March, 1937
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
89
Remembering
By MRS. LYMAN STEWART Los Angeles, California
lDuring the Torrey Memorial Conference at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, a memorial service honoring Lyman and Milton Stewart, T . C. Horton, and R. A. Torrey was, held on January 28, 1937, the eighty-first an niversary of T orrey s birth. With Dr. Rood presiding, the main addresses were given by Mrs. Lyman Stewart, Direc tor of the, Bible Women’s work of the Bible Institute, and W . E. Edmonds, Pastor of the Glendale Presbyterian Church, Glendale» Calif. Both speakers are members of the Institute’s Board of Trustees. I t is regretted that space in this issue precludes the printing of Dr. Edmonds’ excel lent address which portrayed the grace of God which was magnified in the Stewart brothers. And of Mrs. Stewart’s sympathetic and analytical remarks concerning Torrey and Horton, only a brief synopsis can be furnished here .— E ditor .] T HE words in Acts 11:24 concerning Barnabas are eminently applicable to both the men of God whom we are remembering at this hour. The first part of the verse, “ for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” is a true picture of the characters of these outstanding servants of the Lord. Thé latter part, “ and much people was added unto the Lord,” is a fitting description of the life work of both Dr. Torrey and Mr. Horton, which was thç outcome of one consuming pas sion— the salvation of lost souls. Mr. Horton came to Los Angeles through the instru mentality of Mr. Lyman Stewart in the early years of this century. Following the formation, by M r. and Mrs. Hor ton,^of two young people’s clubs, the Lyceum and Fisher men’s Clubs, the present Bible Institute was founded Feb ruary 25, 1908, M r. Stewart and M r. Horton being co founders. Several years later, Dr. Torrey was called to be the Dean of the Institute, and he assumed that position in January, 1912. In 1915, in addition to being Dean of the Institute, he became the first pastor of the Church of the Open Door, both of which positions he held until the summer of 1924. These three men complemented each other in a remark able way. Dr. Torrey’s name was world-famous; he stood high among the highest as a preacher and Bible teacher. Mr. Horton supplied the missionary zeal and vision. Mr. Stewart contributed his means and his wide business ex perience, together with a humble and charitable spirit which often acted as a check upon the sometimes over militant spirit of the others. In these three was the truth made abundantly clear that God endows His servants with varying gifts, using their combined service for His glory.
T orrey — G r ea t T each e r a n d E vangelist It was my own inestimable privilege to be a student at the Bible Institute in Dr. Torrey’s day. A man of culture, imposing physical appearance, he was clearly of the aristo cratic type. There is no doubt that he was one of the great Bible teachers of all time. As I recall our studies in Bible Doctrine, Dr. Torrey stands out in my mind as a veritable giant in the art of teaching. Often there would be an awed hush in the classroom as the lesson closed, and we students would leave quietly, not caring to stop and chatter, for we had received a vision of God Himself through His W ord and His servant. In the pulpit, Dr. Torrey was still the teacher; his morning sermons were usually doctrinal. His evangelistic efforts, in the United States and on a world tour, were marvelously blessed of G od : Christians were made strong in the faith, and un saved men and women in large numbers came to Christ. H orton — H um b l e S o u l -W in n e r Now for a little glimpse of Mr. Horton: He was very unlike Dr. Torrey in most respects, and yet they were one in their deep love for the Lord and their earnest endeavor to make Him known. M r. Horton was small, lithe, and active in his movements, and was the most approachable of men. His missionary spirit constantly urged him for ward, and one by one there were added to the Institute various evangelistic departments. Dr. Torrey gave to the students their strong doctrinal foundation, and “ Daddy Horton,” as he was affectionately known to the young peo ple, implanted the zeal for soul-winning in their hearts. M r. Horton was an untiring personal worker— the greatest I have ever known. M r, and Mrs. Horton ac companied M r. Stewart and me on a number of automo bile trips, and at each place at which we would stop, Mr. Horton would at once seek out his man, and in his simple, unaffected manner would begin to present the claims of the Lord. It was his deep love for his Lord that constrained him to tell others of Him. I have heard him tell, with tears in his eyes, of kneeling before his Lord at the begin ning of each day, and kissing His pierced feet. The Lord was so real to him that it seemed as though He were visibly present. As we, of the present, continue to build upon the strong foundation laid by these noble servants of Christ, may our service always be rendered in the same spirit of deep prayerfulness, eager devotion, and simple dependence upon the Holy Spirit, as was theirs.
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