PI -4 W ~ I­ .:JM> ZMZ 0'\ - I.a.-~ :l!i: z .... z CHRISTIA,\~!Y TODAY :.r:p-« o j,aJ.o:; o"";).Ir.~ A PRESBYTERIAN JOURNAL DEVOTED TO STATING, DEFENDING III AND FURTHERING THE GOSPEL IN THE MODERN WORLD III SAMUEL G. CRAIG, Edifor H. McALLISTER GRIFFITHS, Managing Ed.itor Published monthly by M,ID-JUNE, 1933 $1.00 A YEAR EVERYWHERE THE PRESBYTERIAN AND Entered as second-class matter May 11, 1931, at REFORMED PUBLISHING CO., the Post Office at Philadelphia, Pa., under the 501 With7rspoon Bldg., Phila., Pa. Vol. 4 No. 2 Act of March 3,1879.

Church remain substantially as they are, it seems quite clear Editorial Notes and Comments to us that it is what is known as the majority, not the minority, whose position in the Church is ethically untenable because THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY essentially dishonest. HE 1933 Assembly has come and gone - and all An Independent Mission Board things continue a§ they were. Nothing was done HE decision of the General Assembly in accepting . to remedy the evils in the Church that cry aloud the majority report of the Committee on Foreign for redress. Membership in the Federal Council of Churches was continued, the Overture from the Missions, expressing confidence in the Board, placed Presbytery of Philadelphia relative to the Board squarely before conservatives in the Church an inevitable choice. Could they continue to support of Foreign Missions was rejected, the Modernist­ Indifferentist party was continued in power and and to recommend for support a Board against still dominates practically all the Boards and which the evidence had piled so high? The action Agencies of the Church. of a General Assembly that was never in poss·ession The events at Columbus have only served to make more obvi­ of the facts in the case could not quiet the con­ ous what many of us have long realized that Bible-believing sciences of those who knew what the facts were, people who intelligently and in all sincerity hold to the system and who knew them to be true. The choice made was, therefore, based upon a requirement of doctrin~ set forth in the Westminster Standards as one with that taught in God's Word constitute a minority in the Presby­ of principle, not of mere tactics or expediency. No. people terian Church in the U. S. A. There is no way of determining believe more passionately in the work of Foreign Missions, just how large a minority they constitute, but, in as far as and believe that it must go on, than those who protest against recent Assemblies afford an indication, they include not more modernism in the policies of the old Board. . And if the old thim one-third and possibly not more than one-fourth of the Board had by its policies forfeited its true Presbyterian spirit­ whole. A third or even a fourth of a church of 2,000,000, how­ ual heritage, then those who held without equivocation or com­ ever, is not a small number so that there is no reason for undue promise to the glorious faith once for all delivered unto the discouragement on their part, especially when it is remembered saints had no alternative but to establish their own agency. that if some· means were afforded for enabling the rank and file The formation of a new Board was therefore announced at of the church to become articulate on the subject it is not impos­ Columbus, but only after an earnest effort to reform the old sible that they would be found to constitute a majority. The Board had broken itself upon the adamant walls of ecclesiastical fact that those who dominate the policies of the Presbyterian bureaucracy. Church make no attempt to alter or amend the doctrinal stand­ The new Board will hold its initial meeting for organization ards of the church so as to make .them conform to their policies in Philadelphia on June 27th. Its roll contains names of men and might seem to indicate that they are by no means certain that women prominent and respected throughout the whole Church. they constitute a majority, that they are more or less of the The very personnel of the new Board will commend it to the opinion that theirs is the dominance of a well-organized minor­ confidence of loyal Presbyterians who are wondering what to ity over an un-organized majority. do with their mission money. . But, be the present majority an actual majority or not, as It is expected that the new Board will not begin with any long as the standards of the church remain as they are there is grandiose fanfare of trumpets but that it will'commence in no reason why the present minority should not remain in the faith. and prayer, trusting that God in His grace wil1:~pply Church and continue its struggle in behalf of the gospel of the what is needful. 'It will face a situation full of delica~\1:Jand grace of God as it is taught in the Bible and summarized in perplexing prob~ms, but it will no doubt face them £r'r< the the' Westminster Confession of Faith. The situafion would be Grace of the God}who knows all and who will honor this witness quite different if the standards of the Church were altered so to His truth.~· as to be made to. conform to the policies of the' modernist­ It is gen,eral~y 'contemplated that the new Board will begin indifferentist party. In that case this minority would be bound modestly, with no commitments except to spend wisely what to separate themselves from the organization known as the loyal believers may send. But it ought to grow;" and wilt grow. Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. and either form themselves If early responses from over the country are . any indication, into a new church organization or unite with' some existing it will in. God's time become one of the greatest missionary church organization whose confession of faith they could agencies in the world. It needs and deserves the prayers of all approve. But as long as the standards of the Presbyterian Christian people. (A Table of Contents will be found on Page 24) 2 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June 1 1933

THE ACTION OF THE 1933 ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO THE any other; for there is none other name under heaven given BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS among men whereby we must be saved"; (6) Finally, not to mention other matters, the majority report not only makes no WO reports were presented to the last Assembly by attempt to answer the criticism of the Board referred to in the Standing Committee of Foreign Missions (see the minority report but wholly without warrant seeks to convey elsewhere for details). These reports differed rad­ the impression that these criticisms have their roots in "suspi­ ically as regards their findings and recommenda­ cion of motives" rather than _in adequate evidence. Until the tions. For while the majority report expressed the evidence advanced has been refuted-and as yet this has not conviction that the work of the Board of Foreign even been attempted-this charge of "suspicion of motives" can Missions "deserves the whole-hearted, unequivocal, be regarded only as an effort to divert attention from the real enthusiastic and affectionate commendation of the issue. church at large" the minority report affirmed that In our judgment the action of the last Assembly has done the criticisms of the Board's policies that have nothing to restore confidence in the Board of Foreign Missions. found expression (especially in DR. MACHEN'S pamphlet) were Rather it has further destroyed our confi-dence in said Board as "based upon adequate grounds" and that the Board by its acts an agency for propagating the Gospel of the grace of God in and policies has "seriously impaired confidence in the minds of its purity and integrity. An action that met the approval of thousands of loyal and earnest Presbyterians." Moreover while both an author of "Re-Thinking Missions" and of the Auburn the majority report expressed "full confidence in the Board's Affirmation can hardly be expected to satisfy Bible-believing ability and integrity" the minority report declared that the Christians who accept the Westminster Standards as containing Board in appealing to both Bible-believing Christians and the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. It cannot be expected Modernists for funds had been guilty of conduct that was that the latter will respond to the appeal "for a loyal sacrificial "ethically indefensible and unworthy of a great church that ,support of the word of Foreign Missions as carried on by our bears the sacred name of Christ." Presbyterian Board." As matters now stand, they must either In considering the significance of the fact that the Assembly make their contributions to Foreign Missions through non­ rejected the minority report and adopted the majority report by Presbyterian channels or they must establish a new agency. an overwhelming vote there are certain things that should be kept in mind: (1) The minority were not permitted to have THE ISSUE AT STAKE their report printed and distributed among the commissioners r----.... HE issue at stake t~day not only in the Presbyterian as was the case with the majority so that the commissioners Church but in nearly all the churches is the Chris­ had only such knowledge of its contents as they could obtain tian religion. It cannot be said too frequently or from hearing it read; (2) There was no discussion whatever too emphatically that the issue raised by Modern- of these reports from the floor of the Assembly. In this respect . ism is not an issue between more or less pure or the procedure was even worse than that at the St. Paul Assem­ impure interpretations of Christianity but rather bly when the proposed reorganization of Princeton Seminary between what is rightly called Christianity and no was under discussion. On that occasion some twenty minutes Christianity at all. It is not alleged that all so­ was allowed the floor, but on this occasion even that fraction called Modernists should be classed as non-Chris­ of time was not allowed the ordinary commissioner; (3) The tians-many of them do not realize the logic of Standing Committee of Foreign Missions had among its mem­ their position-but it is alleged that Modernism in any of its bers one of the fifteen members of the Commission of Appraisal consistent forms of expression is something other than Chris­ that was immediately responsible for the book, entitled "Re­ tianity as it has found expression in the New Testament and thinking Missions." This member of the' Commission of in the historic creeds of the Church in all its great branches. Appraisal joined in the'majority report. It seems clear, there­ This means that if Modernism were to triumph in the Presby­ fore, that the majority report contained nothing unacceptable to terian Church it could no longer be rightly called a Christian those responsible for the attack on New Testament Missions church. given wide-spread publicity through the Laymen's Inquiry; (4) That Christianity and Modernism are diametric~lly opposed, The Standing Committee of Foreign Missions also had among all along the line, has been set forth most fully and convincingly its members one of the eleven members of the Conference Com­ by DR. MACHEN in Christianity and Liberalism (Macmillan Co.). mittee that wrote the Auburn Affirmation. This member of the It is not to be supposed, however, that DR. MACHEN was the Conference Committee that was immediately responsible for the discoverer of this fact or that he stands alone in expressing it. A uburn Affirmation also joined in the majority report. It seems It found clear and cogent expression before DR. MACHEN was clear, therefore, that the majority report also contained noth­ out of his teens. As long ago -as 1891, DR. F. L. PATTON said ing unacceptable to even those who wrote the Auburn Affirma­ with prophetic insight: tion; (5) An examination of the doctrinal affirmations of the "It seems to me that American Christianity is about to pass majority report shows that in as far as they are not positively through a severe ordeal. It may be a ten years' conflict, it unsatisfactory to earnest and intelligent Presbyterians they are may be a thirty years' war; but it is a conflict in which all of that vague and meaningless sort that are acceptable to Christian churches are concerned. The war will come. . . . It Modernists (as might be expected from what has been related is not amendment, jt is not re-vision, it is not re-statement, it is immediately above). It means nothing, for instance, to say that revolution that we shall have to face. The issue will be joined we "definitely repudiate any and all theological statements and by and by on the essential truth of miraculous and God-given implications in that volume (Re-Thinking Missions) which are revelation; and then we must be ready to fight, and, if need be, not in essential agreement with the doctrinal position of the to die, in defense of the blood-bought truths of the common Church." The same language might properly be used with salvation." reference to the volumes recently published from the pen of Again in 1898, DR. ABRAHAM KUYPER said in the Stone the late PROFESSOR B. B. WARFIELD. When, however, the ma­ Lectures at Princeton: jority report declares that "while certain truths may be found "Christianity is imperilled by great and serious dangers. Two in other religions, complete and final truth is to be found in life systems are wrestling with one another in mortal combat. Jesus Christ alone" it seems clear that it gave expression to Modernism is bound to build a world of its own from the data positive error. Such a declaration affirms only a relative differ­ of the natural man, and to construct man himself from the ence between Christianity and other religions and is not con­ data of nature; while, on the other hand, all those who rever­ sistent with Peter's declaration: "Neither is there salvation in ently bow the knee to Christ and worship Him as the Son of the June, 1933 C H R I ST I A NIT Y T 0 DAY 3

Living God, and God Himself, are bent on saving the Christian How DRS. SPEER, EMMONS and THOMPSON could give said heritage. This is the struggle in Europe, this is the struggle in Assembly such assurances, in view of the fact that they must America." have known at the time what was to be the make-up of the That DR. MACHEN does not stand alone in this matter may be new Board, we confess we have never been able to understand. indicated by two citations-one from a leading spokesman for Be that as it may, it ought to be perfectly obvious to all that Modernism and one from a leading spokesman for Barthianism. events have not justified those .assurances. While the writer In 1924 The Christian Century said e4itorially: claims to be neither a prophet or the son of a prophet yet he "Two world-views, two moral ideals, two sets of personal thinks that events have rather justified what he wrote in The attitudes have clashed, and it is a case of ostrich-like intelli­ Presbyterian preceding the Tulsa Assembly in 1928, to wit-­ gence blindly to deny and evade the searching and serious char­ "While the immediate question at issue concerns the retention acter of the issue. Christianity according to Fundamentalism is or dismissal of the present Board of Directors, it cannot be said one religion. Christianity according to Modernism is' another too frequently or too emphatically that the ultimate question · religion. . . . Amiable words cannot hide the differences. 'Blest at issue is whether Princeton Seminary itself is to be sup­ be the tie' may be sung until doomsday hut it cannot bind these pressed. If the Board of Directors are dismissed and their func­ · two worlds together. The God of the Fundamentalist is one tions transferred to those opposed to the policy they have God; the God of the Modernist is another. The Christ of the maintained for more than a century, then there will no doubt · Fundamentalist is one Christ; the Christ of Modernism is still be an institution known as Princeton Theological Seminary another. The Bible of Fundamentalism is one Bible; the Bible but in reality Princeton Theological Seminary as it has been · of Modernism is another. The church, the kingdom, the salva­ known and loved and feared throughout the world will be dead tion, the consummation of all things-these are one thing to and its abode occupie.d by an institution of a radically different Fundamentalists and another thing to Modernists." type." More lately this judgment qf the issue raised by Modernism We would not be understood as implying that the prophecy has been given expression by Barthians. Whatever differences just cited has as yet been completely fulfilled. It has, however, may exist between Barthians and Fundamentalists (in the broad had an even larger measure of fulfillment than we anticipated sense of the word) they are one in their judgment that, in the inside of four short years. Princeton Seminary no longer speaks -words of BRUNNER, "Modernism can no longer be called Chris- as in former days against those who oppose the Gospel, whether · tianity" (The Theology of Crisis, p. 13). In the same connec­ within or without the Church. In fact, it is hardly too much tion (p. 9) BRUNNER writes: to say that if Westminster Seminary had not been established "A Fundamentalist, possessed of a reasonably correct knowl­ "to carryon and perpetuate the policies and traditions of Prince­ edge of Christianity, will have little difficulty in proving that ton Seminary, as that institution existed prior to its reorgani­ · the Modernist teaches, under the label of Christianity, a religion zation by the General Assembly" there would be no institution that has nothing in common with Christianity except a few in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. today that in a words, and that these words cover concepts which are irrecon­ · scholarly fashion stands four-square for the Bible as trust­ cilable with the content of Christian faith. Indeed, in a discus­ worthy throughout and for the Confession of Faith as con­ sion with his antagonist, the Fundamentalist may count on help taining the system of doctrine taught in an infallible Bible. from the radical left wing of the Modernists. For here also the Unless something is done to change the drift of events at real state of affairs is appreciated.... The left wing recog­ Princeton we do not think it will be long before it is generally nizes that they are not defending, or contending for, a new acknowledged that the main issue at stake in the reorganization interpretation of Christianity. Fundamentalists and extreme of that Seminary was a doctrinal issue. In the meantime un­ Modernists are agreed that the real issue at stake is the com­ expected acknowledgment of this fact was recently supplied by plete surrender of genuine Christianity." DR. CLELAND B. McAFEE as recently reported in the New York Our opponents may call us "extre~e" and thus seek to con­ Evening Post. It is quite true that DR. McAFEE quite inade­ ,vey the impression that we are contending for non-essential quately represents the doctrinal issue as merely one between details. But as a matter of fact there is nothing extreme in what he calls "conservatives" and "extreme conservatives" (it · our ~ttitude. What we are contending for, in the last analysis, would have been more accurate to say it was between incon- is the right of Christianity to exist-as it was all but univer­ · sistent and consistent conservatives). N one the less he does sally understood before the rise of Modernism. Sooner or later admit that the Issue that led to the reorganization was a doc­ the eyes of men everywhere will be opened and they will see­ trinal issue; and so implies that DRS. SPEER, EMMONS and would that it were not hidden from so many!-that the real THOMPSON-not to mention DRS. STEVENSON, ERDMAN and issue at sta'ke· in the present in the churches concerns ~onflict others-intentionally or unintentionally misrepresented the sit­ the life or death of Christianity. uation whe:n they assured the Church-at-Iarge that the differ­ ences at Princeton were personal and administrative, not doc­ A BELATED ADMISSION trinal. This admission is especially significant by reason of r-----..., Twas ::;tlleged by those who advocated the reorgani­ the fact that DR. McAFEE was Moderator of the St. Paul As­ zation of Princeton Seminary that no doctrinal sembly and as such did not hesitate to use his influence in issue was involved. Those who attended the 1929 getting that Assembly to take final ,action relative to the pro­ Assembly at St. Paul, at which the report of the posed reorganization. In fact, it is hardly too much to say that '", .- Committee of Eleven was approved and adopted, had it not been for his partisan rulings, more particularly had ' .. ." will recall that DR. ROBERT E. SPEER, DR. PETER it not been for his allowing the Assembly to ignore the provision EMMONS and DR. W. O. THOMPSON solemnly as­ · which prohibited any action in the way of altering the method \:.'.) sured the commissioners that such was the case · of controlling the Seminary that had not been proposed to a ~ previous Assembly (except by unanimous vote), the reorganiza­ and that the proposed new Board would be wholly sympathetic to the historic doctrinal position of tion plan would not have been put into effect in .1929-possibly 'Princeton Seminary. Acting on these assurances the commis­ would never have been put into effect. Whether DR. McAFEE sioners turned a deaf ear to the contrary contention of those has only recently come to see that the issue involved primarily · who' maintained that the issue involved was primarily a doc­ a doctrinal issue, or whether he perceived it from the start, t:dnal issue and that the reorganization of the institution along we have no means of knowing. Be that as it may he has now the lilies proposed would mean the destruction of Princeton Sem­ · rendered a useful service in acknowledging in effect that the inary and the putting in its place of an institution of a radically issue involved was primarily doctrinal and only secondarily per- different sort. · sonal and administrative. 4 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933 145th Assembly Meetsi New Mission Board Announced

FEW months ago someone remarked to the writer, missioners, but who, by their presence UPQn the platform (such "The coming Assembly won't amount tOo much. It as stated clerk, assistant clerks, Board secretaries, etc.) exercise will just be another Assembly." In the main, no a determining influence upon the temper and decisions of the estimate could possibly have turn-ed out tOo be mOore commissioners. B-esides these, is always found another grQUp: mistaken. For while it is true that the Columbus the repres-entatives of certain liberal Presbyteries. These Pres­ Assembly was characterized by the customary dreary byteries may not always send the same individuals as commis­ desert-like aridity of monotonous addresses and sioners, but the moen sent almost always come from the liberal routine business, yet it also mark-ed what future his­ camp. Chief among this group are the representatives Qf the torians will, without doubt, describe as one of the Presbytery of New York, who, although personnel may vary turning points of the Presbyterian story. ' from year to year, know exactly what they want, and exactly For to the Columbus Assembly opportunity was given to face how to get it. This grQUp also works in harmony with the a great issue: an issue that was important in itself in an abso- . "powers that be "-roughly represented by the small grQUps lute sense; but an issue that was even more important as involv­ enumerated above, mQre specifically those who hold remunera­ ing the whole future policy of the Church. And the manner in tive office or honorary place in the organization of the Church which the Assembly did not face this issue, the manner in which and its Boards. the Assembly was kept from facing it or knowing its inward­ In more Qr less consistent opposition to the groups who control ness, furnishes clear illumination for all who possess the intelli­ the physical machinery of the Church, is the conservative party. gence to look beneath the surface of things, showing the forces These are often dubbed as "extreme conservatives" or "ultra that dominate the Church, and the astute methods employed to fundamentalists," or the like. These persons are thoroughly loyal retain control. to the doctrine and government of th-e Church as laid down in Here then we see, first of all, an Assembly confined to four its constitution. They do not believe in an "inclusive church" that "working days"-in theory. Usually an Assembly has six of tolerates both those who love and preach the histQric and only these "working days." Economy dictated the change this year. Gospel, and those who despise and derid-e it. Time was when this Yet it should be pointed out that two evening sessions were conservative party dominated the Church,-until there grew up added: Thursday and F'riday -evenings, and an afternoon session within it, and at last separated from it, an "indiffer,entist wing" on Saturday. Perhaps this was the equivalent of an extra day. -composed of thQse who protest their orthodOoxy at -every avail­ Yet it seems obvious to the present writer that an Assembly of able opportunity, yet who,'in fact if not by word, have by joining nine hundred commissioners or more, subjected to an int-ensive hands with the liberal or modernist party, consented to the idea schedule like the one indicated, plunging de novo into a mass of of an inclusive church, in which the conservativ-es shall be a business, must depend almost wholly on the recommendations barely tolerated minority, if even that. And the price of this of the platform. The very speed of the schedule, the rapidity toleration is the silencing of the conservative effort to inform with which decisions were pressed upon the Assembly, militated the Church about what has really happen-ed in its leadership. against any opportunity for the rank and file of the commission­ Thes'e conservatives are, however, no inconsiderable group. ers to give mature thought to the problems before them, or to They generally number about one-fifth of the Assembly. And consult with each other. It should be remembered that the final there is no doubt whatever of two facts in regard to the group form in which most of its problems were laid before the Assem­ in the Church-at-Iarge: (1) It is gradually growjng as its quiet bly was not actually known to the Assembly until a few minutes campaign of information makes its way in the Church; (2) It is before a vote was to be taken! Is it any wonder that in almost composed increasingly, in addition to the splendid older men who every case a great body of men who were bound to be c011ectively have carried the banner through the years, of young-er men of bewildered, simply followed the guidanc-e of the platform in re­ courage and ability who are in the struggle not as "summer sol­ cording the expected "aye" or "nay"? What else, under all the diers" or "sunshine patriots" but for "the duration of the war!" circumstances, could have been expected? Here were nine hun­ Yet it is clear that now, and perhaps for a few years to come, dred commissioners of whom it is safe to. say three-quarters had the conservativ-e party is and will be a minority party. With it never before attended an Assembly. Most of them will never at­ the platform has no sympathy. And whatever the great group of tend another. Next year, and each year thereafter, the normal new commission,ers is told from the platform, directly or by in· condition will be the same. To these newcomers to the Assembly, sinuation, concerning the methods or the motives of the con­ it is all a strange and great experience. The men on, the plat­ servative party, is likely to be accepted without question. form are the great of the Church, of whOom they have read, and We see, then, the forces found in the Columbus Assembly. The who now they are privileged to see and hear in the flesh. A new acts of that Assembly could hardly be understood without a commissioner is naturally bound to feel a s-ense of dignity and recognition of the interplay o.f these various forces. If this pre­ pride that he is actually being taken into the confidence and con­ liminary word has seemed didactic, it was only that the later sultation of these great men, that his approval is being asked fQr report might be clear. their programs and PQlicies. Under nQrmal conditions is it any The Assembly opened on Thursday morning, May 25th, in wonder that these new ,commissioners vote the wishes of the Memorial Hall in Columbus. The Lord's Supper was adminis­ platform? tered, and the sermon preached by the Rev. Charles W. Kerr, In additiQn to the great body of new cQmmissiQners, there is a D.D., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, moderator. of the 1932 Assembly. Dr. small gr:oup of men whOo are usually at the Assembly; some Kerr's text was Colossians 1 :17. '(Pr>eviously the Pre-Assembly as commissiQnerselected each year by their, cOompliant' presby­ Conferences had been held-addressed by the great Methodist teries (such as the Reverend Mark A. Mathews, D.D., LL.D., a Modernist, E. Stanley Jones, and others.) hardy perennial of the Assembly) and some who are not com- (Continued on Page 8) June, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 5 Three Observations About the Assembly By The Rev. J. Gresham Machen. D.O .. Litt.D.

I. The Board .and the Appraisal Report failure in efficiency? We are inciined to think that it was some­ thing far more significant than all that. By delaying and then OTHING that was brought out in the report of keeping in the background any basic disagreement with the the Board of Foreign Missions to the 1933 General book, Re-Thinking Missions, the Board avoided offending Mod­ Assembly or at the Assembly itself has invalidated ernist donors who agree thoroughly with the book. That it had the charges which are presented in my Argument no right to do if it was a truly Christian Board. entitled "Modernism and the Board of Foreign In the second· place, the utterances of the Board in its report, Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the and particularly its action 01). March 20th, are, in addition to U. S. A."l being too late to be convincing, vague and unsatisfactory in It is true, the· report of the Board of Foreign themselves. Missions does state that on March 20, 1933, the The Board says, on p. 16 of its Report, that "at several Board took unanimous action to the effect that the most critical points our Board and Missions :find themselves out first four chapters of the Report of the Appraisal Commission . of sympathy with its [the Appraisal Report's] positions and its "do not conform to the fundamental aim of foreign missions as recommendations." Here we have that piecemeal way of treat­ expressed in the manual of the Board." This action constitutes ing the Appraisal Report which has done so much harm. The the one and only approach to anything like basic disagreement outstanding fact is obscured that the Appraisal Report is an of the Board with the Appraisal Report which has yet been anti-Christian book from beginning to end. Surely the thing made known. It does not, however, at all invalidate the objec­ is put mildly when the disagreement between the Board and the tion which Bible-believing Christians have raised against the Appraisal Report is said to be "at several-most critical points." treatment by the Board of the Appraisal Report. That is so for It is true, the Board does go on to say, in the next sentence: several reasons. "Fundamentally the point of view of the Board is not that of In the first place, the action of the Board came too late, and the Report as to the purpose of Missions, as to the relation in particular was made known too late, to free the Board from which missionary work holds to existing religions and as to the charge of dodging the issue raised by the Appraisal Report. the distinctive elements of -the Christian religion." That state­ The Appraisal Report appeared in November, 1932, and it ment is certainly better in itself. But even there the plain was undoubtedly known to interested persons prior to its public man receives no very clear guidance as to just what it is appearance. The Board issued a statement about it, reporting that is wrong with the Appraisal Report. The same criticism an official action of November 21, 1932. That action carefully can be made of the official action of the Board, which is reported avoided any basic disagreement with it. Let it not be said that on the same page of the Board's Report. That action is to the so long a document as the Appraisal Report required time for effect that study, and that that was the reason why the Board did not express disagreement with its fundamental thesis. The trouble "(1) These chapters do not conform to the fundamental is that the Board did issue a statement· about the Appraisal aim of foreign missions a~ expressed in the manual of the Commission. That statement contained a long list of points in Board. which the Board agreed with the Appraisal Commission. If " (2) The Board affirms its loyalty to the Standards of the therefore the Board was in fundamental disagreement with the Presbyterian Church and maintains the absolute finality, suf­ main thesis of the Appraisal Report, that fact should have been ficiency, and universality of the Gospel of Christ." publicly stated in the very first statement which the Board made Here again the plain man still asks: "What exactly is wrong, about the Appraisal Report. in the opinion of the Board, with the Appraisal Report?" That Only after the people of the Church had been led astray for question could have been answered very simply and very fully months by this great broadside of modern unbelief, the book if the Board had been willing to make a clean break with Re-Thinking Missions, the Board took action expressing dis­ Modernism. That the Board was unwilling to do, and could agreement with the book. Was that a proper course of pro­ not possibly do if it was to obtain unanimous action. There we cedure for a Board of Foreign Missions of a Christian Church? have the whole thing in a nutshell. The Board is unwilling to Surely the people of the Church have a right to ask that a make a clean break with that Modernism which is the deadliest Board, in such basic questions, should lead rather than follow. enemy of the Christian religion-that Modernism which is so As a matter of fact, it was not until earnest protests from deeply embedded in the entire machinery of the Presbyterian the Christian remnant in our Protestant churches had arisen Church. Until the Board does make a clean break with Mod..; against this thoroughly anti-Christian book that our Board ernism, it cannot have the confidence of Christian people who expressed any basic disagreement with it whatever. Its expres­ are really aware of the great issue of the day. No mere gen­ sion of disagreement was dragged out of it, when as a matter eral expressions of loyalty to the Presbyterian Standards like of fact it ought to have been prompt and spontaneous and clear. that which appear in the second paragraph of the Board's action Evangelical Christians cannot possibly have any confidence in just quoted can have the slightest effect in restoring such a Board of Missions which pursues a course of action like that. confidence. Moreover, when the Board finally did take action, on March Of course, the objection of Bible-believing Christians based 20th, it seems to have kept its action carefully secret. Even now on the attitude of the Board and of the General Assembly to no great publicity has been given to the action. It stands buried the book Re-Thinking Missions has received an -enormous in a long official report to the General Assembly, and the only impetus from the action of the General Assembly itself in public propaganda of the Board about the book Re.;.Thinking adopting the majority report of the Standing Committee on Missions is the utterly evasive statement issued in 1932. Foreign Missions. As will no doubt be reported elsewhere in What was the reason for this secretive policy? Was it a mere the present issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY, one member of the failure in the publicity agencies of the Board; was it a mere majority in the Committee was actually a member of the Appraisal Commission itself. The report of the Committee was 1 Copies of this Argument may be obtained free of charge by application to the author at 2Q6 South Thirteenth Street, Philadelphia, Fa. therefore perfectly acceptable to a man who had actually 6 C H R IS T I A NIT Y TODAY June, 1933 engag,ed in the issuance of that great attack Even now the Westminster Standards There is only one hopeful element in upon the very heart of the Christian relig­ have enough violence done to them by the church-union situation. It is found in ion. It is no wonder that the Committee's minimizing interpretation. But if this com­ the hope that the United Presbyterians report 'expresses no doctrinal disagreemetn.t promise proposal is adopted a stamp of themselves may be led to relinquish this with the Appraisal Report at all but makes official proposal will inevitably be placed faulty modern Statement altogether and the ridiculously meaningl€!Ss statement: upon such minimizing interpretation. We have sole recourse to the glorious Confes~ "The Assembly does, however, definitely may take as low a view as possible of what sion of Faith which is their heritage as well repudiate any and all theological statements is meant by the phrase "historical inter­ as ours. and implications in that volume which are pretative statements." Perhaps a rather But above all let us avoid compromise not in ,essential agreement with the doctri­ low view of that phrase will be taken by in this matter. Compromise is the most the evangelical portion of the proposed nal position of the Church." W'e could make dangerous thing of all. If the church-union that statement about the most orthodox united church. But unquestionably a very propaganda forces the issue upon the book that was ever written. high view will be taken of it by the Modern­ Church, let us not obscure the issue in ist and indifferentist part' of. the church, any way. I for my part cannot see how and I am bound to say that a certain color in the world a true Bible-believing Chris­ II. Union with the United P~esbyterian of support will be given to that Modernist tian, if he studies that United Presby­ Church and indifferentist interpretation if this com­ terian creed carefully, could ever feel that promise proposal is adopted. he was occupying a foursquare position if Let us recall to our minds the really cen­ The propaganda for church union as­ he continued to be a member of a united tral question about this 1925 Confessional sumed a particularly dangerous form at the church which adopted that Confessional Statement. What is wrong with the State­ 1933 General Assembly. It assumed that Statement in any way, shape or manner­ ment? Well, a great many things are wrong form through the issuance of an unfortun­ as primary or secondary, as actuaJJy part with it. In particular, it is not really a ate compromise proposal, and the danger 'of the Confession of Faith of the Church or Calvinistic or Reformed confession. That has been rendered greater because of an as an "historical interpretative statement." has been shown, for example, by Mr. John overture of Chester Presbytery, concurred Murray in his articles in CHRISTIANITY in by a number of other Presbyteries, which TODAY. But the most important thing that opens the way for such compromise. is wrong about it is, that it is derogatory to III. Modernism i'n the New Hymnal We had hoped that the issue between the the true authority of the Bible. It under­ The progress of Modernist propaganda Westminster Confession of Faith and the mines the faith of the church at the founda­ has been gradual in the modern Church. 1925 Confessional Statement of the United tion, and if the foundation is destroyed there , First it captured the books on theology and Presbyterian Church had been becoming is little value in the superstructure, be it in the books on Biblical criticism, while the clear, but now it is obscured again by this itself good or bad. commentaries remained fairly sound. Then dangerous compromise proposal. This com­ The 1925 Confessional Statement statef:j the commentaries were captured. But even promise proposal appears on p. 34 of, the that the Bible is "the supreme source of after the commentaries were captured the General Assembly's "Blue Book," where it authority in spiritual truth." When it says hymns remained for the most part Chris­ is said, in the report of the Joint Committee that it gives comfort not to any ordinary tian. Now, however, the hymns are going on Organic Union of the Presbyterian error, but to the really central and deadly the way of all the rest, and we have actu­ Church in the U. S. A. and the United error of the present day. Clear expression ally issued officially by the Presbyterian Presbyterian Church of North America: is given to' that error by Mrs. Pearl S. Church a hymn like that of Dr. W. P. Mer­ "The Confessional Statement of the Buck when, in the May number of The rill, No. 416 in the new Hymnal presented United Presbyterian Church and the brief Cosmopolitan, she says that to her it is ,a to the 1933 General Assembly, which asks statement of the Reformed faith adopted matter of indifference whether Christ ever God to save the people "from the clash of by the 1902 General Assembly of the Pres­ lived at all in a body of flesh and bones race and creed" as though distinctions of byterian Church in the U. S. A. have been upon this earth. Confused expression-no race and distinctions of creed belonged in made, a part of the Plan of Union as 'his­ less deadly because confused-is given to the same sphere as merely worldly distinc­ torical interpretative statements'." the same error when this Confessional tions, and which speaks of "faith in simple Statement speaks of "spiritual truth" as manhood" as that which will "find its full Unfortunate comfort has been given to though it were something different from fruition in the brotherhood of man." The this compromise proposal by the overture of scientific truth or historical truth. Again religion which finds expression in the last Chester Presbytery, which contains a clause and again, and in a thousand misleading stanza of that hymn is the same religion as to the effect "that, if it should seem to be forms, this central error appears in the that which Dr. Fosdick propagates when advisable that any other instrument of Church of the present day-this error which he speaks of the article in his creed, "I be­ doctrine be associated in that basis, it shall makes Christianity a matter merely of the lieve in man." It is a religion of confidence be agreed that the declarations of the above inner experiences of men's souls and does in human ability and human goodness, and Westminster Standards shall be paramount away with its solid historical basis in what it is the diametrical opposite of the Chris­ and conclusive in all doctrinal disputa­ Christ did in the external world nineteen tian religion as set forth in the Bible and in tions." We are well aware of the good hundred years ago. Let it not be said that the Confession of Faith of our Church. motive of the Chester overture, and we are the authors of the Confessional Statement The conflict of the present day in the in hearty agreement with what it says did not intend such destructive consequences Church is no mere cold, academic conflict. about the Westminster Standards. But we to be drawn from their phraseology. The It concerns the heart as much as the head, do think that this compromise proposal is point is not at all what they intended, but and it concerns the whole direction of men's one of thE;: most dangerous of all the pro­ what use will be made of this statement lives. the Christian religion and posals that have so far been made. if it is made a part of the constitution B~tween that stanza of Dr. W. P. Merrill's hymn There are two ways of making a creed in­ of our Church. The true function of a there can be no real compromise. operative. One way is to abandon it di­ creed is to exclude the error of the day. But rectly. The other way is to keep it formally this creed, unlike the Westminster Confes­ Bible-believing Christians in the Church but interpret it so that it means nothing. sion, gives comfort to the error of the day will scrutinize the new Hymnal carefully It is this latter way which will be chosen if and will actually be interpreted to justify in other particulars, and they will be this compromise proposal prevails. the presence of that error in the Church. grieved, no doubt, by many other things CHRISTIAN.lTY TODAY 7 which they will see and by the absence of the heart that the mouth speaketh, and less.on for July 16. 1933 many other things which they will not see. true Christian hymns are hardly to be ex­ The Committee has safely gotten rid of that pected from a Church in a condition like DEBORAH stanza of "Greenland's Icy Mountains," that of the Church of the present day. (Lesson Text - Judges 4, 5. Golden which declares that "man alone is vile." We Meanwhile, we shall cling to the splendid Text - Psalm 46 :1.) lay no particular stress upon that one point. old Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church, But man is vile all the same, and he needs which contains some things which it should God uses. whom He will, and when He now as always the free- and mysterious not contain, and which omits some things will. Deborah, a woman, judged Israel. It grace of God. When the Church becomes which it might contain, but. which, in gen­ was in the midst of those times when Israel sound at heart again, its hymnody will be eral, has truly nurtured the devotional life was alternately sinning and repentent. sound; but it is out of the abundance of of the Church. N ow they had been oppressed by Sisera, Captain-General of Jabin, King of the Canaanites, for twenty years. The flame of rebellion was kindled by this woman. She called Borak, and at her insistence he gathered ten thousand men from two tribes, Sunday School Lessons For July Naphtali and Zebulun. These men he took toward Mount Tabor. Sisera, hearing of (International Uniform Series) this threat to his power, determined to stamp it out at once. He marched against lesson for July 2. 1933 lesson for July 9. 1933 Borak, the battle was given by _God to the ten thousand. The Canaanitish host was JOSHUA CALEB annihilated. Only Sisera escaped. Seeking (Lesson Text-Chapters 1 to 6, 23, 24. (Lesson Text-Numbers 13, Joshua 14. refuge in the house of Joel,' he was treach­ Golden Text-Josh. 2:9.) Golden Text-Psalm 40 :4.) erously done to death. It is a little hard for us, at this distance HIS quarter begins a series of Biograph­ This lesson might well be entitled: "Faith­ in time, and with meager facts before us, ical lessons. Perhaps there is no study T fulmiss Rewarded." When Moses halted to judge Joel's action. Certainly she was so fascinating as the record of life as it has the people at Kadesh-Barnea he sent out regarded by her contemporaries, or at least been -lived by great men of time past. And spies, one from each tribe, to look over the by some of them, as a great heroine. in the Bible we have biography at its best: land, and report on the strength of the Deborah's song, recorded in chapter five of not one false estimate, no wrong glossed enemy. The spies came back with a major­ the Book of the Judges, praises her. God's over, no right disparaged. This is because ity and a minority report. Both reports word, it should be remembered, records this God is the great author. He sees all clearly, agreed that the land was "flowing with song without comment, there is no hint that and causes all to be written justly. milk and honey." But after that the reports the song itself was inspired, although the The life of Joshua might be summed up differed. The prudent, human-wise majority fact of it has been recorded in God's in­ in a sentence: "He was obedient to God." had made a careful "survey" of the situa­ fallible Word. The words of Satan are Yet what a sentence that is! What a glori­ tion. The enemy, they found, was much too recorded in the Bible, too, but God has ous epitaph for any man! And the life of strong to be engaged in battle. They recom­ never approved them. Joshua shows us that obedience is not mended, therefore, that prudence and wis­ But this lesson shows that once, at least, merely passive resignation. This man was it took a woman to shame men into fighting dom should dictate the decision not to willing to obey God's c.ommand, no matter for their freedom. what he was ordered to do. Activity or in­ attempt to conquer the land. activity, peace or war. Whatever he was Caleb's minority report was entirely dif­ commanded he did, and whatever he did he ferent. True, he recognized the power of lesson for July 23. 1933 did with a will. Judged by any standards the enemy. But he recalled a greater the life of Joshua was a success. And the Power, and a solemn promise. So he turned ISAIAH DENOUNCES DRUNKENNESS key to that success is only in his willing­ his eyes away from the obstacles and lifted AND OTHER SINS ness to submerge his own will, ambitions them up to the glorious face of his God. and desires in the Will of God. (Lesson Text - Isaiah 5:1-30. Golden Let us go in and possess the land, he said. Text - Provo 14 :34.) It is hardly necessary to review here in We are well able to overcome it! detail the outward events in the life of this Drunkenness is no new sin. Indeed, it The General Assembly of the people, man of God. From beginning to end they may be doubted whether there are any such are illustrative of what has just been however, voted in favor of the majority things as new sins! Certainly the descrip­ written. When he began his generalship of report. The anger of God was kindled tion of Isaiah in Verses 11 to 23 sounds the nation, and was commanded to go in against the people for their rebellion, their modern. Whatever - the teaching of the and possess the land, he did it speedily and faithlessness. And He decreed that out of Bible as to total abstinence from anything energetically. His parting counsel to the them all only Caleb the faithful should re­ alcoholic, there is no doubt whatever of the people before his death reveals the same ceive a part in the land when it was finally Biblical estimate of drunken:ness. It is the inflexible will to do what God willed. To possessed. fashion of these days to regard intoxica-' him the great need of the people was to tion as "smart." In God's sight is it merely Forty-five years have passed. Caleb is remain separate: separate to God and from repulsive. For man the surrender up his now eighty-five years of age. The Con­ the surrounding idolatrous nations. Full will to the contents of a bottle is to lacer­ well he saw the danger, and knew what quest of Canaan has proceeded for five ate and deface that within man that makes Israel's besetting temptation would always years. Caleb claims his right to a portion him man. It is destroying the very ends of be. If Christ's Church would only read and of the land (Joshua 14). The right is ac­ his being. I purposely refrain from saying absorb the twenty-third Chapter of Joshua, corded. He is given Hebron, a post of that it makes man as an animal, for the if it would only obey and be separate, how danger. The lion of Judah is old, but. he state of man in drunkenness is a state to different the visible Church would be! can still fight. which no dumb animal could ever sink. It 8 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June. 1933 is not animalism but an expression of than anywhere else. Yet a few observations 145th Assembly-Continued may not come amiss. humanism - showing to what depths of Thursday afternoon the Assembly pro­ moral depravity man can be sunk by sin. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. ceeded to elect its moderator. The various Temperance means self-control. Self-con­ Here was the secret of his power. It is no n umber of usual rumors concerning this trol is not finally and completely possible doubt true that the Spirit operated in a candidate and that had been in circulation. different manner under the old Covenant except in Christ-control. Only one candidate was a certainty, the than He does under the new. But it is Rev. John' McDowell, D.D., Secretary of the undeniable that God's strength is always Lesson for July 3~. 1933 Board of National Missions, for whom a needed for God's great task. Gideon did persistent and thorough campaign had been GIDEON what was humanly impossible because the in progress for months. His nomination (Lesson Text-Judges, Chapters 6 to 8. Spirit empowered him. and election were a foregone conclusion-in Golden Text-Psalm 27 :1.) Three hundred men. Large numbers are fact, so much so that immediately after his Here, as Carlyle would have said, is a usually a great goal of men, when promot­ election mimeographed copies of his speech man for the ages! ing any enterprise or. fighting any battle. of acceptance, prepared in advance, were Taken by God from an obscure family God was concerned more with the kind and distributed to the press! in an obscure tribe, he is another of those character of His warriors. The thirty-two The name of Dr. Herbert Booth Smith, immortal examples of what God can do thousand were sifted down to three hun­ of Los Angeles, was prominently mentioned through one obedient, faithful, fearless dred. The reduction in numbers would have for the",moderatorship, but when Dr. Smith man. His story does not need re-telling, appalled all those who trusted in merely arose to second the nomination of Dr. Mc­ for it is familiar to all. And if a review human strength. But it was God's method Dowell, it was immediately assumed by is needed, it is told better in the lesson text then. And He has used that method since. veteran observers (who might be mistaken) that Dr. Smith had climbed on the band­ wagon in return for a tacjt agreement that he was to be moderator in 1934 or 1935. The Comfort of the Scriptures Time will tell. A Dt;lvotional Meditation Nominating Speeches Dr. McDowell was placed in nomination By the Rev. David Freeman, Th.M. by the Rev. Geo. H. Talbott, of Passaic, N. J. Mr. Talbott, who is a young man, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or the glory of God." We were redeemed with delivered what the present writer considers whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of the precious blood of Christ that we might to be th~ most brilliant nominating speech God." I Cor. 10 :31. be presented blameless without spot ·or he has ever heard ina General Ass-embly. HEN Jesus said, "Let your light so wrinkle. Shall we thEm be presented entire Mr. Talbott is without doubt a "coming Wshine before men, that they may see by only giving a part of our time to God's man" in the Church. He will bear watching. your good works, and glorify your Father will and a partially redeemed lif-e to God? His speech is described as brilliant, not be­ which is in heaven," He was calling' ~pon 'As if some thought they need only do cause it was intrinsically a great effort, but His disciples to let their entin! life t~ll for some things to the glory of' God, Paul cries, because it was perfectly calculated to pro­ the glory of God. He knew only too well i'I beseech you, that ye present your bodies duce the result desired when heard by the the degenerate religion of the Pharisees of a living sacrifice, holy, acceptabl-e unto God, particular group to whom it was addressed. His day. They were holy only upon new which is your reasonable service." And that IS a flawless formula for any moons and Sabbath days. Is it a religion of works to insist upon speech! In the light of some of Moderator But from of old the glory and worship of the fruits of the Spirit and. a whole life McDowell's subsequent performances, how­ God was connected with even the least im­ with all its moments yielded to His ex­ ever, parts of Mr. Talbott's impassioned porta~t acts of daily life. It is that which pressed will? Rather, such is true religion appeal now seem slightly humorous. the text enjoins. Those who bear the name and undefiled before God. It makes our Dr. McDowell, said Mr. Talbott, would of Christ are not to separate their glorious "calling and election sur-e." make an ideal moderator. We must select faith in Christ from the labors and duties We have the example of Jesus. He never a man thoroughly conversant with Presby­ of every day. ceases to be an example for the Christian. terian law and practice, a man absolutely The Gospel knows no life divided. It "For even her'eunto were ye called; because fair, unbiased and fearless. A man who takes in even our eating and drinking. One Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an will see that the humblest commissioner cannot think of more commonplace activi­ example, that ye should follow his steps." has his right to be heard if he so desires it. ties than these. "I pray God your whole Jesus consecrated to God His whole week­ Dr. McDowell was a man of whom the spirit and soul and body be preserved day life. "His career was a continuous Church should be proud. Electing him would blameless unto the coming of our Lord psalm of adoration and praise." be the finest thing the Presbyterian Church Jesus Christ." could do for its own good. In the life of How the other Apostles call upon Chris­ May God give us grace to say: this man, were it to be analyzed, were four tians to give heed to the words of Christ! "Teach me, my God and King, great streams. He was: (1) A devoted lover "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue In all things Thee to see; of the Bible; (2) A devoted lover of his knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; And what I do in anything, Lord; (3) A devoted, loyal son of the Pres­ and to temperance patience; and to patience To do it as for Thee." byterian Church; (4) A devoted lover of his godliness; and to godliness brotherly kind­ fellow-man. ness; and to brotherly kindness charity," He had been born 63 years ago in Scot­ says Peter. "Be ye doers of the word, and Postponement land, He had come to the United States in not hearers only," says James, The second part of the article by Dr. W. 1873. At eight he had been a breaker boy; Were we saved for one day in the week? H. Chisholm, on the work of the medical at eleven in the mines; at fourteen he had Was only a part of our life redeemed from missionary (the first part of which was lost an arm. That took him to Mount Her­ the rudiments of this world? "Whether Y'e published in our April issue) will appear mon where he sat under the feet of D. L. eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to in the July issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. . Moody. Then he went through Princeton June, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 9

University and Seminary. Before going into that some of the things said could be said Moderator -Inducted the ministry he went to work to put a in the General Assembly of the Presby­ Dr. McDowell was immediately inducted brother through college. There was a MAN terian Church. into office. As the ceremony began, those for you! (Applause.) He had spent 24 After a motion had been made and car­ seated at the press table were furnished years in the ministry. During the war of ried to close the nominations, it was in with mimeographed copies of the new mod­ 1917-1918 the War Work Council had put order for Mr. Shea's seconder to speak. erator's speech of acceptance-prepared well him in charge of religious work along the None was forthcoming, however, which in advance! ' Atlantic seaboard. He had 400 years of moved the Assembly to more hilarity. Showing plainly that he intended that th-e fighting ancestry. Later he was called to Finally the Rev. Harry Ewig, of Pottsville, Church should speak out clearly in political the national work with the Board. Sixteen Pa., came to the platform. He said that he and economic problems (and who that knew million men were out of employment. This desired to second the nomination "although John McDowell would be surprised?) he number would have been greater were it he had never heard of the brother before." said, in part: not for John McDowell! Again time had to be taken out for hilarious " ... All the problems confronting the [The writer confesses he would like to laughter. nation and the world today are problems in know more about that.] Dr. Elder's nomination was seconded by human relationships, and therefore are re­ In conclusion, Mr. Talbott made an im­ the Rev. John B. Thwing, Th.D., of Phila­ ligious problems. Something may be done to passioned plea that in this time of economic d-elphia, who made it plain that Dr. Elder solve them by legislation, by education, and crisis there be 'no "soft p-edaling," but that was a conservative who stood foursquare for by economic arrangement, but an ultimate the Church show where it stood by electing the everlasting Gospel of the Lord Jesus solution is only possible through religion. The Dr. McDowell. Christ. Church has apprehended and proclaimed the The volume of applause was great. Dr. Herbert Booth Smith, of Los Angeles, will of God for the individual; wistfully the Dr. Thomas Murray, of Denver, Colorado, seconded the nomination of Dr. McDowell. wise-hearted look to her now to proclaim next secured the floor. He placed in nom­ He described his candidate as "straight as the will of God for the present political, ination the conservative candidate, the Rev. an arrow, clean as a hound's tooth, and social and economic life of the nation and Frank R. Elder, D.D., Pastor of the Church fair as the Christ he loves-that fine the world .. " . of the Covenant in Cincinnati. Dr. Murray Scotchman, John McDowell." Dr. Smith fur­ "Important as are the administrative,' paid tribute to Dr. Elder as a Pastor who ther exhorted the Assembly to vote for Dr. promotional and financial problems con­ had served both country and city churches, McDowell because the times require a man fronting this Assembly, they sink into in­ a man who had never lost touch with the who is sensitive to the needs of the hour. significance compared with the vital and common man in the Church. Withal he was Every eye in the United States was on the imperative importance of the spiritual prob­ a minister of scholarly attainments. The Assembly. We must not forget the starving lem. This problem, as I see it, centers speaker made it plain that Dr. Elder wanted man on the street! We must not be im­ around five misgivings which are becoming to. be known only as a conservative. At mersed in details. He told the story of the vocal inside and outside of the Church the opening of his address, Dr. Murray father with the demon-possessed son whom today. These misgivings are as follows: made an observation the significance of the disciples of jesus could not help. Amer­ "1. A misgiving as to the adequacy of which seemed to elude most, if not all, of ica must not say, "We looked to your disci­ Christianity to meet th-e present world the commissioners. Speaking of Dr. Elder, ples and they couldn't help us!" Let us elect crisis; he said: "No campaign has been made for this EVANGELICAL Christian leader who "2. A misgiving as to the adequacy of this man. His picture has not appeared believes in helping his fellow-men. Then, the Christian Church as an instrument in the papers. Nor has he sprained his changing his tone; he pleaded ~oftly for the through which Christianity can function thumb button-holing commissioners to ask election of a man with a shepherd heart­ effectively; them for their votes." "let us make him our shepherd!" Then he "3. A misgiving as to the adequacy of perorated by telling of how the fiery cross After the second nominator had concluded, the Christian ministry to furnish the moral used to be carried from glen to glen in the Assembly received a rather amusing and spiritual leadership needed in this pres­ surprise.' Ruling Elder Geo. S. Mellinger, Scotland, and asked that our "fiery cross" ent crisis; of Lancaster, Pa., arose to nominate the be placed in the hands of John McDowell, "4. A misgiving as to the adequacy of Rev. Geo. H. Shea, of Quarryville, Pa. Mr. thus showing our loyalty to Christ. the missionary agencies of the Church to Mellinger said that candidates had been Dr. Smith's speech could only be esti­ carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nominated on both sides of "a controversy mated very mildly by the present writer world for which He died; between two schools of thought." To avoid as one of the finest marshallings together "5. A misgiving as to the ad-equacy of controversy, he said, he nominated a man of flamboyant platitudes that he has ever Democracy as a form of Government for who did not hold to either of these positions. heard. The writer is very glad that he the modern world. He had read an overture from one of the will not have to be Dr. Smith's judge when "These misgivings are an inescapable Presbyteries, concerning doctrine. He had he is asked why he dared to remind the challenge and an unparalleled opportunity his convictions. But he must plead for the Assembly of the starving men and women to this Assembly. They cannot be evaded unity and peace of the Church, obligation in our streets and somehow skillfully imply and th-ey must not be ignored. They must to which he placed above his obligation to without saying so that Dr. McDowell's elec­ be faced fearlessly and answered frankly. faith and cpnviction. Why, in a few years tion would help to end their troubles. Pre­ That, I take it, is what we are here to do it was possible that his own point of view sumably Dr. McDowell is not the only Pres­ and what the churches expect us to do. might be changed. The peace and unity of the byterian who loves his fellow men and We must not shrink from this responsi­ Church must come first. The man he nom­ grieves at their suffering. But to play pol­ bility.... " inated was a middle-of-the-roader. He had itics~especially Church politics-with the A chronological account of the Assembly no D.D. after his name, but something that need and suffering of the starving is so would be highly entertaining, but it would was just as good, an R.F.D. unworthy as scarcely to merit contempt. involve printing many d-etails for which This speech threw the Assembly into gales After the seconding speeches had been there is no space in this issue of CHRISTIAN­ of laughter. It was all regarded as humor­ concluded the vote was taken. The r·esults: ITy TODAY. Therefore I will summarize the ous, though 'obviously it was not all so in­ McDowell, 691; Elder, 120; Shea, 26; Tal­ acts of the Assembly on the important tended. It is highly significant, however, bott, 1; Blank, 1. issues before it. 10 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933

The Presbyterian Magazine a word should be said. At the Denver As­ the defenders of the Board knew it. Hence sembly the leaders of the Church solemnly their strategy: ring all the changes on (1) The Presbyterian Magazine. The promised that if the Federal Council were peace, unity, loyalty, and trust that the General Council had voted to discontinue not reorganized upon an evangelical basis commissioners would not catch on befor·e the magazine with the issue following the at its quadrennial meeting (held last De­ dissolution. Those who planned this strat­ Assembly. A determined effort, nearly suc­ cember), they would recommend severance egy and executed it so expertly have ample cessful, was made to overturn this action. of relations. Those definite pledges were reason to. congratulate themselves upon However, the friends of Auburn Affirmation­ made, publicly, to the Denver Assembly. their success. But it is inconceivable that ist William T. Hanzsche, the Editor, were Why were they not kept? The facts are they themselves should be deceived. They beaten. During the course of the debate, plain, and permit of no denial, that the know the Board was not cleared, because however, a humorous touch was added by Council reorganization did not deal with they know that the Board was guilty. And the Rev. Alvin B. Gurley, Auburn Affirma­ doctrine at all. Nobody, so far as the writer facts, ev'en if. concealed from an Assembly tionist assistant in the Second Church. of knows, pretends that it did. Then why were that was being handled so adroitly that it Philadelphia, named as a commissioner by not the promIses kept? Is one short year didn't suspect it was being handled at all, the Presbytery of Philadelphia before the enough to wipe out obligations thus' as­ have a manner of getting out and around. issue over Foreign Missions became acute. sumed? Again the glaring fact stands out And when they are understood by the rank Speaking in behalf of the magazine, Mr. that the commissioners of this year were and file, these facts, the reaction will be all Gurley launched an attack upon CHRISTIAN­ not present in Denver when the pledges the more violent because such efforts have ITY TODAY, an attack which was much ap­ were made. Neither were the commissioners been made to suppress them. preciated by this paper, and for which the present in Denver, on hand in Columbus writer desires to thank Mr. Gurley. If it to see the pledges ignored. Men may be The Mi'nority Report did not1).ing else, it showed the source and able to avoid present condemnation when nature of the opposition to the conservative they deal thus with two groups of persons The Committee on Foreign Missions was, organ. During the consideration of the re­ -but can they very well live peaceably as expected, dominated by'the organization, port of the standing committee on theo­ with their own consciences? We wonder. Dr. Herbert Booth Smith, one of the Assem­ logical seminaries, Mr. Gurley also grac­ bly's most skilfull politicians, had been ap­ iously performed a like service for West­ pointed chairman. He fully justified the minster Seminary. Foreign Missions hopes of those who trusted in him. The (4) The Board of Foreign Missions. Here Committee under his leadership was a unit was the great issue before the Assembly. Reduced Assemblies for the Board except for two men who saw Let me hasten to correct that sentence: it the facts, and who, with calmness and cour­ (2) Reduction in size of the Assembly. was the great issue that ought to have been age, stood by their guns. When the minor­ The Assembly voted down, with consider­ before the Assembly, but which the Assem­ ity and majority reports were presented able gusto, the recommendation of the Com­ bly nev'er faced. In the months to come to the Assembly, howev,er, only the major­ mittee on Polity, that an overture be sent no doubt the word will be spread around ity report was in the hands of the commis­ down to the Presbyteries amending the that "the Assembly settled the charges sioners. Printing of the minority report had Form of Government so as to provide for against the Board of Foreign Missions." been refused by the chairman of the Com­ a much smaller Assembly. That statement is not true, because the As­ mittee on the advice of a Secretary of the sembly never listened to the evidence for Board of Foreign Missions! This is one of and against. Its emotions were worked Federal Council the most flagrant cases of the abuse of the upon, it was exhorted to be "loyal" to its rights of members of the Assembly that has (3) The Federal Council of Churches. Boards, all kinds of subtle emotional pres­ come to the knowledge of the writer in This matter, which had furnished most of sure for unity were put upon it~but it years. And it was done on the advice of the excitement at the 1932 Assembly in was not given the facts. Why not? One's . one of the interested parties, whose counsel Denver, had been pushed rather into the imagination does not have to be highly de­ the merest tyro in Assembly practice should background by the issues relating to For­ veloped to understand why not.. The rea­ know to be entirely in error. eign Missions. No particular time on the son was that all the facts alleged against docket had been set for the discussion, and the Board could be and have been proved. This minority report, which was signed when the Committee on Bills and Overtures They are all records in black and white by Peter Starn, Jr., an elder of the Church brought in its recommendations, only a of things done by the Board or its agents. in Narberth, Presbytery of Philadelphia small portion of the Assembly was present. Had they ever been pres·ented in their ful­ North, and the Rev. Robert S. Marsden, of Estimates of commissioners actually in the ness to the Assembly so that their signifi­ Middletown, Pa., Presbytery of Carlisle, was hall ranged from one hundred and fifty to cance could sink in, it would have rung the as follows (omitting merely routine para­ three hundred. The report of the Commit­ death knell of the Board of Foreign Mis­ graphs) : tee said that since all the matters com­ sions as now constituted. No wonder the "Attention has been called to criticisms plained of had been rectified or were on issues were never joined in the Assembly. of policies of the Board. The Committee their way to rectifiCation, the Committee No wonder the Board's defenders confined has given prayerful and painstaking con­ recommended no action. Vote was taken on themselves to appeals for loyalty to this sideration to these criticisms. It has found this and a number of other recommendations person or that. Could the action of the that their substance is embodied in a pam­ without debate. The report was approved :Board in the case of Mrs. Buck be denied? phlet entitled 'Modernism and the Board and the matter was over almost before Could the fact of modernist propaganda by of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian it was begun. the Candidate Department be denied?· Could Church in the U. S. A.' by the Rev. Pro­ The writer would not be understood as the signature of Dr. Speer to the statement fessor J. Gresham Machen. It is with a implying that those in charge of the plat­ that one of the outstanding achievements sense of profound sorrow and regret that form deliberately "slipped over" the matter of the year 1931 in Latin America was the the Committee records its conviction that of the F'ederal Council in a half empty publicatio·IJ. of some of Dr. Harry Emerson the matters alleged in this brief are based house. Yet the fact that the issue was Fosdick's books be denied? Could the fact upon adequate grounds. Without imputing thus quietly disposed of unknown to a that the Board has for years recommended unworthy personal motives to anyone, the majority of the Assembly is significant modernist mission study books be denied? Committee declares its belief that for a Mis­ enough in itself. On one point, however, N one of these things could be denied, and sion Board to take such actions as will in Ju'ne, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY II effect appeal to Bible-believing Christians as his visible representative upon earth to established church courts all such repre­ on the one hand, ~nd to Modernists on the bring his .full gospel to the whole world as sentations ought to be made. The Assembly other, is ethically indefensible and unworthy . the' final hope of men. disapproves all methods of approach which of. a great church that bears the sacred­ The Assembly lays upon the Presbyteries would contravene such orderly methods, but name of Christ. the duty of tl}.e most careful consideration would remind the Church that both in the "In so recording its sorrow, the Com':' of the doctrinal position of candidates or­ common law of the land and certainly in mittee wishes to express gratitude to dained and presented to the Board for mis­ Christian charity, a man must be held inno­ Almighty God for that great company of sionary service, and at the same time in­ cent until he is prov-en guilty of any charge; faithful, s-elf-denying missionaries of our structs the Board to inquire carefully into and that suspicion of motives is not ade­ church who are bringing to the unsaved in -the special fitness of all such candidates for quate evidence against any man and cer­ foreign lands the message of salvation their peculiar responsibility. tainly ought not to be used in the Christian Church. through Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It 2. Estimate of the Board of Foreign Mis­ is a sorrow to the Committee that the sup­ sions. The General Assembly' is convinced port of these consecrated ambassadors of that the work of Dr. Robert E. Speer, our The Debate Christ should be threatened in the slightest Senior Secretary and his' associates, and also Debate was marred by a series of par­ degree by lack of confidence at home engen­ the work of the missionaries in the various liamentary tangles in which the moderator dered by policies of our Board. foreign fields as a whole, deserves the at times lost all semblance of control over "Therefore, in answer to the overtures whole-hearted, unequivocal, enthusiastic and the Assembly. First the majority report from the Presbyteries of Philadelphia and aff-ectionate commendation of the church­ was presented by Dr. Smith. Aberdeen, and in reply to the other over­ at-large. We know that Dr. Speer stands When the memorial roll (of missionaries tures, papers and memorials, the Committee absolutely true to the historic doctrinal posi­ whose deaths had been reported since the recommends that the following resolutipn tion of the Presbyterian Church, and we last Assembly) was r-ead as Section XVI of be adopted by this Assembly: would be remiss if we did not testify to our the Majority Report, the Assembly stood, " 'The 145th General Assembly has recognition that his entire life bears testi­ and was led in prayer by William Hiram learned with sorrow of the acts and policies mony to his supreme effort to extend the Foulkes, of Newark, N. J. Then the great of its Board of Foreign Missions which have gospel to humanity across the world. organ struck a chord, and the whole com­ seriously impaired confidence in the minds The Assembly also expresses its thor­ pany sang "For All the Saints Who From of thousands of loyal and earnest Presby­ ough confidence in the members of the Their Labors Rest," and the majority re­ terians. This Assembly proclaims anew its Board of Foreign Missions and its belief port was then "respectfully submitted." loyalty and love for the pure and ev-erlast­ that they have steadfastly endeavored and This writer wishes here to r-ecord his em­ ing gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, declar­ are endeavoring by every means within their phatic protest against this mixing up of the ing to men everywhere that there is only power, to support the secretaries and the recommendations of the majority report, a one way of salvation,-through the substi­ missionaries of the Board in the gospel en­ controversial document, with the rightful tutionary, atoning sacrifice of Christ upon terprise. honor and respect paid to the memory of the cross, where He shed His precious blood 3. The "Commission of Appraisal" of the devoted missionaries now called Home. It for the redemption of lost and sinful men. makes no matter that this roll is by custom The Assembly pledges that the Presbyte­ "Laymen's Inquiry After One Hundred contained in the report of this Committee. rian Church in the U. S. A. will, through Years." The General Assembly recognizes the The fact that a minority report was to be its Board of Foreign Missions, preach this offered changed, or should have changed, one, only gospel to the uttermost parts of profound interest in the foreign missions enterprise which is evidenced in the pains­ everything; the memorial roll should have the earth, to the exclusion of all other been presented at a time when it would not gospels or false paths to God.' taking and far-reaching enquiry, the results of which are stated in the volume entitled have been subject to any rejection or ac­ "In order to take the first practical step ceptance. Including it in the majority report to make this pledge effective and thus to "Re-Thinking Missions." The practical sug­ gestions incorporated in that volume have was, to say the least, eX'ecrable taste; and reestablish confidence the Committee nomi­ this is not excused but made rather more nates the following p-ersons to serve for been considered by the Board of Foreign Missions. The General Assembly is content culpable by the reflection that it was a three years as members of the Board of the smart piece of politics to link up all the Class of 1933-1936." to leave the application of these suggestions with the Board. The Assembly does, how­ emotion rightfully felt with the majority Then followed a list of conservative nom­ report. - inees. ever, definitely repudiate any and all theo­ logical statements and implications in that Chairman Smith then informed the As­ sembly that while there was a report signed The Majority Report volume which are not in essential agreement with the doctrinal position of the Church. by two members of the committee, "it rests The significant portions of the Majority The Assembly cannot see its way clear to in our courtesy" whether it should be heard. Report, which is as a whole far too long to approve a complete centralized administra­ Obj-ection was made from the floor that publish, are as follows: tion of Protestant Foreign Mission work. this was a right. The objection was calmly XIV. After careful consideration of the ignored by the moderator, who ,entertained Overtures presented, we submit the follow­ _ 4. Method of Expressing Criticism. a motion that the minority report be heard. ing recommendations as the actions which The General Assembly recognizes the The motion was carried. The minority re­ we believe should be taken by this General right of any and all individuals in the port was then read by Mr. Starn. The mod­ Assembly: Church to present criticisms of the program erator then called for a vote on whether the 1. Doctrinal Statement. The General As­ and work of any and all individuals or report should be received. This was carried, sembly reaffirms its loyal and complete agencies which represent the Church in her with a considerable chorus of "nos;" Then adherence to the doctrinal Standards of the various enterprises. The Assembly, how­ the moderator called for another vote on Presbyterian Church. We declare our belief ever, deplores the dissemination of propa­ whether Mr. Starn should be allowed to that while certain truths may be found in ganda calculated to break down faith in the speak. This was assented to. other religions, complete and final truth is sincerity of such representatives. [All' these votes were, of course, ludi­ to be found in Jesus Christ alone through The Ass-embly would remind every con­ crously unnecessary. The minority had the the religion of which he is the center. We stituent of the Church that there are orderly right to do all the things "permitted" them. recognize the necessity laid upon the Church methods of procedure whereby through the The impression created by the moderator 12 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933 was, that the chair was gracio.usly acco.rd­ the churches, mo.dernist and fundamentalist favQr say 'Aye.''' A chQrus o.f "Ayes" arQse. ing unusual privileges to. the mino.rity.] alike!" he cried, "they said the same thing "All QPposed, 'No.''' A chQrus Qf "NQS" to. all!" [No. o.ne denies that this statement Mr. Starn then spo.ke fo.r the lo.ng perio.d nQt so. lo.ud, was heard. But the majority of was s'ent to. all-no. o.ne do.ubts it. The po.int cQmmissioners sat puzzled and didn't vote o.f ten minutes in an attempt to. summarize is quite different. This statement was so. at all. The mo.deratQr announced "the so.me o.f the po.ints raised against the po.l­ th~t guarded and so. mild that when it was sent previQus questiQn had been carried." Per­ icies o.f the Bo.ard. He made a dignified, to. all, it seemed to. satisfy both mo.dernist plexity gave way to no.isy co.nfusion. DQz­ quiet and effective presentatio.n. But it was and co.nservative churches. No. o.ne accused ens o.f peo.ple were o.n their feet asking o.f necessity so. sho.rt, so. sketchy, that it the Board of being so. stupid as to send o.ut reco.gnitio.n. Several cried, "PQint Qf Qrder, co.uld no.t, in the nature o.f things, have two. statements. It was accused o.f being Mr. MQderatQr!" At them the mo.derator bro.ught much light to. a:p.yo.ne who. did no.t so. clever as to send o.ut one statement that IQo.ked grimly, banged his gavel, and said, already kno.w the facts and who. did no.t satisfied bo.th. If the statement had been "You're out of o.rder." CQnfusio.n increased. appreciate the inner significance o.f much a clear repudiatio.n of modernism and a A backfield o.f parliamentary experts hur­ that co.uld o.nly be mentio.ned in p·assing. warning against it, it WQuld have caused riedly gathered abQut the mo.derato.r. Ex­ Debate against the mino.rity repo.rt was mQdernist churches to. withdraw supPQrt mo.deratQrs Mudge, Erdman (President Qf taken up by the Rev. Roy Ewing Vale, D.D., frQm the Board. CQuld Dr. Vale cite any the FQreign Bo.ard), Mathews and Chairman o.f Detro.it, a member o.f the co.mmittee. In such church?] Smith jQined the huddle. [One pro.minent an amazing speech he. reminded the As­ "To. say that they have did this" [exact Bo.ard 'secretary said afterward that it re­ sembly that he had sat at the feet o.f the quo.tatiQn] said Dr. Vale, "puts a stigma Qf minded him o.f the early days o.f the mo.ving great Dr. Warfield, the inference being that dishQnesty Qn the Board. Dare we put this picture, and that the mQderator seemed to he was therefo.re a co.nservative in theo.lo.gy. stigma acrQSS their lives?" Then he used take ten ballo.ts and then struck an average. Whyels'e sho.uld he appeal to. that great an affecting sto.ry Qf an inscriptio.n o.n Qne Others were mo.re reminded o.f the huddle name? He himself set a high value upo.n Qf the cata~o.mbs, "AlexandrQs is faithful!" in a: fo.otball game.] After a few mo.ments theo.logy, said Dr. Vale. But just as o.ne and pero.rated by declaring, "As .we CQme to. the mQderato.r came Qut and anno.unced that co.uld ho.ld up a go.ld co.in to. his eye and VQte cQncerning men who. are ,under abuse the vote to. clo.se debate had been carried. with its little surface co.ver the image o.f fro.m some quarters and ridicule frQm Qth­ They WQuld now vo.te Qn the next questiQn. the sun, just so. it was po.ssible to. ho.ld up ers-, let us say nQW Qf them: 'AlexandrQs is But a sto.rm from the flo.o.r cQmpelled him the go.ld co.in o.f theo.lo.gy so. clo.se to. the faithful!' " to. put a mQtio.n recQnsidering the actio.n eye as to. blot o.ut tremendo.us values, 'eno.r­ to. clos'e debate. This was carried. Imme­ The writer has included this address at mo.us human values, which he is thereby diately ex-Moderator C. F. Wishart. fro.m such length because it was the Qnly speech unable to. see. the flo.or, suggested that in o.rder that every­ purpo.rting to. defend the Bo.ard given to. o.ne should understand what the next vo.te Dr. Vale co.ntinued that the co.mmittee had the Assembly. Readers will thus see the was to. be abo.ut, the pro.cedure sho.uld be heard the case o.f the o.ppo.sitio.n as pre­ entire absence o.f any reaso.ned defense, 0.1' explained. Then he pro.ceeded to. explain it. sented by its mo.st able pro.po.nent [Dr. even mQre than a passing reference to. the The questio.n is, "Shall the previous ques­ Machen]. (He did' no.t state, ho.wever, that facts aHeged. It also. thrQws illuminating tio.n no.w be put?" which is just anQther the' co.mmittee had at first refused to. hear light upo.n the mentality Qf the defenders way o.f saying, "Shall we sto.p debate and Dr. Machen, and had o.nly reco.nsidered o.n o.f the BQard, who. seem to. hav-e the idea then vo.te o.n the mino.rity repo.rt?" his fo.rmal written request, no.r did he re­ that no. matter what a man does, a plea veal that no. time at all had been given to. o.f perso.nal o.rtho.do.xy is a go.o.d defense. At this po.int the mo.derator Qbserved h-earing a number o.f o.th-ers who. had asked It is almost as if a defendant in a co.urt that "If we do.n't vote this, we'll be here to. be heard.) o.f law were to. say, "No., I did no.t murder until to.mQrro.w mo.rning." the deceased, and as pro.o.f I o.ffer the fact Then Dr. Vale very so.lemnly recited the By a rising vQte the Assembly then de­ that I am a lo.yal, enthusiastic, patrio.tic Apo.stles' Creed and said that when a man cided to. close debate. The minQrity report American who. lo.ves his wife." said tho.se wo.rds he was saying what is was then vo.ted do.wn, amid mo.re parliamen­ endo.rsed by the man who. has just spo.ken After Dr. Vale's address, an attempt was tary cQnfusio.n. Then the main questio.n­ [Mr•. Stam] and also. endo.rsed "by tho.se made, led by Dr. Smith, to. clos-e debate. the ado.ptio.n o.f the majQrity repo.rt-was o.thers fo.r who.m I speak" [the co.mmittee, This was so. manifestly unfair that it was put and carried. There were apprQximately and the inference seemed stro.ng, the s'ecre­ vo.ted do.wn, the right already having been 700 votes fQr the majo.rity to. 200 fQr the taries o.f the Fo.reign Bo.ard]. There are given Mr. Marsden to. speak by a previo.us mino.rity. . tho.se who. go. behind a statement like that, mo.tio.n. After this actio.n, Dr. Speer was called he co.ntinued, do.wn into. the human heart, Mr. Marsden then spo.ke fQr the lo.ng pe­ upo.n to address the Assembly by Dr. Smith. where no. man has a right to. judge ano.ther, riQd o.f five minutes. He made an o.bviously As he came to the rostrum, the flo.Qd-lights where o.nly Go.d co.uld see. The questio.n is sincere, able, and impassio.ned plea fo.r the were turned on, many co.mmissioners ro.se, no.t whether we believe in Christ as we all preaching o.f o.nly the pure Go.spel abro.ad until mo.st o.f the Assembly was on its feet. believe, but rather that Christ by all this as well as at ho.me. He did no.t attempt, SQmeo.ne began, "Blest be the tie that divisio.n is no.w being wo.unded in His spirit. in the sho.rt time at his dispo.sal, to. enter binds," and it was taken up by the entire Then Dr. Vale paid fervent tribute to. the into. a discussiQn o.f the facts. Assembly. It was the hour Qf Dr. Speer's past services o.f Dr. Speer, telling ho.w he outward triumph. Fo.rty years ago. he had had beco.me "the prime minister o.f Fo.reign Parliamentary Chaos begun as a Secretary Qf the Board. He had· Missio.ns" at twenty-fo.ur. He also. assailed the mino.rity repo.rt fo.r saying that the po.l­ When Mr. Marsden had cQncluded, Dr. just rec·eived a vo.te o.f confidence. Co.uld he have received such a vo.te on the same icy o.f the Bo.ard was "ethically disho.nest" Smith again rushed valiantly into. the breach facts if taken forty years ago.? and asked the co.mmissio.ners if they thern­ to. sto.p the debate. Numero.us perso.ns were s'elves wo.uld no.t resent it if such an accusa­ claiming the flo.o.r. Many o.f them were pre­ At this point occurred one of the saddest tio.n were made against the Assembly? He pared to speak fo.r the minority repo.rt. -and, to the writer, mQst sho.cking-of all cited the No.vember, 1932, statement of the So.meone called fo.r the questio.n. WithQut the happenings at the Assembly. The mod­ Bo.ard co.ncerning the Appraisal Co.mmissio.n anYQne, apparently even the moderator him­ erato.r in presenting Dr. Speer said: "Dr. as sho.wing that the Bo.ard had taken its self, kno.wing what the vo.te was sUPPQsed Speer ... Qf who.m it CQuld be said, as it stand. "This actio.n was sent o.ut to. all to. be abo.ut, the mo.derato.r said, "All in was said of his Master, 'In him was life and Ju'ne, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 13 the life was the light of men.'" In the contradiction that the report of the Com­ thing is certain. If Dr. Speer and the Board moments following there were at least a mittee as finally adopted, including what it hq,d really been defending the faith they few who waited hopefully for Dr. Speer to said about the Laymen's Report was thor­ would not have received the commendation disavow such words as applied to any oughly acceptable to this member of the of a co-author of the Affirmation! human being. They waited in vain. Perhaps Appraisal Commission. In other words, the It should further be noted that according Dr. Speer did not he~r them. great Presbyterian Church, through its to the report adopted by the Assembly, the General Assembly, on recommendation of its difference between Christianity and other Dr. Speer's address was devoted mainly standing committee on Foreign Missions, religions is merely the difference between to a revi-ew of the work of Foreign Missions has given to the world a "criticism" of the "certain truths" and "complete and final as it was forty years ago and as it is today. work of the Appraisal Commission that is truth." In vain will one search the report Significant excerpts: concurred in by a member of the Commis­ for a hint that the heathen religions are "The Report of the Appraisal Commis­ sion himself! If there is any repudiation not merely less complete than' Christianity, sion of the Laymen's Foreign Missions of Re-thinking Missions, then it is of a kind but are actually false. Yet this is the re­ Inquiry has occasioned the deepest concern that can be assented to by a member of port that speaks of the "historic doctrinal with the proposal which it has made, and the Appraisal Commission! position" of the Church as though it were which it is impossible for our Church to But IS there any repudiation of "Re­ defending it! accept, to change the entire basis of the thinking Missions" in the report adopted Has the Presbyterian Church become so enterprise. by the Assembly? At first glance it seems ignorant of its past, so indifferent to the "Not only because of this Report, but that there is. The eye catches the words, Word of God, that things like this will be because of the criticisms of the Board from "repUdiate," "implications," "doctrinal posi­ endured without a protest from its Bible­ two diametrically opposite positions, it has tion of the church." But on a closer study believing multitudeR? We think not. been a difficult year. Some have criticised one sees how cleverly this sentence is drawn, and why it was perfectly acceptable the Board because they say it did not accept the Report and has not refused to release to Dr. Emerson. "The Assembly does, how­ New Board Announced ever, definitely repudiate any' and all theo­ missionaries who found themselves at vari­ Immediately following the vote on the ance with the historic faith of the Church; logical statements and implications in that volume which are not in essential agree­ Majority Report ·of the Committee on For­ and others because they say the Board has eign Missions, the duty fell upon the writer released such missionaries with regret that ment with the doctrinal position of the Church." It does not say that there are to issue a statement announcing the early they could not whole-heartedly present the formation of an independent Board of For­ historic faith, and because in dealing with any such statements or implications. It merely says in effect that IF there are, eign Missions. It could not be done without the Report the Board has not been more they are repudiated! It leaves each man a feeling of deep regret that it had to be polemic and denunciatory. All I can say to to judge for himself whether there are any done, and without a silent prayer to God the Assembly is that in these things the that He would bless those whose only desire Board has sought to act in accordance with such divergences. This statement then, as a repudiation, is utterly meaningless. It was to be loyal to His truth. The statement the dignity, sobriety and honor of the As­ issued was as follows: sembly and the Church, and that it has repudiates nothing that it declares to exist. It is a statement that could, to quote one "In view of the action of the General spoken with unmistakable clarity and defi­ Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in niteness, and yet with Christian temper and indignant observer, "be used of Charles Hodge's systematic theology, or of any other the U. S. A. resisting the movement for patience and love.... good book in the world." reform of the Board of Foreign Missions, "Perhaps these facts will be a partial a new Board will be organized by Bible­ answer to the question which is so often believing Christians to promote truly Bib­ Affirmationis+ Approval asked in these days, 'Will Foreign Mi~sions lical and truly Presbyterian mission work. go on?' Yes, they will go on. Their form Further, the report speaks of "the doc­ The following persons have consented to be may change, and the methods and processes trinal position of the Church." It does not members of the tentative Board: of evangelization, but the basis on which say "the system of doctrine of the Confes­ sion of Faith." What is the doctrinal posi­ the true missionary enterprise of the MINISTERS tion of the Church? There are varying an­ Church rests is impregnable." Rev. Roy T. Brumbaugh. Tacoma, Washington. swers to this question. The Presbyterian Rev. W. D. Buchanan; New York, N. Y. Rev. President J. O. Buswell, Wheaton College, Ill. who is loyal to the historic meaning of the Rev. W. E. Edmonds, Glendale, Calif. Confession of his Church will give one an­ Rev. Frank R. Elder, Cincinnati, Ohio New Issue Raised by Assembly Action Rev. Samuel G. Craig, 'Princeton, N. J. swer-the heretical Auburn affirmationist Rev. Professor J. Gresham Machen, Philadelphia, Pa. Perhaps unnoticed by many of those who Rev. Merrill T. MacPherson, Philadelphia, Pa. will give another. What did the committee Rev. Thomas Murray, Denver, Colo. attended the Assembly, an issue was raised mean? We have no way of knowing con­ Rev. Russell Paynter, St. Louis, Mo. that, in the opinion of the writer, will be Rev. Wilbur M. Smith, Coatesville, Pa. cerning most of them. But of one of their Rev. Professor Paul Woolley, Philadelphia, Pa. increasingly discussed during this year, and number we do know. The Rev. R. B. Beattie, Rev. T. Roland Philips, Baltimore, Md. Rev. Joseph A. Schofield, Jr., Gouverneur, N. Y. without doubt figure largely at the next of East Orange, N. J., is a member of Rev. C. F. Ball, Philadelphia, Pa. Assembly. the "Conf.erence Committee" which originally It will astound many persons to be in­ issued the Auburn Affirmation. He does not RULING ELDERS James E. Bennet, New York, N. Y. formed that one of the members of the hold that the full trustworthiness of Scrip­ J. F. Shrader, Philadelphia, Pa. Robert Young, Hollywood, Calif. . majority of the Committee on Foreign Mis­ ture, the Virgin Birth of our Lord, His Willis R. Roberts, Norristown, Pa. sions (Charles P. Emerson, M.D.) was actu­ bod i I y resurrection, His substitutionary Josiah Clift, Jr., Baltimore, Md. ally a member of the "Appraisal Commis­ atonement to satisfy Divine justic€, or His WOMEN sion" which produced the so-called Laymen'8 supernatural miracles form any necessary Miss Seraph Deal, Philadelphia, Pa. Report, "Re-Thinking Mi8sions"! One of part of the doctrinal position of the Church. Miss Marguerite Montgomery, Rochester, N. Y. Miss Mary . Weldon Stewart, Philadelphia, Pa. the authors of that book, therefore, joined And yet this voice joined with oth-ers in com­ Mrs. Jeremiah Griggs, Pittsburgh, Pa. in expressing confidence in the loyalty to m-endation of the loy~lty of Dr. Speer to "the Mrs. John W. Patton, Philadelphia, Pa. the Bible of the Board of Foreign Missions! historic doctrinal position of the Presbyte­ But this is only the beginning. It may be rian Church." If it were not all so bitterly Other names may be added in the near said' without the slightest fear of succ-essful tragic, how ludicrous it would be! Yet one future. A meeting for organization of the 14 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933

new Board will probably be held in Phila­ delphia at some time in the month of June. , . "It is not intended that the new Board' News of the Church shall interfere in the slightest with the sup­ port of sound missionaries now on the field. Correspondencel General Designated gifts for such purposes will, of course, continue tQ be made through the existing Board. It is not intended, more­ Washington-Oregon-Idaho Notes churches. It has been ~ecessary to absorb over, that the new Board shall undertake two large reductions in the funds available By the Rev. Roy Talmage Brumbaugh, D.D. any financial responsibilities except to ex­ for such fields. As Denver Presbytery has pend wisely whatever contributions it may E READ with regret that the Presby­ many such churches the problem presented receive. It will not say, 'We undertake this W terian Board of Foreign Missions ac­ by these redu.ctions has be'en a very diffi­ work or that and ask you to give us money cepted the resignation of Mrs. Pearl S. Buck cult one. In the main the plan followed to carry it on,' but it will say: 'If you "with regret." Perhaps the Board would by the Committee, of which Dr. George R. believe the Bible to be the Word of God accept with pleasure the resignation of Edmundson is Chairman, has been to give and desire to act on that belief, we pledge aggressive evangelical missionaries. the major support to the old€r established our faith, so far as it is humanly possible, We also read in a newspaper repo"rt that churches and the more needy communities that not a dollar of your contributions will Mrs. Henry V. K. Gilmore,a member of and withdraw support from other fields. go to the propagation of Modernism and the Board, who for ten y€ars represented Every possible effort is being made to carry every dollar of it will be used for the propa­ the "other extreme to Dr. Machen" an-. on wherever actual need exists. gation of the Gospel of Christ as it is nounces her intention to follow Mrs. Buck The Rev. Frank March of Elizabeth is taught in Holy Scripture and is so glori­ by resigning from the Board "in order to still unable to return to his pulpit, but it is ously summarized in the Westminster Con­ express'my fullest sympathy with her." being supplied regularly by other members fession of Faith.' And think of itl This woman s'erved on th€ of the Presbytery. On May 28th ElderC. E. "This step has long been hoped for by Board for ten years. The Board probably Flack of the Brighton Church supplied th€ real believers in the Bible, who love the accepted her resignation also "with regret." pulpit. Mr. Flack formerly served under Lord Jesus Christ and desire to carry His As the Board of Foreign Missions refuses the Board of National Mission as a mission­ Name to the ends of the earth, but who to clean house, evang,elicals ought to sup­ ary to the Navajo Indians. yet have been compelled to see that the port Bible believing missionaries and mis­ The writ€r recently had the privilege of present Board of Missions is unworthy of sions only. accompanying our Sunday School Mission­ their confidence." We have not yet seen an answer to Dr. ary, the Rev. J. S. Dapp, on a visit to a: Machen's pamplet "Modernism and the number of fields in the interest of the vaca­ The new Board will meet in Philadelphia, Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby­ tion church schools. The outlook for such at the Drake Hotel, on Tuesday, June 27th, terian Church of the U. S. A." schools is very encouraging in spite of ad­ at 10 A. M. The prayers of God's people Mr. Malcolm Forsberg, a member of the verse financial conditions and it is entirely are asked for the Board-now and espe­ First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, was possible the Presbytery will out-do its cially upon the date of meeting. Like many recently accepted by the Sudan Interior splendid record of previous years. another great work it will begin as God Mission. As soon as this Church heard about In a rec·ent issue of these notes the writer gives means-but it ought in His providence Mr. Forsbe·rg's intention to go to Abyssinia mentioned the splendid work being done by to develop into one of the greatest mission­ it speedily underwrote his transportation the Rev. Jose 1. Candelaria among the ary agencies in the world. and support, for the first year. Mr. Fors­ Spanish-speaking people of DenV'er and Conclusion berg is a soul-winner and an ardent evan­ vicinity. He stated that the Rev. Mr. Sometimes it is hard to belong to a minor­ gelical. Evang,elicals, therefore, whole­ Candelaria's salary was paid by the Board ity. But to any man of conviction and heartedly and enthusiastically came to his of National Missions. He has since been intelligence there is something far worse, support at once. informed that this is true only in part as that is, to go against the truth as one re­ If the depression brought no other bless­ the money for Mr. Candelaria's salary and ceives it, in order to gain the favor of man. ing than the demise of the Presbyterian traveling ·expenses is contributed by the One may rightly compromise concerning Magazine it was not in vain. . Central Presbyterian Church of Denver, many things-persons, policies, methods, so One of our denominational editors stat€d Dr. Martin E. Anderson, Pastor, and is paid long as they do not involve surrender of that there was a place in the Presbyterian through the Board of N aHonal Missions. principle. But the' man who aS,ks another Church for three magazines. We disagree. The June meeting of Denver Presbytery to surrender truth for expediency's sake, There is no place in our Church for un­ will be held in the Idaho Springs Church to compromise truth, is asking him to sell evangelical magazines and that eliminates of which the Rev. A. Wilbur Liggett is his soul for a mess of pottage. Truth is the Advanc'e and the Banner. There is a Pastor. This field is located in the very not ours to handle as we will. We belong place for "The Presbyterian" for the aged h€art of the Rockies and yet as it is on one to the truth, not truth to us. To the and infirm will ever be with us. P.erhaps of the great trans-continental highways it Christian, truth is not mere usefulness or declining years should not be agitated by is easily accessible from Denver. conformity to custom. It is rather the ex­ vigorous thinking and militant arousement. Memorial Day was observed at Central pression in the life of man of the immutable But as for the rest of us, give us Presbyterian Church, Sunday, May 28th, at nature of the eternal and holy God. To CHRISTIANITY TODAY. We know where it both morning and evening s'ervices. In the compromise truth is treason to Him. Today stands and in Whom the editorial staff morning, Dr. Martin E. Anderson, Pastor, as in other years of testing, men must take believes. preach€d on the subject, "The Memory of sides. Either they will take the popular the Good." The platform was decorated way and stand with this arrogant, super­ Denver and Vicinity with flags,etc., and a camp fire for the ficial sophisticated, perishing age OR they evening service when Dr. Anderson preached will stand against the age with the ages­ By the Rev. H. Clare Welker, Th.M. on "The Unknown Heroes." In addition to to lose the smile of men, to gain the smile RESBYTERY'S Committee on National the music furnished by Central Choir which of Christl PMissions has been greatly burdened re­ included "Memorial Day" by Clements and H. MeA. G. cently with the work of the aid-receiving "Recessional" by Gower, the Olinger male June, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 15

Quartet, noted radio singers, sang several torical contest on the subject of Foreign Not once in any of his addresses did he old camp songs. Veterans of the G. A. R. Missions. The contest was held in connec­ attempt to interpret or explain Christ. "We occupied seats of honor on the platform tion with the spring meeting of the Clergy want contribution, not controversy," said and were introduced to the congregation. Club of the Synod, meeting in the College Dr. Jones. But very little contribution is The Spanish American Veterans attended of Emporia. made without controversy. Perhaps if Dr. in a body-about 125-and the Women's The Clergy Club of the Synod of Kansas Jones had entered into more of a contro­ Auxiliaries were well represented. The Sons met May 1st and 2nd in the College of versy with Ghandi instead of "throwing of Veterans Fife and Drum Corps were also Emporia. The reviews and discussions were open to him the windows of his spirit," the in attendance. Frank W. Farmer conducted based on the government report on "Social ten days spent with him recently might have the congregational singing. Trends." The Club has for its President brought him closer to the place of conver­ The Elders of Central Church have just Prof. R. Norris Miller of the College of sion ,and the new birth. completed a study of "The Ruling Elder" Emporia, and is open to all the ministers Dr. Jones made the statement that some by Cleland B. McAfee. This book has been . of the Synod. minds are so open that they cannot hold a found very interesting and helpful. MINNEAPOLIS, KANSAS conviction. "The Christian has a spiritual Bishop Ralph S. Cushman of the Metho­ certainty that Ghandi does not have." I dist Episcopal Qhurch preached in Central wonder if this open mind isn't the modern Church recently when the Pastor was in Minnesota and Wisconsin Letter mind. And I wonder if this certainty in attendance upon the General Assembly of By the Rev. H. Warren Allen. the Christian faith is not the very thing the Presbyterian Church at Columbus, Ohio. that is branded as dogmatism by the mod­ The Gideons had charge of theeV'ening R. E. STANLEY JONES made three ernist and so severely condemned. Little service. D major addresses in the twin cities on wonder the Methodist Episcopal Church has The Webster Missionary Society of Cen­ June 2nd and 4th. His first address was recalled half its missionary force accord­ tral Church is sponsoring a series of Prayer to ministers only, of Minneapolis and St. ing to Dr. Jones, while the Presbyterian, Meetings to be held ev,ery two weeks at the Paul. He proceeded on the plan of his well Baptist, Reformed, and Moravian Churches homes of members of the Society. known round table coni·erence, asking for a have recalled none. This ought to make Dr. BRIGHTON, COLO. series of questions from the ministers to E. Stanley Jones think. form the basis for what he should talk Dr. T. Ross Paden passed away at his about. After asking enough questions to home in St. Paul on April 17th. Dr. T. J. Items from Kansas take a full day to answer, he forthwith set Bergen was installed as pastor of the Home­ By the Rev. Jay. C. Everett out to spend the major part of his time wood Presbyterian. Church in Minneapolis. discussing just one question, What about The Presbyterian Church at Carleton, Min­ EOSHO PRESBYTERY at its Spring the Laymen's Missionary Report? It is nesota, has called Dr. T. D. Whittles, of Nmeeting held in Coffeyville, Kansas, strange how one can believe that the Lay­ Chippewa Presbytery. had three Moderators at once for the open­ men's Report robs the Christian message of The First Presbyterian Church of ing session, Rev. N. S. King, the Moderator its content and accept the New Testament Augusta, Ga., has called the Rev. Excel Fry, of the Presbytery; Rev. Wm. H. Davis, of in preference to this report, yet can pay it D.D., of the First Presbyterian Church of Cherryvale, who is a member of the Presby­ so many compliments. Likewise, to admit as Duluth. tery and Moderator of the Synod of Kansas; he did, that Ghandi was a Hindu and not MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. and Rev. C. W. Kerr, D.D., of Tulsa, the a Christian and yet emphasize the fact Moderator of the General Assembly who that he was highly Christianized, whatever was the speaker at the banquet attended that means. I suppose to not believe in News Notes From the Southeast by oV'er two hund;red people, and also physical force. This making common cause By the Rev. Wm. Childs Robinson, D.D. preached the sermon at the opening of the with those who reject the salvation of the Presbytery. New Testament Christ is the great cruci­ HE. one hundred and fifth commence­ The Carlyle, Kansas, Church had the fixion of the modern day. Tment of Columbia Theological Seminary possibility of a serious fire when the wooden Dr. Jones quite naturally said many good witnessed the graduation of twenty-three partition around the furnace caught fire. A things, and so did Buddha and Mohammed, Presbyterian students. Two-thirds of this brick partition is now installed. The Church but it is quite plain where this renowned number are now located in pastorates or has taken out insurance with the Board Of missionary goes astray. He does not accept supplyships; others are in contact with National Missions at a rate that makes it the authority of the Bible. As a result he fields. The graduates with present addresses possible to be more fully protected. is constantly drawing the false distinction are: The First Presbyterian Church of Hutch­ between Christ and Christianity. "Chris­ J. K. Aiken, Stated Supply, Inman, S. C.; inson, Kansas, Rev. Harry T. Scherer, D.D., tianity is a way but not the way." "Christ R. T. Gillespie, Pastor, Rock Springs Presby­ Pastor, gains in benevolence gifts over is more than a way, he is the way." There terian Church, Atlanta, Ga.; W. H. Jackson, those a year ago. Not including the women's is a difference between Christianity and Pastor, Stockbridge, Ga.; R. D. Littleton, gifts the amount for 1932-33 was $3,482 or many Christian systems, and even 'tis true Supply, Arlington, Ga.; J. Vernon McGee, $120 more than a year ago. The budget for to so-called Christians, but Christ is Chris­ Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Nash­ current 'expenses is smaller than a year ago tianity. ville, Tenn.; John W. Melton, Supply, Jones­ because of reductions in local expenses. The Dr. Jones spoke to a crowded auditorium boro, Ga.; Stanford Parnell, Supply, West budget has been met for the church year in St. Paul, and to more than ten thousand Point, Ga.; Henry E. Russell, Pastor-Elect, just closed and the budget for the ensuing people in Minneapolis on Sunday evening, McDonough, Ga.; F. A. Stroud, Pastor, year has been subscribed. More members June 4th. Many churches dismissed their Sparta, Ga.; Herbert E. Kann, SUpply, are using the weekly envelopes, making it services for this occasion. His popularity Americus, Ga.; J. G. Spencer, Pastor, Glade­ possible to meet all bills promptly. is easily explained. People want to hear the water, Texas; J. W. McQueen, Pastor, The Church at Lakin, Kansas, has closed man who knows Ghandi. His books have Woodstock, Ga.; M. D. Agerton, Supply, the year with all bills paid and an increase given him world reputation. And any man Preston, Ga.; A. H. Glasure, Pastor-Elect, in gifts to benevolences. Rev. D. S. Hon­ will get a crowd if the churches unite be­ Cornelia, Ga.; D. L. Wood, Supply, Orlando, saker, D.D., is Pastor. hind him. And you can get all manner of Fla.; B. H. Dickson, Columbia Seminary, Contestants were chosen by six of the churches to support you if you talk about Decatur, Ga.; C. D. Floyd, Mullins, S. C.; Presbyteries for the Synod of Kansas ora- Christ but remain silent as to what Christ. W. J. Hazelwood, Woodruff, S. C.; J. Moody 16 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June. 1933

McNair, Evangelistic Work, Tallahassee, ing repr'es'ented by graduate degrees from their self respect; their confidence in the . .Ala.; W. N. Potts, Kosciusko, Miss.; Kenneth Princeton and Oxford. The Board of Direc­ state; and even their desire to live: Stewart, Jacksonville, Fla.; John Raymond tors elected Dr. J. Sprole Lyons, Pastor of 1. A minimum wage. 2. Unemployment Smith, Columbia Seminary, Decatur, Ga. the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, as' insurance. 3. Old age pensions. 4. Adequate The baccalaureate sermon was preached its Chairman, succeeding the late Dr. John relief honestly and economically adminis­ to the graduating class by Dr. R. S. Oglesby; T. Brantley. tered. Hopeful for better civic conditions and the missionary address .delivered by DECATUR, GA. and deploring the existing violation of law, Dr. W. H. Boggs. The commencement we call upon the Mayor, the Police Depart­ speaker was Dr. W. D. Hooper, head of the News Letter from ment and its head for aggr€ssive and im­ Latin Department of the University of Western Pennsylvania mediate enforcement of the law in response Georgia, and long prominent in Southern By the Rev. Harold John Ockenga to the challenge offered by the forces of unrighteousness. " educational circles. Two special items of R. J. GRESHAM MACHEN, at the In­ The following impressions of the examin­ commencement call for more than passing vitation of the Pastor, preached at the D ation of candidates for licensure were writ­ mentIon: Point Breeze Presbyterian Church on May ten by Rev. Heber McIlwaine, assistant J>rofessor Wm. M. McPheeters, D.D., 21st, on the subject, "The Situation in the minister for the First Presbyterian Church, LL.D., for forty-five years professor in Presbyterian Church." The message, char­ Pittsburgh. Columbia Theological Seminary was 'e1ected acteristically pointed and timed, exposed "On May 15th at an adjourned meeting professor emeritus, and arrangements made the modernism of the Board of Missions, of the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, the 'oral for his continuance on the campus of the the indifferent attitude toward unbelief in part of the Presbytery's examination of Institution. Dr. McPheeters has long been the church, and the incompatibility of a candidates for licensure was held in the known by those who believe the Bible as creedal evangelical church, such as the chapel of Western Theological Seminary. one of its ablest defenders. At the begin­ Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., belong­ It is to be regretted that such an important ning of this century, in company with such ing to the Federal Council of Churches. part of the work of Presbytery should be men as B. B. Warfield, G. T. Purves, John The large attentive audience was apprecia­ carried on at an adjourned meeting instead D. Davis, D. J. Brimm, he edited the Bible tive of the revelation of the church situa­ of on€ of the regular and stated meetings. Student and The Bible Student and Teacher. tion. The newspapers reported it in front "One member of Presbytery who has been The conservativ-e position of Columbia Sem­ page articles. Then came the r'eactions of present at th€ ora.l examinations of the inary is largely due to the fact that in her Presbyterian clergymen of the city. Dr. candidates in four different Presbyteries Old Testament department the Institution Machen was called "rebel," "trouble-maker," was particularly struck by· the type of has had the services of two rare and saintly "devisive," and other abusive names, but questions asked the candidates, and the gen­ scholars, whose combined services virtually his arguments and facts remained un­ eral attitude of the majority of the mem­ span a century, Dr. George Howe and Dr. answered. At least the people of Pittsburgh bers present. (The examination was con­ W. J\IJ. McPheeters. Columbia men have and its vicinity were informed of the situa­ ducted by Dr. James Snowden). He was long realized that Dr. McPheeters stands tion, and many are now friendly to the new saddened and also angered by the general like Gibraltar for the Book But his firm­ Board of Missions. procedure. It seemed to be much more im­ ness in the faith is marked by s.uch a genu­ The Presbytery of Pittsburgh went on portant that the candidate believe in the ine openmindedness and sympathy that men record concerning social abuses with the possibility of rethinking theology, as Mis­ who enter his class with the most opposing acceptance of the report and recommenda­ sions· are being r€thought, or in the possi­ views come out with much of his own faith. tions presented by Rev. Basil Murray. bility of Progressive Revelation, than that A graduate of old Princeton, the Rever­ "Whereas it has been brought to the he believe in the Vicarious Atonement of end Patrick H. Carmichael, Ph.D., D.D., of attention of the public, by the Pittsburgh our Lord as a Satisfaction for Sin, or in Monte Vallo, Alabama, has accepted the call Press; by the studies of the Department of the Columbia Board to the chair of Eng­ of Labor and Industry; by the Secretary of His bodily resurrection. - "When objection was raised in the case lish Bible and Religious Education. Dr. the Department of Labor; and by the Gov­ of two candidates, there was an impatience Carmichael attended Princeton Theological ernor of Pennsylvania that women and chil­ on the part of many, and the discussion Seminary from 1915 to 1918, the time when dren are employed und€r intolerable con­ was interrupted by calls of 'Question.' That she boasted a group of Calvinistic scholars ditions and for many hours for as little as ministers who are commissioned to 'Feed that could not be equalled in the world. a dollar a week; the flock' of God are indifferent as to what Since that time Dr. Carmichael has special­ And whereas we are followers of Jesus is' to·be fed them; whether it is the 'Liv­ ized in Bible and Religious Education at the in his devotion to the welfare of human ing Bread which came down from Heaven,' Biblical Seminary and New York University, personality and are gravely concerned or the husks of Rationalism and Modern­ securing his doctorate at the latter institu­ about social conditions detrimental to the ism, calls for prayer and humility on the tion in 1931. He is widely known for his health and character of our people, we part of all, and a renewed determination on contributions to the religious press, his hereby deplore and condemn the unspeak­ the part of those 'Bible-believing' members weekly radio review of religious books over able conditions in regard to th€ labor of of the Presbytery to stand firm and 'con­ WAPI, and for th~ host of admiring stu­ women and children and urge the governor tend earnestly for the faith which as once dents who fill every corner of Alabama. The of the state at a special session of the legis­ delivered unto the saints.' coming of Dr. Carmichael marks a forward lature (or if this be deemed inadvisable) at "It is certainly to the discredit of the step in the upbuilding of Columbia Theo­ the next regular session to demand on be­ true believers that they are pres€nt in such logical Seminary as a center of Calvinistic half of the people laws to prevent child few numbers at this meeting. In one case scholarship in the heart of the Southern labor and the exploitation of women work­ at least it was due to a misunderstanding Presbyterian Church. ers such as the minimum wage law and as to the nature of the meeting, but as The three men who have taken professor­ other remedial legislation necessary for the members of Presbytery they are truly just ial chairs in the institution since its removal speedy correction of such abuses. as responsible to God for what Presbytery to Atlanta have each earned accrediting We also give our support to the follow­ did, as they would have been had they been doctorates in their respective· fields at out­ ing program of legislation which we believe present and acquiesed by failing to protest standing universities, Harvard, Chicago and will be beneficial for many long suffering by word or vote." New' York; while the new President is a and needy people, who, because, of living Rhodes Scholar with a wide cultural train- conditions now forced upon them, are losing PITTSBURGH June, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 17

Eastern Pennsylvania Letter the congregation on May 2nd, but because sions Fund; the Church Extension or the customary formula was not used, it is National Missions Fund is augmented by By the Rev. John Burton Thwing, Th.D. understood that a second congregational special gifts of those who make the exten~ meeting will be held to act in proper form. LDER PETER STAM, JR., of Narberth, sion work of the Church their special ac­ In a newspaper interview, Mr. Gurley de­ E and the Rev. Robert Marsden, of Middle­ tivity. A weekly prayer meeting is planned fended Buchmanism. town, distinguished themselves at the Gen­ for every evening in a different place and After a pastorate of twenty-six years, eral Assembly by bringing in a minority it is hoped ·that Sunday afternoon Bible Dr. Matthew J. Hyndman has resigned from report fr6m the Foreign Missions' Com­ Schools in the various cities will soon be the Olivet-Covenant Church, Philadelphia. mittee, recommending new and conserva­ started, using the graduates of the Calvin His only .previous . pastorate was at the tive members for the Board of Foreign Bible School as teachers and Westminster Church of the Evangel, where he remained Missions, and refusing to take the com­ Seminary students as student pastors. This fifteen years. He will become president of placent stand represented by the majority work des'erves much prayer. the Presbyterian Ministers' Fund. report. The Rev. J. Warren Kaufman, of Rev. Wm. Harllee Bordeaux has resigned Philadelphia, was among the signers of the PHILADELPHIA his pastorate of the Community Presby­ majority report, which whitewashed the terian Church of Old Greenwich, Conn. Board without answering the charges. Your This is the second evangelical Minister to correspondent proposes to test threats of New York and New England Notes be "frozen out" of his New England pastor­ ate during the past year. The Connecticut discipline against those who contribute to By the Rev. L. Craig Long the new Board of Foreign Missions, by Valley Presbytery will miss the testimony contributing to it himself. HE Moody Bib.le Institute of Chicago of Mr. Bordeaux, who never failed to ex­ The Rev. A. B. Gurley, of Philadelphia, Tconducted a BIble Conference in the press himself for the right. Rev. James took occasion to express the opinion that Calvin Presbyterian Church of New Haven, Oastler has resigned the pastorate of the the Assembly ought to go on record as dis­ Conn., during the week of May 14th. One Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, Conn., avowing CHRISTIANITY TODAY, but there of the speakers was Dr. J. Gresham Machen. to become the teacher of English Bible in was no second, and the subject was not Each time that Dr. Machen preaches in New a new Junior College recently organized in again referred to. This writer feels grate­ Haven it is to a larger congregation than Greenwich. Mr. Paul Price, who was a ful for the publicity thus afforded to this before. During -the Conference he was in­ Licentiate of the Connecticut Valley Presby­ rapidly-growing church paper. At this vited to speak in the Yale Divinity School tery was ordained in the First Presbyterian Assembly The Presbyterian Magazine, to the students. His address was a brilliant Church of Bridgeport on Sunday evening, "official" organ of the General Assembly, . testimony to supernaturalistic Christianity. June 4th. was discontinued. The Church was completely filled by the The "Central Visitor," published by the The Rev. Merrill T. MacPherson, of Phila­ congregation which gathered for the final Central Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, delphia, was among the speakers at Bethany sermon by Dr. James M. Gray. The Calvin has the following paragraph in an article Temple. Church recently, when a temp'er­ Church has recently begun a new policy edited by the. Pastor, Rev. Leonard V. anc-e rally was held. Other speakers in­ which calls for the devoting of exactly one­ Buschman: "The Apostles John, Peter and cluded the Church's Pastor, the Rev. Karl half of all money which the Church receives Paul, the Evangelists Moody, Whitfield and F. Wettstone, D.D., and the Revs. William tb the work of extending the Gospel else­ Drummond, the Missionaries Carey, Living­ B. Lower, D.D., and Burleigh Cruikshank, where. This one-half will be divided into stone and Judson, the Preachers Savanarola, D.D. three parts: one-third will be sent each Brooks and Jowett had some very real con­ The Rev. David W. Weaver has been in­ week to Westminster Theological Seminary victions that Jesus at least lived. They stalled as Pastor of the First Church of in Philadelphia; one-third will be used for could never have done what they did with­ Mauch Chunk. The Church's former Pastor, the beginning of other churches similar to out the conviction. Instead of uncertain and the Rev. Frank D. Scott, now of Jenkin­ Calvin Church and under the auspices of vague statements of Mrs. Buck, regarding town, delivered the charge to the people. the Calvin Church in other New England the Christ we prefer, John's ringing con­ Elder John H. Cole, of Chester Presby­ cities, where there are no Presbyterian viction: 'We have beheld and bear witness tery, was elected Chairman of the Ruling churches; one-third will be used in provid­ that the F'ather hath sent the Son to be the Elders' Association at its recent meeting ing the full support of a Missionary in Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall con­ in the Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia. Africa. fess that Jesus is the Son of God, God Walter Oliver, ministerial student from The Session has elected the Rev. James abideth in him and he in God.''' Beacon Church, Philadelphia, graduated Rohrbaugh as its Missionary in Africa and The Baccalaureate Sermon at Park Col­ "Cum Laude" from Stony Brook School on has promised him all support possible, in' lege, Missouri, was delivered by Rev. John June 10th. A brilliant student, he also re­ the Lord. Mr. Rohrbaugh was a classmate Lyon Caughey, Minister of the Presbyterian ceived his letter in wrestling. A group from of the Minister of the Calvin Church, and Church of Glens Falls, New York. A great the Church motored to Long Island for the sinc-e that time has served as a National many young people from New England and commencement, at which the Rev. Donald Missionary in Montana. This spring he re­ New York State are registered for the G. Barnhouse delivered the address. Walter ceived his Graduate Certificate from West­ Young People's Bible Conference to be held will enter Wheaton College in September. minster Theological Seminary. The Church at Montros'e the week of July 3rd. The The Rev. Robert Strong, a student in Session has designated that he must go out speakers are to be Dr. Roy T. Brumbaugh, Westminster Seminary, has been called to under a new Presbyterian Board, if formed, Rev. :Harold S. Laird and Rev. George be Pastor of the Willow Grove Church. or if such a new evangelical Board is not Rhoads. The Conference is held on the The Rev. A. A. Murray was recently in­ formed, then he is to go out under the grounds which were dedicated to the pur­ stalled at Honey Brook, succeeding the Rev. Sudan Interior Mission. It is believed that pose twenty-five years ago by Dr. R. A. Charles F. Van Horn. Other installations the radio facilities of the Church will enable Torrey. include the Rev. W. H. Hershey in the Doe this work to go forward. Church bulletin~ and news of Churches Run Church, and the Rev. H. W. Koehler The Young People of the Church have in New York and New England Synods will in the joint field of Folsom and Holmes. pledged all of their offerings to West­ be included in this monthly letter if mailed The resignation ·of the Rev. Melville B. minster; the Women's Mission and Bible to Rev. L. Craig Long, Post Office Box Gurley from the Market Square Church, Meetings which are held each week have 1000, New Haven, Conn. Germantown, Philadelphia, was accepted by pledged their offerings to the Foreign Mis- NEW HAVEN, CONN. 18 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933

Here and There added to the membership of the Connecticut erator, Rev. M. M. Stoeker, D.D. After the Farms Church on E'aster Sunday, April roll call by the Stated Clerk, Dr. Lee, of the HE Rev. N. F. Grafton, D.D., has re­ 16th. . . . Osborne Presbytery met at Oak­ members and churches, officers were elected: Tsigned as pastor of the Floral Heights ley, Kansas, April 20th, and was opened Moderator, the Rev. C. C. Burchett, D.D., Presbyterian Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, with a sermon by the retiring moderator, and Mr. F. C. Graham, temporary clerk. and accepts a call from First Presbyterian the Rev. Wm. I. Bell. An oratorical contest The reports of the various committees Church, Plainview, Texas.... The Rev. was held, the subject being "Foreign Mis­ through their chairmen were encouraging, J. W. Wright has resigned as pastor of the sions." There were only two contestants, considering the fact that we live in a time East Side Presbyterian Church, Wichita Miss Bess Galavan of Wakeeney and Clar­ when we meet adverse conditions of all Falls, Texas, and accepted a call to the Cen­ ence Resly of Oakley. The judges gave the kinds on every hand. The National Missions tral Presbyterian Church, Stamford, Texas. decision to Miss Galavan. Rev. J. S. Griffes Report by Dr. Stocker, the report on Educa­ . . . Pledging "unfaltering" support to the of Hill City was elected moderator. The tion by the Rev. J. A. 8mith, as well as eighteenth amendment and calling upon the Rev. John Berg from Durant Presbytery, the report on Program and Field Activities "people of our churches to rally to defeat U. S., was received. He is Stated Supply at by Mr. A. E. Caswell, were exceptionally the repeal movement," the Presbytery of o berlin. The Fairport and Calvert churches good, and brought a :feeling of stability and Des Moines on April 25th concluded its whose buildings were destroyed about a encouragement to the entire Presbytery. spring meeting. The prohibition resolution year ago are both rebuilt and the work pro­ The sermon in the evening by the retiring was presented by Dr.W. H. Phelps and the gressing. Both congregations deserv'e praise Moderator, Dr. Stocker, on the "Call of the Rev. Harry C. Shiffler, both of Des Moines, for going ahead with' their building pro­ Church," from Matthew 16:17-18, was in­ and Elder W. S. McCaull of Garden Grove, grams. Presbytery answered Overture "A" spiring and uplifting, as well as a challenge Iowa. in the negative, concurred with Hudson in to the ministry for whole-hearted service. "We regret the legalization of beer by asking withdrawal from the F,ederal Council the nation and the state regardless of the and with Chester on the place of the West­ wishes of the people of any particular local minster Confession as a basis for all union community," the resolution said. projects. The Fall meeting will be at the The Presbyterian Church in Canada "In new problems which the legalizing Fairport Church. . . . Boulder Presbytery By the Rev. W. M. Rochester, D.D. of beer has brought, we urge o-qr people met in the Central Church, Longmont, Colo., to be more faithful and diligent in the in­ April 18-19. The Rev. E. Ray Cameron was HREE institutions of our Church of struction of our youth in the home, church elected moderator. Good reports were heard T which we are reasonably proud, engaged and Sunday school in the matter of the in­ from all committees and the National Mis­ the attention of our people last month, by creasing importance of temperance." ... sions committee reported conditions good in virtue of the exercises which marked the A two weeks'evangelistic campaign was aid-receiving churches in spite of the large closing of the academic year. held recently in the Westminster Presby­ reduction in allocation for next year. Miss Our Church may gratefully contemplate terian Church of Auburn, N. Y. The Rev. Mary Moore, Young People's Secretary· of its possession of the two leading colleges A. F. Banker was the speaker who brought the Foreign Board, gave two addresses. A of the Church prior to union, the older and splendid and practical Bible messages each day is to be set aside for conference and larger of which is Knox College, Toronto. evening and three services on three succes­ prayer on topics sugg'ested by the Spiritual It is generally conceded that a finer exam­ sive Sundays. Mr. John Tailby, a comedian Emphasis Committee. Ministerial commis­ ple of architecture would be difficult to find on the stage before he found Jesus Christ, sioners to Assembly, E. Ray Cameron and than thE) building in which the activities of led the singing. The Rev. Clarence Laman Joseph G. Bell; Elders, Dr. O. F. Broman this institution are carried on. is pastor of the church. Audiences were not and A. M. Rex.... Covington, Ky., Church large but gradually grew until at the last has called the Rev. John Gray Rhind, of For the annual Convocation the beautiful service the church was packed. About fifty Flossmore, Ill., to be pastor.... President and commodious chapel was so crowded as of the members, including almost all of the Reed, of Auburn Seminary, New York, has to require all the seating accommodation officers, came forward to kneel before the announced visiting faculty members for the that could be provided. The Moderator of pulpit fully to consecrate their lives to two sessions of the summer school. They the General Assembly, Rev. Dr. Robt. Johns­ Christ. Many of them cannot contain them­ are Dr. Ernest R. Groves, professor of so­ ton of Knox Church, Ottawa, who during selves and are giving testimony in the ciology in the University of North Carolina; the past year under authority of the Gen­ church and at their work of a real experi­ the Rev. Dr. J. V. Moldenhawer, First eral Assembly has been Acting-Principal, ence with Jesus Christ in their hearts. Six Church of New York City; the Rev. Dr. presided. With him upon the platform were united with the' church who had never before John H. Gross, Board of Pensions, Philadel­ members of the College staff, prominent openly accepted Christ. It is evident that phia; Prof. Robert Lowry Calhoun, Yale clergymen, and others. The devotions were the Spirit has not ceased His labors for Divinity School; the Rev. Philip Cowell conducted by Rev. W. Patterson Hall of an enthusiastic group has been organiz'ed Jones, Madison Avenue Church of New York Knox Church, Galt. The leading features of under the leadership of the pastor to study City; the Rev. Dr. U. L. Mackey and the the occasion were the awarding of scholar­ the Word of God, and are coming with Rev. Dr. H. N. Mo,rse, Board of National ships, granting of diplomas to members of Bibles and pencil notebook to read and mark Missions; Miss E. Louise Guernsey, Recrea­ the graduating class, conferring honorary for themselves the passages in the Word tional Training School, Chicago; Miss J ean­ degrees, and the address to the graduates. which speak of God's promis'es, a Chris­ ette E. Perkins, Riverside Church, New The Acting-Principal reported twenty-six tian's assurance, and God's plan of Salva­ York; the Rev. Dr. Harry Thomas Stock, students in the regular divinity course and tion. The people are praying for the Spirit National Council of Congregational and twelv'e engaged in extramural work taking of God to lead them in order that they may Christian Churches; the Rev. WaIter Getty, the B. D. course. He stated that the pros­ become a real testimony of the power of Missionary Education Movement. The first pects for a supply of students were brighter God unto Salvation unto all who believe session will be from June 26th to July 13th than ever. Appreciation was expressed of thos'e things which are foolishness to the and the second session from July 17th to the work of Rev. Dr. Stuart Parker, Min­ worldly wise, including many professing August 3rd.... The regular Spring meet­ ister of St. Andrew's Church, King St., Christians. They are not ashamed of the ing of Willamette Presbyt'ery was con­ Toronto, who during the past session has Cross of Christ and freely acknowledge that vened in the first Presbyterian Church, lectured on Systematic Theology. The His Blood was shed for the remission of Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4th-5th, and graduates numbered seven, all of whom, sins.... Eighty-one new members were was constituted with prayer by the Mod- with one exception, held university degrees. Ju-ne, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 19

There was a generous distribution of schol­ Three ministers received the degree of Netherlands Letter arships and awards suggestive of th€ €ar• Doctor of Divinity, two in Canada, and one By the Rev. F. W. Grosheide, D.D., Professor nest work of the students throughout the Rev. R. Mooreh.ead Legate, of St. James in the Free University, Amsterdam y€ar. in The Presbyterian Church of England, Church, Charlottetown, P. E. Rev. Rupert WO recent events have greatly startled The honorary degree of Doctor of Divin­ I., G. Stewart, St. John's Church, Toronto, Tthe Dutch religious people. In the ity was bestowed upon two ministers in and Rev. John Stephen Roose, of Bourne­ Netherlands. there is a census every ten prominent churches in Toronto, Rev. H. E. mouth, England. "The Preacher's Preroga­ years to control the data in the registrars' Abraham, B.A., of Glenview Church, and tive," was the theme of Dr. Rupert G. Stew­ offices. Everyone is r-equired to writ€ his Rev. W. Hardy Andrews, of Queen St. East art's address to the graduating class, a name, date of birth, etc., and also the name Church, and upon a minister in a rural message which h€ said was born of a minis­ of the church of which he is a member on charge who has many years of faithful terial -experience O"f twenty-five years. an official blank procured for the pur;ose. service to his credit, Rev. W. G. Smith of Whilst all followers of Christ were called Now there was a census in 1930, but, for Glenarm, Onto To Dr. Smith fell the honor upon to be ministers, they were to be minis­ reas?ns of economy, the results are being of addressing the graduates. He took for ters in a distinctive sense having been set publIshed very slowly .. So, for instance the his them€ "The Work of the Ministry." He apart from all worldly pursuits to give un­ e~~lesiastical statistics of the four la;gest pointed out that the close of the academic divided devotion to this high calling. In cltI:es were published last April. We all chapter of life would be followed by the preparation for it they should do their ut­ expected a great increase in the number of opening of the school of experience. From most in physical, intellectual and spiritual those who do not desire to belong to any a faithful ministry, rich in experience, he development. A unique feature of Dr. Stew­ church, but no one expected that this in­ emphasized good living, expatiating upon art's address was the place assigned to the crease would be as great as it actually the pow€r of example and th€ force -of per­ children in the Church and the desirability prov-ed to be. In Groningen the third part sonality; he exalted preaching as the form of a special message each Lord's Day for of the population does not belong to any of service to which they were primarily and them. "It has been my specialty," said Dr. church. Particularly the great Reformed exclusively called, extolling the virtue of Stewart, "during the past quarter of a cen­ church (singular) appears to have lost concentration upon the message of the Gos­ tury. Make a place for the children at your ~any members. The Reformed congrega­ pel and the importance of a kindly, per­ pulpit table; giv-e them at least onc€ each tIOn of Amsterdam always gloried in being suasive form of address as illustrated in Sunday a simple, brief, but worth-while the largest Calvinistic congr-egation in the Goldsmith's description of the village pas­ message. We dare not neglect them in view world. Perhaps it has not ceased to be such tor. The minister's opportunity as a shep­ of what they are and their possibilities, and but at any rate the Roman Catholic church h~rd was magnified and the virtue of kindly, especially when we have before us the deep has more members in Amsterdam than the WIse, and serious pastoral visitation illus­ interest shown by the Master in the little Reformed church has. The Roman Catholics trated. ones. He said, 'Suffer the little children to are on the decline, too. The Refor~ed Immediately at the close of the Convoca­ come unto me and forbid them not, for of churches (plural) made progress, but prob­ tion exercises the great audience remained such is the Kingdom of Heaven.''' . ably not in proportion to the increase in while the Presbytery of Toronto convened Here, too, as in Knox in the distribution population. In Amsterdam, the Reformed and licensed the graduates. of scholarships and other awards was evi­ churches went backwards, but it should be dence of faithful and successful work on the remembered that the secession of Dr. Geel­ The Convocation of the Presbyterian Col­ part of the students. kerken took place in 1926. Be that as it lege, Montreal, was also marked by a large The Missionary and Deaconess Training may, no one can deny that, on the whole, attendance in the body of the hall and a Home, Toronto, occupies very suitable quar­ there is a great increase of thos'e who by distinguished company of leaders in the edu­ ters in a former splendid ~ity residence. their own declaration have mad€ known the cational realm and in the ministry on the The Principal is Miss Winifred Ferguson. fact that they do not belong to any church. platform. Among the latter was the oldest The chairma~ of the Board is Rev. H. A. In one of my former letters I spoke of living graduate of the college, Rev. Dr. D. G. Berlis, of Royce Ave. Church, who presided the coming election. This election took place Camero~, of Swift Current, Sask., who a and directed a well-arranged program. The in April and the results confirm those of the few years ago received the honorary degree s-ervice of praise was led by the choir of census. It is true, and we ought to be grate­ of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma Materfo one of the leading churches, St. Paul's, with ful for it, that in general the Christian par­ The Principal, Rev. Dr. F. Scott Mackenzie Mr. A. Y. Grant at the organ. The devo­ ties did not go backward. But there was a presided and reported for the year's work: tions were conducted by Rev. Walter T. Mc­ distinct move to the left. In the old second The graduating class was the largest in six Cree of Glebe Church, and Rev. Dr. Rudolph chamber (lower house) two of the hundred years, indicating that interest in the college Uren of Rosedale Church. In the graduat" members were communists, while in the new was growing. There were tw€nty-six stu­ ing class were four regular students and a one there are four. dents in the divinity classes. The five grad­ special student, Miss Mary Sherrick of Wey­ The liberals assert that the orthodox are uates, of whom Mr. D. N. MacMillan was burn, Sask., who at the recent meeting of to blame for the fact that the church is los­ valedictorian, all had spheres immediately the General Board of Missions was pre­ ing ground. This must sound strang-e to open to them. Three had already signified sented -as a volunteer for service among the outsiders. But the modernists reason as fol­ their acceptance of calls, two in Quebec and Bhils in India. Miss Sherrick is splendidly lows: In the greater part of the large cities one in Nova Scotia, while a fourth antici­ equipped by university training and by ex­ the ministers and elders are orthodox. (This, pated settlement in the near future. The peTience as well as by sound health and I may remark in passing, is true.) Now the fifth purpos-es to take post-graduate studies vigorous intellect for the service for which orthodox consistories (sessions) do not call in England. In his valedictory Mr. Mac­ she will leave Canada in the autumn. A dis­ liberal ministers. Consequently the liberal Millan expressed the wish that he and his tinguished feature of the presentation to people cannot have the type of preaching fellow graduates should be worthy of the the Board of Missions was the part taken that they want and they do not attend fine traditions of the college and render hon­ by the present Moderator of the General church any more. Such is the argument. orable service under the Head of the Church. Assembly, Dr. Robert Johnston, and two ex­ But we know the facts to be the reverse of Rev. Dr. Robert Johnston, Moderator of Moderators, Dr. A. J. MacGillivray, and this. In former days the modernists emptied the General Assembly, was present on this Mr. W. G. Brown, and by Miss Sherriek's the churches by their preaching and even occasion and reported for the sister institu­ minister, Rev. W. A. Cameron. now the churches that have liberal ministers tion in Toronto. TORONTO. have empty pews. 20 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933

Although the number of liberals, who do these churches. They are not affected by Against Modernism and not yet control the church, is not so v'ery the disintegrating and baneful effects of Equivocation i·n France great, they have considerable influence even militant modernism either in the Home or now, particularly because there are many Foreign field. More than thirty years ago By Pastor A. Cruviellier, of the Eglise of the orthodox who protect them. We the Free Church of Scotland determined reformee evang elique hay.e a typical specimen of this influence the issue by declining to enter into Union HE Union of Evangelical Christians has just at the present time. The ministers of with another Church on a basis of compro­ T just held its annual General Assembly the Dutch Reformed church (singular) mise on vital matters. For it is through the at Ollieres (Ardeche) on the 28th and 29th study at the State Universities (Leiden, gateway of compromise that Modernism of April. We shall speak of it in order to Groningen, Utrecht). Now, up to 1876 th€-se has advanced boldly here and elsewhere and show what is the present situation of universiti'es had real departments of the­ has become the disturbing element it is in evangelical Protestantism in France in its ology. But in 1876 a great change took churches. contest against modernism. The region of the Vivarais, where our place. Dogmatics, ethics and practical the­ Efforts towards an incorporating Union Assembly was held, is particularly adapted ology were banished from the curricula of these smaller churches, which all adhere to call forth memories both sorrowful and while great stress was laid upon the history unequivocally to the Westniinster Stand­ glorious. There at Bouschet-de-Pranles, and philosophy of religion. The Dutch Re­ ards, have had the anticipated result. Such Marie Durand was born, who, for thirty­ formed church, however, acquired the right a Union, however desirable, could not have eight years (1730-1757) was a prisoner for to appoint two professors for dogmatics, been attained. Two of these negotiating the faith in the Tower of Constance, where etc., for 'each university at the expense of churches reached unanimity on a basis com­ she inscribed on one of the stones the fam­ the state. Now there was a vacancy at prising doctrine, government, worship and ous word "Resister" (resist). There also Leiden, the old bulwark of modernism, be­ administration, but they failed to agree on was born at Villeneuve-de-Berg, Antoine caus'e one of the ecclesiastical professors a Name for the proposed United Church. Court, to whom, under God, was due the arrived at the age of seventy at which he The Name, although not a part of the "fun ~ restoration of Protestantjsm in France in is obliged to retire. The majority of the damentals" of the churches, is more than an the eighteenth century. church is orthodox as also the majority of "accidental." For it enshrines pious senti­ Resistance to everything which can com­ the appointing synod. But three liberals ments and historical facts of importance, promise the evangelical faith and restora­ have been nominated and a liberal will be which form a venerated tradition. States­ tion of the fundamentals of the faith de­ appointed! Honesty compels me to add that men in Church and State are becoming stroyed by modernism. In these two words the five other ecclesiastical professors are more and more convinced that it is only by is contained the program which the Union orthodox. restoring respect for similar venerated tra­ of Evangelical Christians has set for itself One of them is Professor Haitjema of ditions that the difficult but not desperate since its foundation in 1920. Groningen. He is a propagandist of the life of ~an today and tomorrow can be Has it realized it? No. Barthian theology, although he is no slavish lived with any measure of hopefulness. But The modernist current has greatly in­ follower of Barth. In my former letter I these churches are, nevertheless, not to wrote about the gatherings of the the­ relax their efforts to secure closer co-opera­ creased in these last years. The Protestant ologians. On the gathering of the Reformed tion in all distinctive Christian work. Federation, at first working only in the church theologians Professor Haitjema read moral and social spheres, has seen all the The first of the two important, and per­ Churches ( evangelical and modernist) a paper on the relation of the Word of. God haps unusual, matters that engaged the to the Scriptures, a' nice point in the w:hich are grouped around it grant to it· attention of a packed Assembly of the the right of operation in the religious theology of Barth. I have not yet read the Church of Scotland, was the first report of address, but relying on the report in the sphere. Thus it is being given the means their representative to the "unrestricted of becoming' a Super-Church and of realiz­ newspapers, I do not believe that Professor Conference" at Lambeth. The report itself Haitjema has solved the problem. One of ing the unity of French Protestantism in was colourless and empty. After a long dis­ 'doctrinal indifference. What a school of his opponents was Professor de Hartog, cussion which was sustained on a high level whose father was prof.essor. at the Free skepticism! of cogent reasoning which still justifies the By its journal and its other publications, University, and who himself is at the Uni­ proud claim of this Assembly to be the versity of the City of Amsterdam. Pro­ and by its General Assemblies, the Union mother of most parliaments of Presbyte­ M Evangelical Christians has attempted, in fessor de Hartog has a system of his own, rianism, the decision arrived at destroys which he declares to be the pure evolution the midst of the growing confusion, to em­ all hope of the Conference proceeding much phasize clarity and truth. It has denounced of Calvinism. Professor de Hartog also read further on their venture after comprehen­ a paper. the equivocations which were most open sive Union. This will be disappointing to and most dangerous, particularly the great AMSTERDAM the imitators of Anglic:anism among Pres­ equivocation which was brought into exist­ byterians, but it will be a genuine relief Scottish Letter ence by the ecumenical conference in to the anxiety of Presbyterian Scotland. Lausanne in 1927, represented as manifest­ By the RWIJ. P'rof. D. MacLean, D.D., The other question involves the recon­ ing the unity of the faith of the Protestant Free Church College, Edinburgh. ciling of two traditions flowing irregularly churches of the world, a r~presentation HE supreme courts of Scottis~ Presb~­ in what is outwardly the united Church which was inaccurate. Tterianism, which are now holdmg theIr of Scotland. It deals with the education of But if the current which it wishes to stop sittings in Edinburgh, have not yet exhaust­ the ministry and rages round the point has constantly grown, it has at least re­ ed their programmes. The most important whether philosophy and the physical sci­ sisted energetically and in spite of its ex­ items of business have, however, been dealt ences should not have an equal, if not a treme weakness it has, by the grace of God, with. One can, therefore, present a fair higher, place in the curricula with Hebrew, done well. Today in the plain still covered account of the prevailing trend of opinion Greek, Dogmatics and History. Interested by the inundation of the principles and in the Assemblies from the decisions already professors and ministers have attacked each methods of modernism it maintains here arrived at. other on the matter with such virulence and there some islands which stand above In the courts of the smaller Presbyterian and scathing personal denunciations as do the surface and which will serve as solid Churches (the names of these were given . not encourage outsiders to be enamoured of starting points in sweeping back the devas­ in my last letter) there was nothing fitted so-called Church Unions. tating waters and beginning the work of to disturb the theological conservatism of EDINBURGH. restoration and conquest which is before us. JU'ne, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 21

The Union of Evangelical Christians is Letter from Germany terrorism. The irreligious and heathen no longer alone in opposing modernism. schools, which were allowed during the last The youth of our churches and of the corps By the Rev. H. Jochums fourteen years and in which children were of pastors is now resolutely bestirring itself educated not only without religion, but URING recent weeks the political situa­ against the foe and the moment will soon against religion, are dissolved. Offensive tion in Germany has been discussed in be here, perhaps, when the Churches and D and deprecatory attacks against the .Chris­ almost every newspaper of the world. A the Religious Societies will enter and march tian Churches are no longer allowed. The great deal of the world press has criticized resolutely along the path of fidelity which Churches are well defended by the new gov­ severely the developments in Germany. The is the path of spiritual conquests. ernment. N ow we are living in Germany most horrible stories were told everywhere. more securely and more happily than we To hasten the arrival of this day the A well-organiz·ed horror propaganda has in­ have lived at any time since the great war. Union of Evangelical Christians submitted vented the most terrible news, the most The enemies of the new government, who for study to the Assembly at Ollieres the dreadful atrocities and has tried to gain must see that they never will accomplish following two important SUbjects: The credence in every country. By such dis­ their terrible purposes, try to defame and Higher Criticism and the Faith (introduced honest means certain. bad men hav·e tried by Monsieur E. de Vedrines) and Equivo­ to weaken the new government by their at­ to defame and weaken the new ~overnment tacks from abroad and by using their inter­ cation and its Dangers (introduced by in Germany. We remember that during the national relations. This is their last at­ Pastor Pic). These two studies have been great war by means of an organiz'ed propa­ tempt. This attempt is well to understand. published, the first one in a special pamph­ ganda a great many of the American people Thereby communists and Jews, who always let (price: 4 frs.) and the second in Le got the impression that Germans were bar­ were friends in Germany as well as in Rus­ Chretien Evangelique (subscription: 10 frs. barians. By the same means of horror sia, work together in the whole world. But a year). These may be obtained from propaganda today deceitful reports are at last the truth will be victorious. Madomoiselle de V Mrines, Francescas, Lot­ spread all over the world. Generally it is et-Garonne, France. not the task of a Christian periodical to It would be endless to enumerate the con­ The statement of policy voted by the discuss political events, but in the interest sequences of the terrorism of communism Assembly and containing the conclusions of of the truth and the mutual confidence in Germany, not only for Germany and he~ the two papers mentioned is as follows: among the nations and especially among Christian life, but also for her neighbors, "The General Assembly of the Union of Christians, it is indispensably necessary to perhaps for the whole world. We all have Evangelical Christians, meeting at Ollieres say this. Truth and mutual confidence are many reasons to thank God that He has on the 28th and 29th of April, 1933, the presupposition not only of a Christian saved us from such terrible misery. The "Since the higher criticism (by which we communion, but of any communion at all. most important thing is, that our Protestant understand negative criticism), by the way Therefore it must be said, that all the churches further have the opportunity to in which it has falsified the Bible and be­ horror news is a lie~ The national "revolu­ preach the pure and genuine' gospel of the cause of the prestige which it enjoys in the tion" in Germany was not a real revolution Lord Jesus Christ. ranks of our organized churches, is to the at all, but a changing of the government by DELLING POST CURTEN, RHEINLAND, highest degree an agent destructive of the law. The majority of the German people GERMANY. faith; decided by the last election that they re­ "Since proof has been give of the arbi­ ject the former government because of the trary and unscientific character of the present economic distress and especially Spanish Letter method by which this work is carried on; because the former gov-ernment did not en­ By Percy J. Buffard, Founder and Director, "Expresses its hope that the religious ergetically attack, but even favored and the Spanish Gospel Mission . public will at length free itself from the promoted in a manner the communism and intellectual servitude which allows the Bolshevism that were propagated by Russia OMAN CATHOLICISM has reigned su­ audacious pretensions of a science falsely and were encroaching upon Germany. Espe­ R preme in Spain for many centuries, so-called to weigh upon the spirits of men; cially the burning of the building of the and it may be truly said that Spain was the that the 'Churches known as evangelical will Reichstag, which could be set on fire by last stronghold of Romanism. The priest come to a more exact realization of the obli­ the communists in spite of good watching, was all-powerful and I hav-e met village folk gations which rest upon them to assure has opened the 'eyes of the German people. who really thought that the priest was mor~ within their own bounds effectiv~ respect This burning should be the sign for the powerful than God, because he could shut for the fundamental principles of the Chris­ revolution of the communists. By the ener­ God (the consecrated wafer) up in a little tian faith and in particular for the sover­ getic interference of the new government box, and He could not get out till the priest eign authority of the Holy Scriptures; Germany has scarcely escaped from the let Him out! "Insists on the mortal dangers of the Russian Bolshevism. The difference between equivocation which, in our religious Society, the present and the former German govern­ The result of priest-rule for so many cen­ is the natural friend of generalized modern­ ments is the energy with which she attacks turies is a colossal ignorance that makes the ism; communism and similar movements. The people an easy prey to all kinds of supersti­ "Opposes every attempt. at union or former German government did not prevent tions. Even now, nearly fifty per cent. of rapprochement between ecclesiastical bodies the propaganda of the Russian Bolshevists the population cannot read or write. Idol­ animated by principles which are distinctly and the communists. Now the situation is atry has been rampant, though not so much opposed to one another and within whose changed. The organizations of the commu­ in evidence since the Republic. I have known bounds the testimony given concerning nists are dissolv·ed, the newspapers of the . instances where the image has been hung Jesus Christ is often in opposition to the communists and their allies have been pro­ down a well, and prayed to, with the idea Biblical revelation; hibited, their pamphlets have been seques­ that it is bound to answer the prayer for "And implores of God the hastening of the tered, the leaders of the communists have fear of a ducking! time when the unity of Christians and of been arrested. All these arrangements were The .intolerance displayed by the Romish Churches will be possible, without equivo­ executed in a very orderly and respectable Church throughout these years is almost in­ cation, on the basis of Biblical principles manner. Ill-usages of the prisoners are se­ credible. Within the last ten or twelve years and the Biblical faith in conformity with verely forbidden. The prisoners are treated even, men have been brutally outraged, and the true traditions of our Protestantism." and entertained very well. They are only almost killed, at the instigation of the V AUVERT, GARD prevented to propagate communism and priests, for no other crime than for seeking 22 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933 to spread the Gospel. Others have been Letter from Melbourne, Australia Dr. Macintyre said the overture was not fined or imprisoned for singing Protestant a condemnation of Dr. Angus-it merely hymns in their own houses! One woman, By the Rev. H. T. Rush (Secretary of the made out a prima facie case for inquiry. Carmen Padin, of EI Grove, a few years Bible Union of Victoria) He moved that the overture be transmitted ago was s-entenced to two years' imprison­ simpliciter to which Mr. McGowan agreed. URTHER developments have apparently ment . for saying to some of her neighbors Rev. John Edwards said his theological taken place in regard to the matter of that the Virgin had other children besides F sympathies were strongly in the direction the continuation of the services of Dr. S. of the teachings of Dr. Angus. Jesus, while the Bible has been burnt and Angus of Sydney in the position of lec­ destroyed, publicly or privately, all over There the matter rests till the Assembly turer to the students of the Joint Theologi­ deals with it. Spain. cal faculty in that city. Mr. John Ridley, an evangelist from New But the most deadly fruit of Romanism According to "Glad Tidings," edited by South Wales, has been holding meetings at is atheism. Even before the Repubiic was the Rev. J. Ward Harrison, a resolution was divers places in Victoria. Preston is one of proclaimed, the tide was setting in strongly moved by the Principal of Leigh College the leading suburbs of Melbourne, and con­ against Romanism, the only religion that in the Methodist Conference, which is one of stitutes a city of 20,000 people or so. The was known. The hypocrisy, immorality and the bodies connected with the Joint Faculty, writer was privileged to hear Mr. Ridley greed of the majority of the priests had to the effect "that in view of the enquiry in the Baptist Church there (of which Rev. sickened the people of religion. The pity of to be made by the Presbyterian Church W. Lowson is in charge), when a soul-sav­ it is that they have had no other religion concerning the beliefs of the Professor in ing mission was in progress. Utterly con­ to turn to. The glorious Gospel of our Lord New Testament, special temporary provi­ secrated, tense, dramatic to a large degree, Jesus Christ, in all its loveliness and purity sion outside of the United Course be made ofttimes reaching a by no means low stand­ and grace, has never been set 'before them, for the instruction of the Methodist stu­ ard of eloquence, in his own way original, and they have gone right over to a mate­ dents in that subject. That subject' to the and without the extravagances that char­ rialistic atheism which makes them suspi­ above provision, the United Course of acterise some missioners, Mr. Ridley is a cious of any kind of religion. What a com­ Theological training, be continued for 1~33." man with a message. The message is of mentary on Romanism! Wherever Rome has The same paper also states that at a salvation, of the cross, of the love of God; had the people under her exclusive care and meeting of the Sy'dney Pr·esbytery on March and of that topic so oft neglected, but so teaching, the result everywhere has been 14th, after a long discussion, the Presby­ much needed in these careless days when atheism. tery carried without diss'ent an overture re­ pleasure runs to license, and vice goes un­ ferring the whole matter of the teaching of ashamed. Out of date! Well it seems won­ At long last the people have revolted. Professor Angus to the General Assembly derfully up to date in its results. Two years ago a Republic was proclaimed, "to take these premises into consideration, Incidentally it may be said that the Bap­ and almost its .fir:!lt act was to issue a decree and to inquire into the matter which is tist Church at Preston is a live one. The announcing religious liberty. The new Con­ causing so many of our faithful people such minister is energetic as a pastor, puts first stitution embodies this in the text, and concern, and to take such steps as the Gen­ . things first in his preaching, sets his people Spain c-eases to be a Roman Catholic coun­ eral Assembly in its wisdom may deem to work. Prayer meetings are the rule and try, for Roman Catholicism is now on a level advisable." not the exception, socials are occasional, with all other religions, while the Jesuit "Glad Tidings" further states "we are and questionable things tabooed. There are order has been dissolved (not expelled as so made aware that two of the most esteemed larger churches in Melbourne, few doing many people think). and trusted leaders of the debate, who take more spiritual work. Now is the opportunity of the Evangelical strong action in. opposition to Dr. Angus In that same church, recently, was held Christians. Doors are open everywhere and and hi~ teachings attribute the result of a convention in connection with the Bible large crowds can be gathered to listen to this Presbyterian discussion to the effective­ Union of Victoria, from April 22nd to 25th. the Gospel message, while we have -every ness of the prayers of God's people in more During its course addresses were given by facility from the authorities instead of being churches than one." Rev. C. H. Nash, M.A., Principal of Mel­ bourne Bible Institute, on "The In:;;piration ve:x:ed and harassed as heretofore. In the It is gathered from reports in "The Sydney and Authority of the Bible"; by Professor large cities atheism is predominant but in Morning Herald" of March 15th that the J. Gillies, M.A.B.D., on "Christ God's yes"; the smaller towns and country districts the motion to transmit the overture was pro­ Rev. D. W. Smith on "Why I Believe the people have not yet shaken off that deep posed by Rev. J. H. McGowan, who, in doing Bible"; Rev. R. Kelly on "Bible Difficulties"; so, spoke of the painful duty that devolved religious instinct which seems to be inherent Rev. A. H. Potter, M.A., Dip. Ed., on in the Spanish race. They are disgusted upon him, and said that "much of the teach­ ing of Professor Angus on what was vital "Archaeological Discoveries"; Dr. D. S. Mc­ with the priests and the parody of Chris­ Coll, M.D., M.S., on "What Is Man?" The tianity that has passed for religion in this to the faith appeared to be in an astound­ ing degree, out of harmony with accepted meetings culminated in a crowded one on country, but they are longing for something Anzac Day. Anzac Day commemorates the church teaching." or Someone to satisfy their deep-seated re­ exploits of Australian and New Zealand ligious aspirations, and it is wonderful to The same paper states that Mr. McGowan soldiers in the Great War. quoted from notes made by students of the see how -eagerly they listen when the Gos­ There may be occasion to refer in future lectures, that "Paul nowhere calls Jesus pel is preached to them for the first time. _ letters to the work of the men whose mlmes God." "The first Christians fitted Jesus into are mentioned aboye. Alas, there are fewer preachers of the their own religious framework." Gospel in Spain than in almost any other At the last Methodist Conference in Mel­ "No system can unify all the diverse con­ country in the world. Will you not pray bourne mention was made of the fact that ceptions of Jesus found in the New Testa­ that a large forc-e of native preachers may Rev. R. Kelly had almost reached his 80th ment." be raised up, filled with the power of the year and the 60th of his ministry. He has Holy Spirit to proclaim the glorious tidings The motion was seconded by Rev. Hugh since crossed the year line. Mr. Kelly has Paton who, speaking of the asserted denial had a good share of the honors that Method­ . of Salvation throughout the length and of the Atonement by Dr. Angus, said, "The ism gives to its useful men. He has been breadth of Spain? Atonement is my life. Dr. Angus would a member of the Bible Union of Victoria V ALDEPEN AS (CIUDAD REAL), SPAIN. take that from me." from the first year of its existence. Ju'ne, 1933 CHRISTIANITY TODAY 23

By voice and by pen he has been one of crease of students next autumn and con­ the champions of the Bible and the faith. sequently is "inquiring of the Head of the He still uses both. His keenness of' intellect School what He would have done in the seems to defy the weight of years, and his IF you stand way of providing more housing space." body is not yet frail. For years he wrote a This is an independent faith institution column for the "Southern Cross" in days foursquare for the Gospel (as we which is continually being refreshed by when it was edited by the late Dr.W. H. are sure a great majority of our blessings from on High. It is a place where Fitchett of no mean literary fame. Mr. readers do), why not subscribe for "faces are radiant and hearts are satisfied because God has revealed Himself through Kelly's pen still travels, and many appreci­ your friends? Surely you know sev­ ate while others fear his dialectic. His truth." Wheaton and other friends of MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA eral who need the information and Miss Caroline Ho will rejoice to hear that the witness this paper gives. Fill she. is doing fine spiritual work as a teacher Korea Letter out the enclosed postcard with in that Seminary. So far as we have heard the Bible Teach­ By the Rev. Bruce F. Hunt your friends' names, and drop it in the mail box today! It needs no ers' Training School for Women still con­ ARCH is the month for graduations tinues its good work at Nanking as a union stamp. Thus you will be helpi·ng Munder the Japanese system of educa­ mission school under a spiritual and evan­ tion which prevails in Korea. The follow­ your friends and aiding the pub­ gelical faculty in spite of the looser doc­ ing are some of the statistics for the Mis­ lishers to continue. Our circula­ trinal basis upon which its Board of sion Institutions this year: tion has been climbing steadily for Directors stand. 42 doctors graduated from Severence five' months, but we need thou­ Friends of Miss Katharine H. Dodd of the China Inland Mission in Northern Anhwei Union Medical College. sands more readers! You may use 21 nurses graduated from Severence will be thankful to learn that she is to have the card for renewals, too. Nurses' Training School. the companionship and valuable co-opera­ 15 theological students graduated from tion of Miss P'eng Mei Fang, one of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of ablest and most earnest graduates of the Korea. Women's Bible Seminary at Tenghsien, Pyeng Yang Station reports another Shantung, who chose that difficult and Soong Sil Academy, Pyeng Yang (Dr. "Largest Ever" Bible Class for women. dangerous post at the present equivalent G. S. McCune, Principal), graduated 85 stu­ Over 700 were enrolled in the one week of about $2.00 gold per month in preference dents iIi March, .the largest graduating class Bible Class for women of the city only. to four or five times that salary in mission in the history of the school. Both Soong Over 1500 were enrolled in the class for work elsewhere. Miss P'eng leaves a field Sil College and Academy are known for women from the country churches around in Shantung in which she has been wonder­ their Evangelistic witness. Pyeng Yang. fully blessed as a soul-winner. We bespeak The Presbyterian Theological Seminary Imagine over 2200 womem spending each the prayers of all readers of CHRISTIANITY of Korea began the spring term on March one week in Bible study in one city. TODAY for her as she takes up her work 31st. Beginning this year the entrance ex­ further in the interior of China. aminations are of the standard of gradua­ CHUNGJU,' KOREA On April 2nd to 4th, the Weihsien Station tion from Higher Common School. of the Northern Presbyterian Shantung The March meeting of the Executive Mission celebrated its fiftieth anniversary Committee of the Northern Presbyterian China Letter in the midst -of a gracious revival under Mission was combined with a tour of North By the Rev. A. B. Dodd, D.D. the preaching of the Rev. Chia Yu Ming, Keung Sang Province "for the purpose of D.D., Chairman of the League of Christian appreciating the evangelistic needs of this HE faculty and students of the Bible Churches. Weihsien has been one of the province" which has the largest population Seminary for Women, whose buildings T most successful Mission Stations in China. of any in Korea. at Kiangwan, near Shanghai, were ruined Its Churches number nearly 8,000 members.' In a previous letter mention was made in the general ruthless destruction perp·e­ Terrible famine conditions prevail over a of an article favoring the Laymen's Com­ trated by the Japanese in the Spring of larg·e section of Northwestern China, where mission Report, "the contribution of a non­ 1932, are now praising God for His good­ the distance, bad roads and the peril of Presbyterian missionary working in an in­ ness in leading them back to Kiangwan and bandits make relief very difficult. stitutionpartially supported by the Presby­ for' His faithf~iness in again providing Many Christians as well as their mission­ terian Board." Complaints were made by buildings to house the school at their former ary friends have been' driven from their several Stations concerning this and other location. This was the sacred site where homes by communists in Szechuan. articles, and the following action was taken stood the famous Prayer House of Dora Yi.i. by' the Executive Committee at the March which that saintly woman, because of her TENGHSIEN, SHANTUNG meeting: ' full sympathy with the strongly spiritual "Prof. Earnest Fisher's Articles: The and evangelical character of the Bible Letter from Brazil Mission's Representatives on the Board of Seminary, presented to them shortly before Directors of the Chosen Christian College her death, to become a part of their first By the Rev. Harold C. Anderson were instructed to call the attention of the home after the separation from the Bible ROWNING has a stirring poem entitled President to the harmful character, of the Teachers' Training School for Women. B "How They Brought the Good News articles by Prof. Ernest Fisher, that have They now report fifty-six students from six­ from Ghent to Aix." I like the poem and appeared in print, and to bring to his atten­ teen provinces and one each from the Phil-' the title I wish to us·e to tell "How They tion also the strong feeling of dissatisfac­ ippines and Honolulu, of whom more than Brought the Good News to Bom J e~;us da tion and protestation on the part of many thirty are self-supporting. Many of thes·e Lapa" and what the Good News did there. members of the Mission that a member of consecrated young women come from long I must begin by telling you about Lapa. the faculty of an institution in which our distances over dangerous roads. ,The school Born Jesus da Lapa is a shrine city on the Mission is co-operating should not only hold is full to the limit; but notwithstanding the banks of the San Francisco River in the such views but, should feel free to publish fact that the present graduating class num­ interior of Brazil. As you approach that them." bers twenty-one, is expecting quite an in- city either by steamer from the north or 24 CHRISTIANITY TODAY June, 1933 south or by mule back or car from east or it later became converts and one who took modest statistical showing, it is true; we west, ther,e looms up, solitary, a great mass part in it later became a faithful and earnest believe, however, that good and lasting of limestone, a landmark standing out clear worker in the Evangelical Church. foundations hav'e been laid, "being confident on the plain on the east side of the river. This man, like Demetrius (Acts 19: 24), of this very thing that He who began this A cave at the south end of this mountain was an image maker. Some years after good work will perfect it until the day of has been fixed' up as a shrine with altar Anthony's prof.ession of faith and the perse­ Jesus Christ." and crucifix. The patron saint said to have cution, this image maker, impressed by the CAETETE,· BAHIA, BRAZIL. been found in the cave is the crucifix, called testimony and life of the believers in Lapa, Born Jesus da Lapa (the Good Jesus of the obtained a complete copy of the Bible, Old Dr. Kuiper Accepts Call Cave). A small city which in part lives off and New Testaments. Th-es'e he read and Ews has just corne that the Rev. R. B. the thousands of pilgrims who flock there studied diligently until he became convinced Kuiper, D.D., President of Calvin Col­ from a radius of one thousand mites or that his religion and his business were not N lege, has accepted the call from Westminster more, has grown up between the mountain in accord with the will of God. Being con­ Seminary to become Professor of Practical and the river. August 6th, the feast of tpe', vinced, he acted accordingly. He quit mak­ Theology. Transfiguration, is the ,great day at Lap a.; ing images and s'elling religious tokens to but pilgrims who hav,e made vows to the' the pilgrims, opened a little store, professed Good Jesus at Lapa are seen on the roads , his faith and became a very valuable co­ Melvin Grove Kyle Called Home worker with Anthony. The ex-image maker on foot, on muleback and now in trucks, go­ HE Rev. Melvin Grove Kyle, D.D., LL.D., as he wrapped up sugar or coffee or dry ing and corning from May to October. After eminent archeologist, author of many travelling along the dusty roads for several fish improv,edevery opportunity to tell the T works in defense of the Bible, great-hearted years and camping with these pilgrims, I Good News to his customers. He soon be­ Christian, died May 25th, at his horne in carne to a better understanding of the Can­ came the leader in the group of believers Pittsburgh. terbury Tales of Chaucer. Lapa, during the and their numbers increased. No pilgrim Dr. Kyle was born near Cadiz, Ohio, in week of the feast day, August 6th, is the goes out of his shop without having heard 1858. He graduated from Muskingum Col­ Mecca for all sorts of pilgrims, beggars, some message of the Gospel or some ringing lege in 1881. He attended Xenia and Alle­ prostitutes, gamblers, as well as a meeting word of God's law. gheny Seminaries, and was graduated from place for friends, relatives and men who Of course in this brief article I cannot the latter in 1885. wish to realize business transactions. The take time to describe all who have been His first pastorate was the Seventh United Bishop and some outside clergy rarely fail touched by the Good News that carne to Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. He to be in attendance. Born Jesus da Lap a, a Lapa. Returning to that city in 1931, after was pastor of this congregation for thirty stronghold of idolatry and superstition, an absence of ten years, I was glad to meet years, beginning in 1886. He was a long­ seemed in the old days to be the last place a new leader among that group of believers, time member and some-time president of where the Gospel could get an entrance. a prominent business man, whose business th,e United Presbyterian Board of Foreign "But with God all things are possible." - takes him to many places in the S~n Fran­ Missions. He was a lecturer in Biblical N early thirty years ago a Brazilian be­ cisco River Valley. He carries with him, on Archeology in Xenia Seminary from 1908- liever who had heard the Gospel about six these journeys, a large Roman Catholic . 1~i15. In the latter year he became full pro­ Bible in two volumes. When, on the river hundred miles to the North carne up the fe~sor there. He was archeological editor river and settled in Lapa. He brought with steamer or in the hotels or market places, of The Sunday School Times from 1911, him aNew Testament. This man himself the conversation turns to religious matters and editor of the Bibliotheca Sacra since was not a strong character. He did not al­ (and this man has a genius for turning 1921, and revising editor of The Interna­ ways live up to the faith he professed. He conversation into that channel), he brings tional Standard Bible Encyclopedia in 1927. was suspended from the Lord's Supper on out this Roman Catholic Bible to confute the He was president of Xenia Seminary from account of immorality. Later I had the joy sometimes erroneous ideas of his companions 1922. until the merger of the two seminaries of restoring this brother to full fellowship or to justify and substantiate views and in 1930. in the church and partaking of the Lord's claims that to many seem novel if not The funeral services were held on May Supper with him and two of the early con­ heretical. The Good News that carne to 27th in the Beverly Heights United Presby­ verts won by him and his New Testament. Lapa some thirty years ago now is being terian Church of Pittsburgh. One of the new converts was the key man, sounded forth by these three men and others called of God to be an evangelist and begin whom God, through His Spirit and by His a good work in Lapa and the surrounding Word, has called and enlightened, enabled Westminster Seminary Graduates country. He goes by the name of Anthony and impelled to proclaim it to others. A HE following received the certificate of the Devout or the Religious. His mother church was organized in 1931 and now has Tthe Seminary at the Commenc-ement on was a most devout worshiper at the shrine 35 names on the roll, and twice that num­ May 9th: Vincent Leroy Crosset, Wyanet, of the Good Jesus and her son grew to man­ ber have moved to other places. A very Ill.; Joseph Carleton Holbrook, Los Angeles, hood cultivating the same type of piety. Calif.; James Erskine Moore, Salisbury, The New Testament which carne into his N. C.; Lynn Stratton Mosser, Perkasie, Pa.; hands served to open his eyes and he carne IN THIS ISSUE: Raymond Pinch, Lansing, Mich.; Paul Cal­ to know the real invisible Good Jesus and vert Price, Amityville, N. Y.; John Hamilton to, enshrine this Jesus in his heart as Savior 145th Assembly Meets...... 4 Skilton, Philadelphia, Pa.; Edwin Lynne and Lord. The missionary, the Rev. Pierce H. McALLISTER GRIFFITHS Wade, Los Angeles, Calif.; Charles Edgar Chamberlain, from whom the bearer of the Wideman, Ringoes, N. J.; Robert Sherer New Testament had heard the Gospel, was Three Observations About the Assembly 5 Wilson, Palmyra, Pa. . . summoned and during the, service at which J. GRESHAM MACHEN The following rec-eived the graduate cer­ Anthony, $sed his faith, a crowd of tifica te of the Seminary: Charles Dana pi ., Sunday School Lessons for July ...... , 7 hoodlums~\?:;u.p by the priest, broke up Chrisman, Newton Centre, Mass.; Jonathan the meeting, :fb\\ii;;--g eggs in at the door The Comfort of the Scriptures...... 8 Fuh-Djii HSii, Nanking, China; Takeshi Mat­ and windows. Mr. Chamberlain himself was DA VI D FREEMAN suo, Nagasaki, Japan; James Leander Rohr­ hit in the face. This persecution served to baugh, North Lima, Ohio; LeSlie Winfield broadcast the Gospel. Some who witnessed News of the Church...... 14 Sloat, Monticello, N. Y.

HATHAWAY lie BROT,~ER,S. PHILA.