Christian Youth
Q/OU ARE INV ITED by these representatives of the hundreds of young men and women in the student body of the largest and best equipped Bible Institute west of Chicago, to join them in the study of the Word and ap proved methods of Christian Service
D i
AT R A IL IN G SCHOOL
Founded upon the Bible and with a sound and , efficient faculty pledged to Evangelical Bible Teaching and opposed to unscriptural extremes o f all sorts. ((Graduating efficient Christian Workers now being sought in increasing numbers by the Evangelical churches for work at home and abroad. ((Where the Spirit of Prayer prevails, and where students in training engage in many different kinds of Evangelistic work. ((School opens September 12th. Registration days September ioth and n th . For Bulletin containing full information, address Ex t ens i on Depa r tment , Bi bl e Ins t i tu t e o f Los Ang e l e s 536 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California Faculty: Dr. John M. Maclnnis, Dean Dr. Ralph Atkinson, A ssociate Dean Rev. John H. Hunter, Sec. o f the Faculty
Rev. W illiam H. Pike, Sec. o f Evening School Rev. Alan Pearce, Sec. of Correspondence School Rev. John A. Hubbard, Superintendent of Men Miss Ruth W alter, Superintendent of Women Rev. Albert E. Kelly, Student Secretary Dr. G. Campbell Morgan Rev. H. W . Kellogg Dr. Charles E. Hurlburt Miss Florence Chaffee Dr. John McNeill Miss Altai Davis Rev. Alva J. McClain MUSIC Prof. J. B. Trow bridge Prof. Raymond Conner Prof. Herbert G. Tovey Mrs. Alma K. Moss Prof. Christian M. B ocks Miss Louise W oodbridge Prof. Alfred Butler MEDICAL H. W . Boyd, M.D. Ross A. Harris, M.D. B. G. Pinkerton, M.D. Joseph Jacobs, M. D. F. Jean Holt, M. D. Margaret Morris, M.D.
The K i n g ’s B u s i n e s s Motto: “ I, the Lord, do \eep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I toil! \eep it night and day.” Isaiah 27:3 PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY AND REPRESENTING THE BIBLE INST ITUTE OF LOS ANGELES J ohn M urdoch M ac I nnis , Editor-in-Chief • K eith L. B rooks , Managing Editor E rnest C harles E. H urlburt , Associate Editor E. N ichols , Circulation Manager Volume X IX September, 1928 Number 9
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIBLE INSTITUTE ". OF LOS ANGELES
FACULTY
Table of Contents
D r . J ohn M. M ac I nnis , Dean D r . R alph A tkinson , Associate Dean R ev . J ohn H. H unter , Secretary o f Faculty R ev . W illiam H. P ike , Secretary Evening School R ev . A lan S. P earce , Secretary Cor. School R ev . A lbert E. K elly , Student Secretary D r . G. C ampbell M organ D r . J ohn M c N eill D r . C harles E. H urlburt R ev . A lva J. M c C lain C hristian M. B ooks R ev . K eith L. B rooks P rof . A lfred A. B utler M iss F lorence C haffee R ev ; J ohn A. H ubbard P rof . H. W. K ellogg M iss R uth W alter P rof . H. G. T ovey P rof . J. B. T rowbridge M iss C harlotte L. W oodbridge H. W. B oyd , M.D. M rs . A lma K. M oss P rof . R aymond C onner B. G. P inkerton , M.D. Advertising : For information with reference to advertising in T he K ing ’ s B usiness ad dress the Religious Press Assn., 325 North 13th St., Philadel phia, Pa., .or North American Bldg., Chicago, 111. Entered as Second Class Mat ter November 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act o f March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at spe cial rate , of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act o f October 3, 1917, authorized! October 1, 1918. - F. J ean H olt , M.D. Ross A. H arris , M.D. J oseph J acobs , M.D. M argaret M orris , M.D. Miss A lta D avis
J. M- I rvine , President J. M. R ust ; 1st Vice-President L eon V. S haw , 2nd Vice-President A lexander M ac K eigan , Secretary M rs . L yman S tewart , A sst Secretary H oward F rost C. E. F uller N athan N ewby W illiam H azlett J. O. S mith
ED ITOR IALS The Spotless Saviour................................................ 515 The Presbyterian Assembly......................................515 Are We Just Star Gazers?....... .............................516 Rev. James A. Francis...:..........................................516 The Wisdom of Men................... .....517 Is Fundamentalism Being Redefined?.................. 517 Man’s Upward Tumble............................................518 A Good Run, Sir........................ 518 •At Rast— A New Bible............................................519 Editorial Flashlights ...............:............................. ..521 * * * * ART ICLES World Sunday School Convention................... The Call of the-Dyacks—R. A . Jaffray.......... Our Supreme Business— Rev. C. G. Hazard... The Old Morality and the New — Rev. J. M. McClaren................................. Is Jesus Christ Man Now ?— Rev. R. H. Boll The Fact of the Atonement BE— Rev. Ernest Baker..................................... Peter and Judas—James Mailley..................... Precaution Against Perils— Harold F. Cole..: Christ Crucified, the Preacher’s Theme —Dr. F. E. Marsh.......................................... 523 525 528 .529 .531 .533 .535 560 560
D r . J ohn M. M ac I nnis , Dean D r . R alph A tkinson , Associate Dean W m . A. F isher , E x e c u t i v e Secretary and Treasurer. Terms: $1.25 per year. Single copies 25 cents. Foreign Coun tries (including Canada) $1.50 per year. Clubs of 5 or more 25 cents reduction on each sub scription sent to one or to sep arate addresses as preferred. Remittance : Should be made by Bank Draft, Express or P. O. Money Order, payable to the “ ‘‘Bible Institute o f Los Angeles.” Receipts will not be sent for regular subscriptions, but date o f expiration will show plainly, each month, on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. Manuscripts : T he K i n g ’ s B usiness cannot accept re sponsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent to it for consideration. Change o f Address : Please send both old and new ad dresses at least one month pre vious to date of desired change.
* * DEPARTMENTS * *
.522 539 .540 .541 .542 .545 .547 .549 .557 561 .562 570
Gospel Solo ................. ..................... ...... Passages That Perplex—:K. L. B ....... Heart to Heart with Young Readers — Gertrude Cockerell ................ ......... Hymn Story—-Sweet Hour of Prayer..... Striking Stories of God’s Workings.......... Finest o f the Wheat..................................... . Junior King’s Business—Orah G. Brooks International Lessons................................... Notes on C. E. Topics— Alan S. Pearce.—. B. B. B. B. Page............................................ Literature Table .......................................... Illustrated Daily Text...................... ...........
POLICY AS DEFINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES' (a) To stand for the infallible Word of God and its great fundamental truths, (b) To strengthen the faith of all believers, (o) Tc stir young men and women to fit themselves for and engage in definite Christian work, (d) To make the Bible Institute of Losi Angeles known, (e) To magnify God our Father and the person, work and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: and to teach the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our present practical life, (f) To emphasize in strong, constructive messages the great foundations of Christian faith. 536-558 S. Hope Street BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, California)
Hundreds of our read ers have expressed their de light with “ The new note.” Recent expression f r o m o u t s t a n d in g churchmen, known for their loyalty to the Faith, would indicate that our constructive policy is meeting with widespread ap proval. Among these are such men as Dr. Mark A. IVfatthews, pastor of the world’s largest Presbyterian Church; Dr. J. C. Massee, pastor of America’s best-known Baptist Church; Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, President,
kN January 1, 1927, t h i s magazine nounced a policy of constructive Bible teaching and helpfulness to all evan gelical churches of what- ever denomination. The editors’ believe (and our present faculty o f the Bible Institute of Los Angeles agree) that the Church of Jesus Christ is the greatest institution on earth. We believe ourselves called “ to feed [not bleed] the church o f God which H e hath pur
o f Wheaton College; ' Dr. Stuart Holden, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, Dr. W._ Graham Scroggie, among the greatest of British clergymen; Dr. Elmer W . Helms and Dr. Lincoln A. Ferris, two of America’s best-known Methodist ministers; Dr. Herbert Booth Smith, Dr. G. A. Briegleb, Dr. Stewart P. MacLennan and Dr. W . E. Edmonds, pastors of four of Southern California’s leading Presbyterian Churches; Dr. Frederick W . Farr, pastor o f Los Angeles’ famous Calvary Baptist Church; Dr. John Snape, pastor of the widely known Temple Baptist Church of Los Angeles; Dr. Louis S. Bauman, outstanding pastor of the Brethren denomination; Dr. O. P. Gifford, vet eran Baptist minister; Rev. W . P. Nicholson, famous evangelist, now pastor of Los Angeles Christian Alliance Tabernacle;. Mr. Gerald B. Winrod, Baptist editor; Dr. W . C. McCullough, leading pastor of the United Presbyterian church; Dr. Robert Evans, pastor o f the famous Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church of Pasadena; Dr. Rowland V . Bingham, editor of The Evangelical Christian; Dr. A . Z. Conrad, Fundamentalist leader of the Gongregational ranks; Rev. Bob Shuler, the leading light of the Southern Meth odist Church; Dr. Robert E. Speer, Presbyterian leader; Dr. John McNeill, “ the Scottish Spur geon” ; Dr. W . E. Blackstone (Methodist), author of “ Jesus is Coming” ; Dr. W . C. Pearce of the International Sunday School Association; Dr. Cortland Myers, well-known Baptist minister; Dr. William Evans, Presbyterian Bible lecturer; and scores of other church leaders.
chased with His own blood ” and we know that the vast majority of God’s true people are within the fold of the organized church. Necessarily we must differ with many pas- „tors and people because we are committed to a very definite doctrinal basis. These doctrines (held in common with the historic orthodox churches) it is our special mission to emphasize. Our fellowship is with all the members' of Christ’s Body—all who acknowledge the vital truths of salvation. The Bible Institute operates no church and has no thought of starting a new church. Its faculty members are all connected with denomi national churches and active in them. Our stu dents are assigned for their practical work to the churches of their own denominations. The Bible Institute depends upon church members for its support. This magazine is a magazine for every Chris tian home. It will meet prevalent errors with posi tive truths, but it will not engage in “ knocking” pastors and churches. W e aim to carry a message of helpfulness in every issue for pastors, Sunday- school teachers, directors of Christian education, Christian Endeavor leaders, young people, chil dren, shut-ins, fathers and mothers (who conduct the family altar); Gospel musicians.
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The Spotless Saviour ESUS CHR IST is history’s greatest moral miracle. Human genius could not have created such a character. In order for uneducated fishermen to set forth such a life, they must have seen it lived. In all the records o f His life, we look in vain for a: single stain or the slightest shadow on His moral character. Not an
If we shrink from the thought of our Lord even feel ing the force of temptation, it is only because we cannot grasp the idea o f His utter self-surrender in becoming man. He was made very man for our sakes,-although He was very God. As man He conquered our temptations. He fought as the comrade of men, He exempted Himself from nothing, yet was without sin. The Presbyterian Assembly T HE Christian Century, in a long editorial which was strangely mixed up as to facts, complains o f the retrograde movement in the Presbyterian Church. If there is such a movement it'certainly was not manifested in the Tulsa Assembly which chose Dr. Hugh K. Walker o f Los Angeles as its Moderator. On the contrary, there were very many evidences that the heart "of that great church is beating true to its historic position as one of the bulwarks ofjthe Evangelical Faith. The, faith and genius of the church were highly articulated along three lines- - its message, method and mission. Its message was given a striking and' challenging expression in one of the greatest deliverances given from the platform of the Assembly in our generation. The church expected a great message when Dr. Robert E. Speer, as retiring moderator, would preach the customary sermon; but he surpassed the expectations o f his warmest admirers. We doubt if this Christian leader evebdelivered a more vital message than that poured out to his‘ brethren in the bosom of his own church at Tulsa. In every sen tence it rang true to the heart o f the Evangelical Faith and was permeated by a world consciousness that could only come through the consecration of a great personality to the service of men for a whole generation. The words of the sermon are true and comprehensive and on a high level of oratory, but it was the passion and conviction of a Spirit-fired personality that made it the prophetic word that rang out with tremendous power and authority in that tense moment that will go down as one o f the high times in the history of Presbyterianism. The secret .of the passion is found in the heart of the message—we must go back to the simplicities, authority and lordship o f Jesus Christ as the only hope fo r a world o f sin —and the message found its climax when, with the burning passion of a great personality, the words rang out, “ All that I can say o f God I say o f Jesus Christ.” When Robert E. Speer'spoke these burning words he spoke for the Presbyterian Church, as was clearly evidenced by the response given by the commissioners present. It is surely reassuring to find this historic church speaking out in this confident way in such a critical hour as we are now living in. The method was fairly illustrated in the way the Assembly dealt with the Princeton case and in the clear way in which it repudiated guerilla methods of warfare in cases that are before the, courts o f the church for con sideration and adjudication. It made it very clear that the church has authority to deal with these cases, but it is anxious that the local authorities should have every opportunity possible to adjust things in a Christian way
improper word or a wrong action can be found. On one or two occasions He displayed anger with evil doers, but even here we have an exhibition o f dignity and righteous ness rather than weakness, for there is “ a Wrath as majes tic as the frown of Jehovah’s brow.” Some have pointed! to His cursing of the unfruitful fig tree, but this was a symbolical act, affecting only a worthless tree, and fore shadowing the doom of the barren Judaism. The worst the Pharisees could say o f Him was that He was “ a friend of sinners.” Pilate said, “ I find no fault in Him.” Judas confessed that he had “ betrayed innocent blood.” As Philip Schaff puts it: “ Even dumb nature responded in mysterious sympathy and the beclouded heavens above, and the shaking earth beneath, united in paying their unconscious tribute to the divine purity o f the dying Lord.” Surrounded by depraved humanity, He was without sin. Not a tear o f repentance did He shed. Not once did He seek His Father’s forgiveness. He challenged His enemies to convict Him of a sin. Not a single thought, word or deed did He live to regret. He W A S what He TAUGHT . The world has no higher model for all that is pure and noble. Even Renan admits that “ He is with out equal and His glory remains perfect and will be renewed forever.” Horace Bushnell said: “ If Jesus was a sinner, He was conscious o f sin as all sinners are, and therefore was a hypocrite in the whole fabric of His character; realizing so much of divine beauty in it, maintaining the show of such unfaltering harmony and celestial grace, and doing all this with a mind confused and fouled by the affecta tions acted for true virtues! Such an example of success ful hypocrisy would be itself the greatest miracle ever heard o f in the world !” A thoughtful old man, an unbeliever, said one day, “ I f your Christ is God, His temptations are no comfort to me.” It was a true instinct in that old man that craved to find beside him a living human friend who had been tempted really, tempted sorely like as he himself had been and who could feel with him and help him as a wise elder brother who knew. Does the sinlessness of Christ deprive us of such a friend ? The Bible distinctly tells us that our Saviour was really and sorely tempted “in all points like as we are.” The fact that He remained without sin does not mean that the enticements to sin did not really present themselves. It means that they were resisted to the bitter end. There is a world o f difference between a keenly -felt temptation from without and the stain of consenting thought within. Not once did He give a consenting thought.
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are star-gazers, deluding themselves with the idea that they have a higher spiritual philosophy than their fellows, and who never manifest it in practical service to their neighbors. Such people are to be pitied as much as the Liberalists who depend upon their social endeavors and walk not in the way o f the cross. Take that most profound theological treatise— the epis tle to the Romans: does Paul leave his readers to imagine they may call themselves Christian because they have an intellectual grasp of the great doctrines of redemption, justification and predestination? No, indeed! He devotes the entire closing section to showing that the only badge a Christian can wear is to go about the practical duties of life under the control o f the Spirit o f God. . Christianity, according to Paul, is something that affects the details of
before any drastic step is taken in the exercise of the final authority of the church. This is the method of a true, representative government and we have confidence that the Princeton authorities are going to respond to it in a big, Christian way and one of the greatest institutions o f the Presbyterian Church is going to be saved to the church in a larger service than it has ever known in all o f its history of true and constructive work, and it has a history o f which any seminary might be justly proud. The mission of the church found gripping expres sion in the reports o f the major boards of the church. The crying needs of the church, the nation and the world were expressed by the Boards of Christian Education;. National and Foreign Missions. Each one o f the reports showed a statesmanlike and a Christian understanding of
conduct. Piety to him is more than attending meetings and singing: “ I ’m living on the mountains, un derneath a cloudless- sky.” The epistle to the Hebrews gives the Spirit-taught student a deep insight into the meaning of the new covenant and the higher privileges the Christian has o f access to God. But does the writer leave one to think he is to draw aside and spend his time shouting “Amen! Glory! Hallelujah!” ? He corrects that idea at once in the closing chapter. “ To do good and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16). The con clusion of the whole argument is that the God o f peace who saves us through the blood of the ever lasting covenant, desires to perfect us in every good work to do His will (vs. 20-21). Spiritual religion is not un earthly. A Christian is first of all to be good — to have a character that will of itself do good as the Holy Spirit prompts. The spir itual man should, o f all men, be the most truly human and the best fitted to carry out earthly respon sibilities. If, today, Christian peo ple are being reproached because they spend so much time quibbling about words, that should be spent “ in every good work,” it is because
the situation confronting Chris tians in this critical and restless time, as well as a real sense o f the responsibility resting u p o n the Church o f Christ to meet these needs, ' In a masterly way the Board of Christian Education showed the imperative need for thorough and wide preparation o f the people to meet this need. In this connection the Assembly appointed a commit tee to investigate the matter of the preparation of lay workers by the church. This is a matter in which our Institute is vitally interested and we are sure that the subject will compel a more serious consid eration on the part of the evan gelical churches. W e are glad the Presbyterian Church is taking it up in a serious way. An intelligent and sympathetic reading of the doings of the' Tulsa Assembly can not help but encour age all true, lovers of Christ and His work. We congratulate our own Dr. Walker for the fine Christian, fair and masterful way in which he presided over the meetings. Are We Just Star-Gazers? A PROM INENT New Y o r k pastor has been paying his respects to Judaism and is quoted
No More
Write
“My honored friend and brother ,” wrote Whitefield to Wesley, “ for once hearken to a child, who is willing to wash your feet. I beseech you, by the mercies o f God in Christ Jesus our Lord, if you would have my love con firmed towards you, write no more to me a b o u t t h e misrepresentations wherein we differ. Why should we dispute, when there is. no possibility o f convincing? Will it not in the end destroy brotherly love, and insensibly take from us that cordial union and sweetness o f soul, which I pray God may always subsist between us? How glad would the enemies o f our Lord be to see us divided. How would the cause o f our common Master every way suffer by our raising disputes about particular points o f doctrine. Honored sir, let us offer salvation freely to all by the blood o f Jesus, and whatever light God has communicated to us, let us freely communicate to others.”
they are not truly following in the footsteps o f the One they profess to have accepted. Nothing could be more practical than true Christianity— nothing further removed from mere barren idealism and a visionary spirit. Rev. James A. Francis, D. D., LL. D. W HEN on the last day of June God called Dr. James A . Francis, for fourteen years pastor of the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles, to Himself, one of the best loved and most highly esteemed pastors of Southern California lay down his earthly task and left in the hearts of thousands of Christian men and women an intense long ing for the sound of a voice that for us is stilled awhile. Dr. Francis was a strong man with an unusually attrac tive personality that endeared him to many. He had a
by The Sentinel, a Jewish weekly, published in Chicago, as saying that Judaism is superior to Christianity. One need not be surprised, however, at such a statement coming from a Liberalist, for he stands on the same ground as the Christ-rejecting Jew. But, in what way does this preacher regard Judaism as superior? It is, he says: “ in its emphasis upon the moral law as the heart o f Christian experience. Christianity is inclined to concern itself primarily with matters of theo logical belief, whereas Judaism does not hesitate to con cern itself primarily with matters of ethical precept and example.” One who is a careful reader of even the doctrinal epistles of the New Testament, cannot but get out of patience with critics who talk after this fashion. It doubt less is true that there are many among the orthodox who
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clear-cut mind that was fired with a genuine passion for Christ and men, which made him an exceptional preacher. He had a rare gift for exposition of. the highest type. He made the Scriptures live. His chief characteristic, how ever, was his devotion to Jesus Christ as God manifest. It was said in our presence one day that Dr. Francis denied the deity o f Christ. W e emphatically protested against this statement and said we would not believe it on oath until Dr. Francis had a chance to speak. At the( very earliest opportunity we approached him and told him about the statement and our response. He stopped and his whole being became concentrated as .he spoke with mani fest feeling saying: “ You can tell that man, or any other man anywhere at any time, that there are no words in the English language sufficiently strong to express my con viction that Jesus Christ is Godl’ffff Christianity was a tremendously real thing to him. It centered in Christ—-Christ as Saviour and Life. This is impressively expressed in the sermon preached at the dedi cation of the beautiful temple of worship which stands as a monument in Los Angeles to his work and ideals. This sermon is chapter ten of his little volume of sermons entitled “ The Real Jesus,” a good sample o f his sound and compelling preaching. He was a good man, a good servant of Jesus Christ, much loved, sometimes misunderstood and tragically mis-. represented, but always bearing a true witness to the purity and the love that are in Christ. Our sym pathy and prayers are with his widow in her loneliness and with the flock so faithfully shepherded by him for fourteen fruit ful years.
knowledge and mere opinion, and as opinion is uncertain, there can be no certainty in human knowledge.” If we Cannot get the words o f God Himself, we are all at sea. Thank God, there is an authoritative Word. \C“ liveth and abideth forever.” The proof o f it is that “ it effectually worketh in them that believe.” The word of man, while it may charm the understanding, is powerless to change the heart. The only preachers today, as in all the past, who are witnessing results in the transforming of lives, are those whose preaching “ is not with enticing words o f man’s wis dom, but in demonstration o f the Spirit and o f power.” .They can see that the faith of'their converts “ stands not in the wisdom o f men, but in the power o f God.” Is Fundamentalism Being Redefined? M R. PH IL IP MAURO , well-known Bible scholar and defender o f the Faith, was for several months adver tised as one o f the principal speakers for the World’s Fundamentals Conference recently held in Chicago. He did not appear. Many were led to wonder why, as no explanation was given. Mr. Mauro has since been send ing out a “ Letter to the Household o f Faith” stating that after making all preparations to take his part, he was noti fied at a late hour by the president of the association that it had been thought best to eliminate him from the pro gram because of the fact that he had expressed disagree ment with some o f the notes of the Scofield Bible. Mr. Mauro believes the lines are being drawn by some
o f the leaders today in such a way as to s p l i t the forces of orthodoxy in every direction. He an nounces the publica tion o f a booklet re vealing the serious ness o f this situa tion. Must one now s u b s c r i b e to the “ postponed kingdom theory” in order to fellowship with the F u n d a m e n t a 1- ist g r o u p ? If so, scores o f loyal min isters and teachers, among them some of the greatest living expositors o f Scrip ture, will find them- s e l v e s — l i k e Mr. Mauro— ostracized. Not long since, a p r o m i n e n t Bible teacher speaking be fore a company of ministers o f South ern California, said with g r e a t vehe- mence: “ I am proud to belong to an insti tution that believes the Scofield Bible.” There were sev eral loud “ Amens” in r e s p o n s e to this
The Wisdom of Men “ When ye received the word o f God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word o f men, but as it is in truth, the word o f God, which effect ually worketh in you that believe" (1 Thess. 2 : 12 ). T HERE is no end to the words of me n . A R o m a n scholar o n c e said: “ There is no possible folly which philoso phers, at one time or another, h a v e not propounded as a les son o f the highest wisdom.” Yes— and the hu man mind is s t i l l rambling on in its delirium. More ri diculous n o t i o n s / were never advanced in the name of schol arship than are being propagated today. Wisely did Aris totle say: “ There is no difference be tween what men call
REV. GERALD B. WINROD Leader of the Defender Movement M R. W INROD , editor o f “ The Defen ded’ and organizer o f The Defenders o f the Faith, now a, national organization with headquarters at Wichita, Kansas, proved a popular speaker at Biola Summer School this year, and his many recent Bible con ferences in Southern California have won
fo r him a host o f new friends. The Defenders, with branches in many states, have as their aim the defense o f the Faith by means o f conferences fo r constructive Bible teaching and the refutation o f modernism and evolution through the dissemina tion o f printed matter setting forth in a courteous spirit, the teachings o f Scripture and the findings o f reliable scientists. The phenomenal growth o f the movement shows that it is meeting the need o f many churches. Pastors who desire to strengthen their people without antagonizing those whom the church is seeking to win fo r Christ, will do well to arrange a conference fo r Mr. Winrod or some o f his strong corps o f speakers. Many o f our readers are aware o f Mr. Winrod’s defense o f The Bible Institute o f Los Angeles in his paper. H e has shown himself a man ready to defend that which he believes to be right, regardless o f all personal cost. W e are deeply grateful fo r his splendid loyalty and gratified to know that in place o f a few friends whom he lost by reason o f his stand, he has gained hundreds o f new subscribers fo r his paper and recruits fo r the Defender movement.
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Man’s Upward Tumble T HE problem of the origin of. evil in the world has proved altogether too much for the Evolutionist thus far. The only reasonable account of it is that given in the Scriptures, and since this is irreconcilable with the evolu tion theory as commonly held, the Evolutionist will brush aside the problem of sin as o f little importance rather than accept any part of the Genesis story. Dr. D. C. Gardner, of Stanford University, was quoted by the papers a few weeks ago as saying that the whole Genesis story o f man’s fall from a state o f perfec tion,.is merely an attempt to account for the fact of evil; “ The mystery o f the origin of evil remains unsolved,” he said,' “ but, I would like to correct the fundamental error that beclouds the whole problem. That error is theological. The teaching o f evolution has destroyed the theory o f original innocence. Since the beginning of time, man has been struggling slowly upward. I do not believe that even moral evil is a curse, but rather a means toward a higher goal.” If this is accepted, there is no alternative but to believe that sin had its origin in the primitive animalism of man. His natural animalism, left over to him in the upward climb from the brute state, has got the better o f his higher impulses.:: Did God deliberately weight man down with animal ism for millions of years? If so, man has not had a fair chance. He cannot justly be held accountable. It is just at this point that the bars are let down to the dangerous teaching expressed by Dr. Gardner— that moral evil is not a curse, but just a stepping stone upward. Light views of sin must always accompany this teaching, and where sin is underestimated, the cross o f Christ is accordingly depreciated. A thousand times rather give us the Genesis account of the fall of man than this modern idea of a fall upward ! It is'in accord with all that we know of man. It is the only vindication of God. God created man innocent and happy; gave him delightful surroundings and a beautiful com panion— every chance to make good. Desiring from him the trustful obedience of a child, not the -enforced obed ience of a mere slave, God gave man the power of choice, with full warning as to the consequences of a wrong choice. Even when a wrong choice was made, God revealed Himself in grace, provided a plan of redemption and a promise o f final triumph. God allotted to him a sentence that would make for man’s highest good under the circumstances and reserved the severest condemnation for the tempter, not the deluded victim. Who can accuse God ? Where will you find a more adequate explanation of things as they are? Has the Evolutionist or anyone else anything to offer that will work better than God’s revealed plan of salvation? ate jgi “ A Good Run, Sir—A Very Good Run.” R A ILROAD Men, a trainmen’s: publication, recently carried the story of Bennie Locke, veteran engineer of “ the Easton Mail” on the Lackawanna Railroad, who, having reached the age of 70, has been pensioned. The story of this Christian engineer is most remarkable. During the greater part of his long term o f service, it was always Mr. Locke’s custom, when he stepped into the cab of his engine, to remove his cap and utter a whis pered prayer for divine protection for the crew and pas sengers on each day’s run. He was and is one o f the finest characters that the railroad world has produced. Mr. Locke has the most remarkable record in the
statement. In the light of what has happened to Mr. Mauro, we are wondering if this is another indication of which way the wind is blowing. If the acceptance of any particular commentary is to be made essential to the cor rect understanding of the Word of God, will not the Fundamentalists cóme under the same charge they have been making against Russellism, Eddyism, Mormonism, Romanism and a dozen other systems requiring their adherents to view the Bible only through the eyes of speci fied teachers? Let it be understood, we are not placing the Scofield Bible on the same plane as the writings just mentioned, for Dr. Scofield and his editors are true to all the great fundamentals, and their comments have been a great bless ing to hundreds ,of- students. In some particulars; how ever, some o f our greatest expositors necessarily differ. There is a grave danger in making the Scripture of private interpretation, depriving the student of thS|privilege of letting the Holy Spirit be his instructor. , This issue should be squarely faced by our Funda mentalist leaders and a decision promptly reached. Is the case of Mr. Mauro to be taken as a precedent ? Is Funda mentalism to be redefined ? Shall we enlist with us all who hold God’s Word the infallible rule of faith and practice, declaring themselves for the great essential doc trines? Certainly no man living has borne a more effec tive testimony against modernism and evolution than has Mr. Philip Mauro.
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annals of railroad engineering. He has served 57 years o f continuous service, has never received a mark, blemish, or personal injury and has never had a wreck in his years of service. He has never received a mark o f demerit from his superior officers and he is held in high esteem by his fellow-workers, towermen, trackbosses, as well as com muters, bankers and school children and all who have come to know him. Here is one of Bennie Locke’s' characteristic stories: “ Number Six was twenty-five minutes late out of Scranton one day, and I had my little prayer as usual, when I stepped into the cab. A fter I had asked for the safety o f our train, I said, ‘Lord, help me to bring her in on time.’ “ It was a stiff climb up the Pocono Mountains for the first part of the trip and it never seems so steep as when you are late. I couldn’t gain a second on the way up, but after we dipped over the summit, things began to break just right for me.
“ It was a beautiful day with the air perfectly clear, and we almost flew down the mountain. I just held her steady and let her go. “ When we struck the level again, I eased her into the last notch and looked at my watch. W e were coming nicely and gaining right along. “ At last the old train shed at Hoboken loomed ahead, and as we pulled under the edge o f -it, I looked at my watch again, and we were just on the dot.' “ As I stood wiping the sweat off my face, there was a tap o f a cane on the outside of my cab, and when I looked out o f the windpw, there stood the-president of the road, all smiles, and he said tom e , ‘A good run, sir! A very good run!’ That meant more to me than anything that could have happened in this world. “ And, brother, when I make my last run and pull into the Great Terminal, if I can just hear Him say, ‘A good run, sir! A very good run!’ the toil and the struggle down here won’t matter.”
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At Last—A New Bible! Editorial Book Review o f “ The Supplementary Bible” B y K. L. B.
HEN there came into -our hands a beautifully bound volume bearing the words “ The Sup plementary Bible,” we were startled by the title, but hastily glancing it through we were delighted to find what we had often desired to have—a most valuable compilation o f the
ing to men. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He would be a very changeable God if He spoke to devout men in one age and refused, in another age, to speak to men equally devout. We are emphatically assured that God is no respecter of persons. He would be far from impartial if He revealed Himself to a few ancient He brews but refused to communicate with any of His other children. Such a view reduces: God to a tribal deity of the Israelites,” A M odernistic E nterprise This is subtle teaching calculated to impress many earnest Christians who are not familiar with the doctrine of inspiration as it is taught in the Scriptures. One need but glance through the list of “ seventy^ distinguished churchmen” to be satisfied that this is a modernistic enter-, prise of the most subtle nature, and if these claims to inspiration are to any large extent accepted, an entering wedge has been driven that may easily lead to the intro duction o f the most pronounced rationalism as the latest word from heaven. If inspiration is continuous, “ The Supplementary Bible” must become a loose-leaf edition to which its committee of seventy may make additions as they see fit. Who are “ the seventy” ? They are selected from the ranks of Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Epis copalians, Brethren, Friends, Disciples, Methodists, United Brethren, United Presbyterians, United Lutherans, Unitarians, and Universalists, There are doubtless some men here who would not care to be classed as Modernists, yet they have not been careful as to the company they have kept in this undertaking, for there are plenty of pro nounced Modernists and we do not find the name of a sin gle ' well-known evangelical scholar. Perhaps some have
greatest poetry relating to Biblical subjects. The devo tional poems of many of the greatest -poets are found arranged under such topics as God, Jesus, devotion, church, life, mortality, immortality, sin, salvation; provi dence, the state, mighty men, manhood, worldly wisdom, labor, love, virtues, heaven. While there are many senti ments expressed with which we could not agree, such a work, especially as a reference book for Christian workers, is of great value. But why designate it “ The Supplementary B IBLE ” ? The preface soon enlightened us. The names of “ seventy distinguished clergymen” appear upon the fly-leaf and we are told that the work is made up o f the greatest utter ances of 800 writers from the time of Christ to the present day; The editor, Dr. William Barrett Millard, acknowl edges that “ in the world of literature the Bible is match less” and that “ the Bible never can be supplanted.” A startling statement then meets us: “The time has come, however, when the Bible should be supplemented. Two millenniums have passed since St. John laid down his inspired pen, but the still small Voice has never ceased speaking to those who have ears and can hear.” Can it be that Dr. Millard and his associate' editors regard the writings they have selected as “ inspired” in the same sense as the contents of the Scriptures ? W e are left in no doubt. “ One of the clearest teachings,” we are told, “ is that inspiration is continuous.” We are informed that the Bible “ nowhere says that God ever stopped speak
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The “ still small voice” may not be the voice of the Holy Spirit. Genius or natural illumination is not “ the inbreath ing o f the Holy Ghost” (2 Tim, 3 :16 ). Men who enthuse their fellow men with helpful thoughts are not prophets o f God. Such theories have many advocates because they are attractive to the heart of conceit and to the slothful mind. They reduce the Bible writings to the level of Shakespeare and Byron and form the working basis of destructive criticism. Natural inspiration is no inspiration at all. Prof. H. S. Miller well says: “ The Bible inspiration is as high above poetic ecstasy or religious or political zeal and fervor as the heavens are. high above the earth.” If any men since the day of John have laid claim to divine inspiration, let their claims be compared with those o f the Bible writers and the contrast will be most remark able (see Exo. 4:10-1-2; 2 Sam. 23:1 -2 ; Isa. 8 :11 ; 48: 16; Jer. 1:5-10; Ezek. 2 :2 -7 ; 3:12-14; Hos. 1: 1; Joel 1 : 1; Amos 7 :14-15 ; Acts 1 :2; 1 Cor. 2 :13; 1 Thess. 2 :13; Eph. 3 :5 ). Let the critics bring forward one man since the Revelation was written, who has been able to minutely and accurately prophesy events hundreds of years in advance. V erbal I nspiration not M echanical Let it be understood that we are not contending for the theory o f "verbal dictation” which some Modernists de light to attribute to the orthodox. W e do not find the Scriptures teaching that the writers were mere machines or that God. spoke as a business man might dictate to his stenographer. There are some portions o f Scripture that were, no doubt, dictated, but verbal inspiration is not mechanical or dynamic inspiration. Verbal inspiration means that God so directed men in their choice o f subject matter and words that they should convey the divine meaning and not pervert it. The Bible claims inspiration in all its parts and attributes the very “ jots and tittles” to God. Only the Bible in its original languages, Hebrew and Greek, is inspired in this sense, and though we cannot identify any “ original manuscripts,” by comparing the multitude of manuscripts, versions and quotationsj-Ave know that we have a text which in all essentials is equal to the original. Furthermore, history has moved in the molds o f prophecy and human experience has verified the Scriptures at every point. The eternal and omniscient God cannot inspire con tradictions and inaccuracies such as are found everywhere outside the Bible. Alleged discrepancies within the Bible have melted away one by one under careful study o f the text and with the light of excavations and discoveries. Our Lord taught the mdst complete inspiration of the Scriptures and for Him the commencement of all exegesis was the simple maxim applied to the most minute expres sions of the written W ord : "The Scriptures cannot be broken.” Are such words to be applied to any writings since our Lord’s last apostle placed the capstone upon the New Testament with a warning to every man of the pen alty of attempting to add to or take away from the word of prophecy? W e answer most emphatically—N O ! t j f God . . . . hath at the end o f the days spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb. 1 :2 ). The record o f His death and resurrection for our redemption and justification is the ultirqate revelation. There is nothing higher— nothing further, until He comes again. His parting word was, " I come quickly.” W e are hastening on to that time. The poets have no new light to shed on His plan and purpose; nothing to add to the ethical teachings of Scripture. There is no supplement to the Bible!
not understood that such claims for inspiration were to be made. W e have not known of a more daring venture. It is well financed, and a great publishing concern of Chicago (Buxton-Westerman Company) is prepared to turn out these “ Bibles” on a large scale. Its subtlety lies chiefly in the fact that it contains so much that has always been prized by Bible lovers, cleverly mixed with selections abso lutely foreign to Scriptural teaching. Necessarily such a collection contains much that is contradictory, and the compilers, recognizing this difficulty in connection with their claims to divine inspiration, explain that “ if divergent points of view are noted within its pages, the warrant for their inclusion lies in the fact that truth is too great to be monopolized by any one system o f thought.” In case some might object to the inclusion o f the writings of some who were notoriously immoral (such as Byron) the editor explains that the poems are “ chosen for their own worth. W e do not undervalue a lily because it grows in the mire.” M odernists ’ I deas of I nspiration This work is now being offered the Christian public "in the profound belief that the writers represented are worthy successors o f the authors o f the Bible." “ The practical test for the reader to apply in each case,” says the editor, “ is, Does it inspire ? It has long been an accepted canon o f criticism that EVE R Y INSPIRING UTTERANCE IS INSPIRED .” The time has come for every orthodox minister and teacher to bring out clearly before the people, the abso lutely unique claims o f Scripture to inspiration. Some 2,000 times the Biblical writers use the expression “ Thus saith the Lord.” Not one o f the poets mentioned in “ The Supplementary Bible” even intimates any consciousness that Almighty God was speaking directly through him.
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On a church bulletin board in Los An geles the following arresting words were seen :i “A. man must either be a blessing or a blight; .he cannot be a blank." * * * In a booh on Dr. Arnold of Rugby, we are reminded that when an important controversy arose, Arnold’s remark was, “ I must write or I shall burst:’’ In some cases wouldn’t it be better to burst?: ♦ * * One editor remarks that the popular songs written by mental defectives seem to be more popular than others, The editor of the Palm Beach Post wants to know “What others?” Wisely put! What popular songs are there today that have any sense to them? ♦ * * Editor of the Los Angeles Times ad vises young men not to trust too much a girl who dopes her eyelashes, for “ she will not hesitate to put home-made icing on a store-bought cake!” * * * It is well so to live that you will not hate bill collectors. ♦ * * The Saturday Review offered a prize a few weeks ago for the best example of a brief conversation between Ananias and George Washington. The winning entry w as: Washington: “ Sir, I never told a lie.” , Ananias: “ Sir, I believe you.” ♦ * H e A lecturer recently declared at the out set o f uus lecture that he “ received his moral training at the knee o f a devout mother and across the knee of a deter mined father.” One wonders how many o f the oncoming generation will be en abled to make such a statement, ; » * * We are certainly “going some” these days. W e read that in points o f danger our highways resemble our machine- filled factories. W e have 3,000,000 miles of public roads. And one person is in jured annually for just about every four and one-sixth miles of highway. One per son is killed annually for about every 125-mile stretch of our roads.; One dead to every 29 injured—that’s about the proportion.. * * * The discovery of an old manuscript confirming the existence of Jesus Christ as an historical character, was recently reported. Harry Carr, news corres pondent, comments that “ the Christ doc trine doesn’t need any ancient manu scripts for corroboration.” It must have had an Author. “ The important point,” says Mr. Carr, “is that He left a doctrine and a faith so sane and practical that it is a protecting arm to every harassed soul.”
The Department o f Commerce an nounces that, according to the returns; received, there were in the United States 543 churches of the Spiritualists (Na tional Spiritualists’ Association) in 1926, with 41,233 members, as compared with 343 churches and 23,197 members re ported in 1916.
In the face o f active opposition from the floor" of the convention, the General Federation o f Women’s Clubs,- meeting at San Antonio, Texas, a few weeks ago, passed a resolution urging all members to attempt to introduce the study o f the Bible into public-school curriculum. ♦ * * It is stated that there are 20,000,000 men and women within our land today who are foreign-born, and their children num ber 25,000,000 more, and thirty-three of our largest cities are more foreign than native in their population. Here is a problem that should interest both church and state; * * * Should not some o f our leaders pause to consider tthat; anti-denominationalism cannot avoid developing into an increase in the number of dénominations ? This should b,e obvious upon a little reflection and it has abundant historical demonstra tion. Bishop Joseph Berry recently de clared that there is no more destructive heresy abroad now than propaganda that all churches are going to the dogs»; There are churches- that are certainly in a bad wayg. but what can save the’ situation but a great company o f faithful and cour ageous witnesses who will keep on preaching the Word in them in season and ouf o f season ? ♦ * * F o u r t e e n archeological expeditions, representing the United States, Great Britain, JUrçance, Germany, Italy, Austria and Da^rp^rk, have been visiting the Holy Land >tWi$ summer. Archeological re search in Palestine has received .a new impetus by the recent gift of $2,000,000 from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., for an archeological museum to . be built and equipped in Jerusalem by 1930. * * ♦ A questionnaire addressed to students at Yale University has brought to light the fact that the overwhelming majority of those that answered consider Napo leon and Mussolini to be the greatest men that have ever lived. The Christian En deavor World says editorially “The sad thing is that -we can declare as our heroes men whose whole history is a negation of the principles of Jesus, and yet not know that in so doing we have also denied Him. So long as the ideals of Napoleon and Mussolini appeal to us, we shall drift away from Christ.” * * * It is getting less and less difficult to take the prophetic statements pf Revela tion in the most literal sense.’ 'Who would have dreamed a few years ago of the possibility of such a warship as the Ger mans have now perfected and which made its trial trip successfully? This mysterious 12,000-ton vessel was steered by wireless from a torpedo boat destroyer, following her twelve miles astern. The ship was
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Los Angeles Times : “ Three stages o f man’s de velopment : Knows nothing and b e l i e v e s everything ; knows a little and doubts everything ; knows much and again believes.” * * * Christian Endeavor World: . gff'Churches havea dangerous way of becoming hospitals for the sick, citadels for the • acquiescent.” ;;, ♦ * * Lewis M. Hjawes, Warden Sing Sing Prison: Itijl'Persons whoare able to have eminent defense attor neys are seldom convicted of ; first-degree murder, and very rarely executed. A l,a r g e number o f those executed were too poor to hire a law yer, counsel being appointed by the State.” * * Prime Minister Baldwin before British Bible Society : , “ Nothing but the light which comes from this Book, can lighten the twilight or dispel the fog.” * * * Bishop Freeman of Washington : “ The Christian pulpit must not be converted into a ros trum for the discussion of political themes. It stultifies itself w h e r e it attempts, through an organized lobby, to influence the course of leg islative action.” * * * Dr. John A. Held : “ I am glad to say that no really great scientist has ever announced that the Bible is no longer tenable in the light of scientifically established facts.” L_____ _ i
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