THE K I NG ' S B US I NE S S 777 This would be an interesting study, but Dr. Bissell has no inclination to furnish statistics. At this time, when some prominent radicals have avowed themselves greatly perplexed over this very question, Dr. Bissell might have jnade himself useful. For instance, there is Professor George Albert Coe, of Union Seminary, who has recently said that “ liberalism makes for ethical clarity and breadthsbut easily fails of ethical fervor. Dogmatism seems to produce a religious intensity that has power with men, whereas the liberal thinker tends to become an onlooker rather than a doer.” And again—Professor William Adams Brown, of Union Seminary, says: “ What is to become, we are asked, of Sunday-observance, church-going, family worship, the habit of Bible-reading and of daily prayer, if no firmer basis can be provided for their support than the generalities of the new theology? And we ourselves, when we consider the easy-going religion which is all about us, often share this feeling, and wish now and again that we could recover the unquestioning faith o f an earlier age, even at the price of some of its intolerance and narrowness.” As to “ the undeniable record of Christian character drawn from non- dogmatic sources. ’ ’ we are at a loss to know where to look for it. Then about those men “ who went to the stake for loyalty to Jesus”—did they not be lieve the Bible? Were they ignorant of the atoning character of Christ’s death, or did they look upon Him as a mere man, the illegitimate child of a Jewish woman? Name us just a few of the rationalists who have gone to the stake for loyalty to Jesus. We believe Dr. Dinsdale T. Young, Britain’s great. Methodist preacher, was right when he said, “ It still remains that it is dogmatic Christianity which wins men and renews them, and affords them power to serve their generation, and furnishes them with peace and joy and radiant hope. It is dogmatic churches that succeed numerically and in every way. That is a distinct result of our observations during many years in many places and under varied circumstance^. ” K. L. B. ^¡¿£. ^ &£ WELL—WHAT NEXT? When a minister ceases to believe in the inspiration and authority of holy Scripture, what does he do ? He discourses on current topics (many of which he is not at all qualified to discuss), comments on recent literature (which many of his hearers know as much about as he does), or attempts to become a social reformer. He hobnobs with the politicians and reformers, and nine times out of ten he gets himself into the limelight through some outlandish public action. The stories which the daily papers bring to us show the trend that things will take when no longer the authority of the Bible is regarded. Allow us to mention just a few incidents as showing the extremes to which men will go when they start out upon their own programs. A Massachusetts minister publicly baptizes a poodle dog on the request of one of his parishioners. He gets his picture and that of the dog in the public press throughout the country. The rite which is the expression of having accepted Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour and having risen to NEW SUBSCRIBERS. (SEE PAGE 768)
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