Newspaper Page Text
February J 2,1913] THE
AGGRESSIVE RETROGRESSION.
Error is self-propagating, and it is remarkable
bow intense, how daring and determined its
promoters may be. It is true of pagan religions
and equally true of skepticism and infidelity.
Heresy in Christian doctrine often becomes fanatical
and little less than desperate in the prosecution
of its schemes for undermining revealed
truth. The indisputable fact atfords at least a
icsson lor evangelical unnstianity.
A conspicuous instance, exhibited on an extcnisve
scale, is found in the propagation of the
destructive tenets of the radical school of modern
criticism. One might suppose that inasmuch
as the creed of these men consists mainly of
negations, they would be content with complacency
in their cherished disbelief without aggressively
assailing convictions held sacred by
the great mass of the most intelligent and devout
adherents of the Christian faith.
Quite the contrary is true. If there does n.?t
exist a well planned conspiracy to capture the
strongholds of evangelical religion and divert
mem 10 me uses of skeptical scholarship, the
facts nevertheless bear close resemblance to such
a conspiracy. There is scarcely a well established
institution, originally founded for the
promotion of pure religion, which is not either
dominated by these men or coveted by them.
Educational linstitutftons, (pliilanthropie enterprises,
great reform movements, especially if
they have large salaries attached, become the
objectives of the liberal theologian.
As is well known, many of the great universities
and woman's college's, that might be named,
were founded by devout Christian men and
women to provide Christian training for the
youth of tut are generations. They are now
dominated by the adherents of rationalistic
i-ritioism and base materialism. After the International
Lesson system had become firmly
established and had proved to be a world-wide
medium of religious intelligence, men of the
stamp herein considered appeared increasingly
prominent as expounders of these lessons. Even
so valuable an expositor of Bible truth as the
"Sunday School Times" became at one time
partially infected with the distemper. Later,
and very recently developed the very pronounced
ease of Biblical mutilation which appeared in
the exposition of the Graded Lessons and the
revolt against it on the part of evangelical leaders
in several denominations. The assault on
the citadel, in this ease, has not ended and we
ju.ny yet reaauiiauiy expect lorced marches, the
play of siege guns and divers flank movements
The latest movement of the liberal school is
to capture the Federal Council of Churches, and
the war tactics employed and victories won have
been little less than brilliant rrom *he viewpoint
of the aggressors. Only the inner line of forts
remains to be captured. Commenting on the
case, The Presbyterian, of Philadelphia, says:
"The more study wc give to the reports and
circulars coming forth from the recent Federal
Council of Churches in Chicago, the more grave
the questions which are awakened.
"The last report noticed is that of the commissions
on theological education. Here it is
onservert that the representatives of this conference
chosen for the joint commission are all, or
nearly all, men of pronounced so-called liberal
views. "We do not find a single man who is
recognized as - out and out evangelical. This
same characteristic has been predominant in the
whole report of the Federal Council. More and
more, with other so-called union movements, it
appears to become increasingly a liberal propaganda.
Evangelical men are withdrawing more
and mora from them, and liberal men are more
j ?*?- ? - - i - *1 1
auu mure euierjiig mco mem, ana auvocating
them; so that they are becoming a means Of
division rather than of union."
"Evangelicism has been quiet and humble,
seeking poace and hoping that the wave o>f unfliMmii'iiilimiti
- i
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE Si
belief would exhaust and there would be a re
action without contention. The pressure has
been so great, and the consequences so apparently
evil, that resistance has begun. Children have
come home to their rmre 111? from anh/vJo rior.
mea'ted with unbelief. Churches have so lost
interest in the Scriptures that the sense of duty
lias been dissipated, and blindne&i and inertness
mark their life.''
It is evident that the radical departure of the
Council in electing its officers including the
joint commission, was not an accident or a thing
done without due deliberation. Reference to the
contents of the platform of principles adopted
by the Council will reveal that there was wanted
as little evangelical religion in its program as
nnooi hi a o *-**4 -
uau <u uiuvu vi muri* uuiuauism tu
might be secured. "Our Hope" makes the following
comment including a summary of the
Council's creed:
"Thirty-two Protestant denominations were
represented. The council ended with what was
termed a new declaration of faith. Being a
"church council," one would naturally expect
in a declaration of faith at least something about
the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Gospel
of Grace. But the name of Christ is not even
mentioned in this strange document We quote
from it:
The churches must stand:
For equal rights and complete justice for all
men in all stations of life.
For the protection of the family by the single
3landard of purity, uniform divorce laws, proper
regulation of marriage and proper housing.
For the fullest possible development for every
child, especially by the provision of proper education
and recreation.
For the abolition of child labor.
For such regulation of the conditions of toil
for women as shall safeguard the physical and
moral health of the community.
For the abatement and prevention of poverty.
For the protection of the individual and society
from the social, economic and moral waste
of the liquor traffic.
For the conservation of health.
For the protection of the worker from dangerous
machinery, occupational diseases and
mortality.
For the right of all men to the opportunity
for self-maintenance, for safeguarding this right
against encroachments of every kind, and for
the protection of workers from the hardships
of enforced unemployment.
For suitable provision for the old age of the
workers and for th?>sc incapacitated by injury.
For the principle of conciliation and arbitration
in industrial disputes, etc.
Thus itn Chicago a new creed was bora. It is
the creed of apostate Christendom. A Chrisitless
declaration of faith."
Liet us remark that this is not an exceptional
diversion of principles and methods from their
legitimate channel, but the outworking of a great
moral principle to the effect that compromises
with error logically involve final and complete
surrender to error. The trend is as old as civilization.
Paul fought it in the young churches
that he planted. The prophets of Israel were
ever admonishing their rulers against dangers
and rebuking them for the betrayal of the faith
nf fhniPutViore TKa cm?v>? /% ^^ J ~
v< iuuh io. i tie oaiuu i/atnc nas mgcu ttuu
is raping still in Europe. The doctrine of peace
at any price has involved the surrender of Ohristian
strongholds in universities and Churches.
The evangelical parties are the losers and sufferers.
If we need further evidence let us read this
account of the situation in the German State
Church, from the 'Record of Christian "Work":
"This is rapidly becoming unendurable because
of the imposition of liberal pastors by the deChristiani/el
prefers of the parishes. A writer
in Die Reformation says that a number of pastors
in Hamburg declare tbat-'.hey can not longer
remain in a clutch with the new type of pastors.
"It appears to them as a lie to recognize such
official brethren and to treat with them. A believing
pastor seeks to lead the people to the
Risen T^ord and his co-minister from the same
?
0 U T il (181; LJ
pulpit preaches that Jesus has long since mouldered
to dust in the grave. With what feeling
must he hand out the communion bread, that
tnl/.lfpriuni I mhan Ho nftlniol /W1
nuvu UM3 vutwiai wnvi tt"
er looks on the proceeding as mere superstition T
How can he honprably keep the peace with one
whom he feels to be a wolf in sheep'? clothing,
who would rend the flock of Christ? The state
of the iaity is equally lamentable. They come
Sunday to the house of God, hungry for the
Bread of Lfe; for refreshment from the Eternal
Word after six days of labor. But what they
hear leaves them unfed, if it does not deeply
wound their faith. They cannot come longer.
They have no more a church. The bells ring, but
not for them. M.
SHOULD THE BASIS OF UNION BE PUB
LISHED?
The brethren who are asking for the publication
of the basis of union agreed upon by the
committees of conference arc not making an unreasonable
request. An explanation is due them.
While the basis of union has been agreed upon
for substance, it is still open for amendment as
iu puraseuiogy. mi eiiort la aim ueiug muue
by correspondence to render it more satisfactory.
The joint committee are unanimous in
their judgment thac to publish the basis of union
nt this stage might give rise not only to profitless,
b\it to hurtful discussion. They feel assured
that ample time will be given for the fullest
understanding of the document before anybody
is asked to vote on it. R. C. Reed.
PRESBYTERIANISM AND CHRISTIAN
PntTC A TTOW
JCIi/U VA XAVA1
(Continued from page 3)
educated ministry preaches the "principles" or
elements of the gospel, but advancing upon them
seeks to "go on to perfection" and preaches "wisdom
among them that are perfect." It brings
about sane flunking on the purt of the people and
contributes to the general culture of the community.
Through the printed page, also, Presbyterianism
has profoundly influenced the world. In
tho lir?f Gulvin there iasupil from Geneva
a Bteady stream of literature, letters, ami tracts,
commentaries and treatises, which largely. shaped
the movements of the nations where they entered,
in both church and state. And ever since our
church has brought forth catechisms; tracts, religious
newspapers and magazines, to educate the
public conscience. The very genius of Presbyterianism
makes it a strong promoter of the grammar
school and of the college. Not the least of
Calvin's beneficient deeds was the founding of the
Academy at Geneva. Says Bancroft, "We boast
of our common schools. Calvin was the father
of popular education?the inventor of the system
of free schools." The University of Leyden we*
founded as a monument to the successful struggle
of the Dutch against the tyranny of Spain.
When the people were given the choice between
having the taxes reduced and a University, they
chose the latter. Before the advent of John Knox,
that greatest of Scotland's sons, the condition of
the people is described as that of "vassals of the
Ilomish church, priest-ridden, ignorant, wretched,
degraded in body, mind and morals, filthy in
their persons and in their homes, poor and miserable,
excessively ignorant and excessively superstitious.
" But what a transformation'
Scotland shortly took front rank in the average
intelligence of its people, not to speak of the emi
ueui iiciIIitn in iiiHturjr, piuiusupuy, puetry, ew!. i/r.
E. W. Smith in his book quotes a distinguished
leader of American Methodism, Dr. Curry, as saying:
<rWe concede to the Calvinistic churches the
honor of having all along directed the best thinking
of the country." As Dr. Smith remarks that
the heart of Calvinism throbs in the words of
Carlvle: "That any being with capacity for knowledge
should die ignorant, this I call a tragedy.*
(To be continued.)