religion at all. They are really as technical in their sub jects as physiologies or other secular books on various subjects to which probably our critics have often referred as authority even though they did not agree with, or more likely know, the theology o f the author. These books have been used as collateral reading in such subjects as Attention, Interest, Laws o f Memory, Habit, etc. They are used in exactly the same way as Professor Benson, director o f Religious Education in Moody Bible Institute, refers to authors who are authorities in certain lines, but with whose theology he could surely never agree. Profes sor Benson has written a very helpful book on child psy chology called “ An Introduction to Child Study.” This book is used by him as a text book in the Christian Edu cation course in Moody Bible Institute. In his Bibliogra phy for this book he lists boohs not only by Athearn, Weigle and James, but also by such authors as Starbuck, Hartshorne, Dewey and Butler, who are certainly far more outstandingly liberal in their theology than any authors whom we have thought it wise to recommend fo r reading. We do not criticize Mr. Benson for doing this and we still feel quite sure he is not a “ Modernist” but has referred to these authors only as authorities in some particular line. Our critic draws his sword in the behalf o f Professor Machen o f Princeton and our friend’s attack upon that Institution quite recently was largely based upon a pam phlet written by Dr. Machen entitled ffIThe Attack upon Princeton Seminary, A Plea fo r Fair Play.” Dr. Machen, who is heartily endorsed by our critic, says in that pam phlet, “ A fter they (students) have studied at Princeton, indeed while they are studying here, the more they acquaint themselves with what opposing teachers say the better it seems to us to be. W e encourage our graduates, if they can, to listen to the great foreign masters o f naturalistic criticism. W e desire them to hear all that can be said against the Gospel that we believe. No doubt such a pro gram is full o f perils. Might it not be safer for our future ministers to close their ears to all modern voices and remain in ignorance o f the objections that the Gospel faces in the modern world ? We replied that o f course it might be safer. It is safer to have a good soldier in com fortable barracks than it is on the field of battle. The great battles are not won in that way. Thus we encour age our students to be fearless in their examination o f the basis o f faith.” We would like to ask our brother who condemns us for referring to the books mentioned above’ if he could possibly have been the champion of Faith he is against infidels and evolutionists if he had not carefully studied what these people have to say. Does he desire to hold a monopoly on this line of work while he keeps all o f the rest in ignorance of the forces we are to oppose? Our Corner Stone
Declaration of Directors PON the occasion o f the Twenty-first Anniver sary celebration held in the Auditorium of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles on the 25th of February, 1928, Dean John M. Maclnnis made a personal declaration o f faith substantially in the following language: “Without hesitation or reservation I affirm my absolute belief in the inspiration of the Bible as the very Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, the deity of Jesus Christ including the Virgin Birth, His vicarious, substitutionary atone- ' ment, His resurrection from the dead including the resurrection o f the very body in which He was cruci fied, regeneration through faith in Christ by the min istry o f the Holy Spirit, the coming again of Jesus Christ in person.as the great hope of. His Church, and the consummation o f the age.” Upon the following Sunday afternoon, before a large audience-, the following additional statement of purpose and policy was made:
“ Pursuant to the statement made last Sunday afternoon, let me make this brief additional state ment for the sake o f our friends and supporters, as well as in the interest of the Institute and its work. “ I very sincerely regret the recent criticism of the Institute and o f me personally, regarding our attitude in the matter of the fundamentals o f the faith. To those who know the facts and are most intimate with the work this criticism is not only un warranted but inexplicable. “Inasmuch as four or five have suggested that I should resign as Dean o f the Bible Institute, after very serious consideration, I placed my resignation with the Board o f Directors without reservation and condition at a meeting held last Monday evening. The Board positively refused to accept the resigna tion and earnestly asked me to continue my •work, expressing their conviction that the highest interest of the Institute and of the kingdom o f God con nected with the Institute work demanded that I should do so. This was unanimously supported by a note of the Faculty and strongly supported by the Student Body. Only six of the more than three hundred and fifty students voted in the negative and I understand they did not oppose me or the policy o f the Institute, but rather objected to some of the phraseology o f the resolutions offered for a yea and nay vote. “ Realizing the love and the confidence of those who are immediately responsible for the work and those who are most intimately associated with me in the work, as well as those dear young people with whom we are working, I have been constrained to continue as the Dean o f this great Institution. This matter is, therefore, definitely and finally settled as far as the Institute is concerned and we seek now to go forward in the strength of our maturity ‘with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firm ness in the right as God gives us to see the right,’ and to be true to Jesus Christ and the fundamentals o f His truth as we have them in the Word of God, which is bur final authority and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. In cooperation with all who love righteousness and are true to the Lord Jesus Christ and His great commission, we shall endeavor to go forward in a constructive work, which shall be an unquestioned witness to the great realities o f the Christian faith. “ In the light of the seriousness and tremendous challenge o f our opportunity to train young people to do a real and a constructive work in the Church o f Jesus Christ, we have no time for useless and destructive controversy or explanations. We believe our position is now clearly defined and there is no reason for anybody misunderstanding it. Therefore, we shall not waste either our time or strength in answering those who may feel moved to criticize our work and activities. No man or institution has ever done a worth-while piece of work that has not been subjected to the most severe criticism and oppo
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