August 1927
482
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Summary of the Denominational Conferences 1927 N ot A G ood Y ear for M odernism , D espite N ewspaper R eports to the C ontrary
Presbyterian General Assembly T HE One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, North, will go down in history as one of its very greatest assemblies. The whole Christian world will be glad that it rang clear on the historic faith and that the fires of the missionary pas sion are still burning on its altars. There is no doubt but that the heart of this great church is still beating true to Christ and His Evangel. This was manifested in the election of moderator. The honor was given to one of the most marked New Tes tament Christians to be found within the bounds of the church—Dr. Robert E. Speer, Senior Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions.. It was difficult to persuade him to allow his name to be presented for that high honor but, when he finally consented, no man of any party in the church could be found who would be willing to stand against him. Therefore, he was elected by acclamation and the General Assembly rallied to his support in a very remarkable way. The Assembly also showed its heart and faith in the way in which they dealt with the report of the Committee on Princeton Theological Seminary. This Committee had to deal with a very difficult situation involving many technical questions and most intricate and delicate per sonal feelings. The Assembly listened with very earnest patience to the report as submitted by its chairman, Dr. Thompson, and also to a discussion from both sides, and showed from the very beginning that they were not anxious that any particular party should get a victory, but that things should be settled in such a way as to save the Seminary, conserving its work and testimony in the spirit of Jesus Christ and in absolute loyalty to the Evangelical faith as represented by the historic church. The report and the discussion which followed made it very clear that the trouble at Princeton is not doctrinal but administrative and personal. It seems perfectly absurd to think anyone connected with the Seminary is trying to win it over to Modernism. The case was referred to an enlarged committee which is to make a further study of the conditions at Princeton and report back to the Assem bly at its next meeting. Drs. Machen and Allis were not confirmed, not because there was any question about their doctrinal or scholarship fitness,, but wholly because the Assembly thought it best to hold things in status quo until a plan of reorganization, acceptable to the Seminary and the General Assembly, is agreed upon. This does not in any way interfere with these noted scholars and their teaching for they shall continue their work as they have been doing for years. T he P resbyterian C reed S tands Once again the great heart of the church was mani fested in'the report of the Commission of Fifteen, ap pointed two years ago for the purpose of making a careful
study of the cause of unrest in the church. This report was a clarion call to the church to go forward with a new consecration and a new passion for souls, and the Assem bly responded to its challenge with a heartiness that could not easily be misunderstood. The same thing is true regarding the report of the Judicial Commission. After sailing over many troubled waters, as far as judicial procedure is concerned, the doc trinal question which was involved was put beyond ques tion when one of the Commissioners offered a resolution for the purpose of putting the Assembly on record as still believing in the virgin birth. The Moderator declared that such a resolution was unnecessary for the simple reason that the Presbyterian Church has a creed which declares, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary . . . . ” “ jind we believe th a t .” At this emphatic declaration the whole Assembly arose as one man to its feet with earnest applause, showing thereby that this great historic state ment is still the real faith of the Presbyterian Church. Perhaps the real faith and heart of the church was nowhere more truly revealed than in her foreign mission ary report. Here again the vision and dynamic life of Dr. Speer interpreted the deepest thing in her life. He de clared conditions in China can only be interrupted—there can be no turning back. The church must go forward to her task. The missionaries are not expelled by the Chi nese. They left the field for the moment only because the various governments think it is best that they should. They are going back. The Chinese want them back. They must go back. When they do go back it must be to a truer unfolding of the divine message than ever before. This is the spirit of the New Testament and it found a magnifi cent expression when Dr. Speer declared to the Assembly that his children will go forward to a mission field even if it means that Mrs. Speer and himself must live on bread and water the rest of their lives. In closing the Assembly, the Moderator, in response to a request from the Commissioners, indicated the points that should be emphasized in the work at the present time. F ir s t: We must emphasize the superlative importance of personal experience o f Jesu s Christ. Second: The importance of the Christian home and its altar and teach in g s^ the old fashioned Presbyterian home which has meant so much to the life of the nation. Third : The cultivation of true reverence in our chil dren. Fourth: A re-examination of the reasons why we be lieve what we believe. F ifth : A new passion fo r the winning o f men to Christ. A church with this spirit and emphasis can not be very far from the heart of the Gospel. We thank God for it and its great work, and take courage.
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