Henry - A History of Biola University Since 1908

66 the whole matter before the students in an attempt to justify his position. His lack of discretion resulted in the circulation of a petition signed by a majority of the students protesting the action of the Board - ana~~requ~sti~g the reinstatement of the three men. Fortunately, Mr. Stewart, agreeing with Mr. Horton, handled the matter with wisdom and diplomacy, following the por- verb, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." In his reply to the students he acknowledged that the three men had won a place in his own heart and that he was sure the same was true of the students. He then pointed out that the Board had prepared a Doctrinal Statement to which all Board mem- bers, officers, and faculty must subscribe, and the three men in question had refused to do so. Therefore, the Board had no other option than the one they had taken. Mr. Stewart's reply seemed to satisfy the students. Thus the controversy over hyper-dispensationalism was brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and since that time it has never been a major issue at Biola. The second major doctrinal difficulty at Biola was that of Pentecostal- ism. Historically, like a prairie fire this movement swept across some areas in America in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Its strength in the West, especially in Southern California, was due, in part, to the natioanl prominence of Mrs. Amie Semple McPherson, pastor of the famous Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, which became the center of tne movement on the West Coast. Mrs. McPherson's reputation as a "healer and miracle worker" caused the term McPhersonism to be attached to the movement, especially in Southern California. At no time was Biola accused of actually teaching the doctrine of "speak- ing in tongues," and "divine healing" through miracle workers, or "tarrying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit," as taught by the Pentecostals. However, Mr. Horton, the Board of Directors, and others associated with Biola were accused of being "in sympathy with Mrs. McPherson." The basis of this PENTECOSTALISM

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