71 with neither the Fundamentalists nor the Modernists. In theology he is a 'conservative' thinker, but first of all a 'Christian' . " This middle-of- the-road posi tion °~-on· -t.lierssue of fundamentalism versus modernism was also unfortunate because it was this very_ issue which gave birth to Biola in 1908. In the minds of many, this was the equivalent of a "slap in the face" to Biola's founders, friends, and supporters. In an attempt to "pour oil on the waters," Dr. Macinnis, speaking to the student body said, "I am a fundamentalist in the sense that I believe with all my heart without apology or reservation, in the fundamental truths of the Christian religion." He proclaimed his agreement with Biola's State- ment of Doctrine. Had he stopped there he might have "soothed the ruffled feathers" of those he had upset. Unfortunately, he went on to indicate a rather soft attitude on evolution and at the same time a critical attitude toward fundamentalists. His attitude evidenced by his remarks only added to the problem. To his critics there was no middle position in the issues, and they were convinced that by the position he had taken he was in the camp of the enemy. A second basic issue in the Macinnis Controversy, the Dean's attempts to change the program, objectives, and curriculum of Biola, represented a dif- ferent educational philosophy from that held by the founders and on which the School had operated up to that time. Macinnis was convinced the time had come for Biola to become an ''Institute of higher learning," meaning a change in status from a Bible Institute to a Liberal Arts College. He se- emed totally unaware that it was a corrplete distrust of liberal arts aca- demic institutions and their drift into liberalism that had prompted the founding of Biola. The reader may wonder why all the intense objections to such change in status since Biola is classified ~s a University today. CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM
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