A Methodist Who Bolted—and Wh}) The Situation in Which Many Methodists Find Themselves Because of the Drift Away from the Bible By W. H. SEYMOUR, M. D. Charles'City, Iowa
in Germany were only too apparent to even a superficial observer, and for sev eral years 1 have been convinced that we are now reaping in our country what was being sown at that time. Others, who never sat under the »spell of Ger many’s professors, have been poisoned by “ the wine of modernism” from read ing their translated works, and there after bowed the knee to the self-con stituted authority of “ German scholar ship” . Militarism or Liberalism? “ Der Militarismus” of Germany is frequently cited as the cause of the re cent world war. This is a very super ficial diagnosis. The real cause is trace able to the teaching of those on theo logical faculties of German universities during the last few decades. The re sults of “ Higher Criticism” have long been in evidence in Germany— spiritual atrophy and empty churches. Time and again have I been in imposing Protes tant cathedrals as well as smaller churches, and found a mere handful of worshipers--—all of them old men and women. Today the effects of this teaching come percolating down in our own country through seminary, press and pulpit, permeating the literature of the church, and— most lamentable of all in its baneful effects— the Sunday school, and with spiritual marasmus for the pew. Even the secular press is bemoan ing the present condition of the churches — incidentally urging the one and only true remedy. Within the church, pro-
DECISION of a momentous nature in one’s life has gen erally an immediate as well as a remote cause. The decision
indicated by the title had its immediate cause in a session of a large Sunday School of which I was superintendent. I was about to ask the school for the usual monthly offering for the mission ary causes of the church- From various and reliable sources of information I felt convinced that some of this offer ing would go to the support of those who are denying some of the very fun damental doctrines of the Christian faith. This thought flashed through my mind as I was about to make the appeal: I was asking others to do what I could no longer conscientiously do myself. My withdrawal was immediately con summated. This action was not taken with a light heart, for both my late father and grandfather were Metho dist ministers— each with more than forty years of active service in the church. The remote cause for withdrawal, however, dates back to the years 1894 to 1898 spent in Germany completing a medical education. My mind was in delibly impressed by what I observed in the religious and church life of the land of the reformation, as well as in the teaching of the theological faculties. At that time there was quite a number of young American and English theo logians taking post-graduate courses in Germany. The effects of the teaching
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