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} The controversy reached its apogee in late 1928. For months the Board had remonstrated with the Dean's critics, they had prevailed upon them to show patience and a Christian spirit in the matter; and they had issued pub- . lie statements declaring the theological soundness of both the Dean and the School. However, all their efforts were of no avail, and the problem would not go away . Instead, it increased in intensity, causing the loss of many Biola friends and supporters resulting in a sharp decline in the School's income . When this happened the Board finally faced up to reality, and real- ized. for the first time, the full impact of the problem. They began to realize the impossibility of reversing the trend as long as Macinnis remained in the position of Dean, and that their only option, if they were to salvag~ the School, was to ask for his resignation. The Board minutes give little information relative to Macinnis ' resig- nation . They merely state, "The Dean's resignation was considered and ac- cepted, to become effective December 31, 1928." Because of their loyalty to him and their personal embarassment over the matter, some of his support- ers vehemently denied that he was forced to resign. However, the records prove conclusively that he offered his resignation at the request of the Board . The members of the Board were divided on the issue, and when the vote to ask for the Dean's resignation was taken, it was approved by only a sim- ple majority. Immediately four members of the Board resigned, including the Chairman, Mr. Joseph Irvine. The reasons given for their action were pre- sented in a letter addressed to the Board . A summary of their reasons fol- lows . They considered the action in asking for the Dean's resignation not in the best interest of the School. They pointed out that the Dean had ten- dered his resignation on two previous occasions, and each time every mem- ber of the Board had expressed his unqualified confidence in the doctrinal soundness of Dr. Macinnis . They had seen nothing in the Dean ' s book to . warrant the action taken by the Board. They saw the action taken in asking
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