334
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
July 1930
very evident. Unitarianism has been capturing leaders and controlling publishing houses to a degree that is alarming. Not so long ago, the Century Company presented its book, Hymns for the Living Age, and a little later, The Hymnal for American Youth. ' The Century Company, in its advertising, declares that its Hymns for the Living A ge is being used in thousands of churches. They are frank also in stating that “ hymns which in sense and spirit are remnants of a medieval the- ology” are wholly eliminated. By this they mean, of course, among other things, that there is no mention throughout the book of the blood of Jesus Christ. In stead of that which they call “ remnants of a medieval theology,” they have the sentiments and doctrines of a long list of Unitarians. Every eighth hymn in the collec tion is by a Unitarian. A reviewer has discovered that in only one of sixty-seven Unitarian hymns is Christ men tioned by name. Shall we take our hymnology from such men as John Haynes Holmes who denies the personality of God ? Or shall we accept a paean to the Mass given by Joyce Kilmer, a convert of Roman Catholicism ? No longer of Him be it said, He hath no place to lay His head. In every land a constant lamp Flames in His small and mighty camp. Even worse than the above is the verse: Imprisoned for His love o f me [i.e., in the dough of the wafer], He makes my spirit greatly free And through my lips that uttered sin, The King of Glory enters in [i.e., when one eats the wafer]. We are asked to sing with J. F. Gillman: Shall we take our cue from the agnostic Jew, Felix Adler, who insists that we are builders o f the “ city of God”— in opposition to the opinion of the seer o f Patmos ? O f a different type but about as unsatisfactory is the Inter-Church Hymnal, published by Biglow and Main. Here also the Unitarian strangle hold is recognizable. Many of the old hymns are retained, i.t is true, but enough of a new type are inserted to change the whole tenor and tone of the work. W e are permitted to sing again Heber’s grand hymn, “ The Son of God Goes Forth to War,” but the editors also furnish us a parody on this hymn: The Son o f God goes forth for Peace, Our Father’s love to show; From war and woe He brings release, O, who with Him will go? We are allowed to retain also another old favorite, “ Onward, Christian Soldiers.” But again a parody is o f fered. The idea of a militant host, crusading in the name o f the crucified and risen Lord, is not agreeable to Uni tarian theology, so this hymnal offers instead the fol lowing : Onward, Lord and Master, We will gladly go, God send us men whose aim ’twill be Not to defend some ancient creed. He strikes the fetters from the slave, Man’s mind and heart makes free; And sends His messengers to save O’er evTy land and seal
Moves the Church of Jesus Bearing love’s pure flame; Out of strife and tumult Peals her nobler call: “All thro’ Christ are brothers, Peace, good-will, to all 1”
Much more could be quoted to show the departure from the Gospel o f Jesus Christ. In the creedal state ments and responsive readings likewise, the same evident effort appears. Take, for example, the following brief creed that is offered: We believe in the fatherhood of God and in the brotherhood of man. We believe that Christ is the way and the truth and the life. We believe in the clean heart, the unworldly life, and the service o f love that Jesus taught and exemplified. We accept his spirit and his teaching and dedicate ourselves to his unfin ished work. There is no need to despair in such a situation. There are yet publishers and editors who are willing to give the Gospel in song with the old message. Among books o f a type that can be most cordially commended is the Imman uel Hymnal, edited by Ernest Gordon and published by Macmillan Company. As implied in its name, its emphasis is on the person and work of the Redeemer. Many great hymns which have fallen out of use have been recovered. Others, the work of devout hymn-writers associated with the English Keswick Movement, appear here, usually matched with new music. Biola in China A CABLEGRAM just received from our Mr. Charles A. Roberts in Changsha, Hunan, indirectly confirms the reports being given in the daily papers of serious war conditions in Hunan. Americans and other foreigners are said to have taken refuge on a large island in the river where they are being guarded by American and British gunboats. It is a glorious fact that in these times of special strain and stress, when many forms of missionary work are tem porarily interrupted, the Chinese evangelists of our Biola Evangelistic Bands are able to go right on with their blessed work of widespread evangelism. What a satisfac tion this must be to the loyal friends at home who are sup porting these evangelists, and what a privilege it is to have these full-time personal representatives out there in needy China. Our Dr. Frank A. Keller has just returned from Chi cago and Minneapolis where he has been speaking in im portant missionary conferences. At Chicago he was the principal speaker in the great annual missionary confer ence of the Moody Memorial Church, and at Minneapolis he spoke every evening in the three days’ missionary con ference held in the Oliver Presbyterian Church as a fare well to the Rev. Everett F. Harrison, A.M.', Th.B., son of the Rev. Norman B. Harrison, D.D., pastor of that church. The Rev. Everett F. Harrison is a graduate of Prince ton; he has had a fruitful pastoral experience and has taught for two years in the Evangelical Theological Semi nary of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Harrison is to be married at the end of June to Miss Arline Prichard, daughter of Dr. J. B. Prichard of St. Louis. Miss Prichard! is a Bible school graduate, has had teaching experience and has just received a university degree of M.A, God willing, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison will sail for China with Dr. and Mrs. Keller on August 7 and will be mem bers of the staff of the Hunan Bible Institute in Changsha. — o —
Forward in Thy footsteps Toward the morning glow : Saints, apostles, martyrs, Have gone on before, We march on with comrades From earth’s farthest shore. Like her Lord, victorious Over greed and shame,
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