January, 1936
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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God. Over and over again, I have left his class with my heart solemnized and hushed because Dr. Torrey had led us into the very presence of God. I think the reason can largely be traced to the fact that, regardless o f the number of times he may have taught some particular lesson, Dr. Torrey never faced a class without having made special preparation once more, by further prayer and study. Our teacher was an outstanding example o f mental and spiritual balance. He always maintained that em phasis should be placed on the doctrines of Scripture just in the proportion that God had emphasized them in His Word. Furthermore, Dr. Torrey was a man of power. His very presence proclaimed the fact. Mr. Stewart often re ferred to Dr. Torrey as “ a tower of strength” to the Insti tute, and such indeed he was. No listener to Dr. Torrey was ever fed on crumbs o f triviality. Always the “ meat which endureth” was spread before him. In the classroom, Dr. Torrey demanded o f the students the best they had, and was satisfied with nothing less. He was very firm, but also very just. If a student, when called upon, answered “ not prepared,” he knew he would be questioned before the class as to his unpreparedness. This requirement was quite embarrassing, unless one had a valid reason, in which case Dr. Torrey was always kind and considerate. Otherwise, he could be pretty severe—with the logical result that the words “ not prepared” were heard in Dr. Torrey’s classes much less frequently than in the others! II. B y CUTLER B. WH ITWELL Torrey left a mighty impress upon the life o f the one-time star tackle on the Columbia University football team, and Cutler B. Whitwell has ever since been a loyal friend o f Biola. With his wife, he is a graduate o f the Institute, and is serving now as director of. the employment department. As I think back nearly fifteen years to my student days _/~\_at Biola, my impressions o f Dr. Torrey as a teacher are as clear as though I had listened to him but yesterday. When Dr. Torrey entered the classroom, the very at mosphere seemed to change. It was not the mere cessation o f talking that made the difference. The cause lay far deeper than that. The fact that Dr. Torrey was a Spirit- filled man, and that he was our Dean seemed to cast a warm glow of anticipation over the whole group. One liked to look at him and watch him teach. He never asked for attention, yet his striking countenance and com manding personality forbade inattention. Perhaps one of the chief features o f his teaching was the effective use o f a vast store o f illustrations drawn from personal experi ence. One was impressed with his wide field o f learning gained at home and abroad. And yet he used language which was simple and direct. Often Dr. Torrey, by his apparent sternness, caused students, especially new ones, to forget all they knew. Then it was that one saw another side of his nature as he sym pathetically helped the trembling neophyte to recall the vanished knowledge. Having succeeded, he would then lend encouragement by saying, “ There! You see, you knew it all the time.” He taught with great positiveness and directness and without emotion. His teaching carried conviction because it was based on something more abiding than what he or some one else thought. With him, the prevailing question was: “ What does God say ?”
with a word o f explanation as to the brevity o f his talk, but to our surprise, instead o f plunging right into his sub ject, the man began to complain of his having been given only ten minutes, and kept up his complaint until he heard a voice behind him saying, “ Your ten minutes are up. Let us sing number---------- , after which D r .---------- will de liver the closing address.” A t the dinner table afterwards, the unfortunate man wished to talk further about his treat ment, but was silenced with Dr. Torrey’s crisp remark: “ You were given ten minutes to tell o f the work. If you chose, rather, to talk about yourself, and the treatment you had received, you are to blame, not I. Ask the Lord to for give you for wasting time.” W ith H is F ellow W orkers Dr. Torrey was God’s servant, not man’s. He sought, to do the will of God and to have His “ well done.” He expected those whom he had called to work with him to be actuated by the same high motive. W e were not Dr. Torrey’s servants, but Christ’s. W e appreciated his con fidence, and tried to be worthy o f it.wA word o f commen dation from him meant much. He did not interfere with us in our work unless some really serious matter arose, and then he did act. But pettiness was beneath him. His P rayer L ife An outstanding characteristic was his prayer life. Dr. Torrey’s confidence was not in his prayers, but in the faith fulness o f Him to whom he prayed. His favorite psalm was the sixty-second. As he read it at the beginning o f the monthly hour o f prayer, a holy awe seemed to be upon him, especially when he came to the eleventh verse: “ Power be- longeth unto God.” Whatever blessing attended his evan gelistic work he ascribed to God. And how he valued the cooperation o f those thousands of faithful Christians who followed him with their prayers all around the world ! Many a time he testified publicly that when the meetings were not going well, a day of prayer and fasting turned threatened defeat into glorious victory. But it was in the little group that used to meet in his room in the Institute, or in his home, after the great Sat urday night classes were over, that we got to know him best as a man o f prayer. Like the prophet Jeremiah, he never quailed before men, but poured out his heart to God in adoration, thanksgiving, confession, and humble petition. Was it any wonder that after a Saturday night spent thus, the word from the pulpit the next day was “ with power” ? <_As H is Students Saw H irru i. B y MRS. LYMAN STEWART In the classroom, Dr. Torrey deeply influenced his students, among whom was Lulu Crowell, who later became Mrs. Lyman Stewart. In her work as Director o f Bible Women o f the Insti tute, and as a member o f the Board o f Directors, Mrs. Stewart continues to manifest a faithfulness like that o f her great teacher. I wish to record my thanks to God for permitting me to enjoy the high privilege o f being a student in the Bible nstitute o f Los Angeles during the years o f Dr. Torrey’s ministry as Dean. As I think back over my student days, the thing that most deeply impressed me concerning Dr. Torrey was his profound knowledge of, and utter faith in, the Word of
“Many miss God’s guidance by doing things too soon.”— Torrey.
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