr. Craig's. home is in Princeton, which only the most rigorous discipline in youth could give New Jersey. His residence is the old-fashioned red brick him.· house on Stockton Street which was built many years ago From the farm he went to college; first in MiJ;lsouri and for Francis Landey Patton as an inducement for him to then in Princeton, New Jersey. Quite accidentally this leave Chicago and take a professorship in Princeton Sem­ winter I found an article on intercollegiate football at inary. He wanted to stay in Chicago and the new house Princeton University in an issue of The Cosmopolitan maga­ may, have· been a lure that persuaded him eventually to zine. In the center of a picture illustrating the article is enter the scene of his great achievements. When Dr. Patton the figure of Samuel Craig, unmistakable in proportions, in 1888 was eleeted President of the University (then a appearing as resolute and dependable in the football armor college), and moved to the campus, the residence was occu­ of 1899 as he does in a business suit at his desk in the pied by a succession of other eminent men,· among them office of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. That picture really suggested George T. Purves, the famous preacher and New Testament the writing of this attempted appraisal of his life. teacher, and Robert Dick Wilson, the authority in Old Tes­ The article compares the modern game with the style of tament languages, both titans in the realm of evangelical play used thirty years ago, and contrasts the open and scholarship. closed methods of attack. Yale and the other universities The house, of course, is so located in Princeton that from were as hard to beat then as now, but the Princeton eleven the tall windows of his study Dr. Craig, if he chooses, can of 1899 went through to victory with the flying-wedges and cast a reflective eye across the street to the spacious grounds the bone-crushing devices in vogue in football's Homeric of the Theological Seminary with which he used to be asso­ age. According to old graduates' accounts, those fabulous ciated as a student, as a close friend of the Faculty, and players had the strength, speed and skill which are com­ finally as a member of the Board of Directors. While it monplace among athletes ;·but in addition they had qualities might be natural for him to waste himself in meditating which are not commonplace among athletes or elsewhere. upon what that magnificent and venerable seat of Christian May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 7 learning once was, what its builders and givers of endow­ IV. ments intended it forever to be, and what it now is, he The motives and results of Dr. Craig's career possess seldom indulges the melancholy contemplation. Christians a significance beyond any personl!-l interest we may have in are out of place at a Wailing Wall. him. They summarize for us important principles at issue Much of Dr. Craig's work is done at his home. On all today and are a catalog of most of the accomplishments of sides of his study shelves are lined with books from floor the whole company of contenders for the Christian faith to ceiling, and tables fitted to corners and alcoves of the during two decades of upheaval within our Church. room are piled with magazines. Over the fire-place is a Motives are mentioned first, for a majority of Presby" portrait of Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield. Near the east terians may now be numbered among those unpredictable windows is a desk covered with correspondence, aJ;ld on the ,Christians who refuse to be convinced that journalism as corner of the desk is a worn type- exemplified in Dr. Craig has a legiti­ writer plainly accustomed to hard mate place in the shifting streams of usage. The editor's working hours are modern thought. It is common knowl­ from eight in the morning to an inde­ edge that a few Presbyterians have terminate time of the night. gone out of their way to denounce Actual labor involved in preparing such journalism as worse than futile, material for a magazine making- pre­ and as essentially wicked. On both tension to authority in the field of counts theyare wrong. Certain varie­ Christian literature is prodigious. It ties of religious papers indeed may means a painstaking effort to select not be needed, and if they conform the best of a vast array of church to the fashion of the world, unques­ news, ,discussions of preaching and tionably they are wicked. But the teaching., sermons, articles on Bible journalism Dr. Craig expresses, for interpretation, and correspondence all its disturbance to our complacency, from America, Europe, and foreign is so absolutely right and so immeas­ mission fields; beside writing volumes urably valuable that the Christian of editorials, book reviews and ac­ Church must have it in some form counts of current events as they relate within its wide frontiers or risk the to Christian faith and life. Such labor surrender of its corporate testimony is unremitting and yet it is far from and invite degeneration into religious the total of a publisher '8 task. tribalism. Repeatedly Dr. Craig has faced the It should be remembered moreover inevitable problem of paying bills that criticism which once was aimed when due, and of raising funds to at the old Presbyterian and now finds meet perennial deficits. When neces­ THE REV. DAVID S. KENNEDY, 0.0._ a target in CHRISTIANITY TODAY, can sary, and this has been often, he him: be applied to the New Testament it- self has furnished the funds to insure self. When Dr. Craig announces the the printing of the next issue. He has given much and re­ purpose of "stating, defending and furthering the Gospel ceived little, and if the papers under his direction have in the modern world," he is following a pattern. Read the been a success it has been because, ungrudgingly and unhes­ prologue to Luke's writing, or the first chapter of Paul's itatingly, he has put both his time and whatever money letter to the Galatians, or the last two verses,in John XX, he could command at their disposal. Some devoted people or the Second Epistle of Peter, or the concluding words have stood by him financially through the years, but inany of Revelation XXII, and see the pattern. It runs all the times the number ought to be sharing the burden willingly. way through the New Testament. The proclamation of the There is no better investment for the Lord Jesus Christ; Gospel in the early Church encountered opposing views. no contribution to the protection and projection of the They were met and dealt with in the Apostles' vigorous Gospel more direct and productive. and widely circulated writings until the churches were Fortunately Dr. Craig has assistance in his editorial delivered from danger. work. A competent Managing Editor has come to the staff By a form of journalism, the Apostles built up and pre­ of CHRISTIANITY TODAY in the person of Mr. H. McAllister served primitive congregations as churches of Christ instead Griffiths, a young Presbyterian minister from California, of churches of a hundred varying allegiances. Therefore who has a reporter's insight and a natural gift for clear, a Christian editor in the tumultuous twentieth century concise and spirited writing. His reports of recent General who persists in the duty to "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with Assemblies and of the current Laymen's Appraisal of Mis­ all long suffering and doctrine" is actuated by motives sions have been exceptionally fine. Mr. Griffiths isa Calvin­ derived from the commands and _example of the Word of ist of the Covenanter type, with no love for compromise God. either in doctrine or in practice. By talent and incli­ This must be the explanation of antagonism to Dr. Craig. nation he is admirably adapted to further the paper's When he went to The Presbyterian the editor-in-chief was policy. the able, resourceful and lovable Dr. David S. Kennedy. 8 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

They were of one mind in standing unflinchingly for the For several years Presbyterians in New York City had Christian belief as that belief is Scripturally stated in the been licensing a procession of candidates for the ministry. Westminster Confession of Faith. The motive that marked These candidates had been recommended for qUalities _that their association together, and upon Dr. Kennedy's retire­ were obviously engaging; they had well-trained minds and ment, the motive that was to distinguish Dr. Craig as he were attractive individually. Everybody liked them. It was went forward alone, is solely a tenacious loyalty to con­ the examination of their belief that revealed the one thing sistent and Biblical Christianity. To the natural man such lacking in their fitness to preach the Gospel of Christ. a motive is exceedingly offensive, and has been always. Asked, for example, if they believed the Gospel narrative Some men who are prominent in Christian churches find of the miraculous birth of Jesus, the answer was: "We it difficult to forgive the calm assurance that is based on neither affirm nor deny." Asked if they thought several a mere "thus saith the Lord," and other of the essential doctrines of whenever controversy grows warm, or Christianity were true, they would an­ lines of division have to be drawn be­ swer again: "We neither affirm nor tween' out-and-out believers in the deny." The reply was repeated until Gospel and advocates of popular and it . began to sound like a prepared plausible substitutes, their attitude countersign - to a fixed challenge. has to be reckoned with. Holding to one of the prime theories of Modernism, namely that Christian v. doctrine is relatively unimportant in Results of the seventeen years of the equipment of a: minister,' these Dr. Craig's journalism are to be seen men had determined to introduce the primarily in help given to thousands theory to the Presbyterian Church by of pastors, Sunday School teachers, becoming ordained to teach iit. _ Missionaries, parents, churches, and A small minority in New York homes. These results can be taken for Presbytery stood with Dr. W. D. granted; they testify to themselves. Buchanan, pastor of the strong Broad­ What we are to ,review are the way Presbyterian Church, and re­ extraordinary results of an editorial fused to approve applicant after policy that did not falter during a applicant whose faith was abysmally series of gravest emergencies affecting negative just where the New Testa­ the doctrinal integrity of the Presby­ ment is most positive. The majority terian Church. Although the emer­ overruled objections with appalling gencies and everything connected with regularity. They were splendid young them are fading from the recollection men, and since they were sincere, let THE REV. W. D. BUCHANAN, D.O., LL.D. of evangelical Christians, we need to them preach. Union Theological Sem- remember them. One thing the matter inary, "a fountain of unbelief, sent with us is, we are entirely preoccupied many a graduate into Presbyterian with the stupendous drama of current developments and pulpits during the period when New York Presbytery we rarely look back even to the very recent past. We have opened wide the gate of entrance. In they came. They may forgotten the promise that "thine ears shall hear a word have turned out to be mystics, pragmatists, skeptics or behind thee saying, This is the way; walk ye in it." agnostics; but in they have remained. The word behind us that speaks here, issues from the The Presbyterian warned the Church. Editorially and journalistic experience of Samuel G. Craig. For younger through news correspondence,' week in and week out, the ministers and students in theological seminaries this par­ record was unfolded. Eventually the paper's vigorous ham­ ticular word not only is a means of guidance but it will mering home of responsibility made an impression. Presby­ help solve the problems of two decades of important his­ terians were beginning to wonder why the government of tory. Theological students and recent graduates are more the Church had grown suddenly helpless when relief came. bewildered by the doctrinal disruption of the Presbyterian Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, and Northumberland Presbyteries Church than most of us imagine. They have a legitimate submitted overtures to the General Assembly in May, 1916, claim upon any facts that may bring them into touch with demanding action. Cincinnati actually suggested that New reality. I shall try to state these facts briefly, avoiding the York Presbytery be exscinded from the Presbyterian danger of over-simplification as much as I can. God grant Church unless some indication of obedience to the Consti­ the truth may "have free course and be glorified." tution could be given forthwith. Other Presbyteries sent When Dr. Craig joined the staff of The Presbyterian in up overtures. Only Nashville Presbytery resorted to the 1916, the Church faced a critical situation in which he at protest that it was "discourteous, unwarranted and un­ once was involved. We might call it the opening engage­ Christian" for one Presbytery "to assert" that the minis­ ment of the present controversy; certainly it contained all ters of another Presbytery were" untrue to their ordination the elements which were to be extended into the general vows. " Out in Cincinnati a great Southern and Western conflict. paper, The Herald and Presbyter, replied to the arguments May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 9 of Nashville. Its editors, Drs. Frank C. Monfort and tacular outdoor displays on billboards, by public teas, din­ E. P. Whallon, never for a moment failed to contend ners and banquets, and by whirlwind drives for the funds earnestly for the faith. . of "friendly citizens." Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., ap­ The General Assembly convened in Atlantic City. Con­ proved it and spoke for it. Among Presbyterians Dr. Robert siderably embarrassed and anxious to be diplomatic, the E. Speer and Dr. William Hiram Foulkes were its sponsors. Committee on Bills and Overtures arranged hearings. '*' Out Doomed as it was to quick collapse from wild extravagance of prolonged conferences came a form of covenant known and over-expansion, the Movement was not detached from as "A Gentlemen's Agreement." In the relative quietness the Boards of the Church without heroic efforts at rescue, of a room in the Hotel Chalionte, a quarter of a mile dis­ and most of the Boards were entangled in the wreckage. tant from the uproar in the auditorium on the Steel Pier, . A year's running commentary' in The Presbyterian and a compact was drawn largely at the dictation of repre­ the two speeches by Dr. Maitland Alexander addressed to sentatives from the Presbyteries of Cincinnati and Fort the 1920 General Assembly in its sessions at the Academy Wayne, pledging the Presbytery of New York to explicit of Music in Philadelphia, proved sufficient to take the fidelity to Presbyterian law. It was a drastic document, but Church out of the organization. The debts would have to one by one the New York Commissioners signed it from the be paid, but there would be no additional liability. These least unto the greatest of them. Two representatives from debts,colossal in size, are a memorial for posterity's inspec­ Cincinnati witnessed the signatures. For a number of years tion. In addition to demonstrating the ease with which the agreement was carefully observed. money can be spent before it is collected, they go far to That was seventeen years ago. Presbyterians in the main show that efficiency is decreased with the pooling of man­ acted as Christians should act when avowed doubters .of the agement in the great Protestant ChurcheS'. The Inter­ Gospel of Christ take possession of the Church's pulpits. Church World Movement was impressive in magnitude, but Even The Presbyterian Banner rejoiced at the outcome', the unwieldy, ungovernable, and in the end, grot.esque. editor writing characteristically: "This unanimoUs action, The Presbyterian played a part, possibly the most effec­ crowned with the prayer and song of thanksgiving and tive part, in steadying the Church in this and similar up­ brotherhood, was a historic scene, and it was universally heavals during the rash days following the War. Elemen­ felt that it ushered in a new day of peace for the Presby­ tary Christil1n convictions and ordinary prudence usually terian Church." When The Presbyterian received congrat­ prevailed in the General Assemblies and when the votes ulations for pressing hard for the verdict, Dr: Kennedy were cowited the Church's views and The Presbyterian's wrote simply: "The action of the Assembly on the New vIews as a rule coincided. Conservative sentiment was York case is one of the weightiest and most important con­ strong and came to the front invariably. clusions reached without judicial process, ever recorded VII. in the history of the Church." Thus ended a pr~liminary skirmish, a mild foretaste of major engagements in store. How far one paper. went to rally Presbyterians to the defense of their heritage probably is still better shown in VI. the events of 1922 and 1923. It was then that Drs. H. E. The Great War is blamed with many disasters. How it Fosdick, W. P. Merrill and H. S. Coffin, with a co-operating broke down the standards of sound management in nearly press within and without the Church, formed an apparently . every human enterprise is the commonest of daily recrim­ invincible . leadership that threatened to break down per­ inations. The Presbyterian Church was not to escape. Rest­ manently the Presbyterian Church's corporate testimony lessness was everywhere after 1918. The Inter-Church to God 's Word. It is difficult to describe the turmoil and World Movement, born in 1918, was our Church's star exhi­ passion that culminated in this onslaught. bition of post-War eccentricity. The Presbyterian focused attention upon reports of the Here was an attempt to do away with New Testament ebb and flow of opinion. The words of evangelical pastors missionary methods and substitute for them the practices like John F. Carson, Maitland Alexander, Clarence E. of Big Business in the evangelization of the world. It was Macartney and W. D. Buchanan were printed, imploring advanced by full-page advertisements in the press, by spec- the Church to stand firm; and space was wisely given to the replies of their at last confident opponents. There was * A vivid recollection of the position of four men (mentioned good news from mass meetings held for the defense of the later) at the opening of the General Assembly of 1916 may faith, and bad news from sections of the Presbyterian warrant a footnote. Dr. Courtland Robinson, the present editor Church which turned to Drs. Fosdick, Merrill and Coffin of The Presbyterian was angered by the zeal of representatives as the Children of Israel turned to Aaron at Mount Sinai. from Cincinnati and gave one of them (myself) a scathing lec­ ture, ascribing the defeat of Dr. William L. McEwan in the Letters from aroused and devoted Christians were as pole­ election for Moderator directly to the Cincinnati overture. Dr. mic as the Epistles of Paul and they were published in Charles R. Erdman, it is a pleasure to record, told the writer every number, five and six a week. Editorials were on fire that the Church could not 'do otherwise than proceed resolutely with messages of faith and courage. with disciplinary action. Dr. J. Ross Stevenson, Chairman of Both sides looked to the General Assembly of 1923 for a the Committee on Bills and Overtures, seemed to be alternately decision that should.determine the question put by Dr. Fos­ annoyed and unconcerned, nothing more. It was a minister from Northumberland Presbytery, Dr. William C. Hogg, who galvan­ dick, "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?" By" Fundamen­ ized the Committee on Bills and Overtures into action.-F. H. S. talists" he meant orthodox Christians who believe the Bible, 10 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

and by "win" he meant particularly the enforcement of One minor incident, however, marred the ultimate results Presbyterian standards upon ministers like himself who of the otherwise satisfactory General Assembly of 1923. thought fragments of God's W OI'd contained the truth but Two ministers were candidates for Moderator in 1924, considered a great deal of it, perhaps most of it, to be pious Dr. Clarence E. Macartney, who had honored the Church folk-lore and myth. Weare not boasting of an understand­ and distinguished himself in the Fosdick discussions, and ing of the conscience of Dr. Fosdick and his champions Dr. Charles R. Erdman, who then was estimated as a man but only their outstanding purpose. That purpose was opposed to meeting the thrusts of Modernism with any­ ecclesiastical anarchy. thing approaching Dr. Macartney's positive action. Indi­ Dr. Fosdick was not a Presbyterian minister. Strictly vidually the two men were regarded with esteem by all speaking, he was a "guest-preacher" at the First Presby­ evangelical Presbyterians; in policy they were accounted terian Church in New York: But by leagues apart. reason of the notoriety usually attach­ Dr. Fosdick's adherents and some ing to shouts of defiance he had at­ staunchly orthodox Commissioners tracted a following and his pulpit had gave their voice and vote to Dr. Erd­ become a sounding-board, a national man's candidacy, but Dr. Macartney, broadcasting station which Presbyte­ as unpliable in the situation as John rians throughout the nation were com­ Knox, manifestly was the man for the pelled to heed whether they wanted to hour and he was elected Moderator. or not. ·His supporters contended for Sad to relate, the victory was bought Dr. Fosdick's right to preach as he at a price. From. that day the friends pleased to the constituency they had of Dr. Erdman walked no more with established for him. This was the the friends of Dr. Macartney. The Liberal proposal in 1923 and the pros­ next crisis in the Church was to find pect of securing for it at least the the former group aligned with Pres­ tacit approval of the General Assem­ ident J. Ross Stevenson in the re­ bly, was favorable. Strong influences making of Princeton Theological Sem- . were working in its behalf; against it inary. Upon this almost incredible stood The Presbyterian, immovable, contingency a tragedy was to take unbending; backed by evangelical root and bear bitter fruit. The trag­ churchmen. edy's prelude was the rise of The When the decision came at last, it Auburn Affirmation, and the white­ was a sweeping vindication of Gospel washing of that heretical pronuncia­ preaching and teaching, and was all mento by the Committee of Fifteen that earnest Christian people had appointed by Dr. Erdman when he THE REV. CLARENCE E. MACARTNEY, prayed for. The General Assembly attained the Moderatorship in 1925. D.O., Ll.D. solemnly enjoined the Church to a Its aftermath is a weakened Church. . strict observance of its basic law and reaffirmed every article in the Confession of Faith which VIII. Dr. Fosdick had disputed. When Dr. Merrill, a Fosdick It is profitless to thresh over the old straw of the Prince­ leader, subsequently sought re-election to the Board of For­ ton controversy. The field is gleaned and the grain gar­ eign Missions, Dr. Carson was chosen in his stead and Dr. nered. But Princeton Theological Seminary looms so large Fosdick himself presently withdrew to the welcoming and in Presbyterian history and Dr. Craig came so close to congenial fellowship provided by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., prevailing upon the Presbyterian Church to continue the where he belongs and whence he needed never to have maintenance of Princeton in its former glory, that consid­ strayed. The crisis had passed. ered simply as a feat in journalism the achievement deserves The summing up of results in 1923 might stop with this a thorough-going examination. resounding Presbyterian answer to Dr. Fosdick's rhetorical The Presbyterian now stood practically alone among question. It is the proper climax of the episode. A great other papers. In all the prolonged struggle newspapers and denomination had been saved from open default to the magazines in general realized no more than that at Prince­ most formidable and consequential invasion of unbelief in ton was a flourishing theological school, very famous, very our times. If The Presbyterian owned a Covenanter flag, old, very rich and most influential; and that its President and if that flag floated from the office window on a certain was in disagreement with the Board of Directors, with the afternoon in May, 1923, there was justification for it. On Faculty and with a large majority of the students. Because our earthly pilgrimage there are occasions when of the Seminary's prominence various accounts of current developments were published, as reporters understood " .... Strife is fierce; the battle long, them. But the reason for President J. Ross Stevenson's Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, campaign against his colleagues never was made quite clear And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong." in the newspapers. An ordinary reader had to guess at It is right to make the most of them. causes; and one guess was as stood as another. May, 1933 C H R 1ST I A NJT Y TOO A Y II

Religious papers were more illuminating. They presented It s.carcely could have been otherwise. With The Presby­ an occasional idea of the issue involved. But the religious terianto consult, a substantial proportion of Commissioners press as a whole was so deeply sympathetic with Liberal­ at each Assembly knew: (1) That President Stevenson's ism, and editors were so enthusiastic in anticipating the definite objective was a complacent Seminary conforming overthrow of a stronghold of Calvinistic theology that ref­ to, not opposing, the drift of the times, and suggesting some erences to Princeton took on the finality of a sentence upon model in his mind which may have been McCormick Sem­ a convicted prisoner. In The Presbyterian Advance and inary in Chicago where he himself had 'Studied and taught. The Presbyterian Banner the case was settled almost before Whatever the model, it was very unlike the doctrinally it began. Princeton's prestige, and Princeton's aggressive aggressive Princ.eton of the Alexanders and Hodges and advocacy and defense of the Reformation Faith had been their successors. (2) That the Board of Directors was irritating them for years. If President Stevenson wanted under fire because the majority of its members were adher­ a different Seminary they were glad; if he desired to disci­ ing loyally to the Seminary's purpose and design. (3) That pline Professor Robert Dick Wilson and Assistant Professor Professor Wilson as Student Advisor occupied a position J. Gresham Machen, they were delighted; if his purpose created by the students themselves, and that they appre­ was to neutralize Princeton for the duration of the Church's ciated to the utmost the difference in attitude of Dr. Wilson conflict with Liberalism, that suited their plans precisely. and President Stevenson toward Princeton's standards. They were for anything that was against the time-honored (4) That Dr. Machen was within his rights in pointing out position of Princeton Seminary in the van of contenders for a breakdown in faith in the pulpits, boards and schools of the faith. So they joined the hue and cry for complete the Presbyterian Church. (5) That the League of Evan­ reorganization. gelical Students was obnoxious only to those who disliked Unhappily much of the Presbyterian Church's opinion its straIght-forward evangelical stand. (6) That President of Princeton was formed without the aid of Journalism. Stevenson, Dr. Erdman, Dr. Mudge, Dr. Speer and Stories which the tellers were careful to keep out of print Dr. Thompson represented a pronounced minority opinion attacked the reputation of members of the Board of Direc­ on the Board of Directors, Faculty and Student Body and tors and the Faculty until it appeared that the President had a majority opinion in their support only on the Board of the Seminary had understated his case. These tales had of Trustees. And (7) that the plan of reorganization, in no guarantors; they were a by-product of the intensity of the judgment of qualified lawyers, was illegal. These were men's feelings and were repeated with blind and unreason­ telling facts. And they were prevailing as facts have a way ing prejudice, and as might be expected, they also were of prevailing ultimately, when press and speech are free. repeated with progressive exaggeration. Contradiction did Success was in sight in 1928, and then came one of the not overtake them. Only the perspective of time would be strangest bi-partisan measures ever agreed to on this earth able to demonstrate their absurdity, and meanwhile they by a body of men who have contended for the truth. In ran their baleful course. Tulsa, in 1928, the conservative forces who dominated the Dr. Craig and Dr. Kennedy addressed themselves to the General Assembly voted to postpone action on Princeton defense of the Seminary. They could not .deal with whis­ for yet another year. Bad though this was, it was not the pered slander, but they were resolved to meet every respon­ worst. Indeed it sounded fair enough, for at the rate at sible statement with full information. If they could publish which the friends of Princeton were multiplying, victory the facts they thought the Church would not act with the was probably more certain a year ahead, and meanwhile instincts of a mob clamoring for frontier justice. With steps could be taken to deal with President Stevenson and humility and a sense of their own inadequacy, once more his revolutionary plans through Princeton's own authori­ they put on the armor of God and enlisted as Christ's sol­ ties. But·in addition to the postponing resolution was the diers in love's battle for the truth. Both of them knew they fatal provision of another resolution. Presbyterian papers would suffer before the battle was done. were asked to withhold comme-nt on Princeton during the The Presbyterian was printed accordingly. And for three intervening twef,ve months. years the Church did refuse to re-make Princeton despite When the veterans in the long struggle for a great cause the activity of every agency of persuasion and emotion fell into the double trap which we must hope was set for known to church politicians. Princeton was safe in the their feet unwittingly, their gallant fight was over. They debates of 1926, 1927 and 1928. Three years of assault, had surrendered. Absolutely to prevent adjustment of the and the institution was standing like an impregnable rock. internal differences at Princeton, all President Stevenson Christians who remember only that "Fighting Funda­ and his associates l1ad to· do, and did, was to refuse to mentalists" (a designation of honor, by the way, as the co-operate. Internal troubles were to be accentuated, piled term was applied) lost Princeton may have forgotten why mountain high, before the year rolled around. The faithful they lost. Princeton certainly was not lost as long as Board of Directors had been chastised with whips; now Dr. Craig was given a reasonable opportunity to print the they were to feel the lash of scorpions. Informing ·publicity truth. The old Seminary had more friends in 1928 than in was shut off; nothing could be written about it. The bare 1926 r on the other hand supporters of President Stevenson disclosure of confusion and deadlock was all that was to be steadily decreased in number. In 1928 the Reorganization's exhibited to the next General Assembly. Chairman, Dr. W. O. Thompson, was ready to quit, and Dr. Craig had been prompt to announce that a General said so. Assembly resolution could not bind privately-owned papers

'- 12 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 and that he considered himself free to print whatever news elected President of the coalition of widely varying ele­ would promote the welfare of the Church. Shortly before' ments that constitute the new board of control

Dr. Robert E. Speer and His Latest Boo~ By The Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.O., Litt.D. Professor of New Testament in Westminster Theological Seminary

HE author of the book, The Finality of Jesus Dr. Speer represents a popular one: I was in the presence of Christ,' as I pointed out in CHRISTIANITY TODAY for a Presbytery overwhelmingly dominated by the new Princeton October, 1930, in my review of his earlier book, Seminary, by signers of the Auburn Affirmation, and in general Some Living Issues, is not only one of the most dis­ by the opponents of the cause that I represent; Dr. Speer was tinguished missionary leaders, but also one of the in the presence of his friends and supporters. Yet I longed for most truly eloquent men, in the whole Christian an open and free discussion; for such discussion would serve to world. Whatever may be thought of the direction promote, if not agreement, yet at least mutual understanding. in which he exerts his influence, it cannot be Moreover, I cannot believe that the evasion of discussion was doubted at least that that influence is vast. Dr. to the ultimate advantage of the Board of Foreign Missions. Speer possesses a truly amazing power over the Facts remain facts; and the facts included in my Brief and hearts and minds of men. presented publicly at the Presbytery cannot be put out of the There are many evangelical Christians, moreover, who think world because they are unpalatable. that this vast influence is exerted truly to the advancement of belief in the Bible and of the clear propagation of the Christian The Case of Mrs. Buck Faith. With persons who think that I disagree. I disagree with them not because I desire to do so but because I am compelled What do I mean by saying that the Overture which I pre­ to do so. I began with strong prejudice in favor of Dr. Speer. sented was part of a fight for honesty in the missionary policy From my student days on, I stood under the spell of his elo­ of the Presbyterian Church? I mean something very definite, quence; I admired him with all my soul; I agreed with what he and something that I am quite sure the man in the street, and said. But during the past fifteen years or so I have been the man in the pew, can understand. What I mean may be obliged to reverse this attitude. My admiration for Dr. Speer's made clear by one example. It is only one example among many, eloquence remains, but my agreement with him has given place many examples; but it will serve. It is the example of Mrs. to profound disagreement. That change has not been due to Pearl, S. Buck. any personal likes and dislikes; but it has been due to the stern Mrs. Buck is the author of an article in Harpers Magazine impulsion of the facts. The plain fact is that in the great issue for January, 1933, which attacks the Christian Faith at its of the day between Modernism and Christianity in the Presby­ very roots. In a subsequent article, in the May number of The terian Church Dr. Speer is standing for a palliative, middle-of­ Cosmopolitan, she says plainly, what she implies in that pre­ the-road, evasive policy, which is in some ways a greater menace vious article, that to her it is a matter of small importance to the souls of men than any clear-cut Modernism could be. whether "Christ" ever lived as in a "body of flesh and bone" upon this earth. Evasion of the Issue This popular exponent of unbelief was until Monday, May 1st, a missionary in good and regular standing in the Presby­ The issue between Christianity and Modernism has found terian Church. The Board was deeply involved in her destruc­ expression during the past month in a new, fight for honesty tive views. It had tolerated her for years; it had until recently in the missionary affairs of the Church. In that fight I tried recommended one of her books as a missionary textbook. Two to take my part-humble part though it was-by the introduc­ of its leading secretaries had been reported in the newspapers as tion of an overture in my own presbytery, the Presbytery of expressing themselves just recently in' very favorable terms New Brunswick, looking to the, reformation of the Board of with regard to her. I am not asking whether those newspaper Foreign Missions. Dr. Speer was asked by the Presbytery to be reports were altogether correct; indeed I understand that one present. I urged him to do so, and I further begged him, in of the gentlemen in question has pronounced them inaccurate. my correspondence, to engage with me in a f11ll and open dis­ But suppose they were inaccurate; suppos,e they were even cussion of the whole question. seriously incorrect. Still they had made their impression, and To this last request he declined to accede. At the beginning they placed upon the Board, in even clearer fashion than it of his speech before the Presbytery he announced that he did already rested upon it, the bounden duty of saying plainly to not desire to engage in any controversy. His speech itself all the world that it would not tolerate for one single moment evaded almost altogether my specific charges against the Board, such anti-Christian polemic as that which Mrs. Buck was carry­ and soon after the set speeches were over, the previous question, ing on. in obvious deference to Dr. Speer's expressed wish, was moved, Did the Board so speak out? Did it make perfectly plain and debate was shut off. where it stood? Not at all. On the contrary, it accepted Mrs. From one point of view, I do not wonder at Dr. Speer's un­ Buck's resignation "with regret." willingness to answer my charges against the Board. When a The policy represented by that action-I say it deliberately man has such an exceedingly weak case as Dr. Speer had on -is a fundamentally dishonest policy. I am certainly notcharg­ that occasion, and as he still has in his defense of the Board, ing individual members of the Board with conscious dishonesty; it is quite natural for him to avoid controversy. But such a I am certainly not charging them with unworthy motivel!; I policy is regrettable all the same. I had longed for the oppor­ am certainly not charging them with any misuse of trust funds tunity to meet Dr. Speer in an open, friendly, man-to-man dis­ for personal reasons; I am certainly not charging them with cussion. Such discussion might, indeed, have seemed to put me anything like what the law calls obtaining money under false at a disadvantage. I can lay no claim to anything like elo­ pretences. But I am most emphatically, charging the Board with quence; Dr. Speer is one of the most eloquent men in the whole adherence to the policy which dominates many of the larger bounds of the Christian world: I represent an unpopular cause; Protestant churches. It is a wide-spread policy; it is a deeply lNew York: Fleming H. Revell Company. 1933. intrenched policy: but it is a dishonest policy all the same, 16 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 and there will never be any real blessing of God upon the is to be expected from a Moderator who at the last General churches until it is given up. Assembly appointed a signer of the Modernist Auburn Affirma­ What is the policy to which I refer? It is the policy of tion to the chairmanship of the Assembly's Committee on appealing for support to Modernists on the implied ground that Foreign Missions. the Board is tolerant of Modernism-either clear and blatant But the Moderator is wrong. The action of the Board in ac­ Modernism like that of Mrs. Buck, or the sugar-coated but cepting the resignation of Mrs. Buck does not end the whole equally destructive Modernism of the· Auburn Affitmation­ controversy. while at the same time the Board appeals to Bible-believing· In saying so, I am not referring merely to the fact, which Christians on the ground that it is true to the Bible and to the the Moderator seemed to overlook, that the Presbytery of Phila­ Confession of Faith. delphia, by an overwhelming vote, has sent up to the General What would have happened if the Board had said plainly Assembly an overture identically the same as that against to all the world that it would not tolerate for a moment any which, in the Presbytery. of New Brunswick, Dr. Speer had views resembling those of Mrs. Buck. It is perfectly plain what launched the whole weight of his attack. Certainly that action would have happened. A great outcry would have arisen from of the Presbytery of Philadelphia is extremely important, and the Modernists against the "intolerance" of the Board; Modern­ profoundly encouraging to Bible-believing Christians. But I ist contributions would have been cut off. But something would am referring to something far deeper than the action of any have been preserved that is far more important than dollars presbyteries or courts. I am referring to the blessing of God and cents. Honesty would have been preserved-that deeper which does, despite men's opposition, rest upon the cause of honesty upon which the Board has now turned its back. truth.

The Right and the Wrong Method of Appeal The Battle for Honesty This question of honesty arises in the case of every institu­ Weak, no doubt, are the human instrumentalities in this tion appealing for funds. It arises, for example-if the readers battle for truth and honesty in the Presbyterian Church; power­ of CHRISTIANITY TODAY will pardon me for referring to what ful are the forces ranged against it. It is a battle waged against lies nearest to my personal knowledge-in the case of West­ the entire current of the times,· and against a policy deeply minster Theological Seminary. Westminster Seminary in these entrenched in many of the Protestant churches of the world. days is in urgent need of funds. How shall those funds be We might be regarded as presumptuous in attacking what is obtained? One way would be to appeal to different donors on so firmly established. But must evil always remain untouched different grounds. There are men in the Church who dislike just because its roots are so deep? Must the Church forever controversy and will not support a "controversial" institution. go on at the poor dying rate at which it has been going during Yet they are impressed with the fact that the graduates of these latter years? Must it forever continue to stand in con­ Westminster Seminary, on the average, know the Bible far bet­ tempt of honest men; must it forever depend upon policies of ter and are, in general, far better grounded than the graduates worldly wisdom? No, God is calling the Church back from her of most other institutions. They might be appealed to success­ folly to the ways of truth and righteousness; He is calling her, fully if we should only keep in the background our clear-cut by the very distresses of the time, back from the world unto stand in the great issue in the Church. Him. But as a matter of fact we have avoided making any such The battle against the present policy of the Board of Foreign appeal. We have made it perfectly plain that we are carrying Missions is only one phase of a far larger battle. And the on the tradition of the old Princeton Seminary as it existed hopeful thing is that that battle is being carried on by young before the reorganization, and that at the very heart of that men. Professor Allan A. MacRae, of Westminster Seminary, who tradition, as at the very heart of the Bible, there is the duty of (entirely without suggestion from me) introduced the Overture speaking out just as clearly against error as one speaks in in the Presbytery of Philadelphia is a young man, and other defense of truth. That method of appeal may lose us funds speakers in favor of it were young men. A new conscience is here and there; but it is the only honest method. making itself felt in the Presbyterian Church. And leading Vei:y different is the method employed by the Board of spokesmen for that new conscience are young men upon whom Foreign Missions. That method is the "Yes-and-No" method. God has laid His hand. It is the method of sending out a dust-throwing brigade of sec­ Whence do these men receive their warrant for entering into retaries who denounce Re-Thinking Missions in the presence of this conflict? Whence do all of us receive our warrant, if we Bible-believing Christians, as Dr. Speer denounced it in the seek, no matter how humbly, to do our part? Tioga Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia on the evening of The answer is plain. We receive our warrant in the Word December 1, 1932, while at the same time the Board carefully of God. refrains from offending the Modernist forces in the Church by It is true, even common grace should be sufficient to lead a speaking out officially against the central thesis of that broad­ man to see that the policy of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign side of unbelief, unconcernedly retains a signer of the Modernist Missions is wrong. Even an unregenerate man should see that Auburn Affirmation in the exceedingly important position of a Board has no right to appeal to Modernists on the implied Candidate Secretary, and refrains from dismissing even so ground that it is tolerant of Modernism and to Christians on vigorous an opponent of the Bible and the historic Christian the ground that it is intolerant of Modernism. To see that one Faith as Mrs. Pearl S. Buck. needs only a small modicum of common sense: The climax of this policy was reached when the resignation But Christian men have a far higher and far clearer war­ of Mrs. Buck, on May 1st, was accepted by the Board "with rant for the contention in which they are now engaged. Their regret," without a word of disagree~ent with Mrs. Buck's real warrant for opposing the policy of the Board of Foreign views. Missions is that that policy is contrary to the Word of God. Of that evasive action Dr. Speer and Dr. McAfee are said Two forces are contending against each other in the Pres­ to have been active protagonists. Certainly they have given no byterian Church. One is Christianity; the. other is Modernism. evidence of disagreeing with it. And with regard to it the Two Christs are being proclaimed. One is the blessed Saviour Moderator of the last General Assembly, according to The presented to us in the Bible-God and man in two distinct New York Times of May 3rd, has made a typically Modera­ natures and one person forever, virgin-born, worker of miracles, torial utterance. He has said that he believes this action of raised from the tomb on the third day, ascended into heaven, the Board "will end the whole controversy." Such an utterance (Continued on Page 22) May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 17

to combat error is to leave it strictly alone until it dies (no matter how many precious souls may be lost in the process!). These This Changing World people will tell you that "the church has always had these errors, and yet has sur­ By vived." Th~y will talk vaguely about the "Calvinist" "wheat and the tares." Dear readers, it is true that the church had thoSe errors in past ages and survived. Yes! But it never SOMEONE properly equipped ought to how repressive, is not controversy. God survived without a struggle! Where the write a "History of Controversy In the forbid! It is simply "carrying out the mind church did not struggle with unbelief, the Christian Church." Your columnist has of the whole church." No, that is not con­ church died out! The history of controversy urged the task upon several of his erudite troversy! But, resisting it is, as the de­ in the church is simply the record of the friends, but the idea was so simple that fenders of the Old Princeton found out. church's will to remain alive-alive to the they haven't seen it yet. Perhaps I will truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and dead to have to do it myself some day, and poorly error. A church unwilling to contend for equipped as I am, try to keep my head amid I confess that I did not begin with. the the truth, desiring only outward tranquillity the fame and fortune that will assuredly idea of writing more than a paragraph and temporal prosperity, always dies. And follow. Such a short history (grouped about controversy. But now I am in for it, any church that is not willing to engage in around the dramatic, fascinating figures of and might as well round it out. In the short controversy for the crown and covenant of Paul, Athanasius, Augustine, Luther, Cal­ history of controversy of which I spoke, one our Lord Jesus Christ, which values its own vin and others) might perhaps bring home foolish modern idea would be punctured for­ contemptible "peace" more than that, de­ to the popular mind the pathetic and ludi­ ever, I hope. This idea is that the best way serves to die. crous nature of modern opposition to contro­ versy, as such, by men who ought to be intelligent enough to know better. The Comfort of the Scriptures From whence does it come, this opposi­ tion to controversy? Not from the plain A Devotional Meditation man. The average man enjoys discussion on almost any subject, especially religion, By the Rev. David Freeman, Th.M. when there seems to be any chance at all for him to express his own opinion. Thou­ " ... By' Him all things consist. ... That ness should dwell! How the heart of the sands of country stores and city dining in all things He might have the preemi­ Christian burns within him as the wonders rooms bear eloquent witness to that. The nence." Col. 1 :17, 18. of His redeeming grace come to view! real opposition to controversy in the church "Peace through the blood of 'His cross." comes from two main sources: from the in­ UR eternal well-being depends upon O "Reconciled in the body of His flesh through tellectually lazy, who dislike the labor of what we think of Christ. It is not death." It is these gracious disclosures of thinking too much, and from those who "sit enough to pay Him our compliments for His His love that make the Name of Jesus sound pretty" on the top of the heap of "things superlativ'e virtues. For salvation we must sweet in a believ,er's ears. that are" and who are afraid that contro­ accept Him and cling to Him with the con­ fession, "My Lord and my God." HIt soothes his sorrows, heals his woundsJ versy in the church will shove them off And drives away his fear." their perch. "He who stands on pinnacle," When the Apostle Paul thought of Christ said Charlie Chan, "has no other place to he thought of Him in just that way. Christ Pre-eminent is Christ upon His eternal step but off." The history of churches and was nothing less than God to him. He gave throne. He reigns without a peer. Should all kinds of human organizations from gov­ to Jesus the highest place in the universe. He who is above all principalities be given ernments to racket gangs may be pointed His Name was above every name. All a secondary place in Paul's affections? No, out as illustrative. The beneficiaries of any things would collapse apart from Him. He must reign without a rival in the heart. prosperous organization usually develop a He loved Christ supremely. It is not strange To think of Christ and His glorious at~ sudden and intense love of "peace." If there that he could endure the reproach of the tributes was to the Apostle the highest form cross. is such hatred against controversy as to of worship. How different this from the make its forbidding an unwritten eleventh worship that centers around man-the kind Paul lived in Christ. No other place was commandment, it is only because the of worship that seeks the enjoyment of man near enough to Him. He could then do all powers-that-be know they stand to lose by forever instead of enjoying God forever. thing~ven what at one time he thought controversy. And the mentally indolent, No, not so, is true Christian worship. That he eould never do. who worship office-holders and bureaucra­ which is able to save our souls and build What a'low place we give Him whom the cies, some of whom have an eye on crumbs us up in faith is to contemplate the glories heavens ,cannot contain! Is that not why from their masters' tables, follow suit en­ and the excellencies which are His. And so we serve Him so poorly? There are things thusiastically. we sing: we say we cannot bear and cannot do. "Jesus, the very thought of Thee The enmity of men. The self-sacrifice to What is this terrible thing called "con­ With sweetness fills my breast." which He calls us. The yoke of Christ. troversy"? From the point of view of the How the true Christian loves to think of Can we bear it? Others have been' made powers-that-be, it is simply anything that Him and hear of Him! To what lofty more than conquerors through Him. Noth­ raises "harmful division"-that is, which heights such contemplation brings us! There ing is too hard when in all things Christ threatens to divide the ecclesiastical organi­ is no higher place in this world. It is with is given the pre-eminence. zation or reduce its revenues. From that rapturous joy that the Christian contem­ "Jesus, our only Joy be Thou, point of view, also, anything these "powers" plates the virtues and perfections of Christ As Thou our Prize wilt be: Jesus, be Thou our Glory now, may do to dissident minorities, no matter in whom it pleased the Father that all ful- And through eternity." 18 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 Unto All the World A Missionary Page By ,Elizabeth Willet Thompson

"Hear the word of the Lord, 0 ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off ..." Jer. 31 :10

FOREIGN MISSIONS sive Islanders has been entrusted to the Atonement, no Holy Spirit, no Regeneration. In Chapter XXXV of our Confession of Philippine Islands Christians of America. It is not enough to give them education and autonomy, high Faith, regarding the Love of God and Mis­ THESE islands were named in honor of and worthy as these objects are. They need sions, we read, "In the Gospel, God . . . by Philip II of Spain and were under Span­ to know the only true God and Jesus Christ His Spirit accompanying the Word, pleads ish Rule until 1898, when they were taken whom He hath sent to be their Saviour. with men to accept His gracious invitation." overby the United States. Before the ad­ And' from what do they need to be sav,ed? However, throughout the pamphlets before vent of Protestant Missions white men on From the evils of gambling and cock-fight­ us were accounts of goodly numbers join­ the Philippine Islands deceived and exploited ing-so prevalent and ruinous in Filipino ing the attractive little mission churches; the natives and were guilty of the grossest life? From sickness, and filth, and disease? so we tried to feel cheerful about that. excesses and cruelties. "The saddest thing Yes, from all these and more; but are not A little booklet entitled "As the Mission­ is for a heathen people to come into contact all these the rotten fruits of that "soul­ ary Sees It," contained this: with civilization without Christianity." The destroying monster, Sin"? And if men will "The Reverend E. R. is carrying on a pro­ natives, in spite of the darkness of their gram of social work in the Dominican Republic. be bold in sin, missionaries must be bold He teaches the boys sports, taking them camp­ lives, maintain a bright and sunnydisposi­ ing, and tries to interest them in the develop­ to reprove. It has been truly said, "He that ment of sound bodies and clean minds, along tion. Through offerings, sacrifices, charms, hath slight thoughts of sin never had great with good morals. " 'What do your young pople need more than and ceremonies without number, they seek thoughts of God." As we reviewed the re­ anything else?' We wanted to be sure how this to bridge the gulf that separates them from minister of the Gospel analyzed his own job. ports of the Presbyterian Boards, which we H 'God. They need God,' was his brief answer. God. The record of Roman Catholicism in "He then went on to explain how religious received, we found scant mention of the, ceremonies have always played a large part in the Philippines is practically the same as in the lives of his people, specially on occasions word sin. Rather, we were reminded of such as births and deaths, but that their need Latin America: a hollow farce of external is for a God who is interested in their everyday those lines of Timothy Dwight: life, in their relations one with another, in the rites, devoid of reality and saving power. UThere smiled the sm'Ooth Divine, unused to hum-drum monot'Ony of the usual day. The Presbyterian Board sent the first wound "'I call it the need for a social gospel,' he The sinner's heart with hell's alarming sound. interpreted, 'but In the most fundamental sense Protestant missionaries to this fi'eld. It es­ No terrors on his gentle tongue attend; it is just God.''' No grating truths the nicest ears offend. tablished the first Mission Hospital, and the We thought of Paul's words: "I marvel His Christ and Bible placed 'at good remove, first Mission Boarding School-the now Guilt, hell-deserving, and forgiving love. that ye are so soon removed from him that 'Twas best, he said, mankind should cease to prominent Silliman Institute at Dumaguete sin. called you into the grace of Christ unto Good fame required it; So did peace within. on the Island of Negros. To these have another gospel; which is not another ..." been added more hospitals, educational There is no engagement more entirely It will be objected that we have not de­ spiritual in its nature, nor one whose suc­ institutions, churches, and itinerant evan­ scribed the Presbyterian work in the West cess is more immediately dependent on God gelism. than that of the missionary. May they be Indies. Frankly, we were at a loss to know Other denominations hav,e taken up their "called, chosen, and faithful." what to say about it. But God will not leave share of the task. The Association of Bap­ the West Indies without a witness. We read tists for Evangelism in the Orient (not NATIONAL MISSIONS in the Sunday School Times of April 22nd: under the Baptist Board of Foreign Mis­ "A quiet but truly evangelistic work has been West Indies carried on in Cuba for thirty-two years by Mr. sions) is not ashamed of the Gospel of and Mrs. E. L. Pain and their three sons. AFTER reading through many pages of Eighteen native churches, self-supporting and Christ, the power of God unto salvation. self-governing, have been organized, with eleven .tl. the work of the Presbyterian Board in native pastors. In each of these places is held A unique part of their work is a motor and a daily prayer-meeting, praying for revival sailing schooner named the "Gospel Ship of Cuba, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico, we throughout Cuba." the Philippines" which travels about spread­ found ourselves greatly confused. Again However much some may affect to dislike ing the Word among the hundreds of little and again we had to remind ourselves that controversy, it can never be of ultimate dis­ islands which have never before been we were reading Missionary Literature, and advantage to the interests of truth, and no reached. A large number of these people not the report of some Government statis­ great advance has ever been made without have never had any written language-have tician, or a page of geography. Now and it, in religion, or any other field. Missions never seen the Word of God. Weare re­ then one of those vague phrases such as, is the greatest living issue before the world minded of the ministry of Our Lord as He "the Christian point of view" or "Christian today. It is our fervent prayer that the preached from a boat, and went about in idealism," made us wish for someone to present controversy, with its saddening and a boat with His disciples. explain thes'e mysterious terms. References sickening disclosures in our Boards, may be In the providence of God the privilege which are, to our mind, inextricably bound the means of purifying them, and returning and responsibility of ministering to the spir­ up with the subject of Missions, were absent them once more to the true New Testament itual need of these 10,000,000 bright, respon- entirely. There was no mention of the basis. May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 19

it change them temporarily, but for all time. They were willing to die as witnesses Sunday School Lessons for June to its truth. Try accounting for this on any other basis you wish: at the end you (International Uniform Series) are brought back to the recognition that only the resurrection could have produced Lesson for Ju'ne 4, 1933 guilt of those for whom He came to die. it. (3) The empty tomb. Here is the fact His words, "My God, my God, why hast upon which everyone agrees. Nobody denies JESUS FACES BETRAYAL AND DENIAL Thou forsaken Me?" have haunted the that the tomb was empty on the third day. (Lesson Text-Mark 14:17-31. Also study minds of men through the ages. What do What happened to the body? Again you Matt. 26:20-29; 10:16; Luke 22:17-20; John they mean? Do they have the clue to His will find it a fascinating study to explore 13 :1-35; I Cor. 11 :23-26. Golden Text­ death? Some have thought that here the what seem at first glance to be the possi­ Isaiah 53 :3.) Saviour confessed, at least temporarily, de­ bilities. When you have done so, you will again be brought to the former conclusion: "THE night in which He was betrayed!" feat. The mind of the natural man sees only one thing could have happened-only How the Christian heart turns back nothing else but that. Yet the Christian, one thing did happen: Christ arose with the toward the events of that last evening. who has been "crucified with Christ" knows same body with which He suffered. Unbe­ Here for the final moment, Jesus sits with differently. To him these words of despair lief is unreasonable. His disciples. And among them is Judas. are the very promise of forgiveness and When one thinks of what Judas had life. For he knows that our Lord spoke planned, that he had already bargained them as the sinner's substitute. Taking the Lesson for June 25, 1933 sinner's place and bearing the sinner's guilt away the life of his Lord, one wonders that REVIEW: JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR he ever had the effrontry to mingle in that and shame, the awful aloneness of separa­ company. No doubt his presence was a tion from the Father's face came upon Him. (Golden Text-Matthew ~8 :18-20.) He did not cease to be the eternal Son of source of keen pain to our Lord. Yet the For this review it should be possible to mind of our Saviour on that night was lift­ the Father. Such a disruption in the blessed Trinity is unthinkable. Yet just because read over the lessons for this quarter; they ed far above even Judas' black treason. He appear in the March and April issues of was thinking of the morrow, of the cross. He was always the eternal Son, the separa­ tion was the awful thing it was. In it He CHRISTIANITY TODAY and, being brief, may And to impress upon the disciples at the be readily studied. last that it was for the Cross that He had perfectly, for ever and ever satisfied the come, He gave them the first Lord's Supper. justice of the Father (which is not separate from the justice of the Son who in dying It might have been natural for Him to have Two Significant Letters done otherwise on that night, to have spent thus paid a penalty. He Himself exacted hours in tender and wistful reminiscence from Himself). His death for us furnishes Orlando, Fla., April 26, 1933. of the years they had walked together. Or us with an only way of life: for only as DEAR BROTHER: men are reconciled to God through Him do He might have gathered together the sub­ As a mistaken signer of the Auburn they ever live. .The object of our faith is stance of His many discourses, and cate­ Affirmation, I want to thank you for the Christ crucified: "as He is offered to us in chised them, so that they would remember vigorous stand you are taking on "Modern­ the Gospel." His teaching. He did nothing of the sort. ism and the Board of Foreign Missions." First He prepared them for the Cross and Either the Word of God is worthy of all sought to make them understand its cen­ Lesson for June 18, 1933 credence or it ought to be frankly aban­ trality; second, he spoke to adjust their JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD doned as an outgrown superstition. I tried minds to the changes that were bound to (Lesson Text-Mark 16:1-11. Also study to be mildly liberal, but was brought right come. Then He left them, for what He Matt. 28:1-20; Luke 23:56b to 24:12; John back to II Tim. 3 :16. The Presbyterian standards are true to that Word. Modern must needs do in the garden and on Calvary 20:1~25; I Cor. 15:1-58,' I Thes8. 4:13-18; must needs be done alone. Rev. 1 :17-18. Golden Text-Mark 16:6.) Liberalism is not and pacifism is cowardly. The "inclusive" policy will presently prove Lesson for June II, 1933 The Resurrection of Jesus has been called exclusive. JESUS ON THE CROSS "the best attested fact in human history." Faithfully, Yet there, are thousands of people today REV. W. A. CARRINGTON. (Lesson Text-Mark 15:22-39. Also study who laugh at it without ever examining the Matt. 27:32-61; Luke 23:26-56a; John 19: evidence for it. All the evidence that there Orlando, Fla., May 2, 1933. 16:42; Romans 4:25 to 5:11; I Cor. 15:1-C; is, of course, is for a real, bodily resurrec­ DEAR DR. MACHEN: I Peter 2:21-25. Golden Text-Romans 5:8.) tion. Not only is a spiritualized non-bodily If my words in your estimation have any Here we have come into the very Holy "resurrection" no resurrection at all, but weight in helping to stem the tide of a false of Holies of our faith. Here all the lines there never is and never has been a scin­ liberalism which is now running high in the of history, in God's great purpose, converge. tilla of evidence for such a "resurrection." Church, I shall be glad to have you pub­ This is no mere unexpected incident that Anyone who believes in it does so simply lish them in CHRISTIANITY TODAY. Every climaxed a blameless life. Here is some­ because he likes the idea. Only those who one who stands squarely' on the Word of thing that was done in the determinate hold to the historic, bodily resurrection have God ought to be willing to show his colors. counsel and foreknowledge of God. And any proof, and they have plenty. Several Faithfully yours, when one views it, not only as it is de­ lines of evidence may be briefly indicated: W. A. CARRINGTON. scribed by the writers of the gospels, but (1) The unbreakable documents. In spite as it is explained in the rest of the Bible, of all the penetration and persuasiveness of These two communications recently re­ then' one sees that only one word covers . unbelieving scholarship, the New Testament ceived by Dr. J. Gresham Machen, will be what happened. That word is, substitution. accounts have remained unbroken. No man of wide interest to the Church. Few men "Himself bare our sins in His own body on needs to be ashamed of believing in them. would have the humility and courage to the tree." This sufferer hung there, not (2) The change in the disciples. Nothing repudiate their former position. Many because he was guilty, but because He was but a true resurrection would account for hearts will rejoice in this brave statement innocent. Yet guilt brought Him there: the the alteration in these men. Not only did by an Honorably Retired Minister. 20 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

ernist document which declares acceptance of the full truthfulness of the Bible, the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement, The Evidence in the Case: A Review the bodily resurrection and the miracles of Christ to be non-essential even for min­ MODERNISM AND THE BOARD OF ers have done, is highly misleading. The isters. This charge is, of course, easy of FOREIGN MISSIONS IN THE charge against Mrs. Buck is not so much proof. Mr~ Hadley'S name does appear as PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE a charge against her as it is a charge a signer of the famous modernist manifesto. U. S. A. By J. Gresham Machen. Pub­ against the Board for what it has revealed So far as known, the only answer attempted lished by the Author, 206 South Thir­ of itself in dealing with her. He shows her to this allegation was by Dr. Speer at Tren­ teenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Copies extremely evident Modernism by several ton on April 11th, when he declared that free upon request. quotations. Then he asks what courses 'are Mr. Hadley was a minister in good and reg­ open to the Board. There are, he says, two: ular standing whose standing might only ONTAINED in this pamphlet of one it may do nothing and hope that Mrs. Buck be impugned by having him tried by his Chundred and ten pages is the factual will eliminate herself, "without intensifying Presbytery. A letter was read from Mr. dynamite released by Dr. Machen in his yet further the charge of intolerance which Hadley at the same time, in which he de­ campaign to let the light in on the policies already rests upon the Christian Church." clared, "I am a conservative in theology." of the Board of Foreign Missions of the "That course of action may be financially The fact of the Auburn affirmation and Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Orig­ profitable," writes Dr. Machen. "It may Mr. Hadley's signature were ignored by Dr. inally prepared as a brief to be sent to all conserve the gifts of the host of people in Speer. We cannot say anything else, then, members of the Presbytery of New Bruns­ the Church who agree essentially with Mrs. than that Dr. Speer has had his proper wick prior to its consideration of the over­ Buck. From the worldly point of view, much moment to answer this allegation and has ture on Foreign Missions on April 11th, the is to be said in favor of it. But it lias the sid~stepped it. It, should Qe borne in mind work has now been issued in a revised form disadvantage of being dishonest." The sec­ that what was said about "good and regu'lar with an explanatory note added. ond course open to the Board was to dismiss standing as a minister" was quite irrele­ Dr. Machen has set out to prove a certain Mrs. Buck. "It is obvious that such dis­ vant. Dr. Machen was not preferring thesis, namely that the policies of the For­ missal, to be of the slightest use, would have heresy charges against Mr. Hadley, he was eign Board have become so vitiated by mod­ to be public and for cause. Mrs. Buck is properly questioning his fitness for the posi­ ernism as to call for reform. The charge, of not an obscure person; she is one of the tion he occupies. course, is easy to make but might have been most famous women in all the world; her In the fourth instance, Dr. Machen proves thought to be harder to prove. Does Dr. attack upon the Christian message has been that the Candidate Department of the Board Machen succeed in proving it? This review­ conducted in the most widely read maga­ has carried on anti-evangelical propaganda er has come to the concluslon that he has zines. Her challenge to the Board, in other through the books that it has recommended proved it. Further, this reviewer believes words, has been public; and the answer to as devotional reading to a thousand young that the proof is so definite as to be con­ it would have to be equally public. Nothing men and women who are considering mis­ vincing to all intelligent and fair-minded whatever, indeed, would have to be said to sionary service. The propaganda referred men. impugn Mrs. Buck's character or motives; to was contained in a letter dated July 15, What, then, is this proof, and where is it but the Board would have to say plainly to 1932, and has been admitted as genuine by found? Dr. Machen has cited nothing that all the world that it is irrevocably com­ the Board. The three books recommended is not a matter of record, and therefore mitted to the message which Mrs. Buck has therein as guides to the devotional life of subject to verification. His first line of attacked, that it does not solicit a single the prospective missionaries (in addition to proof has to do with the attitude of the penny from those who agree with her, and the little series called "Today") are: "The Board of Foreign Missions toward the that it cannot tolerate among its mission­ Devotional Diary," by Oldham; "The Mean­ "Laymen's, Report." Quoting the official aries any such anti-Christian propaganda ing of Faith" (and others), by Dr. H. E. action, of the Board, the author shows that as that which she is carrying on. That Fosdick, and "Marks of a World Christian," the Board failed to condemn in any definite course of action might entail financial loss. by D. J. Fleming. All these books are well­ way the attack upon the very heart of the It might mean the elimination of gifts com­ recognized Modernist propaganda. The Christian faith contained in the report men­ ing from the Modernists who now support Board has yet to justify this letter. Its tioned above. "What the Board did do," our Board. From the worldly point of view, authenticity has been admitted. he writes, "was to issue a vague statement much could be said against it. ' But it would In the fifth charge, Dr. Machen alleges about 'the evangelical basis of missions'­ have the advantage of being honest." that the staff of the Board in an official a statement so vague that it could be Since these words were written, Mrs. communication has commended as though it acquiesced in, presumably, even by the two Buck has resigned. The resignation was were Christian evangelism the religious members of the Board who were members accepted, "with deep regret." Did the Board propaganda of the radical speaker, Dr. of the Laymen's Inquiry and even by cer­ think that the resignation would satisfy con­ Sherwood, Eddy. This commendation was tain unnamed members of the Appraisal servatives and that the "regret" would mol­ given in the body of a communication from Commission itself." Such an allegation as lify the Modernists? This reviewer wonders. Board headquarters in New York to the this certainly demands an answer. If the But at least the act of the Board had re­ committee on Foreign Missions of the Pres­ Board has ever publicly and definitely re­ moved from the realm of doubt its attitude bytery of Philadelphia. It is quoted in the pudiated the Laymen's Report it owes it to toward Mrs. Buck. It was sorry to see her news story in the current issue of this paper the Church to tell when it was done. If not, go, did not put pressure upon her to go. which describes the last meeting of the Pres­ it should confess that the charge is true. Its own subsequent acts have thus proved bytery of Philadelphia. Again the genuine­ But it has no right to ignore the charge. Dr. Machen's contention that it was not ness of the quotation is not denied. This The second charge has to do with Mrs. willing to repudiate her attack on the Chris­ point seems then to be definitely established. Pearl S. Buck. Only six pages out of the tian faith. Dr. Machen also shows by copious quota­ one hundred and ten which the brief contains In the third place Dr. Machen charges tions and citation of other acts of an objec­ are devoted to this charge. It is important; that the Candidate Secretary for Men, the tive nature that the attitude toward the but to give the impression that it is the only Rev. Lindsay S. B. Hadley is a signer of Christian gospel of the Board, its secre­ charge, as some of the newspaper report- the Auburn Affirmation, the notorious Mod- taries and the agencies with which the May, 1933 C H R 1ST I AN I T Y TOO A Y 21

Board is co-operating, is, to say the least, Here then is the case against the Board. again to page 24 of the Board's report as extremely unsatisfactory. This reviewer, at least, must confess that to contained in General Assembly minutes and In the sixth instance, Dr. Machen charges him· it is simply overwhelming, both in de­ read, "It is hoped that every church will that the Board is co-operating with .union tail and cumulatively. Unless the Board can plan for study classes, and schools of for­ enterprises in China which have been impli­ answer it frankly and fairly, the Board is eign missions in connection with the zoning cated in anti-Christian activities of the most doomed. This reviewer recommends to his periods of 1932 and 1933." In addition to thorough-going kind. This charge is docu" readers that they secure this pamphlet, this, our Board, together with the Board of mented with a great deal of material sent which is sent free upon application to Dr. National Missions and the Department of by Dr. Albert B. Dodd, of the North China Machen at the address given above, and Missionary Education of the Board of Chris­ Theological Seminary, and Chancellor Arie read it for themselves. There is much in tian Education, issues yearly a little pam­ Kok of the Netherlands legation in Peiping. this pamphlet that could not even be noticed phlet which lists these study books and The material is so overwhelming that it can in this review. urges the churches to use them. Further, hardly be seriously denied. J. A. G. charts are sent out to Presbyteries, Pres­ byterial Societies and Synods, which list the study books in display form and which Di­ rectors of Missionary Education of Presby­ teries and Secretaries for literature of The Laymen's Report, the Foreign Board Presbyterial Societies are told to use in urging every church to study these inter­ denominational books. Besides all this, the and the New Hymnal Board sends out a packet of leader's helps to be used in connection with the study By The Rev. Prof. Oswald T. Allis, Ph.D., D.O. books by the leader. This packet contains usually several pamphlets prepared by the HE Board of Christian Education of orous fashion, it will be strange if the new Board of Foreign Missions which are Tthe Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. conception of missions urged by the Ap­ thought to illustrate the - teaching of the· has just issued a leaflet, "Human Hearts praisal Committee is not reflected, to some study book. In these and other ways, our and Hands in the New Hymnal," which extent at least, in the new Hymnal. It was Board of Foreign Missions urges every gives advance notice of the new Presby­ announced as "news" by the metropolitan church in our denomination to study these terian Hymn Book, which is to be presented press last summer that Dr. Erdman and approved books. to the General Assembly at Columbus for Dr. McAfee had been appointed a special Now the regular study book for 1932-1933 final approval. The announcement of a new subcommittee to edit "From Greenland's (the 1933-34 material is not yet available at Hymnal is always of interest, but this one Icy Mountains" with a view to eliminating this writing) was "Living Issues in China," acquires more than ordinary significance from it such features as give offence to the by Henry T. Hodgkin. This book, while en­ because of the wide and vigorous discussion growing national spirit and pride of the tertaining and instructive, is a thoroughly of "Rethinking Missions." non-Christian nations. What progress has Modernistic book. Whole pages of it read It is noteworthy that the only representa­ been made in the revision of this grand old . like "Re-Thinking Missions." It is abso­ tive, if he may be called such, of the Pres­ missionary hymn has not yet been disclosed. lutely unthinkable that our Board could be byterian Church U. S. A. on the Appraisal In view of the close connection which ignorant of its character or that our Board Commission is Dr. W. P. Merrill of New thus exists between the Laymen's Inquiry, could imagine that a careful reading of this York City: noteworthy, but in no wise sur­ the Board of Foreign Missions and the New book could do anything other than promote prising to those' who are conversant with Hymnal, it is to be hoped that it will be the destructive and Modernistic view of mis­ the events of a decade ago. After serving carefully scrutinized before it receives the sions that is the message of the report of as a member of the Board of Foreign Mis­ approval of the Assembly. Next to the the Appraisal Commission. Let us examine sions for about twelve years, Dr. Merrill Bible, the hymnal is probably and perhaps some typical statements made by Mr. Hodg­ retired· because of the opposition to his con­ properly the greatest factor in forming the kin in his book. Our objections to this vol­ tinuance on the Board aroused by his vigor­ beliefs and arousing the enthusiasms of ume might be summarized under six heads. ous advocacy of the doctrinal position of Christian people. No effort should be spared (1) The book suggests, like "Re-Thinking Dr. ·Fosdick, then guest preacher at the to make it conform fully to the teachings Missions," that education should be thought First Presbyterian Church of New York of the Scriptures and to our Standards. of, on the mission field, as an end in itself City. Dr; Fosdick is the pastor of Mr. and should not be used as a preparation for J. D. Rockefeller, Jr., who financed the Laymen's Inquiry. The choice of Dr. Mer­ evangelization. He says that mission schools Why Does the Board of Foreign used be "a kind of bait for bringing rill was hence an obvious and natural one. to Missions Approve Modernist boys and girls to Christ, although th;t con­ He had fought and suffered for the modern­ ception has been transce;nded long ago in ist cause, he had· a wide acquaintance with Books 1-(Conti·nued) missions and missionaries; no better advo­ most cases" (p. 34) and he complains of "The theme for foreign mission study for the "tendency t() subordinate education to cate of the new conception of missions was 1932-33 will be CHINA. The following to be found in Presbyterian circles than he. proselytism" (p. 59). Bible-believing Christ­ books have been prepared to meet the needs ians used to suppose that education was a The leaflet, above referred to, gives the of all agE!! groups: means to evangelization on mission fields. names of Dr. Erdman, President of the "For adults-'Living Issues in China,' by Modernists think differently. Board of Foreign Missions; Dr. McAfee, a Henry T. Hodgkin" et a1. This is the book secretary of the same Board, and Dr. Mer­ (2) The book treats Christianity and that we are to examine. rill, as three of the eight members of the Pacifism as synonymous, its author appar­ "Content Committee" on the new Hymnal. By .its own admission, our Board has a ently holding to a very mistaken view of In view of Dr. Merrill's membership on the part in the planning of these books. "the gospel of peace" (p. 148). Appraisal Committee of the Laymen's In­ (2) Our Board of Foreign Missions com­ (3) The author of "Living Issues in quiry and the failure of the Presbyterian mends these books by every possible method China" holds the view that it should be the Board of Foreign Missions to repudiate to the churches, and urges most strongly aim and purpose of the missionary to' unite "Rethinking Missions" in clear cut and vig- that they be used as study books. Turn with adherents of the heathen religions in 22 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

holding to any religion against materialism ments of superstition in it (ancestor wor­ Millan Buck. See pages 187, 189, 192. The and atheism. Rather than to bring Chinese ship) and yet see elements of permanent book for 1929-30 was "Roads to the City out of their ancient, heathen religions into value which we wish to retain" (p. 77). of God," by, Basil Mathews. Note pages 44, Christianity, he thinks "the task of the mis­ Christianity will wish to retain the ancestor 56,571 112. The book for 1927-28 was "New sionaries is how to hold for any faith in worship of heathenism! Again the book Paths for Old Purposes," by Margaret E. God those who are fast losing or have says, "Whatever religion or religions the Burton. See pages 141, 147, 167, 168, 173, already lost any faith they ever had" (p. world may at the long last follow, ... the 184. The book for 1926-27 was "The Moslem 157). And again he says, "It is becoming form taken must, it would seem, be that Faces the Future," by T. H. P. Sailer, Hon­ ever more clear that the struggle for this which the races of the world together work orary Educational Adviser of our Board of generation is far less between one religion out. . . . F'or perhaps it is true that not Foreign Missions. See pages 13, 24, 83, 131, and another than between a religious and China nor America nor Europe can find the 178, 179, 180, 210, 212, 213. The study book a secular or materialistic view of life" answer to the religious problem which is for 1925-26 was "New Days in Latin Amer­ (p. 168). Again these passages read like theirs today )lave as they work at it 'to­ ica," by Webster E. Browning (a Presbyte­ "Re-Thinking Missions" and our Board gether in the intimate fellowship of groups rian). See pages 87, 210, 163. urged the use of this book months before concerned to find not simply a philosophy, There is a question that will not down. "Re-Thinking Missions" was published! The important as that is, but a working faith Why does our Board of Foreign Missions old-fashioned Christian always thought that that will make men more divine. . . . We approve and commend Modernist mission the duty of the missionary was to present need all that we can learn together in hum­ study books? And another question comes Christ to the heathen. How surprised he ble search and bold experiment" (pp. 175, fast upon that. Can the Board, unless it will be to learn that the missionary's task 176, 177). This book teaches that Christian­ changes its ways, continue to expect hum­ is rather to confirm the heathen in his errors ity is a search for truth and light, that it ble, old-fashioned Christians in our churches and bid him hold to them against material­ is a groping with heathen religions after to support it? ism and atheism. God. If this be true, then why send out (4) The book, "Living Issues in China," missionaries at all? Let us grope at home! treats all religions, including Christianity, The true Christian knows that his faith is . as if they were on the same plane and as not a blind search for truth. It is,a Revela­ Dr. Robert E. Speer-(Continued) if they were of practically ,equal value. This tion of God! seated on the right hand of God till He very serious error that so much discussion (6) Finally, this dangerous book belittles come to rule and to judge. The other is the of comparative religions makes, is patent the Bible, the pure and holy Revelation of Christ of the Modernist Auburn Affirmation in this book.' Thus it says, "this religion God. It does this in several ways. For -the Christ who possibly was and possibly (Buddhism) is sincere and simple. Who example, it misquotes the Word in a manner was not born of a virgin, possibly did and shall say that it is not found worthy in the that dangerously verges on blasphemy and possibly did not work miracles, possibly did heart of the Eternal?" (p. 155). It speaks at the same time places the religions of and possibly did not die as a sacrifice to of "Confucianist, Christian, and Buddhist" China on the plane of the religion of the satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to in the same breath (p, 103). Again, speak­ Old Testament: "God who at sundry times God, possibly did and possibly did not rise ing of Confucianism, it says, "To see such and in divers manners spoke to the fathers from the dead in the same body in which profound truths cast aside as irrelevant . through the prophets, has surely come to He suffered. today is almost to make one a propagandist China through such avenues (her ancient for Confucianism" (p. 169). It quotes with faiths), even when his name is not used The Board of Foreign Missions seeks to more or less approval the presiding officer and his voice is but faintly heard" (p. 170). evade this issue. At best it seeks to present at a world conference of Buddhists, "T'ai Again it suggests that the New Testament truth without attacking even the most bla­ Hsu . . . made a memorable statement: is not to be relied upon, that its picture of tant forms of error. It ,reiterates vague 'Jesus Christ is the incarnated Tao. This Christ is mistaken: "The study in recent positive statements, but refrains from I now understand. But for us the chief years of the sources of the Christian faith speaking out against Re-Thinking Missions; thing is that the Tao can also be incarnated has led to such a rediscovery of Jesus as it claims to be a Christian Board, yet ex­ in us.' It cannot be too emphatically stated has bewildered many people. Various accre­ presses no disagreement with the radically that it is this incarnation in us for which tions of the ages have been looked at fear­ anti-Christian teachings of one of its mis­ China waits" (p. 171). Once again it says, lessly" (p. 172). sionaries and even accepts her resignation speaking of modes of worship, "Some feel We have examined this particular book with regret; it presents itself as faithful that Buddhism has something to offer, and at some length because it is the latest inter­ to the Bible and to the Confession of Faith, the attempt of Dr. Reichelt to combine the denominational study book available and be­ yet retains a signer of the Auburn Affirma­ forms of the' two faiths (Buddhism and cause it is typical of the sort of teaching tion as Candidate Secretary and permits the' Christianity) in a single approach to the that these books have set forth for years. Candidate Department to carryon the most living God has been watched with deep in­ The situation would not be so bad if this outrageous Modernist propaganda through terest" (p. 192). Bible-believing Christians book were unique and if this year were the the books that it recommends to the young people looking to it for guidance. know that Christianity is the one and only, only year in which a Modernistic book has the final and absolute religion. The Modern­ been commended to our churches for study. What is our ultimate warrant for dis­ ism of this book, approved and urged for But this situation has been noted almost agreeing with this policy? It is simply that study by the Board of Foreign Missions, every year in the past decade. We shall not the policy is contrary to the Word of God. teaches that any religion is good enough! take time nor space to give details of books That appears not merely in this passage (5) This book, like "Re-Thinking Missions," recommended and used in former years, but of the Bible or that. No, it appears in the teaches that the Christian missionary should it may be of value to list some of them and whole Bible. From beginning to end, the work with heathen religions in a common the pages on which Modernistic teaching is Bible is contrary to this notion that a man search for God. He does not have the un­ to be found. The approved mission study can make his preaching positive without changing truth of God Himself to present book for 1931-32 was "The Rural Billion," making it negative, that he can be a soldier to the heathen, but rather he should seek, by Charles M. McConnell. Some of the of the Cross without engaging in contro­ with the heathen, to find truth and to find statements in it to which we take violent versy, that he can proclaim the truth with­ God. Thus we read, "East and West need exception are to be found on pages 21, 27, out attacking error. From beginning to end, each other in the search for truth and 28, 35, 37, 91. The book for 1930-31 was the Bible teaches every man to say "No" right" (p. 76). "We may still see the ele- "India Looks to Her Future," by Oscar Mac- to error just as earnestly and just as May, 1933 C H R 1ST I A N I TY TOO A Y 23

clearly as he says "Yes" to truth. The name of Dr. Robert E. Speer, as Chairman correctly, for example (p. 52), that "Chris­ Bible is above all things entirely clear. In of the Committee, is signed to that report! tianity conceived as the faith of Jesus, or a great conflict like that between Christian­ I presented these facts to the Presbytery as the religion of Jesus, or as sharing. or ity and Modernism in the Presbyterian of New Brunswick in Dr. Speer's presence. reproducing the religious experience of Church, it bids a' man definitely to take He did not deny them, and he could not deny Jesus, is a mere invention." That strikes sides. If a man does not take sides, he must them. They are lamentable facts; they are against the very heart of Modernism. give up all thought of being true to the to many persons unexpected facts: but facts Yet the 'same writer who here inveighs Word of God. they are all the same. There are many against a Christianity that seeks to repro­ other facts like them; and no Bible-believ­ duce "the religion of Jesus" can write a The Position of Dr. Robert E. Speer ing Christian, who examines the facts, can commendatory preface to the book, The Re­ Appealing, therefore, to the Bible, we possibly help seeing that Dr. Robert E. ligionof Jesus, by Toyohiko Kagawa! The have entered into a campaign for the re­ Speer is leading the Church away from the reader is led to ask himself the question form of the Board of Foreign Missions. paths of truth. how deep Dr. Speer's opposition to the mod­ What is the chief obstacle in the way of An increasing number of Bible-believing ern "religion of Jesus" can be, and whether that campaign? Christians are examining the facts for he really differentiates that religion quite I have little hesitation in saying that the themselves, and' are thus obliged to part clearly from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. chief obstacle is found in the fact that Dr. company' with the policies advocated by Nevertheless, there are many things well Robert E. Speer supports the present policy Dr. Speer. But many of them still cling to said in Dr. Speer's book, and we are glad of the Board. There are many Bible-be­ their confidence in Dr. Speer's own doctrinal that he does not by any means go all the way lieving Christians in the Church whose con­ teaching. He is unduly complacent, they with the destructive Modernism of our time. fidence in Dr. Speer is unbounded. They say, toward false teaching by others; but He believes in the virgin birth of Christ and . know nothing of the Auburn Affirmation. his own teaching is thoroughly sound, and in His bodily resurrection; he tries, at least, They do not know that the Board is com- he has a clear understanding of what the though hardly, we think, with complete suc­ mending radically Moderirist propaganda gospel is. cess, . to hold on to the teaChing of Paul as through its Candidate Department. They What these persons do not see is that in well as to the Sermon on the Mount; he do not know that an official communication defending Dr. Speer's teaching they are believes that the New Testament account from its staff commends the teaching of casting the most terrible aspersions on his of Jesus is true. the radical speaker, Dr. Sherwood Eddy, as character. If Dr. Speer's knowledge of the Yet the book as a whole is a confused and being virile evangelism and as making God gospel were as clear as these persons think harmful book. We say so with sorrow; but real to people. They do not know that the that it is, then how great would be his guilt we are obliged to say so in order to be of Board is officially connected with union in­ in lending aid and comfort to that "other whatever help we may be to those who are stitutions "in China and elsewhere that are gospel" which is doing such irreparable seeking truth. engaging in propaganda of the most de­ harm to men's souls! If Dr. Speer's own In support of this estimate of the book, structive kind. But they only know that convictions were as clear as these persons we may, perhaps, single out three features Dr. Robert E. Speer endorses the policy of think that they are, then when he belies for special mention. They are (1) the lack the Board. That is enough for them. They those convictions by his entire conduct as of clearness about the Bible, (2) the wrong refuse to examine the facts for themselves. a Secretary of the Board of Foreign Mis­ notion of the nature of a creed, (3) the in­ Dr. Speer assures them that the Board is sions the devastating picture in the Epistle discriminate and commendatory quotation worthy of their support, and that is all that of James of the man whose works are at of Modernist writers. they desire to know. variance with his faith would seem to apply In saying that, I know that I am paying in considerable measure to him. The Natural and the Supernatural the highest possible tribute to the eloquence of one who is my adversary in this debate. Certain other things, indeed, might with I pay that tribute gladly. I admit fully Dr. Speer's Latest Book perhaps equal propriety be pointed out. We that Dr. Speer has an enormous power to I for my part do not hold any such low might point, for example, to the confused sway the minds and hearts of men. But view of Dr. Speer's character; and the rea­ notion of the distinction between the natural when I think of that power, I am appalled son why I do not do so is that I can see and the supernatural. Dr. Speer does speak by the responsibility which it places upon clearly that his confusing conduct has its against "the modern world view which its possessor. How glorious it would be if roots deep in the underlying confusion that knows only an immanent God, part of and that power were being used for the up­ is in his mind. That appears, for example, identified with and enclosed within His own building and the right guidance of the in his latest book The Finality of Jesus creation" (p. 40); yet almost in the same Church; but how sad, on the other hand, it Christ, I can deal briefly with that book breath (and still more clearly on p. 271), is when it is being used to iead the Church because I dealt at considerable length with he gives comfort to the deadly error which astray! the previous book, Some Living Issues, in identifies the supernatural with the spirit­ An increasing number of Bible-believing CHRISTIANITY TODAY for October, 1930. The ual and regards the supernatural as stand­ Christians are coming to see' that it is in new book is much longer, but exactly the ing merely over against the material world. this latter way. that Dr. Speer's influence same confusion appears in it as that which "The word 'supernatural,'" says Dr. Speer, is being used. They began by being prej­ has appeared in all of Dr. Speer's recent "is a clumsy and confusing word. We need udiced in favor of Dr. Speer as I began. works, so far as I have examined them. first to define what we mean by 'natural.'" They could not believe that he would en­ There are very many things in this new In reply, we are bound to say that the word dorse a policy which is contrary to the book, as in the other books, which are true. "supernatural" as Dr. Speer uses it, is in­ Word of God. Yet facts are facts. It is An advocate of Dr. Speer could fill many deed a clumsy and confusing word; but we a fact that in the report of the Committee pages with quotations of splendid Christian are also bound to say that until he learns on Cooperation in Latin America "the se­ utterances, especially from the earlier part to use it not in a clumsy and confusing curing of the publication by well-known of the book. I should' like very much indeed way but in an altogether clear and illum­ Spanish publishing houses of several books to quote such passages now, if only there inating way as designating the creative acts by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick and other were time and space. Dr. Speer says quite of God in sharp distinction from the work American authors" is celebrated as one of which God carries on through the course the outstanding "accomplishments of the 'See Report Of the Thirty-ninth Annual Meeting of nature, he can hardly be a competerit of the Foreign Mis8ions Oonferenoe of' North Book department"; it is a fact that the Amerioa, 1932, pp. 92, 114. teacl1er of the Church. When Dr. Speer, in 24 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 order to show that the early Christians, as rest, and unless a man makes that verse He quotes with approval the Modernist, we also today, were believers in the super­ the foundation of all his thinking, his T. R. Glover, when Glover says that it "was natural, says (on p. 271) that "the physical ascription of deity to Jesus is the most un­ a new thing when Religion in the name and material world does not exhaust real­ Christian thing that could possibly be imag­ of truth and for the love of God, abolished ity" and that "mind and will are· not for ined. To worship and glorify as God the the connection with a trivial past." He us resolvable into any physical and mate­ Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus who is "God classes Judaism with non-Christian re­ rial base," and when he then quotes Miss and man in two distinct natures and one ligions': Underhill with approval in this connection, person forever," is the highest exercise of he is, to say the leas.t, playing with fire. man, but to worship as God a Jesus who is ··If between Christianity and Judaism there were this deep generic breach. declared with such By implication, though no doubt he is un­ not one in nature with the Creator and vehemence on the side of Judaism that it set Christianity off in utter separation and effected conscious of it, he is going a long way with Ruler of the world is to worship and serve the crucifixion of Jesus, a fortiori is it impos­ that modern denial of the living and holy the creature more than the Creator, and sible to equalitate Christianity and other reli.. gions, all of them vastly farther removed from God which is often coupled with ascription that is a dreadful sin. Christianity than Judaism with its pure mono­ theism, its noble ethics and its theocratic soU.. of "deity" to the reduced and merely human This indifference to the first verse of darity. Christianity hegan thus at the outset Jesus ()f modern reconstruction. Genesis, this indifference to the basic theism as a new and incommensurable religion, belong­ ing in a classification by itself alone. The whole taught by Jesus, is one of the root errors New Testament bears witness to this. And the Thus, on p. 240, in a truly amazing Fathers follow it. If at first the Church sought passage, Dr. Speer cites in proof of the of modern missionary endeavor. Dr. Speer to hold fast both to the new and to the old, it has given comfort to that error. He has not was not long befor~. as Jesus had foretold, the fact that "the early Church believed and inevitable cleavage came. The Christians were done so with understa~ding of what he is expelled from the synagogues as an alien element we believe in the deity of Christ" the con­ and came themselves to see with ever cleare; tention of Dr. A. C. McGiffert in The God doing; but his doing so does reveal a very vision that something better and different had serious confusion of mind. come. so different that it could only be described of the Early Christians to the effect that as a brand new creation, not one more unful­ In the second place, we might remark filled, wistful quest of men for God, but· the one "Jesus alone was that God" in whom the conclusive, adequate and final outgoing of God early Christians believed; and then he re­ that Dr. Speer is vague and unsatisfactory, Himself for man" (P. 69). marks that "if we cannot go as far as in this book as always--so far as we have observed-in his recent writings, when he In these passages, Dr. Speer is dealing Dr. McGiffert it is still absolutely clear to in a very unsatisfactory way, not with the us that the primitive Church worshipped speaks of the Cross of Christ. He seems to bring us to the threshold of the great truth; superstructure of Christian missions and and prayed to Jesus Christ and classed of Christian work, but with the foundation. Him, man though they recognized Him to but he never brings us into the Holy of Holies, and he never brings us clearly, in He is dealing in a very unsatisfactory way be and rejoiced that He was, with God." with the Bible. It is difficult to see how Just what was that contention of Dr. Mc­ this connection, into the presence of the a man can write a~ Dr. Speer here writes Giffert which Dr. Speer here seems to treat great High Priest. But we come now to the three featu~es and at the same time hold, if he is at all as a testimony to the fact that the early consistent, that there is just one true reli­ Christians believed in the deity of Jesus, of the book which we singled out for special comment. gion based on a supernatural revelation and to which he seems to object merely on from God. I cannot see how, if he is con­ the ground that it goes too far? The answer sistent, he can really hold to the equal is plainly given in Dr. McGiffert's book, of The Bible authority of the Old and New Testaments. which I wrote an extensive review in The In the first place, then, we may speak of Does that mean merely giving the Old. Tes­ Princeton Theological Review for October, the lack of clearness about the Bible. That tament up? No, it means something even 1924', and upon which I commented also lack of clearness--if we may not use with more serious. It means giving the New Tes­ in my little book, What Is Faith? Dr. tament up as well, because the New Testa­ McGiffert held that the early Gentile Chris­ regard to it some still more unfavorable term-is particularly evident in the passage ment stakes the whole weight of its tians were not theists; they did not neces­ authority upon just that high view of the sarily believe at all that there was a per­ in the first part of Lecture II where the author sets forth the relation between Old Testament Scriptures which is held by sonal God, Creator and Ruler of the world. Christianity and "Judaism." Here Dr. despised Bible-believing Christians lately­ They were not necessarily monotheists. Speer speaks in the typical Modernist way. that high view of the Old Testament which They did not ask any metaphysical ques­ He points out, indeed, that "the Old Testa­ is certainly undermined, by implication if tions as to the relation between Jesus and ment was the only Bible of the Church at not consciously, in what Dr. Speer says. a transcendent God. But they merely held the outset, and the first Christians fed upon Jesus to be their own Saviour-God. It is We desire particularly at this point to be it and talked from it, as the Church does that non-theistic view, that view which is fair. It is perfectly possible for a man to to this day." But he says that "the new really diametrically opposed to any real hold a high view of the Old Testament and not only grew up out of the old," but also ascription of deity to Jesus, which Dr. Speer at the same time to use some unguarded "came down from without and above upon treats with such favor and apparently re­ expressions that would logically destroy the old" and that "the unlikeness eclipsed gards merely as going a little too far in its that view. I did just that, if I may take the likeness." He says further: zeal for the deity of Christ! We do not myself as a humble example, in my course mean that Dr. Speer is fully aware of the "He [Jesus] did not exclude Himself from Israel lessons, A Rapid Survey of the Literature but He so faithfully and explicitly proclaimed and History of New Testament Times, destructive implications of what he is say­ Himself and His message that Israel rejected and ing. But still we do think that the fact that crucified Him. Why? Because in reality He was which was first published by the Presbyte­ shattering the old forms and introducing a new he can involve himself in such confusion and different and distinctive faith. a new thought rian Board of Publication in 1914. In that of God and of humanity, of life and destiny" course of lessons, especially in the first is due to a profound fauit in the whole (p. 66). starting-point of his thinking. The true printing, I used some expressions, in de­ starting-point for a Christian is not the He fails altogether to distinguish from the scribing the relation between Christianity human life of Jesus, but it is the majesty false Judaism of the Pharisees and of the and "Judaism" which were erroneous in a and holiness of God, the Creator and Ruler Judaizers the true Judaism that understood way similar to that for which I am now of thil world. That is clear in all the Bible, the Old Testament Scriptures. He says: criticizing Dr. Speer. Yet in that same but it is particularly clear in the teaching "The breach appeared between Jesus and Juda .. course I presented a very high view of the ism because it was there and must inevitably authority of the whole Bible. of Jesus Himself. The first verse of the appear. All that Christianity and Judaism held in common. and a rich common treasure it is, as Bible is really the foundation of all the Paul never tired of pointing out, was outweighed lIn this quotation. as in some other quotations ~~).their radical and fundamental difference" (P. from Dr. Speer. we have omitted his footnotes, in­ 'Vol. XXII, 1924, pp. 544-588. cluding references to Biblical passages. May. 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 25

I have regretted the errors in my course, relationship to all other faiths. This gave Chris­ vagueness of Modernism, with its use of tianity its power. It was not its absorptiveness, and I am glad to correct them. I hope that its later syncretisms. its adoption of the thought Christian terminology in an un-Christian forms of the world, its generalized philosophy Dr. Speer will not take it amiss if I point and world view, its great creeds, necessary as sense; and we could turn also to the elab­ out errors in his latest book which seem these were to guard its simple and essential his .. orate attempt of Dr. Speer, in his present toric centralities. The permanence and success of to me to go very much further in the same Christianity were not secured by any of these, book, to mediate between things that are -but by the simple New Testament creed, uJesus direction. is Lord," which permitted no compromise'" (p. as opposite as the poles. 104). The great trouble is that I do not remem­ But is simplicity, in this modern sense, ber in this latest book of Dr. Speer, or in These last words are quoted-quite charac­ which equates simplicity with doctrinal pov­ his recent books, any clear presentation of teristically, we are sorry to say-from the erty, really to be desired? A great many the doctrine of supernatural revelation or Modernist writer, Dr. S. Angus, whose people seem to think that it is. Church of the inspiration of the whole Bible which propaganda has given such distress to unionists of today are devoting their best would counterbalance the unfortunate Bible-believing Christians in Australia. efforts towards seeing how little of Chris­ passages to which I have referred. I cannot Dr. Speer contrasts the "primitive view tian truth they can get along with. But a remember any clear-cut statement of the of Christ" with "the elaborate verbiage of man can never engage in any such effort authority of the Bible as such. It would be the creeds of the Councils," and says that as that if he is true to the Word of God. difficult to imagine a more serious difference "neither the creeds nor all the subsequent The truly Christian effort is that of search­ of opiniqn than that which here seems, at theologies of the Church have been able ing the Scriptures to learn more and more least, to separate us from Dr. Speer. Men to see more in Christ and to claim more for of what God has so graciously revealed. I may differ about the superstructure in· Christ than is found in the Epistles of can find in the Bible from beginning to end many details, and still go on in essential Paul, which, let it be remembered, ante­ no trace of this anti-creedal, anti-intellec­ harmony; but unless they are agreed about dated all four Gospels and which are the tualistic, anti-doctrinal tendency which is the foundation, it is difficult to see how earliest statement of the faith of the Church found so distressingly in Dr. Speer's book. anything like real agreement among them about Christ" (p. 204). We agree, of That tendency really cuts much deeper than can be attained. The foundation of mission course, that the creeds of the Councils do the Westminster Confession, much deeper work, and of Christian work in general at not contain more than that which is con­ than the great Ecumenical Creeds; it is home as well as abroad, for us Bible-believ­ tained in Holy Scripture, though we decline really opposed to the whole temper of the ing Christians, is found in the absolute to single out one portion of Scripture from Bible from Genesis to Revelation. authority of the whole of God's holy Word. the rest, and though we certainly prefer I do not know how far Dr. Speer under­ not to speak of the Epistles of Paul as Dr. Speer and Modernist Writers stands the implications of· certain things being a "statement of the faith of the that he has said. But the matter is so fun­ Church about Christ." But we certainly do In the third place, Dr. Speer's book is damental and so serious that even confusion not think that the great Ecumenical Creeds filled with indiscriminate and commendatory with regard to it, to say nothing of posi­ are to be charged with "elaborate verbiage." quotations from the most destructive Mod­ tive error, is disastrous to everything that On the contrary they are admirably suc­ ernist writers. I cannot take space here to the Church is endeavoring to do. cinct and pithy statements of what the exhibit that fault in detail. To do so with Scriptures teach. If one wants elaborate any adequacy would fill whole pages of The Nature of a Creed verbiage, he has to turn to the inordinate CHRISTIANITY TODAY. Dr. Speer has the verbosity of the statements of the Lausanne habit of making some Christian tttterance In the second place, Dr. Speer has a and Jerusalem Missionary Conferences, and then, in support of it, quoting Harnack wrong notion of the nature of a creed, and which Dr. Speer holds in such high honor. or someone else with the words "as Harnack thus he gives comfort to what is perhaps The reason for that inordinate verbosity is says," or the like. When he does that he the .central error in the modern Church. that those statements are seeking to please takes back by implication almost every good Thus he says: both the Christian and the Modernist ele­ thing that he has said; because when he ment in the Church. In order to do that equates. his good utterance with what Har­ UChristianity did indeed cover over and weave around its original simple. message many involve­ they are concealing their lamentable pov­ nack says he is asking his readers to inter­ ments, and it inevitably thought out the implica­ erty by a veritable torrent of words. The pret his good utterance in Harnack's way. tion of its teaching, and did so of necessity in the thought forms of those whom it sought to reach. purpose of the great creeds of the Church These writers whom Dr. Speer loves to In part these developments conftrmed and forti­ fied the essential, central convictions, and in was exactly the opposite. It was not to quote in this fashion-:-Harnack and a great part they confused and burdened them. But this make room for error, but to set the truth host of others--are opposed to supernatural development came for the most part in the third century and afterwards" (P. 98). off from error' in ever greater distinctness. Christianity at its very roots. How can the Does Dr. Speer mean to include in this Dr. Speer loves to speak of the simplicity result be anything but utter confusion in utterly derogatory presentation of the very of "the elementary faith of the first disci­ the minds of the readers of the book? natu:r:e of a creed the Westminster Confes­ ples and of the primitive Church" (p. 205) Perhaps it may be said that the fault to sion of Faith which the ordination pledge and of "the simple Gospel of the Primitive which we are here objecting is a fault presents as containing the system of doc­ Church" (p. 137) in contrast with this sup­ merely in Dr. Speer's understanding of trine taught in infallible Scriptures? I do posed "elaborate verbiage" of the great these modern writers and not a fault in his not see how any reader can very well help creeds. At this point we disagree with him own understanding of the Bible or of the answering this question in the affirmative. in the sharpest possible way. There is a Christian religion. There may be a certain true simplicity, we hold, in the great creeds, measure of truth in this way of looking On page 104, the great creeds are pre­ including the Westminster Confession of at the matter. It is quite true that on cer­ sented as being necessary to guard Chris­ Faith. Those creeds contain mysteries, be­ tain occasions Dr. Speer does show himself tianity's "simple and essential historic cause they merely set forth what the Bible to be amazingly unaware of the real views centralities." That is a Modernist view of of the writers whom he is quoting. Thus a creed, rather than the Christian view. teaches, and wonderfully rich is the revela­ on p. 35 he says that "those critics who are Certainly it is very difficult to establish its tion which God has recorded for us in His adverse to our view of Christ . . . regard agreement with the constitution of the Pres­ Word. But in a profound sense they are as the most trustworthy history in the New byterian Church. Dr. Speer says: simple. There is nothing confused about them. If we really want to find something Testament ... the opening chapters of the UThat connection [connection with the mystery that is confused, something that is the very book of Acts." It is certainly surprising religions] had to be broken and Christians must come clean and stay clear of all complicity or reverse of simple, we have to turn to the that one who seems to have read so much ~ 26 CHR.ISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933 of the work of the writers in question page of Harnack, Schweitzer, and other devout Christians think that the Board of should be so totally unaware of what their opponents of the Faith, in support of what Foreign Missions can really be reformed. critical position about the New Testa­ he says. No plain man can make head or If that is to be done it is quite clear that ment is. tail out of such a self-contradictory posi­ the membership of the Board must be But we do not think that this explanation tion as that. Instead of such false sim­ changed. Others think that the formation by any means goes the whole way. We can­ plicity, which is really a very subtle, self­ of a new Board that shall be true to the not believe that a man whose own views of contradictory thing, men and women are Bible and ·to the Confession of Faith of the the basis of the Christian religion were longing for the true simplicity of God's Church should at once be undertaken. One really clear could quote with the utmost Word, for the full-orbed gospel that the thing at least is clear. Truth and honesty approval, on page after page of his book, Word contains. will not fail. The present situation can what is said by the most vigorous oppo­ It is in the interests of such true sim­ have no real blessing of God. But what a nents of the real Christian faith. Does this plicity that the present movement for re­ glorious opportunity there would be at. the not give us an object lesson to show what form of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign present moment if there were a faithful utter folly is the notion that a man can ever Missions has been begun. We do not know Presbyterian Board of Missions to send the hold fully to the truth if he does not stand in detail how that movement will end. Some true gospel to the ends of the earth! bravely and clearly against error? In what I have said about Dr. Speer's book, and about his teaching, I desire not to be misunderstood. I do not mean that his book contains nothing that is good; I do not News of the Church mean that his life work in my judgnient has been altogether in vain. I myself obtained great benefit from his preaching in my Correspondencel General youth, and I know that countless others have obtained great benefit from it. But Washington-Oregon-Idaho Notes tended the two Easter services. Twenty what I am saying is that in the great issue new Deacons were ordained and installed of the present day Dr. Speer is standing on By Dr. Roy Talmage Brumbaugh in April. One hundred and twenty-five offi­ the wrong side. He is standing on the cers and members assist in the visitation wrong side because he is standing on neither I F our Boards came out clean-cut for evan­ of every member of the congregation every side. Never were our Lord's words, "He gelical Christianity, I believe that there month. This church broadcasts four times that. is not with me is against me," more would be a revival of the grace of giving. a ·week. The morning service is broadcast completely to the point than they are at the Middle-of-the-roadism and modernism make over KMO from 11.00 to 12.15; Tuesday and present moment in the Presbyterian Church. negligible contributions to the work of evan­ Wednesday nights over Station KVI from In the great conflict between Christianity gelizing the world. True ,evangelicals can­ 8.00 to 8.25, and Friday nights over Station and Modernism, the actual result of Dr. not consistently give to causes which seem KVI from 10.00 to 10.30. This church will Speer's influence has told powerfully and to specialize in education and medication celebrate its sixtieth anniversary in July. generally on the Modernist side. He has and neglect the first duty of evangelization. In the meantime it is enjoying .a revival commended to us the middle-of-the-road Of course, it would not be good politics to under the Holy Spirit. attitude with great eloquence, but just be­ eliminate middle-of-the-roadism and mod­ TACOMA, WASH. cause of that eloquence with which he has ernism, but the separation would be blessed commended it, he has shown with renewed by God. clearness that that middle-of-the-road atti­ The Rev. William Faucette, pastor·of the tude, that attitude which Dr. Frank H. Millard Avenue Presbyterian Church of California Column Stevenson has aptly called the "yes-and-no Portland (Ore.) had the largest Easter HE spring meeting of Los Angeles Pres­ attitude in the Presbyterian Church," is the crowd in the history of the church. Many Tbytery was, as usual, very largely at­ worst' possible obstacle in the way of real attended on Easter who will not be seen tended. More than three hundred ministers Christian testimony. until next Easter, but they heard the Gospel and elders taxed the capacity of our It is only when the Church turns away in the Millard A venue Church. Mr. Faucette preached on the full meaning of Christ's Euclids Heights Church. . . • Among the resolutely from that attitude that she will larger items of business were the request resurrection. regain the power· that has been lost. God of several of our ministers for the Presby­ grant that she might turn away from a The First Church of Hoquiam (Wash.) tery's sanction of salary'reduction, the aver­ miserable minimizing apologetic-with its of which the Rev. Leonard R. Patton is pas­ age amount being about twenty-five per stereotyped phrases, "no doctrinal issue," tor, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last cent. . . . Easter Sunday saw ,exceptionally "no divisive theology," etc.-and might get month. This church was host to the Presby­ large congregations at all of our churches, back to the true, intolerant, offensive, glo­ tery of Olympia in April. and the Immanuel Church, Dr. H. B. Smith, rious, powerful gospel of the Lord Jesus On April 27th the First Church of Bel­ pastor, said to be the largest in the United Christ. lingham celebrated the fiftieth anniversary States, was forced to arrange two identical One thing is clear. If we are to have the of the founding of the church and the twen­ morning services, one at nine o'clock and old power, we must pay the price. We must tieth anniversary of the dedication of the the other at eleven to accommodate the make a clean breach with all entangling present church plant. The pastor emeritus, crowds. It is unfortunate that so' many alliances; we must make a clean breach who was pastor at the time of the founding people do their church-going for the entire with Modernism. We must return to the of the church, and Dr. John R. Macartney, year on Easter Sunday, unfortunate for the true simplicity of the gospel-the true the present pastor, who was also pastor church, but more so for the people. • . . simplicity of the great theologians, the true when the church was erected, participated Resolutions requesting Presbyterian Church­ simplicity of the Word of God. in the services. es of the Pacific Coast to contribute $70,000 Modern advocates of a non-doctrinal sim­ Sixty-two new members were received for rehabilitation of churches damaged by plicity are not truly simple at all. Dr. Speer into the First Presbyterian Church of Ta­ the earthquake were adopted by the Presby­ is not truly simple when .he makes conserva­ coma (Wash.) last month. Two thousand tery. Dr. Guy W. Wadsworth, moderator of tive utterances and then quotes page after four hundred and eighty-nine persons at- tb,e synod of California and secretary of the 4W May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 27

Board of Church Extension, will be in of entertaining both Denver Presbytery and pointment of the new Vice-Moderator, Rev. charge of the campaign. . . . Regarding the the Women's Presbyterial Missionary Soci­ Homer M. Campbell, pastor of the North recent action of Presbytery in its ousting ety on Tuesday, April 18th. About 350 out­ Church. Ministerial Commissioners to the of Rev. Milo F. Jamison for asserted insub­ of-town guests were present. The two General Assembly elected at this time are: ordination, Rev. T. H. Walker of Aneheim bodies held a joint service of worship at R. Dale LeCount, Gordon Lang, R. H. Clarke and Henry Schaffer were appointed to de­ 9.30 at which the Rev. John Knox Hall, D.D., and F.R. Elder. fend Presbytery's action before the synod. retiring Moderator of Denver Presbytery Lancaster'-The First Church, the Rev. . . . The Federated Church of Whittier was preached the sermon. Just before lunch the Benjamin F. Paist pastor, at its annual enrolled in the Presbytery, bringing the two bodies again met in joint session to meeting anno.unced that all bills were paid number of churches to one hundred ten, and enjoy a brief program of sacred music pre­ for the previous year, a small balance re­ the enrollment of ministers, active and sented by the choir of the entertaining mained, and a large note had been wiped retired, to three hundred forty.... The church. During the lunch hour Dr. Calvin out. Nine new members by confession were Pacific Sociological Society will be conducted . H. French, president of Hastings College received at the Easter Communion and two at Occidental College during the last week briefly addressed the commissioners and del­ by letter. in April. Speakers include. Drs. Paul Pape­ egates. The Board of Foreign Missions was Portsmouth Presbytery, meeting April noe, William Kirk, L. D. Osburne, Constan· represented before the Presbytery by the 17-18 in the Second Church ,of Portsmouth, tine Anunzio and many 'other social and Rev. A. R. Kepler, D.D., of Shanghai, China, the Rev. Maurice P. Stoute pastor, vbted religious workers. . . . A sensation was and before the Presbyterial by Miss Mary to concur in the overture to be presented . caused in California church circles recently E. Moore of the New York office. The Rev. at General Assembly asking for complete ,I by the suicide of one of its most brilliant Benj. F. Judd, pastor of the North Church, severance of our denomination from the young United Presbyterian ministers, Dr. Denver, was elected Moderator. The Rev. Federal Council of Churches. The Rev. Ii. G. John S. Stover, who suffered a nervous Thomas Murray, D.D'., pastor of the First Vorsheim was elected Moderator. The Rev. breakdown some months ago through over­ Avenue Church, Denver, and the Rev. Lewis Mr. Stoute will be the ministerial commis­ work, and left his home recently to attend S. Hall, pastor of the Littleton Church, were sioner to General Assembly: a church conference. His body was found elected ministerial commissioners to the St. Clairsville Presbytery, whose Mod­ two days later in the neighborhood of Lake General Assembly, and Elder R. D. Mar­ erator is the Rev. D. C. Marshall, elect­ Elsinore. thens of the Montview Boulevard Church, ed the Rev. F. S. Williams as its ministerial California ministers are looking forward Denver, and Elder L. E. Skinner of Otis commissioner to General Assembly. At the to the General Assembly at Columbus with were elected lay commissioners. A call from evening session of its April meeting the the prayerful expectation that our parent the Westminster Church was found in order speakers, the Reverends J. C. Stamm, A. L. body will enjoy the Holy's Spirit's special and placed in the hands of the Rev. P. R. Varady and C. W. Pindar, workers in the blessing, as they review the accomplish­ Keplinger who has been serving the church mission fields of Presbytery presented the ments of the past year, and outline the plans as stated supply. The Rev. Chas. P. Leeper, needs of their various fields. for the coming days. There is an earnest formerly pastor at Otis, was dismissed to The pastor of the First Church of Cam­ desire on the part of the Western Churches the Presbytery of Carthage. The pastoral bridge, of this Presbytery, the Rev. L. S. for a more definitely Evangelical note relation between the Rev. Geo. R. Edmund­ Evans, reports a series of unusually earnest throughout our denomination and we are son, D.D., and the Berkeley Church was and inspiring Sunday evening services. The believing this Assembly can do much to dissolved at the request of Dr. Edmundson Rev. E. W. Lodwick, pastor of the Buffalo bring it about. who was appointed stated supply. Presby­ Church, Cumberland, reports a banner Eas­ Los ANGELES, CALIF. tery concurred in the overture from Chester ter Day as the closing of an intensive Every Presbytery which would require that the Member Visitation Campaign. Of the eight­ Westminster Standards be made the doc­ een who united with the church thirteen Denver and Vicinity trinal basis of all negotiations looking to joined on confession. By the Rev. H. Clare Welker, Th.M. organic union. CINCINNATI, OHIO. BRIGHTON, COLORADO. HE .Rev. William Gordon Kiery, stated T clerk of Pueblo Presbytery and pastor News Notes from the Southeast at Penrose, Colorado, reports an unusually Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky News By the Rev. William Childs Robinson, D.D. helpful and inspiring meeting of the Pres­ Letter Meetings of Presbyteries bytery. One part of the'program which was By the Rev. Gerard H. Snell especially heartening was a two-hour con­ NORTH CAROLINA ;;ideration of the important subject of "spir­ ASTER accessions and Easter enthusi­ ECKLENBURG Presbytery met at Siler itual emphasis." The Board of Christian E asm gave to this month's correspond­ M Church April 11th and 12th. Rev. L. P. Education was represented by Dr. Gerritt ence a decided note of optimism. Out of Burney, pastor of the Sugar Creek Church, Verkuyl and the Board of Pensions, by the the fulness of our Easter experience arises was elected moderator; Rev. E. H. Gammon Rev. J. C. E. Fry. The Rev. William Orr, a two-fold message: one of encouragement, pastor at Canon City, was elected Mod­ that despite the depression and modernism and former moderator Mr. R. A. Dunn were erator. the Church-at-Iarge is very much alive; and elected commissioners to the General As­ Gunnison Presbytery held a two-day ses­ one of warning, that the high pitch of re­ sembly. The Presbytery accepted the sug­ sion in the Grand Junction Church of which ligious feeling must be guided and directed gestion of Moderator Crowe that only two the Rev. George F. McDougall, D.D., is pas­ lest it die out and become as the plant commissioners be elected this year. A con­ tor, on April 26th and 27th. The Rev. W. F. whose seed was sown in thin soil. The com­ gratulatory telegram was sent to the Pres­ Fulton of Salida was elected Moderator. The ing summer will test the depth and validity bytery of Orange (N. C.) commending its Rev. R. B. Norton, pastor-at-Iarge for Gun­ of the Easter enthusiasm. action in refusing to receive a minister who nison and Pueblo Presbyteries, was elected had been called by the Chapel Hill Church ministerial commissioner to the General As­ OHIO on the ground that he did not accept the sembly and Elder Earl Murphy of Loma was Westminster System of doctrine. chosen lay commissioner. Cincinnati Presbytery Davidson College reported the endowment The Brighton Church of which the writer At the April meeting of Presbytery Mod­ of a school of Music by Mrs. Cameron Mor­ is pastor had the very 'enjoyable experience erator Frank R. Elder announced the ap- rison. 28 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

SOUTH CAROLINA men to Christ and Christ .to them in the held at the Point Breeze Presbyterian Piedmont Presbytery met at Pendleton, elemental reality of the gospel of the New Church on April 24th. Dr. Louis H. Evans April 10th and 11th, elected Rev. Eugene Testament and of all time!" of the Third Presbyterian Church, delivered Wilson of Walhalla Moderator, and the Rev. DECATUR, GA. a powerful address on "The Message of Our S. J. L. Crouch of Clemson College and Dr. Forefathers to the Men of Today." As one Parker its commissioners to GEmeral As­ News Letter from Western looks into the faces of these laymen who love God,' he realizes that hope of evan­ sembly. Candidate J. K. Aiken was licensed Pennsylvania to preach the Gospel. The presbytery voted gelical Presbyterianism resides in them. A against the amendment to require a three­ By the Rev. Harold J. Ockenga doctrinally conscious laity will save our fourths vote for any change of title to church. Church property. . APRIL 19-21 marked the meeting of the tenth annual Evangelistic Conference PITTSBURGH, PA• Enoree Presbytery met at Reidville, April .tl. of the Federal Council of Churches. It was 10th and 11th, and elected Dr. C. H. Nabers held at the William Penn Hotel in Pitts­ of Greenville its Moderator. Candidate W. J. Eastern Pe,nnsylvania News Letter burgh, and was attended by a nation-wide Hazelwood was licensed as a preacher of representation. The policies for the churches By the Rev. John Burton Thwing, Th.D. the Gospel. The meeting was permeated by represented, including twenty-six denomina­ T the meeting of Lackawanna Presbytery a spirit of trust and confidence in God's A tions, were formulated for 1934. Ii- at Troy on April 18th, the National care for His people and His Church. The keynote seemed to be that the church Missions Committee took ov'er the work Bethel Presbytery met at Ebenezer, a must start a battle for social justice if it among foreign-speaking people, conducted church that was founded in 1725. It adopted is to make an appeal to the youth of today. since 1886 by the Rev. F. Von Krug. The a modified form of resolutions proposed by "The church must go to war to destroy cor­ merger was arranged in the interests of Drs. Gregg and Joplin opposing repeal of ruption in government, to wipe out intoler­ economy, receipts having shrunk consider­ the eighteenth amendment. ance, to end war itself, and to establish ably in the last two years. Dr. Von Krug social justice," said Dr. D. A. Poling. Rep­ resigned and the Rev. Ebenezer Flack was ALABAMA resenting youth, he claimed that a militant retained. East Alabama Presbytery met at Lebanon church would get the response of youth Delegates to the General Assembly from Church, Rev. F. H. McElroy, pastor, April today. Lackawanna Presbytery include the Revs. 11th and 12th. The opening sermon was Arthur Braden, president of Transylvania Richard A. Rinker, Plummer Harvey, D. H. preached by Rev. L. W. Carleton, retiring College, Lexington, Kentucky, likewise crit­ Johnston and F. Von Krug, and Elders L. B. moderator. Rev. C. H. Rogers of Dothan icized the attitude of the church toward Wagner, Troy; L. P. Bierly, West Pittston; was elected moderator. The tone of the pres'ent day problems. "When suggestions L. B. Tingley, Montrose; and W. R. James, meeting was intensely evangelistic with a are made that the church put the principles Plymouth. sermon on that theme by Dr. J. E. Hobson of Christ into politics and business, inter­ The Rev. William K. Newton has resigned of Eufaula and discussion by Dr. D. C. national relations and race problems, some­ from the Honesdale Church, effective June Macquire and others. Candidate J. Moody body howls-and the church subsides 4th. The Rev. S. T. Foster, of Carbondale, McNair was licensed to preach the Gospel, the trouble with the church today is that was appointed Moderator of the church. and arranged to conduct a number of evan­ it has gone fiat." Harold G. Keen, a Princeton student, and gelistic services in the Presbytery the ap­ Dr. Harry N. Holmes, field secretary for Daniel Rinaldi were licensed by the Pres­ proaching summer. the W orId Alliance for International Friend­ bytery. North Alabama Presbytery met at Good­ ship through the Churches, New York, said, The Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.D., water Church, Rev. M. C. Macqueen, pastor, "The chief danger that youth face today is Litt.D., spoke at Beacon Church, Philadel­ at the same time. Dr, W. C. Robinson was that of losing heart.... They need Christ phia, May 3rd, baptizing the pastor's daugh­ elected moderator; Dr. F. D. Wallace of for a hero." Decatur, Alabama, and Elder Thigpen of In all this talk of evangelism by the ter, Lucy Blakeslee Thwing, at the same Gadsden were elected commissioners to the group that is supposed to outline the pro­ service. Assembly. Dr. C. G. Partridge presented his gram for the Presbyterian Church there was At the meeting of Philadelphia Presby­ resignation as Superintendent of Home Mis­ a conspicuous absence of the one source of tery on May 1st, the "Machen" overture, sions in order to accept a call as pastor in evangelistic endeavor - the Redeeming presented by Prof. Allan A. MacRae, was Florida. The presbytery ordered resolutions Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit. adopted by a vote of 57 to 16. of affection and appreciation of Dr. Par­ That a firm stand on social questions is Commissioners elected to Synod included tridge's useful service sent to his new Pres­ needed is evident, but that evangelism can­ the Revs. Hilko de Beer, William P. Fulton, bytery. The amendment on the protection not be carried on without the dynamic of Abram Long, Charles F. Ball, Walter T. of the title to Church property was an­ a risen, saving Christ, a knowledge about Riemann and Walter B. Greenway; and swered in the affirmative. Rev. I. H. Trusler Christ, and a renewal of prayer is our con­ Elders Harry A. Palmer, of Arch Street of Gadsden First Church preached a stirring viction. The secretary, Rev. Roy B. Guild, Church; Andrew A. Scott, Patterson Memo­ sermon on evangelism. said, "People are losing interest in the the­ rial; H. F. Dittmann, Temple; Peter B. Mac­ Each of the ministers of the Synod re­ ological questions ... the churches are try­ Leod, Fourth; Charles F. Hardie, Trinity, ceived a Message from the Moderator of ing to save men for this life." A true evan­ and Mrs. Naomi Norton, Faith. Mrs. Nor­ the Synod, Dr. George Lang of the Univer­ gelism can never be conducted without a ton's name was placed in nomination by sity of Alabama. In commending the evan­ theology. This is what lays the churches Dr. William P. Fulton, and, coming from gelistic year Dr. Lang insisted that to-day open to inroads of error and unscriptural the Presbytery's newest church, she is also is A Presbyterian Day, a time for the practices such as contained in Buchmanism. the first woman elder ever elected from proclamation of the sovereignty of God, the It is a pitiable sight to see Protestantism Philadelphia to Synod. realization that a plan does guide the crea­ stripped of its heritage of truth to satisfy Two brothers, Robert and William T. tive will, that human destiny is in the hands the claims of an easy tolerance. We cannot Strong, of Westminster Church, Philadel­ of God. Another especially fine line in his look to the Federal' Council for inspiration phia, and students in Westminster Semi­ thoughtful message is: "Our gospel is a in evangelism. nary, were taken under the care of thePres­ gospel of salvation, not a social formula nor The Elders' Association Annual Dinner bytery, and the Rev. James L. Rohrbaugh a 'success' philosophy"; we are ,rto relate and Meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery was was received from the Presbytery of YeIIow- May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 29 stone, Montana. No action was taken upon makes the total membership 2,232. Six hun­ as statesman and general, but he had also the request of the Stated Clerk of the Gen­ dred attended the midweek service in the great influence as a spiritual and religious eral Assembly that a vacancy al,ld supply Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church of leader. He was the first in Europe to pro­ committee be organized in the Presbytery. Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 18th, to hear claim liberty of religion and more particu­ Bethlehem Church, Philadelphia, on April Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse give his weekly larly liberty of conscience. He defended 10th, celebrated its sixtieth anniv'ersary. message. (When I read this in the Spencer that liberty not only against the Roman Dr. William L. McCormick, D.D., is the Bulletin I was made to think of the great Catholics but also against the too severe church's pastor. midweek service in the First Presbyterian Calvinists, who desired that the Church Church of Pittsburgh, where I had the priv­ should rule over the State. And now the PHILADELPHIA, P A. ilege to worship the Wednesday evening be­ ideas of William of Orange have become the fore Easter and hear Dr. Macartney preach common good of all civilized nations. We New England and New York Synods to a similarly large audience. Such mid­ in our time pluck the fruits of his struggle week services, are witness to the power of and his death by a murderous ,hand. Wil­ By the Rev. L. Craig Long the Gospel.) On Palm Sunday there were liam of Orange did not mean that all re­ HE Presbytery of Connecticut Valley seventy-two new members received into the ligions had the same worth, that it was a membership of the Central Presbyterian Tmet in the First Presbyterian Church of thing of no interest, what people did believe. Hartford on Monday and Tuesday, April Church of Rochester. Dr. William E. Bieder­ But he proclaimed that no State, no Church wolf, a Presbyterian Minister and a world 24th and 25th. Rev. A. J. Wm. Myers, Ph.D., had the right to interfere between God and of Hartford Seminary, was nominated for famous evangelist, will conduct a two-week one's conscience. And therefore the churches campaign in the Central Church under the the Moderatorship by Rev. Alexander Ali­ also have reason to be grateful to the Prince of Orange. son, Jr., and was unanimously elected. It auspices of the Gospel Tabernacle of Roches­ was moved by Mr. Long and seconded by ter. The dates are May 7th to May 21st. And now the meetings of the theologians. Dr. Alison that the Presbytery concur with Dr. J. Gresham Machen preached both morn­ All the theologians have not yet met. But ing and evening of April 23rd in the First the Hudson Overture and ask General As­ if r had waited until all the meetings were sembly for the breaking of all relationship Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur, N. Y. held, my letter would have reached the edi­ with the Federal Council of Churches, and The evening service was a Union service tors too late. So I can speak only of the of all the Churches of Gouverneur. Twenty­ this motion was carried after debate by a Assemblies of the ministers of the Reformed vote of twelve to seven. All other Over­ one new members were received into the Churches. It is a matter of course that a tures were voted "No action." An overture membership of the First Presbyterian meeting of reformed ministers is filled up pres'ented upon the matter of the Board of Church of Poughkeepsie, at their Spring with the reading of papers and discussions. Foreign Missions and asking General As­ Communion. The Church, which was founded What could they do otherwise than speak sembly to reorganize that Board and remove in 1749, observed the twenty-fifth anniver­ and debate? Now, there were good subjects all Auburn Affirmationistsand also asking sary of the dedication of its present Church to sp'eak about. There was a paper on the that the Candidate Secretary be carefully edifice on Sunday, April 2nd. Rev. Harold new Oxford movement (not that of New­ chosen from among men of sound faith, was, Benner Kerschner and Rev. Leland Wieand man, but of Buchman); one on the secession by immediate sugg'estion of the Moderator Kuns are the Ministers. of 1884, and on the Duplessis case; and one and several others," branded as "radical," NEW HAVEN, CONN. on I Cor. 7. The second has no direct inter­ and was tabled. Rev. Valentine Alison of est for America. The Buchman movement Springfield was elected Commissioner to has gained entrance into Holland. In our General Assembly and Elder Wm. Wyncoop Netherlands Letter country, however, till now it has no great of the Westminster Church in Bridgeport influence and in the Dutch East Indies even By the Ren!. F. W. Grosheide, Th.D., Profes- was elected as Elder Commissioner. Both less. Now, generally speaking, the conclu­ sor in the Free University, Amsterdam of these Commissioners voted in favor of sion of the debate was, we must be grateful the Hudson Overture. ASTER time is in Holland a time of for the group movement, for there is some The speakers at the Bible Conference be­ E meetings. Especially ministers of the good in it, especially this, that it is an evan­ ing held in the Calvin Presbyterian Church different churches have their assemblies in gelization of the higher ranks of society, of New Haven, May 14th to May 21st, will that period. But, before I tell something which thus far have been almost unap­ include Dr. James M. Gray, president of about the meetings of the theologians, I proachable for the preaching of the Word Moody Bible Institute; Dr. Henry Ostrum have to speak about others. I mean the of God. But it is not good that Calvinistic and Dr. Max Reich, who is a Hebrew Chris­ commemorations of the three-hundredth people join the Oxford movement. They tian. The Conference is under the direction birthday of William the Silent. have all the movement they can handle, if of the Moody Bible Institute. Everett Bean, William the Silent was the founder of the they only live according to their confession. a sixteen-year-oldJunior in a New Haven Dutch nation in its present state. The Dutch The Duplessis case put also to Dutch High School, accurately answered the entire themselves only seldom call him William Churches the question, what ought to be the Westminster Shorter Catechism in twenty­ the Silent. For he was not taciturn at all rights and the duties of the civil judge in five minutes during a broadcast from that and he received that nickname because he the affairs of the Church? Thus far Dutch Church Sunday evening, April 23rd. He is was too wise to be silent at a certain time. judges have refused to interfere with the third High School student to do this This was when the King of France spoke Church questions, if a minister is true to within a month. The result of this wide­ to him about the destroying of the Protest­ the standards of the Church. The court only spread interest in Cathechism throughout ant people in the Netherlands of Philip the examined, if the Church had proceeded ac­ the Church membership is evident in all Second, King of Spain and sovereign of the cording to its own ecclesiastical order and phases of the work of the Church. Twenty­ Low Countries. This was but an episode in if no faults were made. The meeting gave nine persons united with the First Presby­ the life of William the Silent. We Dutch as its opinion that this was the right way. terian Church of Brooklyn at the Easter speak of William of Orange, and orange is The paper on I Cor. 7 dealt with the ques­ Communion service. Forty-one persons were our national color. tion of divorce in the broadest sense of the received by the Presbyterian Church at It was not without good reasons, that word, a question of importance, as in all Glens Falls, New York. The Central Presby­ different circles, including the universities, countries there are movements to augment terian Church of Buffalo received one hun­ held their commemorations. For William the causes on which a marriage may be dis­ dred and twenty-six new members. This of Orange was not only a man of moment solved. ' 30 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

Scottish Letter The Kirk of Scotland has too much to do to their part, which is truly inconceivable, the waste any energy on futile negotiations. It directing bodies (synods and committees) of By the Rev. Prof. Donald MacLean, D.D. can best do its work as Protestant, Presby­ the vario~s unions of churches and of the AY is the month of Presbyterian As­ terian, Evangelical, and Free." Piquant in­ majority of societies founded by evangelical M semblies and Synods in Scotland. terest therefore attaches to the first report Christians on an evangelical foundation have Edinburgh is the constant meeting-place of from the conference which is to be submit­ placed themselves little by little at the dis· most of these. Thither the Presbyterian ted to the coming Assembly. The appeal of posal of the Protestant Federation of France tribes go up once more to pray for peace Lambeth to the Church of Scotland cannot which, departing from its original object, and felicity, and for prosperity to Israel's be dissociated from the present perilous approved by everyone (the defense of com­ testimony. condition of the Church of England. That mon interests), has attempted to realize The reports to be submitted to the vari­ Church, says its venerable Bishop Knox, "is Protestant unity by grouping together for ous supreme courts are now ready. Their almost a collection of sects held together by religious action the most opposed tendencies. contents, while they do not disclose any im­ endowments and by a precarious connection The Federation has become, therefore, a' pressive impact on the churchless multitude, with the State." It is envious of the Church school of doctrinal skepticism. The danger show that the Reformed or Presbyterian of Scotland which, by adroit Parliamentary is a mortal one. form of Faith is still, of vital interest to movements, permanently secured for itself But God watches over our churches. Since those who, perhaps, count for most in the both Endowments and State connection. salvation cannot come to them except by life of our nation. Can the Church of Scotland help it to secure the revival of souls through fidelity to the The smaller churches still adhering unre­ similar almost unlimited doctrinal' freedom Christ of the Scriptures and to the Scrip­ servedly to the Westminster standards are and financial and State privileges? Or is tures of the Christ, God has raised up for the Free Church of Scotland (the largest of the Church of Scotland sitting so loosely this work some men whose ministry was the Group), Reformed Presbyterian Church, to Church organization as to require the renewed through the Welsh revival. One of United Original Secession Church, and the recognition of the, "historic Episcopate" to them, particularly qualified by his fidelity Free Presbyterian' Church. A few years ago give vali

In addition to The Union of Evangelical supporters of Missions may rest assured at home, will American Christians not join Christians other revival movements have be­ that the League of Christian Churches, in prayer for funds and wisdom for an ad­ gun: "The Cevenols," "The Missionary Bri­ numbering probably between one-fifth and vance movement in the production of litera­ gade of la Drome," "The Missionary Group one-sixth of the entire body of believers in ture having as its aim the more eff·ective of la Gardonnenque," all of which are work­ China, and including the Presbyterian promulgation and defense of the pure Gos­ ing with zeal and success at God's work. Church with nearly one-twentieth of China's pel which is the power of God unto salva­ Two Bible institutes have been found€d to Christians and the out-and-out evangelical tion? And' will they not join with the prepare workmen of the Lord: one at No­ North China Theological Seminary at League in earnest watchfulness that their gent-sur-Marne (Seine) by M. Saillens, the 'l1enghsien, Shantung, will pursue the way own For€ign Boards in particular put their other at Dieulefit (Drome) by the Brigade of Christ's Great Commission even more contributions to work only in control of of La Drome. All these movements are au­ steadfastly and aggressively than before in those who may be depended upon to use tonomous but enjoy most cordial relations reply to this deep-laid scheme of Satan to them in the right way? But whenever your among themselves and with the Union of divert the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ several Boards can give you a satisfactory Evangelical Christians. They all have the into treasonable by-paths. guarantee of such use, give to them now same doctrinal foundation: fidelity to the With two small but appreciated excep­ in the day of their need and the world's Bible, divinely and plenarily inspired, and tions, the League of Christian Churches re­ great white harvest as you never have given therefore of sov€reign authority. They pur­ ceives no financial support from the Boards before and follow your gifts with earnest sue the same object: the revival of souls. of its constituency. Like the great China prevailing prayer and you will some day God blesses their activity, and this €nables Inland Mission whose Churches now com­ find that you have made the grandest and us to look to the future with confidence. prise about half of its membership, the safest of all investments. VAUVERT, GARD. League is on a faith basis, making no ap­ TENGHSIEN, SHANTUNG, CHINA. peal to any man for funds and using money in its constantly expanding work only as China Letter the Lord provides in answer to believing By the Rev. Albert B. Dodd, D.D. prayer. News Letters Omitted In this day, when the Gospel is being so Due to the unusual congestion in this issue THE widely heralded amalgamation in bitterly undermined and attacked in print, late news letters from Germany, Brazil, 1927 of Presbyterians with Congrega­ sometimes even by those who misuse for Canada, Spain, Korea, and "Here and There" tionalists and others in the very inclusive this purpose funds which are so largely have been crowded out. They will appear Church of Christ in China, wherein· evan­ contributed by consecrated fundamentalists in the June number. gelical and "modernist" ministers are at­ tempting to work together on a doctrinal basis broad enough for all concerned, ap­ parently has caused most of our constitu­ ency in the homelands to overlook the im­ portant fact that there is a strong united Philadelphia Presbytery Adopts continuing Presbyterian Church in China with a membership of some twenty thousand and its own theological seminary which is the largest in all China and which draws "Machen Overture" 57-16 its students from a dozen or more denomi­ nations and as many provinces. Th€ name AFTER a stirring debate lasting for more the Board is an arm of the Church and of this Church, adopted some years before .t\. than two hours, the Presbytery of has as its only reason for existence the the amalgamation mentioned above, is still Philadelphia on May 1st by an overwhelm­ carrying out of the purposes of the Church, The PI:esbyterian Church of Chri~t in ing vote adopted an overture to the General it is the duty of the Church not merely to China. When the thoroughly fundamentalist Assembly concerning Foreign Missions support its agency with money and with "League of Christian Churches," proposed identical in wording with that offered to the prayer, but also to survey its actions and by its largest Synod, was formed in 1929, Presbytery of New Brunswick by the Rev. to make sure that it is really carrying out that portion of this Church which for doc­ J ..Gresham Machen, D.D., on April 11th. its proper functions. Any failure to fulfill trinal reasons declined to enter the Church The overture was sponsored in Philadelphia this duty made the Church itself responsible of Christ in China reorganized its General by the Rev. Allan A. MacRae, assistant pro­ . for failure. Assembly and unanimously voted to enter the League. fessor of Old Testament in Westminster After thes-e preliminary remarks, Profes­ Since then the blessing of God upon both Theological Seminary. sor MacRae proceeded to present in detail this Church and the entire League has been Consideration of the overture had been four principal reasons why the passage of most marked. A widespread and gracious made the order of the day for 2.30 o'clock. the overture was necessary. First, he held revival has come upon both these bodies in At that hour Mr. MacRae read his overture, up before the Presbytery a copy of the book, many sections. Though it must be admitted which was seconded, and made a brilliant "Re-Thinking Missions." This book contains that in the earlier stag-es of this revival speech in support of it. He began by stating an appraisal conducted under the auspices there were in some places excesses and cer­ that when he gave notice of the presenta­ of a committee representing various denom­ tain features which could hardly be con­ tion of the overture a month ago he had inations. Of the five Presbyterian members sidered genuine, these are gradually being felt strongly the advisability of its adop­ of the committee, two are members of the discarded while the real deepening of spirit­ tion, but that events during the month had Board of Foreign Missions, and one is a ual life and the winning of souls go on. so changed th€ situation as to make it not Vice-President of that body. Before the The Executive Committees of both these merely advisable but absolutely imperative appraisal appeared, various statements of bodies hav-e placed themselves on record in that the overture be passed. He mentioned the Board declared its anticipation of the no uncertain terms as repudiating the doc­ the right of the Church to criticise the good that would come from this appraisal. trinal position, aims, and general methods Board of Foreign Missions or to qu€stion" On the front cover of the latest edition of proposed by the "Laymen's Report." The what it does. It seemed to him that since this book appears its enthusiastic endorse- 32 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May. 1933 ment by a Presbyterian missionary: "1 think failing to repudiate the views expressed by this is the only book 1 have ever read that Mrs. Buck, the Board had in effect com­ seems literally true in its every observation The Philadelphia mitted itself to these views. If the Presby­ and right in its every conclusion." Thus tery of Philadelphia also remained silent the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions Overture and failed to condemn the failure of the was to an extent committed to the findings Board to repudiate these views, then it also of this Report. Now, what did the Report The Presbytery of Philadelphia re­ was in effect placing itself on record in contain? Professor MacRae read a number spectfully overtures the General As­ support of them. of citations, giving in clear form its repudi­ sembly of 1933. The third reason presented by Mr. Mac­ ation of historic Christianity. The Board I. To take care to elect to positions Rae was the statement made by a secretary was committed to the view expressed in the on the Board of Foreign Missions of the Board in a recent communication to appraisal, unless it definitely and publicly only persons who are fully aware a committee of the Presbytery of Philadel­ repudiates that view. Though the 'appraisal of the danger in which the Church phia. This communication was made part of had been before the public now for some stands a'nd who are determined to the Presbytery's records at the April meet­ time, it had never been expressly repudiated insist upon such verities as the full ing. In it the secretary spoke of the "virile, by the Board. Silence here would seem to truthfulness of Scripture. the vir­ student evangelism" of Sherwood Eddy and express concurrence in at least the main gin birth of our Lord. His substi­ declared that Eddy "is making God and His conclusions' of the Report. tutionary death as a sacrifice to Christ real and divinely redemptive and The second reason presented by Professor satisfy Divine justice. His bodily vitally reformative to many.... " What­ MacRae was the case of one missionary resurrection and His miracles. as ever Sherwood Eddy may have believed or who has become especially prominent re­ being essential to ,the Word of preached twenty years ago, his recent atti­ cently. There was no reason to think that God and our Standards and as tude is very evident. In a number of his this caS'e was unique or a new development. being necessary to the message recent books, which have been widely dis­ But it has become very evident in the last which every missionary under our tributed, it has been made obvious that he few months. He read quotations from mag­ Church shall proclaim. is not presenting Christ as the only means azine articles published by Mrs. Pearl S. of eternal salvation. but rather is urging a Buck. In one statement she declared that 2. To imtruct the Board of Foreign development along purely social and human­ the belief that'the eternal destiny of a hu­ Missions that no one who denies itarian lines, with special emphasis on vari­ man being was determined by his acceptance the absolute necessity of accep­ ous features found in Russian Communism. or rejection of the salvation 'offered through tance of such verities by every His books make his attitude very clear. It Christ was an outworn superstition, from candidate for the ministry can is patently contradictory to the historic pur­ which the Chinese ought to be protected. possibly be regarded as compe­ pose of Presbyterian missions. Professor These views had been expressed in maga­ tent to occupy the position of MacRae did not maintain that the secretary zine articles several months ago. The Board Candidate 'Secretary. of the Board who praised Eddy's work in had every reason to know the viewpoint 3. To instruct the Board of Foreign this way himself was committed to the which Mrs. Buck was publicly proclaiming. t0issions to take care lest. by the views held by Eddy, but he did say that a She was speaking as a missionary under its wording of the application blanks secretary who could not see the difference jurisdiction. Did its silence mean that it for information from candidates between Eddy's work and a true Christian also had laid aside the old view that there and from those who are asked to evangelism was not a man who should be is no other name by which one can be saved express opinions about them. or in one of the directing members of such an except that of Christ alone? At the last, any other way, the impression be agency of the Church, and that a Board meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia produced that tolerance of oppos­ which employed such a secretary was cer­ a resolution had been passed calling upon ing views or abilify to progress in tainly unworthy of confidence. the Board to dissolve its relation with Mrs. spiritual truth or the like. is more The fourth reason presented by Professor Buck ,and to' desist from publishing or dis­ important than an unswerving MacRae dealt particularly with the second tributing material for mission study which faithfulness in the proclamation paragraph of the overture, that relating she had prepared under its authorization. of the Gospel as it is contained to the Candidate Secretary. Certainly no This resolution' had been transmitted to the in the Word of God and a'n utter man was fitted to perform the difficult task Board. What steps had been taken? The unwillingness to make common of interviewing the various applicants for only evidence that had been given of an cause with any other, gospel Christian missions and encouraging or dis­ effort to deal with the situation had been whether it goes under the name couraging them in their aims who himself a number of newspaper reports of declara­ of Christ or not. did not consider belief in essential facts tions by one of the secretaries of the Board of Christianity to be necessary for the that Mrs. Buck was a very excellent type 4. To warn the Board of the great Christian ministry. Yet the Board of of missionary and statements of similar danger that lurks in union enter­ Foreign Missions employed for this im­ import. Though we should not forget the prises at home as well as abroad. portant task a man whose name is signed possibility of inexact newspaper quotations, in view of the widespread error in to a document repUdiating this necessity. yet it was noticeable that the import of our day. Furthermore, the Candidate Secretary was every such quotation had been in support of, carrying on exactly the type of destructive Mrs. Buck, and that no one of them had propaganda which might be expected of one expresood any repudiation of her widely informal conversation, then surely the view who had signed his name to such a docu­ published utterances. One of these state­ of the Board must be very far away from ment. Professor MacRae produced an au­ ments had declared that every difference that of historic Christianity. Nor had Mrs. thenticated copy of a letter which the Candi­ between Mrs. Buck and the Board could be Buck given any sign of changing her views. date Secretary had sen,t (according to own cleared up by an informal conversation. If In fact, the May issue of The Cosmopolitan statement), to over a thousand students the view of the purpose of missions under Magazine contained an article by her in preparing for Christian Missionary work. which the Board was acting is so similar to which she declared it to be a matter of no This letter recommended certain books for that clearly expressed by Mrs. Buck that importance whether Christ ever actually devotional reading and spiritual benefit. the difference could be ironed out by an lived on earth! In remaining silent and These books included books by such men May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 33 as Fosdick, D. J. Fleming and Oldham. The Speer-Machen Debate The fountain of support was being dried book by Oldham, "The Devotional Diary," .up at its source. It was to help the work included in its very first section a reference Provokes Wide Comment of Foreign Missions that a thorough purg­ to Christ as one who had Himself experi­ ing was desired, a purging toward which HE historic debate on Foreign Missions enced rebirth! Was a Board which employed this ov.erture was a step. T between Robert E. Speer and J. Gresham a secretary who sends out recommendations Machen, held in Trenton, N. J., on April Further, the overture did not propose of books containing such blasphemous state­ 11th, before the Presbytery of New Bruns~ anything that should startle the Presbytery ments and such un-Christian views as this wick, has provoked wide comment and re­ of Philadelphia. It simply carried on the worthy of confidence? action in the Church. (The debate was re­ great tradition begun in 1923 when the As­ In conclusion, Professor MacRae pointed ported in full in CHRISTIANITY TODAY for sembly approved the "Philadelphia Over­ out that the passage of the overture was April, of which a limited number of copies ture." The overture did not propose to set not a question of fact but a question of are still available.) Competent observers up unconstitutional or extra-constitutional principle. The facts were abundantly clear. declared that the debate marked a definite tests. It simply dealt with the qualifications If time permitted he would proceed to turning point in the history of the Church, of appointees as Board members and as mis­ give other evidences, but those already men­ due especially to the failure of Dr. Speer sionaries-a matter with which the appoint­ tioned were fully sufficient. Anyone of the to attempt a reply to Dr. Machen's specified ing bodies had rightly to do. four happenings adduced would be ample charges. While Dr. Machen lost in the Pres­ Mr_ Griffiths then brought out four spe­ to show that the Board of Foreign Missions bytery in the vote that immediately fol­ cific facts. (1) The commendation of Dr. is throwing' its influence on the side of the lowed yet he gained the ear of the nation Sherwood Eddy by a paper filed with the view that Christianity is only one of many and the Church in his campaign. Th,e re­ presbytery's committee on Foreign Missions religions each of which contains some truth sulting rising tide of indignation against the by l'epresentatives of the Board earlier in and some error. Anyone of these evidences Board was undoubtedly responsible for the the Spring. Mr. MacRae ,had mentioned made it painfully apparent that the Board acceptance of the resignation of Mrs. Buck, this, but had not read it. It was as follows: was not hearing an unqualified witness to and for steady rumblings in other parts of ". . . many worse things could be done than the facts of Christianity as true and neces­ the country, particularly in Philadelphia. aid Eddy in his virile, student evangelism sary to the salvation of all men every­ . .. Eddy and Kagawa are making God and where. In view of the four reasons presented His Christ real and divinely redemptive and there could no longer be any question as gested that Mrs. Buck had said good things vitally reformative to many individuals who to the position of the present Board. The as well as bad things. If the Presbytery become stalwart, fearless and effective fol­ question before the Presbytery of Phila­ could read an article concerning her in an lowers of their new - found Lord and delphia was not one of fact but one of atti­ issue of the Christian Hendel, they would Saviour." This hardly needed comment. In­ tude. If they were silent it meant that they see that she expressed herself in a definitely formed people could draw their own conclu­ also adopted the view presented in the book, Christian manner. Dr. Hyndman'S heart sions when repres·entatives of the Board "Re-Thinking Missions," in the various pub­ had always been in the work of foreign could call Sherwood Eddy's work "virile, lic utterances of Mrs. Buck, in the Board's missions, he said, and he exhorted them not student .evangelism." The question was then secretary's approval of the "virile, student to embarrass the Board at this critical time asked from the floor: Who wrote this evangelism" of Sherwood Eddy, and in the when funds were so slow in coming in. paper? Mr. Griffiths asked the stated clerk propaganda issuing from the office of the Further, he expressed himself as wondering to read what was written on the top of the Board's Candidate Secretary. Let anyone about the motives that led those who were paper. The clerk found the paper and did who holds this view of Missions vote pushing the overture to do so. (The impli­ so.. The heading was: "Prepared by Dr. against the overture. But anyone who holds cation that seemed inescapable was that Dr. Goo. T. Scott, at solicitation of Drs. Speer & that Christianity is the only true and final Hyndman regarded the good faith of the McAfee." (2) Dr. Hyndman had spok€n in religion, and that the purpose of Christian overture's sponsors as at least doubtful.) high praise of the article interviewing Mrs. missions is to lead men to accept this reli­ He concluded by saying that he could not Buck in the Christian Heralel, for January, gion and thus to turn them from darkness conscientiously vote for the overture. He 1933, had said he wished we· all could read to light could not possibly avoid the duty seemed almost to take it for granted, how­ it. Fortunately the speaker had a copy of of voting for the overture. It was not a ever, that the motion was sure to carry. that article with him. The quotation which question now of what the facts were (they Debate. was resumed for the proponents pleased Dr. Hyndman was probably this, or were clear enough), but of what we desire of the overture by the Rev. H. McAllister one like it: "Christianity, and by that I the purpose of the Board of Foreign Mis­ Griffiths. Mr. Griffiths began by recalling mean the person and principles of Christ-­ sions to be. the reference made by Dr. Hyndman to the ought to be at the center of this r·evolution After Mr. MacRae had concluded, debate motives of those presenting the overture. and it isn't." But this must be understood was continued by the Rev. Howard M. The debate so far, he said, had been car­ in the light of her final statement in the Morgan, of Tabernacle Church, who argued ried on upon a high level, unmarred by article - a statement which showed her that he would not vote for anything that personalities. That was as it should be. Dr. Modernism clearly. It was: " ... the more expressed doubts concerning the Board of Hyndman had raised the question why the I s·ee of China and the Chinese the more Foreign Missions. (The Moderator, the overture was being presented. It was being I believe in what Christianity can do for Rev. Hilko de Beer, had ruled that speeches presented, not because of any desire to in-; them. But the Christianity that will reach must alternate between those supporting jure the work of foreign missions, but out, and change China is one that has neither and those opposing the overture.) The Rev. of a deep desire to help it, and to rescue it' ecclesiasticism nor theology at its center, Weaver IL Eubank, of the Ninth Church, from its drifting. But why was the work but Christ." This statement of Mrs. Buck's then spoke in support of the overture. He of Foreign Missions in such difficulties now? was applauded by a small coterie of Mod­ was pa:rticularly concerned with the case of Why all thes·e deficits of which Dr. Hynd-.' ernists who occupied some of the rear seats. Mrs. Buck. He was followed by the Rev. man had spoken? The economic explana­ (3) The speaker then turned to the book, Matthew J. Hyndman, of the Olivet­ tion was only partial. Another reason was; "Living Issues in China," officially recom­ Covenant Church, a consistent and forceful that confidence in the Board had been im~ mended as a study book by our Board of defender of the Board at all times. He ex­ paired to such an extent that evang.elical Foreign Missions. He assured the Presby­ pressed his confidence in the Board and sug- people hesitated to give as in former years. tery that what he was about to read did not 34 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May,,1933 come from a copy of "Re-Thinking Mis­ Board be eliminated, and confidence would sions" hidden behind the covers of the other return. The speaker also denounced the idea book, but from our own official textbook. Needed that because the Presbyterian Church con­ The quotation he read, from page 175 of tained both Modernists and evangelicals, it the book, almost made the Presbytery gasp. More readers for what its Editors ought to send out missionaries to represent It was time, he said, that some notice were modestly believe is one of the best both groups. "Missionaries aren't sent out given to our Board when it could recommend Church papers in the world. It makes to represent Modernists or even fundamen­ such a book. ("Living Issues in China" its appeal on the basis of the quality talists," he thundered, "but to represent the is given extensive treatment in this issue it offers. It is strikingly "different" Lord Jesus Christ,-the Christ of the Bible." of CHRISTIANITY TODAY in the trenchant from ordinary Church papers. Each Speaking of Mrs. Buck's "putting Christ in article by Mr. Schofield, which appears on month it gathers the news of the the center," he said that he wanted to put page 4.) (4) He could only say what he Christian World. A great many peo­ Christ in the center, too. But before he did was about to say with deep regret. But ple who have absolutely no sympathy so, he wanted to know which Christ he was truth compelled him to tell the Presbytery with its doctrinal position are enthu­ going to put in the center. "The Christ of what it ought to know. He did not want to siastic subscribers who would not be the Modernist, the Christ who ,wasn't virgin engage in personalities. Yet when individ­ without it. Book reviews, questions born, who did not die as our substitute and uals take public positions on questions of a'nd answers, letters are some of the rise again, isn't worth putting at the center the day, they must not object and try to usual features that are crowded out of anything," he cried. claim exemption from having that public this month. Get these and other dis­ Mr. MacPherson's telling speech was fol­ stand publicly discussed by others. And to tinctive offerings. There is no room in lowed by that of Auburn Affirmationist do that, names must be mentioned.Further­ C H R 1ST I A N I TY TO DAY for the Alvin B. Gurley, who was very indignant at more, we Presbyterians had indulged too stereotyped, banal dullness that is those who did not favor Modernism. "If much in man-worship. Man worship is never sometimes associated with a Church any man has a bigger Christ than I have," safe. To idealize individuals until we are paper. We know a dollar has grown he said, "then his Christ is my Christ." Mr. blind to their mistakes may be to destroy bigger, but look at what a dollar Gurley was followed by Ruling Elder the Church. We should never follow any will buy! A whole year of CHRIS­ Roland K. Armes, of the Tenth Church, the ieader unless he is right. And that applied TIANITY TODAY, beginning with the only elder to spe,ak, although the aroused to any man in the Church, even if that General Assembly report in the June elders' vote was practically unanimous for man should be a secretary of the Board of issue! Tear off, fill out and mail the the overture. Next came Dr. N. B. Stone­ Foreign Missions! He held in his hand a enclosed prepaid card today. Se'nd house who showed clearly in a last-moment­ copy of the report of the Foreign Missions no money now. We will bill you later, before-voting statement that the overture Conference of North America for 1932. In -and paying will be a pleasure. proposed nothing unconstitutional. the report of the committee on Latin Then came the vote. Its proportions, 57 America, it was stated that one of the to 16, showed how aroused the Presbytery notable achievements of the year was the Because they were faithful to the Word of of Philadelphia has become concerning the translation and publication in Spanish of God, and people knew they could give safely whole situation, and was everywhere con­ Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick. Two signa­ to work where no Modernism was tolerated. ceded as making Foreign Missions a major tures were appended to the report, those Let the Modernism in the work of our issue at the Columbus Assembly. of the chairman and the secretary. The name of the chairman who signed this re­ port glorying in the translation of Dr. Fos­ dick's books into Spanish was, he was Mrs. Buck Resignsj Board grieved but compelled to say: Robert E. Speer. Accepts "With Deep Regret" The speaker ended by appealing to the Presbytery by its action to let it be known EARL S. BUCK, famous missionary­ The following sentence, however, was in the whole Presbyterian Church in the P novelist on May 1st resigned as a mis­ used in publicity: ' U. S. A., in the whole world, that the Pres­ sionary of the Presbyterian Church. Her "After various friendly conversations and bytery of Philadelphia still stood four resignation was accepted by the Board without appearing before the Board, Mrs. squar,e for the gospel, and that it was deter­ "with deep regret." Her resignation was J. Lossing Buck has requested that she be mined to insist upon its proclamation at followed by that of Mrs. Henry V. K. Gill­ permitted to retire from active connection home and abroad. more, a member of the Board, who quit in with the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mr. Griffiths was followed by Dr. Geo. protest of the acoeptance of Mrs. Buck's Missions, and at its meeting on Monday the Oakley, Professor in Beaver College, Jenk­ resignation. Board accepted her resignation with regret." intown, Pa. He made a long and learned The action of the Board was minuted as Following the meeting comment became argument against extra-constitutional tests follows: widespread. Mrs. Gillmore made a state­ for ministers, which was, of course, based "A letter was presented from Mrs. J. ment in which she said as quoted in the upon a misapprehension of what the over­ Lossing Buck, of the Kiangan Mission, re­ New York Sun: ture asked. Had this not been so clear to questing to be released from responsible "My resignation is merely an open and the Presbytery his argument would have l'elationship to the Board. The Board had public declaration of my liberal principles. had great weight. hoped that this step might be avoided, but It does not mean that I am at war with the Dr. Oakley was followed by the Rev. Mer­ in view of all the considerations involved Presbyterian Church, and I am happy to say ril T. MacPherson, who made a vigorous and and with deep regr-et it voted to acquiesce there is a very IVge, liberal ,element in the eloquent plea for the overture. Auburn in her request. The Board expressed to Mrs. Presbyterian Chifrch today. There is also Affirmationist Edward B. Shaw attempted Buck its sincere appreciation of the service a very conservative element. Each side has unsuccessfully to heckle Mr. MacPherson, which she has rendered during the past sixe a right to its opinions, but if there is to be who would not yield the fioor. Mr. Mac­ teen years and its earnest prayer that her progress and t01erance, those of us who hold Pherson spoke of the great faith missions, unusual abilities may continue to be richly so dearly to such ideals must make our their work was not showing deficits. Why? used in behalf of the people in China." stand pUblic. That is all. May, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 35

"1 certainly wish to correct the impres­ Resignation Accepted Probable Results sion that the Board meeting was a .stormy What would be the result of Mrs. Buck's or unfriendly one. There was nothing but resignation? Would it slow up the move­ the most friendly discussion, even when ment for Board reform? At :(irst it seemed Mrs. Buck's resignation came up for a vote. that it would. Moderator Kerr, speaking Mrs. Buck had written a very tactful let­ from Tulsa, said that he believed the resig­ ter, giving largely as her reasons for re­ nation would "end the whole controversy." signing that her literary work was requiring When, however, the fact came out that the most of her time. Mrs. Buck has been Board had only accepted the resignation financing her own work, and has not been "with deep regret" and when it was made accepting money from the Board for a num­ clear that the Board had put no pressure on ber of years now, and her work has been Mrs. Buck, opinion veered sharply the other highly praised. way. The case against Mrs. Buck was only "1 felt .that the Board, therefore, should a part of the case against the' Board. But have refused to accept her resignation, to the Boa,rd, trying to keep on good terms show appreciation to Mrs. Buck for this with everyone, evidently displeased both generous contribution, and .to indicate Modernists who thought it should have clearly and openly that the Presbyterian stood by Mrs. Buck and evangelicals who Church is a liberal and tolerant body, ac­ saw in the action final proof that the Board cording its members freedom of opinion. had refused to stand up for the faith of the 1 made a brief speech to this effect, but Church. Speaking before the Elders' Asso­ other members expressed the opinion that ciation of the Presbytery of Jersey City, it would be better to accept the resignation the Rev. Clarence E. MacartI)ey, D.D., Min­ for various reasons.... " ister of the First Church of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Buck was quoted in news dispatches said: as saying that she harbored no l1esentment. "The Church which alters its voice with "1 feel just as 1 did before," said Mrs. the changing age, and speaks not to eter­ Buck. "Of course I didn't know I was such PEARL S. BUCK nities, but to the times .and does not know a nuisance to the Board before all this came She wanted to be no "nuisance." or care whether Christ lived and died and up, and certainly I shouldn't want to con­ rose again from the dead or not is a Church tinue a nuisance. One wouldn't like to stay standing Modernist and member of the whose voice will be lost on the screaming with any organization that one was a nui­ Board of Foreign Missions: hurricane of time." sance to, would one? "I cannot blame her for resigning," said Dr. Macartney quoted Mrs. Buck's a:r;ticle "You see, I never did do the evangelical Dr. Hudnut. "That was the best way out as follows: . sort of thing anyway. I was a teacher, and of it. It was the fair thing for her to do, "What Christ is materially I do not know, I haven't even been teaching for three years not only for herself but also for the Church, and what if He never lived, what .. of that? or so. if she was going to be a bone of contention." Whether Christ had a body or not, whether "So I expect to go back to China, and "She is a magnificent woman," said Dr. He had a time to be born in His life. and a to continue my life just where I left off, Hudnut. " ... In her private life, she is time to die as other men have is of no mat­ only without t4e formal title of missionary. an unusually fine woman and has a right ter now. Perhaps it never was of any By my life I mean my writing, which takes to her own opinions on the mission." matter." up a great deal of my time indeed, and my He declared that he believed Mrs. Buck Then he declared: job of being a wife and a mother. never would have been tried by the Mission "Sad as is this denial of Christ's living, "I'm still devoted to China, and I imagine Board on a heresy charge if she had not there is something sadder, that is to have I always shall be; China is my home, and resigned. leaders of the missionary work of the Pres­ I am happy there. I'm sure all this will byterian Church tell us, as some who pro­ A bland denial that Mrs. Buck quit be­ make no difference to me, or to my friends. tested have been told, that this missionary . cause of the doctrinal issue was, however, "Nor do I harbor any resentment at all served without any honorarium. made in Atlantic City on May 4th, by Dr. about the tangle or its results. You see I'm "The implication would seem to be that C. Franklin Ward, secretary of the General still a Christian. I'm a Christian by con­ unl;lelief is not a serious thing as long as it Council of the General Assembly. Accord­ viction and shall continue one. My status does not cost the Church anything finan­ ing to pews dispatches he said: as a missionary or as a lay member has cially." nothing to do with that. "Mrs. Buck has withdrawn solely because The Board was excoriated for its action "Am I still a Presbyterian? Surely-oh her literary interests take so much of her by Dr. Machen in a statement issued after well, I don't think that's very important. I time that she cannot serve along the lines the resignation had been made public. It don't go in for creeds and that sort of thing laid down by the Foreign Missions Board. said, in part: so very much. I'm just a Christian." "She has to come back to the United "In attempting to evade a perf~ctly plain The Board·· of Foreign Missions, had, of States on business connected with her writ­ issue by accepting 'with regret' the resigna­ course, refrained from saying why it ac­ ing, and the Board cannot treat one tion of Mrs. Pearl S. Buck the Board of cepted Mrs. Buck's resignation. But Mrs. missionary differently, in the matter of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Buck herself seemed to have hit the nail on granting leaves, from others. Doctrinal dis­ Church in the United States of America, the head when she called herself a "nui­ cussion had nothing to do with her drop­ has added still further to the contempt. il,l,W sance" to the Board. IndeedJit was obvious ping out." which it has brought the Presbyteri'an that the Board never would' have dismissed Observers were quick to point out that Church in many ways.... her on doctrinal grounds, only wished to be this was in amusing contradiction to Mrs. "What every supporter of the Board has rid of an embarrassment. This view was Buck's own idea of why she resigned, al­ a right to know is whether the Board toler;. confirmed in a statement made in Youngs­ though it was conceded that she had tact­ ates the radically anti-Christian views of town, Ohio, by Dr. W. H. Hudnut, Pastor of fully mentioned her literary work hi her Mrs. Buck or whether it is true to the Bible the First Presbyterian Church there, out- letter. and to the Confession of Faith·· of the 36 CHRISTIANITY TODAY May, 1933

Church. Mrs. Buck raised that issue with Westminster is looked upon as an institu­ "A church of power must be a church of admirable clearness. The Board has sought tion so strong, so s'erene and so permanent witness. It has been the policy of the ra­ to evade it, as it has sought to evade the that our enemies themselves give it their tionalists in the Protestant body to hold on same issue when it is raised in many other reluctant respect." and fight determinedly for a place within ways. But Bible-believing Christians are Announcement was made that the Board the churches whose bread they eat, but no longer going to be deceived." of Trustees, upon the unanimous recom­ whose doctrines they derogate. mendation of the Faculty, had unanimously "At present, however, the conservatives elected the Rev. R. B. Kuiper, D.D., Presi­ and evangelicals show a noble unwillingness Westminster Seminary dent of Calvin College, Gr.and· Rapids, to be driven out into the wilderness and to Commencement Michigan, to be Professor of Practical The­ be separated from the inheritance which ESTMINISTER THEOLOGICAL ology. Dr. Macartney expressed the sincer'e belongs to them by every consideration of W. SEMINARY held its fourth annual desire of the Board that Dr. Kuiper would confessional statements, history and com­ commencement exercises on the evening of accept. mon honesty. .Tuesday, May 9th, in Witherspoon Hall, Then Dr. Macartney loosed a veritable "This institution has a notable faculty . 'Philadelphia. Presiding was Dr. Clarence bombshell-a sudden and ringing declara­ Much might be said concerning each mem­ Edward Macartney, Minister of the First tion concerning the state of the church, in ber of it. But I want to say a word par­ Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., a which he aligned himself squarely against ticularly about the honored senior member Trustee of the Seminary. The service was the present policies of the Board of For­ of the faculty [Dr. Machen]. In him you opened with the processional hymn. eign Missions. see a rare combination of intellectual ability "We are here for our Fourth Commence­ and great courage. Men like him are the o Word of God Incarnate. o Wisdom from on high, ment," said Dr.. Macartney. "Five years ago hope of the evangelical churches in their o Truth unchanged, unchanging, ",e did not even exist. Now in four years present struggle with Laodiceanism and o Light of our dark sky; We praise Thee for the radiance ;e have grown in wisdom and stature, and apostasy in our churchE;ls. Only once in a That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, I trust in favor with God and man. The half century, or even a century,· is the Shines on from age to age. line of the seminary has gone out into all Church of Christ granted such a man. Following the doxology, the Invocation the world, and wherever its graduates have "Recently, as an act of noble Christian was offered by the Rev. Hilko de Beer, D.D., gone they have been proclaiming the gospel courage, he has called the attention of the Moderator of the· Presbytery of Philadel­ in its purity and power. whole Presbyterian Church to present con­ phia. Then all sang the hymn: "The signs of the times indicate the Prot­ ditions and policies in its Board of Foreign

When I surv~y the wondrous cross estant churches are rapidly approaching a Missions, by his 110 page brief, presented On which the Prince of glory died, critical change and a possible' division. in Trenton to the Presbytery of New Bruns­ My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on· all my pr'ide. Within even the creedal and doctrinal wick,-a brief that has yet to be answered The Scripture lesson was read by the churches of Protestantism, such as the Pres­ by the Board of Foreign Missions!" Rev. J. A. Schofield, Jr., Minister of the byterian body, there are groups holding in­ In conclusion; Dr. Ma.cartney quoted two First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur, terpretations of Christianity and the Scrip­ stirring stanzas, seldom printed in America, N. Y. Prayer was offered by the Rev. John tures which are absolutely hostile and ir­ from "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," and T. Reeve, D.D., Minister of the South Pres­ reconcilable. This preposterous union and exhorted the graduating class to stand true byterian Church of Syracuse, N. Y. fellowship cannot continue forever. to the Gospel without compromise or shame The address of the evening, which will be "In the days of the persecution of the against theembatUed forces of unbelief. reported fully in the June issue of CHRIS­ church by the Roman Empire, the Chris­ There were those who felt while listening TIANITY TODAY, was delivered by the Rev. tians who, under threat of violence, surren­ to Dr. Macartney's address, suddenly de­ J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D., President of dered to the authorities the sacred writings livered with passionate earnestness, that Wheaton College. He spoke on "Our Task were called 'Traditores.' There are a mul­ this moment would in years to come be re­ As Ministers." titude of 'Traditores' within the Protestant membered as a turning point in the. history Certificates were then awarded to the church today. At every threat from the of the Presbyterian Church,-marking the graduating class of ten seniors. Graduate world's philosophy, science or ridicule, they opening gun of battle fired by the great certificates were also awarded to five grad­ are ready to hand over and surrender great leader of the campaigns of 1923-24, now uate students. truths and portions of the Bible. again aroused by the audacity of unbelief It was announced that the Wm. Brenton in the church. Greene, Jr. prize in Systematic Theology Then followed the hymn: was awarded to James Erskine Moore, of IN THIS ISSUE: Soldiers of Christ~ arise~ Salisbury, N. C. The Benjamin Breckin­ Why Does Our Board of Foreign Missions And put your armor on, ridge Warfield prize in Old Testament was Approve and Commend Modernist "Mission Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His Eternal Son. awarded to John Hamilton Skilton, of Phila­ Study Books"? ...... 4 J. A. SCHOFIELD. Jr. delphia, Pa. The Wm. Brenton Greene, Jr. and the benediction. The exercises were Samuel G. Craig, Editor of Christianity Today. 5 attended by the customary large audience prize in Apologetics was awarded to Wil­ FRANK H. STEVENSON of people from Philadelphia and various liam Theodore Strong, of Long Beach, Cali­ Dr. Robert E. Speer and His Latest Book..... 15 fornia. J. GRESHAM MACHEN parts of the eastern seaboard. The address to the graduating class was This Changing World...... 17 given as usual, by the Rev. Professor J. "CALVINIST" Presbytery of Aberdeen Gresham Machen, D.D., Litt.D. It will be The Comfort of the Scriptures. 17 DAVID FREEMAN Adopts "Machen Overture" summarized in the next issue. Unto All the World ...... 18 After the address to the graduates, Dr. ELIZABETH WILLET THOMPSON JUST before going to press on May 5th, Macartney read a greeting from the Presi­ Sunday School Lessons for June ...... 19 the news has come that the Presbytery of Aberdeen, S. D., has overtured the Gen­ dent of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Frank H. The Evidence in the Case: A Review ...... 20 Stevenson, who was unable to be present. eral Assembly in the same terms as the The Laymen's Report, the Foreign Board and Presbytery of Philadelphia, that is, the His statement, which will be published in the New Hymnal ...... 21 full in the next issue, contained this signifi­ OSWALD T. ALLIS "Machen overture." A significant straw to cant sentence: "Here on the Pacific Coast, News of the Church...... 26 show how the wind is blowing.