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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NES S
January, 1942
Early and Final Impressions of R. A. Torrey
By OSCAR E. SANDEN San Antonio, Texas
M Y FIRST impression of R. A. Torrey came to me at the early age of fifteen. It was occasioned by the fact that the Amer ican Issue published a brief account of an essay contest into which I had entered, writing on the assigned sub ject, “The Bible Teaches Temperance for the Individual, State, and Nation.” My only “fan mail” consisted of a letter from the famous Dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles—and I was a schoolboy in southwest Louisi-' ana. Threp years later, after the Lord IMr. Sanrlen, who was graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in the Class o f 1923. has been Pastor of the Alamo Heights Presbyterian Church of San Antonio. Tex. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Texas Academy of Science . In frequent evan gelistic meetings and in lectures to young eople on “ The Correlation o f Science and eltgioh.” ite has been widely used in reach ing high school and college youth. He expects in the near future to give full time to this evangelistic ministry. Though the methods he employs are unique and modern, discerning hearers know that Mr. Sanden seeks to use them only as a means whereby he may "preach the Word."— E ditor .]
really be that we were to have the privilege of sitting at the feet of this Gamaliel! The impressions he left with me that »morning are with me yet. While I was to hear him, see him, confer with him innumerable times after that, a few very vivid im pressions stand out, some of which I shall mention t First of all, there was that unfor gettable Sunday night in the Church of the Open Door. The great congre gation, led by the able John B. Trow bridge, was singing, “Hallelujah for the Cross!” Dr. Torrey, dressed in his immaculate Prince Albert, stepped to the front and said, “Mr. Trowbridge, let me lead that song!” And how he led it, and how they sang! I can still hear the Words: “Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah for the cross . , . It shall never suffer loss.” Then he broke into the chorus of “O That Will Be Glory for Me.” How Mr. [Continued on Page 12]
had given me my call to preach, a second letter from Dr. Torrey reached me. Evidently he had made an ac count of the matriculation age! He must have kept careful records. Influences of Student Days at Biola In September, 1920, I enrolled at the Bible Institute. Dr. Torrey was not at the school during the first weeks of the fall term, but we daily anticipated his coming. Then one morning, at the Doctrine lecture hour, he entered the hall. I can see him now—white trim med beard, white rim of hair about his massive head, the eyes of a prophet, the springy step of an athlete. His gray suit, white tie, his heavy watch chain, all were just as one would ex pect. The students and the faculty members arose. While We. stood, he pulled out his watch—it was just time for the lecture. He spoke, “Let us pray,” I must confess that I stole a glance or two while he prayed. There was God’s man—God’s marked man. Could it
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