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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
January, 1936
made effective and utilized by the second. If there was a? deficiency in Torrey’s ministry, it existed in nonemotion alism. At that point, he was a strange contrast to his great brother in labor, Dwight L. Moody. Moody’s stories and illustrations moved the souls of men to action. Torrey’s forceful reasoning persuaded men’s intellects. It is our judgment that the greatest preaching involves and com bines both. In the many votes, taken by modernist magazines, as to America’s greatest preachers, I do not remember having seen Torrey’s name appear. The reason is that modernism has only skeptical voters,' and they have no standard by which to measure the true minister. But in the judgment o f the orthodox Christians and preachers, R. A. Torrey stood near, if not at, the top ! DR. TORREY As I Knew Hinu, B y W ILLIAM EVANS Scholarly preacher, prolific writer, always a fearless con tender for the faith — Dr. Evans owes much to Reuben A.' Torrey, o f whom he writes with affection and gratitude. Dr. Evans’ home is in Los Angeles, but in the exercise o f his ministry, he travels’ widely in America and abroad. M y knowledge of this great man of God and my inti mate acquaintance with him covered a period of about forty years. For two years I sat at his feet for class room instruction; for close to ten years I was a colleague with him in the teaching of men and women for Christian service at home and abroad; for many years we were to gether in the conduct of Bible conferences throughout the United States; and during all the many years we were the closest of friends. I knew him, therefore, quite intimately. May I briefly state, for the space allotted to me is limited, just what it was about this great servant of God that most deeply impressed me ? First, and to me the most important, Dr: Torrey was sincerely religious and, deeply spiritual. I never knew a man who wanted God’s best more than he did. And for it he would spend whole nights in prayer. In this he was like the Master. Dr. Torrey knew as much about the so- called “ rest o f faith,” and believed in it, too, as others, but he knew the dangers that come from “ the laziness of faith.” The Chicago Avenue (now the Moody) Church and many of its members can bear abundant witness to the power that fell during those “ Saturday Night Prayer Meetings,” led by Dr. Torrey. Torrey knew what it was to “ agonize” in prayer. Not many Christian leaders are willing to pay such a price for God’s best. It is recorded of James and John that they desired places o f power— to Sit, “ one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left.” Jesus did not rebuke them; but He did ask them: “ Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” In other words: “ Are you willing to pay the price of power ?” Torrey was, and he received the power. Secondly, Dr. Torrey was a scholar o f the first water. True, he never made a display of it; but few men I have known in Christian work could measure up to him in aca demic and Christian scholarship. He read his Bible daily in four languages. His knowledge of Hebrew and Greek [Continued on page IS]
REUBEN A R C H E R TORREY
Born in Hoboken, N. J., January 28, 1856, the son of Reuben Slayton and Elizabeth A. (Swift) Torrey. A. B. Yale, 1875, D.D. Yale, 1878. Student in Leipzig and Erlangen, 1882-83. Married Clara B. Smith of Garrettsville, Ohio, October 22, 1879. Children— Edith Clare, Mrs. Blanche Wiggs, Reuben Archer, Elizabeth (deceased), Mrs. Margaret Parker (deceased). Ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1878. W as for some years superintendent of city missions in Minneapolis; then became associate with the work of the late Dwight L. Moody. Was superintendent of the Moody Bible Institute 1889-1908. Preached continually during the tour of 1902-03. Visited and preached in Great Britain, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, China, Japan, and India. In 1903 returned to Great Britain to hold two years of meetings in principal English and Scotch cities. After he had returned to America in December, 1905, he held evangelistic campaigns in many cities of the United States, and in several in Canada. In 1911 he returned to Great Britain to hold meetings for several months. In 1919, visited Japan and China, and in 1921 China and Korea. W a s Dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles from 1912-24, and pastor of the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1915-24. Held evangelistic meetings in many states from 1924-28. W as special lecturer at Moody Bible Institute in 1927. W as the author of over forty-three books. The "G ist of the Lesson" was published annually for over thirty years, and continues to be printed from the material used during Dr. Torrey's lifetime. His works have been translated into num erous languages. Dr. Torrey died October 26, 1928, in Asheville, N. C. He was buried on Conference Hill in Montrose, Pa. — Facts furnished by Mrs. R. A . Torrey.
• “Until we have an adequate conception of our Saviour’s holiness, we can have no adequate concep- • tion of His love.”— Torrey.
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