A P R I L - 1 9 3 6
© Chas. R. Laidlaw
Seattle, whose business district rises beyond Elliott Bay, Wash., is being touched by the Spirit of God through the ministry of the Seattle Christian Business Men's Com mittee (shown in inset). Having caught a vision of great spiritual need, these men are busily engaged in evangelization in the Pacific Northwest by means of noonday theater meetings that are broadcast by radio, and through services held in various churches.
Says:
PRESIDENT ROOD
”I want every reader of the K i n g s B u s i n e s s to join the T O R R E Y M E M O R I A L A S S O C I A T I O N . What a symbol of fellowship in Christ; that would be . . . I
The Torrey Memorial
Association Needs You
Membership in the Association involves neither the payment of dues nor the attendance at meetings. A n y one is eligible who will contribute $1.00 or more to the T orrey Memorial Fund— a fund used exclusively for student training at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. The Association was called into being in order to continue the honor given and the blessing received in con nection with “ T orrey Day,” observed for the first time on Feb ruary 28, 1936, the eightieth anniversary of T orrey’s birth. How "Torrey Day1’ Blessed the Bible Institute (Follow ing are extracts from an article in the KING’S BUSINESS)
Obviously, no one will ever know on earth how far-reaching are the spiritual benefits of this one week. Even the visible results are countless. One wonders, musingly, what would be regarded by Dr. T orrey as the most encouraging sign. Would it be the increasing crowds, indicating the return to the Institute of a great company of old friends? Would it be the ready c o operation of scores of true-to-the-Bible pastors and lay leaders? Would it be, perhaps, the perfect harmony that exists both within the Institute and between the school and its sister insti tution, the Church of the Open D oor? These are questions that no one can answer dogmatically; and indeed it would seem that all of these factors have contributed to the encouragement enjoyed. But those who knew Dr. T orrey believe that, for answer,
he would look beyond all these external evidences of divine favor — gratifying though each one may be in itself----into the very hearts of the nearly four hundred young men and women who are being Biola-trained. It is for them, primarily, that the Insti tute exists. What did this week of privilege, planned to immedi ately precede the second semester of study, mean to the young men and women enrolled? What did it mean? No one on earth can know how much it meant! But whoever listened, on the morning follow ing the conference, during that first prayer hour of the new term, as students of Biola poured out their hearts to God, knew un mistakably that God had been at w ork in many a heart. And in the hush of that holy hour, Torrey, whom Biola ever gratefully remembers, would surely have felt at home.
Three Things We Want You to Have
2. A striking portrait of Dr. T orrey (cabinet size) from the cover of the January, 1936, KING’S BUSINESS. 3. A subscription to the KING’S BUSINESS— its term to be fixed by you— being such portion of you r gift as you may designate (3 months, 25 cents; 6 months, 50 cents; one year, 75 cen ts). W hy not join today?
1. The beautiful TORREY MEDAL— a really fine likeness of Dr. Torrey, cast in enduring bronze on the first medal ever struck by this Institute. Ownership of this medal includes, without further obligations, membership in the TORREY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION , a fellowship of prayer and giving. Thousands have join ed; if you have not enrolled, will you let us know you r wish today?
THE B IBLE INST ITUTE O F LO S ANG E LE S , IN C O R P O R A T E D 558 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California
MI AM A P P A L L E D ” So wrote us the principal of a high school. “ 1 am ap palled,** he said, **by the igno rance and bigotry on the part of the s u p p o s e d C h r is tia n Church concerning the Jews.** And another friend, com menting on an editorial which appeared in The Chosen People, wrote, “ It is one of the strong est, most fearless articles 1 have ever read. God bless you for your courage.*’ And so, we are trying hard to fulfill, reflectively, the thing our Lord came into the world to do and to be, “ A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.’* This d iv in e commission in volves two tasks; one, to bring to poor, b lin d e d Is r a e l the knowledge of her Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ; and two, to enlighten those “ other sheep’* in the Church of Christ, as to their privilege to show kind ness to the house of David, “ for Jonathan’s sake.** It is a new world you enter when you become a friend of Israel. There is a new revela tion of God’s grace, a new ex perience of His love, ,a new vista of Israel’s place in God’s program. “ The Chosen Peo ple,*’ our official paper, has be come a powerful educational factor concerning the Jews, and God has used it also to stem appreciably th e r is in g tide of Jew-hate in our own country. An education on the Jews, is what your fellowship with us brings you. And it’s a good fellowship, for it is still true that “ God has spoken good concerning Israel.*’ That is why we keep inviting you to join us, even though at times our invitations may seem im portunate. But, som e d ay y o u ’ ll b e g la d y o u “ cam e across,’’ as e v e n A b ra h am once “ came across.” American Board of Missions to the Jews, Inc. 31 Throop Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Dear Friends in the Lord, Yes, 1 want fellowship with you. Here is my gift of $............,...... .......... Use it for your world-wide Jewish testimony, and may the Lord bless it to some Jewish soul. Also send me The Chosen People.
PA U L W. ROOD, Editor M ildred M. C ook , Managing Editor H. S. R isley , Circulation Manager
Published Monthly by and Representing The Bible Institute of Los Angeles,
ïïht $iWeTamil#Machine ‘ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” —R ev . 1 :5.
Motto:
Volume XXVII
April, 1936
Number 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS Around the King’s Table— Paul W . Rood......................................... 122 Mass and Visitation Evangelism Combined— Henry E. Burke....... 124 Vultures Instead of Doves Fly in Ethiopia — George Dewey Blomgren............................ ................................126 ^ 1935—A Prophetic ReviewS-Louis S. Bauman...............................128 The Shadows versus the Sunrise—W . E. Edmonds.......................... 131 Bible Institute Family Circle................................................................. 132 Junior King’s Business-—Martha S. Hooker....................................... 133 Jinsaburo Speaks His Mind— Opal LeonoreGibbs........................... 135 International Lesson Commentary....................................................... 136 Notes on Christian Endeavor-gMary G.Goodner.............................146 Daily Devotional Readings......................................................................151 Helps for Preachers and Teachers......................................................... 158 Our Literature Table................................................................................ 159
I N F O R M A T I O N F O R S U B S C R I B E R S
T E R M S : Single Copies.............................................. 15c Annual Subscription...................................................... $1.50 Two-year subscription or two annualsubscriptions. 2.50 Fire annual subscriptions................................................ 5.00 Eleven annual subscriptions...........................................10.00 Subscriptions in countries outside of U. S. require 25c extra. REMITTANCE: Should be made by Bank Draft, Ex press or P. O. Money Order, payable to "The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated." Receipts will not be sent for regular subscriptions, but date of expi ration will show plainly each month, on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. CHANGE OF ADDRES8: Please send both old and new address at least one month previous to date of de sired change.
A D V E R T IS IN G : For information with reference to advertising in THE KING'S BUSINESS, address the ADVERTISING MANAGER, 558 SOUTH HOPE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., or our eastern representative. Religious Press Association, 325 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pa., or 833 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Entered as Second Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage pro vided for in Section 1103, Act of October 8, 1917, authorized October 1, 1918. M A N U SC R IP T S: THE KING'S BUSINESS cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent to it for consideration.
PO LIC Y A S D E F IN E D BY T H E BO ARD OF D IR EC T O R S OF T H E B IB L E IN ST IT U T E OF LOS A N G E LE S (a) To stand for the infallible Word of God and its great fundamental truths, (b) To strengthen the faith of all believers, (c) To stir young men and women to fit themselves for and engage in definite Christian work, (d) TO make the Bible Institute of Los Angeles known, (e) To magnify God our Father and the person, work and feomlng of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to teach the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our present practical life, (f) To emphasize in strong, constructive messages the great foundations of Christian faith. THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, INCORPORATED 558 South Hope Street Lo* Angeles, California
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April, 1936
THE K I NG S BU S I NE S S
122
King’s Tables l W. R o o d
o Around the B y P ad
Can it be that even some orthodox preachers have been so occupied with machinery and denominational programs and honors, that they have lost their power and zeal? Every evangelical and evangelistic preacher will thank God for the laymen’s revival, and will enthusiastically work with the revived laymen. Praise God for an awakened and renewed laity, and may the fire spread all over the land! stirred these days as never before. The Christian Fires are Business Men’s Committee o f Seattle is sponsor- Burning ing downtown noonday meetings held in a thea ter and broadcast to the whole Pacific North west. Marvelous conversions are taking place. Twelve In dians recently accepted Christ after hearing the broadcast of the noonday service. One hundred or more young people were parading the streets to announce a noon meeting, and a man who was on his way to a high bridge to commit suicide saw them and was deeply impressed by the fact that they all seemed to be rejoicing. As he had never seen anything like it before, he decided to follow the crowd, and this led him to the gospel service in the theater. All he heard was the open ing line of the first hymn: “ Just when I need Him, Jesus is near.” As soon as the invitation was given, he made a bee line for the altar and was gloriously saved. Today he is an usher at these meetings. In one of the evening services a woman was converted. Her husband attended several services and he was under deep, pungent conviction. He was a radio star, and his prob lem was his work. He felt he had to give it up in order to be come a Christian. The writer spoke to him one night and said, “ I am praying for you. You are coming to Christ. Let me know when you accept Him.” The promise was made. A few nights later, the radio singer came up to the writer and said, “ I want to be saved.” He knelt and turned to the Lord, with the tears o f repent ance flowing down his cheeks. It was not long before the assurance came and the joy bells began to ring in his heart. “ Will you sing your testimony tomorrow noon at the theater?” he was asked. “ Yes.” The next day, this popular vocalist was at the theater, and after the story o f his conversion had been told, he be gan to sing: Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are being Revival People were wiping away tears, and sobs intermingled with hallelujahs all over the theater. From radioland we later received reports o f similar reactions in all parts of the Northwest. When the invitation was given at the close o f this service, twenty-five souls came forward for salva tion, and among others were the son and daughter o f the singer. Praise the Lord! W e can never forget the glorious days in Seattle. Space does xlot permit us to relate in detail the story of the more than a hundred young people who dedicated their lives to the Lord in a great mass meeting in Mark A . In loving kindness Jesus came My soul in mercy to reclaim, And from the depths of sin and shame Through grace He lifted me.
The Pew Speaks to The San Francisco Bay Region Christian Business Men’s Committee has been organ- The Pulpit ized recently. This group o f men is looking forward to the World’s.Fair to be held during 1939 on a man-made island in the San Francisco Bay to celebrate the completion of the two great bridges now in process o f construction. These men are expecting to carry on an aggressive evangelistic program during the time o f the Fair. They do not intend, however, to jest idly until the Fair opens, but are launching their prograaj now. Noonday gospel services were held in the FilmarteiTheater from March 9 to 13 under the Committee’s auspices. A t these meetings the writer was privileged to bring the messages. The services were broadcast over Radio Station KYA . The blessing of God was upon these meetings^ believers were revived, backsliders restored, and sinners saved. On the concluding day, the chairman of the Committee, Arnold C. Grunigen, one of the leading Christian laymen o f San Francisco, made a significant pronouncement that reveals \what is in the minds o f Christian laymen. The statement follows: v Our Committee has asked me as their chairman to give the clergy and laity in the theater and on the air today an idea of the planks to be found in our platform. W e say that our fellow Christian laymen—sitting demurely in a church pew Sunday morning, if the weather is bad, so that they can’t play golf, and hearing the minister deliver his regular message—are not following Jesus Christ. It leads direct to the appellation, true o f so many Christian churches and groups today, “Many are cold, and a few are frozen.” To the minister we say: You are to blame for much of the excess program machinery and ineffectual whirring of wheels in your own church group or denomination. The business world that we are more closely in touch with than you are, passes on unmindful o f shallow religionists who make a noise like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals and seldom indicate a spirit o f “love of souls.” For power with God and with men in 1936: Leave movies out of the church and to the movie theaters. Leave book reviews out of the evening services and return them to the Book Gallery. Forget the Sunday evening Question Box on “Is Haupt- man Guilty?” and answer the question, “What Must I Do to be Saved?” Instead of majoring in politics, reform, civic better ment, pacifism, prohibition, and cleaning up a sin-sick world, put first things first. Preach the Word, convict o f sin, present the Saviour; and red-blooded men who read the papers and know the world is bruised, battered, and bewildered will accept Christ, one by one. If you don’t, the laymen will run the life boats and you can run the hulk. This is a challenge that should be heeded by ministers. Church history teaches that when the ministers have lost their message or their power, then God has raised up lay men to “ run the life boats,” and clergymen have “ run the hulk.” What is the significance o f the laymen’s revival that has begun and is spreading over the nation? Is it not a rebuke to the modernistic preachers who have lost their message and are giving the people stones instead o f bread ?
THE K I N G ' S BU S I NE S S
April, 1936
123
Matthews’ church, or o f the scores o f souls that came to Christ there and in the Swedish Tabernacle, as well as in other churches. The nineteenth annual convention Fundamentalists, o f the World’s Christian Fundamen- on to tals Association will be held in To- Toronto! ronto, Canada, May 3 to 10. The day sessions will be held in the People’s Church, 100 Bloor East, and the evening sessions will be held simultaneously at the People’s Church, the St. John’s Evangelical Church in the east end o f the city, and the High Park Baptist Church in the west end. On the two Sunday evenings, the meetings will be held in Massey Hall, placed at the disposal o f the Association by the city of Toronto. The Windsor Arms at St. Thomas and Sultan Streets will be the official hotel headquarters. The hotel manage ment offers a $2.50 room for $2.00, or at a rate o f $12.00 a week, for those attending the Convention. Each atten dant will make his or her own reservation by communicat ing directly with the hotel. Toronto is strategically located, being 430 miles from Chicago and 330 miles from New York, so that people in the Middle West and East can reach it in a day’s journey. Indications are that there will be large delegations from these areas, and other representatives are expected from more distant places. “ The Evangelization o f the World in this Decade” will be the Convention theme. W e who are concerned in this gathering are meeting in a time o f storm and stress, when the world is asking for the way out. Man has failed in his attempts to solve personal, moral, social, civic, po litical, national, and international problems. W e meet to find God’s answer and His panacea. Two o f the most significant movements o f our day are the Laymen’s Movement and the Child Evangelism Move ment. There is a real awakening among Christian laymen, and they are hearing and heeding the call o f God to evan gelize. Many are being stirred to recognize their respon sibility to the childhood o f the world. The next great re vival will be a laymen’s and children’s revival. W e should be sensitive to the promptings, and movements o f the Holy Spirit. The Toronto Convention will seek to give an impetus to this twofold revival that has begun, and Lay Evan-
gelism and Child Evangelism will be emphasized. From the standpoint o f mechanical aids, the world could be evangelized in ten years because o f modern transportation and communication. And if God’s people could be aroused to recognize the challenge of the present hour, we; cfiuld reach the world in a decade. W e owe every man, woman, and child one opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ; The World’s Christian Fundamentals Association hereby issues a call to ^Christian workers from all part§';pf the world to come to Toronto to confer, pray, ancbplán fot the evangelization o f the world in a decade. The program will be built around this central theme, and the best speakers available are being invited to discuss various phases o f the subject. At least an hour a day will be used for general discussion. W e are expecting the greatest convention in the history o f the movement. Let every evangelical Christian pray for the convention and plan to attend if possible. The program is not complete as yet, but we have reason able assurance that the following speakers will be present: W . B. Riley, pastor o f the First Baptist Church, Minne apolis, and President o f the Northwestern Bible School; Charles G. Trumbull, editor o f the Sunday School Times; W . H. Rogers, pastor o f the First Baptist Church, New York C ity; George Douglas, formerly o f the Faith Mission College, Edinburgh, and the South Wales Bible Training Institute; Donald G. Barnhouse, pastor o f the Tenth Pres byterian Church, P h ila d e lp h ia , Pa.; Ethel S. Low, Sunday-school specialist, Modesto, Calif.; Clifford L. Lewis, director o f the Young People’s Fellowship Club Movement; Howard W . Ferrin, President o f the Provi dence Bible Institute, Providence, R. I., and Paul W . Rood. The following Toronto pastors and leaders have joined Oswald J. Smith, pastor o f the People’s Church and chair man of the Toronto committee, in inviting the convention, and are cooperating in the preparatory w ork : W . H. Adam son, A . W . Banfield, J. A . Barnes, A . G. Bentley, Alfred Bright, E. A . Brownlee, D. N. Cameron, O. S. Clappison, J. H. Cook, G. S. Despard, A . W . Fuller, R. K. Gonder, W . M. Hayler, John F. Holliday, F. W . Hollinrake,. George W . Hunter, John Gibson Inkster, H. N. Konkle, John Linton, David Mason, William A. Nesbit, F. Noel Palmar, William Price, E. J. Pudney, Mr. Roach, R. Thompson, J. B. Thomson, and Ralph Turner. A well-known preacher who is known to Blowing be vitriolic and hypercritical was shaking hands Out with members o f his congregation after the Lights service. A woman who had been a parishoner o f the church in years gone by and who was now engaged in full-time Christian work was in the com pany that was greeted by the pastor. “ Well, Laura, are you still letting your light shine?” asked the preacher. “ Yes, Doctor,” she replied, “ just like you are, and I am blowing out everybody else’s light just like you are.” There is no record of the results o f this rebuke. One o f the greatest tragedies in Christian work today is the jealousy that prevails among Christian workers, and the destructive, sinful criticisim o f fellow workers. Satan must gloat over this phenomenon and the havoc it has wrought. W e must be uncompromising in our loyalty to Christ and the Word and in our hatred o f sin, but this obligation does not mean that we should be harsh and bitter and hypercritical toward our fellows. Let us re member the wise advice: “ We should not add to the offense o f the cross our own offensiveness.” Why should a Christian worker magnify and broad cast the faults and failures o f a fellow worker ? Some be- [Continued on page 159]
People's Church, Toronto, where World's Christian Fundamentals Convention will be held May 3 to 10, 1936.
April, 1936
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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Mass and Visitation EVANGELISM Combined
By HENRY E. FURKE Chicago, Illinois
D uring the last few years, we have heard a great deal said about the merits o f visita tion evangelism over against those of mass evan gelism. The declarations, “ The day o f mass evangelism is past” or, “ The day o f revivals is over,” are being sounded out by visitation evan gelists and ministerial associations in all parts of America today. Invariably, those, who hold this view rest their ássertions upon a fourfold basis, saying: 1. In view of modern church work and methods, it seems no longer necessary to con duct revival meetings: 2.
churches today are rejecting mass evangelism and are substituting a program o f visitation evangelism. It appears as though these churches have found it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary church additions under the old order, and that the tendency has been to throw down the bars and to use any program, just so the masses might be brought into the membership of the church, often without any consideration of the individual’s spiritual experience. As a Christian and an evangelist, I do not object to the general idea o f visitation evangelism,
Henry E. Burke
for it is Scripturally sound. But I feel that there are many serious objections to the average program of visitation evangelism as we find it in operation today. D isadvantages of M ere V isitation In explaining my grounds for objection, may I sug gest the following propositions: li. The average visitation campaign is unscriptural. ' Visitation evangelists usually make the contention that they have- the only Scriptural method. I admit that there are some wdrfibrs who employ a Scripturally sound method, and we recognize that Christ used this method in reaching certain people. But He never used it to the exclusion of His preaching ministry. The tendency in visitation evan gelism is to minimize the value of teaching the great truths o f Christianity through the channel o f the preached Word. A fter the church was formed at Pentecost, the divine order was a combination of mass and personal evangelism, but even the personal workers of that day taught the people concerning the great facts o f salvation, centering in the death and resurrection oCTesus Christ (cf. Acts 8 :30-38). They never resorted to a system o f arguments devoid of Scriptural truth, purporting to makexhurch members. In many visitation programs, the basis o f appeal is shal low and falls far short o f the demands o f Scripture. The appeal usually centers around the thought o f following Christ, rather t-han of accepting Him as the only Saviour from sin. Christ should not be followed merely as an Ex ample; He must be received first as a Saviour (John 1: 11-13). As a rule, in a campaign of calling, no emphasis is placed upon the need of accepting Christ on the basis of God’s own Word. Too rarely is the average visitor able
The harmful effects qf organized hiasS evangelism
offset the good, that might be done.
: ;J - -
3. It seems no longer possible to have- anu.old-tiqjp; re vival meeting [as though God were no longer on the giv ing hand]. \ 1 4. A new method, which is claimed fó be Scriptural,,, has supplanted the old order. This new method is an organ-; ized program o f visitation evangelism. No S ubstitute for O ld -T ime R evival S ervices I would answer these contentions by saying I believe it is just as possible to have an old-time revival today, with as definite results, as when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, or when Paul gave that memorable address on Mars Hill— that is, it is possible if God’s people are willing to pay the price. I am not defending sensationalism, vul garism, stereotypeism, or that which is Scripturally objec tionable in modem mass evangelism. W e should always remember, however, that the good has had its counterfeit, and this difficulty has existed especially with regard to God-given evangelism. God has ordained “ by the foolish ness o f preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1 :21) ; and He has described evangelists as a gift to the church (Eph. 4 :11 ). No church that continually ignores this God-given plan can prosper'in a deeply spiritual way. I have taken a poll in many churches, in different parts of our land, to see just how many o f the members were saved in an old-time revival meeting, and the facts are that upward of eighty per cent o f those attending church and having a definite interest in the program o f the church were saved in a revival service. In spite o f this fact, many A n ' address delivered at the Conference on Evangelism, Bible Institute o f Los Angeles, January 30,1936.
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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do and say in approaching the prospect. Any number of methods would be usable, but we would suggest that the method and the instruction be as simple as possible so as not to confuse the workers and burdèn them with the machinery of the plan. V isitors T ransformed I nto S oul -W inners In advising workers, we frequently suggest the follow ing approach. W e say : If you are making a call as a worker, you should first of all extend an invitation to at tend an evening service, asking the members of the family to set a date when they will attend. You should then make it a point to be present at the meeting that night so as to welcome these visitors when they come. When convenient, ask the family, “ Are you active in any church in town ?” If they are members o f a church out o f town, they will gen erally say so, and then you can suggest that the pastor might call to discuss the matter of transferring their membership to the local church. If they appear friendly to your suggestions, continue by asking them, “ Has any one ever had the privilege of explaining the simple way of salvation to you, not as an opinion, but as a fact based upon God’s Word ?” They will probably answer in the negative, as very few people have ever-been approached in a friendly manner wifit an operi, Bible by some one desiring to revèàl ta them the way o f salvation. Then say, "Would you be willing to have (name o f pastor or worker) return with me at a convenient time, in a friendly visit, to ex plain just what it means to be a Christian? We would not take more than a half hour of your time, if so desired, and we-will respect your feelings and iri.no way embarrass', you.” , In a major campaign, !so many appointments will be made that it will be! necessary to select a few special workers to work with the pastor arid.evangelistic party? The members o f this group should be chosen carefully with reference to their tact and spiritual attainments, and then they should be given special training in the work of leading people to Ghirist! with the rise o f the Bible; .! When the prospects have accepted Christ in the office or home, they are instructed;to make an open confession o f:their faith, at the evening service,. ,Later, a worker, urges them to join the church o f their choice. As the meeting progresses, the general workers are organized into a. per sonal workersï’ . band, to be active in the evening service.’ ,. As the general workers gain experience in leading peo ple to Christ, through the instruction received while mak ing the return call with, the pastor or special workers, they can be added to the group,of special workers-apd bn their own accord go through the plan of salvation with each prospect. There is no better way than this to, train yorir church members in personal work. This; method, as outlined, adds. the .service, o f many Workers to supplement the efforts o f the pastor and the evangelists,; At the same time, it designed to prevent the securing o f ,church members on any basis dess than per sonal acceptance o f the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. With the blessing of God, this method will do wohueys during an evan- I gelistic c a m- I
to use the Bible in dealing with people. It seems apparent that no man has been led rightly to Christ until he knows that he is saved, not on the basis of sentiment or feeling, but as a fact supported by the Word o f God. Any program that falls short o f this, whether in mass or visitation evan gelism, must be uncertain arid unscriptural. 2. A visitation campaign lacks the dynamic normally found in a good mass evangelistic program. There is nothing definite or compelling to inspire the professed convert to tie up with the church and regular preaching services. 3. A visitation campaign requires a greater number o f experienced soul-winners than can be found in many localities. We have found it almost impossible to train properly the large number of workers normally used in a major visitation campaign. They need more help before they can rightly lead people to Christ, using Bible truth. A P rogram A deqüàte to the E ntire N eed As a result of these difficulties, this question naturally arises : Is there not a method which will give us the results o f a visitation campaign, combining the depth and dynamic o f an old-time mass revival meeting? We would answer by saying, “ Why not combine' rnas^s evangelism and the best in visitation evangelism?,’/ Wiffri this combined plan we have found our ministry revolution ized and the results so very encouraging, that we desir,e to tell others about our plan of organization and work. This plan will prove effective for a pastor in his regular work, as well as for an evangelist specializing in mass, evangelism. T he C ombined P rogram !P resented Certain details o f organization make1possible the link ing of visitation evangelism and massbevàngelism. The! program which we have found- practical; includes the fol lowing steps : 1. Church members take, a regulcircensus-.; using an assignment card, the same ,as in the usual visitation cam paign. When a single church is holding à series o f evan gelistic meetings, the members can secure a 'smaller 'apa possibly more Workable prospect list by listing thosè who have been contacted by the different organization's of the church, along with 'thé ¡fjriends ,of the merribets''of the church. This prospect list, should be made up before the series of meetings begins., ' 2: General workers aré then drafted from me member ship o f the church, the pastor selecting those who are cap able of making contacts for the special workers; ; (D o not call for volunteers, as very few will respond.) This group will! serve to make, .contacts for! the special workers, com posed of the pastor and members o f the evangelistic party. 3. The general workers receive special direction. They are asked to meet with the pastor or evangelist during the early part of the !campaign for instruction.! The town is divided into districts with an able captain in charge ofièach district. He has charge of the workerst assigned to his dis - trict and distributes the assignment cards as he sees fit. It is his duty to .see that some one calls upon all the prospects
in his d is tr ic t w i t h. t h e t h o u g h t o f making a con tact f o r t h e evan g e 1i st ic party or pas tor. In instruct ing the general w o rk e r s , we u s u a l l y tell them what to
paign, or it can be made a per- manent part of. the o rg a n iza tion and pro- , gram o f the fl c h u r c h U throrighorit the J .whole y e a r . 1 Try it ! I
April, 1936
Associated Press Photo, N. Y.
Emperor Haile Selassie's tiny air force would appear pathetic indeed in contrast to this dis p la y of Ita lia n a ir strength. This massing of Italian planes at the Campo di Ferrara aero drome at Rome was planned in preparation for a visit by the king. Mussolini has brought this branch of his mili tary strength to a high point of development, and his own two sons are members of the force.
VULTURES Instead of DOVES
in
B y GEORGE DEWEY gLOMGREN* Chicago, Illinois
T he rains in Ethiopia have ceased. The highlands are drying as did Mount Ararat after the flood. But instead o f the dove with the olive leaf, flocks of vultures and hawks are seen flying across the once muddy areas. They have no olive leaves— instead, deadly gas bombs— gas bombs that sear the skin, blind the eyes, and wreck the lungs, leaving the victim conscious until death relieves him. This has gone down in the record as Mussolini’s first con tribution to the new civilization he hopes to establish in Ethiopia. How I t A ll H appened September, 1934, brought rumors of trouble between the Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia. Mussolini stated at that time: “ Italy will not attack Abyssinia; but the Italian government is prepared for war if the attack comes from file other side.” The unmarked frontier along Somaliland provided the cause for hostilities. Since 1929 it seems that Italian troops have occupied a line o f wells centering at Walwal. Italy declares these are in Somaliland; Ethiopia, that they are in the middle province o f Ogaden. The maps published by Italy up to 1925 bear out the Ethiopian con tention, for they locate Walwal about sixty miles west of the Somaliland border. Italy now has published a map which omits the boundary line entirely. On November 23, 1934, an Anglo-Abyssinian Com mission reached Walwal. Its purpose was the demarcation o f the routes o f nomad tribes grazing their herds over the border from British Somaliland in the north. An escort of Abyssinian troops accompanied the Commission. At Wal wal there were about two hundred and fifty Italian soldiers established in an Italian fort about one mile out. The Italians refused to let the Commission proceed on its way. O f course, the British and Abyssinian Commissioners objected, and their escorts succeeded in pushing the Italians back without any serious fighting. Then the Abyssinian escorts remained at Walwal in order to avoid any appear ance o f retreat. *Foreign news correspondent at the Italy-Ethiopia Peace Conference, Geneva.
The Italian Commander addressed a series o f notes to the Abyssinian officer at Walwal. The notes were in creasingly rude and threatening in tone. Feeling ran rather high, and constantly so. On December 5, hostilities broke out. Each side brings accusation against the other for beginning the hostilities. Mussolini demanded apologies from the Governor of Harrar, a salute to the Italian flag at Walwal, and $100,000 compensation for the dead and wounded. Naturally, the Ethiopian government would not meet these demands. First, it refused because it could not admit that the Ethiopians had been the aggressors; and second, to salute the Italian flag at Walwal would be to admit that the place was in Italian territory. Mussolini has continued his demands, all of the time making additional military prep arations. When the rainfall ceased and Emperor Haile Selassie saw the black specks in the air, which rapidly assumed the shape o f vultures, greedily looking for what the mud might contain after the deluge, he said to his bewildered people, “ It is better to die free than to live as slaves! Young and old, unite to face the invader! Your sovereign will be among you. He will not hesitate to shed his blood, if needs be, for Ethiopia and her independence. God will defend the just cause of our country!” W e wonder whether Mussolini realizes he is fighting other forces than the Ethiopians themselves. The sentiment of the world and the hosts o f heaven are against him ; but he persists in his purpose. Whatever may be the motives with which a government enters a war, war in itself is such a hellish and destructive force that it has a way o f pervert ing the ends for which it was undertaken. Time spent in prayer for suffering Ethiopia at this trying hour will be time well invested. Isaiah 6 4 :1 contains a prayer— an appeal to God to appear in His might—which is especially fitting at this time: “ Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.”
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decide whether Lake Tsana might be “ effectively utilized as a reservoir for the Nile, should such a proposal ever come within the range of practical politics.” The survey party o f 1902, under C. E. Dupuis, reported that the lake, relatively unknown before, could be “ effec tively utilized as a reservoir.” Estimates have been made for the work by subsequent expeditions, the last in 1933. The Egyptian government’s five-year plan for public works has actually allotted a sum for the work during the present year; the Blue Nile and the White Nile, which meet at Khartum, have been included in one irrigation scheme. Only the present dispute with Italy has held up the plans from coming “ within the range of practical politics” today, for the British, Egyptian, and Sudan governments had been invited to Addis Ababa in May o f 1935 to confer on the final plans. The British government asked for post ponement, lest it should be thought to aggravate the Italian dispute by such steps. The construction o f a Tsana dam, however, has not been dropped permanently from view. The bulk o f the rain that supplies the Blue Nile falls in the Abyssinian mountains in July, August, and September; and under present conditions the water reaches Egypt at a period when it is not required for irrigation. Reservoirs and dams are opened, indeed, to let its full force pass to waste in the sea, to decrease the risk o f overflowing. It is from February to July that the flow o f the Nile is insufficient; it is then that the flood, if it could be delayed, would be o f supreme use in the cotton fields. A small pro portion would be passed down as required to the Sudan, and the bulk used in Egypt in the dry months to swell the shrinking Nile. Now the tragic situation ,is this, that when Mussolini gets control o f Lake Tsana, he can dam it up and cut off the water supply o f Egypt. Thus England will become directly involved. She cannot stand by and let Egypt go dry. Strange as it may seem, this blocking o f the water supply is possible; and when accomplished, this procedure would cause the waters to flow north into the Red Sea. Thus it seems as if England will be dragged into the medley in some manner, and she may suffer the same doom as Ethiopia if we interpret Ezekiel 30:3-5 correctly: “ For the day is near, even the day o f the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time o f the heathen. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.”
W hat I t I s A ll A bout For thirty-seven centuries, Ethiopia has stood as an independent nation. For many years it has been the only nation on the African continent not under the domination o f some other country. Originally this land was called “ Ethiopia.” Then for centuries it went under the name of “ Abyssinia,” until a few years ago the Emperor changed it back to the original name of “ Ethiopia.” O f course, Mussolini is playing hard the old game of putting the blame on Ethiopia, claiming that she was the aggressor. AH fair-minded people agree, however, that Italy is the prime mover in this crisis. In 1928 Italy signed a Treaty o f Friendship with Ethiopia. In 1935 she prepared to invade her. This reversal o f relations has not been explained in any official statement o f the Italian govern ment. The emotional utterances o f 11 Duce and the policy of Italy are identical. “ Ethiopia is a barbarous country, with the social condi tions of the Dark Ages in Europe. Her people practice unspeakable cruelties upon each other!” cries Mussolini. “ I must civilize them!” he declares. Consequently, on with war, and war in such a fashion as the stoutest-hearted Ethiopian warrior never dreamed o f— tanks, shells, poison gases, bombs! Thus we have Mussolini’s first contribution to Ethiopian civilization. How well does this case stand examination? How many, if any, o f the claims are genuine, and how much o f it is invented justification? Some of the Italian people—per haps by now, most o f them—must accept all o f it. The common people are fed on propaganda, and they are not permitted to know anything else. Wherever one goes on the streets o f Italy, he today is confronted always with Mussolini’s picture and name— even on the very cement of the streets and sidewalks. This publicizing is to remind the people constantly o f his greatness. The real attitude and reaction of the world reaches them only through the hysteri cal distortions of the official press, which press shouts con tinually that foreign countries misunderstand, insult, and are jealous o f Italy, while it takes care to omit the sub stance o f foreign criticism. With Mussolini, principles do not exist— only policies. Anything, including force and fraud, is justified if it subserves to his egoism. The Italian people, like any other home-loving people, hate war; but when Mussolini speaks, they feel impelled to conform. Britain’s only extensive interest in Ethiopia lies in Lake Tsana, which feeds the Blue Nile, which with its flow irri gates the Sudan. A treaty signed in Addis Ababa in 1902 between Emperor Menelek and Colonel Harrington, the British government’s representative, recognized that these waters have a special importance to Egypt and the Sudan. The Emperor engaged Ethiopia “ not to construct or allow to be constructed any work across the Blue Nile, Lake Tsana, or the Sobat, which would arrest the flow of their waters into the Nile,” except in agreement with the British and Sudan governments. The value to agriculture o f these waters had been recognized in Egypt from the time o f the early dynasties. But 1902 was the first time when the water-producer and the consumer-countries had been sufficiently friendly for such an agreement as this one to be possible. Menelek went further than a promise o f noninterference. He authorized the Egyptian government to send an expedition which could
Associated Press-Paramount News Photo, N. T.
In Italian territory near Ethiopia, Count Galleazzo Ciano, Premier Mussolini's son-in-law, is shown standing beside his huge bomber. Count Ciano, who led the first bombing raid over Aduwa, is commander of the "Desperate" squadron, the insignia of which appears on his plane.
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1933 — A PROPHETIC REVIEW B y LOUIS S. BAUMAN Long Beach, California
T he S ad F ailure of “ C hristian L iberalism ” Not so long ago, an ultramodernist stood in his own pulpit in Los Angeles and bewailed the failure of his own religious philosophies. He said: I propose that all the energy of religious institutions be devoted to the development of a true faith and love in the lives o f those who are within the fold. There is an insidious and destructive atheism. •It fills the land with the blackness of despair. But it is not among the organ ized “Angels of Satan” nor in bands of self-conscious sophomores. Neither is ‘ it in the lives of the avowedly materialistic nor the frankly indifferent. Thef atheism which is wrecking civilization is rampant in the halls of religion. It is we who have let midnight fall upon our people. God sometimes compels the devil to speak the truth about himself! What a sad commentary it is upon so- called “ ‘Christian’ Liberalism” that, right in the heyday o f its sweetest triumphs, its. greatest advancement,' its popular acceptance by the masses, and its most vaunted doctrine of “ the Fatherhood o f God and the brotherhood of man,” fructifying supposedly in the spirit of brotherly love, good will, peace, and civic and moral righteousness-— what a sad commentary it is that in such a time, the vile serpents of human hate glide forth as never before from their filthy dens,;, and entwine themselves about the bodies and souls o f men! Socialists, Altruists, Utopians, ethical culturists, humanists, O x f o r d G roup ists, be- haviorists, nudists, and every other sort of an amicus ■humani generis that can be classified under the term “mod ernist,” have peddled their highly advertised wares from house to house and school to school the wide world around. Their boasted “ leaven” has certainly had its chance to prove its working power. Yet, whereunto have we come? A desperately sick world— little wonder!— is frantically looking for some dictator who is strong enough to keep the “ leavened” masses from butchering each other in cold blood ! Sincere though many adherents o f some of these groups undoubtedly are, they nevertheless are tragically deluded when they seek the improvement o f mankind by any other means than the blood o f Christ. Philanthropic, civic, and religious organizations almost without number, secret and open, with almost unlimited funds, backed even by the might and billions o f the govern ment, have been springing up all around us, with the osten sible purpose .of human betterment, only to see the objects of their love and care about to wade into the. greatest wallow o f human blood the ages have ever known. It only awaits the coming o f some daring soul with sufficient courage to meet the challenge o f the sword-rattler that is in Rome, or that is in Berlin, or that is in Moscow, or that is in Tokyo, and the red torrents will begin to spurt. Representative of the great trend in modern churches, the Los Angeles modernist was right: “ The atheism which is wrecking civilization is rampant in the halls of religion. It is we who have let midnight fall upon our people” ! Humanitarian agencies seem not to have learned as yet that you cannot substitute the Golden Rule for the Gospel of the Grace o f God. These “ Fatherhood-of-God” -
The Increasing Intensity of Class Hatreds I N reviewing world conditions as they presented them- -,¡selves.to us in the year 1935, and also as they still are in evidence in the early days of 1936, and interpreting them in the light of the “ sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn” (2 Pet. 1 :19), outstand ingly significant is the ever-increasing intensity of the roar of class hatreds. And the appallingly ominous thing is, not. that these class hatreds should exist, but that the men that should suppress them, and must suppress them if they are to be suppressed, seem to be bent on inciting them. However, the careful reader of the Word that unfailingly forecasts what thè world o f unregenerate men is set to do, is not surprised at the tidal waves of class hatred now roll ing in upon all mankind. T he “ S ure W ord of P rophecy ” And as Jesus “ sat upon the mount o f Olives, the dis ciples came unto him privately; saying, . . . What shall be the sign of thy coming, and o f the end of the world [R.V. margin, “ the consummation of the age” ] ? And Jesus an swered and said . . . Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of ¿all nations fo r my name’s sake. And then shall many be o f fended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matt. 24:3, 4, 9, 10) :: “ Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death” (Mk. 13:12 ). It is evident from these words of the Master that our age is to end at a time when not only shall a universal hatred be manifested toward the Jews, but also the whole world will be seething with hatred—man against man of whatever nationality-Bbetraying one another, hating one another. As for children’s rising up against their parents, and causing them to be put to death, the whole world is familiar with the fact that within the last score o f years, thousands of father's and mothers in Soviet Russia have been led out and shot to death upon the testimony of their own children, who rose up against them. Our Lord said : “ As it was in the days o f Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Lk. 17:26). And how was it in the days of Noah? W e read: “ The earth also was corrupt before God ; and the earth was filled with violence” (Gen. 6 :11 ). Now, violence is ever, and only, and always the fruit o f hatred- Our age is to end in a world-wide orgy of hatred, which in turn will bring forth a reign of làwlessness and violence, the like o f which was not known even in the days before the flood, for “ great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning o f the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21) cannot come except under the direct impulses of hearts filled with hate. [The prophetic review given this month is one o f a series by Dr, Bauman, pastor o f the First Brethren Church, Long Beach, Calif .= | E ditor . ]
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