Henry - A History of Biola University Since 1908

CHAPTER V TROUBLE IN THE CAMP

When Biola University was established in 1908, the Board of Directors -- _ _ :::. - _ . ..:: ......-:.::...-"<>' ~-- ----· adopt~d a concise Doctrinal Statement, which was changed only slightly when Dr. R. A. Torrey became Dean. All the Board members and employees were re- quired to sign this Doctrinal Statement, agreeing to refrain from teaching or advocating anything contrary to the doctrinal position of the School. Ob- viously, this was to protect the School against the inroads of doctrinal de- viations. Biola University, however, like all institutions of its kind has had its share of internal problems because of deviations; but most of these have been handled by the administration relatively easily, with the exception of three problems of a doctrinal nature, some of which have been serious enough to shake the School to its very foundation. These three exceptional prob- lems were Hyper-Dispensationalism, Pentecostalism, and Liberalism or Modern- ism, referred to in this account as the "Macinnis Controversy." From Biola's beginning, the dispensational method of interpreting the Scriptures was strongly entrenched in the minds of the co-founders of the School and of all those who joined them in the venture. This subject was included in the curriculum at the beginning, and instruction in all the classe was based on this principle. Despite this, hyper-dispensationalism, or Bul- lingerism, became an issue at Biola when three members of the faculty, Messrs. R. A. Hadden, Leon Tucker, and Julius Pratt, adopted the views taught by Bullinger, a prominent theologian at the turn of the century. Historically, the doctrine had its orgin in the teaching of a Danish Theologian, Dr. Galen- snoff, who taught there is a basic distinction between the Bride and body of Christ. .Mr. Hadden, who embraced the doctrine, first influenced the other men ·to teach it. Mr. Tucker, one of these men, at least was willing to listen to the HYPER-DISPENSATIONALISM

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