70
February 1929
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
Recalling an Ausp icious E v en t
nor to compare its prospective buildings with those of like institutions elsewhere. For, however commodious, buildings can not make a Bible Institute, nor even constitute its chief asset. The great, and commercially unappraisable, assets of our Institute are its organization, its teachers, its students, its evangelists, its Bible women, its Fishermen boys, its Lyceum girls, its missions, its. Bible classes, and its faithful praying constituency. These constitute the nuclei from which the Institute, under the continued blessing of our loving Lord, is to
LYMAN STEWART DELIVERING PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS AT LAYING CORNER STONE IN 1913. E HE Bible Institute of Los Angeles is celebrating in this month of February, 1929, the twenty-second anniversary of its founding. The years following its inauspicious beginnings have witnessed the growth of a work world wide in scope. It has ever been devoted to the task of getting the Word of Life to lost humanity. No more significant event in the history of the Insti tute has occurred than the ceremony attending the laying of the corner stone of the present buildings immediately adjoining the Public Library. This occurred on May 31, 1913, with fitting exercises. Mr. Lyman Stewart, who with Rev. T. C. Horton col laborated in bringing the Institute into being, delivered the President’s address at the comer stone laying. In this notable utterance Mr. Stewart outlined with unmistakable clearness the doctrinal basis upon which the Institute would operate. It has seemed appropriate to reproduce the address in this number of T he K ing ’ s B usiness , together with a picture taken at the time of its delivery. These are copied from the issue of July, 1913. T he P resident ’ s A ddress Our Bible Institute, conceived in prayer, founded by faith, and established through sacrifice, has, through the good provi dence of God, come to the third red-letter day in the history of its efforts to provide a permanent home for its several depart ments of service. The first was when it succeeded in securing this ideal location, and the second when formal possession was taken for the Lord by the breaking of ground. We have sought to have buildings planned on a scale some what commensurate with the commercial value of this site, the magnitude of the field, and the probable'future needs of the Institute’s many-sided work. These dormitories, while a neces sary adjunct to the Institute, will also partake of the character of an endowment. The work of construction, however, can pro ceed only as the means for this purpose can be secured; but the phenomenal increase of our population, and the new problems to be solved when the Panama Canal is opened, impose increased responsibilities, and render haste imperative. Our friends, there fore, need to earnestly pray the Lord to send the means to con tinue this work of construction unto completion. While thus seeking to provide for the future needs of the Institute, we trust that none of its friends will yield to the temptation to exploit the possible commercial value of its property,
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grow; and these buildings will simply so house these agencies for service as to promote their growth and development, and thereby increase their efficiency. We trust to see the workers in them so greatly multiplied that this entire coast shall feel their beneficent and uplifting influence. It should also be understood that these buildings are not to be a monument to any man, nor to any set of men, but are to forever stand solely for the promulgation of the eternal truths of God’s holy Word. Over its portals, and running across the front of this central building, will stand the inspired declaration, “For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” This divinely inspired Word will ever be the source of truth which will inspire all of the Institute’s activities, furnishing from its ex haustless resources, the instruction which is to enable the Institute to send forth Bible workers “furnished completely unto every good work.” Should the Institute ever depart from these truths, or allow any teaching within these buildings contrary to them, then this property is to revert to the donors or to their heirs. As to the donors, allow me to say that it is greatly to be regretted that one of our daily papers yesterday morning, in its notice of this service, through a misapprehension of the facts, referred to Lyman Stewart as “the donor of the building.” This statement does great inj ustice to all the donors, and is also an injury to the Institute, as such statements necessarily tend to prevent the successful financing of this great enterprise. I desire to state most emphatically that I am only one of a number of donors, and that I am not the donor of this or of any of these buildings. For the teaching of the truths for which the Institute stands, its doors are to be open every day in the year, and all people, without reference to race, color, class, creed, or previous con dition, will ever be welcome to its privileges. Like the great apostle to the Gentiles, the Institute in its propaganda will have but one theme,—“Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Its teaching, therefore, from the standpoint of this world’s wisdom, will be narrow. It will also be intolerant of error, but will have a love for the souls of men as wide as the world. It will fellowship with, and bid God-speed to, all who love the truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. It is inter denominational in its organization and character, and seeks to cooperate with and to assist all churches, Bible training schools, and other organizations which are endeavoring, in obedience to the command of our blessed Lord, to give His “Gospel to every creature.” It will ever be its purpose in such cooperation to have the Gospel, as far as possible, brought to every home in our State. With the Gospel given to all the people, there will be laid
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