March, 1939
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
90
Around the King's Table E D I T O R I A L
bled congregation held in loving memory three of those most used of God in the founding of the Bible Institute of Los An geles, R. A. Torrey, Lyman Stewart, and T . C. Horton. At this session John H. Hunter, who for years was associated with these three men in the work of the Institute, gave a very helpful and inspiring memorial message. It sounded in every heart a great challenge to take the truths of the Word of God for which these men stood, and to give them to the world of our day. W e are all praising God for the marvelous blessing of this great conference, and we look forward to the one which we expect to hold next year, if our Lord shall tarry. Scattered across thousands of square miles of territory in New Mexico and Arizona are nearly fifty thousand members of the spiritually neglected Navajo tribe. A well- informed worker among the Navajos esti mates that in this group even today less than ten per cent are professing Christians. Only a comparatively small company of missionaries is serving in their midst, and many of the Indians are wholly unevangel ized. Other tribes of American Indians like wise stand in need of the gospel message. Closely associated with the early mis sionary effort among the Navajos was Fred G. Mitchell, a man of outstanding faith, patience, and perseverance. When, on January 12 of this year, he went into the presence of the Lord, he must have experi enced “an abundant entrance,” for he had been the means of making Christ known to many of the “forgotten men” of the desert. Mr. Mitchell first went to serve among the Navajos of Arizona in 1904. So zealous was he for the salvation of the souls of these Indians that after acquiring a very limited vocabulary of the language he began hogan visitation. With a sheepskin and blanket tied on behind his saddle, he rode the trails to find the people, and finding them, spent days and nights with them. He loved them with a burning passion. He sat where they sat. He suffered with them. He prayed for them. He told them heaven’s Love Story. He lifted them in the arms of loving faith to Christ. He literally poured out his life for them. Some of them found his Christ. Some of them are today rejoicing with him around the Throne. In 1919, the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church invited him to take charge of their Mission to the Navajos at Ganado, Arizona. Here God used him to the salvation of souls, the training of youth, and the upbuilding of a native church. His influence through this service is felt all over the Navajo Reservation. His work in contributing to the translation of the Scrip tures into the Navajo language is of greater value than can be estimated, for he was one [Continued on page 127] Fred G. Mitchell— A Missionary to the Navajos
to magnify misfortune by dependence upon God. This was Paul’s philosophy expressed to the Corinthian church, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmi ties . . . I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake” (2 Cor. 12: 9, 10). The object of comparison here is not others' misfortunes but Christ. When we assume our lot with our gaze upon Christ, that attitude glorifies the trivialities and the tragedies. A Notorious Pardon In commenting on the pardon given to Thomas Mooney, it is to be remembered that we hold no brief for either Mooney’s guilt or innocence. This question has been argued before the courts of the State of California as well as of the nation. So ex tensive has been the litigation in this fa mous case that the records of its opinions would make a library of twenty volumes, comprising 13,416 pages. The dramatic and almost blase circumstances under which the pardon was granted have stirred the world. This famous pardon involved the freedom of but one man who had been im prisoned for twenty-two years. But this recent incident has served to re mind us of another pardon, a pardon which God has already given the entire world and which, in this very day, almost goes begging for a hearing. This pardon is not signed in State ink but in the blood of the Son of God. It sets free from eternal bondage the sinning members of the human race. There remains but one requirement to have its marvelous blessings put into ef fect, and that is its acceptance by men and women. W e point out the fact that God does not pardon the sinner when he be lieves. His pardon has already been sealed by Calvary’s blood. The pardon is made effective and productive by the sinner’s faith when he accepts God’s offer of for giveness of sin through the crucified Son of God. The Fourth Annual Torrey Memorial Conference The Fourth Annual Torrey Memorial Bible Conference has gone into history. This conference, held at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles from January 22 to 29, was, without exaggeration, the greatest and best of its kind. The corps of preachers and teachers assembled for the conference were leaders of great ability and power. Time would fail to speak individually of the blessing brought by each speaker. The most eloquent testimony that could be given to these is to be found in the remarkable attendance at every session. This attend ance had an accumulative effect, coming to a peak on the closing Sunday. One of the most important meetings of the conference was the Memorial Service on Friday after noon, January 27, at which time the assem
W a r By Spring? The question is not ours. We would not venture the thought nor hazard the guess. But this question is in the minds of all in formed people. Of course the war that all expect ultimately may not begin in the spring. The fact is it has'begun already. It has begun in the preparations now being made for it. The greatest war preparations in history are now under way. Let no one naively suppose that these are purely de fensive preparations. The present interna tional frame of mind and temperament as sure us that this defensive preparation means offensive objectives. No other con struction can be put on this present arma ment race now. And even if charity of thought should grant the belief that these armament pro grams are purely defensive, we must then face the fact that when nations are pre pared for war, the slightest provocation readily leads to actual conflict. Had Eng land and .France been adequately prepared, war probably would have occurred last fall. Munich was a capitulation to preparedness, the preparedness of Germany. W e are now in the process of transform ing earth into Mars. In 1937, $14,000,000,- 000.00 was spent for armaments. In 1938, $17,500,000,000.00 was spent for the same purpose. This year, authentic sources re port an expenditure of $15,000,000,000.00 by just six of the sixty nations who are currently engaged in rearmament. And be sides munitions, the world has in readiness for mobilization some fifty million men. This total is more than the combined armies of Caesar, Charlemagne, Hannibal, Na poleon, Wellington, Lee, and Foch. There is but one thing to expect—war. It is not pessimism that leads us to say that war is inevitable; the very construction of our competitive civilization leads us to believe it. The only hope that lies in the present world situation is the hope of the fulfillment of God’s program on the earth. This program is centered in the return of Christ. It was prophesied of Him that "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” W e expect this peace because we expect His government on earth following His return to the earth, and then "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” “No Shoes—No Feet” "I had no shoes, and complained until I met a man who had no feet,” runs the old proverb. How often this is true in our own expe rience! W e complain of our lot or our so- called misfortunes and we think our way the hardest until we see some one whose lot is far worse than ours. In the light of others’ misfortunes, ours seem nothing. The Christian is taught not to minimize misfor tune by comparison with others hut rather
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