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A Historical Study Of The Speechmaking At The Abilene Christian College Lectureship, 1918-1961

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A Historical Study Of The Speechmaking At The Abilene Christian College Lectureship, 1918-1961

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Content This dissertation has been 64— 3091
m icrofilm ed exactly as received
BANOWSKY, W illiam Slater, 1936—
A HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE SPEECH-
MAKING AT THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN
COLLEGE LECTURESHIP, 1918-1961.
U niversity of Southern California, Ph.D., 1963
Speech-Theater
University Microfilms, Inc., A nn Arbor, M ichigan
A HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE SPEECHMAKING AT THE
ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LECTURESHIP,
1 9 18-1961
by
W illia m S l a t e r Banowsky
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
I n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
R e q u ire m e n ts f o r t h e D eg ree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(S p eech )
Ju n e 1963
UNIVERSITY O F S O U T H E R N CALIFORNIA
G R A D U A T E S C H O O L
UNIVERSITY PA R K
L O S A N G E L E S 7, C A L IF O R N IA
This dissertation, written by
______ W illiam .. S .lat.er. B.&nQwsky...............
under the direction of h.kS..-Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Graduate
School, iti partial fulfillment of requirements
for the degree of
D O C T O R OF P H I L O S O P H Y
D ean
D ate Jm e ..1.9.63...........................
ERTATION COMMITTEE
iaxrman
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE
THE LECTURESHIP AS AN INSTITUTION
C h a p te r Page
I . THE BASIS OF THE STUDY 1
I n tr o d u c tio n
The P roblem
The S ig n if ic a n c e o f th e P roblem
Scope o f th e S tu d y
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
M ethodology and S o u rces
P la n o f R e p o rtin g
I I . ORIGIN OF THE LECTU RESH IP................................. . 14
The C hurches o f C h r is t
A b ile n e C h r is tia n C o lle g e
L e c tu re s h ip B e g in n in g s
I I I . THE LECTURESHIP D IR EC TO R S...................................... 46
J e s s e P. S e w e ll, 1918-1924
B a t s e l l B a x te r , 1925-1932
James F. Cox, 1933-1940
Don H. M o rris , 1940-1952
J . D. Thomas, 1953-1961
IV. THE LECTURESHIP AUDIENCE
68
Chapter Page
The L e c tu re H a lls
The A b ile n e C h r is t ia n C o lle g e
S tu d e n t Body
The A b ile n e L is te n e r s
The O ut-of-T ow n A udience
V. THE LECTURESHIP SPEAKERS........................................... 110
The P la tf o r m 's " H a ll o f Fame"
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e S p eak ers
A p p ra is a l o f th e L e c tu re s h ip S peak in g
PART T W O
ANALYSIS OF MAJOR ISSUES AND IDEAS
OF THE LECTURES
V I. THE B I B L E ............................................................................ 150
I n tr o d u c tio n
The I n s p i r a t i o n o f th e B ib le
The E v o lu tio n a ry H y p o th esis
S c ie n c e and th e B ib le
The H ig h er C r iti c is m
S tu d y in g th e B ib le
Summary
V II. THE DOCTRINE OF GOD, MAN, AND SALVATION . . 243
I n tr o d u c tio n
God, th e F a th e r
The Human R esponse
Summary
V I I I . THE CHURCH............................................................................ 331
I n tr o d u c tio n
The N atu re o f th e C hurch
The O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e C hurch
iii
Chapter
Page
The W orship o f th e Church
The M ission o f th e Church
Summary
IX. EVANGELISM 443
I n tro d u c tio n
C re a tin g th e E v a n g e lis tic S p i r i t
The L ocal C o n g reg atio n v e rsu s th e
M issio n ary S o c ie ty
The C o o p eratio n P r in c ip le
Q u a lif ic a tio n s f o r th e M issio n ary
The Indigenous Method
S p e c ia l Means o f E vangelism
Summary
X. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION................................................... 561
In tro d u c tio n
The N ature o f C h r is tia n E d u catio n
The Home
The L o cal C o n g reg atio n
The Need fo r th e C h r is tia n C o lleg e
S p e c ia l A dvantages o f th e C h r is tia n
C o lleg e
S p e c ia l Problem s o f th e C h r is tia n
C o lleg e
Summary
X I. S U M M A R Y A N D CONCLUSIONS......................................... 686
Summary
C onclusions
BIBLIOGRAPHY 709
APPENDIX
733
PART ONE
THE LECTURESHIP AS AN INSTITUTION
CHAPTER I
THE BASIS OF THE STU D Y
In tro d u c tio n
For alm ost h a l f a c e n tu ry , th e A b ilen e C h r is tia n
C o lleg e L e c tu re sh ip has been a s i g n i f i c a n t American p l a t -
form fo r th e pronouncem ent o f c o n s e rv a tiv e r e lig io u s
th o u g h t. A lthough d ir e c te d by th e a d m in is tra tiv e o f f i c i a l s
o f A bilene C h r is tia n C o lle g e , A b ile n e , T ex as, th e L e c tu re
s h ip has a c tu a lly been su p p o rted by and d esig n ed to se rv e
th e r e lig io u s movement known as th e churches o f C h r is t.
T his r e lig io u s body, th e te n th l a r g e s t American c h u rc h ,
has drawn h e a v ily upon th e s p i r i t u a l and i n t e l l e c t u a l
o ffe rin g s o f th e A b ilen e le c tu r e s .
S ince th e f i r s t " o f f i c i a l L e c tu re sh ip " was h e ld in
1918 , th e l a r g e s t an n u al g a th e rin g o f members o f th e
churches o f C h ris t has been th a t w hich has assem bled to
h e a r th e A bilene a d d re s s e s . In re c e n t y e a r s , more th an
8 ,0 0 0 l i s t e n e r s have made th e an n u a l p ilg rim a g e to th e
sm a ll w est Texas c i t y . The le c t u r e s w hich th e y have h e a rd
a re r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e th o u g h t and p u b lic p r e s e n ta ti o n
of spokesmen for the churches of Christ.
The Problem
The p u rp o se o f t h i s stu d y was to d e s c r ib e th e
speechm aking a t th e A b ile n e C h r is t ia n C o lle g e L e c tu r e s h ip ,
1918-1961. T h is o v e r - a l l p ro b lem was d iv id e d in to a tw o
fo ld p roblem s ta te m e n t. F i r s t , w hat h as b een th e n a tu r e
o f th e o r i g i n and developm ent o f th e A b ile n e C h r is t ia n
C o lle g e L e c tu r e s h ip , 1918-1961? T h is f i r s t m ajo r a r e a o f
i n v e s t i g a t io n was s u b d iv id e d i n t o fo u r c o n s t i t u e n t q u e s
t i o n s : How d id th e L e c tu re s h ip o r ig in a t e ? What have been
th e f e a t u r e s o f i t s gro w th and developm ent? Who have
com prised th e L e c tu re s h ip a u d ie n c e s? Who have b een th e
L e c tu re s h ip s p e a k e rs ?
S econd, w hat h as b een th e n a tu r e o f th e id e a s and
is s u e s d is c u s s e d a t th e A b ile n e C h r is t ia n C o lle g e L e c tu re
s h ip , 1918-1961? T h is second m ajo r a r e a o f in v e s t i g a t io n
was a l s o su b d iv id e d in to c o n s ti t u e n t q u e s tio n s : What m ajo r
id e a s and is s u e s h av e b een p re s e n te d in th e le c tu r e s ? What
g ro w th and dev elo p m en t h av e o c c u rre d in th e id e a s and
is s u e s d is c u s s e d in th e l e c t u r e s ? How h av e th e s e id e a s
and is s u e s b ee n r e l a t e d to th e r e l i g i o u s th o u g h t and
attitudes of the times? What has been the significance of
th e s e id e a s and is s u e s in th e d ev elo p m en t o f th e c h u rc h e s
o f C h r is t?
The S ig n if ic a n c e o f th e P roblem
F o r s e v e r a l r e a s o n s , t h i s s tu d y was th o u g h t to be
o f s ig n i f i c a n c e to s tu d e n ts o f p u b lic sp e a k in g and
h o m i l e t i c s .
F i r s t , th e A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e l e c t u r e s
r e p r e s e n t some o f th e b e s t speechm aking p ro d u ced by
s p e a k e rs o f th e c h u rch e s o f C h r i s t . S in c e i t s in c e p ti o n ,
th e L e c tu re s h ip d i r e c t o r s h av e p r id e d th e m se lv e s upon
s e l e c t i n g a b le s p e a k e rs and th in k e r s o f th e c h u rc h and h av e
i n s i s t e d upon c a r e f u l and c o n s c ie n tio u s p r e p a r a t io n . As a
r e s u l t , th e s e l e c t u r e s r e f l e c t th e f i n e s t c o m p o sitio n and
d e l i v e r y among s p e a k e rs o f th e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t . As
e a r l y as 1923, F . L . Rowe w ro te ,
We b e l ie v e t h a t th e s e sp e e c h e s w i l l b e tr e a s u r e d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f th e b e s t p ro d u c ts o f th e B r o th e r
hood. When a man d e l i v e r s a d is c o u r s e b e f o r e a
s tu d e n t body o f f o u r h u n d red o r m o re, w ith a la r g e
a tte n d a n c e o f i n t e r e s t e d , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , v i s i t i n g
b r e t h e m , he i s bound to g iv e h i s h e a r e r s th e b e s t
he can p ro d u c e , t h a t i t may b e p e rp e tu a te d in
t h e i r l iv e s and upon th e p r in te d p a g e .l
S econd, th e d u r a b i l i t y o f th e A b ile n e C h r is tia n
C o lle g e L e c tu re s h ip seems to in d ic a t e i t s s ig n i f ic a n c e as
a sp e a k in g p la tfo rm . W ith r o o ts re a c h in g b ack to th e
" p te a c h e rs m e e tin g s" o f 1910, th e L e c tu re s h ip has f l o u r
is h e d th ro u g h a h a l f c e n tu ry o f s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l
c o n v u ls io n . S in ce 1918, th e L e c tu re s h ip h as b een co n d u cted
each y e a r d u rin g th e l a s t f u l l week in F e b ru a ry , w ith th e
s in g l e e x c e p tio n o f 1945, when w artim e c o n d itio n s fo rc e d a
tem p o rary c a n c e lla t io n o f th e program .
T h ir d , th e id e a s and is s u e s f e a tu re d in th e
le c tu r e s co m p rise a s i g n i f i c a n t e x p re s s io n o f th e h e a r t o f
th e r e l i g i o u s movement. From th e v e ry f i r s t p ro g ram ,
h e a re rs have t e s t i f i e d t h a t " th e cream o f b ro th e rh o o d
th in k in g has b een p re s e n te d on a m ost l o f t y and f a i t h f u l
p la n e ." As a r e s u l t , th e p r i n c i p a l id e a s woven th ro u g h
th e more th a n s i x hundred a d d re s s e s o f t h i s l e c t u r e s e r i e s
■ ^ "P u b lish er's A nnouncem ent," A b ile n e C h r is tia n
C o lle g e B ib le L e c tu re s , 1922-23 (C in c in n a ti: F . L. Rowe,
P u b lis h e r , 1 9 2 3 ), p . 5 . T h is s e r i e s h e r e a f t e r r e f e r r e d to
as L e c tu r e s .
2
Firm F o u n d a tio n . F eb ru ary 2 8 , 1961, p . 2.
a p t l y r e f l e c t t h e d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e s o f th e r e l i g i o u s
m ovem ent.
F o u r th , th e L e c tu r e s h ip a p p e a rs re m a rk a b ly s i g n i f i
c a n t t o th e s t u d e n t o f p u b l i c a d d r e s s when ju d g e d i n te rm s
o f i t s a b i l i t y to a t t r a c t an d h o ld l a r g e a u d ie n c e s . T h is
s e r i e s , w h ich p r o v id e s th e c i t y o f A b ile n e w ith i t s l a r g e s t
a n n u a l a s s e m b ly , i s a p p a r e n tly among th e m o st w id e ly
a t te n d e d s p e a k in g p la tf o r m s i n A m e ric a . T he l a r g e s t m e e t
in g o f members, o f th e c h u tc h e s o f C h r i s t i s t h e a u d ie n c e
w h ich a s s e m b le s e a c h s p r i n g t o h e a r th e s e l e c t u r e s . nT h is
g a t h e r in g o f t e n th o u s a n d o r m ore i s w ith o u t q u e s tio n th e
n A
l a r g e s t g a t h e r in g o f s a in ts * 3 i n m odern t i m e s . '1
F i f t h , th e sp eech m ak in g a t th e A b ile n e L e c tu r e s h ip
h a s a p p a r e n tly s ti m u l a t e d t h e s p i r i t u a l an d n u m e ric a l
g ro w th o f th e c h u rc h . The u n iq u e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p o l i c y o f
t h i s r e l i g i o u s g ro u p h a s ad d ed to th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f i t s
c h i e f p la tf o r m f o r th e co m m u n icatio n o f i d e a s . B e cau se o f
an em p h asis on l o c a l c o n g r e g a tio n a l au to n o m y , th e c h u rc h
a v o id s e c c l e s i a s t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n and c o n f e r e n c e
^The e x p r e s s io n " s a i n t s " i n t h i s c o n t e x t h a s , o f
c o u r s e , s p e c i f i c r e f e r e n c e t o members o f t h e c h u rc h e s o f
C h ris t .
^ F irm F o u n d a tio n . F e b ru a ry 2 8 , 1 9 6 1 , p . 2 .
a s s e m b lie s . C o n seq u e n tly , w ith o u t becom ing a p o licy -m ak in g
c o n fe re n c e , th e L e c tu re s h ip has p ro v id e d a b a s is f o r
b ro th e rh o o d fe llo w s h ip and i n t e l l e c t u a l s tim u la tio n .
M. N orvel Young w r i t e s , "The c l o s e s t ap p ro ach to a g e n e ra l
assem bly o f th e le a d e r s and p re a c h e rs i s a t th e an n u al
L e c tu re s h ip s h e ld a t th e v a rio u s c o l l e g e s . Even th e s e a re
c a r e f u l l y w atched t h a t th e y may n o t have any power o v er
lo c a l c o n g re g a tio n s ." ^
U n lik e many P r o te s ta n t c h u rc h e s , t h i s movement has
been g u id ed from th e p u l p i t and th e le c t u r e p la tfo r m ,
r a t h e r th a n from l e g i s l a t i v e d e c is io n s re a c h e d around th e
c o n fe re n c e ta b le s o f synod m e e tin g s. In s h o r t , th e A b ilen e
L e c tu re s h ip has been th e v i t a l sp eak in g p la tfo rm o f a
movement w hich h as been sp a rk e d p r im a r ily from th e
s p e a k e r 's ro stru m .
S ix th , th e stu d y was c o n s id e re d s i g n i f i c a n t b ecau se
o f th e g e n e ra l d e a rth o f s c h o la r ly l i t e r a t u r e d e a lin g w ith
th e p la tfo rm advocacy o f c o n s e rv a tiv e r e l i g i o u s th o u g h t.
The A b ile n e L e c tu re s h ip th u s co m p rises an u n tap p ed so u rc e
o f stu d y in th e h i s t o r y o f A m erican p u b lic a d d re s s .
5A H is to ry o f C o lle g e s E s ta b lis h e d and C o n tro lle d
by Members o f th e C hurches o f C h r is t (Kansas C ity ,
M is s o u ri: Old P ath s Book C lu b , 1 9 4 9 ), p . 33.
7
S cope o f th e S tu d y
The l i m i t s o f t h i s s tu d y w ere d i c t a t e d b y f a c t o r s
o f p l a c e , tim e , and ty p e s o f s p e a k in g .
The l o c a l e was th e campus o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
C o l le g e , A b ile n e , T e x a s , and m ore p a r t i c u l a r l y , th e l e c t u r e
p la tf o r m d i r e c t e d by th e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c i a l s o f t h a t
i n s t i t u t i o n . A lth o u g h th e L e c tu r e s h ip h a s b e e n c o n t r o l l e d
and g u id e d by th e c o l l e g e , i t s p u rp o s e s and s i g n i f i c a n c e
c a n n o t b e f u l l y i n t e r p r e t e d a p a r t from th e r e l i g i o u s move
m ent w ith w h ich i t s e x i s te n c e h a s b e e n in te rw o v e n .
The p e r i o d , 1918 to 1 9 6 1 , recom m ends i t s e l f on a
num ber o f c o u n ts . T h is l e c t u r e p ro g ra m , l i k e m o st A m erican
s p e a k in g p l a t f o r m s , a c h ie v e d i t s s i g n i f i c a n c e th ro u g h a
g r a d u a l p ro c e s s o f e v o l u t io n . A lth o u g h th e e a r l y b e g in
n in g s o f th e p ro g ram c a n b e t r a c e d b a c k to th e f i r s t w in te r
o f th e s c h o o l’ s e x i s t e n c e i n 1 9 0 7 , th e m e e tin g was n o t
o f f i c i a l l y d e s ig n a te d a s a " l e c t u r e s h i p ” u n t i l 1918. The
s e r i e s h a s b e e n c o n d u c te d a n n u a lly s in c e 1 9 1 8 , and no
m a n u s c rip ts o r p ro g ram r e c o r d s h av e b e e n p r e s e r v e d p r i o r
to t h a t d a t e .
The y e a r 1961 was c h o se n a s th e te r m in a l d a t e f o r
s e v e r a l r e a s o n s . The program m ing o f th e p o s t-W o rld War I I
L e c tu re s h ip h as been g r e a t l y ex p an d ed , and a tte n d a n c e
f ig u r e s h av e in c re a s e d tre m e n d o u sly . H ence, any e f f o r t to
m easure th e f u l l im p act o f th e L e c tu re s h ip m ust in c lu d e in
i t s ra n g e a r e p o r t o f e v e n ts in th e l a t e 1 9 4 0 's and 1 9 5 0 's .
The d a te 1961 p ro v id e d th e w id e s t p o s s ib le sco p e f o r v ie w
in g th e co m p lete p i c t u r e o f L e c tu re s h ip s p e a k in g .
The f i n a l l i m i t a p p lie d to th e ty p e s o f sp e e c h -
m aking. The L e c tu re s h ip h as em braced a number o f
com m unication m ed ia—c o n f e r e n c e s , p a n e l d is c u s s io n s , open
fo ru m s, p u b lic d e b a te s , and c l a s s e s . H ow ever, th e c h ie f
v e h ic le o f com m unication w hich h as s e rv e d to g iv e th e
program i t s d i s t i n c t i o n and p la c e o f p r e s t i g e as a p la tfo rm
has been th e fo rm a l l e c t u r e . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t
m a n u sc rip ts w ere o n ly p re s e rv e d f o r th e m ain l e c tu r e s and
t h a t a c c u r a te re c o rd s f o r o th e r ty p e s o f sp e a k in g a r e v e ry
s p a r s e . F or th e s e r e a s o n s , th e d a ta c o n c e rn in g th e id e a s
and is s u e s o f th e L e c tu re s h ip w ere lim ite d to th e fo rm al
le c tu r e s w hich have b een f e a tu r e d a t each o f th e an n u a l
p ro g ra m s,
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
A rev ie w o f a l l p re v io u s l i t e r a t u r e w hich m ig h t b e
r e le v a n t to t h i s stu d y in d ic a te d t h a t th e A b ile n e C h r is tia n
C o lle g e L e c tu r e s h ip was a s e m in a l s o u r c e o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n
i n A m erican p u b lic a d d r e s s . A d e t a i l e d s e a r c h o f s p e e c h
m o n o g rap h s, d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n s , m ic ro f ilm a b s t r a c t s ,
and c h u rc h s o u rc e s r e v e a le d t h a t no s c h o l a r l y tr e a tm e n t o f
any p h a s e o f th e L e c tu r e s h ip h ad e v e r b e e n a tte m p te d .
S e v e r a l s t u d i e s w hich c o n c e rn e d th e h i s t o r y o f A b ile n e
C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e and th e b io g r a p h ie s o f in d i v i d u a l
L e c tu r e s h ip s p e a k e rs w ere h e l p f u l .
M ethodology and S o u rc e s
"T he h i s t o r y and l i t e r a t u r e o f s p e a k in g in fo rm u s
n o t o n ly in th e a r t and p r a c t i c e o f sp e e c h m a k in g , b u t s e r v e
a d m ira b ly to th ro w l i g h t on a s p e c ts o f th e g e n e r a l c u l t u r e
o f w h ich th e y a r e e x p r e s s io n s ." ^ T h is s ta te m e n t i n d i c a t e s
th e a r e a o f g r e a t e s t c o n t r i b u t i o n s e rv e d by t h i s s tu d y .
H ere i s a p la tf o r m w h ich becam e a v i t a l forum o f id e a s and
i n s p i r a t i o n f o r th e r e l i g i o u s g ro u p w h ich i t r e p r e s e n t s .
F o r a lm o s t f i f t y y e a rs i t h a s g a th e r e d to i t s e l f men who
h a v e g ra p p le d w ith th e i s s u e s c o n f r o n tin g th e f u t u r e o f th e
^Jam es H. M cB ath, "S peechm aking a t t h e C h au tau q u a
A ssem b ly , 1874-1900" (u n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n ,
N o rth w e s te rn U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 5 0 ), p . 9.
10
ch u rch . To know th e h is t o r y o f t h i s le c tu r e s e r i e s , to be
a c q u ain ted w ith th e men who came to t a l k and th o se who
came to l i s t e n , to g ra sp th e id e as w hich th ey te s te d and
d ev elo p ed , is to know som ething u ltim a te ly o f th e th re a d s
o f r e lig io u s th o u g h t form ing th e warp and woof o f th e
churches o f C h r is t.
T his stu d y employed th e h i s t o r i c a l re s e a rc h m ethod,
w hich has been d e fin e d by Greg P h if e r :
H is to r ic a l method re q u ire s th e s tu d e n t to seek o u t
and c r i t i c a l l y e v a lu a te th e r e p o r ts o f o b se rv e rs
o f p a s t ev e n ts in o rd e r to d e s c rib e a c c u ra te ly
what happened, and to c l a r i f y , as b e s t he c a n ,
th e r e la tio n s among th o se e v e n ts .?
The u se o f th e h i s t o r i c a l method in so lv in g th e
re s e a rc h problem posed by t h is stu d y in v o lv ed two m ajor
s te p s : a r e c o n s tru c tio n o f th e h i s t o r i c a l s e t t i n g and an
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e id e a s and is s u e s o f th e speeches in
th e p e rs p e c tiv e o f th e r e lig io u s movement w hich gave them
b i r t h . The a c q u is itio n o f h i s t o r i c a l d a ta was enhanced by
th e f a c t th a t m ost o f th e e a r ly p o lic y m akers o f th e
L e c tu re sh ip w ere s t i l l a liv e and a v a ila b le fo r in te rv ie w .
^"The H is to r ic a l A pproach," in In tro d u c tio n to
G raduate Study in Speech and T h e a tr e , e d ite d by Clyde W .
Dow (E ast L an sin g , M ichigan: U n iv e rs ity o f M ichigan P r e s s ,
1 96 1 ), p . 53.
11
P e r s o n a l a p p o in tm e n ts w ith J e s s e P . S e w e ll, Don H. M o r r is ,
and J . D. Thomas a f f o r d e d f i r s t - h a n d c o n t a c t w ith th e
" c h i e f fra m e r" an d t h r e e o f t h e f i v e men who h a v e s e rv e d
Q
i n th e r o l e o f L e c tu r e s h ip d i r e c t o r . I n a d d i t i o n , p e r -
s o n a l in te r v ie w s w ith many o f th e e a r l y f a c u l t y m em b ers,
" f a m i l i a r " L e c tu r e s h ip s p e a k e r s , and r e g u l a r a t t e n d a n t s a t
th e p ro g ram s p ro v id e d i n t i m a t e i n s i g h t s i n t o m ore th a n a
h a l f c e n tu r y o f th e p l a t f o r m 's d e v e lo p m e n t.
The c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e 689 s p e e c h e s a c c o r d in g to
m a jo r th e m a tic c a t e g o r i e s p r e s e n te d a s e e m in g ly in s u p e r a b le
t a s k . The id e a s o f e a c h s p e a k e r w e re c o m p re ssed i n t o a
p r e c i s , and e a c h a d d re s s was o u t l i n e d so a s to p r e s e r v e i t s
th o u g h t s t r u c t u r e . S i g n i f i c a n t q u o t a t i o n s , i n d i c a t i n g th e
s p e a k e r 's la n g u a g e , c o m p o s itio n , and i n d i v i d u a l i t y , w e re
re c o r d e d from e a c h s p e e c h . A lth o u g h i n th e m ain e a ch
a d d r e s s p r e s e n te d b u t one d o m in a n t th e m e , i t was a te d io u s
t a s k to c a t e g o r i z e a num ber o f l e c t u r e s b e c a u s e th e y d e a l t
w ith v a r io u s m a jo r i d e a s . Even m ore p e r p le x in g w e re t h e
a d d r e s s e s w h ich a p p e a re d to e n c o u ra g e t i d y c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
Q
B a t s e l l B a x te r , who s u c c e e d e d S e w e ll a s th e
L e c t u r e s h i p 's se c o n d d i r e c t o r , d ie d i n 1956. Jam es F . C ox,
who s u c c e e d e d B a x te r , s t i l l l i v e s n e a r th e cam pus in
A b ile n e , b u t a t e i g h t y - f o u r was u n a v a i l a b l e f o r in te r v i e w
b e c a u s e o f i l l n e s s .
1 2
in e i t h e r o f two q u ite d i s t i n c t th e m a tic a r e a s . U ltim ately,
f iv e m ajor c a te g o r ie s w ere s e le c te d to r e l a t e th e sp eech es
f o r p u rp o ses o f i n t e r p r e t a t i v e a n a ly s is .
R esearch in th e h i s t o r y o f p u b lic a d d re ss becomes
m ost s i g n i f i c a n t when p u rsu ed in c o n n e c tio n w ith im p o rta n t
Q
is s u e s and id e a s . One i s s e n s i t iz e d to th e s e id e a s and
is s u e s by c o n s u ltin g th e v a rio u s p o in ts o f view w hich
emerge from th e problem s and c h a lle n g e s fa c e d by sp e a k e rs
and t h e i r l i s t e n e r s . E x am in atio n o f th e com plem enting and
c o n f l ic t i n g id e a s o f th e r e p r e s e n ta ti v e spokesm en f o r a
movement p ro v id e s a h i s t o r i c a l aw areness o f th e strea m s o f
th o u g h t flo w in g w ith in th e movement. "The h i s t o r i c a l
r e s e a r c h e r ," added J . J e f f e r y A u er, "a s c o n tra s te d w ith th e
h i s t o r i c a l r e p o r t e r , i s concerned n o t o n ly w ith th e d i s
c o v e rin g o f f a c ts , b u t a ls o w ith i n t e r p r e t i n g th e m ." ^
W ith in each th e m a tic c a te g o ry i t was p o s s ib le to o b se rv e
th e number o f tim es a s u b je c t se rv e d as th e b a s is f o r a
s p e e c h , th e i n te r v a ls in w hich s u b je c ts w ere e i t h e r p o p u la r
^ E rn e st J . W rage, " P u b lic A d d ress: A S tudy in
S o c ia l and I n t e l l e c t u a l H is to r y ," The Q u a rte rly J o u rn a l o f
S p eec h . XXXII (Decem ber, 1 9 4 7 ), 451-457.
■^J. J e f f e r y A uer, An I n tro d u c tio n to R esearch in
Speech (New Y ork: H arp er and B r o th e rs , 1 9 5 9 ), p . 73.
13
o r u n p o p u la r , t h e d i v e r s i t y o f p o s i t i o n s on a s i n g l e th e m e,
th e means o f p r o o f u se d to s u p p o r t e a c h p o s i t i o n , and th e
c h r o n o lo g ic a l tr e n d s in s u b j e c t m a tte r . The s p e e c h e s , th u s
r e c o rd e d and c l a s s i f i e d , w ere s u s c e p t i b l e to i n t e r p r e t a
t i o n a s r e l a t e d com ponents o f a s u b s t a n t i v e w h o le .
P la n o f R e p o rtin g
When th e d a t a h ad b een d i s c o v e r e d , r e c o r d e d ,
o r g a n iz e d , and a n a ly z e d , a tw o fo ld d i v i s i o n o f th e s tu d y
a p p e a re d to m ost a d e q u a te ly p r o v id e a m eans f o r r e p o r t i n g
th e f in d in g s in a u n i f i e d and m e a n in g fu l m an n er. P a r t One
p r e s e n ts th e L e c tu r e s h ip a s a h i s t o r i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n , and
P a r t Two c o n c e rn s an a n a l y s i s o f th e m a jo r id e a s and is s u e s
o f th e l e c t u r e s .
CHAPTER II
ORIGIN OF THE LECTURESHIP
The Churches o f C h ris t
"The circum stances under which g re a t speechmaking
flo u ris h e s alo n e a ffirm th e im portance o f h i s t o r i c a l
n a r r a tiv e in th e p ro cess o f c r i t i c i s m .’1 ^ To p ro p e rly
in te r p r e t and a p p re c ia te th e speaking a t th e A bilene
C h ris tia n C ollege L e c tu re sh ip , one must be acq u ain ted w ith
th e p r in c ip a l fe a tu re s o f th e r e lig io u s movement which gave
th e p la tfo rm i t s b i r t h , which su s ta in e d i t s developm ent,
and to which i t re tu rn e d in e stim a b le s p i r i t u a l and i n t e l
le c tu a l nourishm ent.
As th e n in e te e n th ce n tu ry dawned, th e sta g e was s e t
fo r a re lig io u s upheaval o f w idespread in flu e n c e in
■^Lester A. Thonssen and A. C raig B a ird , Speech
C ritic is m (New York: The Ronald P ress Company, 1948),
313.
14
A m e ric a . T he r e c e n t l y g a in e d r e l i g i o u s l i b e r t y , t h e
m u l t i p l y i n g s e c t s o f a d i v i d e d C h r is te n d o m , a n d t h e r a p i d
e x p a n s io n o f t h e A m e ric an f r o n t i e r w i t h i t s c o r o l l a r y o f
r e l i g i o u s i n d i f f e r e n c e , w e re among t h e f a c t o r s f a v o r a b l e
t o t h e b i r t h o f a u n i o n i s t i c , n o n - c r e e d a l , B i b l e - c e n t e r e d
m ovem ent. As t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y d rew t o a c l o s e ,
p r e a c h e r s a lm o s t s im u lt a n e o u s l y i n S c o t l a n d , I r e l a n d , an d
A m e ric a b e g a n t o p le a d f o r a r e s t o r a t i o n o f New T e s ta m e n t
C h r i s t i a n i t y . T he tw o fu n d a m e n ta l p r i n c i p l e s t h a t g u id e d
th e e f f o r t s o f t h e s e sp o k e sm en w e re t h a t a l l b e l i e v e r s i n
C h r i s t s h o u ld b e u n i f i e d , an d t h a t t h e o n ly p o s s i b l e b a s i s
f o r s u c h u n i t y w as t h e a c c e p ta n c e o f t h e B i b l e a s t h e
a b s o l u t e a u t h o r i t y i n r e l i g i o n . T he r e s u l t i n g u p h e a v a l ,
o f t e n te rm e d " t h e R e s t o r a t i o n M o v em en t," g a v e b i r t h t o t h e
2
tw o l a r g e s t c h u r c h b o d ie s in d ig e n o u s t o A m e ric a , t h e
c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t , w ith a p p r o x im a te ly 2 ,0 0 7 ,6 5 0 m em b ers,
2
E . F . M a y e r, R e l i g i o u s B o d ie s o f A m e ric a (3 d e d . ;
S t . L o u is : C o n c o rd ia P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e , 1 9 5 8 ) , p . 2 6 2 .
T h e re w e re tw o r e s t o r a t i o n i s t m ovem ents i n S c o t l a n d — o n e
u n d e r Jo h n G la s a n d R o b e rt Sandem an i n t h e f i r s t h a l f o f
t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a n d t h e o t h e r u n d e r t h e b r o t h e r s
H a ld a n e . T h e r e i s l i t t l e e v id e n c e t h a t t h e s e m ovem ents h a d
an y b e a r i n g o n t h e i r A m e ric a n c o u n t e r p a r t . W. E . G a r r i s o n
a n d A l f r e d P . D e G ro o t, T he D i s c i p l e s o f C h r i s t : A H i s t o r y
( S t . L o u is : C h r i s t i a n B o a rd o f P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 4 8 ) ,
p p . 4 6 - 5 0 .
16
and th e C h r is tia n Church o r D is c ip le s o f C h r is t, w ith
3
ap p ro x im a tely 1 ,8 0 1 ,4 1 1 members.
B ecause o f th e tim e ly and e f f e c t i v e le a d e rs h ip
p ro v id ed by Thomas C am pbell, and h is more b r i l l i a n t s o n ,
A le x a n d e r, th e s e men a r e o f te n c o n s id e re d th e fo u n d ers o f
th e movement w hich produced th e ch u rch es o f C h r is t and th e
C h r is tia n C hurch.^ However, th e r e s t o r a t i o n a c t i v i t y was
w e ll under way in A m erica b e fo re th e Cam pbells m ig rate d
from I re la n d in th e e a r ly 1 8 0 0 's . James O 'K e lle y , in
V ir g in ia and N orth C a ro lin a , E lia s Sm ith and Abner J o n e s ,
in New E n g lan d , and B arto n W . S to n e , in K entucky, had
announced r e s t o r a t i o n in te n tio n s w e ll b e fo re th e Cam pbells
s e t fo o t on Am erican s o i l .
P erhaps th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t movement t h a t a n t i c i
p a te d th e Cam pbells was t h a t le d by B arto n W . S to n e .^
^ 1961 B r ita n n ic a Book o f th e Y e a r, p . 170.
S j i l l a r d L. S p e rry , R e lig io n in A m erica (New York:
The M acm illan Company, 1 9 4 6 ), p . 81. A lso se e W illiam
W arren S w eet, Makers o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , p . 73. Sweet
a f f ir m s , " In a r e a l s e n s e , Thomas, th e f a t h e r , is th e
fo u n d er o f th e movement w hich A le x a n d e r, th e s o n , developed
and c a r r ie d o n ."
W illiam W arren S w eet, The S to ry o f R e lig io n in
A m erica (New York and London: H arper and B r o th e r s ,
P u b lis h e r s , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 337.
17
A P r e s b y t e r i a n , S to n e was e d u c a te d a t t h e fam ous s c h o o l o f
D avid C a ld w e ll i n N o rth C a r o l i n a .^ A f t e r le a v in g th e
P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch i n 1 8 0 2 , h e u n i t e d w ith f o u r o t h e r
p r e a c h e r s to fo rm th e S p r i n g f i e l d P r e s b y t e r y , I n l e s s th a n
a y e a r , i t o c c u rr e d to t h i s g ro u p t h a t t h e v e r y e x i s t e n c e
o f th e S p r i n g f i e l d P r e s b y te r y " s a v o re d o f th e p a r t y s p i r i t "
and dam aged t h e i r p l e a f o r fre ed o m fro m t h e r u l e o f human
o r g a n i z a t i o n . On Ju n e 2 8 , 1 8 0 4 , th e y i s s u e d "T h e L a s t W ill
and T e s ta m e n t o f th e S p r i n g f i e l d P r e s b y t e r y ." I t d e c la r e d
th e r i g h t o f s e lf - g o v e r n m e n t f o r e a c h c o n g r e g a tio n , p r o
t e s t e d a g a i n s t r e l i g i o u s d i v i s i o n and p a r t y s p l i t s , and
i n s i s t e d on t h e B ib le a s t h e 3 o le a u t h o r i t y i n r e l i g i o n .
The docum ent d e c la r e d :
We w i l l t h a t t h i s body d i e , b e d i s s o l v e d , and
s i n k i n t o u n io n w ith t h e Body o f C h r i s t a t l a r g e ;
f o r t h e r e i s b u t one Body and o n e S p i r i t , ev e n a s
we a r e c a l l e d i n one Hope o f o u r c a l l i n g . ?
W h ile S t o n e 's K en tu ck y camp m e e tin g s w e re a t t r a c t -
Q
in g th o u s a n d s o f f e r v e n t f o l l o w e r s , Thomas C am pbell
f t
V e r g ilu s Ferm ( e d . ) , T he A m erican C h u rch o f t h e
P r o t e s t a n t H e r ita g e (New Y o rk : P h i l o s o p h i c a l L i b r a r y ,
I n c . , 1 9 5 3 ), p . 4 2 0 .
^ I b i d . , p . 4 2 1 .
o
S w e e t, The S to r y o f R e lig i o n i n A m e ric a , p . 3 3 0 .
Sw eet d e s c r ib e d S t o n e 's Cane R id g e K en tu ck y camp m e e tin g s
a s " t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l t h e s i n g l e p h a s e s o f t h e W e ste rn
r e v i v a l . "
18
a rriv e d from Ire la n d , in 1807, and formed th e C h ris tia n
A sso c iatio n o f W ashington. B efore th is group in 1809 he
d e liv e re d th e famous D e c la ra tio n and A d d ress, which is
s t i l l c a lle d th e th e o lo g ic a l Magna C harta o f th e R e sto ra-
Q
tio n Movement. With th e a s s is ta n c e o f h is so n , A lexander,
Thomas Campbell announced t h a t , in f a i t h and p r a c tic e , a l l
r e lig io u s a c t i v i t y must d a te back to th e "founding o f th e
church on th e f i r s t P en te co st a f t e r J e s u s ' r e s u r r e c t i o n ." ^
In advancing t h e i r p o s itio n , th e Campbells adopted s e v e ra l
slogans which made c le a r th e i r o b je c tiv e s , e . g . , "Where th e
B ib le sp e ak s, we speak; where th e B ib le is s i l e n t , we a re
s i l e n t , " ^ "No creed b u t C h ris t; no book b u t th e B ib le
9
Thomas Cam pbell, D e c la ra tio n and Address
(C en ten n ial E d itio n : P itts b u r g h , 1909).
Churches o f C h r is t," The E ncyclopedia A m ericana.
1959, V I, 661-662.
^ F e rm , op. c i t . , p. 417. This p a r tic u la r m otto
is s a id to have been coined by Thomas Campbell. Only h is
form o f ex p ressio n was new, as th e thought c o n te n t was
borrowed from W illiam C h illin g w o rth and Edward S t i l l i n g -
f l e e t . "T his m otto was to become th e b a t tle - c r y fo r th e
churches o f C h ris t in th e y ears ahead."
10
J . L. Neve, Churches and S ects o f Christendom
(B la ir, N ebraska: L utheran P u b lish in g House, 1944),
p. 384.
13
a n d "B a c k t o t h e a n c i e n t o r d e r o f t h i n g s . "
I n 1 8 2 3 , A le x a n d e r C a m p b e ll, who h a d r e p l a c e d h i s
f a t h e r a s t h e m o v em en t’ s m o s t e f f e c t i v e l e a d e r , b r o a d e n e d
h i s a g i t a t i o n f o r r e f o r m th r o u g h t h e m edium o f t h e p r e s s .
He b e g a n t o p u b l i s h a p e r i o d i c a l , T h e C h r i s t i a n B a p t i s t .
From 1830 t o 1870 t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , u n d e r a new n a m e ,
T he M i l l e n n i a l H a r b i n g e r , fo rm e d t h e b a c k b o n e o f t h e m ove
m e n t 's l i t e r a t u r e . U n d e r i t s i n f l u e n c e , i n d i v i d u a l
c o n g r e g a t i o n s a l l a c r o s s t h e s o u t h e r n s t a t e s , s u c h a s
t h o s e i n N a s h v i l l e , T e n n e s s e e , an d F r a n k f u r t , K e n tu c k y ,
r e p u d i a t e d t h e i r B a p t i s t c r e e d s i n a n a t t e m p t t o r e l y u p o n
t h e B i b l e a s t h e s o l e a u t h o r i t y i n r e l i g i o n .
I n s p i t e o f t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f t r a v e l a n d com
m u n i c a t i o n , t h e s e s e p a r a t e s tr e a m s o f d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h
e x i s t i n g r e l i g i o u s c o n d i t i o n s s lo w ly b ecam e a w a re o f o n e
a n o t h e r a n d b e g a n t o m e rg e i n t o o n e s i g n i f i c a n t r i v e r o f
r e s t o r a t i o n e f f o r t . By 1 8 2 0 , t h e w o rk s o f S m ith a n d J o n e s
i n New E n g la n d an d 0 ’ K e ll y i n V i r g i n i a an d N o rth C a r o l i n a
g e n e r a l l y u n i t e d i n p u r p o s e w i t h t h e a c t i o n o f B a r to n W.
S to n e . I n 1 8 3 1 , t h e f o l l o w e r s o f C a m p b e ll an d t h e
• ^ A le x a n d e r C a m p b e ll ( e d . ) , T he M i l l e n n i a l
H a r b in g e r (K a n sas C i t y : T h e O ld P a t h s B ook C lu b , 1 9 5 0 ) ,
I , 1 . (R e p ro d u c e d fro m a n o r i g i n a l p e r i o d i c a l , T he
M i l l e n n i a l H a r b i n g e r , 1 8 3 0 .)
20
fo llo w e rs o f S tone met in L e x in g to n , K entucky, to e x p lo re ',
m erger p o s s i b i l i t i e s . At th e m e e tin g s ’ f i n a l "am en,” a
new and s i g n i f i c a n t l y la r g e ch u rch b o d y , p o p u la rly c a lle d
The D is c ip le s o f C h r is t , was b o rn . "Raccoon" John S m ith,
one o f th e i n f l u e n t i a l r e s t o r a t i o n p r e a c h e r s , gave th e
co n c lu d in g a d d re s s :
L e t u s , th e n , my B r e th re n , be no lo n g e r
C a m p b ellite s o r S t o n e i t e s , new l i g h t s o r o ld
l i g h t s , o r any o th e r k in d o f l i g h t s , b u t l e t
us come to th e B ib le and to th e B ib le a lo n e ,
as th e o n ly book in th e w orld t h a t can g iv e
us a l l th e l i g h t we n e e d .
The D is c ip le s o f C h r is t w ere among th e few r e l i
g io u s b o d ie s t h a t d id n o t d iv id e o v er th e is s u e s o f th e
C iv il War. A lthough th e s la v e r y q u e s tio n and th e d e b a te
as to w h eth er th e C h r is tia n co u ld ta k e arms d u rin g c i v i l
s t r i f e cau sed v io le n t re p e rc u s s io n s in th e movement, th e
absence o f c e n tr a liz e d o r g a n iz a tio n sp a re d th e b ro th erh o o d
from m ajor s p l i t . The p o st-w a r p e r io d , how ever, saw t h i s
b r ig h t o u tlo o k o r u n if ie d e f f o r t q u ic k ly d a rk e n . R e lig io u s
u n ity had been m a in ta in e d in th e fa c e o f p o l i t i c a l d i v i
s io n , b u t d ark clo u d s o f d is s e n s io n began c a s tin g t h e i r
shadows o v er th e church c o n c ern in g is s u e s w hich w ere
^ J o h n A ugustus W illia m s, L if e o f E ld e r John Sm ith
(N a s h v ille : G ospel A dvocate Company, 1 9 5 6 ), p. 454.
21
c o n s id e r e d m a t t e r s o f B i b l i c a l f a i t h by some an d m a t t e r s
o f p e r s o n a l o p in io n b y o t h e r s .
T he tw o p r i n c i p a l i s s u e s o f d is a g r e e m e n t c o n c e rn e d
t h e s c r i p t u r a l m eth o d o f a d v a n c in g t h e g o s p e l th r o u g h
m is s io n a r y w o rk t o t h e o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o rld and th e
u s e o f i n s t r u m e n t a l m u sic i n w o r s h ip . I n s p i t e o f th e
s p e c i f i c p o i n t s o f d i v i s i o n , t h e b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e an d l i b e r a l w in g s was " t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd t h e s c r i p t u r e s . ” The m ore c o n s e r v a t i v e
b r a n c h o f t h e D i s c i p l e s , l a t e r t o becom e known a s th e
c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t , c o n te n d e d " t h a t t h e New T e s ta m e n t was
t o b e t r e a t e d a s a r e l i g i o u s c o n s t i t u t i o n w h o se d i r e c t i o n s
15
w e re t o b e f a i t h f u l l y f o llo w e d ." T hey c o n c lu d e d t h a t an
a c c e p ta n c e o f t h e M is s io n a r y S o c ie ty an d t h e u s e o f i n s t r u
m e n ta l m u sic i n w o rs h ip w e re a d e n i a l o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f
" s p e a k in g w h ere t h e B ib le s p e a k s an d b e in g s i l e n t w h e re th e
B i b le i s s i l e n t . " The m ore l i b e r a l p o r t i o n o f t h e b o d y ,
l a t e r t o becom e t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u rc h , m a in ta in e d t h a t t h e s e
m a t t e r s w ere i n t h e re a lm o f d i s c r e t i o n an d r e p r e s e n t e d t h e
fre e d o m a llo w e d i n n o n - e s s e n t i a l s . T h u s , a g r a d u a l and
^ " C h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t , " E n c y c lo p e d ia B r i t a n n i c a ,
1 9 6 1 , V , 6 7 5 .
22
alm ost im p e rc e p tib le s e p a r a tio n began to o c c u r as th e
c o n s e rv a tiv e s a lle g e d t h a t th e p ro g re s s iv e s w ere d e p a rtin g
from th e o r i g i n a l p la tfo rm u n d er Cam pbell and S to n e. By
th e tu r n o f th e c e n tu r y , th e lin e s o f d iv is io n w ere s h a rp ly
draw n. In 1906, th e movement, w hich had fo rm e rly been
l i s t e d as one b ro th e rh o o d , was o f f i c i a l l y re c o g n iz e d as
two s e p a r a te b o d ies by th e U n ited S ta te s Census B ureau.
S in ce th e s p l i t in 1906, th e ch u rch es o f C h r is t
have en jo y ed a h e a rty g ro w th , w ith p r in c ip a l advancem ent
in th e S outh and S o u th w est. "N o tw ith stan d in g th e com plete
la c k o f any ty p e o f o r g a n iz a tio n and d en o m in atio n al
a p p a ra tu s , th e s e ch u rch es show a rem ark ab le s t r e n g t h ,
16
e s p e c ia lly in T ex a s, T en n e sse e , and A rk a n sa s." A lthough
th e y s t i l l have no m is sio n a ry s o c i e t i e s , th e y have become
in c re a s in g ly m issio n a ry m inded. Today th e y have o v er two
hundred m is sio n a ry f a m ilie s in more th a n f o r ty c o u n trie s
17
o f th e w o rld . For th e f i r s t tim e s in c e th e census o f
1906, th e 1961 m em bership su rv ey s e s ta b lis h e d th e ch u rch es
o f C h r is t as one o f th e te n l a r g e s t r e lig i o u s b o d ie s in
A m erica. I n t e r e s t i n g l y , th e ch u rch d is p la c e d i t s h i s t o r i c
■^Mayer, op. c i t . , p. 216.
^ 1961 B r ita n n ic a Book o f th e Y e a r, p. 170.
23
18
c o u n t e r p a r t , t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u rc h , f o r t e n t h p l a c e .
W h ile much n u m e r ic a l g ro w th h a s o c c u r r e d , th e
d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t h a s a p p a r e n t l y
re m a in e d f ir m th r o u g h t h e y e a r s . C lin g in g t o t h e f u n d a
m e n ta l i d e a l s o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n M ovem ent, i t a d v o c a te s
t h e u n io n o f a l l b e l i e v e r s i n C h r i s t an d c o n te n d s t h a t t h e
New T e s ta m e n t i s t h e o n ly b a s i s f o r s u c h u n io n . T he m ove
m en t now n u m bers m ore th a n tw o m i l l i o n m em bers w i t h
a p p r o x im a te ly 1 6 ,0 0 0 au to n o m o u s l o c a l c o n g r e g a t i o n s , e a c h
19
in d e p e n d e n tly g o v e rn e d b y e l d e r s an d s e r v e d b y d e a c o n s .
M ayer o b s e r v e s : "T h ey seem to r e p r e s e n t t h e m o st e x tre m e
on
fo rm o f Congregationalism among churches."
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e
T h o se who p io n e e r e d t h e R e s t o r a t i o n M ovem ent w e re
e d u c a te d men who s t r o n g l y a d v o c a te d t h e n e e d f o r f o rm a l
e d u c a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g . G a r r is o n s t a t e s : "T h e p rim e m o v ers
i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y e f f o r t i n b e h a l f o f C h r i s t i a n
1 8
T he Y e a rb o o k o f A m eric an C h u r c h e s . 1 9 6 1 .
1 9
1961 B r i t a n n i c a Book o f t h e Y e a r , p . 1 7 0 .
20
M a y e r, o p . c i t . , p . 2 1 6 .
24
21
u n ity and union . . . were educated men.”
In 1840 Campbell e s ta b lis h e d "a mother of
c o lle g e s ,” Bethany C ollege in V irg in ia . While s u s ta in in g
no organic r e la tio n s h ip to the church th is school g r e a tly
in flu en ced the d ir e c tio n of the movement during i t s forma
tiv e s ta g e s . Although th e re has always been a m in o rity
o f o p p o sitio n to such r e lig io u s schools w ith in the
b ro th erh o o d , Bethany C ollege and i t s predecessors tra in e d
th e much-needed le a d e rsh ip which helped to c a rry the
r e s to r a tio n id ea to i t s f u l l f r u it io n .
Today, th e in d iv id u a l members o f th e church support
twenty co lleg es , w ith a number o f secondary and elem entary
sch o o ls. "These c o lle g e s ," w rote church le a d e r M. Norvel
Young, "a re p r iv a te e n te rp ris e s w ith no claim on th e
22
churches b u t the claim o f a common i n t e r e s t . " The
la rg e s t o f th e se schools is A bilene C h ris tia n C o lleg e, the
i n s t i t u t i o n which sponsors and d ir e c ts th e L ectureship
which is th e su b je c t o f th is study. Founded in 1906,
21
James Harvey G arriso n , The Reform ation o f the
N ineteenth Century (S t. L ouis: C h ris tia n P u b lish in g
Company, 1901), p. 153.
M. Norvel Young, A H isto ry o f Colleges E stab
lis h e d and C o n tro lled by Members o f th e Churches o f C h rist
(Kansas C ity , M issouri: Old Paths Book Club, 1949), p. 59.
25
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e h a s b e e n o f f e r i n g s e n i o r c o l l e g e
w ork lo n g e r th a n any o f t h e o t h e r s c h o o ls s u p p o r te d and
c o n t r o l l e d b y members o f t h e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t .
I n th e w i n t e r o f 1905-1906 A. B. B a r r e t t , a g r a d u
a t e o f N a s h v i l l e B ib le S c h o o l, " p r o p o s e d t h a t h e w ould
w ork up a h ig h - g r a d e s c h o o l i n A b i l e n e i f t h e members o f
23
th e c h u rc h "w ould s t a n d by h im ." R e sp o n d in g t o t h i s
c h a l l e n g e , t h e l o c a l c o n g r e g a tio n w h ich h ad b e e n e s t a b
l i s h e d i n A b ile n e i n 1 9 0 3 , ^ s u b s c r i b e d $ 5 ,0 0 0 i n s u p p o r t
o f t h e new s c h o o l. Of t h i s a m o u n t, C o lo n e l J . W. C h i ld e r s
g av e $ 2 ,5 0 0 o f h i s home p r o p e r t y , w h ich was s e c u r e d a s t h e
s i t e o f t h e s c h o o l. I n r e t u r n , t h e o f f i c i a l name o f t h e
academ y was C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l I n s t i t u t e u n t i l 1 9 1 9 . ^
23
C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l I n s t i t u t e C a t a l o g u e . 1906-
1907 ( A b ile n e , T e x a s ) , p . 7.
24 M
J . D. S ew ard , The A dvancem ent o f t h e C hurch o f
C h r i s t i n A b ile n e " ( u n p u b lis h e d m a n u s c r i p t , H ardin-Sim m ons
U n i v e r s i t y , A b ile n e , T e x a s , 1 9 5 2 ) , p. 5 .
25
" C h a r t e r o f C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l I n s t i t u t e , " as
q u o te d i n B oard o f T r u s te e s o f C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l I n s t i
t u t e " M in u te s ," November 3 , 1906. From i t s b e g i n n i n g , th e
s c h o o l was r e f e r r e d t o as A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e . In
1 9 1 2 , t h i s name was u s e d i n t h e o f f i c i a l c a t a l o g u e , and
e n c o u ra g e d i n g e n e r a l u s a g e by P r e s i d e n t J e s s e P . S e w e ll.
H ow ever, th e c h a r t e r e d name was C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l
I n s t i t u t e , u n t i l th e b o a r d v o te d to h a v e i t ch an g ed
J a n u a r y 1 1 , 1919. B oard o f T r u s te e s o f C h i l d e r s ' C l a s s i c a l
I n s t i t u t e , " M in u te s ," J a n u a r y 1 1 , 1919.
26
The o r i g i n a l c h a r t e r announced th a t th e c o rp o ra tio n
was fo r th e " e s ta b lis h m e n t and m aintenance o f a c o lle g e fo r
th e advancement o f ed u c a tio n in which th e a r t s , s c ie n c e ,
la n g u ag es, and Holy S c rip tu re s s h a l l always be ta u g h t. .
26
. The d iv is io n between th e C h r is tia n Church and th e
churches o f C h r is t , reco g n ized by th e o f f i c i a l census in
th e same y e a r o f th e s c h o o l's e s ta b lis h m e n t, was r e f le c te d
in th e c h a r te r req u irem e n ts:
Each t r u s t e e s h a l l be a member o f a c o n g reg a tio n
o f th e church o f C h r is t which ta k e s th e New
Testam ent as i t s only s u f f i c i e n t r o l e o f f a i t h ,
w o rsh ip , and p r a c t ic e . . .27
P re s id e n t B a r r e t t o rg an ized a f a c u lty o f n in e
members and announced th a t th e s c h o o l, which would only be
p re p a ra to ry in i t s academic o f f e r i n g s , would b eg in
September 11, 1906. D esp ite th e in e v ita b ly h a ra s s in g
circum stances o f b e g in n in g , and th e f a c t th a t only e ig h ty -
fiv e s tu d e n ts e n ro lle d f o r c l a s s e s , " th e f i r s t y e a r clo sed
28
on a n o te o f optim ism on May 20, 1907." In Septem ber,
th e second s e s s io n opened w ith an en ro llm en t o f more than
26Ib id .
27I b i d .
2^A bilene R eporter-N ew s. May 25, 1907, p. 6.
27
one h u n d re d . G eorge A. K lingm an, M .A ., a g r a d u a te o f th e
U n iv e r s it y o f K en tu ck y , and h i s b r o t h e r , W illia m G.
K lingm an, came to s t r e n g t h e n th e f a c u l t y . T hese two men
w ere l a t e r to be among th e e a r l y s p e a k e rs on th e a n n u a l
79
B ib le L e c tu r e s h ip .
A f t e r two y e a rs i n A b ile n e , P r e s i d e n t B a r r e t t
r e s i g n e d , and H. C. D ard en , s u p e r in t e n d e n t o f p u b lic
s c h o o ls i n C ly d e , T e x a s , was s e l e c t e d to le a d th e s c h o o l
d u rin g th e 1908-1909 s e s s i o n . In 1909, R. L. W h ite s id e ,
who had ta u g h t B ib le i n th e s c h o o l th e p r e v io u s y e a r ,
r e p la c e d D arden as p r e s i d e n t . An o u ts t a n d in g p r e a c h e r ,
h i s a p p o in tm e n t b ro u g h t to th e l o c a l e n t e r p r i s e a g r e a t e r
d e g re e o f r e c o g n i t i o n and s u p p o r t from th e c h u rc h co n -
30
s t i t u e n c y . D u rin g th e two y e a r s o f W h i te s i d e 's
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n th e f i r s t c o l l e g e - l e v e l academ ic w ork was
o f f e r e d and th e e n r o llm e n t in c r e a s e d to 185 i n a l l
31
d e p a r tm e n ts .
29
R. C. B e l l , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 3 ,
1961.
30
J e s s e P. S e w e ll, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 5 ,
1961.
31
Childers' Classical Institute Catalogue, 1909-
1910, p. 125.
28
In 1912, a f t e r James F. Cox had served one year as
p re s id e n t, the board se le c te d Jesse P. Sewell of San
Angelo, to lead the school. "As long as the w alls of
Abilene C h ristia n College sta n d ," the h is to ria n s of the
i n s t i t u t i o n were l a t e r to remark, "th e name of Sewell w ill
32
in e v ita b ly be remembered in connection w ith th e school."
Sew ell, more than any o th e r sin g le person, was resp o n sib le
not only fo r the conception and subsequent success of the
B ible L ec tu re sh ip , but fo r the p rese rv a tio n and development
of Abilene C h ristia n C ollege. Morris and Leach suggest
t h a t , w ithout the work and in flu en ce of Sewell and h is
w ife , D aisy, by th e time of h is re sig n a tio n in January of
1924, "Abilene C h ristia n College would have ceased to
e x i s t, going the way of the o th er seven schools th a t had
33
been e sta b lish e d in Texas."
During S ew ell's presidency, Abilene C h ristia n
College grew from an unaccredited school o ffe rin g only
32
Don H. Morris and Max Leach, Like S tars Shining
B rig h tly : The Personal Story o f Abilene C h ristia n College
(Abilene: Abilene C h ristia n College P re ss, 1953), p. 111.
~^I b id . , p. 110. The s p l i t of 1906, fin a n c ia l
h a rd sh ip , in e p t le a d e rs h ip , and o th e r discouragements , were
resp o n sib le fo r the deaths o f sim ila r schools in Thorp
Spring, Denton, L in g le v ille , Lockney, Cleburne, Gunter,
and S abinal.
29
p r e p a r a t o r y a c a d e m ic w ork t o a s e n i o r c o l l e g e r e c o g n i z e d
by t h e s t a t e ’s a c c r e d i t i n g a g e n c ie s a s an "A p l u s ” f o u r -
y e a r i n s t i t u t i o n . The e n r o l l m e n t d u r i n g h i s l a s t y e a r
o f s e r v i c e was 5 2 5 , w i t h 600 r e g i s t e r i n g t h e y e a r
im m e d ia te ly f o l l o w i n g . S e w e ll a l s o i n i t i a t e d many o f
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e c o l l e g e ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e a n n u a l B i b le L e c t u r e s h i p :
B e g in n in g f o r m a l l y i n 1918 a n a n n u a l B i b l e
L e c t u r e s h i p d u r i n g t h e l a s t w eek i n F e b r u a r y h a s
b e e n c o n d u c te d b y t h e c o l l e g e . O u ts ta n d in g
church leaders and preachers are invited to
d e l i v e r m e ssa g e s on B i b l e th e m e s . S in c e 1 9 2 2 ,
t h e s e l e c t u r e s h a v e b e e n p u b l i s h e d . 36
I n S e p te m b e r , 1 9 2 4 , B a t s e l l B a x te r r e p l a c e d S e w e ll
as president.^^ gy 1925, more students were wanting to
a t t e n d t h e c o l l e g e th a n c o u ld b e ac co m m o d ated , an d i t was
34
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e C a t a l o g u e , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 ,
p . 29.
35
A b ile n e R e p o r te r - N e w s , S e p te m b e r 1 , 1 9 2 9 , p . 2.
^ M r s . E, W. M c M illa n , " T r a d i t i o n s o f A b ile n e
C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e " ( u n p u b lis h e d a r t i c l e , A p r i l 1 9 , 1 9 3 4 ).
A c t u a l l y , t h e 1918 l e c t u r e s w e re h e l d i n J a n u a r y , r a t h e r
th a n F e b r u a r y , and t h e f i r s t l e c t u r e s w e re p u b l i s h e d i n
1 9 1 8 , r a t h e r t h a n 1922.
37
Guy A. S c r u g g s , "T he H i s t o r y o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
C o lle g e " ( u n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s , H ardin-S im m ons
U n i v e r s i t y , A b i l e n e , T e x a s , 1 9 4 4 ).
30
apparent th a t th e campus would have to be moved i f th e
c o lle g e should m ain tain i t s r a t e o f growth. On
January 29, a f t e r n e g o tia tio n s had been com pleted to move
th e campus to a new s i t e , th e a d m in is tra tio n b u ild in g on
th e old campus burned. Only a few s tu d e n t reco rd s and
39
fiv e thousand volumes from th e lib r a r y were saved.
"Much more se rio u s than th is lo ss by f i r e was th e economic
d ep ressio n o f 1 9 2 9 ." ^ "S u rv iv al" f in a n c ia l campaigns,
d e s p e ra tio n lo a n s , and p erso n a l s a c r i f i c e by f a c u lty and
s t a f f , saved th e school from d is a s t e r during th e b leak
hours o f th e d e p re ssio n . In 1930-1931, P re s id e n t B ax ter,
and Dean James F. Cox reduced t h e i r s a la r ie s 15 p e r c e n t,
and th e r e s t o f th e fa c u lty accepted a 10 p e r cen t red u c
tio n . The next y e a r th e e n t ir e f a c u lty v o lu n ta rily
c o n trib u te d o n e -h a lf of t h e i r s a la r ie s to h elp e lim in a te
38
Don H. M o rris, p erso n a l in te rv ie w , October 25,
1961.
39
P re sid e n t B a x ter, in w ritin g th e in tro d u c tio n to
th e p u b lish ed le c tu r e s fo r 1928-1929, s ta te d : "We r e g r e t
th a t some o f th e le c tu r e s could not be in cluded in th e
book . . . some m anuscripts were d estro y ed by f i r e , and
th e b re th re n d id not re p la c e them ." A bilene C h ris tia n
C ollege B ib le L ectures , 1928-1929 (A ustin: Firm Founda
t i o n , 1929), p. 5.
40
Young, op. c i t . , p. 185.
31
t h e d e f i c i t . ^ On. Ju n e 1 , 1 9 3 2 , P r e s i d e n t B a x te r r e s i g n e d
t o ta k e t h e p r e s id e n c y o f h i s alm a m a t e r , D av id L ipscom b
C o lle g e . The b o a rd e l e v a t e d Jam es F. Cox from Dean to
P r e s i d e n t , and a p p o in te d Don H. M o rris t o th e n ew ly c r e a t e d
o f f i c e o f v i c e - p r e s i d e n t . I n F e b r u a r y , 1 9 3 4 , w i t h th e
announcem ent t h a t Mr. and M rs. Jo h n A. H a r d in , o f B urk-
b u m e t t , T e x a s , had a s s u r e d t h e c o n tin u e d e x i s t e n c e o f th e
c o l l e g e w ith a g i f t o f $ 1 6 0 ,0 0 0 , A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
42
C o l l e g e 's " tim e o f g r e a t e s t c r i s i s " was a t an en d .
When P r e s i d e n t Cox r e s i g n e d i n 1 9 4 0 , V i c e - p r e s i d e n t
43
M o rris was e l e c t e d t o s u c c e e d him . D u rin g th e e i g h t
y e a r s o f t h e Cox a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e c o l l e g e a d v a n ce d
f i n a n c i a l l y and a c a d e m ic a lly w ith s u b s t a n t i a l a d d i t i o n s
b o th to t h e f a c u l t y and t h e t e a c h i n g f a c i l i t i e s o f th e
44
s c h o o l. Don H. M o rris s e r v e d a s p r e s i d e n t o f th e c o l l e g e
d u r in g i t s p e r i o d o f g ro w th to w a rd f u l l m a t u r i t y . The
tw e n ty -o n e y e a r s o f h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a v e s e e n th e
41
B oard o f T r u s te e s o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e ,
" M in u te s ," F e b ru a ry 2 4 , 1932.
42
M o rris and L e a c h , o p . c i t . , p . 188.
/ Q
Board of Trustees of Abilene Christian College,
"Minutes," February 19, 1936.
^ S c r u g g s , o p . c i t . , p . 98.
32
c o lle g e advance to th e follow ing p o s itio n : t o t a l a s s e ts
of more than $13,000,000; stu d e n t enrollm ent of more than
2,500; f a c u lty o f more than 125; o f f e rin g o f th e b a c h e lo r 's
degree in tw e n ty -th re e f ie ld s and th e m a s te r 's degree in
n in e f i e l d s .
L ec tu re sh ip Beginnings
The seeds th a t e v e n tu a lly blossomed in to th e annual
le c tu r e s o f A bilene C h ris tia n C ollege were sown in th e very
f i r s t months o f th e s c h o o l's e x iste n c e . From i t s b e g in
ning , the c o lle g e had been a fo c a l p o in t o f brotherhood
a c t i v i t y throughout West Texas. In January o f 1907,
George A. Klingman, "one o f th e prom inent p reach ers o f the
b ro th e rh o o d ," came to th e campus a t th e i n v i t a t i o n of
P re s id e n t B a rr e tt to d e liv e r a s p e c ia l s e r ie s o f le c tu r e s .
Although h is speeches were p rim a rily designed fo r th e
b e n e f it of th e stu d e n t body, a number o f p reach ers in th e
A bilene v i c i n i t y atten d e d th e s e s s io n s . M orris and Leach
d escrib ed t h i s e a rly le c tu r e s e r i e s :
Though th is was n o t a d v e rtis e d as being an annual
a f f a i r , and a t p re s e n t we do n o t r e f e r to th e se
le c tu r e s as th e beginning o f th e annual le c tu r e
week o f A bilene C h r is tia n C o lleg e , th is b rin g in g
in o f a speaker from o u ts id e th e campus fo r some
e x tra in s t r u c tio n and in s p i r a tio n p la n te d th e
33
s e e d t h a t e v e n t u a l l y r e s u l t e d i n t h e b e g in n in g
o f t h e a n n u a l l e c t u r e s o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
C o l l e g e . 45
T h is p la n i n i t i a t e d i n 1907 o f o f f e r i n g s p e c i a l
r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n was w arm ly r e c e i v e d by t h e s t u d e n t
b o d y , and many i n t e r e s t e d p r e a c h e r s . D u rin g th e w i n t e r o f
1908 B a r r e t t ex panded th e p ro g ram and made an e f f o r t to
a t t r a c t m ore v i s i t o r s t o th e cam pus. He c a l l e d t h e s e r i e s ,
" a s h o r t c o u r s e i n t h e B i b l e . " By t h e w i n t e r o f 1 9 0 9 ,
when H. C. D arden h ad s u c c e e d e d B a r r e t t a s p r e s i d e n t ,
" t h e id e a o f a s p e c i a l o f f e r i n g by t h e c o l l e g e a lo n g t h e
l i n e s o f B i b le i n s t r u c t i o n , and open t o a l l , was becom ing
f i x e d , r e a d y l a t e r t o b lo sso m i n t o t h e B ib le L e c t u r e s h i p
46
t h a t draw s v i s i t o r s ea ch y e a r from a l l o v e r th e w o r l d ."
On T u e s d a y , J a n u a r y 2 6 , t h e A b ile n e R e p o rter-N ew s s t a t e d :
"The c h u rc h w o rk e rs and p r e a c h e r 's t r a i n i n g s c h o o l i s
m oving a lo n g n i c e l y . " 4 ^
When R. L. W h ite s id e r e p l a c e d D arden a s p r e s i d e n t
o f t h e c o l l e g e , h e was a l s o h i r e d , a t a s a l a r y o f $ 1 2 .5 0
^ M o r r i s and L e a c h , o p . c i t . , p p . 2 3 -2 4 .
4 6I b i d . , p . 39.
4^Abilene Reporter-News, January 26, 1909, p. 6.
34
per week, as th e p reac h er fo r th e church which h eld i t s
s e rv ic e s in th e c o lle g e auditorium . Although he served as
p re s id e n t fo r only two y ea rs b e fo re re tu rn in g f u l l tim e to
h is b a s ic work as an e v a n g e lis t, W h ite sid e 's a d m in is tra tio n
marked a s i g n i f i c a n t s te p in th e e v o lu tio n o f th e annual
le c tu r e w e e k .^
During th e w in te rs o f 1910 and 1911, W hiteside
expanded th e lo o se ly s tr u c tu re d "church workers tr a in in g
49
school" in to a more form al " p re a c h e r's m eetin g ." The
1910 ca talo g u e re p o rts th a t C. R. N ichol and P ric e
B illin g s le y , two well-known p re a c h e rs , ta u g h t during
January and February in a " s p e c ia l B ible read in g and
tr a in in g c o u rs e ." ^ 0 This " p re a c h e r's m eeting" a t tr a c te d a
g a th e rin g o f approxim ately f i f t y e v a n g e lis ts who assembled
to d isc u ss problems r e la te d to t h e i r work. In a d d itio n ,
one o f th e prim ary purposes o f th e " p re a c h e r's m eetings"
^ J e s s e P. S ew ell, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , October 23,
1961.
49
"A bilene C h ris tia n C ollege B ible L ec tu resh ip
Program, 1956," p. 5.
~ * Q C h ild e r 's C la s s ic a l I n s t i t u t e C a ta lo g u e , 1909-
1910, p. 7. A number o f sources r e f e r to th is program of
1910 as " th e f i r s t le c tu r e program" o r the "beginning of
th e annual s e r i e s ." "A bilene C h ris tia n C ollege B ible
L ec tu re sh ip Program, 1956," p. 5.
35
was to p r o v id e an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e s t u d e n t s t o m eet and
h e a r men who h ad a c h ie v e d s u c c e s s i n t h e i r s e r v i c e to th e
c h u r c h . ^
I n 1 9 1 2 , J e s s e P . S e w e ll assum ed t h e p r e s id e n c y o f
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e . H is p r e d e c e s s o r s , B a r r e t t ,
D a rd e n , W h i te s i d e , and A. B. C ox, h a d v ie w e d th e i n s t i t u
t i o n as a p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e to b e owned and o p e r a t e d as a
b u s i n e s s v e n t u r e o f t h e c o l l e g e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . S e w e ll
im m e d ia te ly r e c o g n iz e d t h a t i f th e s c h o o l , w h ich was
h e a v i l y i n d e b t , w ere g o in g t o s u r v i v e , a w id e r sc o p e o f
t h e c h u rc h c o n s t i t u e n c y w ould h a v e to a s s i s t i n t h e d i r e c -
52
t i o n and s u p p o r t o f t h e c o l l e g e .
The new p r e s i d e n t c o n c e iv e d o f t h e " p r e a c h e r 's
m e e tin g s " d e v e lo p e d d u r in g t h e W h ite s id e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n as
i d e a l av e n u e s f o r co m m u n icatin g t h e b a s i c aim s and n e e d s
o f th e c o l l e g e to th e b r o th e r h o o d . C o n s e q u e n tly , d u r in g
h i s f i r s t m onths i n o f f i c e , S e w e ll and h i s a i d e s to o k s t e p s
to make th e 1913 a sse m b ly t h e m o st e l a b o r a t e e v e r s t a g e d on
th e cam pus. N o n e th e le s s , t h e e v e n t was s t i l l b i l l e d s im p ly
“^Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 23,
1961.
52Ibid.
36
as a " p re a c h e r's meeting" and " in te r e s te d preachers and
o th e r b re th re n were in v ite d to meet a t the c o lle g e to study
53
and d iscu ss im portant re lig io u s q u e s tio n s."
Scheduled during the f i r s t week in February, the
1913 " p re a c h e r’s m eeting" boasted the follow ing l i s t o f
well-known s p e c ia l speakers: B a ts e ll Baxter o f C orsicana,
A. J . McCarty of K ille e n , C. R. Nichol o f C lif to n , G, H. P.
Showalter o f A u stin , E arly Arceneaux o f F o rt Worth, W . M .
54
Davis o f San Angelo, and R. C. B ell o f Thorp Spring. A
decree issu ed February 11, 1913 , by th e Texas R ailroad
Commission, s ta tin g th a t "o n e -h a lf fa re fo r clergymen was
upheld a t a meeting in A u stin ," encouraged a good a tte n d
ance on th e p a r t o f out-of-tow n p r e a c h e r s . A l t h o u g h some
sources r e f e r to th is m eeting o f 1913 as th e " a c tu a l begin
ning" o f th e L ectu resh ip t r a d i t i o n , i t can probably be more
a c c u ra te ly describ ed as a major ste p toward th e ev o lu tio n
53
Morris and Leach, op. c i t . , p. 72.
5Z fA bilene C h ristia n College C atalo g u e, 1912-1913,
p. 8.
55
Abilene Reporter-N ew s, February 24, 1913. The
Texas and P a c ific R ailroad which ran r ig h t by the old
campus and stopped w ith in a m ile o f th e school was in ex
tr ic a b ly lin k ed w ith the la rg e L ectureship attendance
fig u re s during th e p la tfo rm 's e a rly y ea rs.
37
o f th e B ib le l e c t u r e week o f 1 918, t h e f i r s t o f t h e r e g u l a r
56
a n n u a l p ro g ra m s. A lth o u g h i n t e r e s t s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d ,
t h e l e c t u r e pro g ram s th ro u g h 1917 w e re p r i m a r i l y d e s ig n e d
f o r p r e a c h e r s t o m eet one a n o t h e r and s p e a k b e f o r e th e
c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s . O u ts id e a t t e n d a n c e was l a r g e l y l i m i t e d
t o t h e p r e a c h e r s who r e s i d e d i n t h e im m e d ia te A b ile n e
v i c i n i t y .
The e x p r e s s io n " B ib le L e c tu r e W eek," w h ich was
d e s t i n e d to become one o f th e h o u s e h o ld w ords o f th e
r e l i g i o u s m ovem ent, f i r s t a p p e a r e d , r a t h e r m o d e s tly , i n
t h e s c h o o l c a ta l o g u e f o r 1 9 1 7 - 1 9 1 8 .^ I n t h e e a r l y f a l l
o f 1 917, S e w e ll and h i s c o l le a g u e s b e g a n t o f o r m u la te p la n s
to make t h e 1918 s e r i e s so m e th in g "m ore th a n a p r e a c h e r ’ s
58
m e e ti n g ." S in c e 1913 th e p r e s i d e n t had c a r e f u l l y
o b s e rv e d t h e s e m e e tin g s and become c o n v in c e d o f t h e i r
5 6
M o rris and L each (o p . c i t . , p . 72) s t a t e : " T h is
F e b ru a ry o f 1913 i s u s u a l l y m arked a s t h e a c t u a l b e g in n in g
o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e 's a n n u a l B i b le L e c t u r e s h i p ,
th o u g h t h e s e e d s f o r i t , i n t h e s p e c i a l B i b le c l a s s e s and
l e c t u r e s , w ere sown d u r in g t h e f i r s t w i n t e r o f th e l i f e o f
t h e s c h o o l ."
57
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e C a t a l o g u e , 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 ,
p . 11.
58
J e s s e P . S e w e ll, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 1 ,
1961.
38
u n lim ite d p o s s i b i l i t i e s in a s s i s t i n g th e work o f b o th th e
5 9
ch u rc h and th e c o l l e g e . An e n e r g e tic p r e a c h e r h i m s e l f ,
S ew ell view ed th e s e g a th e r in g s as u n iq u e o p p o r tu n iti e s
" f o r th e m ost a b le men in th e ch u rc h to te a c h New T estam ent
fin
C h r i s t i a n i t y to th e key ch u rc h le a d e r s i n T e x a s." From
th e s c h o o l 's p o in t o f v ie w , S ew ell was an x io u s to expand
th e sco p e o f th e m e etin g s so t h a t a l a r g e r number o f
p o t e n t i a l s u p p o r te r s c o u ld be a t t r a c t e d to th e cam pus. As
he e x p re s s e d i t : " I w anted them to come and s e e f o r them -
61
s e lv e s w hat we w ere tr y i n g to do a t th e c o l l e g e ."
The d a te s f o r th e 1918 m e etin g w ere f ix e d f o r
Ja n u a ry 7 -1 1 , and "an im posing a r r a y o f s p e a k e rs " was
s c h e d u le d to d e l i v e r a d d re s s e s on tim e ly t o p i c s . In
December o f 1917 i n v i t a t i o n s f e a t u r i n g th e L e c tu re s h ip
program w ere m a ile d to th e p a tro n s and f r ie n d s o f th e
s c h o o l, and to a l l o f th e c o n g re g a tio n s o f th e ch u rch es o f
C h r is t in w est T ex as. The s tu d e n ts w ere u rg e d to w r i t e
t h e i r p a r e n ts and i n v i t e them to th e campus f o r th e week.
■ ^Joseph J o n e s , "The E d u c a tio n a l P h ilo so p h y o f
J e s s e P. S ew ell" (u n p u b lish e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Oklahoma
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1960).
60
Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 23,
1961.
61Ibid.
39
The morning p r i o r to th e L e c tu re sh ip o p e n in g , th e AbiJLene
<
newspaper re p o rte d : "The program c o n s is ts o f a number o f
s p le n d id s u b je c ts w ith e q u a lly as many well-known and
ca p ab le sp e a k e rs. A ll o f th e sp e ak ers a r e o u t-o f-to w n men
62
ex cep t two. . . . "
In th e d e sig n o f th e 1918 program as w e ll as in
th e s e le c tio n o f s p e a k e r s , an e f f o r t was made to c o n s id e r
th e needs and i n t e r e s t s o f th e p re a c h e rs and g e n e ra l church
membership o f th e a r e a . Dr. George A. Klingman o f th e
A bilene f a c u lty opened th e s e r i e s on Monday, January 7,
w ith a 7:00 p.m. l e c t u r e , " D e s tru c tiv e H igher C r itic is m ."
The program , f e a tu rin g m orning, a fte rn o o n and evening
l e c t u r e s , concluded on F rid a y , January 11. While Klingman,
who a ls o d isc u sse d "V erbal I n s p i r a t i o n ," ex p lo red th e o lo g i
c a l is s u e s , most o f th e sp e ak ers c o n fin e d t h e i r remarks to
such p r a c t i c a l a s p e c ts o f church work a s : "O rg a n iz a tio n o f
th e New Testam ent C hurch," by A. B. B a r r e t t; "The Work o f
th e E v a n g e lis t," by C. W . C ypert; "P u b lic W orship," by
T. W . P h i l l i p s ; "Church D is c ip lin e ," by L i f f S anders;
"Church F in a n c e ," by 0. E. P h i l l i p s ; "The C ountry Church
P roblem ," by T ice E lk in s ; and "The Large Town Church
62
Abilene Reporter-News, January 6, 1918, p. 1.
40
Problem ," by Ben West. Completing th e program were s p e c ia l
ad d resses on "M issio n s," by C. C. Klingman; " C h ris tia n
E d u catio n ," by H. E. Speck; and "The Three S ta te s o f Man,"
by H. W . W y re .^
The w ider p u b lic ity and more e la b o ra te planning
p a id dividends in th e atte n d a n c e fig u re s , as th e 1918
audience was th e la r g e s t which had ever assembled on the
campus d u rin g the tw elv e-y ear h is t o r y of th e c o lle g e . The
lo c a l newspaper d e sc rib e d th e keynote le c tu r e :
I n t e r e s t i s running h igh a t th e A bilene C h r is tia n
C ollege B ib le L ec tu re co u rse . Some o f th e a b le s t
speakers in th e c i t y were p r e s e n t, and pronounced
th e address on " D e stru c tiv e H igher C r itic is m ," by
Dr. George A. Klingman, one o f th e g r e a t e s t ever
d e liv e re d in th is c i t y . Dr. Klingman h e ld h is
a u d ie n c e , which more than f i l l e d th e a u d ito riu m ,
spellbound from s t a r t to f i n i s h . 64
L a te r in th e week th e newspaper r e p o r te d , "Large crowds are
65
a tte n d in g every s e s s io n , m orning, a fte rn o o n , and evening."
Toward th e c lo se o f th e s e r i e s , however, a t r a d i t i o n a l
A bilene Reporter-News , January 7, 1918. Judge
W . B. Lewis and T ice E lk in s could n o t appear because o f
"fam ily s ic k n e s s ." They were re p la c e d by J . A. Lawson and
Ben W est, r e s p e c tiv e ly . A bilene R eporter-N ew s, January 10,
1918.
A bilene R eporter-N ew s. January 8 , 1918, p. 2.
65
Abilene Reporter-News. January 9, 1918, p. 2.
41
h a r a s s m e n t, th e s e v e r e w est Texas w in te r w e a th e r , b eg an to
p la g u e t h i s f i r s t a n n u a l L e c tu r e s h ip . On th e f i n a l d a y ,
th e w e a th e r had become so bad t h a t th e l a s t e v e n in g 's
l e c t u r e s had to be c a n c e le d b e c a u s e o f a " s e v e r e b l i z z a r d . "
The R eporter-N ew s gave t h i s w e a th e r r e p o r t :
A b l i z z a r d i s r a g in g i n West Texas w ith s l e e t and
snow. The W est i s i n th e g r i p o f one o f th e m ost
s e v e r e b l i z z a r d s in h i s t o r y . Two in c h e s o f snow
i s d r iv e n by h ig h n o r th w in d s . The te m p e ra tu re
a t 7 :00 p.m . was n in e d e g re e s above z e ro and s t i l l
f a l l i n g a t h a l f a d e g re e an h o u r . 66
In s p i t e o f th e s e w e a th e r c o n d i t i o n s , th ro u g h i t s
em phasis on l a r g e r a u d ie n c e s , e f f o r t s to a t t r a c t th e g e n
e r a l c h u rc h m em bership, and an expanded program o f s p e a k e rs
and to p ic s , th e 1918 l e c t u r e week a c h ie v e d many a d v a n ta g e s
o v e r th e form er " p r e a c h e r 's m e e tin g s ." P r e s id e n t S ew ell
announced t h a t th e same ty p e o f program would be s c h e d u le d
f o r 1919, and t h a t i t would b e c a l l e d th e seco n d a n n u a l
B ib le l e c t u r e week. In announcing t h a t th e L e c tu r e s h ip
was to become a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e on th e c o l l e g e c a l e n d a r ,
S ew ell sum m arized th e 1918 e v e n t:
Not a low n o te was sounded th e e n t i r e week. The
e n t i r e f a c u l t y was v e ry g r e a t l y p le a s e d w ith th e
outcom e o f th e c o u r s e . E very program was w i t
n e s s e d by a good a u d i e n c e , even to o v e rflo w in g
66
Abilene Reporter-News, January 11, 1918, p. 1.
p a r t of the tim e. However, th e program atten d an ce
f e l l s l i g h t l y when th e b liz z a rd a rriv e d * The l a s t
program had to be om itted when th e speaker f a ile d
to a r r iv e being d e ta in e d by the w eather. The
s tu d e n ts , however, were in s p ire d and in s tr u c te d ,
and many v i s i t o r s were p re se n t from towns a l l over
th e s t a t e . 67
Before th e snows of th e 1918 w in te r had m elted ,
Sewell began planning toward the improvement o f th e 1919
program. In an e f f o r t to avoid the very peak o f th e w in ter
seaso n , some o f th e f a c u lty urged scheduling of th e s e r ie s
a t a more s u ita b le tim e during the sp rin g o f the y e a r.
Sewell co ntended, how ever, th a t th e w in te r months provided
"an id e a l time fo r th e th re e c la s s e s o f people who were
most in te r e s te d in th e l e c tu r e s ." F i r s t , a r e l a t i v e l y
rela x ed school ca len d a r during the w in te r season allowed
th e te ach e rs and stu d e n ts an o p p o rtu n ity to give primary
emphasis to th e speeches during le c tu r e week. Second, the
preachers who atten d e d th e programs were la rg e ly evange
l i s t s whose work c o n s iste d of p ro tra c te d re v iv a l m eetings.
There would be l i t t l e "gospel m eeting c o n f lic t" during the
w in te r months. And, f i n a l l y , th e farm ers o f th e Texas
p la in s would be able to leave t h e i r f ie ld s to a tte n d a
^^A bilene Reporter-N ew s, January 13, 1918, p. 3.
Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 23,
1961.
43
w i n t e r p ro g ra m , w h e re a s a f a l l o r s p r i n g L e c t u r e s h i p w ould
i n t e r f e r e w i t h p l a n t i n g and h a r v e s t i n g .
A f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n , i t was d e te r m in e d t o
s c h e d u le t h e 1919 s e r i e s s i x w eeks l a t e r i n t h e y e a r th a n
t h e 1918 p ro g ra m h ad b e e n c o n d u c te d . The d a t e s w e re f i x e d
f o r t h e l a s t f u l l week i n F e b r u a r y , Sunday th r o u g h
F r i d a y . ^ S e w e ll i n a u g u r a t e d t h e " p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r "
t r a d i t i o n b y i n v i t i n g G. D a ll a s S m ith t o d e l i v e r a s e r i e s
o f f i v e a d d r e s s e s on t h e s t u d y an d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e
B i b l e . G eorge A. K lingm an and H. E. S p e c k , b o t h o f whom
h a d l e c t u r e d i n 1 9 1 8 , w e re s c h e d u le d f o r t h e 1919 s e r i e s .
R ounding o u t t h e p ro g ra m w e re M. D. G an o , A. R. H o lto n ,
J o s e p h U. Y a rb o ro u g h , C le d E. W a lla c e , F. L . Rowe, F. L.
Y oung, Jo h n S t r a i t o n , B a t s e l l B a x t e r , G. H. P . S h o w a lte r ,
and F. B. S h e p h e r d . ^
^ A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e B i b l e L e c t u r e s , 1 9 1 9 ,
p . 5 . "T he l a s t f u l l w eek i n F e b r u a r y " h a s b e e n t h e tim e
f o r t h e A b ile n e L e c tu r e s e v e r y y e a r s i n c e 1 9 1 9 . In 1 9 6 2 ,
t h i s t r a d i t i o n was b r o k e n f o r t h e f i r s t tim e when t h e d a t e
o f t h e p ro g ra m "was ch a n g e d fro m t h e l a s t f u l l week i n
F e b r u a r y t o t h e week i n w h ic h A p r i l 20 f a l l s . " The o ld
n e m e sis " b a d w e a th e r " was l i s t e d a s t h e c h i e f r e a s o n f o r
t h e c h a n g e o f d a t e . V i s i o n , A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e
L e c t u r e s h i p P u b l i c a t i o n , A p r i l , 1 9 6 1 , p . 1.
^°Gospel Advocate, February 7, 1919, p. 17.
44
If there were ever any questions about the per
manence of the Abilene Christian College Lectureship, all
doubt was removed in February of 1919. The audience was
among the largest which had ever assembled in the interest
of the Restoration Movement. "Visitors were present from
a l l p a r ts o f th e s t a t e , and from many o th e r s t a t e s . .
71
. A h e a d lin e o f th e A bilene Reporter-News sh o u te d ,
72
"Big crow ds, f in e a d d re s s e s , good tim es a t A .C .C .," and
th e p ap e r d e s c rib e d th e opening day a c t i v i t i e s in h i s t o r i c
terms:
Sunday, F ebruary 23, was an epochal day in th e
h i s t o r y o f A bilene C h r is tia n C o lleg e . When th e
h i s t o r y o f t h i s i n s t i t u t i o n i s w r i t t e n , th e day
w i l l be honored as one o f th e g r e a t e s t o ccasio n s
f o r th e forw ard lo o k in g fr ie n d s o f th e c o lle g e .
The a u d ito riu m was f i l l e d to c a p a c ity f o r Judge
Gano's a d d re s s . . . . Many members o f th e b a r
a s s o c ia tio n in A bilene h eard G ano's a d d re s s .
A ll pronounced th e s e r v ic e s as b ein g h ig h ly
p r o f i t a b l e .? 3
The q u a l i t y o f th e le c tu r e s was, such t h a t many
re q u e s ts were re c e iv e d to have them p re se rv e d in p r in te d
form. P re s id e n t Sew ell made arrangem ents w ith F. L. Rowe,
^ P r i c k l y P e a r . 1919, p. 83.
72
A bilene R eporter-N ew s, F ebruary 27, 1919, p. 4.
73
Abilene Reporter-News. February 24, 1919, p. 1.
45
whose Cincinnati Christian Leader was one of the brother
hood's leading journals, to publish them in a book. Rowe
took it upon himself to assemble all of the manuscripts and
in the summer of 1919 the book was released for sale. With
th e e x c e p tio n o f two p e r io d s o f t h r e e y e a r s e a c h , th e
l e c t u r e s have b een p u b lis h e d e v e ry y e a r s in c e 1919.
R e s tin g s e c u r e ly upon th e fo u n d a tio n o f t r a d i t i o n s
w hich t h i r t e e n y e a rs o f m id w in te r " p r e a c h e r ’ s m e e tin g s" had
e s t a b l i s h e d , th e f i r s t two A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e B ib le
l e c t u r e weeks s e rv e d o f f i c i a l n o t i c e o f th e b i r t h o f a new
A m erican p u b lic a d d re s s p la tf o r m . By th e tim e p la n s w ere
fo rm u la te d f o r th e 1920 s e s s i o n , th e L e c tu r e s h ip had
a c h ie v e d a p p ro x im a te ly th e ty p e o f program t h a t i t was to
p e r p e t u a te f o r fo u r d e c a d e s . Sum m arizing th e b i r t h and
p u rp o se s o f th e L e c tu r e s h ip , i t s d e s i g n e r , J e s s e P . S e w e ll,
w ro te i n 1919:
T h is week was in a u g u ra te d f o r th e p u rp o se o f d e e p
e n in g and s tr e n g t h e n in g th e te a c h in g and in f lu e n c e
o f th e c o l le g e w ith i t s s t u d e n t s . The s e r v i c e
p ro v ed to be so r i c h t h a t we d e c id e d to i n v i t e o u r
p a tr o n s and f r ie n d s to b e o u r g u e s ts d u r in g th e
tim e to e n jo y i t w ith u s . L arg e numbers have
a c c e p te d t h i s i n v i t a t i o n and o u r m em ories a r e
f i l l e d w ith sw eet a s s o c i a t i o n and communion. In
t h i s , th e s e r v i c e h as b e e n g r e a t l y e x p a n d e d . 74
^^ A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e B ib le L e c tu r e s . 1919,
p. 5.
CHAPTER III
THE LECTURESHIP DIRECTORS
Jesse P. Sew ell, 1918 - 1924
Since i t s beginning, the u ltim a te d ire c to r of the
Abilene C h ristia n College L ectureship has been the
p resid e n t of the co lle g e . Jesse P. Sew ell, who viewed the
event as "one of my most im portant d u tie s as head of the
c o lle g e ,"^ was a s s is te d in the planning r e s p o n s ib ilitie s
by h is w ife D aisy, and Dean H. E. Speck. Sewell s ta te d :
"The th re e of us planned the program, in v ite d the speakers,
and handled the p u b lic ity ." Although no o f f i c i a l L ecture
ship committee was appointed, the " e n tir e fa c u lty comprised
the committee, sin ce i t was always my policy to discuss
the L ectureship plans w ith them."
^Jesse P. Sew ell, personal in te rv iew , October 25,
1961.
2Ib id .
46
47
D u rin g S e w e l l 's a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p u b l i c i t y e f f o r t s ,
l a r g e l y c o n f in e d t o t h e s t a t e o f T e x a s , in c lu d e d a co m p re
h e n s i v e m a i l i n g l i s t com posed o f c o n g r e g a t i o n s , p r e a c h e r s ,
e l d e r s , and p r e v io u s l e c t u r e w eek g u e s t s . T h is l i s t was
u s e d t o d i s t r i b u t e L e c t u r e s h i p p ro g ra m s an d make s p e c i a l
a n n o u n c e m e n ts. The L e c t u r e s h i p was a l s o a d v e r t i s e d
th r o u g h a r t i c l e s , a n n o u n c e m e n ts , an d p a i d a d v e r t i s e m e n t s i n
" a l l o f t h e p e r i o d i c a l s p u b l i s h e d by members o f t h e c h u r c h
o f C h r i s t . . . . Members o f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y w e re a l s o
e n c o u ra g e d t o w r i t e t h e i r r e l a t i v e s an d f r i e n d s and e x te n d
t o them a " s p e c i a l i n v i t a t i o n t o a t t e n d t h e l e c t u r e s h i p . " ^
^The O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 1 4 , 1 9 2 4 , p . 1 .
^On F e b r u a r y 1 6 , 1 9 2 2 , The O p t i m i s t r e p o r t e d : "Two
th o u s a n d p ro g ra m s a r e b e in g s e n t o u t t o f r i e n d s and p a t r o n s
o f ACC. T h e se p ro g ra m s a r e e q u a l t o i n v i t a t i o n s t o t h o s e
t o whom th e y h a v e b e e n s e n t . A lso a b o u t tw o h u n d re d c o n
g r e g a t i o n s o f t h e c h u r c h o f C h r i s t h a v e b e e n i n v i t e d t o
s e n d t h e i r m i n i s t e r s t o t h i s s e r i e s o f l e c t u r e s , " p . 3 .
^ J e s s e P . S e w e ll , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 5 ,
1961. I n 1 9 2 0 , a s t u d e n t w r o t e : "Some o f o u r a b l e s t
b r e t h r e n w i l l b e h e r e t o d e l i v e r t h e s e l e c t u r e s . We w is h
t h a t e v e r y p a r e n t c o u ld b e h e r e t o e n jo y th em . T h e r e a r e
many o f you who c a n com e. We w a n t you t o com e. We h a v e a
p l a c e w h e re you c a n f e e l a t home d u r i n g t h e e n t i r e w eek.
A n d .to y o u , b r e t h r e n i n C h r i s t , do y o u n o t d e s i r e t o s i t a t
t h e f e e t o f t h e s e s t r o n g men an d g l e a n fro m them t h e way o f
t r u t h i n a m ore p e r f e c t form ? Many o f o u r p r e a c h i n g
b r e t h r e n a r e com ing t o h e a r t h e s e l e c t u r e s an d we w is h m ore
o f you c o u ld co m e." The O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 1 9 2 0 , p . 3 .
48
With th e 1919 s e r ie s Sewell i n i t i a t e d th e custom
o f ’’b u ild in g each y e a r 's program around one main sp e a k e r."^
The p r in c ip a l l e c t u r e r , nominated from among th e o u ts ta n d
ing speakers of th e chu rch , was in v ite d to d e liv e r a group
o f fiv e or s ix evening ad d re sse s. The rem ainder o f th e
program c o n s iste d o f s in g le speeches by A bilene f a c u lty
members, v i s i t i n g p re a c h e rs , and prom inent laymen.
During S e w e ll's e ig h t y ears as d i r e c t o r , no system
a t i c e f f o r t was made to s e l e c t a major L e c tu re sh ip theme
or a s s ig n s p e c if ic speech to p ic s . With few exceptions b o th
th e p r in c ip a l l e c t u r e r and those d e liv e r in g in d iv id u a l
ad d resses were f re e to choose t h e i r own speech s u b je c ts and
m a te r ia ls .^
B a ts e ll B a x te r, 1925 - 1932
B a ts e ll B a x te r, who in h e rite d d ir e c to r s h ip resp o n
s i b i l i t i e s w ith h is appointm ent as p re s id e n t in 1924,
p e rp e tu a te d th e programming philosophy and th e b a s ic
L e c tu re sh ip s tr u c t u r e designed by h is p re d e c e sso r. He
^R. C. B e ll, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , October 23, 1961.
^A bilene R eporter-N ew s, February 21, 1954, p. 1.
49
Q
p r e s e r v e d t h e p r i n c i p a l l e c t u r e r t r a d i t i o n and c o n tin u e d
t o g r a n t t h e s p e a k e r s c o m p le te freed o m i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f
s p e e c h t o p i c s . ^
At th e same tim e , h o w e v e r, t h e p la t f o r m g a in e d
g r e a t e r p ro m in en c e u n d e r B a x t e r 's l e a d e r s h i p w ith a num ber
o f a d d i t i o n s and im p ro v em en ts. F i r s t , an e x p a n s io n o f th e
p u b l i c i t y a c t i v i t i e s o r i g i n a t e d u n d e r S e w e l l 's a d m i n i s t r a
t i o n b ro u g h t i n c r e a s i n g l y l a r g e r L e c t u r e s h i p a u d ie n c e s w ith
a s i g n i f i c a n t ad v an ce i n o u t - o f - s t a t e v i s i t o r s . The crow ds
f o r th e 1925 p rogram w ere " l a r g e r th a n e v e r b e f o r e i n th e
h i s t o r y o f th e i n s t i t u t i o n , " ^ and by 1926 th e d i r e c t o r
a c c u r a t e l y term ed h i s p la t f o r m " t h e g r e a t e s t g a t h e r i n g o f
members o f th e C hurch o f C h r i s t t h a t i s h e l d a n n u a lly in
t h i s c o u n tr y .
g
By 1929 B a x te r had re d u c e d th e s p e a k in g lo a d o f
th e m ain l e c t u r e r from s i x a d d r e s s e s t o f o u r , and a g a in i n
1931 to t h r e e , a n t i c i p a t i n g t h e u l t i m a t e d is c o n tin u a n c e o f
t h e p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r t : : a d i t i o n i n th e m id - 1 9 3 0 's .
9
The O p tim is t (J a n u a ry 2 8 , 1 9 3 2 , p . 2 ) , s t a t e s :
" S u b je c ts to b e u s e d by t h e s p e a k e r s h a v e n o t b e e n made
known. Each s p e a k e r c h o o se s h i s own s u b j e c t and m a t e r i a l s ."
10
A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s , F e b ru a ry 2 5 , 1 9 2 5 , p . 3 .
•^The Optimist, February 18, 1926, p. 1.
50
Second, a lth o u g h sp e a k e rs had p r e v io u s ly been
a s su re d f r e e room and b oard w h ile in A b ile n e , B a x ter
i n i t i a t e d th e p o lic y o f re im b u rsin g a l l o f th e sp e a k e rs
12
f o r t r a v e l ex p en ses. T his a c tio n allow ed many a b le
sp e a k e rs to a c c e p t L e c tu re s h ip assig n m e n ts. T h ir d , w h ile
p re s e rv in g th e " l a s t f u l l week in F eb ru ary " t r a d i t i o n ,
B a x ter s tre a m lin e d th e L e c tu re s h ip sc h e d u le from e ig h t to
f iv e d ay s. In Jan u ary o f 1929 th e fo llo w in g announcement
a p p eared :
C o n tra ry to th e u s u a l custom o f form er y e a r s ,
th e l e c tu r e s h i p t h i s y e a r w i l l n o t l a s t an e n t i r e
week, b u t w i l l c lo s e on F rid a y n i g h t . P r e s id e n t
B a x ter s t a t e s t h a t inasm uch as a l l v i s i t o r s le a v e
f o r t h e i r homes on S a tu rd a y , th e s e r v ic e s h e r e on
S atu rd ay n ig h t and Sunday a r e no more th a n r e g u la r
s e r v ic e s o f th e ch u rch . For t h i s re a s o n i t was
th o u g h t b e s t to s h o r te n th e program and c lo s e th e
l e c tu r e s h i p on F rid a y n ig h t. 13
^ The O p tim ist (F ebruary 23, 1928, p. 1 ) , s t a t e d :
"The c o lle g e s p e n t a g r e a t d e a l o f tim e and money in
b rin g in g th e s e e x c e ll e n t p re a c h e rs to A b ile n e ."
1 3
The O p tim is t, Jan u ary 31, 1929. A c tu a lly , th e
L e c tu re s h ip has undergone f i v e d i f f e r e n t programming com
b i n a t i o n s . (1) Monday th ro u g h F rid a y was used in 1918 and
1930-1932; (2) Sunday th ro u g h F rid a y was used in 1919,
1929, 1934, 1935, and 1938; (3) Monday th ro u g h Sunday was
used i n 1928 and 1933; (4) Sunday th ro u g h Sunday was used
f o r th e e i g h t- y e a r p e r io d , 1920-1927; and (5) Sunday
th ro u g h Thursday was t r i e d in 1936 and 1937, and used
e x c lu s iv e ly d u rin g th e p e rio d from 1939-1961.
51
T his d e c is io n te rm in a te d an e i g h t- y e a r t r a d i t i o n
o f Sunday th ro u g h Sunday program s and le d to th e 1936
a d o p tio n o f th e p o p u la r Sunday th ro u g h T hursday s c h e d u le ,
su b s e q u e n tly used f o r tw e n ty -fo u r o f th e l e c t u r e s e r i e s .
A f i n a l c o n t r ib u t io n w hich B a x te r made to th e
programming o f th e L e c tu re s h ip was th e 1932 re p la c e m e n t o f
th e t r a d i t i o n a l a f te rn o o n l e c t u r e s w ith " r o u n d - ta b le
d is c u s s io n s T h ir ty y e a rs o f h i s t o r y have rew arded
B a x te r 's judgm ent as th e p a n e l d is c u s s io n has dev elo p ed
i n t o a s i g n i f i c a n t ty p e o f L e c tu re s h ip speechm aking.
James F. Cox, 1933 - 1940
James F. Cox, who re p la c e d B a x te r as p r e s id e n t in
1932, was one o f th e m ost e f f e c t i v e o f th e f i v e L e c tu r e
s h ip d i r e c t o r s . He made s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r ib u t io n s to th e
developm ent o f th e p la tfo r m in s e v e r a l a r e a s . One o f h is
f i r s t s te p s was to r e o r g a n iz e and g r e a t l y expand th e pub
l i c i t y a c t i v i t i e s u t i l i z e d d u rin g th e S ew ell and B a x ter
a d m in is t r a tio n s . At th e b e g in n in g o f h i s d i r e c t o r s h i p
Cox in c re a s e d th e L e c tu re s h ip m a ilin g to "o v e r seven
thousand p ro g ra m s, c o n ta in in g th e names o f th e sp e a k e rs
^ P r ic k ly P e a r . 1932, p . 131.
52
and extending an in v ita tio n to members o f the Church of
C h rist in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, A rkansas, M issouri,
and K a n s a s ." ^
Seven years l a t e r The O ptim ist s ta te d in bold
h ea d lin e : "NATIONWIDE PUBLICITY EXPECTED TO D R A W LARGEST
C R O W D IN LECTURESHIP HISTORY." The news s to ry re p o rted
th a t in a d d itio n to 12,000 in v ita tio n s which were being
m ailed , "th e ra d io programs sponsored by members o f the
church o f C h rist from C a lifo rn ia to West V irg in ia a re
1 fi
c a llin g a tte n tio n to the program." In 1940, Cox's l a s t
y ear as d i r e c t o r , he remarked:
More than 12,000 b u lle tin s co n tain in g the
program fo r ACC's le c tu re s h ip have been mailed
from the c o lle g e . Church o f C h rist m in iste rs
conducting programs over se v e n ty -fiv e rad io
s ta tio n s have been se n t req u ests to announce
th e le c tu r e s h ip . More than 2,870 m in iste rs in
5 ,600 churches have been m ailed programs and
i n v i t a t i o n s , and over 1,000 programs have been
m ailed by stu d e n ts of A CC to t h e i r frie n d s and
p a r e n ts .17
Second, s e v e ra l improvements in program format
co n trib u te d to the e ffe c tiv e n e s s o f th e annual s e r ie s .
^ Abilene Reporter-N ew s. February 19, 1933, p. 3.
~ ^T he O p tim ist, February 9, 1939, p. 1.
^ The O p tim is t, February 2, 1940, p. 1.
53
One o f t h e s e was a d i s c o n t i n u a n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l l e c t u r e r
p r a c t i c e f o llo w in g th e 1934 s e r i e s . A c t u a l l y , t h e m ain
s p e a k in g r o l e h ad n o t b e e n p u b l i c l y e m p h a siz e d d u r in g th e
1934 p ro g ra m , b u t G. C. B rew er h ad f u l f i l l e d i t s r e q u i r e
m en ts by d e l i v e r i n g t h r e e p r i n c i p a l a d d r e s s e s . In m aking
p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e 1935 e v e n t , i t was C o x 's ju d g m e n t t h a t
t h e a b u n d a n c e o f s p e a k in g t a l e n t i n t h e c h u r c h , c o u p le d
w i t h t h e c o n s t a n t n e e d f o r v a r i e t y i n s p e a k e r s e l e c t i o n s ,
j u s t i f i e d h i s d e c i s i o n t o v i o l a t e th e s i x t e e n - y e a r - o l d
t r a d i t i o n by a llo w in g " e a c h s p e a k e r t o make b u t one
a d d r e s s .
Cox f u r t h e r s t r e a m l i n e d t h e p ro g ra m w i t h a
p r e c e d e n t e s t a b l i s h i n g d e c i s i o n i n 1936 t o c o n c lu d e t h e
L e c t u r e s h i p on T h u rs d a y r a t h e r th a n F r id a y e v e n in g , a
s c h e d u le w h ic h h a s b e e n a p p l i e d t o e v e ry s u b s e q u e n t s e r i e s ,
w i t h t h e s i n g l e e x c e p ti o n o f t h e 1938 l e c t u r e s . A n o th e r
im pro v em en t was C o x 's i n c r e a s e d e m p h a sis on v i s i t o r r e g i s
t r a t i o n . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t im p ro v ed a c c u r a c y i n
k e e p in g r e c o r d s o f a t t e n d a n c e and r e g i s t r a t i o n d a t e from
C o x 's a p p o in tm e n t a s d i r e c t o r .
^ The Optimist, January 9, 1936, p. 3.
54
Most important of a l l , i t was James F. Cox who
in it ia t e d the tr a d itio n of building the Abilene Lectureship
around a sin g le major theme each year. Since the very
logic o f a theme implied not only a u n ity of purpose but
also a v a rie ty of treatm en t, i t s b ir th in 1933 perhaps
contributed to the demise of the p rin cip a l-sp ea k er custom
in 1934.
As the Lectureship entered i t s six te e n th year of
serv ice to the Church, Cox se lec ted fo r i t s f i r s t theme
in 1933, "The Church W e Read About in the New Testament."
The d ire c to r said of h is theme, "The purpose of the program
is to present a thorough and complete study of the church
19
from the viewpoint of the B ible. In conjunction with
th is o v e r-a ll purpose, Cox designed th irte e n sub-topics
and nominated speakers whom he believed to be "thoroughly
capable of discussing the phase o f the su b ject assigned to
them ."20
A valuable frin g e b e n e fit of the them e-controlled
program of 1933 was the July p u b lic atio n of the most ca re
fu lly organized volume of Abilene le c tu re s which had yet
19
Abilene Reporter-News, February 19, 1933, p. 1.
90
Lectures, 1933, "Introduction."
55
b e e n p r i n t e d . I n i n t r o d u c i n g t h e b o o k , C h a r l e s H. R o b e rs o n
w r o t e :
T he p u r p o s e i n a r r a n g i n g s u c h a p ro g ra m was t o
b r i n g t o g e t h e r i n a c o m p a c t fo rm a t h o r o u g h a n d
c o m p le t e s t u d y o f t h e "New T e s ta m e n t C h u r c h ." He
[Cox] r e q u e s t e d e a c h s p e a k e r t o m ake a c o m p le te
s u r v e y o f t h a t w h ic h i s r e v e a l e d i n t h e B i b l e so
t h a t t h e w o rk m ig h t b e d o n e s o w e l l a s t o g i v e
t h e b o o k now b e i n g s e n t o u t a v a l u e a s a t e x t b o o k
f o r c l a s s w o rk among t h e v a r i o u s c o n g r e g a t i o n s
f o r s t u d y o f t h e c h u r c h . W ith t h a t i n v ie w a
g r o u p o f q u e s t i o n s f o r s t u d y an d r e v i e w i s g i v e n
f o r e a c h a d d r e s s . . . t h e a d d r e s s e s i n t h e b o o k
a r e a r r a n g e d i n w h a t seem s t o b e t h e l o g i c a l
o r d e r f o r t h e s u b j e c t s d i s c u s s e d . So f a r a s t h e
w r i t e r i s a w a r e , t h e r e i s n o b o o k j u s t l i k e t h i s
o n e e i t h e r i n d e s i g n o r t r e a t m e n t . 21
A u d ie n c e r e s p o n s e t o t h e 1933 p ro g ra m e n c o u r a g e d
Cox t o m a i n t a i n t h e m a t i c c o n t i n u i t y f o r a t h r e e - y e a r p e r i o d
b y s e l e c t i n g r e l a t e d th e m e s f o r 1934 a n d 1935 , "T h e C h u rc h
i n H i s t o r y , " a n d "T he C h u rc h a s I t I s T o d a y ," r e s p e c t i v e l y .
I n 1936 Cox c a p i t a l i z e d o n t h e f o u r h u n d r e d t h a n n i v e r s a r y
o f t h e p r i n t i n g o f t h e E n g l i s h B i b l e b y s e l e c t i n g a t i m e l y
t o p i c . C. A. N o rre d i n t r o d u c e d t h e p u b l i s h e d l e c t u r e s f o r
1936 b y w r i t i n g :
T h is y e a r i s t h e f o u r h u n d r e d t h a n n i v e r s a r y
o f t h e p r i n t i n g o f t h e E n g l i s h B i b l e . P r e s i d e n t
Jam es F . Cox c o n c e i v e d t h e i d e a o f h a v i n g t h e
l e c t u r e s o f A b i l e n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e f o r 1936
2 1 T, . ,
I b x d .
56
related particularly to the history of the Bible.
He named the s u b je c ts , s e t the order of th e ir
d e liv e ry , and selec ted the sp e ak ers.22
The emphasis which James F. Cox placed on the
p o te n tia l educational and in s tru c tio n a l values of the
Abilene L ec tu resh ip , although not always m easureable, did
much to insure the l i f e and enhance the usefulness o f the
platform which was given i t s b ir th by Sew ell, and brought
to i t s m aturity by Baxter.
Don H. Morris , 1941 - 1952
Don H. Morris has been the u ltim ate d ire c to r of
L ectureship p o lic ie s since h is appointment as p resid en t of
Abilene C h ristian College in 1940. Although the in c re a s
ingly heavy demands involved in adm inistering the program
encouraged a delegation of d ire c to rs h ip d u ties to J. D.
Thomas in 1953, as p resid en t of the co lleg e Morris has
re ta in e d o f f i c i a l re s p o n s ib ility for the i n s t i t u t i o n 's
23
"most im portant reg u la r public re la tio n s a c tiv ity ."
Improvements and a lte ra tio n s in se v eral s ig n ific a n t areas
e s ta b lis h M orris' f i r s t se rie s in 1941 as the lo g ic a l place
^ L e c tu r e s , 1936, p. 5.
23
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
57
fro m w h ic h t o d a t e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e c o n te m p o r a r y
l e c t u r e p ro g ra m .
M o r r is d e s i g n e d t h e L e c t u r e s h i p w i t h a n i n c r e a s e d
m i s s i o n a r y e m p h a s i s , l e n d i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l f l a v o r t o
t h e p l a t f o r m w h ic h h a d f o r m e r l y know n a g r a d u a l e v o l u t i o n
fro m c i t y , t o s t a t e , t o n a t i o n a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . As m i s s i o n
a r i e s o f t h e c h u r c h c o v e r e d t h e g l o b e , M o r r is d e v e lo p e d
t h e p r a c t i c e o f i n v i t i n g th e m t o m ake r e p o r t s o f t h e i r
f o r e i g n e v a n g e l i s t i c e x p e r i e n c e s a t t h e L e c t u r e s h i p . As a
r e s u l t t h e p l a t f o r m , w h ic h fro m i t s b e g i n n i n g h a d s t r e s s e d
m i s s i o n a c t i v i t i e s , was d e s c r i b e d i n 1948 a s f e a t u r i n g
O /
" s p e a k e r s fro m a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d . " I n 1951 s p e a k e r s
fro m a t l e a s t s e v e n c o u n t r i e s g a t h e r e d t o d e l i v e r t h e m a in
a d d r e s s e s . ^
I n a d d i t i o n t o s c h e d u l i n g f o r e i g n m i s s i o n a r i e s f o r
f o r m a l l e c t u r e s , M o r r is an d P r o f e s s o r P a u l S o u th e r n c r e a t e d
9ft
a new s p e c i a l a t t r a c t i o n , " O p p o r t u n i t i e s i n New F i e l d s . "
T h e s e m o rn in g an d a f t e r n o o n m e e ti n g s c o n s i s t e d o f " r e p o r t s
o f w o rk b e i n g d o n e i n many p a r t s o f t h e w o r ld . . .
r y t
Gospel Advocate, February 4, 1948.
^~*The Optimist, February 21, 1951, p. 1.
9ft
The Optimist. February 11, 1948, p. 1.
58
o p p o rtu n ity w ill be given to persons n o t on th e program to
r e p o rt plans and needs in new f ie ld s and to make appeals
9 7
fo r work in those p la c e s .1
Another im portant M orris a d d itio n was the in au g u ra
tio n in 1948 o f th e annual fello w sh ip d in n e r fo r preachers
and e ld e r s . At th e su g g e stio n o f B. S herrod, p re s id e n t of
•7
th e board o f tr u s te e s , M orris in v ite d a l l p reac h ers and
e ld e rs to be th e g u ests o f th e c o lle g e a t the Wednesday
evening banquet, A h ig h lig h t of every subsequent L e c tu re
sh ip , th e fello w sh ip d in n e r soon graduated from the
basement o f the g i r l s ' dorm itory and a crowd o f le s s than
28
two hundred, to a g a th e rin g o f more than two thousand in
th e c o lle g e gymnasium, th e l a r g e s t r e g u la r assembly of
e ld e rs and preachers o f the churches o f C h ris t in th e
w o rld .
M orris a lso a n tic ip a te d an o th er u ltim a te fe a tu re
o f th e s e r ie s w ith th e in tro d u c tio n o f e x h ib its and d i s
plays during le c tu r e week. In clu d in g b oth commercial and
e d u c a tio n a l d isp la y s , th e e x h ib its were a t f i r s t housed in
^ Gospel A dvocate, January 27, 1950.
28
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
59
th e A d m in is tr a tio n B u i ld in g , th e S tu d e n t E x ch an g e, th e
l i b r a r y , and th e S c ie n c e B u ild in g .
U nder M o r ris ' d i r e c t i o n th e l e c t u r e s h i p s h i f t e d
i t s d e s ig n tow ard b u i l d i n g a more im m ed iate a u d ie n c e c o n
c e r n f o r th e econom ic n eed s o f th e c o l l e g e . A lth o u g h each
o f th e d i r e c t o r s had c a p i t a l i z e d upon th e fund r a i s i n g and
p u b lic r e l a t i o n s o p p o r t u n i t i e s p ro v id e d by th e L e c t u r e s h i p ,
by 1951 t h i s p u rp o se was a m a t t e r o f r e c o r d . "The ACC
l e c t u r e s h i p i s h e l d f o r a tw o fo ld p u r p o s e ," announced The
O p t i m i s t . "To a c q u a in t p r e a c h e r s and f r i e n d s w ith th e work
b e in g done by th e c o l l e g e , and to g iv e th e s t u d e n t s a week
29
o f i n t e n s i v e B ib le t r a i n i n g . " A n o th e r a r t i c l e a p p e a r in g
in th e same i s s u e o f The O p tim is t was even more p o in te d :
ACC's b i g g e s t a n n u a l e v e n t b e g in s t h i s Sunday.
Beyond a d o u b t th e l e c t u r e s h i p i s some o f th e b e s t
a d v e r t i s i n g th e s c h o o l r e c e i v e s . T h is i s t r u e
b e c a u s e su c h a l a r g e number o f p e o p le a r e a t t r a c t e d
b y i t and b e c a u s e th e s c h o o l i s a t i t s b e s t d u rin g
t h a t tim e . I t i s more th a n good a d v e r t i s i n g
th o u g h . I t i s a l s o e x c e l l e n t s p i r i t u a l r e f r e s h m e n t
f o r th e s tu d e n ts and f a c u l t y members who a r e h e r e
a l l y e a r . 30
An i l l u s t r a t i o n o f M o r r is ' s u c c e s s i n s t r u c t u r i n g
th e program s to b e o f more t a n g i b l e b e n e f i t t o th e c o l l e g e
oq
The Optimist, February 16, 1951, p. 1.
30Ibid. , p. 3.
60
was th e in a u g u ra tio n in 1948 o f th e annual le c t u r e week
c o l l e c t i o n . The L e c tu re s h ip c o n t r ib u t io n , which was
o r i g i n a l l y term ed "a c o l l e c t i o n to a s s i s t f o re ig n s tu d e n ts
31
a t ACC,1 ' p ro v id e s a s i g n i f i c a n t f i n a n c i a l a s s e t to th e
c o lle g e each y e a r.
I t must a ls o be n o te d , how ever, t h a t th e tw elve
y e a rs which M orris se rv e d as a c tiv e d i r e c t o r were fra u g h t
w ith th e d is tu rb a n c e s o f World War I I , and w itn e sse d th e
p a ra d o x ic a l b le n d in g o f n o t only th e most re w a rd in g , b u t
a ls o some o f th e most d isc o u ra g in g ev en ts in L e c tu re sh ip
h i s t o r y . Among th e d is a p p o in tin g f e a tu r e s were th e w ar-
wrecked low a tte n d a n c e fig u re s o f 1942, 1943, and 1944;
th e c a n c e lla t io n o f th e 1945 s e r i e s ; th e absence o f a
u n ify in g m ajor theme f o r th e programs o f 1943, 1944, 1948,
32
and 1949, and th e f a i l u r e to p u b lis h volumes o f th e
le c tu r e s f o r th e y e a rs 1947, 1948, and 1949.
^^Gospel A d v o cate, F ebruary 4 , 1948, p. 212.
32
There i s a p p a re n tly some c o r r e l a t i o n between th e
absence o f a m ajor theme and th e p re se n c e o f a p r in c ip a l
l e c t u r e r . In th e e a r ly 1930’s , as th e programs were b u i l t
around a c e n t r a l them e, th e p r in c ip a l l e c t u r e r t r a d i t i o n
fad ed . When th e p r i n c i p a l sp e a k e r p r a c t i c e was tem p o rarily "
re v iv e d f o r th e programs o f 1943 , 1948, and 1949, th e m atic
u n ity fa d e d .
61
J . D. Thomas. 1953 - 1961
J . D. Thom as, who had s e rv e d th e p re v io u s y e a r on
th e L e c tu re s h ip com m ittee h eaded by P r e s id e n t M o r r i s , was
a p p o in te d to th e new ly c r e a te d o f f i c i a l p o s i t i o n o f
L e c tu re s h ip D ir e c to r i n 1953. Thomas, a member o f th e
B ib le f a c u l t y o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e i s th e o n ly
man e v e r to s e rv e as d i r e c t o r o f th e L e c tu re s h ip who was
n o t a t th e same tim e p r e s i d e n t o f th e c o l l e g e . D uring th e
n in e y e a rs o f h i s s u p e r v i s i o n , th e L e c tu r e s h ip has re a c h e d
i t s z e n i t h i n a tte n d a n c e , p u b l i c i t y , and e la b o r a te n e s s o f
program .
One o f Thomas1 f i r s t moves was to o r g a n iz e e v e ry
p h ase o f th e program u n d er co m p eten t s u p e r v is o r s . The
m ost im p o rta n t o r g a n i z a t i o n a l u n i t , th e A d v iso ry C om m ittee,
was made r e s p o n s i b le f o r a l l d e c is io n s r e l a t i n g to th e m e s ,
s p e a k e r s , and sp e e c h t o p i c s . F iv e perm anent members w ere
a p p o in te d by P r e s i d e n t M o rris to th e co m m ittee: Thomas,
as c h a irm a n , th e Dean o f th e C o lle g e , th e A s s i s t a n t P r e s i
d e n t , th e Head o f th e B ib le D e p a rtm e n t, and th e Dean o f
33
Thomas, who h o ld s th e Ph.D . from th e U n iv e r s ity
o f C h ic a g o , te a c h e s h a l f tim e in th e D epartm ent o f R e lig io n
and d e v o te s h a l f o f h i s f a c u l t y lo a d to L e c tu r e s h ip
p la n n in g .
62
th e Graduate School. In a d d itio n , th re e members o f the
B ible fa c u lty a re recommended by Thomas and appointed by
M orris f o r th re e -y e a r te rm s , w ith one change o cc u rrin g
each y ea r.
Thomas a lso s e le c te d su p e rv iso rs over such areas
as p u b lic ity and program, re s e rv a tio n s and h o u sin g , d e v e l
opment and c o l le c tio n s , and p h y sic a l arrangem ents. In
tu r n , th e se areas were su b d iv id ed , so th a t th e d ir e c to r o f
p h y sic a l arrangem ents had se rv in g under him those resp o n
s i b l e fo r m eals, e x h i b its , r e g i s t r a t i o n , reco rd in g
s e r v ic e s , p a rk in g , u s h e rin g , p u b lic address equipm ent,
j a n i t o r i a l s e r v ic e s , d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p h y sic a l equipm ent,
and telephone s e r v i c e s . ^ Thomas’ o rg a n iz a tio n has "about
fiv e hundred members o f th e s t a f f , f a c u lty , and stu d e n t
body . . . w ith re sp o n sib le p o s itio n s in the le c tu re s h ip
35
planning and ex ecution each y e a r." In a d d itio n to
greatly expanding the existing publicity activities of the
n/:
L e c tu re sh ip , Thomas launched p u b lic a tio n in 1956 o f
^Vision, February, 1957, p. 4.
^5F o rt Worth C h ris tia n J o u r n a l, February 10, 1960,
p. 1.
36
In 1953 Thomas expanded the printed program from
a four-page to a twelve-page format and increased news and
63
V is io n , a s p e c i a l L e c tu r e s h ip b u l l e t i n p r i n t e d f o u r tim e s
e ach y e a r .
One o f Thom as’ m ost s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n s to
t h e L e c tu r e s h ip h a s b e e n an in c r e a s e d em phasis on th e
" th e m e - c o n t r o ll e d ” program . In a d d i t i o n to e s t a b l i s h i n g
37
s p e c i f i c c r i t e r i a i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f th e g e n e r a l th e m e,
th e A d v iso ry Com m ittee h a s a l s o p r e p a r e d a r a t i o n a l e f o r
e a c h o f th e s u b - t o p i c s to b e d e v e lo p e d i n th e i n d i v i d u a l
a d d r e s s e s . "We s e l e c t th e b e s t man we c a n g e t f o r e a c h
s u b j e c t , " s a i d Thomas. I t i s a m a t t e r o f " f i t t i n g t h e man
38
to t h e s l o t . " O c c a s io n a lly , a lo n g w ith t h e s p e e c h
r a t i o n a l e , a b i b l i o g r a p h y o f s u g g e s te d r e s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s
was p r e s e n te d to th e s p e a k e r s a t t h e tim e o f th e l e c t u r e
a s s ig n m e n t. T h is h a s n o t o n ly e n c o u ra g e d a m ore s e l e c t i v e ,
b u t a l s o a more m e th o d ic a l, n o m in a tio n o f s p e a k e r s th a n
c h a r a c t e r i z e d th e program s o f Thomas' p r e d e c e s s o r s .
a d v e r tis e m e n t r e l e a s e s f o r th e l o c a l n ew sp ap ers and t h e
p e r i o d i c a l s o f t h e c h u rc h . I n 1960 the Associated P r e s s
began national coverage of the Lectureship with news
r e l e a s e s d a i l y .
37
H igh a tte n d a n c e a t th e 1954 s e r i e s was a t t r i b u t
a b l e to the selection of the timely theme, "Overcoming
Dangerous Tendencies," Abilene Reporter-News. February 25,
1954, p. 2.
38
Abilene Reporter-News, February 19, 1959, p. 1.
64
A lthough S ew ell " a tte m p te d to i n v i t e th e sp e a k e rs
39
as much as a f u l l y e a r in advance o f th e p ro g ram ," h is
i n a b i l i t y to f u l f i l l t h i s a tte m p t was o n ly s u rp a s s e d by
th e alm o st c a s u a l s c h e d u lin g h a b i t s o f one o r two o f h is
s u c c e s s o r s . W hile b o th B a x te r and C o x ^ o c c a s io n a lly
f a i l e d to com plete L e c tu re s h ip d e t a i l s b e f o r e l a t e in th e
month o f J a n u a r y , M orris a p p e ars to have been p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n c o n s i s t e n t in h is m ethods o f s p e a k e r n o m in a tio n and
A - X
n o t i f i c a t i o n . Under Thomas' d i r e c t i o n , sp e a k in g
39
J e s s e P. S e w e ll, p e r s o n a l in te r v i e w , O cto b er 26,
1961. The week b e f o r e th e 1920 s e r i e s S ew ell announced
t h a t " t h e few v a c a n c ie s on th e program w i l l be f i l l e d w ith
good m en.” The O p t i m i s t , F eb ru ary 19, 1920. In e a r l y
F e b ru a ry o f 1921, he s t a t e d : " I t i s im p o s s ib le a t t h i s
time to give a complete program . . . however, the main
speakers have been chosen." The Optimist, February 3,
1921, pp. 1 and 3.
A O
As l a t e as Ja n u ary 2 8 , 1932, The O p tim is t
r e p o r te d : " F iv e s p e a k e rs have a lr e a d y been s e l e c t e d . . .
o th e r s p e a k e rs have n o t y e t b een an n o u n ced , b u t w i l l be
made p u b lic as soon as arran g em en ts have been c o m p le te d ."
The Ja n u a ry 7 , 1937 O p tim ist r e p o r te d : "A lthough th e
r o s t e r o f s p e a k e rs i s n o t y e t c o m p le te , h ard y a p p ro v a l has
a lre a d y b een e x p re s se d from many so u rc e s o v e r th e o u t l i n e
o f th e m is s io n a ry t o p i c , " p p . 1 and 3.
^ R e c o r d s o f th e c o l le g e a r c h iv e s c o n ta in a
te le g ra m a d d re s s e d to M o rris and d a te d F e b ru a ry 2 , 1943,
s t a t i n g : "SUBJECTS THE CHRIST W H O IS THE HOPE OF THE W ORLD
STOP W H Y CHRIST IS THE HOPE OF THE W ORLD STOP THE FOUNDA
TIONS OF CHRISTIAN HOPE AND THE OBJECTS OF CHRISTIAN HOPE,"
s ig n e d , J . P . S a n d e rs. A nother te le g ra m d a te d Ja n u a ry 18,
1949, s t a t e d : "LECTURESHIP ASSIGNMENT IS SATISFACTORY SEE
65
assig n m e n ts , w hich a r e made te n months in advance o f th e
program , have r e s u l t e d from th e demands o f a th e m e -to -
sp e a k e r d e s ig n , r a t h e r th a n from a l e s s m e th o d ic a l s p e a k e r -
to -th e m e d evelopm ent.
In th e a r e a o f s p e c i a l a t t r a c t i o n s , Thomas b ro u g h t
to th e program a g r e a t l y e n la rg e d a r r a y o f e x h i b its and
d i s p l a y s . ^ From i t s m odest b e g in n in g , th e id e a o f
L e c tu re s h ip d is p la y s soon a t t r a c t e d more th a n one hundred
com m ercial and non-com m ercial e x h i b i t s w hich w ere housed
i n a h a l f - m i l e sp a c e p ro v id e d by a huge r e n te d t e n t . ^
YOU WITHIN TW O WEEKS," s ig n e d , E. W. M cM illan. The same
y e a r , a l e t t e r from A thens C lay F u l l i a s to M o rris d a te d
Ja n u a ry 7 , s t a t e d : "Please forgive me for n o t more
p ro m p tly suggesting subjects f o r th e A b ile n e L e c tu r e s . I
am s u g g e s tin g a number o f s u b je c ts from w hich I w ould l i k e
f o r you to choose th r e e t h a t you w ish me to d is c u s s . . . .
Be s u r e to l e t me know a t y o u r e a r l i e s t co n v e n ien c e w hich
o f th e s e you w ant me to u s e ."
/ 0
Old tim e s i n g i n g , i n t e r c o l l e g i a t e b a s k e t b a l l
gam es, baby s i t t i n g s e r v i c e s , m usic and dram a p r o d u c tio n s ,
i l l u s t r a t e d " t r a v e l l e c t u r e s , " and o t h e r s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s
w ere a ls o sc h e d u le d d u rin g l e c t u r e week.
/
A b ile n e R eporter-N ew s on F e b ru a ry 2 3 , 1955, p. 3 ,
d e s c r ib e d a t y p i c a l e x h i b i t : "A B ib le S chool S uccess
T ra in w ith e l e c t r i c a l l y o p e r a te d p a r t s , p la n n ed and worked
o u t o v e r a p e r io d o f m o n th s, i s sp o n so re d by th e M adison
Church o f C h r i s t , M adison, T en n e ssee . A lre a d y t h i s e x h i b i t
h as a t t r a c t e d p u b l i c i t y and i n t e r e s t on r a d i o , t e l e v i s i o n
and n ew sp ap er."
66
The f ie r c e commercialism generated by the c o lo rf u l e x h ib it
te n t r e s u lte d in th e d r a f tin g o f a "code o f e th ic s " to cope
w ith th e "tendency toward high p re ssu re methods.
Thomas a lso improved th e programming o f th e s e rie s
by adding th e follow ing new fe a tu re s to th e L ectu resh ip
form at: (1) Classroom I n s tr u c tio n --B eginning w ith twenty
c la s s e s in 1953, th is program o f " s p e c ia liz e d in s tr u c tio n
by ex p ert te a c h e rs" has grown to f i f t y d a ily c l a s s e s , w ith
45 '
th re e c la s s hours each day; (2) B ib lic a l Forum- -
" P rim a rily in th e n a tu re of th e m eeting of a s c h o la rly
s o c ie ty ," th is s e ssio n was i n i t i a t e d in 1960 fo r th e
p re s e n ta tio n and d isc u ssio n o f " s c h o la rly and te c h n ic a l
papers"(3) Communications Conference--Originating with
the 1961 series , this new feature was designed to "provide
professional assistance and conference deliberation for
those involved in the p re p a ra tio n of th e gospel message to
be d e liv e re d by th e v ario u s means o f com m unication";^
(4) Special Speakers--Although special speakers had often
^ V i s i o n , A p r il, 1960, p. 2.
^ C h ris tia n C h ro n ic le , December 25 , 1953, p. 1.
^ V i s i o n , O ctober, 1960, p. 3.
47
Christian Chronicle, November 11, 1960, p. 2.
a p p e a r e d o n t h e p ro g ra m , Thomas f o r m a lly a d o p te d th e
a f t e r n o o n " tw e n ty -m in u te s p e e c h ," t o p r o v id e o p p o r t u n i t y
f o r t h e t r e a t m e n t o f m ore t e c h n i c a l m a t e r i a l s th a n i s o f t e n
p o s s i b l e i n t h e p o p u la r e v e n in g l e c t u r e s .
The end r e s u l t o f T hom as1 l e a d e r s h i p h a s b e e n a
t h o u g h t f u l l y o r g a n i z e d , c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d , f a s t- m o v in g
p ro g ra m d e s ig n e d t o p r e s e n t s u c h a w id e v a r i e t y o f r e w a r d
in g l e c t u r e s and s p e c i a l a t t r a c t i o n s t h a t "n o s i n g l e
v i s i t o r c a n p o s s i b l y h e a r a l l t h e s p e e c h e s and s e e a l l t h e
A O
e v e n ts i n a f o u r - d a y l e c t u r e s h i p . " D e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t
Thomas h a s b e e n c r i t i c i z e d by f a c u l t y c o l l e a g u e s f o r
a l l e g e d l y " t u r n i n g t h e L e c t u r e s h i p i n t o a t h r e e - r i n g
4 9
c i r c u s , u n d e r h i s d i r e c t i o n a t r a d i t i o n h a s b e e n t r a n s
formed into an institution.
48
Don H. M o r r i s , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 5 ,
1961.
49
J. D. Thomas, personal interview, October 24,
1961.
CHAPTER IV
THE LECTURESHIP AUDIENCE
The L ectu re H alls
Since th e A bilene L e c tu re sh ip has c o n s is te n tly and
o fte n c r i t i c a l l y taxed i t s s e a tin g f a c i l i t i e s , a b r i e f
exam ination o f th e v ario u s le c tu r e h a l l s which have been
used through th e y ea rs w i l l provide a u s e fu l index in to
th e s iz e and n a tu re o f th e p la tfo rm 's audiences. The
au d ito riu m of th e old a d m in is tra tio n b u ild in g on the
o r ig in a l campus s i t e served as th e f i r s t le c tu r e h a l l .
The au d ito riu m b o asted approxim ately seven hundred wooden
opera s e a t s , com pletely covering th e dow nstairs s e c tio n
and a balcony which extended out on th re e s id e s . By p la c
ing fo ld in g c h a irs in two la rg e en tra n ce h a l l s , a d ja c e n t
classroom s , and a d m in is tra tiv e o f f i c e s a maximum s e a tin g
i
Je s s e P. S ew ell, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , O ctober 23,
1961. Sew ell added: " In th e l a t e 1920's th e f i r e m a rsh all
p u t an end to th e e x tra c h a irs in th e en tran ce h a l l s ."
68
69
c a p a c i t y o f one th o u sa n d c o u ld be a c h ie v e d .
D u rin g th e t e n - y e a r p e r io d i n w hich t h i s f i r s t
l e c t u r e h a l l s e r v e d th e p l a t f o r m , th e p erm an en t c h a i r s on
th e lo w er f l o o r o f th e a u d ito r iu m w ere u s u a l l y f u l l , and
i t was n o t u n u s u a l f o r th e b a lc o n y to b e " f u l l y p acked f o r
th e e v e n in g s e r v i c e s and ev en p r a c t i c a l l y f i l l e d a t th e
m orning s e r v i c e s . " By 1921, " t h e l a r g e a u d ito r iu m was
c o m p le te ly f i l l e d to o v e r f lo w in g ," ^ i n 1922, i t " a l s o
* 4
f i l l e d th e a i s l e s , " and i n 1925, " t h e p ack ed h o u s e s " w ere
d e s c r ib e d as " t h e l a r g e s t crow ds i n th e h i s t o r y o f th e
program ."-*
When th e p ro m in e n t H a ll L. C alhoun was s e c u r e d as
p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r f o r th e 1927 p ro g ra m , B a t s e l l B a x te r
a r r a n g e d te m p o ra ry s e a t s and a s p e a k e r 's r o s tr u m i n th e
c o l l e g e gymnasium i n an e f f o r t t o e s c a p e th e s h r in k in g
c o n f in e s o f th e a u d ito riu m . The a d d i t i o n a l s e a t i n g
c a p a c i t y b o o s te d th e 1927 a u d ie n c e as h ig h as 2 ,0 0 0 l i s t e n
e r s f o r a s i n g l e s e s s i o n , a lm o s t d o u b lin g t h e p o s s i b l e p ea k
2
The O p t i m i s t , F e b ru a ry 2 5 , 1 926, p . 4 .
3
The O p t i m i s t , March 3 , 1 921, p . 1.
^The O p t i m i s t . F e b ru a ry 2 3 , 1922, p . 3.
5Abilene Reporter-News. February 25, 1925, p. 5.
70
o f previous years.*’
In 1928, B axter re tu rn e d th e program to i t s
o r ig in a l le c tu r e h a l l , a p p a re n tly concluding th a t "th e
crowded and uncom fortable s it u a ti o n " in th e old auditorium
was p re fe ra b le to th e a c o u s tic a l inconveniences in th e
gymnasium. Although fo ld in g c h a irs "overflow ed in to many
a d ja c e n t rooms in an e f f o r t to accommodate th e crowd
i t is h ig h ly q u e stio n a b le th a t under any c o n d itio n s , the
re p o rte d 1,500 l i s t e n e r s could have p o ssib ly jammed in to
th e a d m in is tra tio n b u ild in g .
The gymnasium won an uncontested nomination as the
1929 lecture hall when the administration building,
including the auditorium, was destroyed by fire a few
weeks prior to the Lectureship. The yearbook described
th e emergency arrangem ents:
This calam ity came in th e m idst o f p re p a ra
tio n s f o r th e le c tu r e s h ip , so a rostrum was b u i l t
in th e gymnasium. S eats were arranged th e re and
^P ric k ly P e a r , 1927, p. 84. The c a p tio n accom
panying th e h a lf-p a g e p ic tu r e o f th e gymnasium crowd
s ta te d th a t approxim ately 2,000 were p re s e n t.
^The O p tim is t, March 1 , 1928 , p . 1. Whether th e
1928 r e tu r n was prompted by th e p re -p u b lic address
system" d is p le a s u re w ith th e cavernous gymnasium, or th e
i n a b i l i t y o f p r in c ip a l l e c t u r e r , C. M. P u l l i a s , to d u p li
c a te th e la r g e r audiences a t tr a c te d by Calhoun, i s not
q u ite c le a r .
71
w i t h t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t, one o f t h e g r e a t e s t
l e c t u r e s h i p s i n h i s t o r y to o k p l a c e . &
H a l l L. C alh o u n was a g a in i n v i t e d a s p r i n c i p a l
l e c t u r e r , and a g a in p r o v id e d a p ro m in e n t d ra w in g c a r d t o
m a tc h t h e i n c r e a s e d s e a t i n g f a c i l i t i e s . H is 1929 a u d i
e n c e s , a l th o u g h l a r g e r th a n t h e a u d i to r i u m c o u ld h a v e
a
acco m m o d ated , a p p a r e n t l y f e l l s h o r t o f t h e 1927 r e c o r d s .
" V i s i t o r s , ACC Welcomes You t o t h e New P l a n t , " was
the 1930 slogan which christened the spacious lecture hall
c o n s t r u c t e d on t h e new campus s i t e e a s t o f A b i l e n e . ^
Named in honor of the platform's founder, Sewell Auditorium
has accumulated thirty years of public address memories as
t h e p r i n c i p a l a s se m b ly h a l l f o r t h e L e c t u r e s h i p . The
cream b r i c k b u i l d i n g , w i t h i t s 1 ,4 0 0 p e rm a n e n t c h a i r s
divided by four aisles into a massive center area with two
s m a l l e r s i d e s e c t i o n s , was t h e s c e n e o f e v e ry a d d r e s s from
1930 u n t i l 1952. A lth o u g h t h e 1930 a t t e n d a n c e was s l i g h t l y
^P r i c k l y P e a r , 1 9 2 9 , p . 146.
9
A b ile n e R e p o rte r - N e w s . F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 2 9 , p . 3 .
"T he f i r s t i n a s e r i e s o f f i v e a d d r e s s e s . . . was h e a r d
by a p p r o x im a te ly 1 ,5 0 0 ."
•^The Optimist, February 27, p. 1.
72
le s s th an th e peak crowds o f form er y ea rs c a p a c ity
audiences f i l l e d th e au d ito riu m d u rin g 1931, 1932, and 1933
12
as reco rd s were s e t and broken th re e s u c c e s s iv e y e a rs .
In th e m id-1930's L e c tu re sh ip a tte n d a n c e le v e le d o f f w ith
audiences av erag in g e ig h t hundred a t th e a fte rn o o n programs
and one thousand f o r th e morning and evening le c t u r e s . The
a tte n d a n c e f re q u e n tly ro s e to c a p a c ity p ro p o rtio n s fo r
13
evening s e s s io n s f e a tu r in g o u ts ta n d in g l e c t u r e r s .
With a re p rie v e g ra n te d by th e in te r r u p tio n s o f
World War I I , th e d e a th o f th e s in g le -a u d ito riu m L e c tu re
sh ip was delayed u n t i l a f t e r th e s ig n in g o f th e peace
t r e a t i e s . B eginning in 1946, in c re a s in g ly complex s e a tin g
problems p o in te d in e v ita b ly toward th e in a u g u ra tio n o f th e
m u lti-a u d ito riu m program o f 1952. In 1946 e x tra c h a irs
were re q u ire d to s e a t th e la r g e s t audience ev er to be
p r e s e n t,- ^ and in 1947 th r e e hundred fo ld in g c h a ir s r a is e d
^ A bilene Reporter-News (February 25, 1930, p. 1 ),
s t a t e d : "A pproxim ately 700 persons a tte n d e d th e Monday
n ig h t l e c t u r e , w ith an in c re a s e in o u t-o f-to w n atte n d a n c e
expected d u rin g th e week."
“ ^ P ric k ly P e a r , 1933, p. 160.
13
Abilene Reporter-News, February 22, 1936, p. 1.
^Lectures, 1^46, p. v.
73
th e s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y t o 1 ,7 0 0 f o r a s i n g l e s e s s i o n . ^ The
1948 a u d ie n c e e x h a u s te d a l l o f t h e p erm an en t s e a t s and c o n
sumed th e a v a i l a b l e s p a c e i n th e f r o n t and b a c k o f th e
a u d ito r iu m , th e a i s l e s , and th e s t a g e . In 1949, Don H.
M o rris d e s c r ib e d th e c o n d i tio n s u n d e r w h ich th e " l a r g e s t
crowd i n t h e c o l l e g e 's f o r ty - tw o y e a r h i s t o r y " was
accom m odated:
By p la c in g e x t r a c h a i r s i n a i s l e s , f o y e r and
on th e s t a g e , and u s in g two l a r g e rooms i n a n o th e r
b u i l d i n g c o n n e c te d by p u b l i c a d d r e s s s y s te m , m ore
th a n 2 ,2 0 0 p e rs o n s h e a r d B r o th e r P u l l i a s ' T uesday
e v e n in g a d d r e s s . The a u d ito r iu m now i s f i l l e d
e a c h m orning by th e s t u d e n t body a l o n e . 16
Even l a r g e r crowds w ere r e p o r t e d l y accom m odated i n
1950, a s M a rs h a ll K e e b le , in tr o d u c e d as " t h e c h u rc h o f
C h r i s t 's g r e a t e s t Negro e v a n g e l i s t , " a t t r a c t e d t h e l a r g e s t
a f te r n o o n a u d ie n c e on r e c o r d . ^ I t i s a m a t t e r o f m a th e
m a tic s t h a t a t l e a s t o n e - f i f t h o f t h e 2 , 5 0 0 ^ a l l e g e d to
h ave h e a r d John B a n i s t e r i n 1951 w ere n o t c l o s e enough to
s e e th e s p e a k e r . C o n s e q u e n tly , th e f o llo w in g announcem ent
15The O p t i m i s t , F e b ru a ry 2 1 , 1 9 4 7 , p . 3 .
16
Don H. M o rris , u n p u b lis h e d l e c t u r e s h i p p u b l i c i t y
memorandum, 1949, p . 3.
^7Abilene Reporter-News, February 24, 1950, p. 1.
18
Abilene Reporter-News, February 22, 1951, p. 1.
74
in January of 1952 was a m ilestone in the L ectureship
development:
The c o lle g e announces th a t th is y ear i t w ill be
ab le to s e a t tw ice as many as ever b efo re. This is
made p o ssib le by the use of th e new spacious a u d i
torium o f the c o lle g e church of C h ris t b u ild in g now
being completed across th e s t r e e t from th e A CC
campus. The e ld e rs o f th is congregation have con
sented to l e t th e c o lle g e use th e auditorium to
b e t t e r serve le c tu re s h ip v i s i t o r s . The b u ild in g
w ill be completed February 1. With th e two au d i
toriums a v a ila b le each speaker w ill make appearances
in both and d e liv e r th e same le c tu r e a t d if f e r e n t
tim e s , thus g iv in g a l l persons p re se n t two chances
to h ear each speaker and a l l o f th e le c tu r e s .
Formal opening o f th e new b u ild in g w ill be held
Sunday, February 17.19
I t was a p p ro p ria te th a t two o f the p la tfo rm 's
p rin c e s , G. C. Brewer and C. R. N ichol, whose voices had
resounded in every le c tu r e h a l l in the c o lle g e 's h is to r y ,
should be speaking sim ultaneously on the 1952 evening th a t
20
a v a s t audience o f 4,000 gathered. The s iz e o f th e 1952
assem blies demanded th e 1953 use of Bennett Gymnasium as a
th ir d auditorium fo r th e evening le c tu re s , and attendance
1 9
C h ris tia n C h ro n ic le , January 9, 1952, p. 1.
Among o th e r newspapers in which th e announcement o f the
second auditorium appeared were the follow ing: The F o rt
Worth S ta r Telegram; The D allas Tim es-Herald; The Brownwood
B u lle tin ; The Lubbock A valanche-Journal; and The Nolan
County News.
20
Abilene Christian College Alumni News, January,
1952, p. 1.
a t s i n g l e s e s s i o n s r e a c h e d a s h i g h a s 4 ,2 0 0 .
I n 1955 , crow ds o f m ore t h a n 5 ,0 0 0 a s s e m b le d i n
22
t h r e e a u d i t o r i u m s f o r t h e e v e n in g l e c t u r e s , a n d i n 1 9 5 6 ,
a s t h e c o l l e g e c e l e b r a t e d i t s G o ld en A n n i v e r s a r y , B e n n e tt
Gymnasium w as n e e d e d f o r a t h i r d a u d i t o r i u m f o r t h e m o rn in g
23
l e c t u r e s . T he 1960 c o m p le tio n o f t h e new H i l l c r e s t
c h u r c h b u i l d i n g , c o n s t r u c t e d l e s s t h a n o n e m i l e fro m t h e
cam pus , p r o v id e d a t h i r d a u d i t o r i u m s u p e r i o r t o B e n n e tt
Gymnasium in "seating, the acoustics, and the general com-
,,24
f o r t of* l e c t u r e s h i p v i s i t o r s . W ith t h e u s e o f a d j a c e n t
room s and f o l d i n g c h a i r s , t h e H i l l c r e s t an d c o l l e g e a u d i
to r iu m s and S e w e ll H a l l p r o v id e d a t o t a l s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y
o f 5 ,2 7 5 .
The A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l le g e S t u d e n t Body
A lth o u g h t h e c o m p o s iti o n o f t h e L e c t u r e s h i p
a u d i e n c e was n e v e r a n a ly z e d o r f o r m a l l y c a t a l o g u e d , i n t h e
^ A b i l e n e R e p o r te r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 1 9 5 3 . T h is
i s s u e r e v e a l e d t h a t 2 ,000 h e a r d L e o n a rd M u lle n s i n t h e
c h u r c h b u i l d i n g , 1 ,8 0 0 h e a r d C l i f t o n R o g e rs i n S e w e ll A u d i
t o r i u m , w h i l e 400 o t h e r s l i s t e n e d t o P a u l W a lla c e i n t h e
gymnas iu m .
^ A b i l e n e R e p o rte r-N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 1955 , p . 4 .
23
J . D. T hom as, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 4 ,
1961.
^^Vision, February , 1960 , p. 1.
76
r e c o n s tr u c tio n o f a t y p ic a l audience s i t u a t i o n , fo u r
l i s t e n e r groups emerge: th e c o lle g e s tu d e n t body, A bilene
r e s i d e n t s , o u t-o f-to w n v i s i t o r s , and th e re a d in g au d ien ce.
O rig in a lly d esigned " f o r th e purpose o f deepening
and s tre n g th e n in g th e te a c h in g and in flu e n c e o f th e c o lle g e
25
w ith i t s s t u d e n t s t h e L e c tu re sh ip was d e s c rib e d by
s tu d e n t le a d e rs in 1924 as " th e n u cleu s o f th e school
26
te rm ." The fo llo w in g announcem ent, which r e g u la r ly
appeared in s im i l a r form each l a s t week in F eb ru ary , i n d i
c a te s t h a t s tu d e n t a tte n d a n c e a t th e le c tu r e program was
com pulsory:
A ll s tu d e n ts a re r e q u ire d to a tte n d th e le c t u r e s .
The ch ap el r o l l w i l l be checked a t th e 11:15 s e r v ic e
as u s u a l. Ample s e a tin g accommodations f o r v i s i t o r s
w i l l be arran g ed in o rd e r n o t to i n t e r f e r e w ith th e
s tu d e n ts ' r e g u la r s e a t s . 27
A lthough th e r o l l was n o t checked, th e s tu d e n ts
were a ls o expected to be p re s e n t f o r th e a fte rn o o n and
oo
evening s e s s io n s . A ll c o lle g e c la s s e s were sh o rte n e d to
a f o r t y - f i v e m inute sc h ed u le d u rin g l e c tu r e week " in o rd e r
^ L e c tu r e s , 1919, p. 5.
^ P r ic k ly P e a r , 1924, p. 192.
^ The O p tim is t, F ebruary 20, 1930, p. 1.
^ The Optimist, February 25, 1920, p. 3.
77
29
to g iv e more tim e to th e l e c t u r e r s . "
In a d d i tio n to s p e c i a l c o v e ra g e i n th e c o lle g e
y e a rb o o k , L e c tu re s h ip news te n d e d to dom in ate th e F eb ru ary
pages o f The O p tim is t. A t y p i c a l s tu d e n t e d i t o r i a l in
1925 s t a t e d : " L e c tu re week a t ACC i s th e tim e th e s tu d e n t
body h as c h o ic e m o rse ls o f th o u g h t b ro u g h t from th e le n g th
30
and b r e a d th o f th e la n d and d e l i v e r e d to th e m ." The
L e c tu r e s h ip p ro v id e d an o p p o r tu n ity f o r th e s tu d e n ts " to
c e l e b r a t e th e week by b e in g w ith t h e i r m o th ers and f a t h e r s
31
from whom th e y have been s e p a r a te d s in c e C h ris tm a s ."
In 1925 th e P r i c k l y P e a r c a r r i e d th e fo llo w in g
" E x tr a c ts From a S tu d e n t' s D ia r y " :
T h is i s th e f i r s t tim e I h av e had tim e to th in k
o f y o u , l i t t l e b o o k , f o r n e a r l y a m onth. E s p e c ia l ly
has th e l a s t week been b u sy . But I h a v e n 't m issed a
s i n g l e l e c t u r e and I am s u r e g la d b e c a u s e I have
en jo y ed e v e ry one o f them . Some o f th e s t r o n g e s t
men o f th e b ro th e rh o o d w ere h e r e . Mamma and Papa
A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s, F e b ru a ry 2 0 , 1928. "Most
te a c h e r s a s s ig n l e s s o u ts i d e work d u rin g l e c t u r e week so
t h a t s tu d e n ts may a t te n d many l e c t u r e s and th e n n o t go
s l e e p l e s s d o in g l e s s o n s ." The O p t i m i s t s F e b ru a ry 1 5 , 1952,
p. 1.
30
The O p t i m i s t , F e b ru a ry 5 , 1925. As a g e n e ra l
r u l e a s p e c i a l e d i t o r i a l each y e a r was d e v o te d to th e
L e c tu r e s h ip .
31
The Optimist, February 22, 1923, p. 1.
78
came. They sa id I have improved very much indeed.
They lik e d Jack , t o o . 32
The stu d en ts planned se v e ra l s p e c ia l events fo r the
b e n e fit o f le c tu re week g u e sts. One such a c t i v i t y ,
d escribed in 1926 as th e " g r e a te s t s o c ia l event o f the
y e a r," was the annual "open house" of th e c o lle g e dormi-
33
to r ie s fo r in sp e c tio n by th e v i s i t o r s . Other stu d e n t
a c t i v i t i e s during le c tu r e week ranged from e la b o ra te
m usical and dram atic productions to the photography of the
3 /
g uest preachers and a subsequent p ic tu re s a le .
There is evidence th a t the e a rly speakers prepared
t h e i r assigned le c tu re s w ith th e stu d e n t audience s p e c i f i
c a lly in mind. For in s ta n c e , G. C. Brewer's 1931 address
on "The Problem o f Modern Youth," was "very in te r e s tin g to
35
the s tu d e n ts ," and th re e years l a t e r , a t the s p e c ia l
re q u e st o f the biology and science stu d e n ts o f the c o lle g e ,
36
he d e liv e re d a le c tu r e on the theory of ev o lu tio n . The
32P ric k ly P e a r , 1920, p. 135.
33The O p tim ist, February 25, 1926, p. 1.
34
The O p tim ist, March 3, 1927, p. 3.
35? r ic k ly P e a r , 1931, p. 108.
36
The Optimist, February 22, 1934, p. 3.
79
warm r e l a t i o n s h i p w h ic h l e c t u r e w eek e s t a b l i s h e d b e tw e e n
t h e s t u d e n t s and t h e s p e a k e r s was c l e a r l y r e f l e c t e d i n t h e
" r e s o l u t i o n o f a p p r e c i a t i o n , " d r a f t e d b y t h e 1923 s t u d e n t
b o d y f o r t h e " s t i r r i n g and i n s p i r a t i o n a l a d d r e s s e s " o f
W. E. C a m p b e ll. By a " r i s i n g v o t e " i n t h e c h a p e l a s s e m b ly ,
t h e s t u d e n t s an d f a c u l t y c i t e d t h e w ork o f t h e D e t r o i t
m i n i s t e r : "You w i l l n e v e r know how much good you h a v e d o n e
an d how many w aves o f good i n f l u e n c e y o u h a v e s e t i n
,,37
m o tio n . . . .
N ot a l l s t u d e n t r e a c t i o n s t o t h e in c o n v e n ie n c e s
im p o sed d u r i n g l e c t u r e w eek w e re s o f a v o r a b l e , h o w e v e r.
On o ne o c c a s i o n , a s t u d e n t , a p p a r e n t l y d i s e n c h a n t e d w i t h
t h e "o p e n h o u s e " c u s to m , w r o t e : "T he o n ly h o u r s d u r i n g
t h e l a s t w eek n o t d e s i g n a t e d a s i n s p e c t i o n h o u r s w e re s e t
a s i d e f o r m e a l tim e o r f o r p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e i n s p e c t i o n
38
h o u r s . " I n 1927 t h e s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r f e a t u r e d a hum or
ous l e c t u r e w eek s a t i r e , "How t o Become a S u c c e s s f u l
on
S p e a k e r (W ith A p o lo g ie s t o B r e w e r ) ."
^ The O p t i m i s t , M arch 8 , 1 9 2 3 , p . 1.
0 6
The O p t i m i s t , M arch 6 , 1 9 3 0 , p . 4 .
39
The O p t i m i s t . M arch 3 , 1'927, p . 3 . The a r t i c l e
s t a t e d : " A f t e r s e e i n g some lo n g - w in d e d D em o sth en e s r a t t l e
h i s ja w b o n e a t a s l e e p i n g a u d i e n c e f o r a p e r i o d o f t i m e ,
80
With few e x c e p tio n s, however, th e stu d e n t body
m aintained an unwavering i n t e r e s t in th e le c tu re s through
out th e 1920’s. As l a t e as 1930, 80 p e r c e n t o f the
stu d e n t body was involved in a g en eral campus clean-up. on
the Saturday p r io r to le c tu r e week, and stu d e n t jo u r n a lis ts
s t i l l r e f e r re d to th e program as " th e o u tstan d in g fe a tu re
o f th e y ear a t A C C ."^
Under James F. Cox's d ir e c tio n , th e L ectu resh ip
began to d r i f t away from th e stu d e n ts in i t s b a s ic audience
em phasis. Sewell had intended fo r th e programs to b e n e f it
p rim a rily th e stu d e n ts , and c o n d itio n s had allow ed B a ts e ll
B axter to p rese rv e th e se in te n tio n s . In 1933, w ithout
any planned de-em phasis o f L ectu resh ip b e n e f its to the
too la rg e to m ention, I f e e l th a t some might be in s p ire d
to attem pt h is l i t t l e s tu n t. For th a t reason I s h a ll t e l l
you how to become a p u b lic speaker. F i r s t , you must be
ab le to wear a wide and profound ex p ressio n on th e a n te r io r
p o rtio n of th e head. Second, you must have an ever abun
d ant supply o f heated atmosphere (or hot a i r ) . T h ir d , you
must be a b le to make fe ro c io u s , v e ro c io u s , and d ia b o lic a l
sounds. I t m atters l i t t l e what you say. That is n o t th e
p o in t. Make the b u ild in g rin g w ith g ro an s, s ig h s , s h r ie k s ,
and moans. F o u rth , you must be a b le to make such motions
w ith your hands th a t can b e s t be d escrib ed by comparing
them to a woman pumping w a te r , a crow f l y i n g , o r b e t t e r
y e t , a Jew ta lk in g .to a v anishing custom er."
40
The Optimist, February 20, 1930, p. 3.
81
41
s t u d e n t s , C o x 's k e e n c o n c e rn f o r an im proved l e v e l o f
g e n e r a l b r o th e r h o o d i n s t r u c t i o n n o n e t h e l e s s i n f l u e n c e d th e
s h i f t from a s t u d e n t - o r i e n t e d t o a c h u r c h - o r i e n t e d a u d ie n c e
e m p h a s is . The e i g h t them es s e l e c t e d by Cox d u r in g h i s
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c l e a r l y r e f l e c t h i s d e s i r e to u t i l i z e th e
p ro g ra m a s a medium o f in fo rm in g and i n s p i r i n g a d u l t mem
b e r s o f th e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t .
D u rin g h i s t e n u r e a s d i r e c t o r , Don H. M o rris made
s e v e r a l o v e r t u r e s d e s ig n e d t o in v o lv e t h e s t u d e n t s i n th e
/ O
L e c t u r e s h i p . H ow ever, th e p l a t f o r m c o n tin u e d i t s s te a d y
d e p a r t u r e from t h e i n t e n t i o n s o f i t s f o u n d e r , w ith an
i n t e n s i f i e d em p h asis on t h e c h u r c h - c e n t e r e d p l a t f o r m
p la n n e d by Cox. The m e ta m o rp h o sis away from t h e s t u d e n t
a u d i e n c e , w h ich was c o m p le te b y 1 9 5 0 , d i d n o t r e s u l t from
a su d d e n l o s s o f s t u d e n t i n t e r e s t , b u t r a t h e r from th e
The O p t i m i s t , J a n u a ry 1 9 , 1 9 3 3 , p . 3 . A lth o u g h
t h e a f t e r n o o n p ro g ram s d u r in g t h e 1933 s e r i e s w e re c o n
d u c te d " i n s p e c i a l b e h a l f o f t h e p r e a c h e r boys ," th e
g e n e r a l s t u d e n t i n t e r e s t i n t h e p ro g ra m was w a n in g . The
1934 P r i c k l y P e a r m arked th e l a s t y e a r t h a t th e p l a t f o r m
e a rn e d a s p e c i a l p a g e i n t h e s t u d e n t y e a rb o o k .
^ " W a r r e s t r i c t i o n s f o r c e d M o rris t o p l a n t h e 1943
L e c t u r e s h i p p r i m a r i l y f o r th e s t u d e n t body and t h e r e s i
d e n ts o f A b i l e n e ." The O p t i m i s t . J a n u a r y 1 5 , 1943.
"F . B. S h ep h erd o pened h i s l e c t u r e t h a t y e a r by s t a t i n g
t h a t M o rris h ad a s k e d him to s im p ly " g i v e th e boys w h at
you t h i n k th e y n e e d ," L e c t u r e s . 1 9 4 3 , p . 76.
p la tfo rm 's i n a b i l i t y to sim u lta n eo u sly p ro v id e fo r th e
needs o f th e stu d e n t l i s t e n e r s and th e g e n e ra l church
constituency. It might not be inappropriate to conclude
t h a t " th e L e c tu re sh ip was sim ply tak en away from th e
.,43
s tu d e n ts .
The A bilene L is te n e rs
A s u b s t a n tia l p a r t o f th e audience a t th e A bilene
C h r is tia n C ollege L e c tu re sh ip has always been formed by
th e atte n d a n c e o f th e c i tiz e n s o f th e c i t y o f A bilene.
Although as e a rly as 1919 th e "people o f a l l denom inations
„44
were in v ite d to a tte n d , th e lo c a l l is te n e r s h i p has
la rg e ly been composed o f members o f th e churches o f C h ris t.
The backbone o f th e A bilene c i tiz e n r y a tte n d in g th e e a rly
programs was formed by th e membership o f th e c o lle g e
ch u rch , whose s e rv ic e s were h e ld in th e au d ito riu m used
d uring th e le c tu r e s . As th e church in A bilene grew and
o th e r congreg atio n s were e s ta b lis h e d , i t became customary
fo r r e g u la r evening church s e rv ic e s to be dism issed during
le c tu r e week so t h a t church members could h e a r th e
^ R . C. B e ll, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , October 23, 1961.
^ A b ile n e R eporter-N ew s, February 24, 1919, p. 5.
83
a d d r e s s e s . I n 1920 a s many a s two h u n d re d A b ile n e
45
r e s i d e n t s a t t e n d e d th e L e c t u r e s h i p , and th e e x c e p t i o n a l l y
l a r g e e v e n in g a u d ie n c e s i n 1929 w ere s p e c i f i c a l l y a t t r i b
u t e d to th e p r e s e n c e o f ,T t h e c h u rc h members o f th e to w n .1 ' ^
Heavy a t te n d a n c e b y t h e A b ile n e r e s i d e n t s was o f t e n
d is c o u r a g e d d u r in g t h e 1 9 3 0 's and 1 9 4 0 's , a s t h e num ber o f
o u t- o f - to w n v i s i t o r s e x h a u s te d th e s e a t i n g c a p a c i t i e s o f
47
S e w e ll A u d ito riu m . When a d v e r s e w e a th e r c o n d i t i o n s and
o t h e r r e s t r i c t i o n s p r o h i b i t e d a l a r g e o u t- o f - to w n a t t e n d
a n c e , t h e l o c a l c i t i z e n r y , h e a r t e n e d by th e p r o s p e c t s o f
f i n d i n g a v a i l a b l e s e a t s , a t t e n d e d i n g r e a t e r n u m b ers. In
1943 and 1 9 4 4 , t h e " t r a n s p o r t a t i o n d i f f i c u l t i e s and th e
h o u s in g s h o r t a g e s " b r o u g h t a b o u t by t h e w a r , p ro m p ted th e
d i r e c t o r s to p la n t h e pro g ram s " p r i m a r i l y f o r th e s t u d e n t s
AO
and t h e r e s i d e n t s o f A b i l e n e ." The a c q u i s i t i o n o f a
se c o n d a u d ito r iu m t o b e u se d f o r t h e 1952 s e r i e s evoked th e
p r e d i c t i o n from P r e s i d e n t M o rris t h a t t h e r e w ould b e
" p l e n t y o f s e a t s f o r e v e ry o n e . We h ope o u r . . . f r i e n d s
^ The O p t i m i s t . F e b ru a ry 2 4 , 1 9 2 1 , p . 3.
46
The O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a ry 2 1 , 1 9 2 9 , p . 1.
47
G o sp el A d v o c a te , J a n u a ry 1 0 , 1 9 5 2 , p . 189.
48
The Optimist, January 15, 1943, p. 1.
84
in A bilene w on't s ta y home th is y ear because o f th e lack
o f s e a tin g arrangem ents.1 1 ^
Since th e 1919 s e r ie s , when "many members o f the
b a r a s s o c ia tio n o f A bilene heard Judge Gano's address ," a
p o rtio n o f th e L ec tu resh ip audience has been formed by
A bilene c itiz e n s not r e lig i o u s ly a f f i l i a t e d w ith the
churches of C h ris t. A bilene c iv ic le a d e rs have o fte n
expressed re s p e c t and g r a titu d e fo r th e c o lle g e and p l a t
form w hich, a sid e from a t h l e t i c e v e n ts , provides the c i t y 's
la r g e s t annual g a t h e r i n g . T h e A bilene Reporter-News
s ta te d in a s p e c ia l L ectu resh ip e d i t o r i a l : "We b e lie v e in
a l l e a rn e stn e ss th a t th e presence o f the church schools in
A bilene has meant more to our development than any o th e r
51
s in g le f a c to r ." During th e 1953 s e r i e s , French M .
R obertson, P re sid e n t o f th e A bilene Chamber o f Commerce,
s ta te d :
49
A bilene Reporter-News , February 13, 1952, p. 3.
50
A bilene R eporter-N ew s, January 10, 1954, p. 7.
A f e a tu r e s to ry on th e t h ir te e n annual A bilene c o n v e n tio n s,
e s ta b lis h e d th e L ectu resh ip as th e la r g e s t g a th e rin g .
51
Abilene Reporter-News, February 26, 1953, p. 14.
85
The b u s i n e s s and p r o f e s s i o n a l men and women
o f A b i l e n e , th r o u g h t h e i r Chamber o f Commerce,
w is h t o s e n d a h e a r t y w elcom e t o t h e v i s i t o r s and
p a r t i c i p a n t s i n th e a n n u a l B i b l e L e c t u r e s h i p now
underw ay a t ACC.52
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f a c t t h a t o u t s t a n d i n g l e c t u r e r s h a v e
o c c a s i o n a l l y b e e n i n v i t e d t o a d d r e s s A b i l e n e ’ s b u s i n e s s and
53
c i v i c g ro u p s d u r in g t h e i r l e c t u r e week v i s i t s , a t r a d i
t i o n a l B u s in e s s and P r o f e s s i o n a l M en 's L uncheon h a s
p r o v id e d a warm p o i n t o f c o n t a c t b e tw e e n l o c a l c i v i c
i n t e r e s t s and L e c t u r e s h i p a c t i v i t i e s . The 1959 e s t i m a t e
t h a t L e c t u r e s h i p v i s i t o r s " s p e n d $ 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 a n n u a l l y t o
t
b o l s t e r t h e c i t y ' s econom y," p ro m p ted Chamber o f Commerce
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e J o e C o o ley t o re m a rk :
We a p p r e c i a t e t h e L e c t u r e s h i p b e i n g h e l d i n
A b i l e n e , n o t o n ly from t h e money s t a n d p o i n t , b u t
j u s t t o h a v e t h e p e o p le come t o A b ile n e e a c h y e a r .
A f t e r t h e L e c t u r e s h i p t h e Cham ber o f Commerce
r e c e i v e s many l e t t e r s fro m l e c t u r e g u e s t s . 54
5 2
A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s . F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 1 9 5 3 , p . 1.
53
A th en s C lay P u l l i a s a d d r e s s e d t h e A b ile n e K iw an is
C lub a t i t s W ednesday lu n c h e o n m e e tin g d u r in g t h e 1949
s e r i e s (A b ile n e R e p o rte r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 2 , 1 9 4 9 ). I n 1950
M a r s h a ll K e e b le , d e s c r i b e d a s " t h e ch am p io n o f t h e N egro
c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t o f A m e r ic a ," a d d r e s s e d A b ile n e r a d i o
a u d i e n c e s . Among o t h e r t h i n g s , h e s a i d : "You c a n ' t dodge
a ro u n d and r o l l on t h e f l o o r an d h o l l e r o u t lo u d and e x p e c t
t h e l i g h t t o come o n i n y o u r s o u l . Y o u 'v e g o t t o p u t y o u r
f i n g e r on t h e b u t t o n " (A b ile n e R e p o r te r -N e w s . F e b r u a r y 2 8 ,
1 9 5 0 , p . 1 ) .
^Abilene Reporter-News. February 22, 1959, p. 1.
86
Although non-churches of C h rist c itiz e n s have not
formed a major p a rt of the immediate Lectureship audience,
the d ire c to rs have c a p ita liz e d upon the c iv ic good w ill to
extend the lis te n e rs h ip through newspaper and radio media.
L ectureship coverage in the Abilene Reporter-News has grown
from a small corner of an obscure page in 1918, to the
55
dominant p o sitio n of the February headlines by 1950. In
recen t y e a r s , the f u l l re p o rt of le c tu re te x ts has occa
s io n a lly s t i r r e d the reading audience to vigorous actio n .
In 1953, fo r in sta n c e , Carl M itc h e ll, a returned m ission
a ry , spoke w ith s p e c if ic ity of the force and abuse which
the C atholic Church had a sse rte d ly brought ag ain st the
churches of C h rist in I ta ly . The morning a f te r h is s t a t e
ments were re p o rte d , the newspaper c a rrie d the sharp
re b u tta l of Mrs. Frances N. Phinane. Her " L e tte r to the
E ditor" s ta te d :
W e of the C atholic Church p o s itiv e ly deny the
accusation by Mr. M itchell th a t the C atholic
Church tr ie d to prevent a handful of h is opportune
members from meeting in order to worship. I f he
can prove th a t the Roman C atholic A postolic and
I n f a llib l e Church used force to prevent h is people
-^Abilene Reporter-News, March 7, 1957, p. 4. In
1957 the L ectureship shared f i r s t place w ith A bilene's
f i r s t bank robbery in h is to ry as the c h ie f February news
s to r y .
87
fro m m e e ti n g o r c l o s e d t h e i r b u i l d i n g s , t h e n I
w i l l w ith d r a w t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s a n d g i v e $25 t o
a n y A b i l e n e c h a r i t y nam ed b y M r. M i t c h e l l . 56
T he f o l l o w i n g d a y 's h e a d l i n e s h o u t e d : "CATHOLICS
LABEL M INISTER'S STATEMENTS AS ERRONEOUS":
M embers o f t h e Roman C a t h o l i c C h u rc h i n A b i l e n e
a n d s u r r o u n d i n g t e r r i t o r y p r o t e s t e d s t r o n g l y t h e
s t a t e m e n t s m ade b y a s p e a k e r a t t h e ACC l e c t u r e s h i p ,
a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e R e p o rte r -N e w s Monday . . .
M i t c h e l l h a d b e e n q u o te d a s s a y i n g t h e C a t h o l i c
c h u r c h h a s m ade f o u r a t t e m p t s t o r i d I t a l y o f t h e
C h u rc h o f C h r i s t . . . . M rs. W a l t e r R. B a l f a n z ,
r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e C a t h o l i c W om en's A u x i l i a r y , a n
a f f i l i a t e o f t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n c il o f C a t h o l i c
Women w h ic h h a s a m e m b e rsh ip o f n i n e m i l l i o n ; an d
L eo J . T a u e r , g r a n d k n i g h t o f t h e A b i l e n e K n ig h ts
o f C olum bus , w i t h a n a t i o n a l m e m b e rsh ip o f m o re
t h a n o n e m i l l i o n w e re sp o k e sm e n f o r t h e p r o t e s t i n g
g r o u p s .5 7
I n a d d i t i o n t o n e w s p a p e r r e p o r t s o f t h e a d d r e s s e s ,
s i n c e 1953 many o f t h e m o r n in g , a f t e r n o o n , an d e v e n in g
l e c t u r e s h a v e b e e n b r o a d c a s t o v e r t h e AM f a c i l i t i e s o f
58
r a d i o s t a t i o n KACC i n A b i l e n e . D i s r e g a r d i n g t h e A b i l e n e
r a d i o a n d n e w s p a p e r a u d i e n c e s , an e s t i m a t e d o n e - t h i r d o f
t h e a c t u a l L e c t u r e s h i p a u d i e n c e h a s b e e n d u e t o t h e a t t e n d
a n c e o f th o u s a n d s o f t h e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e c i t y o f A b i l e n e
^Abilene Reporter-News , February 24, 1953, p. 1.
“ ^ A b i l e n e R e p o r t e r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 1 9 5 3 , p . 1 .
58
The Optimist, February 20, 1953, p. 1.
88
59
and i t s immediate surrounding te r r ito r y .
The Out-of-Town. Audience
From the beginning the Lectureship was designed to
a t t r a c t larg e numbers of out-of-town lis te n e r s . Of the
f i r s t se rie s i t was sa id : "Many v is ito r s are attending
from other towns, including Fort Worth, S te p h e n v ille ,
60
Rising S ta r, H a tc h e ll, W inters, Hamlin, and Merkel." In
1919 D irector Sewell reported th a t " v is ito r s came from a l l
61
p arts of the s t a t e , and some from other s ta te s ."
The provision of fre e room and board to a l l
v i s i t o r s , an o b lig a tio n in itia te d in 1918 and shared by
the college and the Abilene church fo r th irty -o n e y e a rs ,
motivated a large out-of-tow n attendance. Extending the
1920 in v ita tio n , Sewell said :
This week is one of the prominent features of
the year. The church here looks forward to i t
~^Fort Worth C h ristian Jo u rn a l, February 10, 1960,
p. 4. "The Lectureship to ta l attendance is averaging about
9,000 . . . about h a lf of these are from out-of-tow n,
probably about 3,000 from A bilene, and about 2,500 from
the campus."
Abilene Reporter-News, January 9, 1918, p. 2.
6Prickly Pear. 1919, p. 26.
89
a n d t h e m em bers th ro w o p e n t h e i r d o o r s t o a l l
v i s i t o r s . T he c o l l e g e i s m ade y o u r home f o r t h e
w e e k .62
Two y e a r s l a t e r , t h e A b i l e n e R e p o rte r - N e w s s t a t e d :
O v e r 200 men a n d women fro m a l l p a r t s o f T e x a s ,
O k la h o m a , a n d fro m M i s s o u r i , O h io , a n d s e v e r a l
o t h e r s t a t e s h a v e a r r i v e d i n t h i s c i t y d u r i n g t h e
l a s t f o r t y - e i g h t h o u r s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a t t e n d i n g
t h e f i f t h a n n u a l B i b l e L e c t u r e Week a t A b i l e n e
C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e . T he hom es o f a l l t h e m em bers o f
t h e C h u rc h o f C h r i s t i n t h e c i t y an d a l l t h e s p a r e
room s o n t h e cam pus o f t h e c o l l e g e h a v e b e e n o p e n e d
t o th e m , a n d i t i s s t a t e d b y t h e m a n ag em en t t h a t
many m o re v i s i t o r s a r e e x p e c t e d t o a r r i v e t o d a y a n d
to m o r r o w .63
T he g u e s t s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o w r i t e c o l l e g e
o f f i c i a l s o f t h e n u m b er i n t h e i r p a r t y an d t h e i r a n t i c i -
p a t e d t im e o f a r r i v a l , s o " t h a t t h e y m ig h t b e m e t a t t h e
t r a i n an d a s s i g n e d t o a g o o d home w h i l e t h e y a r e h e r e . 1 1 ^
By t h e e a r l y 1 9 4 0 's , a s r e q u e s t s w e re r e g u l a r l y
r e c e i v e d fro m a s f a r away a s B i l l i n g s , M o n ta n a , t h e t a s k o f
c a r i n g f o r t h e cro w d o f v i s i t o r s h a d i n c r e a s e d t o
^ ^ T he O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 1 9 , 1 9 2 0 , p . 3 .
A b i l e n e R e p o r t e r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 1 , 1 9 2 2 , p . 4 .
64
T he O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 8 , 1 9 2 3 , p . 1 .
"O . E . P h i l l i p s , f i n a n c i a l a g e n t o f ACC, h a s r e c e i v e d a
l a r g e n u m b er o f l e t t e r s fro m p a t r o n s , f r i e n d s , a n d t r u s t e e s
s t a t i n g t h a t t h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t a t t h e ACC L e c t u r e W e ek ."
6 c
The Optimist, February 5 , 1925, p. 1.
90
66
in su p erab le p ro p o rtio n s. For the 1946 s e r i e s , a l l
v i s i t o r s who p o ssib ly could do so were "urged to make
arrangements fo r housing b efo re they a rriv e d and to sta y
w ith r e la tiv e s or frie n d s i f they have such in A bilene."
However, w ith th e a s s is ta n c e o f s p e c ia l committees organ
ized in each of th e congregations o f the c i t y , "most of
th e v i s i t o r s were guests o f th e c o lle g e in th a t they stayed
67
in a room provided by the c o lle g e ."
The f i r s t o f f i c i a l break w ith th e t r a d it io n of
providing fre e room and board fo r a l l guests came w ith the
1947 announcement th a t a nominal fee of f i f t y cen ts would
be charged fo r each d in in g h a l l meal. A fte r the 1948
p u b lic ity had been s ig n if ic a n tly s i l e n t on the q u estio n of
fre e meals and housing, a fu ll-p a g e advertisem ent of the
1949 s e rie s solemnly s ta te d :
The O p tim ist, February 21, 1941, p. 1. Emer
gency cots were assembled in th re e d o rm ito ries and the
c o lle g e dining h a l l served each meal tw ice to accommodate
th e v i s i t o r s .
^ T h e O p tim ist, March 1, 1946, p. 1.
6^The O p tim ist. February 21, 1947, p. 1. The
dining h a l l served an average o f fiv e hundred e x tra people
a t each meal during th e 1947 s e r ie s .
91
B e ca u se o f t h e l a r g e num ber a t t e n d i n g i t i s no
lo n g e r p o s s i b l e f o r t h e c o l l e g e t o p r o v id e accom
m o d a tio n s f o r v i s i t o r s ; h o w e v e r, you a r e u rg e d to
w r i t e t h e c o l l e g e p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s o f f i c e w h ich
w i l l make h o t e l o r t o u r i s t q u a r t e r r e s e r v a t i o n s
f o r y o u .6 9
B ut t h e m aking o f an an n o u n c e m e n t, r a t h e r th a n
s o l v i n g t h e p ro b le m o f accom m odating o u t- o f - to w n g u e s t s ,
m e re ly s h i f t e d t h e b u rd e n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y from th e
c o l l e g e t o t h e c i t y . Weeks b e f o r e t h e 1950 s e r i e s "dow n
tow n h o t e l s and t o u r i s t c o u r t s . . . w e re a l r e a d y booked
to c a p a c i t y , a n d i n 1 9 5 4 , Dean o f S tu d e n ts Jo h n C.
S te v e n s i n a u g u r a te d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p l e a " f o r room s to
r e n t a f t e r a l l h o t e l s and m o te ls h ad p u t up 'No V a c a n c y 1
s i g n s . " 7^ The Chamber o f Commerce e n t e r e d t h e p i c t u r e i n
1956 w i t h a s t a t e m e n t t h a t a r e s i d e n t h a v in g a room t o r e n t
" s h o u ld i n d i c a t e i f t h e room h a s a p r i v a t e b a t h , t h e le n g t h
o f tim e i t w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e , and how much r e n t w i l l b e
r e q u i r e d . n7^
^ G o s p e l A d v o c a te , F e b ru a ry 2 3 , 1 9 4 9 , p . 189.
70
A b ile n e R e p o rte r -N e w s , F e b r u a r y 1 9 , 1 9 5 0 , p . 2 .
7 1A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s . F e b r u a r y 2 0 , 1 9 5 4 , p . 1.
72A b ile n e R e p o rte r -N e w s . J a n u a r y 2 3 , 1 9 5 6 , p . 1.
In 1 9 5 7 , a S p e c i a l Chamber o f Commerce c o m m itte e m a ile d
l a r g e p l a c a r d s t o a l l h o t e l s and m o te ls i n t h e A b ile n e a r e a
a d v i s i n g them o f th e L e c t u r e s h i p t r a f f i c . The Highway
92
Since 1958 a s p e c ia l o f f i c i a l o f th e c o lle g e has
been dispatched to an annual caucus o f th e Chamber of
Commerce in an e f f o r t to cope w ith th e le c tu r e week housing
73
d i f f i c u l t i e s . Je sse P. S ew ell, review ing fo rty years of
L ectureship h is t o r y , s ta te d : ,!I can r e c a l l th e day th a t
i
th e c o lle g e promised fre e room and board to every L ec tu re
sh ip g u est. Now you can h ard ly fin d a room in town to re n t
during le c tu re w eek."7^
Although th e h e a v ie s t re p re s e n ta tio n in L ectureship
atten d an ce came from th e s t a t e o f Texas, th e 1922 t o t a l o f
two hundred out-of-tow n v i s i t o r s included s ig n if ic a n t
attendance from th e s ta te s o f Oklahoma, M issouri, A rkansas,
and O hio.7" * W ithin a decade th e average out o f town
attendance had doubled and, in a d d itio n to Texas, v i s i t o r s
were re g u la rly coming from A rkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas,
P a tro l a lso e re c te d " f if te e n roadsigns designed to appeal
to th e t r a v e l e r s ."
73
A bilene Reporter-News, January 8 , 1958, p. 2.
Two weeks b efo re th e 1959 s e r ie s th e four major h o te ls and
m o te ls , The Thunderbird Lodge, H otel W indsor, H otel Wooten,
and the Sands Motor H otel were swamped w ith a t o t a l o f 410
room re s e rv a tio n s .
74
Je sse P. Sew ell, p erso n al in te rv ie w , October 26,
1961.
75Abilene Reporter-News , February 24, 1933, p. 3.
93
T e n n e s s e e , M i s s i s s i p p i , M i s s o u r i , O h io , New M e x ic o , and
76
A r iz o n a . I n 1 9 3 7 , t h i r t e e n s t a t e s c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e
77
m ore th a n f i v e h u n d re d o u t - o f - t o w n v i s i t o r s , and t h e
78
1939 r e g i s t r a t i o n c o n t a i n e d g u e s t s from f o u r t e e n s t a t e s .
'’O u t- o f - to w n v i s i t o r s f o r t h e 1940 l e c t u r e s t o t a l e d
7Q
o v e r 7 0 0 , com ing from f i f t e e n s t a t e s , ’ and i n 1941 an
o u t - o f - s t a t e a t t e n d a n c e r e c o r d was e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h r e p r e -
80
s e n t a t i v e s com ing fro m tw e n ty d i f f e r e n t s t a t e s .
The 1942 L e c t u r e s h i p s t a r t e d t e n w eeks a f t e r t h e
bom bing o f P e a r l H a rb o r a n d , d e s p i t e P r e s i d e n t M o r r i s '
o p t i m i s t i c h o p e f o r " f i v e h u n d re d v i s i t o r s i n s p i t e o f
a u to m o b ile s h o r t a g e s ," o u t - o f - t o w n l i s t e n e r s h i p d ro p p e d to
Q * 1
l e s s th a n f o u r h u n d r e d .
I n 1 9 4 3 , t h e f o l l o w i n g an n o u n c em e n t r e g a r d i n g o u t -
o f -to w n l i s t e n e r s was n e c e s s a r y :
76
A b ile n e R e p o r te r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 1 9 3 3 , p . 5 .
^ The O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 25 , 1 9 3 7 , p . 1 .
7 Q
The O p t i m i s t , F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 1 9 3 9 , p . 1 . Mr. and
M rs. I s a a c S w enson, from H a r t f o r d , C o n n e c t i c u t , came t h e
g r e a t e s t d i s t a n c e i n 1939.
^ T h e O p t i m i s t , J a n u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 1 , p . 1.
80
A b ile n e R e p o r te r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 1 , 1 9 4 1 , p . 1.
81
The Optimist, February 23, 1943, p. 3.
94
Due to tr a n s p o rta tio n d i f f i c u l t i e s and the
housing shortage a t A bilene, the le c tu re s e rie s
is planned p rim a rily fo r th e stu d e n t body and the
re s id e n ts of A bilene. However, a l l out-of-tow n
v i s i t o r s who can fin d i t convenient to a tte n d ,
a re in v it e d .82
A fter a s l i g h t 1944 re v iv a l produced 250 guests , a
1945 mid-January h ea d lin e announced, "BIBLE LECTURESHIP
CANCELED: PLANS M A D E FOR 1946":
For th e f i r s t tim e in tw en ty -fiv e years or more
the A bilene C h ris tia n College B ible L ectureship w ill
not be h eld . O rig in a lly scheduled fo r February 18
through th e 22, w ith one o f the b e s t programs y e t
arranged to be p re se n te d , the meetings were canceled
when war m o b iliz a tio n d ir e c to r James F. Byrnes
issued a d ir e c tiv e e a rly in January th a t a l l group
m eetings, in clu d in g those of an i n d u s t r i a l , b u sin e ss,
la b o r, f r a t e r n a l , p ro fe s s io n a l, r e lig i o u s , c i v ic ,
s o c ia l and governmental n a tu re , and attended by more
than f i f t y persons re q u irin g t r a v e l, not be h e ld .83
By 1950 the audience had reached a t o t a l o f 5,000 l i s t e n
ers , w ith guests r e g is te r in g from more than 250 Texas
The O p tim ist, January 15, 1943, p. 1. Only 135
out-of-tow n guests were p rese n t in 1943, and only one
sp eak er, p rin c ip a l le c tu r e r J . P. Sanders, was from o u tsid e
th e immediate A bilene v ic in ity . Sanders s ta te d th a t he
purchased h is t r a i n tic k e t months in advance and during the
e n tir e t r i p from N a sh v ille , Tennessee, to A bilene, people
stood up and even s le p t in th e a is le s (J. P. Sanders,
personal in te rv ie w , November 20, 1961).
83
The O p tim ist, January 19, 1945, p. 2. In an
in te rv ie w , P re sid e n t Morris rev ealed th a t he appealed the
1945 d e c isio n w ith a p erso n al telegram , but th a t the war
m o b iliz a tio n d ir e c to r s p e c if ic a lly requested th a t the
L ectu resh ip not be conducted.
95
c o m m u n itie s , t w e n t y - f i v e s t a t e s , an d s e v e r a l f o r e i g n
c o u n t r i e s . ^ I n 1952 " a s many a s 5 ,0 0 0 o r m ore fro m o u t -
O C
s i d e A b ile n e a t t e n d e d t h e l e c t u r e s , " an d s i n c e t h e n ,
r e g i s t r a t i o n h a s a v e r a g e d m ore t h a n 3 ,000 o u t - o f - t o w n
l i s t e n e r s f o r e v e r y s e r i e s . A lth o u g h s i n c e 1955 t h e
L e c t u r e s h i p a u d i e n c e h a s c o n t a i n e d g u e s t s fro m a l m o s t e v e r y
86
s t a t e i n t h e u n i o n , t h e h e a v y p re d o m in a n c e o f l i s t e n e r s
h a v e come fro m t h e s t a t e o f T e x a s . O f f i c i a l r e g i s t r a t i o n s
t o t a l s i n 1958 r e v e a l e d t h a t o f 3 ,000 r e g i s t r a n t s , O klahom a
8 7
e a r n e d s e c o n d p l a c e w i t h o n l y 225 e n r o l l e d . O f t h e 3 ,9 0 0
r e g i s t r a n t s i n 1 9 6 0 , O k la h o m a 's 258 l i s t e n e r s was a g a i n
s e c o n d h i g h e s t . G rouped c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r w e re K an sas w i t h
^ W e n d e l l B e d i c h e c k , u n p u b l i s h e d r e l e a s e fro m
p u b l i c i t y f i l e s , 1 9 5 0 .
o c
F irm F o u n d a t i o n ■ > F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 5 2 , p . 2 . A
t e l e g r a m fro m W a l t e r E. B u r c h , L e c t u r e s h i p p u b l i c i t y d i r e c
t o r , t o G. H. P . S h o w a l t e r , e d i t o r o f t h e F irm F o u n d a t i o n ,
s t a t e d t h a t a l t h o u g h 2 ,0 5 7 v i s i t o r s r e g i s t e r e d i n 1 9 5 2 , a t
l e a s t o n e t h i r d o f them h a d f a i l e d t o do s o .
86
A b ile n e R e p o r te r - N e w s . F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 6 0 , p . 3 .
I n 1958 f o r t y - o n e s t a t e s w e re r e p r e s e n t e d , and i n 1960 o n ly
t h e s t a t e s o f H a w a ii, C o n n e c t i c u t , D e la w a r e , New H a m p s h ire ,
an d Rhode I s l a n d w e re n o t r e p r e s e n t e d . O f e i g h t f o r e i g n
c o u n t r i e s r e p r e s e n t e d , C a n a d a 's tw e n ty l i s t e n e r s was
h i g h e s t .
87
Abilene Reporter-News , February 23, 1958, p. 1.
96
92, Colorado w ith 87, New Mexico w ith 86, and C a lifo rn ia
. . , jjr 88
w ith 85.
The occupation o f p reach er was most h e a v ily
re p re se n te d among* th e o u t-o f-to w n l i s t e n e r s a t th e e a rly
programs. In 1922, "approxim ately s e v e n ty -fiv e m in is te rs
from th e Church of C h ris t in th e whole Southwest" were
89
p re s e n t. At th e 1927 s e r ie s " th e re were s ix ty v i s i t i n g
p reach ers from Texas and o th e r s t a t e s , not ta k in g in to
90
c o n s id e ra tio n those who make t h e i r homes in A b ile n e .".
But th e program was n o t designed to appeal e x c lu siv e ly to
th o se who preached. The g en e ra l com position o f th e 1923
audience was d escrib ed as follow s:
Over th re e hundred men and women, e x -s tu d e n ts ,
g ra d u a te s, p a tro n s , f r ie n d s , and tr u s te e s o f the
c o lle g e from a l l p a r ts o f Texas and from s e v e ra l
o th e r s t a t e s came . . .91
A la rg e p ercen tag e o f th e audience was composed o f
p aren ts ta k in g advantage o f the dual o p p o rtu n ity o f
^ A bilene R eporter-N ew s, February 26, 1960, p. 2.
A B a k e rsfie ld c h a rte re d bus w ith t h i r t y passengers sw elled
th e t o t a l number o f C a lifo rn ia n s a tte n d in g th e s e r i e s .
^ A b ile n e Reporter-N ew s, February 21, 1922, p. 1.
90
P ric k ly P e a r , 1927, p. 84. S ix ty -fo u r " v i s i t i n g
p reach ers" were p ic tu re d on page 83.
^Prickly Pear, 1923, p. 90.
97
v i s i t i n g t h e i r c h i l d r e n w h i l e b e n e f i t i n g fro m t h e l e c t u r e s .
T he a n n u a l m e e ti n g o f t h e b o a r d o f t r u s t e e s d u r i n g l e c t u r e
w eek h a s n o t o n l y a d d e d t h e m em bers o f t h i s s i z a b l e body
t o t h e a u d i e n c e , b u t h a s a l s o a d d e d t o t h e n o rm a l L e c t u r e
s h i p e x c i t e m e n t t h e d ram a a n d s u s p e n s e o f v i r t u a l l y e v e r y
92
s i g n i f i c a n t a n n o u n c e m e n t i n t h e c o l l e g e ’s h i s t o r y . I n
a d d i t i o n , a s t h e a lu m n i o f t h e c o l l e g e fo rm e d a n e v e r -
w id e n in g c i r c l e , t h e L e c t u r e s h i p g e n e r a t e d a f o r c e w h ic h
93
h a s d raw n them b a c k t o t h e c i r c l e s c e n t e r e a c h F e b r u a r y .
T he a u d i e n c e u l t i m a t e l y cam e t o p o s s e s s n o t o n ly a b a s i c
r e l i g i o u s a g r e e m e n t , b u t a l s o a common a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e
w ork o f A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e . A 1925 s t u d e n t e d i t o
r i a l s a i d o f t h e l i s t e n e r s :
T h e s e p e o p l e t h a t come a r e t h e p e o p l e o f t h e
s t a t e m o s t i n t e r e s t e d i n ACC. T hey a r e t h e p e o p l e
t h a t c o n t r i b u t e t h e l a r g e s t p a r t o f t h e fu n d s w i t h
92
S u ch a n n o u n c e m e n ts a s S e w e l l ’ s r e s i g n a t i o n , t h e
a p p o in tm e n t o f B a x t e r an d Cox a s p r e s i d e n t , a n d M o r r is a s
v i c e - p r e s i d e n t an d t h e n p r e s i d e n t , t h e ac k n o w le d g m e n t o f
l a r g e f i n a n c i a l g i f t s , an d t h e o p e n in g o f a g r a d u a t e s c h o o l
cam e d u r i n g l e c t u r e w eek a s a r e s u l t o f t h e t r u s t e e s '
m e e t i n g s .
^ T h e 1927 P r i c k l y P e a r ( p . 8 1 ) , c o n t a i n s a p i c t u r e
o f " s i x t e e n v i s i t i n g e x - s t u d e n t s now d e v e l o p i n g i n t o s u c
c e s s f u l p r e a c h e r s . " C a l i f o r n i a C h r i s t i a n , F e b r u a r y 2 ,
1 9 5 9 , p . 1 . I n 1958 a n A lum ni Day was i n a u g u r a t e d i n
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e L e c t u r e s h i p ,
9 8
which new b u ild in g s are b u i l t . . . . I t is such
frie n d s of ACC th a t have made p o ssib le th e
growth of th is i n s t i t u t i o n . 94
The L ectureship has also provided a meeting ground
fo r the church's m issio n aries from around the world. The
1923 reunion o f Mr. and Mrs. G. C. V incent, Miss L i l l i e
C ypert, and Mrs. W illiam J. Bishop, four former m ission
a r ie s to Japan, has been d u p lic ated countless times w ith
g 1 5
hundreds of m issio n aries from scores o f c o u n trie s.
From the very f i r s t , much o f the audience has
co n sisted of farmers and townspeople from the sm all com
m unities of the Texas p la in s . C hartered buses and s p e c ia l
d eleg atio n s have re g u la rly been p rese n t from such com
m unities as Roscoe, T re n t, W inters, R ising S ta r , Hamlin,
96
W eatherford, Sweetwater, M erkel, and H atch ell. On the
o th e r hand, men of p re s tig e and p o s itio n have also formed
a share o f the lis te n e r s h ip . The p re sid e n t of a Los
Angeles co lleg e s ta te d : " I simply could not affo rd to
9^The O p tim ist, February 19, 1925, p. 1.
^ The O p tim ist, March 3, 1923. In 1924, John
S h e r iff , "a m issionary w ith headquarters in Bulawayo,
Rhodesia" was a L ectureship v i s i t o r . Abilene R eporter-
News , February 26, 1924.
98The Optimist, February 22, 1923, p. 4.
99
Q "J
m is s t h e A b ile n e l e c t u r e s w h i l e B yron N e l s o n , nwho h a s
won e v e r y m a jo r g o l f to u r n a m e n t i n A m erica'* t e s t i f i e d :
T h is i s t h e m o s t i n s p i r i n g m e e tin g I h a v e e v e r
a t t e n d e d . I f e e l t h a t I h a v e b e e n m ade a b e t t e r
man i n e v e r y r e s p e c t . I now w a n t t o l i v e b e t t e r
a n d do b e t t e r . T h e re i s a w o n d e r f u l f e e l i n g o f
f e l l o w s h i p an d c o o p e r a t i o n t h a t p r e v a i l s among t h e s e
m e e t i n g s .9 8
T h e r e f o r e , t h i s m e rg in g p l a c e o f t h e m o v e m e n t's
s m a l l an d g r e a t , t h e b i n d i n g t o g e t h e r o f a l u m n i, t r u s t e e s ,
t e a c h e r s , p r e a c h e r s , e l d e r s , m i s s i o n a r i e s , p a r e n t s , an d
s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e t i e s o f common p u r p o s e , h a s p ro m p te d
s e v e r a l o b s e r v e r s t o s i n g l e o u t t h e f e l l o w s h i p v a l u e s a s
t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n w h ic h t h e p l a t f o r m h a s m ade
99
t o t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e c h u r c h . One l i s t e n e r re m a rk e d
i n a l e t t e r t o D i r e c t o r T hom as:
1 c o u l d n o t k e e p t h e t e a r s fro m f a l l i n g a s we
l e f t F r i d a y . I f e l t t h a t God h a d b e e n s o g o o d t o
u s i n b l e s s i n g u s w i t h s o many w o n d e r f u l a s s o c i
a t i o n s , s u c h i n s p i r a t i o n a l c l a s s e s an d t e a c h e r s ,
an d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a l l e c t u r e s . To me i t w as a
v e r y i m p o r t a n t e x p e r i e n c e - - i t cam e a b o u t o n ly
b e c a u s e o f G od’ s l o v e ; i t m ade u s f e e l t h a t
n o t h i n g o n t h i s e a r t h was w o r t h o u r tim e and
97
N o rv e l Y oung, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , D ecem ber 1 4 ,
1 960.
98
A b ile n e R e p o r t e r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 5 3 , p . 6 .
99
C. Bell, personal interview, October 23, 1961.
100
e f f o r t except th e te ach in g and p reaching o f h is
word. . . .1°°
The Reading Audience
While th e immediate audience o f th e L ec tu re sh ip
has numbered in to th e th o u sa n d s, a d d itio n a l thousands not
p re s e n t to h ear th e ad d resses have n o n e th e le ss f e l t t h e i r
im pact. A bilene news s o u rc e s , church jo u r n a ls , and more
r e c e n tly , th e w ire s e rv ic e o f A sso ciated P ress have helped
to sh a re th e le c tu r e s w ith a s ig n i f i c a n t n a tio n a l audience.
In a d d itio n , th e re has been a broad d if f u s io n o f th e ideas
p re se n te d on th e p la tfo rm by th e e l d e r s , and o th e r l i s t e n
e rs who have re tu rn e d to t h e i r homes follow ing the
a s se m b lie s.
The id eas and in s p i r a tio n o f th e le c tu r e s have been
spread in a more form al way, however, through th e re g u la r
^ ^ L e c tu r e s , 1955, " P re fa c e ."
101
For example, B a ts e ll B a r r e tt B a x te r, p reach er
fo r th e H ills b o ro Church in N a s h v ille , T ennessee, re tu rn e d
from th e 1956 L e c tu re sh ip and made a f u l l and form al r e p o r t
in a sermon about " th e in s p i r a tio n and in s t r u c tio n th a t I
re c e iv e d along w ith th e e ig h t thousand o th e rs who were
th e r e ." "A R eport from th e W est," a mimeographed copy o f
th e sermon d e liv e re d by B a ts e ll B a r r e tt B axter on
F ebruary 26, 1956, a t th e H illsb o ro Church o f C h r is t,
N a s h v ille , T ennessee, and heard over ra d io s t a t i o n W LAK.
101
L e c tu r e s h ip p u b l i c a t i o n , th e A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e
B ib le L e c t u r e s . J e s s e P , S e w e ll in tr o d u c e d t h e f i r s t
volum e in 1919 w ith th e f o llo w in g s t a t e m e n t :
I t i s w ith an e a r n e s t d e s i r e t h a t i t may
c o n t r i b u t e so m e th in g t o th e e x t e n s io n and
e x a l t a t i o n o f th e kingdom o f C h r i s t t h a t we
se n d f o r t h t h i s t h e f i r s t volum n [s i c ] o f
A .C .C . L e c t u r e s . We ho p e e a c h y e a r t o p r e s e n t
a s i m i l a r volum e. In t h i s way we t r u s t to add
so m e th in g o f p erm a n en t v a l u e t o C h r i s t i a n
L i t e r a t u r e .102
T h ro u g h o u t th e f o r t y - t h r e e y e a r s o f L e c tu r e s h ip
s p e a k in g , t h e a d d r e s s e s f o r t h i r t y - s i x o f th e program s h av e
b e e n p r e s e r v e d i n book form . The se v e n y e a r s i n w h ich th e
l e c t u r e s w ere n o t p u b lis h e d w ere 1 9 1 8 , 1 9 3 0 -1 9 3 2 , and
1947-1949. From 1920 th ro u g h 1 929, two volum es w ere p u b
l i s h e d u n d e r one c o v e r b e c a u s e i t " g iv e s o u r f r i e n d s th e
b e n e f i t o f th e s a v in g i n c o s t . " I n 1 9 3 1 , The O p tim is t
h o p e f u l l y s t a t e d : " L a s t y e a r 's l e c t u r e s h av e n o t b e e n pub
l i s h e d y e t , b u t w i l l b e p u b lis h e d i n th e same volum e w ith
t h i s y e a r ' s . " ^ James F. Cox h e lp e d t o e x p l a i n th e
102
J e s s e P. S e w e ll, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " L e c t u r e s ,
1919, p . 5 .
103
F. L. Rowe, " P u b l i s h e r 's A nnouncem ent,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 2 -2 3 , p . 3 . L e c tu r e s w ere p u b lis h e d i n th e
f o llo w in g tw o -y e a r c o m b in a tio n s : 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 , 1 9 2 2 -1 9 2 3 ,
1 9 2 4 -1 9 2 5 , 1 9 2 6 -1 9 2 7 , and 1928-1929.
104The Optimist, February 19, 1931, p. 1.
102
f a i l u r e o f th e se p lans to m a te r ia liz e by sim ply s t a t i n g
" th a t th e h a rd e s t y e a r o f th e school was from 1931 to 1932
when I was d e a n .1 1 ^ ^ The d e p re ssio n a lso p ro h ib ite d
p ro d u ctio n o f th e L ec tu re s in 1932. P u b lic a tio n was
resumed in s in g le volumes in 1933 and continued through
1944. A fte r th e 1946 s e r ie s was p u b lis h e d , one o f th e most
u n fo rtu n a te anom alies in th e h is t o r y o f th e i n s t i t u t i o n was
th e f a i l u r e to p re se rv e th e m anuscripts o f 1947-1949 in
106
permanent form. The o f f i c i a l le c tu r e book was p u b lish ed
w ith in c re a s in g ly more e la b o ra te form at and in g r e a te r
volume from 1950 through 1961.
Four p u b lis h in g companies have p a r tic ip a t e d in th e
p ro d u ctio n o f th e A bilene C h r is tia n C ollege B ib le L e c tu re s .
The f i r s t p u b lis h e r was F. L. Rowe, e d ito r o f th e C h ris tia n
L e a d e r, C in c in n a ti, Ohio, who p re se n te d th e volumes from
1919 through 1923. I t was Rowe’s ta s k to c o l l e c t th e
■^Guy N. S cruggs, op. c i t . , p. 177.
i nfi
Don H. M o rris, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , O ctober 23,
1961. At th a t tim e , p re p a ra tio n o f th e le c tu r e s f o r pub
l i c a t i o n was com pletely in th e hands o f a young adm inis
t r a t i o n which was s tru g g lin g to fin d room, b o a rd , fa c u lty
and classroom f a c i l i t i e s fo r a stu d e n t body which had
doubled alm ost o v e rn ig h t due to th e p o st-w ar e d u c a tio n a l
su rg e. As P re s id e n t M orris expressed i t : "We sim ply l o s t
s ig h t o f th e v a lu e o f th e le c tu r e s to subsequent h is to r y
in th e f ig h t to meet th e p re s s in g d ay -to -d ay problem s."
103
m a n u s c rip ts a f t e r t h e i r d e l i v e r y , e d i t th em , and b e a r
107
c o m p le te f i n a n c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n .
A lth o u g h Rowe p u b lis h e d o n ly a few h u n d red volum es each
y e a r , h e p ro p h e s ie d in 1923 t h a t th e y w ould " l i v e f o r
y e a r s . . . ad o rn many l i b r a r i e s and b e found in e v e ry
,,108
s e c t i o n o f th e w o rld .
The F irm F o u n d a tio n , an A u s tin , T e x a s , com pany,
w hich h as p ro d u ced tw e n t y - f iv e o f th e t h i r t y - s i x l e c t u r e
s e r i e s , p u b lis h e d th e 1924-1925 l e c t u r e s . G. H. P . Sho-
w a l t e r , e d i t o r o f th e F irm F o u n d a tio n , i n h e r i t e d from Rowe
th e t a s k o f c o l l e c t i n g and e d i t i n g th e m a n u s c r ip ts and
assum ed f u l l f i n a n c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r p u b l i c a
t i o n . In 1927 S h o w a lte r w ro te :
The p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e s e l e c t u r e s in book form
h a s b ee n m et w ith a s a t i s f a c t i o n and a p p r e c i a t i o n
t h a t j u s t i f i e s t h i s more p erm a n en t form and m ethod
o f p r e s e r v a t i o n . . . . The v a r i e t y o f s u b j e c t s and
th e v a r io u s s p e a k e r s g iv e v a r i e t y i n p o i n t o f view
and i n ap p ro a c h to th e them es c o n s id e r e d t h a t
107
J e s s e P . S e w e ll, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 3 ,
1961. The c o l l e g e a p p a r e n tly was t o r e c e i v e a s m a ll
r o y a l t y from th e p u b l i c a t i o n b e c a u s e S e w e ll w ro te in 1919
t h a t i f any p r o f i t w ere made i t w ould b e a p p l ie d to th e
r e l i g i o u s book s e c t i o n o f th e l i b r a r y . " I n t r o d u c t i o n , "
L e c tu re s . 1919, pp. 5 -6 .
1°&F. L. Rowe, " P u b l i s h e r 's A nnouncem ent,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 2 -1 9 2 3 , p p . 3 -4 .
104
makes them u n iq u e in th e l i t e r a t u r e o f th e
b ro th e rh o o d o f th e churches o f C h r i s t . 3-09
A fte r th e Firm F o u ndation had p re s e n te d a l l o f th e
p r in te d volumes from 1924 th ro u g h 1934, James F. Cox
d ec id ed t h a t th e c o lle g e sh o u ld r e t a i n f u l l f i n a n c i a l
b e n e f i ts and a tte m p t i t s own p u b lic a t io n o f th e 1935
s e r i e s . Homer E. Moore, e d i t o r o f th e C h r is t ia n W orker,
W ic h ita , K ansas, w ro te i n th e 1935 volume:
The c o lle g e p r e s e n ts t h i s volume to th e p u b lic
in o rd e r t h a t a b e t t e r u n d e rsta n d in g o f i t s h ig h
aims and id e a ls may be r e a l i z e d by th e g e n e ra l
m asses as w e ll as th e ch u rch .
The A b ilen e C h r is t ia n C o lleg e P re s s a ls o p u b lis h e d
th e 1936 volume " w ith th e work b e in g done by th e lo c a l
p r i n t shop u nder th e s u p e rv is io n o f P au l M o o r e ." ^ ^ In
1937 th e c o lle g e produced th e s e r i e s in c o n ju n c tio n w ith
112
the World Vision Company, of Nashville, Tennessee.
■^^G. H. P. S h o w a lte r, " P u b lis h e r ’s Announcement,"
L e c tu re s , 1926-1927, p. 5.
■^^Homer E. Moore, "Introduction," Lectures, 1935,
p. 3.
l l l lh e O p tim is t, F ebruary 27 , 1936, p. 3.
117
James F. Cox, "F orew ord," L e c tu re s , 1937, p. 3.
T his volume i s u n iq u e in t h a t i t i s th e o nly one o f th e
s e r i e s to c o n ta in com m ercial a d v e rtis e m e n ts .
105
A f t e r t h e F irm F o u n d a tio n h a d p u b l i s h e d t h e l e c t u r e s fro m
1938 th r o u g h 1 9 4 4 , t h e a d d r e s s e s f o r t h e f i r s t p o s t - w a r
L e c t u r e s h i p i n 1946 w e re p u b l i s h e d b y t h e O ld P a th s Book
C lu b , K an sas C i t y , M i s s o u r i . I n 1 9 5 0 , t h e F irm F o u n d a tio n
a g a i n assum ed p u b l i c a t i o n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , an d p r o d u c e d t h e
v o lu m e s th r o u g h 1 959. S in c e 1 9 6 0 , t h e A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
r
113
C o l le g e P r e s s h a s b e e n t h e p u b l i s h e r o f t h e s e r i e s .
P r i o r t o 1956 t h e l e c t u r e s w e re c o l l e c t e d a f t e r
t h e i r d e l i v e r y , and t h e d a t e o f p u b l i c a t i o n , w h ic h r a n g e d
fro m two m o n th s t o two y e a r s f o l l o w i n g t h e L e c t u r e s h i p ,
was g o v e rn e d b y t h e s p e a k e r s ' p r o m p tn e s s i n s u b m i t t i n g t h e
m a n u s c r ip ts .* - * ^ The d e l a y i n p u b l i c a t i o n n o t o n ly a llo w e d
a s p e a k e r t h e p r i v i l e g e o f an u n c h e c k e d a l t e r a t i o n o f h i s
a c t u a l u t t e r a n c e , b u t a l s o made t h e c i r c u l a t i o n an d s a l e s
113
J . D. T hom as, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 5 ,
1 9 6 1 . Thomas e x p l a i n e d t h a t s i n c e t h e c o l l e g e was in v o lv e d
i n a s s i g n i n g t h e s p e e c h e s an d c o l l e c t i n g t h e m a n u s c r i p t s ,
t h a t i t s h o u ld r e c e i v e t h e f i n a n c i a l a s s e t s o f t h e
p u b l i c a t i o n .
■^^G. H. P . S h o w a l t e r , " P r e f a c e , " L e c t u r e s , 1940.
"O ur th a n k s an d a p p r e c i a t i o n a r e h e r e b y e x p r e s s e d f o r t h e
p ro m p tn e s s w i t h w h ic h t h e v a r i o u s s p e a k e r s p l a c e d i n o u r
h a n d s t h e m a n u s c r i p t s w h ic h h a s e n a b le d u s t o h a v e t h e
b o o k r e a d y w i t h i n t h i r t y d a y s fro m t h e tim e t h e l e c t u r e s
w e re d e l i v e r e d . " (A lth o u g h i t was c u s to m a r y f o r t h e volu m e
t o a p p e a r i n t h e summer f o l l o w i n g t h e s e r i e s , t h e 1938
l e c t u r e s w e re n o t p r i n t e d u n t i l O c to b e r o f 1 9 3 9 .)
106
o f th e books more d i f f i c u l t . Of c o u r s e , " n o t a l l o f th e
l e c t u r e s d e l i v e r e d " w ere a b le to b e p u b lis h e d s i n c e "some
o f th o s e d e l i v e r i n g l e c t u r e s d id n o t re s p o n d w ith t h e i r
115
m a n u s c r ip ts ." A lth o u g h t h i s was l a r g e l y due to n e g l e c t
o r p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n , a few o f th e s p e a k e r s a p p a r e n tly d id
n o t w ant to p e rm a n e n tly and p u b l i c l y p r e s e r v e t h e i r A b ile n e
com m ents.
The books h av e n e v e r b ee n p u b lis h e d in u n u s u a lly
l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s . P r i o r t o 1946, when th e Old P a th s Book
Club p ro d u ced 2 ,0 0 0 volum es , no more th a n f i v e h u n d red
c o p ie s o f a s i n g l e volum e had b een p u b lis h e d . In 1926 th e
p u b l i s h e r w ro te :
We a r e a t t h i s t i m e , J a n u a r y , 1926, i n a
p o s i t i o n to f u r n i s h c o m p le te s e t s o r any volum e
to c o m p le te any b ro k e n s e t t h a t any o f o u r
r e a d e r s may h a v e . When o u r p r e s e n t s u p p ly i s
g o n e , th e books w i l l p r o b a b ly n o t be r e p r i n t e d
as no p l a t e s h av e b ee n m ade, and th e books w i l l
b e s c a r c e .
115B a t s e l l B a x te r , " P r e f a c e ," L e c tu re s , 1924-1925 ,
p . 3.
116
Don H. M o rris , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 5 ,
1961. M o rris s u g g e s ts t h a t N. B. H ardem an, p r i n c i p a l
s p e a k e r i n 1924, was one who p r e f e r r e d n o t to h av e h i s
l e c t u r e s p u b lis h e d .
H. P . S h o w a lte r , " P u b lis h e r s A nnouncem ent,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 4-1925, p p . 5 -6 .
107
T w e n ty -fiv e y e a rs l a t e r , S h o w a lte r w ro te :
Those who a r e f o r t u n a t e enough to have a
co m p lete s e t o f th e s e f i n e g o s p e l serm ons a r e
p o s s e s s e d o f a t r e a s u r e in r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e .
Only a few o f th e l a t e r y e a rs c a n n o t be s u p p lie d .
The r e s t a r e numbered amont th e " r a r e books" and
we f r e q u e n tly have c a l l s f o r them , b u t , o f c o u r s e ,
c a n n o t su p p ly th e m .liS
A pp ro x im ately 1,500 c o p ie s have b een p u b lis h e d each
y e a r s in c e 1950, w ith th e e x c e p tio n o f 1959, when 2,500
1 1 Q
c o p ie s w ere p r i n t e d . In 1960 th e 1,500 c o p ie s o f th e
o r i g i n a l e d i t i o n w ere s o ld b e f o r e th e c lo s e o f l e c t u r e
w eek, and s i x hundred r e p r i n t s w ere a l s o q u ic k ly d i s t r i b -
120
u te d . The p r i c e o f th e book h a s ra n g e d as low as
s e v e n ty - f i v e c e n ts f o r p ap e rb a ck s to a h ig h o f th r e e
121
d o l l a r s p e r copy.
118
G. H. P . S h o w a lte r, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , ” L e c t u r e s ,
1950. In 1955, R euel Lemmons, S h o w a lte r1s s u c c e s s o r ,
w ro te : " I t i s o u r p r e d i c t i o n t h a t in g e n e r a tio n s to come,
volum es o f th e s e l e c t u r e s w i l l b e tr e a s u r e d 'c o l l e c t o r 's
i t e m s . '" " I n t r o d u c t i o n ," L e c tu re s , 1955.
119
P r i v a t e l e t t e r from M iss E s th e r R ic k e ts o n , Firm
F o u n d atio n P u b lis h in g H ouse, F e b ru a ry 1 , 1962. A lso
p r i v a t e l e t t e r from John A lle n H udson, Old P a th s Book
C lu b , Ja n u a ry 1 8 , 1962.
120
B ecause o f th e h i s t o r i c a l n a tu r e o f th e 1962
s e r i e s , 3,000 c o p ie s w i l l be p r i n t e d .
121 ^ 6 O p t i m i s t , F eb ru ary 2 7 , 1926, p. 1. In 1926
t h r e e volum es c o u ld b e p u rc h a se d f o r $ 1 .5 0 . Thomas ex
p l a i n s t h a t th e d e s i r e f o r q u ic k d i s t r i b u t i o n and w ide
c i r c u l a t i o n c a u ses th e book to rem ain " u n d e r p r ic e d ."
108
As might be expected, th e b e s t market fo r th e
le c tu r e book has been among those who were p rese n t to hear
th e addresses. Sewell s a id o f the f i r s t volume:
P r a c tic a lly a l l who are p re se n t fo r ACC L ecture
Week d e s ire to keep th e le c tu r e s . The f i r s t order
was fo r fiv e volumes , from a gentleman who was
p rese n t and d e sire d a volume fo r each of h is
c h ild r e n .122
The published le c tu re s have also shared the p la tfo rm 's
123
ideas w ith many not in the immediate audience, however.
*
O ccasio n ally , congregations have purchased copies o f the
le c tu re s as s p e c ia l re fe re n c e works fo r the church lib r a r y .
The volumes o f 1933 on the church and 1937 on m issionary
work, w ith "questions fo r d iscu ssio n " follow ing each le c
tu r e , were designed as s p e c ia l workbooks, and d is trib u te d
as classroom te x ts . The 1959 volume, described as "th e
most im portant m a tte r of any s iz e th a t has been produced
in re c e n t years on the su b je c t of m issionary work in the
122
Je sse P. Sew ell, " In tro d u c tio n ," L e c tu re s ,
1919, p. 5.
123
Troy M. Cummings, personal l e t t e r to J . D.
Thomas, September 26, 1960. S everal months a f t e r the
L e c tu re sh ip , Cummings, who was not p re s e n t, had c a re fu lly
stu d ie d the addresses and p ro ffe re d se v e ra l p o in ts o f
te c h n ic a l s c i e n t i f i c c r itic is m o f Thomas' address on "The
P resen t S tatu s o f Organic E v o lu tio n ."
109
10/
b r o t h e r h o o d , 1 r e c e i v e d w id e c i r c u l a t i o n a s a s p e c i a l
h a n d b o o k on m e th o d s an d p ro b le m s o f m i s s i o n s . L e c t u r e s h i p
v i s i t o r s h a v e a l s o b e e n e n c o u ra g e d t o " s e e t h a t t h e c o p y
o f t h i s g r e a t l i n e o f l e c t u r e s i s p l a c e d i n t h e i r l o c a l ,
125
m u n i c i p a l , s c h o o l , c o l l e g e , o r o t h e r p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s . "
V is i o n , O c t o b e r , 1 9 5 8 , p . 3 .
•*~^F irm F o u n d a t i o n , M arch 4 , 1 9 5 2 , p . 2 .
CHAPTER V
THE LECTURESHIP SPEAKERS
The P la tf o r m s "H all o f Fame*1
In f o rty - th r e e years o f L ectu resh ip speechm aking,
322 speakers have d e liv e re d 689 formal le c tu r e s . More
than h a l f o f the t o t a l number of s p e a k e rs , s p e c if ic a lly
181, made but one appearance a t th e L ec tu re sh ip . F u rth e r
more, seventy o f th e rem aining speakers d e liv e re d b u t two
addresses each. T h erefo re, a r e l a t i v e l y sm all number of
sp e a k e rs, only s ix ty -s e v e n , to be e x a c t, d e liv e re d more
than two speeches e a c h , c o lle c tiv e ly producing more than
one h a lf o f th e L ectu resh ip ad d resses.
Worthy o f p a r tic u la r mention are seventeen speakers
who d e liv e re d a t le a s t seven le c tu re s each. Heading th is
group was G. C. Brewer, w ith a t o t a l o f seventeen main
ad d resses. Grover Cleveland Brewer f i r s t appeared on th e
program in 1921, a t th e age of th ir ty -s e v e n . T h irty -fo u r
110
Ill
y e a r s l a t e r , h e made h i s l a s t A b ile n e a p p e a r a n c e , a few
m o n th s p r i o r t o h i s d e a t h . A c c la im e d a s o n e o f t h e o u t
s t a n d i n g men o f t h e b r o t h e r h o o d , B rew er was n a t i o n a l l y
known a s a l e c t u r e r and d e b a t e r . ^ I n 1 9 2 8 , h e m e t J u d g e
Ben L in d s e y i n a Lyceum d e b a t e on t h e " c o m p a n io n a te
m a r r i a g e " q u e s t i o n . B rew er w as n o te d f o r h i s l e c t u r e s on
t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e B i b l e an d s c i e n c e , an d was
2
o n e o f t h e e a r l i e s t A m e ric a n a n ti-c o m m u n ism c r u s a d e r s .
B r e w e r 's c l o s e s t r i v a l f o r t h e h o n o r o f d e l i v e r i n g
t h e m o s t A b ile n e l e c t u r e s was E . W. M c M illa n , w i t h tw e lv e
a d d r e s s e s . M c M illa n 's c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e p l a t f o r m
s p a n n e d a p e r i o d o f t h i r t y - s i x y e a r s . He f i r s t a p p e a r e d ,
a t t h e a g e o f t h i r t y - s i x , i n 1 9 23; an d h e l a s t s p o k e on
t h e 1959 p ro g ra m . S ev en o t h e r s p e a k e r s d e l i v e r e d a t l e a s t
e i g h t l e c t u r e s e a c h . T hey w e re F. B. S h e p h e r d , w i t h e l e v e n
s p e e c h e s ; J e s s e P . S e w e l l , H a l l L . C a lh o u n , an d C h a r le s H.
R o b e r s o n , w i t h t e n l e c t u r e s ; Jam es F . C ox, w i t h n i n e
s p e e c h e s ; and Jo h n H. B a n i s t e r , G le n L . W a lla c e , and A. R.
■^Warren S. J o n e s , "G. C. B re w e r: L e c t u r e r ,
D e b a t e r , P r e a c h e r " ( u n p u b lis h e d P h .D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , Wayne
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 5 0 ) , p . 5 0 .
2
G. C. B re w e r, A u to b io g r a p h y o f G. C. B r e w e r .
( M u r f r e e s b o r o , T e n n e s s e e : D eH off P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 5 7 ).
112
H olton, who spoke e ig h t tim es each. Seven men d e liv e re d
seven addresses each: B a ts e ll B ax ter, E arly Arceneaux,
W . D. Campbell, C. M. P u l l i a s , Paul S outhern, Athens Clay
P u l l i a s , and M . Norvel Young.
Of th is e l i t e group, th e e ig h t le c tu r e s o f A. R.
Holton spanned more years than those of^any o th e r sp e ak er,
a p erio d o f fo rty -o n e y e a rs . Holton f i r s t le c tu re d a t the
age of tw e n ty -e ig h t, during th e 1919 s e r i e s , and made h is
l a s t appearance a t th e 1960 L e c tu re sh ip .
Led by Brewer, McMillan, and H olton, th ese seven
teen speakers produced alm ost one fo u rth o f th e Abilene
le c tu r e s , a t o t a l o f 151 ad d resses. In a very r e a l se n se ,
they com prise the ’’L ectu resh ip h a l l o f fam e.”
Also d eserving s p e c ia l mention a re th e s ix te e n men
who appeared on th e L ectu resh ip program in th e p rin c ip a l
le c tu r e r r o le . The custom o f in v itin g one speaker to serve
as p r in c ip a l le c tu r e r was o rig in a te d w ith the s e rie s of
1919, d isco n tin u ed a f t e r the 1934 program, b u t tem p o rarily
rev iv ed fo r th e programs of 1943, 1948, and 1949. The
p r in c ip a l le c tu r e r s and the years in which they appeared
were as follow s: G. D allas Smith, 1919; M. C. K u rfee s,
113
3
1920; F . W. S m ith , 1921; W. D. C a m p b e ll, 1923; N. B.
H ardem an, 1924; Jo h n T . H in d s , 1925; S. P . P i t t m a n , 1926;
H a l l L . C a lh o u n , 1927; C. M. P u l l i a s , 1928; H a l l L .
C a lh o u n , 1929; J . P a u l S la y d e n , 1930; G. C. B re w e r, 1931;
S. H. H a l l , 1932; E a r l y A rc e n e a u x , 1933; G. C. B re w e r,
1934; J . P . S a n d e r s , 1943; J o h n H. B a n i s t e r , 1 9 48; and
A th e n s C la y P u l l i a s , 1949.
O nly two m en, H a ll L . C a lh o u n i n 1 9 2 7 , an d 1 9 2 9 ,
and G. C. B rew er i n 1931 an d 1 9 3 4 , s e r v e d a s p r i n c i p a l
l e c t u r e r f o r m ore t h a n on e s e r i e s . I n t e r e s t i n g l y , e i g h t
o f t h e s e m en, G. D a l l a s S m ith , K u r f e e s , F . W. S m ith ,
H ardem an, H in d s , P i t t m a n , S la y d e n , and H a l l made t h e i r
o n ly a p p e a r a n c e a t t h e L e c t u r e s h i p i n t h e p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r
r o l e . The r e m a in in g n i n e s p e a k e r s n o t o n ly a p p e a r e d a s
p r i n c i p a l l e c t u r e r b u t r e t u r n e d on o n e o r m ore o c c a s i o n s
t o d e l i v e r s i n g l e s p e e c h e s . S ev en o f th e m , B re w e r,
C a lh o u n , C. M. P u l l i a s , W. D. C a m p b e ll, E a r l y A rc e n e a u x ,
Jo h n H. B a n i s t e r , an d A th e n s C la y P u l l i a s a c h ie v e d m em ber
s h i p i n t h e e l i t e g ro u p o f s p e a k e r s who d e l i v e r e d a t l e a s t
s e v e n l e c t u r e s e a c h .
o
W. D. C am p b ell was s c h e d u le d as p r i n c i p a l
l e c t u r e r f o r t h e 1922 s e r i e s . When h e c o u ld n o t a p p e a r
b e c a u s e o f i l l n e s s , h e was i n v i t e d f o r t h e 1923 p ro g ra m .
114
S e v e ra l fa m ilie s have c o n trib u te d more th a n one
member to th e lin e u p o f L e c tu re s h ip s p e a k e r s . For
in s ta n c e , n in e sons o f form er le c tu r e r s l a t e r g ain ed
p o s itio n s on th e program th e m selv es. P erh ap s th e dream o f
some day sp e ak in g was f i r s t p la n te d in th e minds o f th e s e
sons when th ey v i s i t e d th e L e c tu re s h ip and lis te n e d to
t h e i r f a t h e r s ' a d d re s s e s . The A b ile n e R eporter-N ew s s ta te d
in 1934:
A sp e a k e r on t o n i g h t 's program w i l l be B a ts e ll
B a x te r, form er p r e s id e n t o f th e c o lle g e . Mr.
B a x te r, who i s now head o f D avid Lipscomb C o lle g e ,
N a s h v ille , T e n n e sse e , a r r iv e d Tuesday ev e n in g .
W ith him w ere h is w ife and t h e i r s o n , B a ts e ll
B a r r e t t .^
In 1947, B a ts e ll B a r r e t t B a x te r, fo llo w in g in h is
f a t h e r 's f o o ts t e p s , d e liv e r e d h is f i r s t A b ile n e l e c tu r e .
T o g eth er th e B a x ters have c o n trib u te d a t o t a l o f te n
a d d re s se s to th e L e c tu re s h ip a n th o lo g ie s . In 1952, James
W . N ich o ls in tro d u c e d h is le c t u r e w ith th e fo llo w in g w ords:
T w en ty -six y e a rs ago t h i s week my f a t h e r , Elm er
Lee N ic h o ls , sto o d in th e a u d ito riu m on th e o ld
campus , and d e liv e r e d h is f i r s t L e c tu re s h ip ad d re ss
on "The Man o f G a lile e ." He, to o , was tw e n ty -fo u r
y e a rs o f ag e. A lthough I do n o t remember him , t h i s
o c c a sio n b rin g s to my h e a r t memories t h a t have been
e s ta b lis h e d by th e words o f h is f r ie n d s . As I
^Abilene Reporter-News, February 22, 1933, p. 6.
115
r e c e n t l y r e a d h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y re m a rk s on t h a t
o c c a s i o n , I was c o n v in c e d t h a t I c o u ld i n no
way b e t t e r e x p r e s s my g r a t e f u l n e s s th a n b y h i s
own w o rd s . . .5
I n a d d i t i o n to th e B a x te r s and N i c h o l s , t h e f o llo w
in g f a t h e r - s o n c o m b in a tio n s h a v e made w id e ly s e p a r a te d
a p p e a ra n c e s on t h e L e c t u r e s h i p : W arren E . S ta r n e s and
T r i n e S t a r n e s ; L . S . W h ite an d J o s e p h W. W h ite ; H. E.
S p e c k , S r . and H enry E . S p e c k , J r . ; Jo h n T . S m ith s o n , S r .
and Jo h n T . S m ith s o n , J r . ; Gus N ic h o ls an d H ardem an
N ic h o ls ; J o e M alone and Avon M alo n e.
One f a t h e r , Foy W a lla c e , S r . , h ad two s o n s , F o y ,
J r . and C le d E . W a lla c e , t o m ake L e c tu r e s h ip a p p e a r a n c e s .
I n f a c t , th e W a lla c e c l a n , i n c l u d i n g k in sm e n G. K. ,
G len L . , and P a u l L . , a c h ie v e d th e h o n o r o f f a m ily p r o -
l i f i c i t y w ith an a g g r e g a te o f s e v e n te e n a d d r e s s e s . Many
o f t h e l e c t u r e r s h a v e h ad u n c le s , b r o t h e r s , c o u s i n s ,
g r a n d s o n s , o r nephew s among t h e i r L e c t u r e s h i p c o l l e a g u e s .
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e S p e a k e rs
O nly two c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere fo u n d t o b e common
to a l l 319 s p e a k e r s . F i r s t , a l l o f th em w e re o f th e m a le
^Jam es W. N ic h o ls , "T he Pow er o f R a d io ," L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 5 2 , p . 204.
sex. Second, a l l o f them were members o f churches of
C h rist a t th e tim e o f t h e ir L ectu resh ip appearances. Not
only was i t e s s e n tia l th a t th e speakers be members o f th e
church, b u t i t was a lso im portant th a t they be "above
su sp ic io n o f lib e r a l o r d ig re s s iv e te n d e n c ie s." An
example o f th e c a u tio n ex e rc ise d concerning a p ro sp ec tiv e
sp e a k e r's d o c trin a l views was seen in th e nom ination of
H all L. Calhoun as p rin c ip a l le c tu r e r in 1927. Calhoun
had become id e n tif ie d w ith th e more l i b e r a l wing o f the
d is c ip le s movement follow ing th e 1906 s p l i t . In 19.27, he
was d escrib ed in th e c o lle g e newspaper as "one o f th e
r ip e s t sc h o lars o f our b re th re n who use th e organ in
w orship and th e M issionary S o ciety in p ra c tic e . . . about
two y ears ago he d e f in ite ly severed h is connection w ith our
tra n s g re s s iv e b re th re n ." ^ D espite C alhoun's apparent con
v e rsio n to a more c o n serv a tiv e p o in t o f view , because h is
work had form erly been w ith th e C h ris tia n Church, "con
s id e ra b le co n tro v ersy " accompanied h is nom ination as a
O
L ectu resh ip speaker,
^Je sse P. S ew ell, p erso n al in te rv ie w , October 23,
1961.
^The O p tim ist, January 27, 1927, p. 1.
®R. C. Bell, personal interview, October 23, 1961.
117
I n a n a p p a r e n t e f f o r t t o i n s u r e C a lh o u n ’ s d o c t r i n a l
s o u n d n e s s , a l e t t e r w r i t t e n b y C a lh o u n t o N. B. H ardem an
*
c o n c e r n in g a t e a c h i n g p o s i t i o n a t F re e d -H a rd e m a n C o l le g e
w as s e c u r e d a n d p u b l i s h e d . C a lh o u n t e s t i f i e d :
I do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t i n s t r u m e n t a l m u s ic i s a n y
p a r t o f t h e o r d a i n e d w o r s h ip o f God o r t h a t i t i s
p e r m i s s i b l e t o u s e i n w o r s h i p . My o b s e r v a t i o n o f
i t s u s e l e a d s me t o b e l i e v e t h a t i t te n d s to w a rd
f o r m a lis m a n d show a n d t h a t i t l e a d s away fro m an d
h i n d e r s r a t h e r t h a n h e l p s t h e t r u e s p i r i t u a l w o r
s h i p . I b e l i e v e t h a t h u m a n ly o r g a n i z e d m i s s i o n a r y
s o c i e t i e s l e a d t o e c c l e s i a s t i c i s m a n d hum an
a u t h o r i t y i n r e l i g i o n a n d t h a t t h e i r u s e i s n o t a
h e l p b u t a h i n d r a n c e t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e t r u t h .
I h a v e r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t w h e re I am r e s o l v e d to
a s s o c i a t e m y s e lf w i t h t h o s e who a r e s t a n d i n g f o r
t h o s e t h i n g s f o r w h ic h we c a n g i v e a p l a i n , ’’T hus
s a i t h t h e L o r d ." ^
A lth o u g h a n e f f o r t w as m ade t o c h o o s e a s s p e a k e r s
"m en i n whom we may s a f e l y p l a c e o u r t r u s t a n d c o n
f i d e n c e , 1 1 ^ s e v e r a l o f t h e m o s t c a u s t i c c r i t i c s o f t h e
p l a t f o r m h a v e b e e n f o r m e r L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k e r s . From t h e
d o z e n o r m o re s p e a k e r s w h o , s u b s e q u e n t t o t h e i r L e c t u r e s h i p
a p p e a r a n c e s , h a v e s e v e r e d f e l l o w s h i p w i t h t h e d o c t r i n a l
p o s i t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h a s i n t e r p r e t e d i n t h e L e c t u r e s h i p
s p e e c h m a k in g , tw o s t r a n g e l y d i v e r g e n t c r i t i c i s m s h a v e
^The Optimist, January 27, 1927, p. 1.
■^Homer E. Moore, "Introduction,1 1 Lectures, 1935,
p. 3.
1X 8
emerged. On th e one hand, th e p la tfo rm has been roundly
a tta c k e d as a seedbed o f lib e ra lis m and m o d e rn istic doc-
11
t r i n e . C onversely, and much le s s vehem ently, a handful
o f form er speakers have come to view th e L ec tu resh ip as a
"house organ o f narrow-minded fundam entalism and r a d ic a l
1 9
cons erv a t ism .
Church membership, w hile th e most g e n e ra l, was
c e r ta in ly n o t th e most s ig n if ic a n t c r i t e r i o n a p p lied to
th e s e le c tio n o f sp e ak ers.
W ith re fe re n c e to th e 1918 s e r i e s , Je s s e P. Sew ell
ex p lain e d : "Every speaker was chosen fo r a good reason.
W e sim ply made an e f f o r t to g e t th e b e s t men in th e
broth erh o o d . In 1919, Sew ell w ro te, "B re th re n , p reach
ers and laymen, who a re o u tstan d in g in t h e i r C h ris tia n
liv in g and teach in g a re in v ite d to d e liv e r th e l e c t u r e s . " ^
Four decades l a t e r , d ir e c to r J. D. Thomas echoed S ew ell's
emphasis on q u a lity : "We tr y n o t to have anybody on our
•^ Gospel G uardian, O ctober 17, 1956, p. 14.
12
C arl L. E t t e r , p erso n a l in te rv ie w , January 13,
1962.
13
Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 23,
1961.
“ ^ Lectures , 1919, p. 5.
119
15
p ro g ra m u n l e s s we know h e c a n k n o c k a h o m e - r u n ."
I n t r o d u c i n g t h e 1961 l e c t u r e b o o k , Thom as s t a t e d : "T h e
C o m m itte e f e e l s t h a t t h e b r o t h e r h o o d d e s e r v e s i n t h e
p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e ACC L e c t u r e P ro g ra m t h e v e r y ’ to p - m o s t
1 f i
q u a l i t y 1 m a t e r i a l s . . ."
O f c o u r s e , t h e r e h a v e o f t e n b e e n i n f l u e n c e s o t h e r
t h a n a b i l i t y w h ic h h a v e h e l p e d t o s e c u r e p o s i t i o n s o n t h e
p ro g ra m . O c c a s i o n a l l y , i n t h e e a r l y y e a r s , i n f l u e n t i a l
p r e a c h e r s w e re i n v i t e d " b e c a u s e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e i r
f r i e n d s h i p w o u ld b e b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e aim s a n d f u t u r e o f
t h e c o l l e g e . A s a g e n e r a l r u l e , h o w e v e r, t h e g u i d i n g
m o tiv e o f t h o s e d i r e c t i n g t h e p ro g ra m s h a s b e e n t o s e l e c t ,
w i t h i n t h e fra m e w o rk o f t h e a c c e p t e d d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n ,
t h e m o s t a b l e men a v a i l a b l e t o d e a l w i t h t h e t o p i c s u n d e r
c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
From t h e v e r y b e g i n n in g a n i n v i t a t i o n t o a p p e a r on
t h e A b ile n e p l a t f o r m h a s b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a p r e s t i g e a s s i g n
m e n t i n t h e b r o t h e r h o o d . One o b s e r v e r f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e
1 5
A b ile n e R e p o r te r - N e w s , F e b r u a r y 1 9 , 1 9 5 9 , p . 3 .
16
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 6 1 .
1 7
Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 23,
.1961.
120
e n t i r e h is to r y o f th e p la tfo rm was im pressed w ith "how
1 8
keen th e p reac h e rs a re to g e t on th e program ." In 1934,
" o f a l l th e p re a c h e rs Cox c o n ta c te d fo r th e program , only
19
o n e, C. M . P u l l i a s , was u n ab le to a c c e p t." Thomas s ta te d
in 1959: "We r a r e ly have anybody tu rn us down. The few
in s ta n c e s I can r e c a l l in seven y e a rs as d ir e c to r were fo r
20
h e a lth re a s o n s ."
For purposes o.f d i s t i n c t i o n , th e 322 sp eak ers were
c l a s s i f i e d in to fiv e g e n e ra l o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s:
( 1 ) m in is te rs and e v a n g e lis ts , ( 2 ) r e lig io u s j o u r n a l i s t s ,
(3) m is s io n a r ie s , (4) laym en, and (5) e d u c a to rs . A lthough
a l l o f th e sp eak ers m ight be d e s c rib e d as m i n i s t e r s , th is
term was used to s p e c ify th o se men whose prim ary work
in v o lv ed p re a c h in g , e i t h e r in e v a n g e lis tic m eetings o r fo r
lo c a l c o n g re g a tio n s. T his was th e l a r g e s t o c c u p a tio n a l
ca te g o ry and in c lu d ed more th an 150 o f th e sp e a k e rs.
At le a s t tw elve o f th e L e c tu re sh ip sp eak ers were
p r in c ip a lly engaged in th e f i e l d o f C h ris tia n jo u rn a lism .
The jo u rn a ls and p e r io d ic a ls p u b lish e d by th e le a d e rs o f
1 f t
R. C. Bell, personal interview, October 23, 1961.
• ^The Optimist, January 18, 1934, p. 1.
20
Abilene Reporter-News , February 19, 1959, p. 2.
121
t h e m ovem ent m e r i t u n u s u a l s i g n i f i c a n c e a s b r o th e r h o o d
new s m e d ia b e c a u s e o f t h e a b s e n c e o f c o n f e r e n c e a s s e m b l i e s .
T he e d i t o r s , p u b l i s h e r s , an d c h i e f s t a f f w r i t e r s o f t h e
v a r i o u s p u b l i c a t i o n s h a v e m ade f r e q u e n t a p p e a r a n c e s a t t h e
L e c t u r e s h i p s . I n t h e s e r i e s o f 1 9 1 9 , tw o o f t h e s e e d i t o r s ,
21
F . L . R ow e, o f t h e C h r i s t i a n L e a d e r , a n d G. H. P .
S h o w a l t e r , o f t h e F irm F o u n d a t i o n , d e l i v e r e d k e y a d d r e s s e s .
Jo h n T . H in d s , t h e p r i n c i p a l l e c t u r e r f o r 1 9 2 5 , a fo rm e r
e d i t o r o f t h e F irm F o u n d a t i o n , w as d e s c r i b e d a s :
. . . now t h e f r o n t - p a g e w r i t e r . M ost o f t h e
b r o th e r h o o d h a v e r e a d an d e n jo y e d h i s w r i t i n g s
f o r y e a r s . T h is w i l l b e t h e i r f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y
t o h e a r h im d i s c u s s som e o f t h e m o st f u n d a m e n ta l
t h i n g s p e r t a i n i n g t o C h r i s t i a n i t y .2 2
A p p ro x im a te ly s e v e n ty - tw o o f t h e s p e a k e r s w e re
e n g a g e d i n m i s s i o n a r y a c t i v i t i e s a t t h e tim e o f t h e i r
A b ile n e a p p e a r a n c e s . E v a n g e l i s t i c w o rk e rs i n m o re th a n
tw e n ty f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s , a s w e l l a s m any w h o se a c t i v i t i e s
w e re f o c u s e d u p o n som e m i s s io n p o i n t i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
h a v e b e e n i n v i t e d t o s p e a k a t t h e l e c t u r e p r o g r a m s .
o-i
■^The A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s d e s c r i b e d t h e C h r i s t i a n
L e a d e r a s " o n e o f t h e l a r g e s t c i r c u l a t e d r e l i g i o u s n e w s
p a p e r s i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , " o n p . 1 o f t h e F e b r u a r y 2 4 ,
1919 i s s u e .
22
The Optimist. February 5 , 1925 , p. 3.
122
Although most of th is number were fu ll-tim e preachers
working in m ission a re a s , th e ir la rg e number, and the
sig n a l emphasis which th e L ectureship d ire c to rs placed on
th e ir re p o rts from the m ission f ie ld s , ju s tif y a se p arate
d is tin c tio n . In 1959, when th e general theme o f the pro
gram was m issionary in n a tu re , "eighteen o f th e p a r t i c i
pants had been m issio n aries o r had taken a c tiv e p a rt in
23
promoting m issionary endeavors."
The fo u rth group o f speakers might be described as
laymen. Whereas many o f. the jo u r n a lis ts , m issio n a rie s, and
educators o fte n engaged in preaching a c t i v i t i e s , the term
laymen was chosen to d esig n ate th a t group o f speakers who
were not o f f ic ia l ly employed in preaching work o f the
church. I t was in referen ce to th is type o f speaker th a t
Sewell wrote in 1920: "The le c tu re rs are chosen from both
the gospel preachers and th e laymen who have something to
say both in te re s tin g and p r o fita b le ." The very f i r s t
s e rie s in 1918 boasted Judge W . B. Lewis, and the 1919
program featu red Maurice D, Gano:
^ Abilene Reporter-News, February 17, 1959, p. 1.
^The Optimist„ February 19, 1920, p. 4.
123
Mr. Gano is one of Texas' greatest civil
lawyers. He is a graduate of Transylvania Univer
sity of Lexington, the University of Texas, and
the University of Virginia. President Jesse P.
Sewell reported that a lawyer, whose name is a
household word in Texas, made this very strong and
significant statement: "I consider the most valu
able hour of my life so far, the hour I spent
listening to Maurice Gano deliver his address on
the inspiration of the Bible."25
On the program with Gano in 1919 was John A.
Straiton, "A Scotchman of pleasing personality and pleasing
address, a successful businessman in Fort Worth.The
following complete list of laymen indicates their occupa
tions , residences, and the years in which they appeared.
Marne Year Occupation Residence
W. B. Lewis27 1918 Judge Abilene
Maurice D. Gano 1919 Lawyer Dallas
John A. Straiton 1919 Businessman Fort Worth
Allen B. Dabney 1920 Judge Abilene
W. G. Malcomson 1921 Businessman Detroit
Abilene Reporter-News . Februarv 21. 1919, p. 6
2^Abilene Reporter-News. Februarv 27 . 1919, p. 3
Judge Lewis could not be present to deliver his
scheduled address because of the illness of his wife.
Abilene Reporter-News. January 10, 1918, p. 8.
124
Name
Thomas £ .
M ilholland
Dr. E. V. Wood
R. 0 . Xenley
J . S. A rledge
Dr. J . F. Gipson
O tto F o ste r
Dr. John G. Young
Frank W inters
P resto n K arlukhi
Jack Pope
Sam Davis Tatum
A. C. D unkleberger
M . 1. Summerlin
Robert S. B e ll
Year O ccupation Residence
1922, Businessman D allas
1956
1924 D e n tist D allas
1925 Judge W ichita Falls,
Texas
1930 Businessman A bilene
1939 M edical A bilene
Doctor
1943 D ruggist C leburne,
Texas
1948, 50, M edical D allas
54 Doctor
1952 Businessman Oklahoma C ity
1953 Businessman Assam, In d ia
1956 Judge San Antonio
1956 Judge N ash v ille
1957 Newspaper N ash v ille
E d ito r
1957 Businessman P o rt A rthur
1961 Businessman D allas
Six o f th e se laymen speakers were engaged in th e
law p ro fe s s io n , w ith fiv e o f th is number having served in
ju d i c i a l p o s itio n s . While seven o f th is group o f speakers
125
resided in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, only four lived
outside the state of Texas. In addition to their regular
occupations , virtually all of these men served as elders
of the congregations with which they worshipped.
Finally, seventy-eight of the Abilene lecturers
can most accurately be described as educators. Although
many of this number also engaged in the work of preaching,
a distinct category is again demanded because their prin
cipal work and emphasis were in the field of education.
The speakers in this group were almost exclusively
associated with academic institutions controlled by members
of the churches of Christ. Among the notable exceptions
to this rule were Joseph U. Yarborough, Professor at the
University of Texas; W. F. Ledlow, chairman of the depart
ment of Education, North Texas State Teacher's College;
Henry Eli Speck, Dean of San Marcos State Teachers College;
and Truman H. Etheridge, Dean of Sul Ross State College,
El Paso, Texas.
Twenty-seven of the speakers appeared on the
Abilene Lectureship while serving as president of one of
the schools or colleges supported by members of the
churches of Christ. One speaker, Rex F. Johnston, who
126
le c tu re d in 1957, had form erly serv ed as p re s id e n t o f a
non-church r e la te d s c h o o l, San Angelo Ju n io r C o lleg e.
E leven o f th e sp eak ers were c o lle g e D eans, w ith a l l b u t
Speck and E th e rid g e s e rv in g c o lle g e s c o n tro lle d by th e
churches o f C h ris t.
S ince th e church does n o t demand any form al
o rd in a tio n cerem ony, and p reac h ers a re n o t re q u ire d to
have s p e c if ic academic t r a i n i n g , many o f th e e a rly L e c tu re
sh ip sp eak ers p o ssessed l i t t l e form al e d u c a tio n . L if f
S a n d e rs, who spoke in 1918 and ag ain in 1921, was p ic tu re d
as " th e h a le and h e a rty p io n e e r e v a n g e lis t o f th e p la in s
OQ
co u n try . . . In 1927 G. F. Mickey was d e s c rib e d :
He may n o t be counted among th e " b ig p reac h
e rs ," b u t he has in him th e s t u f f and stam in a o f
which r e a l p io n e e rs a re made. He i s n ever
s p e c ta c u la r, b u t always busy and s e l f s a c r if i c in g
« * «
A ppearing on th e same program w ith Mickey was J . P. H arvey,
who was d e sc rib e d as s p rin g in g "from a long lin e o f
p io n e ers o f th e g o sp el in th is s e c tio n o f Texas . . , h is
fa th e r and g ra n d fa th e r e s ta b lis h e d th e church in West
^ The Optimist, February 24, 1921, p. 4.
29
The Optimist, January 27, 1927, p. 1.
127
30
T e x a s ." T h e s e men s e r v e a s e x a m p le s o f many e a r l y
s p e a k e r s who g a in e d r e s p e c t an d s t a t u r e i n t h e c h u r c h
th r o u g h d i l i g e n t w o rk an d i n n a t e a b i l i t y , w i t h o u t b e n e f i t
o f an y c o l l e g e l e v e l a c a d e m ic t r a i n i n g .
On the other hand, an early Abilene lecturer,
F. L. Young, was recognized as "the first preacher in Texas
31
to earn the B.A. degree." Even more noteworthy is the
fact that George A. Klingman, the very first of the Abilene
lecturers, held the Ph.D. degree. Klingman, David L.
Cooper, and Hall L. Calhoun were the only speakers appear
ing before 1930 with the doctorate. Calhoun was described
in 1927 as:
. . . a recognized scholar outside of his imme
diate religious persuasion, he having been for
several years a member of the International Sunday
School Committee. He has traveled extensively in
Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land, besides receiving
degrees from more than one college. He is a gradu
ate of Harvard University, with both the M.A. and
the Ph.D. degrees. When the great McGarvey died,
Brother Calhoun was thought to be the only man
capable of filling the professorship of Sacred Lit
erature in the College of the Bible, Transylvania
University. He was also Dean of the same school
until destructive critics and evolutionists , who
The Optimist, January 27, 1927, p. 1.
31
M. Norvel Young, personal interview, December 20,
1961.
128
had g ain ed c o n tr o l o f th e u n i v e r s i t y , made i t
im p o ssib le fo r him to c o n s c ie n tio u s ly c o n tin u e
h is work t h e r e . 32
\
Led by K lingm an, C ooper, and C alhoun, a t o t a l o f
th ir ty - s e v e n o f th e A b ilen e sp e a k e rs have h e ld th e earn ed
d o c to r a te . I t i s n o t s u r p r is in g t h a t , a lth o u g h p r io r to
1930, only th r e e l e c t u r e r s ach iev e d th e P h .D ., from 1930
to 1950 n in e o f th e sp e a k e rs h e ld th e P h .D ., and from 1951
to 1961 tw e n ty -fiv e o f th e sp e ak ers p o sse sse d th e earn ed
d o c to r a te .
The sp eak in g s to c k f o r th e e a r ly program s was
la r g e ly drawn from th e s t a t e o f T exas. In 1923, F. L. Rowe
d e s c rib e d th e L e c tu re s h ip lin e u p as a "g a la x y o f sp e ak ers
t h a t can n o t b e e x c e lle d . T ru e , m ost o f them a r e Texas
p r e a c h e r s , b u t th e y p re ac h and te a c h th e same g o sp e l in
th e same sim p le manner th a t o u r r e p r e s e n ta tiv e b r e th r e n do
' o v er E a s t 1 1 " ^
C oncerning th e f i r s t s l a t e o f sp e a k e rs in 1918, th e
R eporter-N ew s commented: "A ll o f th e sp e a k e rs a re o u t- o f -
town men ex c ep t tw o, D r. George A. K lingm an, and P ro fe s s o r
^ The O p tim is t, Jan u ary 2 7 , 1927, p . 1.
^ F . L. Rowe, " P u b lis h e r 's A nnouncem ent," L e c tu re s ,
1922-1923, p . 3.
129
Q /
H. E . S p e c k ." The p r a c t i c e o f p l a c i n g a t l e a s t two
members of the Abilene Christian College faculty on each
35
program was termed a "custom" in 1924, and has been per
petuated throughout the history of the platform. Faculty
members were often scheduled to speak at the Sunday opening
sessions, since many of the visiting preachers, delayed by
week-end responsibilities at home, could not arrive in
Abilene until Monday. For the same reason, preachers from
Abilene were also scheduled to appear early in the program,
and by 1927 it was "customary for the local minister of
the college church to open lecture week on Sunday
36
morning." Faculty members and Abilene preachers were
also used to "fill in around the group of speeches given
37
by the principal lecturer."
Abilene Reporter-News, January 6, 1918, p. 6.
^ Prickly Pear, 1924, p. 192.
36
The Optimist, January 27, 1927, p. 1. Although
there were several exceptions, the custom of automatically
inviting the minister of the college church was maintained
until 1954. Glen L. Wallace, minister of the college
church until 1954, delivered the opening lecture seven
years in succession, from 1947 through 1958.
37
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
130
A lto g e th e r , th ir ty - tw o o f th e sp e a k e rs w ere members
o f th e f a c u lty o r th e a d m in is tra tio n o f A b ile n e C h r is tia n
C o lle g e . The l a r g e s t number to be u sed on any s in g le
program was f o r th e 1930 s e r i e s when sev en o f th e n in e
sp e a k e rs w ere co n n ected w ith th e c o lle g e . I t i s s i g n i f i
c a n t t h a t th e sc h o o l was fa c in g s e v e re f i n a n c i a l problem s ,
and th e L e c tu re s h ip was o b v io u sly a rra n g e d so t h a t " th o s e
a tte n d in g w i l l g e t a b e t t e r id e a o f th e s p i r i t w hich
c h a r a c te r iz e s te a c h e rs and le a d e rs h e r e . " ^ In 1931, Don
H. M orris i n i t i a t e d e f f o r t s to o rg a n iz e th e "C o lle g e
B u ild e r s 1 Club" w ith an a d d re s s on " C h r is tia n E d u catio n
and Some o f I t s P ro b lem s." In 1932, as econom ic c o n d itio n s
w o rsen ed , s e v e r a l a d d re s se s w ere "d e v o ted to th e problem
. . . d u rin g th e p r e s e n t c r i t i c a l p e r io d ," w ith G. C.
39
Brewer and M orris as c h ie f spokesm en. Through th e y e a rs
s ix men who have s e rv e d as p r e s id e n t o f th e c o lle g e ,
B a r r e t t , B a x te r, Cox, W h ite s id e , S e w e ll, and M o rris , have
d e liv e r e d a t o t a l o f t h i r t y - s i x le c tu r e s , tw enty s p e c i f i
c a l l y d e a lin g w ith th e problem s and c h a lle n g e s fa c in g
A b ilen e C h r is tia n C o lle g e .
^ The Optimist, February 20, 1930, p. 1.
• ^The Optimist, February 18, 1932, p. 1.
f
131
Another tradition in speaker selection was initi-
ated in 1923 when Carl L. Etter, "only last June a graduate
of ACC and now looked on as one of the strongest men in the
brotherhood," was invited to speak.^ By the following
year, it had become "customary for the college to have at
least one of the graduates speak during Lecture Week,"^
and in 1925 , Elmer Nichols of the class of 1922 was
formally described as the "alumni representative this
y 2
y e a r . " F o r s e v e r a l y e a r s t h i s cu sto m was c a r e f u l l y m a in -
/ Q
tained. By 1929, however, when Abilene graduates were
numerous and among the most able spokesmen in the church,
the Lectureship began to feature a number of them each
year.
Occasionally, students of the college were invited
to speak at the Lectureship. The first opportunity for
^Prickly Pear, 1923, p. 90.
^^Prickly Pear. 1924, p. 192. "This year Roy H.
Lanier, of the class of 1922, now minister of the church
in Waxahatachie, was selected."
42
Abilene Reporter-News. February 17, 1925, p. 1.
/ Q
"Each year a graduate of the college who is
actively engaged in church work is selected to appear on
the program. James H. Childress, a graduate of 1923, was
the alumni representative this year." Prickly Pear, 1929,
p. 146.
132
fo rm a l s tu d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n came in 1923 when th e i l l n e s s
o f John A. D u r s t 's w ife made a v a il a b l e h i s key sp e a k in g
p o s i t i o n . P r e s id e n t S e w e ll q u ic k ly p la n n e d a program
c a l l e d , "ACC As Seen By Her S tu d e n ts ," and s e l e c t e d s e v e r a l
s tu d e n t le a d e r s to r e p o r t to th e v i s i t o r s . ^ In 1936,
G eorge H. S te p h e n so n , " a s e n io r m i n i s t e r i a l s t u d e n t ,"
becam e th e f i r s t s tu d e n t to d e l i v e r a p r i n c i p a l a d d r e s s ,
sp e a k in g on "The S ta tu s o f B ib le T ea ch in g T o d ay ." In 1953
fo u r s e n io r m i n i s t e r i a l s t u d e n t s , Avon M alone, E v e r e tt
F e rg u so n , P a u l E a r n h a r t , and W esley R eagan w ere i n v i t e d to
d e l i v e r tw e n ty -m in u te s p e e c h e s . A lth o u g h th e r e h av e b een
o th e r e x c e p tio n s , as a g e n e r a l r u l e , s tu d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n
h as b ee n v e ry in f r e q u e n t.
The s e l e c t i o n o f L e c tu re s h ip s p e a k e r s , h o w ev er, was
by no means lim ite d to th e A b ile n e f a c u l t y o r th e s t a t e o f
44
S h o rt t a l k s w ere d e liv e r e d by th e fo llo w in g
s tu d e n ts on th e s u b je c ts named: "The B ib le D e p a rtm e n t,"
A lonzo W illia m s; " A t h l e t i c s , " W a lte r Adams; "The W orking
S tu d e n ts ," B e rth a W eldon; "The D om estic Economy D e p a rt
m e n t," E d ith R a t l i f f ; "The F in e A rts D e p a rtm e n t," V era Ray;
"The P re a c h in g S tu d e n ts ," R eece R o g e rs ; "The E d u c a tio n
D e p a rtm e n t," Don H. M o rris ; "The L i t e r a r y S o c i e t i e s , " Elam
C ato ; " D e b a tin g ," F ran k K e r c h v ille ; "The Alumni A s s o c ia
t i o n , " Roy H. L a n ie r ; and " S o c ia l L i f e , " W endell B ed ich eck .
P r ic k ly P e a r , 1923, p . 178.
133
T e x a s . As e a r l y a s 1 9 2 1 , th e l e c t u r e r s w ere d e s c r ib e d a s
"som e o f t h e b e s t-k n o w n B ib le s t u d e n t s i n t h e c h u rc h i n
th e S o u t h w e s t ," ^ com ing fro m "som e o f t h e l a r g e s t c i t i e s
i n th e S o u t h , a n d " fro m e v e ry p a r t o f th e c o u n tr y and
4 7
t h e s t r o n g e s t c o n g r e g a tio n s o f t h e c h u r c h .
P r i o r t o 1 9 2 5 , i t w as e x p e c te d t h a t e a c h s p e a k e r
A Q
w ould g iv e " h i s tim e and l a b o r w ith o u t p ay o r p r o f i t ,
h e n c e , m o st o f t h e s p e a k e r s came fro m t h e s t a t e s o f T e x a s ,
O k lah o m a, New M e x ic o , an d A rk a n s a s . I n th e l a t e 1 9 2 0 f s ,
t h e p r a c t i c e o f r e im b u r s in g s p e a k e r s 1 e x p e n s e s was a d o p te d ,
e n c o u ra g in g a w id e r s e l e c t i o n o f l e c t u r e r s . As a r e s u l t ,
s p e a k e r s fro m m ore th a n f o r t y o f t h e s t a t e s h a v e a p p e a re d
on th e p ro g ra m s i n c e 1925.
S in c e Jo h n A. S t r a i t o n , a n a t i v e o f t h e B r i t i s h
I s l e s , sp o k e i n 1 9 1 9 , tw e n ty -o n e o f th e l e c t u r e r s h a v e
t r a v e l e d from f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s t o a p p e a r on th e p ro g ra m .
In a d d i t i o n to a num ber fro m E n g la n d , s p e a k e r s h a v e j o u r
n e y e d fro m I t a l y , Germany , J a p a n , B e lg iu m , H o lla n d ,
^ A b ile n e R e p o rte r-N e w s , F e b ru a ry 2 0 , 1 9 2 1 , p . 6 .
^ A b i l e n e R e p o rte r-N e w s , F e b ru a ry 2 3 , 1 9 2 0 , p . 4 .
47
The O p t i m i s t , F e b ru a ry 1 7 , 1 9 2 1 , p . 1 .
48
Lectures, 1919, p. 6.
S c o tla n d , K orea, C anada, I n d ia , M exico, N ig e r ia , A u s tr a li a ,
and S w itz e rla n d . In a d d itio n to n o m in atin g sp e a k e rs from
fo re ig n c o u n t r i e s , le c tu r e r s w ere a p p a re n tly in v ite d to
s h a re e x p e rie n c e s o f t h e i r r e c e n t t r a v e ls abroad w ith th e
L e c tu re s h ip l i s t e n e r s . The p r in c ip a l l e c t u r e r in 1924,
N. B. Hardeman, had j u s t r e tu rn e d from an extended to u r o f
Europe and A sia M inor. " P re s s u re from s tu d e n ts , v i s i t o r s ,
and members o f th e lo c a l church" p ersu ad ed Hardeman to
in c lu d e in h is speechm aking a d is c u s s io n o f h is jo u rn e y
49
th ro u g h th e Holy Land. W . D. Cam pbell was s e le c te d as
p r in c ip a l sp e a k e r f o r 1923 b ecau se o f e x p e rie n c e in
" e v a n g e lis tic m eetin g s a l l o ver th e U n ited S t a t e s , and in
Canada, and G reat B r i t a i n , h aving h e ld r e v iv a ls in London,
L iv e rp o o l, and o th e r la r g e c i t i e s o f th e B r i t i s h I s l e s .
In 1927, C. R. N ichol used th e e x p e rie n c e s o f a r e c e n t
to u r o f th e Holy Land f o r a d is c u s s io n o f m odem Je ru sa lem .
A p p ra isa l o f th e L e c tu re s h ip Speaking
In th e e a r ly e r a , th e o u ts ta n d in g sp e a k e rs who
appeared again and again were often described as ’’ pulpit
^ Prickly Pear, 1924, p. 192.
so
Abilene Reporter-News, February 18, 1923, p. 4.
135
o r a t o r s . " T he o b s e r v a t i o n s o f l i s t e n e r s te n d t o e s t a b l i s h
G eo rg e A. K lin g m a n , M. C. K u r f e e s , N. B. H ard em an , H a l l L .
C a lh o u n , an d G. C. B rew e r a s t h e m o s t e l o q u e n t sp o k e sm e n
d u r i n g t h e p l a tf o r m * s f i r s t tw o d e c a d e s . E a c h o f t h e s e
l e c t u r e r s p o s s e s s e d a d e d i c a t e d f o l l o w i n g o f l i s t e n e r s
a n x io u s t o t e s t i f y t h a t " h e w as w i t h o u t p e e r a s a p u l p i t
o r a t o r . " 5 1
I n a d d i t i o n t o a n e x p e c te d e x c e l l e n c e o f i d e a s an d
a r g u m e n t, t h e s e f i v e s p e a k e r s w e re a l s o m a s te r s i n t h e a r t
o f d e l i v e r y . „K lin g m a n * s e n e r g e t i c d e l i v e r y , a p p a r e n t l y
t h e s o u r c e o f h i s p e r s u a s i v e p o w e rs , o f t e n fo u n d him
s n a t c h i n g h u r r i e d l y th r o u g h t h e p a g e s o f h i s B i b l e , s p e a k
in g v i g o r o u s l y a l l t h e w h i l e , a s h e s e a r c h e d f o r t h e
52
t e l l i n g t e x t . K u rfe e s w as t h e m a s t e r o f a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y
b le n d o f e m o tio n a l an d l o g i c a l m eans o f i n f l u e n c i n g an
53
a u d i e n c e . T he s c h o l a r l y H a l l L . C a lh o u n , endow ed w i t h
a n a b u n d a n c e o f e t h i c a l p e r s u a s i o n , s im p ly im p r e s s e d an d
5 1T he Optimist. F e b r u a r y 14, 1924, p. 1.
52
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
53
G. C. Morlan, personal interview, January 23,
1962.
captivated his hearers with Calhoun, the man.
L e c tu re s h ip l i s t e n e r s seem to b e u n ite d in crow ning
N. B. Hardeman and G. C. Brewer as th e two g r e a t e s t sp e ak
e rs e v e r to ap p ear on th e A b ile n e p la tfo rm . A lthough
Hardeman a ls o e x c e lle d in o c c a s io n a l s p e a k in g , he was
p r i n c i p a ll y known f o r h is dynam ic p re a c h in g d u rin g p ro
tr a c t e d e v a n g e lis tic m e e tin g s. The monumental ’’T ab e rn a cle
Sermons ," a s e r ie s o f m eetin g s conducted o v er a p e rio d o f
s e v e r a l y e a rs in N a s h v ille 's huge Ryman A u d ito riu m , a re
r e p r e s e n ta ti v e o f Hardeman a t h is b e s t . Those who have
exam ined h is r h e t o r i c a l a b i l i t i e s p o in t to a c a p tiv a tin g
flu e n c y and command o f words , a p o w erfu l v o i c e , a command
ing p u l p i t a p p e a ra n c e , and an u n a s s a ila b le u se o f p a th e tic
p ro o fs as h is g r e a t e s t p la tfo rm a s s e t s . ^ H ardem an's
m a te r ia ls o f in v e n tio n w ere la r g e ly drawn from th e B ib le
and r e l a t e d s o u rc e s .
C o n v e rse ly , G. C. B rew er, w h ile ex tre m ely p o p u la r
as a p u l p i t p re a c h e r, was p ro b ab ly a t h is b e s t on " s p e c ia l
o c c a s io n s ." C a re fu lly docum ented le c tu r e s on Communism,
^ ^ E lb e rt G. B a m h a rd t, "A R h e to ric a l A n aly sis o f
th e P re a c h in g o f N. B. Hardeman" (u n p u b lish ed M a s te r's
t h e s i s , U n iv e rs ity o f New M exico, 1 9 5 2 ), pp. 158-170.
55
W arren S. J o n e s , op. c i t . . p . 137.
137
C a th o li c is m , and t h e th e o r y o f o r g a n ic e v o l u tio n w e re h i s
tra d e m a rk . B rew er was " e x tr e m e ly s e l f - a s s u r e d and c o n -
5 6
f i d e n t on t h e p l a t f o r m ." A n o th e r o b s e r v e r s i n g l e d o u t
h i s v ig o r o u s p r e s e n t a t i o n and p r e c i s e n e s s o f a r t i c u l a t i o n
57
a s v i t a l q u a l i t i e s o f th e B rew er d e l i v e r y . In sum m ary,
h i s s u c c e s s a s a s p e a k e r was g r e a t l y en h a n ce d b y an
i n t e n s e l y d r a m a tic s p i r i t , th e " v o ic e o f an a c t o r , " tre m e n
do u s e t h i c a l p e r s u a s i o n , a n im a te d b u t m e a n in g fu l b o d ily
m ovem ent, and a p e n e t r a t i n g u s e o f l o g i c . As s t u d e n t ,
t e a c h e r , and a d m i n i s t r a t o r , Don H. M o rris w itn e s s e d m ore
th a n t h r e e h u n d re d s p e a k e r s a c r o s s th e p la tf o r m o v e r a
p e r io d o f f o r t y y e a r s . He u n h e s i t a t i n g l y s t a t e d :
A lth o u g h h e was a moody s p e a k e r , I h a v e n e v e r
s e e n t h e a r t o f o r a t o r y m ore m o v in g ly em ployed
th a n when 6 . C. B rew er w as a t h i s b e s t . Even
b e f o r e th e d ay s o f th e p u b l i c a d d r e s s s y s te m , h i s
v o c a l pow er an d p e r s u a s i v e m anner c o u ld l i f t th e
a u d ie n c e r i g h t o u t o f t h e i r c h a i r s . 58
The o r a t o r i c a l o r g ra n d s t y l e o f d e l i v e r y was a l s o
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f many l e s s e r known s p e a k e r s .
C £
G. C. M o rla n , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , J a n u a ry 2 8 ,
1962.
57
J . P . S e w e ll, p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w , O c to b e r 2 3 ,
1961.
58
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
138
S. P. P ittm a n , p r in c ip a l le c tu r e r in 1926, was p a r t i c u l a r l y
concerned w ith th e a r t o f d e liv e r y . A g ra d u a te o f th e
M artyn School o f O rato ry a t W ashington, D. C. , P ittm an was
by p ro fe s s io n a te a c h e r o f e lo c u tio n . His l i s t e n e r s were
One o f them s a i d , "He i s th e b e s t e x p re s sio n te a c h e r I ev e r
S atu rd ay evening a f t e r th e l e c t u r e , B ro th er
P ittm a n gave two re a d in g s to a few o f h is f r ie n d s .
He re a d " J e a n n e tte " and "Sockery S ets th e Old Blue
H en." Both re a d in g s w ere w e ll re c e iv e d and P i t t
man d em o n strated h is a b i l i t y as a re a d e r. The
poems w ere good, b u t th e manner in w hich th e
sp e ak er p re s e n te d them made them more im p re ssiv e .
. . . On Sunday evening a number o f h is o ld
frie n d s p ersuaded him to re a d a g a in , t h i s tim e
tirrv L ^ G o ld ," and " P ic tu re s o f
Many o f th e s p e a k e rs ' s ty l e s were c h a ra c te riz e d by
an e v a n g e lis tic ty p e o f d e liv e r y . I f le s s e lo q u e n t th an
t h e i r o r a to r c o u n te r p a r ts , t h i s s iz a b le group o f p re a c h e rs
was c e r t a in ly n o t le s s e n t h u s ia s tic . Hand c la p p in g , le g
s la p p in g , ro stru m p a c in g , and p u lp it pounding w ere methods
n o t in f re q u e n tly employed to r e in f o r c e arg u m en ts. Many o f
th e s e sp e a k ers were u n fo rtu n a te ly encumbered w ith a
p a r t i c u l a r l y im pressed w ith " th e reso n an ce o f h is v o ic e ."
59,
The Optimist, March 4, 1926, p. 1.
60
Ibid.
139
p r e a c h e r y to n e and a " m i n i s t e r i a l m o d u la tio n ." S t i l l o t h e r
s p e a k e r s , w hose s t y l e s w e re c h a r a c t e r i z e d n e i t h e r b y o r a
t o r i c a l e lo q u e n c e n o r t h e " s t a i n e d g l a s s " v o i c e , p r e s e n t e d
t h e i r l e c t u r e s w ith a s c h o o l - t e a c h e r m ethod o f d e l i v e r y .
fi 1
M aking a n e f f o r t to s im p ly " s p e a k p l a i n l y , " many
l e c t u r e r s se ld o m g e s tu r e d o v e r t l y e x c e p t f o r a c a lm ly
e x te n d e d in d e x f i n g e r o r an o c c a s i o n a l l i f t i n g an d lo w e r in g
o f t h e r i g h t h a n d . U se o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n a l s t y l e o f
d e l i v e r y was p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t i c e a b l e among t h e e d u c a to r s
who came to s p e a k .
B e fo re th e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e e l e c t r i c a l a m p l i f i
c a t i o n s y s te m , t h e a b i l i t y to p r o j e c t a d e q u a te volum e was
an im p o r ta n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f L e c tu r e s h ip
s p e a k e r s . A lth o u g h th e a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s ig n o f t h e
o r i g i n a l a u d ito r iu m e n a b le d m o st p re -1 9 3 0 s p e a k e r s to b e
e a s i l y h e a r d , t h e n e a rb y t r a c k s o f t h e T ex as an d P a c i f i c
R a ilr o a d p r e s e n t e d a n u n c o n q u e ra b le L e c t u r e s h i p o p p o n e n t.
T he t r a i n s p a s s e d s o c l o s e l y an d w ith s u c h f o r c e t h a t
l i s t e n e r s v i s i t i n g th e cam pus f o r t h e f i r s t tim e o f t e n
f e a r e d th e lo c o m o tiv e s w o u ld s u d d e n ly sm ash r i g h t th r o u g h
th e l e c t u r e h a l l . Many p a s s i o n a t e p e r o r a t i o n s w e re r u d e ly
^Prickly Pear, 1925, p. 116.
in te r r u p te d , as th e sp eak ers were fo rced to h a l t momentar
i l y u n t i l th e in tr u d e r had s u f f i c i e n t l y p assed .
O bservers w ere u n d erstan d ab ly astounded in 1928,
when p r in c ip a l le c tu r e r C. M . P u llia s c h allen g ed th e
form idable foe to a v o c a l d u e l. " P u llia s is th e only man
who never had to pause once fo r th e n o is e ," r e c a lle d Don
M o rris. He p o sse ssed enough volume to be h eard above th e
fin
t r a i n s . " The yearbook summarized h is s e r ie s o f le c tu re s
"His deep v o ice and pow erful d e liv e ry a s s is te d him wonder-
63
f u lly in th e e x c e lle n t d isc o u rs e s he g a v e ." The c o lle g e
experim ented w ith th e n ew ly -in v en ted p u b lic address system
d u rin g th e 1933 s e r ie s , and o f f i c i a l s d ecided to u se i t
every y e a r. B efore i t s in tr o d u c tio n , th e cavernous con
fin e s o f Sew ell au d ito riu m re q u ire d th e s e le c tio n o f
sp eak ers w ith s u p e rio r v o cal power.
W hile some sp eak ers accustom ed to e v a n g e lis tic
p reach in g d isd a in e d even th e use o f b r i e f n o te c a r d s ,
o th e rs e le c te d to arm them selves w ith th e f u l l m an u scrip t
d u rin g th e d e liv e ry o f th e le c tu r e . A number o f th e se
p o ssessed th e a b i l i t y and acq u ired th e m an u scrip t
62
Don H. M o rris, p e rso n a l in te rv ie w , O ctober 25,
1961.
^ Prickly Pear, 1928, p. 143.
141
f a m i l i a r i t y w h ic h e n a b le d th em t o s p e a k e f f e c t i v e l y fro m
t h e p r e p a r e d t e x t , b u t many w e re u n q u e s t i o n a b l y h a n d ic a p p e d
b y a d e p e n d e n c e u p o n t h e m a n u s c r i p t . I n 1 9 3 8 , t h e r e p o r t
64-
t h a t "R oy L a n i e r o f F o r t W o rth d e l i v e r e d a p a p e r c o n
t r a s t e d r a t h e r s t r i k i n g l y w i t h t h e s p e a k e r s o f t h e sam e
p ro g ra m who w e re d e s c r i b e d a s h a v in g d e l i v e r e d s e rm o n s .
I n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e e x te m p o ra n e o u s s p e a k in g v e r s u s
m a n u s c r ip t r e a d i n g q u e s t i o n h a s r e c e i v e d t h e s p e c i a l a t t e n
t i o n o f t h e p o l i c y m a k e r s . T he c r u x o f t h e i s s u e a p p e a r s
t o h in g e u p o n w h e th e r t h e l e c t u r e s a r e p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e
b e n e f i t o f t h e im m e d ia te o r t h e r e a d i n g a u d i e n c e . I n 1 9 5 8 ,
a n A b ile n e s t a f f m em ber w r o t e :
I b e l i e v e t h e L e c t u r e s h i p C o m m ittee s h o u ld
r e q u e s t t h a t t h e s p e a k e r s n o t r e a d t h e i r s p e e c h e s ;
h e n c e , r e d u c i n g t h e i r e f f e c t i v e n e s s b y f i f t y p e r
c e n t . I t c a n b e d o n e a s e x e m p li f ie d b y B a t s e l l
B a r r e t t B a x t e r , N o rv e l Y oung a n d A lo n z o W elch i n
c o n t r a s t t o t h e s p e e c h e s b y J . F . S a n d e r s , M e lv in
W is e , an d o t h e r s . . . . I f e e l s t r o n g l y t h a t t h e
a v e r a g e v i s i t o r d o e s n o t g a i n t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o r
e d i f i c a t i o n fro m a s p e e c h t h a t i s r e a d a s h e w o u ld
fro m a s p e e c h t h a t h a s e y e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e a u d i
e n c e . P e rh a p s t h e q u e s t i o n t o b e c o n s i d e r e d b y
t h e c o m m itte e i s w h e th e r t h e l e c t u r e s s h o u ld b e
p r e p a r e d p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n o r f o r
t h e i r d e l i v e r y t o t h e th o u s a n d s o f v i s i t o r s . 65
^ The Optimist. February 24, 1938, p. 4,
/r t
W a lte r E . B u r c h , " S u g g e s t io n s R e g a r d in g L e c t u r e
s h i p , " s u b m i tte d t o t h e A d v is o r y C o m m itte e , F e b r u a r y 2 8 ,
1 9 5 8 .
142
The A dvisory Committee has o f f i c i a l l y d ecreed th a t
th e speech sh o u ld be d esig n ed f o r th e p o p u la r lis te n i n g
au d ien ce. D e sp ite a grow ing tendency tow ard more c a r e f u l
docum entation and p r e c is io n in m an u scrip t p r e p a r a tio n , th e
com m ittee has s tro n g ly urged th e sp e ak ers to " le a v e t h e i r
m a n u scrip ts a t home." R eg ard less o f t h is ad m o n itio n , th e
u nique p re s s u re s o f sp eak in g a t th e A b ilen e L e c tu re sh ip
c o n tin u e to cau se some sp eak ers to c le a v e to t h e i r manu
s c r i p t s d u rin g th e d e liv e r y o f th e m essage. As D ire c to r
J . D. Thomas ex p ressed i t : "Some men, who have n ev er
spoken from a m a n u scrip t in t h e i r c a r e e r s , a r e a f r a id to
66
be w ith o u t one fo r t h e i r L e c tu re sh ip a ssig n m e n t."
A few sp e ak ers , anxious to comply w ith th e commit
t e e 's suggestion, but at the same time desirous of the
s e c u r ity w hich only an a b s o lu te m astery o f th e m an u scrip t
could a f f o r d , have r e s o r te d to th e memorized le c tu r e .
Actually, this mode of delivery has been occasionally
employed s in c e th e e a r ly days o f th e p la tfo rm . W . D. Camp
b e l l 's calm , m o tio n le ss d e liv e r y , and fla w le s s flow o f
w o rd s, prom pted one l i s t e n e r to conclude th a t h is m essages
^Personal interview, October 23, 1961.
143
6 7
w e re " p e rh a p s m e m o riz e d ." F r e q u e n t l y , th e young an d
r e l a t i v e l y in e x p e r ie n c e d s p e a k e r , im p re s s e d w ith th e
m a g n itu d e o f h i s a s s ig n m e n t, h a s c o m m itte d t h e a d d r e s s e s
t o w o rd -to -w o rd m em ory. E v id e n c e i n d i c a t e s , h o w e v e r, t h a t
e v e n a few o f t h e m o st p o p u la r L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k e r s c o n -
£0
t i n u e t o d e l i v e r t h e i r a d d r e s s e s fro m v e r b a tim m em ory.
The tim e l e n g t h o f t h e l e c t u r e s h a s v a r i e d th r o u g h
t h e y e a r s . A lth o u g h many s p e a k e r s t a l k e d m uch l o n g e r , t h e
s u g g e s te d tim e f o r t h e e a r l y l e c t u r e s was a p p r o x im a te ly
69
o n e h o u r . G. C. B rew er was among t h e s p e a k e r s who h a d
d i f f i c u l t y c o n f i n i n g t h e i r m e ssa g e s t o an y r i g i d tim e
l i m i t a t i o n s . H is f i r s t o f t h r e e l e c t u r e s i n 1931 " h e ld a n
a u d ie n c e o f ab o v e 1 , 2 0 0 s p e llb o u n d f o r a n h o u r an d a h a l f .
. . . Tight scheduling of recent programs has not
f t 7
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 25,
1 961. I n 1 9 2 5 , Jo h n C. T a y l o r 's " p e r f e c t command o f
words left the impression that his address might have
been memorized. Prickly Pear, 1925 , p. 1.
68
The policy of publishing t h e manuscripts prior
t o t h e delivery h a s allowed the a u t h o r t o o b s e r v e t h a t
l e c t u r e s o f G eo rg e W. B a i l e y , A lo n zo W e lc h , an d o t h e r s who
u s e no n o te s w h a te v e r , v a r y l i t t l e fro m t h e w o rd -to -w o rd
p u b lis h e d v e r s i o n .
69
The O p t i m i s t , F e b ru a ry 2 6 , 1 9 2 0 , p . 1 . R. C.
B e l l , a f a c u l t y m em ber, t a l k e d f o r a n h o u r o n t h e s u b j e c t ,
"How t o L i v e ."
70
The Optimist, February 26, 1931, p. 1.
144
allow ed in d iv id u a l la ti t u d e in speech le n g th . The A dvisory
Committee has urged th e speakers to observe a r ig id f o rty -
fiv e m inute tim e lim ita tio n . In 1953, th e com m ittee
adopted th e p ra c tic e o f p r in tin g in th e o f f i c i a l program
th e f o r ty - f iv e m inute tim e le n g th in co n ju n ctio n w ith each
a d d re s s . S t i l l more r e c e n tly , a fla s h in g red l i g h t has
been employed to s ig n a l th e speakers th a t th e i r tim e is
f le e tin g and when i t is gone. O ccasional v io la tio n s s t i l l
o c c u r, how ever, prom pting th e com m ittee to co n sid er a more'
convincing means o f e n fo rcin g th e tim e lim ita tio n s .
A lthough th e le c tu r e r s have drawn t h e i r speech
m a te ria ls from a m u ltitu d e o f s o u rc e s , th e B ib le was by
f a r th e most fre q u e n tly used r e s e rv o ir fo r m a te ria l. The
1933 address o f Gustus A. Dunn, which "im pressed a la rg e
audience . . . w ith h is fre q u e n t q u o ta tio n o f passages o f
s c r ip t u r e ," is r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e tech n iq u es o f a h o st
o f h is c o lle a g u e s . In a d d itio n to th e B ib le , speakers
have r e lie d upon m a te ria ls from h is t o r y , l i t e r a t u r e , th e
s c i e n t i f i c p ro c e s s e s , and p e rso n a l ex p e rien ce s. For
in s ta n c e , W , G. Malcomson’s len g th y 1921 address on
"M utual E d ific a tio n in th e Church o f C h r is t," co n tain ed
an amazing t o t a l o f 154 q u o ta tio n s from S c rip tu re . At th e
145
sam e t i m e , M alco m so n c i t e d B i b l i c a l c o m m e n ta to rs a n d
i n t e r p r e t e r s , q u o te d p o e t r y , r e f e r r e d t o W e b s t e r 's d i c t i o n
a r y , i l l u s t r a t e d fro m A le x a n d e r C a m p b e ll's w r i t i n g s i n t h e
C h r i s t i a n B a p t i s t a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f H e n ry W ard
B e e c h e r , m e n tio n e d t h e y o u th p o l i c i e s o f t h e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l
C h u r c h , a n d s u p p o r t e d h i s p r e m is e w i t h t h e " t e s t i m o n y o f
h i s t o r i a n s M b sh eim , G i e s c l e r , R o t h e , N e a n d e r , C o le m a n ,
M c C u llo h , B e v e r l e y , T y n d a l l , H a w e is , K u r t z , P r e s s e n s e , a n d
p r a c t i c a l l y a l l o t h e r s o f r e p u t e .
T h e f i r s t l e c t u r e t o b e p u b l i s h e d i n s c h o l a r l y fo rm
w i t h r e f e r e n c e f o o t n o t e s , w as P r o f e s s o r C h a r l e s H. R o b e r
son* s 1936 a d d r e s s o n "T h e C a n n o n i c i t y o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s . "
R o b e rs o n c i t e d t h e w o rk s o f s e v e r a l s t a n d a r d r e l i g i o u s
h i s t o r i a n s a n d q u o te d fro m t h e o r i g i n a l w r i t i n g s o f O r i g e n ,
E u s e b iu s , T e r t u l l i a n , C le m e n t o f A l e x a n d r i a , I r a n a e u s ,
T a t i a n , J u s t i n M a r t y r , I g n a t i u s m P o l y c a r p , a n d P a p i a s .
O r v a l F i l b e c k 's l e c t u r e o n "T h e C h r i s t i a n i n B u s i n e s s ,"
t e n y e a r s l a t e r , w as t h e f i r s t t o c o n t a i n f o o t n o t e r e f e r
e n c e s a n d a c o m p le te l i s t i n g o f b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l m a t e r i a l s .
F i l b e c k e m p lo y e d R e in h o ld N ie b u h r 1s w o r k , "A n I n t e r p r e t a
t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n E t h i c s a s a m a jo r s o u r c e o f m a t e r i a l s
^^Lectures, 1920-1921, p. 73.
f o r h is a d d re s s .
In re c e n t y e a rs ap p ro x im ately one h a l f o f th e
m an u scrip ts have been produced in s c h o la r ly form w ith
sta n d a rd fo o tn o te re fe re n c e s and b ib lio g ra p h ic so u rc e s.
In a d d itio n to th e B ib le and r e la te d m a t e r i a l s , th e l e c
tu r e r s have r e l i e d c h ie f ly upon th e p u b lish e d works o f
a u th o rs o f th e churches o f C h r is t. N on-churches o f C h ris t
r e la te d so u rce s have been much le s s fre q u e n tly u se d .
W ith th e hundreds o f sp eak ers who appeared on th e
L e c tu re s h ip , i t was in e v ita b le t h a t some d u p lic a tio n o f
m a te r ia ls sh o u ld o cc u r. In s e v e ra l in s ta n c e s , more th an
one sp e ak er d is c u s s e d th e same s p e c if ic to p ic ; and
o c c a s io n a lly a s t r i k i n g s i m i la r i t y in speech d e sig n and
tre a tm e n t was n o tic e a b le . Even more fre q u e n tly , s im ila r
g e n e ra l themes and argum ents were used by two o r more
s p e a k e rs. Both H a ll L. C alh o u n 's 1927 sp e e c h , "A Much
N eglected Command," and Alonzo W elch’s 1955 ad d ress " In
N othing Be A nxious," were based upon th e B ib le t e x t ,
P h ilip p ia n s 4 :6 . Both men n o t o n ly approached th e passag e
in th e same m anner, b u t th ey a ls o a r r iv e d a t id e n tic a l
c o n c lu sio n s . Calhoun ch arg ed : "The cause o f w orry is a
want o f f a i t h in God. No one who b e lie v e s in God as he
147
72
o u g h t c a n w o r r y ." A q u a r t e r o f a c e n t u r y l a t e r , W elch
e c h o e d : "T h e a n t i d o t e f o r a n x i e t y i s f a i t h i n G od. . . .
T he r e a s o n i n g o f J e s u s m akes a n x i e t y t h e a n t i t h e s i s o f
73
f a i t h , t h e e v id e n c e o f u n b e l i e f . "
L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k e r s i n g e n e r a l m ade a b u n d a n t u s e
o f t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n a s a m eans o f s u p p o r t i n g m a t e r i a l .
O c c a s i o n a l l y , tw o s p e a k e r s u s e d a n i d e n t i c a l i l l u s t r a t i o n .
F o r i n s t a n c e , C a lh o u n , i n 1 9 2 7 , a n d J a c k B a t e s , i n 1 9 5 7 ,
t o l d o f an o ld p a i n t e r who a s s i s t e d h i s y o u n g s t u d e n t b y
b o l d l y p a i n t i n g a m p l i u s , t h e L a t i n w o rd f o r " w i d e r ," a c r o s s
t h e l a t t e r ' s u n f i n i s h e d c a n v a s . B o th s p e a k e r s m ade a
s i m i l a r a p p l i c a t i o n : "O u r c o n c e p ti o n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y i s
s o n a r r o w , s o s h o r t , s o lo w , so s h a l l o w , s o c ra m p e d , n o t
f i l l e d w i t h a l l t h e f u l l n e s s a n d b l e s s i n g s o f G o d . " ^
I n sum m ary, t h e a u d ie n c e a t t h e A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p
w as a f f o r d e d t h e c u m u la tiv e o p p o r t u n i t y o f w i t n e s s i n g a t
l e a s t o n e e x a m p le o f e v e r y v a r i a t i o n i n s p e a k in g s t y l e ,
e v e r y m ode o f s p e e c h d e l i v e r y , e v e r y p o s s i b l e m eans o f
a rg u m e n t s u p p o r t , e v e r y s p e c im e n o f v o c a l s t r e n g t h a n d
^ L e c t u r e s » 1 9 2 6 -2 7 , p . 3 1 .
^ ^L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 5 , p p . 4 2 , 4 6 .
^Lectures, 1926-27, pp. 23-24; Lectures, 1957,
p. 55.
148
w eakness, every type o f p h y sic a l g e s tic u la tio n , every
d is t r a c ti n g mannerism as w ell as every mark o f p u lp it
pow er, and every tech n iq u e o f argum entation and p ersu a sio n
known to th e a r t and h is to r y o f American p u b lic a d d re ss.
The p o lic y makers sought to m a in ta in a h ig h le v e l
o f speaking perform ance by s e le c tin g n o t only th o se s k ille d
in th e a r t o f com position and d e liv e r y , b u t th o se e x p e rt in
s p e c ia liz e d areas o f stu d y . The r e s u l t was a p la tfo rm
which c o n s is te n tly a t tr a c te d th e p u lp it g ia n ts o f th e
churches o f C h ris t; and th e g ia n ts seldom s tre tc h e d t a l l e r
th an fo r t h e i r A bilene e f f o r t s . B u t, th e re were a ls o th e
" l i t t l e " men. By fo llo w in g th e n a tu ra l degrees on a
descending s c a le o f speech e x c e lle n c e , we u ltim a te ly
uncover th e o f t fo rg o tte n i n a r t i c u l a t e , whose g r e a te s t
p u b lic address accom plishm ent was a r a r e hour in A bilene.
PART TW O
ANALYSIS OF MAJOR ISSUES AND IDEAS OF THE LECTURES
CHAPTER VI
THE BIBLE
In tro d u c tio n
I t does n o t ta k e a p ro p h e t to ’'d is c e r n th e sig n s
o f th e tim e s ," n o r th e son o f a p ro p h e t to f o r e
c a s t th e n a tu re o f th e f i g h t t h a t m ust b e fo u g h t
w ith in th e n e x t few y e a r s . The enemy has c h a l
len g ed us and m ust b e m et; y e a , r a t h e r , " th e f ig h t
is on" and we must meet the foe and give to the
great hosts of young people who should and will be
ed u c ated " th e h e r ita g e o f them t h a t f e a r th e L ord";
we a re u n d er o b lig a tio n to show t h a t th e B ib le
sta n d s th e t e s t o f c r it i c i s m ; th e p r e s e n t age makes
t h a t demand upon th o s e o f us who b e lie v e in God and
a c c e p t th e B ib le as His in s p ir e d w o rd .l
D e sp ite George A. K lingm an's d is c la im e r , i t was
in d eed p r o p h e tic a lly a p p ro p ria te t h a t he sh o u ld in c lu d e
th e s e words in th e opening p a ra g ra p h o f th e f i r s t ad d ress
e v e r d e liv e r e d on th e A b ilen e C h r is tia n C o lleg e L e c tu re
s h ip . The in e r r a n t a u th o r ity o f th e B ib le was th e
L e c tu re s , 1919, p . 241. A lthough t h i s ad d re ss was
p r in te d in th e 1919 volum e, i t was th e k ey n o te sp eech o f
th e 1918 s e r i e s .
150
151
i n d i s p e n s a b l e c o r n e r s t o n e u p o n w h ic h t h e R e s t o r a t i o n
M ovem ent h a d b e e n fo u n d e d . And y e t , b y t h e f i r s t d e c a d e
o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , c h u r c h h i s t o r i a n s c o u ld q u i t e
a c c u r a t e l y r e p o r t : "O ne o f t h e m o st o b v io u s e f f e c t s o f
t h e s c i e n t i f i c s p i r i t h a s b e e n t o w eak en t h e u n q u e s t i o n i n g
2
a c c e p ta n c e o f t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e B i b l e . " J a r s o f germ s
an d s k e l e t o n s o f t h e h i g h e s t a n t h r o p o i d a p e s h a d b e e n
marshaled into an imposing array of faith-shaking evidence.
F o r t h e l e c t u r e r s t o ig n o r e t h e p ro b le m s p e r t a i n i n g t o
s c i e n c e was t o f o r f e i t t h e i r c la im s a s " s e e k e r s o f t r u t h . "
To surrender to the evidence was to impeach the validity
o f t h e b o o k u p o n w h ic h t h e i r f a i t h w as fo u n d e d . T he
i n e v i t a b l e r e s p o n s e w as o n e o f u n y i e l d i n g d e f e n s e . " . . .
yea, rather, 'the fight is on1. . .we are under obligation
t o show t h a t t h e B i b le s t a n d s t h e t e s t o f c r i t i c i s m . "
I t w as m ore th a n c o i n c i d e n t a l t h a t a s J e s s e P .
Sewell and his colleagues were setting the foundation for
t h e A b ile n e p l a t f o r m , a l l a c r o s s t h e n a t i o n many o t h e r
O
"distressed conservatives organized in reaction."
^ W illia m Adams B ro w n , The C h u rc h i n A m e ric a (New
Y o rk : T he M a c m illa n Com pany, 1 9 2 2 ) , p . 1 4 2 .
O
J James Hastings Nichols, History of Christianity,
1 6 5 0 -1 9 5 0 (New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1956),
p. 273.
152
W illis to n W alker re v e a ls th a t many o f th o se who "were
shaken by th e new id e as . . . re a c te d by h o ld in g to t h e ir
view o f B ib lic a l i n f a l l i b i l i t y w ith g r e a te r r i g i d i t y . They
founded a s e r ie s o f im p o rtan t B ib le co n feren ces in d efen se
o f t h e i r v ie w s--N iag a ra , Winona, Rocky M ountain."^ In h is
book, H isto ry o f Fundam entalism , S tew art G. Cole d e sc rib e s
" th e B ib le and p ro p h e tic co n feren ce movement," as one o f
th e c h ie f means o f o rg an ized re a c tio n to l i b e r a l C h r i s t i
a n ity .^
No annual r e t r e a t o r le c tu re s h ip d id more to
re in fo rc e o ld -fa sh io n e d P ro te s ta n tis m th an th e N iagara
B ib le C onference. Founded in 1876, th e N iagara p la tfo rm
p u t f o r th in 1895 th e famous F iv e -P o in ts o f d o c trin e which
e v e n tu a lly came to re p re s e n t th e c re e d a l sta tem en t o f
fundam entalism . The fiv e a ffirm a tio n s w ere: th e in e rra n c y
o f th e S c r ip tu r e s , th e d e ity o f C h r is t, h is v ir g in b i r t h ,
h is s u b s titu tio n a r y atonem ent, and h is p h y s ic a l r e s u r r e c
tio n and coming b o d ily back to e a rth ,^ In a d d itio n to
S f i l l i s t o n W alker, A H isto ry o f th e C h ris tia n
Church (New York: C harles S c rib n e r's Sons, 1959), p. 517.
^S tew art G. C ole, H isto ry o f Fundam entalism (New
York: R ichard R. Sm ith, I n c ., 1931), p. 31.
W . M unhall, "The N iagara B ib le C onference,"
Moody B ib le I n s t i t u t e B u l le t in , XXII (1921-1922), 1104-
1105.
153
N i a g a r a , t h e W in o n a a n d R ocky M o u n ta in B i b l e C o n f e r e n c e s
b ecam e t h e r a l l y i n g c e n t e r s f o r m id - w e s t a n d f a r - w e s t
c o n s e r v a t i v e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . ^
I n 1 9 1 9 , o v e r s i x th o u s a n d p e o p l e g a t h e r e d i n
P h i l a d e l p h i a f o r t h e W o rld ' s B i b l e C o n f e r e n c e . E i g h t e e n
o f t h e m o s t w id e l y know n e x p o n e n ts o f c l a s s i c a l t h e o l o g y
p r e s e n t e d t h e i r i d e a s t o t h e m ass l e c t u r e m e e t i n g . T hey
r e p r e s e n t e d t h e o r g a n i z e d , m i l i t a n t m in d o f r e a c t i o n a r y
Q
e v a n g e l i c a l i s m . A t t h e o p e n in g s e s s i o n , W illia m B. R i l e y
p r e d i c t e d t h a t t h e o c c a s i o n w o u ld m a rk t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a
new P r o t e s t a n t i s m , a n e v e n t o f m o re h i s t o r i c m om ent t h a n
t h e n a i l i n g u p o f L u t h e r 's t h e s e s a t t h e W i tte n b e r g
c a t h e d r a l . As a r e s u l t o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e , t h e W o r ld 's
q
C h r i s t i a n F u n d a m e n ta ls A s s o c i a t i o n w as b o r n . S in c e 1 9 1 9 ,
^ Jam es M. G ra y ( e d „ ) , T he C om ing a n d K ingdom o f
C h r i s t ( C h ic a g o : B i b l e I n s t i t u t e C o l p o r t a g e A s s o c i a t i o n ,
1 9 1 4 ) , p p . 1 4 4 -1 4 5 .
Q
T h e P h i l a d e l p h i a a d d r e s s e s w e re p r e s e r v e d i n t h e
v o lu m e , God H a th S p o k e n , W illia m L . P e t t i n g i l l ( e d . ) ,
P h i l a d e l p h i a , S u n d ay S c h o o l T im e s , 1 9 1 9 .
9
C h r i s t i a n F u n d a m e n ta ls i n S c h o o l a n d C h u r c h .
O c to b e r - D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 2 , p p . 4 - 5 . T h is q u a r t e r l y m a g a z i n e ,
e d i t e d b y W illia m B. R i l e y a n d l a t e r c a l l e d T h e C h r i s t i a n
F u n d a m e n ta l s , w as c h o s e n t o v o i c e t h e A s s o c i a t i o n 's i d e a l s .
G a i l K e n n e d y , e d i t o r o f E v o l u t i o n a n d R e l i g i o n : T h e
C o n f l i c t B e tw e e n S c ie n c e a n d T h e o lo g y i n M odern A m e ric a
( [B o s to n : D. C . H e a th a n d C om pany, 1 9 5 7 ] , p . v i i i ) , s t a t e s
t h a t t h e A s s o c i a t i o n b e g a n i n 1 9 1 6 .
154
sc o re s o f B ib le co n feren ces have been conducted an n u a lly
th ro u g h o u t A m erica. Men o f r e v i v a l i s t i c tem peram ent have
c u ltiv a te d t h e i r c o n v ic tio n s and p re se rv e d th e f a i t h o f
t h e i r f a th e r s by means o f th e se mass m eetin g s. Cole
re v e a le d some o f th e in g re d ie n ts w hich by 1920 had com
b in ed to tra n sfo rm th e B ib le co n feren c e movement in to a
perm anent ty p e o f s o c ia l i n s t i t u t i o n w ith in C h r is tia n ity :
The h e a rty sin g in g o f r e v iv a l hymns, th e s p i r i t
o f deep p i e t y , th e v ig o ro u s d o c tr in a l c o n v ic tio n s
awakened by d i f f e r e n t ty p es o f p re a c h e rs , and th e
developm ent o f s u s p ic io n and d i s t r u s t tow ard
p ro g re s s iv e churchm en, empowered th e company w ith
a se n se o f C h r is tia n i n v i n c i b i l i t y and w ith one
o f d iv in e com mission to champion th e th re a te n e d
f a i t h . 10
R ath er th an b ein g a mere se q u e ste re d co m p lain t, th e
w est Texas p la tfo rm was b u t one v o ic e in t h i s loud chorus
o f v ig o ro u s p r o te s ta ti o n s . H is to ria n s have fre q u e n tly
la b e le d th is c o u n ter-c h o ru s th e 1 1 fu n d a m e n ta list movement."
The avalanche o f p u b lic ity i t re c e iv e d on th e f ro n t pages
o f th e American p re ss in th e e a rly 1920's was d e s c rib e d by
Ralph H. G a b rie l as "b o th a novel and unexpected American
■^Cole, op. cit. , p. 233.
155
p h e n o m e n o n ." ^ T he A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p m u st b e i n t e r p r e t e d
i n c o n n e c tio n w i th t h i s p h en o m en o n , a s o n e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o
an in d ig e n o u s n a t i o n a l m ovem ent. Many o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e s
an d l e c t u r e s h i p s w e re s p o n s o re d b y B i b le s c h o o ls s u c h a s
A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e , " t h e n o rm a l c e n t e r s o f a p p e a l
12
f o r t h i s p a t t e r n o f r e l i g i o n . " W h ile a h a n d f u l o f t h e
a s s e m b lie s w h ic h a r o s e t o ch a m p io n o r th o d o x y w e re a b l e t o
e n j o i n t h e l o y a l t y o f c o n s e r v a t i v e C h r i s t i a n s fro m many
f a i t h s and fro m e v e r y s e c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , m o st o f them
r e p r e s e n t e d som e p a r t i c u l a r r e l i g i o u s g ro u p an d m ade t h e i r
a p p e a l t o a l o c a l c o n s t i t u e n c y . S u ch w as t h e c a s e w i t h t h e
A b ile n e p l a t f o r m . The f o u n d e r s o f t h e L e c t u r e s h i p h a d
n e v e r v i s i t e d a n a s s e m b ly a t N ia g a r a , W in o n a, o r R ocky
M o u n ta in , an d th e y m ade no c o n s c io u s e f f o r t t o d u p l i c a t e
13
t h e s e B i b le c o n f e r e n c e s . T he sam e s o c i a l and r e l i g i o u s
c o n d i t i o n s , h o w e v e r, t h a t g a v e r i s e t o t h e s e n a t i o n a l l y
p ro m in e n t c o n f e r e n c e s , m o tiv a te d J e s s e P . S e w e ll a n d h i s
• ^ C h r i s t i a n i t y and M odem T h o u g h t (New H aven:
Y a le U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 4 ) , p . v . A ls o s e e N i c h o l s ,
H i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , p p . 2 6 9 -2 8 2 .
12
C o le , o p . c i t . , p . 2 2 9 .
13
Jesse P. Sewell, personal interview, October 25,
1961.
c o lle a g u es to p ro v id e a medium through which th e fo rc e s o f
th e R e s to ra tio n Movement m ight be s o l i d i f i e d . The id eas
and iss u e s o f th e A bilene L e c tu re sh ip must be view ed,
th e r e f o r e , a g a in s t th e b o ld backdrop o f th e fu n d am e n talist
re a c tio n to l i b e r a l C h r is t ia n i ty , th e whole o f which th e
A bilene assem bly was a p p a re n tly a p a r t.
The b a s is fo r th e c la s h between fundam entalism and
modernism c e n te re d around t h e i r d if f e r in g a t titu d e s toward
th e n a tu re and p ro p er use o f th e B ib le . For c e n tu rie s
C h ris tia n s had assumed th a t th e B ib le was a s p e c ia l r e v e la
tio n from God and th a t w hatever i t d e c la re d was to be
accep ted as t r u t h w ith o u t q u e s tio n . By 1892, how ever, th e
f i r s t p re s id e n t o f th e new U n iv e rsity o f C hicago, W illiam
Rainey H arp er, could t e l l h is Chautauqua audience o f th e
e f f e c ts o f r a t i o n a l i s t i c h ig h e r c r itic is m :
. . . The s u p e rn a tu ra l i s ru le d o u t. God h im se lf
i s com pelled to v a c a te . What i s l e f t ? A few harm
le s s s t o r i e s ; a few w ell-m ean t, b u t m istaken
w arnings; a few dead songs; and many u n f u lf i lle d
p re d ic tio n s ; a la rg e amount o f f a i r l y good
l i t e r a t u r e . 14
14
Chautauqua Assembly H e ra ld . August 4 , 1892, p. 7.
D eliv ered in A m phitheater, August 2 , 1892. As quoted in
James H. McBath, "Speechmaking a t th e Chautauqua Assembly,
1874-1900" (unpublished Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , N orthw estern
U n iv e rs ity , 1950), p. 117.
157
N ot a l l o f th e s t u d e n t s o f B i b l i c a l c r i t i c i s m h a d
g o n e t o s u c h e x tr e m e s , h o w e v e r. F o r t h e t y p i c a l m o d e r n is t
o f t h e e a r l y t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , t h e B i b le w as a v a r i e d
l i t e r a t u r e i s s u i n g o u t o f t h e lo n g d e v e lo p m e n t o f H ebrew
an d C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n . I t s v a l i d i t y a s a f i n a l a u t h o r i t y
f o r b e l i e f w as q u e s t i o n a b l e , b u t w as e x c e e d in g ly v a l u a b l e
w hen a p p ro a c h e d l i k e an y o t h e r l i t e r a t u r e , f o r w h a te v e r
i n s p i r a t i o n an d g u id a n c e i t s v a r i o u s p a r t s a c t u a l l y c o n
t a i n e d . The m o d e r n is t r e a s o n e d t h a t i t w as no lo n g e r
n e c e s s a r y to ex p en d l a b o r h a rm o n iz in g t h e h o p e l e s s l y d i s
c o r d a n t , i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f an a r t i f i c i a l th e o r y o f v e r b a l
i n s p i r a t i o n . Above a l l , h e c la im e d t h a t t h e s p i r i t u a l
f o r c e o f t h e B ib le w as n o t w eak en ed b u t s t r e n g t h e n e d w hen
s o u s e d . S h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y , W a sh in g
to n G la d d e n p h r a s e d th e co m p ro m ise p o s i t i o n o f many s o -
c a l l e d m o d e r n is ts :
A re n o t t h e i d o l a t e r s who m ake i t t r e a s o n t o d i s
b e l i e v e a s i n g l e w ord o f t h e B i b l e , an d t h e
i c o n o c l a s t s who t r e a t i t a s n o th in g b e t t e r th a n
an y o t h e r b o o k , e q u a l l y f a r fro m t h e t r u t h ? I s
i t n o t t h e p a r t o f w isdom t o u s e t h e b o o k r a t i o n
a l l y , b u t r e v e r e n t l y ; to r e f r a i n fro m w o rs h ip p in g
t h e l e t t e r , b u t t o r e j o i c e i n t h e g i f t s o f t h e
S p i r i t w h ic h i t proffers?^
~^Who Wrote the Bible? (New York: Houghton
Mifflin Co., 1891), pp. 380-381.
158
The fu n d am e n talists responded th a t under such
q u a lify in g c lau se s th e B ib le was no lo n g er a r e v e la tio n .
In ste a d o f a message from God to men, i t was m erely m en's
thoughts about God. C h r is tia n ity , th e fu n d am e n talists
contended, had been founded upon an i n f a l l i b l e message from
God, to which a l l human reaso n must be su b je c te d . I f in
th e event o f c o n f lic t between re v e la tio n and sc h o la rsh ip
human judgm ent was to be th e k n ife which b is e c te d th e B ible
in to p o rtio n s o f tr u th and e r r o r , th e n , argued th e con
s e rv a tiv e s , reaso n r a th e r than r e v e la tio n has become th e
norm in r e lig io n . In h is 1925 a d d re s s , "The I n d e s tr u c tib le
V ita lity o f th e B ib le ," j u s t months p r io r to th e Scopes
t r i a l in Dayton, T ennessee, A bilene le c tu r e r W . M . Davis
ch arg ed :
At th e p re se n t tim e th re e reco g n ized in flu e n c e s a re
converging on th e B ib le in an ad v erse way. S cience
is being d iv e rte d from i t s u s e fu l channel in an
attem p t to d is c r e d it th e word o f God. . . . N atu ral
philosophy is being d iv e rte d from i t s u s e fu l sphere
w ith a view to d e stro y in g th e m iraculous elem ent o f
th e B ib le. . . . H igher c r itic is m has jo in e d hands
w ith s p e c u la tiv e sc ie n c e and f a ls e philosophy in an
e f f o r t a g a in s t th e B ib le .16
I t was in to th is a g ita te d em otional and i n t e l l e c
tu a l environm ent th a t sp eak ers a t A bilene step p ed when they
"^Lectures, 1924-1925, pp. 76-78.
159
r o s e to a d d r e s s L e c t u r e s h i p a u d ie n c e s on t h e n a t u r e an d
p u r p o s e o f t h e B i b l e . T h is c h a p t e r c o n s i d e r s t h e m ore th a n
s i x t y l e c t u r e s w h ic h d e a l t w i t h t h e B i b l e - - i t s i n s p i r a t i o n ,
i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o s c i e n c e an d t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y h y p o th e
s i s , th e h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m o f t h e B i b l e , an d t h e s tu d y o f
t h e B i b l e .
T he I n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e B i b le
" I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t , " d e c l a r e d A b ile n e s p e a k e r
C. A. N o rre d i n 1 9 3 6 , " t h a t a lm o s t u n i v e r s a l l y men h a v e
a g r e e d t h a t a B e in g w o rth y o f w o r s h ip w o u ld n e c e s s a r i l y
p o s s e s s s u c h q u a l i t i e s a s w o u ld m ove h im t o r e v e a l t o th o s e
b e n e a th h im th o s e t h i n g s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e i r w e l f a r e an d
happiness. To t h e men who l e c t u r e d i n A b ile n e an d f o r
t h e a u d ie n c e w h ic h l i s t e n e d , t h e r e w as no q u e s t i o n m o re
v i t a l th a n t h a t o f i n s p i r a t i o n . I f t h e B i b le w e re n o t o f
d i v i n e o r i g i n , th e y s h o u ld n o t bow t o i t s c la im s o f a u t h o r
i t y , r e l y u p o n i t s s t a t e m e n t s o f f a c t , an d c o u ld n o t d e r i v e
c o m fo r t an d h o p e fro m i t s p r o m is e s . I n f a c t , t h e jo u r n e y
fro m t h e i r hom es t o t h e A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p h a d no r e a l
p u r p o s e i f t h e B i b le was b u t t h e w o rk o f m en. On t h e o t h e r
^"God Hath Spoken," Lectures . 1936, p. 7.
160
hand, i f th e B ib le came from God, i t s a u th o rity was
u n q u estio n ab le and i t s statem en ts i n f a l l i b l e . For th o se
who spoke and fo r th o se who lis te n e d , much was a t s ta k e .
The q u e stio n o f in s p ir a tio n was n o t only c r u c ia l
to th e A bilene assem bly b u t was a t th e v ery h e a rt o f th e
orthodox re a c tio n acro ss th e n a tio n . As th e L ectu resh ip
was becoming a brotherhood i n s t i t u t i o n , o th e r c o n se rv a tiv e
bodies took o f f i c i a l a c tio n to re a ffirm t h e i r f a i t h in th e
B ib le as an in s p ire d r e v e la tio n . In 1923, th e G eneral
Assembly o f th e P re s b y te ria n Church readopted th e "F iv e-
P o in ts" o r ig in a lly passed a t i t s 1910 s e s s io n . The m inutes
o f th e m eeting read :
F urtherm ore, th e G eneral Assembly c a lls th e a t te n
tio n o f th e P re s b y te rie s to th e d e liv e ra n c e o f th e
G eneral Assembly o f 1910, which d e liv e ra n c e is
hereby affirm ed and which i s as fo llo w s:
1. I t is an e s s e n tia l d o c trin e o f th e Word o f
God and our sta n d ard s th a t th e Holy S p i r i t d id so
in s p i r e , guide and move th e w rite rs o f th e Holy
S c rip tu re as to keep them from e r r o r . ^
A y ear e a r l i e r , th e N orthern B a p tis t denom ination
had passed a s im ila r r e s o lu tio n . In th e s tr a te g y move
designed to o f f s e t th e advances o f lib e ra lis m , th e
1 R
E. C. V anderlaan, Fundamentalism v ersu s Modernism
(New York: H. W . W ilson Company, 1925), p. 21.
161
c o n v e n t i o n 's m in u te s r e a d :
W h e re a s : T h e N o r t h e r n B a p t i s t C o n v e n tio n , i n i t s
1922 s e s s i o n , h e l d a t I n d i a n a p o l i s , o f f i c i a l l y
d e c l a r e d t h e New T e s ta m e n t t o b e t h e s u f f i c i e n t
g ro u n d o f i t s f a i t h , a n d
W h e re a s : T h e r e i s a w id e d i f f e r e n c e o f o p i n i o n
am ong o u r B a p t i s t p e o p l e , a s t o w h a t t h e New
T e s ta m e n t d o e s t e a c h ,
T h e r e f o r e : Be i t r e s o l v e d t h a t t h e B i b l e t e a c h e s ,
an d we b e l i e v e ,
1 . O f t h e S c r i p t u r e s - T h a t t h e B i b l e w as
w r i t t e n b y m en s u p e m a t u r a l l y i n s p i r e d ; t h a t i t
h a s t r u t h w i t h o u t a n y a d m ix tu r e o f e r r o r f o r i t s
m a t t e r ; t h a t , a s o r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n , i t i s b o t h
s c i e n t i f i c a l l y a n d h i s t o r i c a l l y t r u e a n d c o r r e c t ;
an d t h e r e f o r e i s a n d s h a l l r e m a in t o t h e en d o f
t h e a g e , t h e o n l y c o m p le te a n d f i n a l r e v e l a t i o n
o f t h e w i l l o f God t o m an; t h e t r u e c e n t e r o f t h e
C h r i s t i a n u n io n a n d t h e s u p re m e s t a n d a r d b y w h ic h
a l l hum an c o n d u c t , c r e e d s a n d o p i n i o n s s h o u l d b e
t r i e d .
I n 1 9 2 3 , W illia m J e n n in g s B r y a n , t h e t i t u l a r h e a d
o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t p a r t y , w r o t e a n a r t i c l e o n t h e " F i v e -
P o i n t s . " He d e c l a r e d t h a t " t h e B i b l e i s e i t h e r t h e W ord o f
God o r a m an-m ade b o o k ." C o n c e r n in g t h e f i r s t o f t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l s , t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e , B ry a n s a i d :
U pon t h e f i r s t p r o p o s i t i o n a l l t h e r e s t d e p e n d . I f
t h e B i b l e i s t r u e — t h a t i s , s o d i v i n e l y i n s p i r e d a s
t o b e f r e e fro m e r r o r — t h e n t h e s e c o n d , t h i r d ,
f o u r t h a n d f i f t h p r o p o s i t i o n s f o l l o w i n e v i t a b l y ,
b e c a u s e t h e y a r e b a s e d u p o n w h a t t h e B i b l e a c t u a l l y
s a y s i n la n g u a g e c l e a r a n d u n m i s t a k a b l e . I f , o n
t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e B i b l e i s n o t t o b e a c c e p t e d a s
t r u e , t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n why a n y b o d y s h o u l d b e l i e v e
^Christian Work. May 31, 1924, p. 702.
162
an y th in g in i t t h a t he o b je c ts t o , no m a tte r upon
w hat h is o b je c tio n i s founded. 20
To th e s e th u n d e rin g r e a f f irm a tio n s from o rg an ized
P ro te s ta n tis m th e m o d e rn ists responded t h a t th ey lik e w is e
b e lie v e d th e B ib le to be in a sen se in s p ir e d , b u t n o t
i n f a l l i b l y so ; to be v a lu a b le , b u t n o t p e r f e c t; to c o n ta in
th e Word o f God, b u t n o t e q u a lin g th e Word o f God. The
ap p eal o f t h e i r p o s itio n was u n d erg ird e d w ith th e i n s i s t e n t
p le a t h a t t h e i r new view was n o t th e d e s tro y e r b u t th e
s a v io r o f th e B ib le . W illiam Newton C la rk e , a w ell-know n
ad v o cate o f th e new th e o lo g y , s a id s u c c in c tly : "The B ib le
i s in s p ire d as i t is i n s p i r e d , and n o t as we may th in k i t
O l
ought to be in s p ir e d ." An e d i t o r i a l in th e C h ris tia n
i
C entury d e c la re d in 1924:
On th e o th e r h an d , th e M odernist s t a r t s w ith no
p re c o n c e p tio n as to w hat th e B ib le ought to b e ,
b u t i s in te r e s te d to d is c o v e r w hat i t a c tu a lly
re v e a ls re g a rd in g i t s o r ig in and n a tu re . He p e r
c e iv e s th a t th e P r o te s ta n t r e a c tio n from th e p ap al
dogma o f an i n f a l l i b l e church r e s u lte d in th e
opposing d o c trin e o f an i n f a l l i b l e B ib le , and th a t
n e ith e r o f th e s e claim s r e s t s upon v a lid grounds.
The B ib le i s n o t a s u p e rn a tu ra lly produced o r
safe g u ard ed c o lle c tio n o f docum ents, b u t th e
h o n e st and re v e re n t work o f men liv in g a t v a rio u s
20!'The Fundamentals," Forum. July, 1923, p. 1666.
^ S ix tv Y ears w ith th e B ib le (New York: S c rib n e r
and Sons, 1917), p . 133.
163
p e r i o d s i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e H ebrew an d J e w is h
p e o p l e , o v e r a n i n t e r v a l o f m ore th a n a th o u s a n d
y e a r s ; t h a t i t i s t h e r e c o r d o f t h e m o st n o t a b l e
c h a p t e r s i n t h e h i s t o r y o f r e l i g i o n . . . . T h e se
w r i t i n g s l a y no c la im s t o e x a c tn e s s i n m a t t e r s
o f h i s t o r y , c h r o n o lo g y , o r s c i e n c e , . . . 2 2
"T h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l b o o k s ," c o n tin u e d R o b e rt A.
A s h w o rth , " i s t h e B i b l e , t h e su p re m e l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e
s p i r i t u a l l i f e , . . . b u t i t i s n o t i n f a l l i b l e o r i n e r r a n t ,
23
n o r d o e s i t c la im t o b e s o . " S h a i l e r M a tth e w , i n h i s
d e f i n i t i v e w o rk , The F a i t h o f M o d e rn ism , m a in ta in e d t h a t
d e e p w i t h i n t h e m o d e r n is t m ovem ent w as a m eth o d o f a p p r e
c i a t i n g an d u s in g t h e B i b l e . He c o n te n d e d t h a t t h e c r u c i a l ,
c o n f l i c t b e tw e e n t h e m o d e r n is t an d t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t d i d
n o t l i e i n d i f f e r i n g d e g r e e s o f l o y a l t y t o o r r e s p e c t f o r
t h e B i b l e , b u t i n d i s s i m i l a r p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s r e g a r d i n g th e
B i b l e an d t h e m e th o d s f o r s t u d y i n g i t . E x p la i n in g h i s
c o n t e n t i o n , h e a s s e r t e d :
T he t r u e m eth o d i s fo llo w e d b y t h e M o d e r n is t: to
s tu d y t h e B i b l e w it h f u l l r e s p e c t f o r i t s s a n c t i t y
b u t w i t h e q u a l r e s p e c t f o r t h e s t u d e n t 's i n t e l l e c
t u a l i n t e g r i t y . We m u st b e g i n w i t h t h e f a c t s
c o n c e r n in g i t , i n t e r p r e t i t s a c t u a l v a l u e and u s e
^^Christian Century, April 3, 1924, p. 424.
23
"M o d ern ism an d C h r i s t i a n A s s u r a n c e ," C h r i s t i a n
W ork, M arch 1 , 1 9 2 4 , p . 2 6 9 .
164
i t fo r what i t is a c tu a lly w orth. Only thus can
i t p ro p e rly m in is te r to our s p i r i t u a l n e e d s .24
Auguste S a b a tie r, au th o r o f th e s ig n if ic a n t book
>
R elig io n s o f A u th o rity , summarized th e m o d e rn istic under
sta n d in g o f in s p ir a tio n :
These w r i tin g s , th e r e f o r e , have no appearance o f
being th e a u th o riz e d p u b lic a tio n o f d iv in e o ra c le s ;
th ey appear as th e spontaneous p ro d u ctio n o f a
g re a t c la s s i c l i t e r a t u r e , born o f a profound
re lig io u s f a i t h , o f a pow erful common in s p ir a tio n ,
b u t in which th e g e n e ra l u n ity does n o t exclude a
d iv e r s ity o f g e n iu s , o f th o u g h t, and o f s t y l e ,
and in which a re n o t la c k in g , s id e by s id e w ith
b e a u tif u l tho u g h ts and s tr ik in g t r u t h s , im perfec
tio n s o f form , e rro rs o f d e t a i l , tra c e s o f form er
p re ju d ic e s , and long superannuated methods o f
ex eg esis and re a s o n in g .25
In t h e ir d efen se o f th e d o c trin e o f in e rr a n t
in s p ir a tio n , th e A bilene le c tu r e r s were in e s s e n tia l a g ree
ment w ith such fu n d am e n talist le a d e rs as Machen, Bryan,
9 ft
H orsch, M acartney, R ile y , G ray, S tra to n and T orrey.
A lthough in t h e i r p rin te d ad d resses th e L e c tu re sh ip
^ T h e F a ith o f Modernism (New York: The M acmillan
Company, 1924), p . 48.
25
R elig io n s o f A u th o rity , tr a n s . L ouise Seymour
Houghton (London: Hodder and S tro u g h to n , 1904), p. 169.
26
M acartney le d th e sch o o l o f c o n se rv a tiv e s which
h e ld a q u a lifie d view o f in e rra n c y . He adm itted th e p os
s i b i l i t y o f a d iscrep an cy between th e num erals in Kings
and C h ro n icles and suggested th a t th e prophesy concerning
165
s p e a k e r s r a r e l y r e f e r r e d t o t h e w r i t i n g s o f t h e s e m e n , i t
i s r e a s o n a b l e t o c o n j e c t u r e t h a t t h e y w e re f a m i l i a r w i t h
a n d e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e v i g i l a n c e o f t h e i r c o n t e m p o r a r ie s i n
t h e l a r g e r s t r u g g l e . T h e few w o rk s w h ic h t h e s p e a k e r s
p u b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d fro m 1920 t o 1936 f i t s q u a r e l y
a s t o s u b j e c t m a t t e r a n d a r g u m e n t a t i o n i n t o t h e fu n d a m e n
t a l i s t m o s a i c . 2 ^ I n 1 9 1 9 , G. D a l l a s S m ith s e r v e d a s t h e
f i r s t p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r a t t h e L e c t u r e s h i p . H is s e r i e s o f
f i v e a d d r e s s e s o n t h e B i b l e o c c a s i o n a l l y d e m o n s tr a te d
a w a r e n e s s o f t h e b a s i c w r i t i n g s o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t l e a d
e r s . E m p h a s iz in g t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f B i b l i c a l t e a c h i n g a s
e v i d e n c i n g d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n , S m ith c i t e d t h e c h a m p io n o f
B i b l e b e l i e v e r s , W illia m J e n n in g s B ry a n :
J u d a s ' d i s p o s a l o f t h e t h i r t y p i e c e s o f s i l v e r s h o u ld h a v e
b e e n a t t r i b u t e d t o J e r e m ia h i n s t e a d o f Z e c h a r i a h . He w as
a s v i g o r o u s a s a n y , h o w e v e r , i n i n s i s t i n g t h a t t h e c r u c i a l
a c c o u n ts o f t h e v i r g i n b i r t h , t h e m i r a c l e s , t h e s u b s t i t u t
in g a to n e m e n t, a n d s o f o r t h w e re i n e r r a n t l y f a c t u a l .
P r e s b y t e r i a n , D ecem b er 2 0 , 1 9 2 5 , p . 9 3 .
27
S e e C. R . N ic h o l a n d R. L . W h i t e s i d e , S ound
D o c t r i n e , I ( C l i f t o n , T e x a s : C . R . N i c h o l , 1 9 2 0 ) ;
G. D a l l a s S m ith . L e c t u r e s o n t h e B i b l e a n d W hat I s Man?
( C i n c i n n a t i , O h io : F . L . R ow e, 1 9 1 9 ) ; G. D a l l a s S m ith ,
O u t l i n e s o f B i b l e S tu d y ( N a s h v i l l e : G o s p e l A d v o c a te Com
p a n y , 1 9 2 2 ) ; A l l i s o n N. T r i c e a n d C h a r l e s H . R o b e r s o n ,
B i b l e v e r s u s M o d e rn ism ( N a s h v i l l e : M cQ uiddy P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 ) .
166
Mr. Bryan has ch allen g ed th e s c o ffe rs and in f id e ls
who say th e B ib le was w ritte n by men to produce
such a book as p ro o f th a t men could w rite a B ib le ,
b u t th e c h a lle n g e has never been accep ted . Mr.
Bryan i n s i s t s th a t i f men two thousand o r th re e
thousand y ears ago could w rite th e B ib le , s u re ly
men o f to d a y , whose advantages a re f a r g r e a te r ,
ought to be a b le to produce a B ib le . S t i l l they
make no attem p t to do i t , and thus th ey sta n d s e l f
condemned. The w rite r s o f th e B ib le a re s t r i c t l y
in a c la s s to th e m se lv e s, w ritin g as no o th e r men
ever have written. 28
In d isc u ssin g t h e i r concept o f B ib lic a l in s p ira tio n ,
th e le c tu r e r s fre q u e n tly r e f e r re d to th e etymology o f th e
word " in s p ir a tio n ." The e d ito r o f th e Gospel A dvocate,
B. C. G oodpasture, to ld h is 1950 A bilene audience:
" In s p ira tio n " l i t e r a l l y means a b re a th in g in . I t
is d eriv e d from two L a tin w ords, in and s p i r o , which
mean to blow o r b re a th e in to . In th e o r ig in a l th e
Greek word theopneustos is employed. I t i s com
posed o f two w ords—T heos, God; and pneustos .
b reath ed . . . G o d -s p irite d , o r G o d-breathed, o r
1 f i l l e d w ith th e b re a th o f God’ . . . I n s p ir a tio n
means th a t in flu e n c e which God e x e rc is e s through
th e Holy S p ir i t over th e minds o f B ib lic a l w rite rs
to make them i n f a l l i b l e in th e re c e iv in g and
reco rd in g o f h is w i l l . 29
To th e A bilene l e c t u r e r s , in s p ir a tio n was a su p e r
n a tu ra l in flu e n c e o f th e Holy S p i r i t upon d iv in e ly chosen
"Who Wrote th e B ib le ," L e c tu re s , 1919, p. 183.
Among o th e r p la c e s , B ry an 's ch a lle n g e was issu e d in an
a r t i c l e t i t l e d "The F undam entals," Forum, J u ly , 1923,
pp. 1665-1680.
29
"The Inspiration of the Bible," Lectures. 1950,
p. 160.
167
m en i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f w h ic h t h e i r w r i t i n g s b ecam e
a u t h o r i t a t i v e an d i n f a l l i b l e . T he e v id e n c e a d v a n c e d t o
d e m o n s tr a te t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e f e l l i n t o tw o
c l a s s e s - - i n t e r n a l an d e x t e r n a l . G o o d p a s tu re e x p l a i n e d :
From t h e v e r y n a t u r e o f t h e c a s e , h o w e v e r, t h e c h i e f
a rg u m e n ts i n f a v o r o f t h e d i v i n e o r i g i n o f t h e B i b l e
a r e l a r g e l y i n t e r n a l . T h is f a c t d o e s n o t m i l i t a t e
a g a i n s t t h e a rg u m e n ts i n f a v o r o f i n s p i r a t i o n . I f
t h e c o n t e n t s o f a g iv e n b o t t l e w e re i n q u e s t i o n ,
t h e b e s t way t o f i n d o u t t h e t r u t h w o u ld b e t o m ake
a c a r e f u l a n a l y s i s o f w h a t w as i n t h e b o t t l e . T he
i n t e r n a l e v id e n c e w o u ld b e m o re c o n c l u s i v e th a n an y
k in d o f e x t e r n a l e v id e n c e t h a t c o u ld b e p r o d u c e d . 30
T he u n i t y o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s w as t h e i n t e r n a l q u a l
i t y m o st o f t e n p o i n t e d t o a s a n e v id e n c e o f i n s p i r a t i o n .
T he l e c t u r e r s w e re i n a g re e m e n t w i t h f u n d a m e n t a l i s t s a t
l a r g e i n t h i s s t r e s s u p o n t h e B i b l e 's u n i t y . Jam es M.
G ra y , t h e D ean o f Moody B i b l e I n s t i t u t e , w r o te : "T he
c h a r a c t e r o f i t s c o n t e n t s , t h e u n i t y o f i t s p a r t s , t h e
f u l f i l l m e n t o f i t s p r o p h e s i e s . . . a l l t h e s e go t o show
t h a t i t i s d i v i n e , a n d i f s o , t h a t i t may b e b e l i e v e d i n
"T h e I n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 0 ,
p . 1 6 4 . Jam es O r r , a f u n d a m e n t a l i s t l e a d e r o f G la s g o w ,
r e f e r r e d t o i n t e r n a l p r o o f s a s " t h e B i b l e 's own t e s t o f
i n s p i r a t i o n . " He u r g e d : "L o o k a t i t s s t r u c t u r e ; lo o k a t
i t s c o m p le te n e s s ; lo o k a t i t i n t h e c l e a r n e s s a n d f u l l n e s s
an d h o l i n e s s o f i t s t e a c h i n g s . . . . " T he F u n d a m e n ta ls
(C h ic a g o : T e s tim o n y P u b l i s h i n g C om pany, 1 9 1 0 ) , IX ,
C h ap . IV , 6 1 7 .
168
01
what i t says about i t s e l f . ” John H orsch’s 1920 book,
Modern R elig io u s L ib e ra lism , was ty p ic a l o f sco res o f
volumes d ed icated to exposing th e " d e s tru c tiv e n e s s o f mod
e r n is t th e o lo g y ." On th e p o in t o f B ib lic a l u n ity , Horsch
d e c la re d :
The S c rip tu re s o f th e Old and New Testam ent a re an
in se p a ra b le w hole. The Old Testam ent S c rip tu re s
are th e fo u n d atio n , th e foreshadow ing and prom ise
o f th e New . . . But th e f a c t rem ains and cannot
be too s tro n g ly em phasized, th a t though God's re v e
la tio n in S c rip tu re is o f a p ro g re ssiv e c h a ra c te r,
th e whole B ib le is God's in s p ire d w ord.32
W . D. Cam pbell, a D e tro it m in is te r , journeyed to
A bilene in 1923 to speak o f "The Book o f th e P a s t, th e
P re s e n t, and th e F u tu re ." He d e c la re d :
The w ritin g o f th e B ib le covered a p erio d o f about
1,500 y e a rs . This book was w ritte n by about fo rty
d if f e r e n t w r ite r s . Holy men o f God, who spake,
and w ro te, as th ey were moved by th e Holy S p i r i t .
That i s , God ta u g h t th e w rite rs what to say. The
m a jo rity o f th o se w rite rs never saw each o th e r
face to fa c e . They w rote a t d if f e r e n t tim es:
There was no chance fo r th e w rite rs to have any
c o llu s io n . They w rote in d ep en d en tly o f each o th e r,
and y e t when t h e i r w ritin g s a re brought to g e th e r,
th e re is p e r f e c t harmony and agreem ent.33
31The Fundam entals, I I I , Chap. I , 310.
32
Modem R e lig io n L ib eralism (S c o ttd a le , P a .:
M ennonite P u b lish in g House, 1920), p. 33.
33Lectures, 1922-1923, pp. 173-174.
169
I n 1 9 3 6 , C l a r e n c e C. M organ e m p h a s iz e d t h a t t h e
B i b l e w as w r i t t e n p r i m a r i l y i n tw o l a n g u a g e s , o n t h r e e
c o n t i n e n t s , b y a b o u t f o r t y d i f f e r e n t men fro m a l l w a lk s o f
l i f e :
. . . som e l e a r n e d a n d som e u n l e a r n e d ; t h e r e w e re
l a w y e r s , d o c t o r s , f a r m e r s , f i s h e r m e n , c a p i t a l i s t s ,
p a u p e r s , k in g s a n d s h e e p - h e r d e r s , a n d y e t , w i th
a l l o f t h i s d i v e r s i t y o f t i m e , p l a c e , la n g u a g e ,
a n d p e o p l e , t h e r e i s n o t a s i n g l e e r r o r o r c o n t r a
d i c t i o n i n i t . E v e ry s i n g l e s t a t e m e n t o f a
s c i e n t i f i c , h i s t o r i c a l , o r p r o p h e t i c n a t u r e ,
a g r e e s p e r f e c t l y w i t h know n f a c t s . 34
" T h is b o o k ," s a i d M e lv in W ise i n 1 9 5 8 , " c o n t a i n s
la w , h i s t o r y , h y m n s, p r a y e r s , b i o g r a p h i e s , s e r m o n s , an d
l e t t e r s . Y e t a l l t h e w r i t e r s u n i t e i n p r e s e n t i n g o n e g r a n d
th e m e . T h is u n i t y i s s o r e m a r k a b le t h a t a n a c c i d e n t a l
O C
a u t h o r s h i p i s o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n . " W h ile s t r e s s i n g
t h i s g e n e r a l t h e m a t i c u n i t y , m any s p e a k e r s a l s o m e n tio n e d
t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f p r o p h e s y , h i s t o r i c a l a c c u r a c y , an d
s c i e n t i f i c f o re k n o w le d g e a s f e a t u r e s o f t h e B i b l e w h ic h
s u p p o r t i t s c o n s o n a n c e w i t h o t h e r f i e l d s o f l e a r n i n g .
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e u n i t y o f t h e B i b l e , l e c t u r e r s
o f t e n p o i n t e d t o t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f B i b l i c a l t e a c h i n g a s
34dT he G e n u in e n e s s a n d C r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e B i b l e , "
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 6 , p . 5 2 .
^^"God's Word," Lectures, 1958, p. 118.
evidence o f d iv in e in s p ir a tio n . This was a ls o a means o f
p ro o f commonly used by le a d in g fu n d am e n talist w r ite r s .
For in s ta n c e , in 1925 Thomas J . M cCrossan, a re sp e c te d
p ro fe s s o r o f Greek and Hebrew fo r th e P re sb y te ry o f
M in n e ap o lis, p u b lish ed a book which fe a tu re d fiv e reasons
"why we know th e B ib le is in s p ire d o f God." In a d d itio n
to p ro p h e tic f u lf illm e n t, s c i e n t i f i c foreknow ledge, and
h i s t o r i c a l accu racy , two o f h is "rea so n s" were r e la te d to
th e c h a ra c te r and in flu e n c e o f th e B ib lic a l m essage: " th e
m oral and s p i r i t u a l te ach in g s o f th e B ib le ," and th e f a c t
n £
th a t i t s te ach in g s "alo n e can tran sfo rm c h a r a c te r . " -3
McCrossan*s book is ty p ic a l o f hundreds o f o th e rs p u b lish ed
between 1915 and 1930.
In th e e f f o r t to n eg ate th e i n f a l l i b i l i t y o f th e
S c r ip tu r e s , m odern ist w rite r s co u n tered th a t w h ile th e
B ib le p o ssesses n o b le and e le v a tin g in s p ir a tio n s they a re
m ingled w ith g ro ss and immoral id e a s . D urant Drake p ressed
th e p o in t to d e t a i l s :
God's anger and d e s ire fo r vengeance a re re p e a te d ly
m entioned; and th e p ic tu r e th e u n p reju d iced re a d e r
would form o f th is Jew ish d e ity from many Old T e sta
ment passag es is th a t o f a c ru e l and b lo o d - th ir s ty
•^ The B ib le : I t s C h ris t and Modernism (New York:
The C h ris tia n A llia n c e P u b lish in g Company, 1925), p. 5.
171
t y r a n t . He " h a rd e n s P h a r a o h 's h e a r t " t h a t h e may
p u n is h t h e E g y p tia n s i n a s p e c t a c u l a r m a n n e r; He
th ro w s s t o n e s down fro m H eav en on I s r a e l ' s f o e s ;
He commands t h e s u n t o s t a n d s t i l l t h a t m o re o f
th em may b e s l a i n b e f o r e d a r k ; He b i d s H is c h o s e n
p e o p le in v a d e t h e la n d o f a n e i g h b o r in g t r i b e ,
b u r n a l l t h e i r c i t i e s , s l a y a l l t h e m a le s , a d u l t s
an d c h i l d r e n , an d a l l t h e m a r r ie d w om en, an d k e e p
t h e v i r g i n s f o r t h e i r own e n jo y m e n t; He s l a y s s e v
e n t y th o u s a n d in n o c e n t I s r a e l i t e s f o r D a v id 's s i n
i n t a k i n g a c e n s u s o f t h e p e o p l e . 37
A lth o u g h t h e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s d i d n o t d e a l w i t h t h e
l i b e r a l c h a r g e t h a t t h e B i b l e p r e s e n t s " b i t s o f d r o s s am id
t h e g o l d , " th e y d i d e x e r t m uch e f f o r t i n e m p h a s iz in g t h e
in c o m p a r a b le w o rth o f t h e " g o l d . " I n a 1919 l e c t u r e ,
G. D a ll a s S m ith a s k e d :
H ave y o u e v e r s to p p e d t o c o n s i d e r w h a t t h e B i b l e h a s
d o n e f o r t h e w o rld a n d m a n k in d ? I t h a s m ade b e t t e r
h o m e s, b e t t e r f a t h e r s , b e t t e r m o t h e r s , b e t t e r h u s
b a n d s , b e t t e r w iv e s , an d b e t t e r c h i l d r e n . I t h a s
m ade b e t t e r m a s t e r s , b e t t e r s e r v a n t s , b e t t e r t e a c h
e r s , an d b e t t e r pupils. . . . T he B i b l e h a s b e e n
t h e f o r e r u n n e r o f e n l ig h t e n m e n t , c i v i l i z a t i o n an d
p r o g r e s s . W h e re v e r i t h a s b e e n r e a d , l o v e d , an d
o b e y e d , t h e la n d h a s b e e n m ade t o p r o s p e r an d
b lo s s o m a s t h e r o s e . I t h a s b u i l t o u r s c h o o l s ,
e s t a b l i s h e d o u r o r p h a n a g e s , an d fo u n d e d o u r i n s t i
t u t i o n s f o r t h e b l i n d an d t h e i n f i r m . 3 8
I n i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e p o w er a n d i n f l u e n c e o f B i b le
t e a c h i n g s , s p e a k e r s g a v e a t t e n t i o n t o i t s im p a c t u p o n w o rld
O 7
P ro b le m s o f R e l i g i o n : An I n t r o d u c t o r y S u rv e y
(New Y o rk : H o u g h to n M i f f l i n C om pany, 1 9 1 6 ) , p . 2 7 2 .
■^"Why Study the Bible," Lectures, 1919, p. 107.
172
c i v i l i z a t i o n , i t s c u l tu r a l c o n tr ib u tio n s , i t s tran sfo rm in g
pow er, and i t s power to com fort. L. R. W ilso n 's 1936
le c tu r e , "The In flu e n c e o f th e B ib le ," d isc u sse d th e r e l a
tio n s h ip o f th e B ib le to th e f ie ld s o f p a in tin g , m u sic,
p r in tin g , a r c h ite c tu r e , language and l i t e r a t u r e , and
d ra m a tic s . He c re d ite d th e im pact o f th e S c rip tu re s w ith
-uch advances as th e a b o litio n o f s la v e r y , s o rc e ry , and
in f a n t i c id e , th e lib e r a tio n o f women, and th e c r e a tio n o f
re s p e c t fo r c i v i l law . " I t has done m ore," s a id W ilson,
" to e lim in a te ig n o ra n c e , m a lic e , g re e d , and s e lf is h n e s s ,
th a n any o th e r fo rc e in th e w orld. I t has l i f t e d man up
>39
m e n ta lly , p h y s ic a lly , and s p i r i t u a l l y .
A fte r d is c u s s in g in d e t a i l th e m o ral, i n t e l l e c t u a l ,
and em otional c o n trib u tio n s made through B ib lic a l te a c h in g ,
Y ate r T ant concluded in 1946:
Can we c r e d i t fo r one m inute th e m onstrous a b s u rd ity
th a t th e book which has had th e g r e a te s t m oral
e f f e c t , th e most s tim u la tin g i n t e l l e c t u a l e f f e c t ,
and th e r ic h e s t em otional e f f e c t o f a l l ages o f th e
w orld is a t th e same tim e th e most b la ta n t f a l s e
hood th a t ev er e x is te d ? Are we w illin g to say th a t
falseh o o d and f a b r ic a tio n s and p la in unadorned l i e s
have proved th e g r e a te s t boon to c i v i l i z a t i o n , have
b ro u g h t th e g r e a te s t h ap p in ess to th e r a c e , have
39
Lectures, 1936, p. 124.
173
l i f t e d l i v e s t o t h e n o b l e s t p i t c h o f l i v i n g t h e
e a r t h h a s e v e r s e e n . ^
T h e i n d e s t r u c t i b i l i t y o f t h e B i b l e w as a l s o
f e a t u r e d a s e v i d e n c e o f i t s s u p e r i o r t e a c h i n g s a n d p r o o f
o f i t s d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n . R o b e r t C. J o n e s l e c t u r e d i n
1942 on t h e th e m e , "T h e W ord o f t h e L o rd E n d u r e t h ."
T h o u s a n d s o f b o o k s h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n a n d m i l l i o n s
o f d o l l a r s s p e n t i n t r y i n g t o d e s t r o y t h e B i b l e
an d i t s i n f l u e n c e . M is g u id e d m en a n d women h a v e
w r i t t e n m any f o o l i s h a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r y b o o k s ,
c l a i m i n g d i v i n e o r i g i n f o r th e m . . . . I n s p i t e
o f a l l t h e s t r e n u o u s o p p o s i t i o n f o r 1900 y e a r s ,
t h e W ord o f t h e L o rd e n d u r e t h . . . .4 1
T he A b ile n e s p e a k e r s a l s o e m p h a s iz e d t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e B i b l e h a s b e e n t h e w o r l d 's b e s t s e l l e r i n e v e r y c e n t u r y
s i n c e t h e i n v e n t i o n o f t h e p r i n t i n g p r e s s . M e lv in W is e ,
s p e a k in g o f t h e " p h e n o m e n a l c i r c u l a t i o n o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s
r e f e r r e d t o a 1956 r e p o r t o f t h e A m e ric a n B i b l e S o c i e t y
w h ic h r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e B i b l e h a s b e e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o
1 ,1 0 9 l a n g u a g e s , a n d h a s fo u n d i t s w ay i n t o e v e r y c o r n e r
o f t h e e a r t h .
An i n t e r e s t i n g f a c e t o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y b e tw e e n
f u n d a m e n ta lis m a n d m o d e rn is m w h ic h w as r e f l e c t e d i n t h e
4 0iiT he B i b l e - - G o d 's R e v e l a t i o n - - ( I I ) L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 4 6 , p . 7 2 .
^Lectures, 1942, p. 100.
174
A bilene speechm aking concerned th e method o r n a tu re o f
d iv in e in s p i r a tio n . In s p i t e o f th e open c o n f l i c t s ,
l i b e r a l le a d e rs fre q u e n tly in s i s te d th a t th e two groups
h e ld a s i g n i f i c a n t l y la rg e body o f b e l i e f s in common. An
a r t i c l e in th e C h r is tia n C entury a s s e r te d : "B oth h o ld
th a t th e B ib le is in s p ire d o f God, and i s in a u nique sen se
/ O
th e word o f God. .. ." The c o n s e r v a tiv e s , how ever,
re fu s e d to re c o g n iz e any common ground f o r fe llo w s h ip ,
claim in g t h a t th e two p o s itio n s w ere s e p a ra te d by a v a s t
d if f e r e n c e in th e o ry co n cern in g th e n a tu re o f B ib lic a l
in s p i r a t i o n . In s h o r t, th e is s u e was w hether God had
v e r b a lly guided th e w r ite r s o f th e B ib le b o th in th o u g h t
and in la n g u a g e , o r w hether th e w r i t e r s , w h ile d iv in e ly
in s p ire d in th o u g h t, were a t l i b e r t y to choose t h e i r own.
43
lan g u ag e. A b ilen e sp e ak er Jack Meyer warned th a t i t was
custom ary fo r modernism to w illin g ly a c c e p t th e g e n e ra l
p la n o f th e B ib le , w h ile a t th e same tim e re f u s in g to
ac ce p t a l l o f th e language o f th e B i b l e . ^ Such a r e f u s a l
was grounds f o r P au l S o u th e rn 's 1946 in d ic tm e n t:
^ C h r is tia n C e n tu ry , A p ril 3 , 1924, p. 424.
^ The Fundam entals , I I I , Chap. I .
^ " T h e U nity o f th e B ib le ," L e c tu re s . 1960, p . 103.
175
"T h o u sa n d s o f p r e a c h e r s now o c c u p y in g d e n o m in a tio n a l
p u l p i t s no lo n g e r b e l i e v e i n t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e
S c r i p t u r e s . " ^ B. C. G o o d p a s tu re s u g g e s te d t h e p ro b le m i n
h i s 1950 m e s s a g e :
I n v ie w o f t h e v a r i o u s m o d ern u s e s o f t h e w o rd , i t
i s h a r d l y en o u g h t o s a y t h a t t h e B i b le i s i n s p i r e d .
A lm o st a n y m o d e r n is t w i l l a d m it t h a t i t i s i n s p i r e d ,
i f y o u w i l l l e t h im d e f i n e w h a t h e means. . . . As
a r u l e i n g r a n t i n g t h a t t h e B i b le i s i n s p i r e d , h e
m eans o n ly i n t h e s e n s e t h a t S h a k e s p e a r e , M il to n ,
an d B ro w n in g w e re i n s p i r e d . 46
Some o f t h e l i b e r a l s , th o u g h b y no m eans a l l o f
47
th e m , h e l d t h a t t h e w r i t e r s o f t h e B i b le h a d r e c o r d e d
t h e th o u g h ts t h a t w e re g iv e n th em b y God b u t w e re n o t u n d e r
s p e c i a l g u id a n c e i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f la n g u a g e . G e ra ld
B irn e y S m ith s u g g e s te d t h a t s u c h th o u g h ts h a d p e r h a p s b e e n
g iv e n t o th e w r i t e r s b y m eans o f t h e i r p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e s
4 5 "T h ^ a c h a n g in g W o rld ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 6 , p . 5 1 .
llfi
G o o d p a s tu re , o p . c i t . , p . 1 5 9 . P r o f e s s o r Edmond
S c r i b n e r Ames o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C h ic a g o s u g g e s te d t h a t
w r i t e r s s u c h a s T e n n y so n , W h i t t i e r , B r y a n t , L o w e ll,
P h i l l i p s B ro o k s , S h a k e s p e a r e , M a e t e r l i n c k , K e p l e r , D a rw in ,
Jo h n L o c k e , and W illia m Jam es s h o u ld b e in c lu d e d i n t h e
s a c r e d c a n o n o f S c r i p t u r e . The New O rth o d o x y . p . 8 1 , as
q u o te d i n H o rs c h , o p . c i t . , p . 2 5 .
47,,
"B u t t h e g e n u in e M o d e rn is t g o e s f u r t h e r th a n th is .
He m a in ta in s t h a t t h e B i b le d o e s n o t t e a c h a s i n g l e , h a r
m o n io u s s y s te m o f d o c t r i n e , b u t c o n t a i n s v a r i o u s t h e o l o g i e s
o f u n e q u a l v a l u e . . . i t s t r u e v a l u e i s fo u n d w h e re i t i s
u s e d l i k e an y o t h e r l i t e r a t u r e . " V a n d e r la a n , o p . c i t . , p. 6 .
176
w ith God. This co n cep t o f in s p i r a tio n was fre q u e n tly
la b e le d th e " n a tu r a l” o r "th o u g h t" th e o ry . "We a re
becoming accustom ed to th e u se o f th e B ib le as a book o f
r e lig io u s e x p e rie n c e ," w rote P ro fe s s o r S m ith, " r a th e r th an
48
a s u p e rn a tu ra lly produced l i t e r a t u r e . " The m o d ern ists
w ere p a r ti c u l a r l y i r r i t a t e d w ith th e a p p a re n t m echanical
and l i t e r a l i s t i c n a tu re o f th e v e rb a l p o s it io n , ch arg in g
t h a t i t reduced th e w rite r s to mere p a s s iv e m achines. They
a ls o a s s e r te d th a t many c o n s c ie n tio u s p eo p le h aving been
ta u g h t to b e lie v e " a l l th e B ib le o r none a t a l l , " had
become u n d ersta n d ab ly d ise n c h a n te d w ith th e l i t e r a l i s t i c
w o rd -fo r- word th e o ry and were th u s d riv e n in to ran k
s k e p tic is m . A dm itting in h is 1903 book th a t th e v e rb a l
th e o ry was "m ost c o n v e n ie n t," E. C. J e ff e r s o n n o n e th e le ss
branded i t as o b scu re and ab su rd .
I f you ask why so ab su rd a th e o ry h e ld such a lo n g -
co n tin u ed sway o ver th e minds o f men, th e answer is
th a t th e th e o ry o f v e rb a l in s p i r a tio n i s th e sim
p l e s t o f a l l p o s s ib le t h e o r ie s , and m ost e a s ily
managed. I f you say t h a t God w rote th i s book from
th e f i r s t word to th e l a s t , you say som ething w hich
a c h ild can u n d e rs ta n d , and so long as you b e lie v e
t h is you know e x a c tly where you a re . I f anybody
says th e re a re m y ste rie s in th e B ib le , you can re p ly
th e re a re m y ste rie s in n a tu re ; i f someone says th e re
Guide to th e Study o f th e C h r is tia n R e lig io n
(C hicago: U n iv e rs ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1916), p . 555.
177
a r e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n t h e S c r i p t u r e s , y o u c a n s a y
t h e r e a r e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s e v e ry w h e re . I f som eone
s a y s t h e r e a r e p a g e s h e r e w h ic h a r e u n s a v o ry o r
w h ic h a p p a r e n t l y h a v e no s i g n i f i c a n c e , y o u c a n s a y
t h a t t h a t i s b e c a u s e we do n o t d i s c e r n t h e h i d d e n ,
s p i r i t u a l m e a n in g s . I f som eone s a y s t h e r e a r e
m o ra l a t r o c i t i e s s a n c t i o n e d i n t h e B i b l e , y o u c a n
r e p l y w ith i n d i g n a t i o n , "Who a r e y o u t h a t you
s h o u ld f i n d f a u l t w i t h G od?"49
The f u n d a m e n t a l i s ts m et t h e l i b e r a l a s s a u l t u p o n
t h e v e r b a l t h e o r y b y r e a s o n in g t h a t d i v i n e g u id a n c e i n t h e
s e l e c t i o n o f la n g u a g e w as e s s e n t i a l t o t h e p r o d u c ti o n o f
a n i n f a l l i b l e r e v e l a t i o n . " I n s p i r a t i o n , t h e n , " r e a s o n e d
Jo h n H o rs c h , " m u s t b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d fro m i l l u m i n a t i o n . " ^
H o rs c h an d h i s c o l l e a g u e s c o n te n d e d t h a t e v e n God h i m s e l f
c o u ld n o t g iv e a th o u g h t t o man w i t h o u t t h e w o rd s t o c l o t h e
i t . T hey i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e th o u g h ts an d t h e w o rd s w e re
i n s e p a r a b l e , a s m uch s o " a s a sum an d i t s f i g u r e s , o r a
tu n e an d i t s n o t e s . " D r. A. J . G ordon o b s e r v e d : "To d e n y
t h a t t h e H o ly S p i r i t s p e a k s i n S c r i p t u r e i s an i n t e l l i g i b l e
p o s i t i o n , b u t t o a d m it t h a t He s p e a k s , i t i s im p o s s ib le t o "
know w h a t He s a y s e x c e p t a s we h a v e h i s w o r d s . H e n c e ,
a 9
T h in g s F u n d a m e n ta l (New Y o rk : T . Y. C ro w e ll
Com pany, 1 9 0 3 ) , p . 1 1 5 .
^°Horsch, op. cit., p. 18.
"^As quoted in E. C. Vanderlaan, op. cit. , p. 162.
178
th e q u e s tio n o f v e rb a l in s p ir a tio n w as, to th e fundamen
t a l i s t s , th e key w hich determ ined w hether th e B ib le was o f
human o r d iv in e p ro d u c tio n . I f th e B ib le were n o th in g more
th a n th e re c o rd o f th e r e lig io u s ex p erien ce o f c e r ta in
illu m in a te d men, o r even a more o r le s s q u e s tio n a b le reco rd
o f what they th o u g h t th ey ex p e rie n c e d , th en i t was a t once
b o th human and im p e rfe c t in c h a ra c te r. I f th e S c rip tu re s
were m erely m an's e n la rg in g th o u g h t and d isc o v ery o f God
r a th e r th an God's p ro g re s s iv e r e v e la tio n o f H im self to
man, then they were w o rth le ss as a guide from th e p re d ic a
ment o f s in . W ritin g in th e P rin c e to n T h eo lo g ical Review,
a le a rn e d jo u rn a l which su p p o rted c o n s e rv a tiv e v iew s,
P ro fe s s o r George Johnson summed up th e c o n s e rv a tiv e ca se:
" I f in s p ir a tio n does n o t re n d e r th e h o ly S c rip tu re s i n f a l -
52
l i b l e , t h e i r n a tu re is no lo n g er d iv in e b u t human."
The v e rb a l th e o ry o f in s p ir a tio n , sometimes c a lle d
th e p le n a ry th e o ry , was c le a r ly th e p o s itio n which th e
e a rly L ec tu re sh ip sp eak ers defended. The e a rly le c tu r e r s
who touched upon th e method o f in s p ir a tio n m ain tain ed th a t
th e Holy S p i r i t p u t th e words in to th e mouth o f th e sp eak er
o r guided th e pen in th e w ritin g o f th e words in th e
The Princeton Theological Review. 1914, p. 461.
179
o r i g i n a l d o c u m e n ts . M a u ric e D. G an o , a D a l l a s l a w y e r , w as
t h e f i r s t l e c t u r e r t o d i s c u s s i n d e t a i l t h e "how " o f
i n s p i r a t i o n . H is u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e v e r b a l t h e o r y l e d
h im t o c o n c lu d e t h a t t h e w r i t e r s o f t h e B i b l e s im p ly
r e c o r d e d t h e w o rd s w h ic h t h e H o ly S p i r i t d i c t a t e d . I n h i s
1919 l e c t u r e , "T h e V e r b a l I n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s
Gano a r g u e d t h a t t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f a c c u r a t e l y e x p r e s s i n g
th o u g h ts i n w o r d s , an d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f a
t h o u g h t c a n o n ly b e t e s t e d i n w o rd s , w e re " u n a n s w e r a b le
53
r e a s o n s why t h e w r i t e r s d i d n o t c h o o s e t h e i r own w o r d s ."
He a l s o f e l t t h a t t h e u s e o f t h e G re e k la n g u a g e w as a
m a t t e r o f d i v i n e p u r p o s e :
P r o f e s s o r s t e l l u s t h a t n o m edium f o r t h e e x p r e s s i o n
o f th o u g h t h a s e v e r e q u a l l e d t h e G re e k la n g u a g e . . .
. T h is l a n g u a g e , a t l e a s t i n i t s p e r f e c t i o n , b ecam e
a f i t m edium f o r t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f G o d 's t h o u g h t .
A t t h i s o p p o r tu n e t i m e , C h r i s t c a m e , an d t h e p l a n o f
s a l v a t i o n , t h e G o s p e l f o r t h e hum an r a c e , w as w r i t t e n
i n t h e w o rd s o f t h i s p e r f e c t la n g u a g e . And th e n God
s u f f e r e d t h e la n g u a g e t o d i e . I t s te rm s b ec am e r i g i d ,
i n d e a t h ; a d e a d la n g u a g e d o e s n o t c h a n g e . T he m ean
in g s o f i t s w o rd s re m a in e d f i x e d f o r e v e r . T h u s , f o r
t h a t a g e a n d f o r a l l co m in g tim e we h a v e t h e p e r f e c t
la w c r y s t a l l i z e d i n t h e p e r f e c t l a n g u a g e , t h e l i v i n g ,
c h a n g e le s s a n d p e r f e c t la w , e x p r e s s e d i n t h e d e a d ,
c h a n g e le s s a n d p e r f e c t l a n g u a g e .54
^Lectures, 1919, p. 48.
~ ^Ibid. , p. 48.
180
Judge Gano concluded th a t i f he co u ld b e lie v e th a t
God l e f t th e w ording o f th e B ib le to th e e r r in g judgm ent
o f f a l l i b l e men, " I would ta k e my B ib le and my p e n c il and
a f t e r every duty o f th e p re s e n t and every prom ise o f th e
f u tu re I would p u t a q u e s tio n m a rk ."5- * "Jehovah has two
b o o k s," co n tin u ed W arren E. S ta rn e s in 1928, " th e book o f
n a tu re and th e book o f r e v e la tio n . He has w r itte n th e
book o f n a tu re in th in g s ; he has w r itte n th e book o f re v e
l a t i o n in w o r d s . I n h is 1955 a d d re s s , George W . DeHoff
u n e q u iv o c a lly advanced th e l i t e r a l i s t i c p o in t o f view .
"Every word o f th e B ib le is in s p ir e d ," he d e c la re d . " I f
God had w anted a n o th er ' i 1 d o tte d o r a n o th e r 1t 1 c ro s s e d ,
5 7
he would have done i t . " P a t Hardeman, who a ls o le c tu re d
in 1955 , was perhaps le s s em p h atic , b u t e q u a lly as con
c lu s iv e in h is a tta c k upon lib e r a lis m and h is d efen se o f
v e rb a l in s p i r a tio n . Hardeman s a id :
. , . Some o f th e p reac h ers in th e re c e n t l i b e r a l
movement have s a id th e same th in g o f v e rb a l
inspiration of the Scriptures. They say, that is,
^ L e c t u r e s , 1919, p. 49.
S fi
" I A m Not Ashamed o f th e G ospel o f C h r is t,"
L e c tu re s , 1928-1929, p. 22.
^ " T h e word Qf qq^ which L ives and A b id es,"
L e c tu re s , 1955, p . 12.
181
t h a t s u c h a d o c t r i n e a s v e r b a l i n s p i r a t i o n i s
l e g a l i s t i c an d l i t e r a l i s t i c . May I s u g g e s t a s
k i n d l y and a s s t r o n g l y a s I know how : t h e r e i s
no New T e s ta m e n t p a s s a g e , o r p r i n c i p l e , w h ic h
i n d i c a t e s t h a t God i s c o n c e rn e d o v e r t h e p o s
s i b i l i t y o f o u r s tu d y in g an d f o llo w in g to o
c l o s e l y t h e e x a c t m e an in g o f t h e w o rd s o f th e
New C o v e n a n t! T h e re i s e v e r y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t
God w o u ld h a v e u s s tu d y e v e r y w o rd , e v e ry l i n e ,
e v e ry s y l l a b l e , an d t r y to t r a n s l a t e s u c h t e a c h
in g s a s a r e t h e r e fo u n d i n t o d a i l y l i v i n g . 58
W h ile som e c o n s e r v a t i v e s d e fe n d e d t h e c o n c e p t o f
i n e r r a n t r e v e l a t i o n by m eans o f s u c h d i r e c t c o u n t e r - a t t a c k ,
o t h e r s c la im e d t h a t t h e m o d e r n is ts h a d a c t u a l l y m i s r e p r e
s e n te d t h e r e a l d o c t r i n e o f v e r b a l i n s p i r a t i o n . They
u rg e d t h a t t h e v e r b a l th e o r y n o t b e c o n fo u n d e d w it h th e
m e c h a n ic a l o r d i c t a t i o n t h e o r y , a c o n c e p t o f p a s s iv e
i n s p i r a t i o n w h ic h im p lie d t h e a b s o l u t e s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e
human e le m e n t. I n 1 9 2 5 , E . C. V a n d e rla a n r e p o r t e d t h a t i f
th e v e r b a l th e o r y w e re to b e e q u a te d w it h t h e m e c h a n ic a l
c o n c e p t, e v e n m o d e ra te c o n s e r v a t i v e s w o u ld im m e d ia te ly
c o n s i d e r i t an u n te n a b le e x p l a n a t io n f o r t h e m eth o d o f
i n s p i r a t i o n . T h e c o n s e r v a t i v e s h a s te n e d t o r e s p o n d ,
h o w e v e r, t h a t no t e n s i o n e x i s t e d b e tw e e n a n a c c u r a t e
58,,The Letter and the Spirit," Lectures, 1955 ,
p. 102.
59
Cole, op. cit. , p. 6.
182
u n d ersta n d in g o f th e v e rb a l th e o ry and th e p resen ce o f th e
human elem ent in th e w ording o f th e S c r ip tu r e s . They a lso
in s i s te d th a t th e r e a l n a tu re o f th e v e rb a l d o c trin e d id
n o t n u l l i f y th e concept o f an in e r r a n t r e v e la tio n . James
M . Gray e x p lain ed th e supposed m iddle-ground between th e
m echanical and " n a tu ra l" th e o rie s :
But we a re i n s i s t i n g upon no th e o ry —n o t even th e
v e rb a l th e o ry —i f i t a lto g e th e r excludes th e human
elem ent in th e tra n sm issio n o f th e sa c re d word.
As Dr. Henry B. Smith s a y s , "God speaks through
th e p e r s o n a lity as w e ll as th e lip s o f His m essen
g ers ," and we may pour in to th e word " p e rs o n a lity "
ev e ry th in g th a t goes to make i t th e age in which
th e p erson liv e d , h is environm ent, h is degree o f
c u l tu r e , h is tem peram ent and a l l th e r e s t . As
Wayland Hoyt ex p ressed i t , " I n s p ir a tio n is n o t a
m ech an ical, c r a s s , b a ld com pulsion o f th e sa c re d
w rite r s , b u t r a th e r a dynam ic, d iv in e in flu e n c e
o ver t h e i r f r e e ly - a c tin g f a c u l tie s " in o rd e r th a t
th e l a t t e r in r e l a ti o n to th e s u b je c t-m a tte r may
be k ep t in e r r a n t, i . e . , w ith o u t m istak e o r f a u l t . 0
A lthough th e A bilene sp eak ers were u n ite d in t h e i r
r e je c tio n o f th e " n a tu ra l" e x p la n a tio n o f i n s p ir a tio n —
th a t th e B ib le w rite r s were in s p ire d only as w ere M ilto n ,
Browning, o r S hakespeare—th e re was a s ig n i f ic a n t d iv is io n
o f f e e lin g as to th e n a tu re o f th e th e o ry o f v e rb a l
in s p ir a tio n . H all L. C alhoun, whose H arvard Ph.D. and
ex p e rien ce a t T ra n sy lv a n ia C ollege made him a b ro th erh o o d
^ The Fundamentals, III, 434.
183
r a r i t y , w as t h e f i r s t A b ile n e l e c t u r e r t o recom m end t h e
co m p ro m ise p o s i t i o n . I n h i s 1929 a d d r e s s , "O u r R e l i g i o n , "
h e c a r e f u l l y q u a l i f i e d t h e v e r b a l t h e o r y t o i n c l u d e t h e
d im e n s io n o f hum an p e r s o n a l i t y i n t h e w o rd in g o f t h e
S c r i p t u r e s . A ssu m in g t h a t h e s p o k e f o r t h e m ovem ent a s a
w h o le , C a lh o u n e x p l a i n e d :
We b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e w r i t e r s ,
w h i l e s u f f i c i e n t t o g u id e th e m i n t o a l l t r u t h , a n d
t o g u a r d th em fro m a l l e r r o r , d i d n o t c o n v e r t th em
i n t o m e re a u t o m a t o n s , d i c t o g r a p h s , o r m e c h a n ic a l
i n s t r u m e n t s ; t h a t i t l e f t e a c h w r i t e r f r e e t o u s e
t o t h e h i g h e s t o f h i s a b i l i t y h i s own p e r s o n a l i t y ,
s t y l e , a n d v o c a b u l a r y ; t h a t t h e p r o v i n c e o f t h i s
i n s p i r a t i o n w as n o t s u b j e c t i n g n o r s u b v e r t i n g ,
b u t r a t h e r t h a t o f s u g g e s t i n g a n d s u p p l e m e n t i n g . ^
B . C. G o o d p a s tu r e , i n h i s 1950 s p e e c h , "T h e
I n s p i r a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e c a m e o u t s t r o n g l y f o r t h e t h e o r y
o f v e r b a l i n s p i r a t i o n . " T h e w o r d s ," h e a f f i r m e d , " a s w e l l
62
a s t h e t h o u g h t s a r e i n s p i r e d . " B u t l a t e r i n h i s l e c t u r e
h e v o ic e d a g r e e m e n t w i t h C a lh o u n a n d a p p e a r e d t o recom m end
a m o re m o d e r a te b r a n d o f v e r b a l i n s p i r a t i o n th a n t h a t
a d v o c a te d b y m any e a r l i e r s p e a k e r s . He a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e
w r i t e r s w e re f r e e t o s p e a k th r o u g h t h e i r own i n d i v i d u a l
b a c k g r o u n d , p e r s o n a l i t y , v o c a b u l a r y , a n d s t y l e .
61"Our Religion," Lectures, 1928-1929, p. 341.
62
Goodpasture, op. cit. , p. 161.
184
" I n s p i r a t i o n , 1 1 he s a i d , "d id n o t in v o lv e th e su sp en sio n o r
su p p re ss io n o f th e human f a c u l t i e s , so n e ith e r d id i t
i n t e r f e r e w ith th e f r e e e x e rc is e o f th e d i s t i n c t i v e m ental
c h a r a c t e r i s t ic s o f th e in d iv id u a l.
David H. Bobo was th e A b ilen e sp e ak er who most
b o ld ly advocated th e method o f in s p ir a tio n in w hich th e
in d iv id u a l w r ite r s enjoyed p e rso n a l freedom in th e re c o rd
in g o f t h e i r a c c o u n ts. A lthough he expanded o n ly s l i g h t l y
th e views o f Calhoun and G oodpasture, a s t r i k i n g c o n tr a s t
emerges when G ano's 1919 co n cep t o f v e rb a l i n s p i r a tio n is
r e s u r r e c te d a lo n g sid e B obo's 1960 a d d re s s , "A lleged D is
c re p a n c ie s o f th e B ib le ."
A nother f a c to r in v o lv ed i s th e number o f d i f f e r e n t
w r ite r s p a r tic ip a t in g in th e w ritin g o f B ib lic a l
h i s t o r y , each in e v ita b ly from h is own p a r t i c u l a r
v iew p o in t and w ith h is own s e t o f em phasis. What
d if f e r e n t s tra n d s o f t r a d i t i o n have l a i n b ehind
them none can say w ith c e r t a in ty . A ll th e s e
t h i n g s , how ever, co u ld n o t have f a i l e d to produce
a c e r t a in d i v e r s i ty u n d ern ea th th e o v e r-a rc h in g
u n ity o f th e B ib le . In th e s e f a c ts we se e b o th
th e o r ig in and th e e x p la n a tio n o f many a lle g e d
d is c re p a n c ie s .
In cases in w hich th e same s to r y i s r e l a t e d o r
a llu d e d to by two o r more d i f f e r e n t w r i t e r s ,
each n e c e s s a r ily le a v in g o u t what to him seems
63
Goodpasture, op. cit. , p. 162.
185
n e e d l e s s d e t a i l s , t h e i r s t o r i e s may seem t o d i s a g r e e
an d y e t may n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c o n t r a d i c t o r a n t a g o n iz e
e a c h o t h e r .6 4
A f t e r s t a t i n g " t h a t on t h e s u r f a c e t h e r e a r e
in n u m e ra b le d i s c r e p a n c i e s i n t h e B i b l e , " Bobo a la rm e d many
o f h i s L e c t u r e s h i p p r e d e c e s s o r s by a s s e r t i n g : " N o th in g i s
r e a l l y a t s t a k e h e r e e x c e p t t h e p o s s i b l e th e o r y t h a t e v e ry
o r i g i n a l w r i t e r . . . was m i r a c u l o u s l y g u a rd e d a g a i n s t an y
m in u te l a p s e o r s l i p . "
I t was a l s o a t t h e 1960 p ro g ra m t h a t J a c k M e y e r, a
v e t e r a n p r e a c h e r fro m t h e D eep S o u th , s e l e c t e d c o n s e r v a t i v e
la n g u a g e t o a r t i c u l a t e a p o s i t i o n w i t h w h ic h b o th Gano an d
Bobo an d a l l o t h e r L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k e r s w o u ld h e a r t i l y
c o n c u r :
. . . t h e sam e God who c o u ld c o n c e iv e a n d e x e c u te
t h e p l a n o f r e d e m p tio n th r o u g h C h r i s t , an d p u t i t
o n r e c o r d i n t h e B i b l e c l e a r l y e n o u g h f o r m o d ern
t h e o l o g i a n s t o s e e t h e p l a n , c o u ld an d d id . . .
a l s o g u a r d t h e la n g u a g e o f t h e B i b l e s u f f i c i e n t l y
t o i n s u r e t h a t we h a v e t h e r e l i a b l e w ord o f God
a s h e g a v e i t . 6 6
64
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 6 0 , p . 7 8 .
65
I b i d . , p . 7 7 . L e c t u r e s h i p D i r e c t o r J . D. Thomas
r e p o r t e d m ix ed a n d s t r o n g r e a c t i o n t o B o b o 's a d d r e s s , a
s i g n i f i c a n t l e c t u r e re v ie w e d m ore c l o s e l y l a t e r i n t h i s
c h a p t e r .
66
Meyer, op. cit. , p. 103.
186
The E v o lu tio n ary H ypothesis
The q u e stio n o f an in e r r a n t B ib le came co n sp icu
o u sly in to focus in co n n ectio n w ith th e c re a tio n o f th e
w orld and th e o r ig in o f man. "The d o c trin e o f e v o lu tio n
is d ir e c tly a n ta g o n is tic to th a t o f c r e a tio n . E v o lu tio n ,
i f c o n s is te n tly a c c e p te d , makes i t im p o ssib le to b e lie v e
67
in th e B ib le ." A lthough not many m odernists would have
su b sc rib ed to th is sta tem en t a ttr ib u te d to H uxley, th e
proponents o f b o th l i b e r a l and c o n se rv a tiv e causes were
w ell aware th a t th e ro o ts o f th e ic o n o c la s tic th e o rie s
reg ard in g th e in s p ir a tio n o f th e B ib le could be tra c e d to
th e e v o lu tio n a ry h y p o th e sis. The th e o lo g ic a l n a tu ra lism
which was spawned by ev o lu tio n ism encouraged th e view th a t
th e B ib le , hence in e v ita b ly th e r e lig io n which i t embodied,
were th e pro d u cts o f n a t u r a l i s t i c developm ent.
The vanguard o f th e s c ie n c e - re lig io n co n tro v e rsy
o f th e l a t e n in e te e n th and e a rly tw e n tie th c e n tu rie s was
C harles D arw in's 1859 p u b lic a tio n o f th e O rig in o f S p e c ie s.
B eliev in g th a t a l l l i f e had evolved from p r e - e x is te n t l i f e ,
Darwin suggested th a t anim als and p la n ts had. g ra d u a lly
^ The Reformed Church Messenger, April 24, 1919.
187
d e v e lo p e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f u n t o l d c e n t u r i e s . D is c o u n tin g
t h e G e n e s is a c c o u n t o f c r e a t i o n , man w as p r e s e n t e d n o t a s
t h e h a n d iw o rk o f d i v i n e p u r p o s e , b u t a s t h e c h a n c e p r o d u c t
o f a p r o c e s s o f n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n . W ith t h e J a n u a r y , 1 8 6 0 ,
c i r c u l a t i o n o f a n A m e ric a n e d i t i o n o f D a r w in 's t h e s i s " a n
i r r e p r e s s i b l e c o n f l i c t o f i d e a s on s c i e n c e an d r e l i g i o n
b e g a n t o p a r a l l e l t h e s t r u g g l e o v e r s l a v e r y an d s e c e s -
i i 68
s i o n .
P e r h a p s t h e c o n f l i c t w as n e v e r m o r e " i r r e p r e s s i b l e "
t h a n d u r in g t h e e m o tio n a l m om ents o f t h e p o s t- W o r ld War I
A m e ric a n r e l i g i o u s b a t t l e . I n f a c t , f u n d a m e n ta lis m 's
h i g h - w a t e r m ark was r e a c h e d o n a s u l t r y J u l y d a y i n 1925
i n a p a c k e d c o u r tr o o m o f r u r a l T e n n e s s e e , w hen W illia m
J e n n in g s B ry a n an d C la r e n c e D arro w c o n d u c te d a t u g - o f - w a r
69
o v e r t h e p a t e r n i t y o f m a n k in d . T he c i r c u m s ta n c e s w h ic h
l e d tw o o f t h e l e a d i n g f i g u r e s o f t h e e r a t o s q u a r e o f f
b e f o r e a so le m n ju d g e a n d a j u r y i n t h e S c o p e s "m onkey
t r i a l " a r e r e l e v a n t t o a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e A b ile n e
^ S i d n e y R a f n e r , " E v o lu ti o n a n d t h e R is e o f t h e
S c i e n t i f i c S p i r i t i h A m e r ic a ," P h ilo s o p h y o f S c i e n c e . I I
( J a n u a r y , 1 9 3 6 ) , 1 0 6 .
69
P a x to n H ib b e n , T he P e e r l e s s L e a d e r : W illia m
J e n n in g s B ry a n (New Y o rk : F a r r a r an d R i n e h a r t , 1 9 2 9 ) .
l e c t u r e r s ' a t t i t u d e tow ard e v o lu tio n .
By th e tu rn o f th e c e n tu r y , even such an a rd e n t
d efen d e r o f orthodoxy as John H orsch was fo rc e d to adm it
th a t th e d o c trin e o f e v o lu tio n , though "an unproved su p
p o s itio n , has become an in te g r a l p a r t o f 't h e modem
m i n d . '" ^ As R ichard H o fs ta d te r p o in ts o u t, John F isk e
and Asa Gray had crowned th e movement w ith r e s p e c t-
71
a b i l i t y . In 1898, Lyman A bbott p u b lish e d a m ost re a d a b le
book e n t i t l e d The T h eo lo g y .o f an E v o lu ti o n is t, in which he
72
d e s c rib e d e v o lu tio n as God's method o f doing th in g s .
By th e y e a r 1910 many r e lig io u s le a d e rs had tak en i t fo r
g ra n te d t h a t th e e v o lu tio n a ry h y p o th e sis could be p o s i
t iv e ly used in th e in t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e C h r is tia n r e l i -
73
g io n . A lthough th e re w ere v a rio u s le v e ls o f a c c e p ta n c e ,
^ H o rs c h , op. c i t . , p . 225.
^ S o c i a l Darwinism in American T hought, 1860-1915
(Rev. e d .; B oston: The Beacon P r e s s , 1955), p . 14. The
c h a p te r e n t i t l e d "The Coming o f D arw inism ," re c o u n ts in
d e t a i l th e re c e p tio n o f e v o lu tio n in America by s c i e n t i s t s
and th e o lo g ia n s .
72
The Theology o f an E v o lu tio n is t (B oston:
Houghton M if f lin Company, 1898).
73
In 1928, G erald B im ey Sm ith perform ed "a c ro s s -
s e c tio n o f c u rre n t th in k in g on th e s u b je c t," and came up
w ith fo u r ty p ic a l a t t i t u d e s . He a s s e r te d th a t th e "harmo
n iz in g p o s itio n " - - th e a ttem p t to eq u a te G enesis w ith th e
t h e m o d e r n is ts g a v e g e n e r a l a s s e n t to t h e d o c t r i n e , a r g u in g
t h a t t h e s t o r y o f e v o l u t i o n f u r n i s h e d new e v id e n c e f o r t h e
e x i s t e n c e o f God and t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e w o r ld , m ore
s p i r i t u a l l y an d i n t e l l e c t u a l l y s a t i s f y i n g th a n t h e o ld
a rg u m e n t fro m s p e c i a l c r e a t i o n . I t w as p a r t i c u l a r l y w e l
comed as a r e a s o n a b l e r e l i e f fro m th e th o r n y d i f f i c u l t i e s
i m p l i c i t w i t h i n t h e G e n e s is a c c o u n t. T he m o d e r n is ts m a in
t a i n e d t h a t t h e im p o r ta n t e s s e n c e o f t h e B i b le and t h e
s p i r i t o f t h e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n w e re s a lv a g e d fro m
o b s c u r i t y an d m ade r e l e v a n t t o t h e m odern a g e b y t h e d o c
t r i n e o f t h e i s t i c e v o l u t i o n . T hey r e a s o n e d t h a t m a n 's
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r u n d e r s ta n d in g God an d b e in g r e l a t e d to
Him w e re n o t t e r m i n a t e d b u t g r e a t l y e n h a n c e d i n t h e f i n d
in g s o f s c i e n c e . H a rry E m erson F o s d ic k , i n a New Y ork
T im es a r t i c l e , "A R e p ly t o B ry an i n t h e Name o f R e l i g i o n , "
a s s e r t e d :
I n a w o rld n a i l e d t o g e t h e r l i k e a b o x , G od, t h e
C r e a t o r , h a d b e e n th o u g h t o f a s a c a r p e n t e r who
c r e a t e d t h e u n i v e r s e lo n g a g o ; now , i n a w o rld
g ro w in g l i k e a t r e e , e v e r p u t t i n g o u t new r o o t s
an d b r a n c h e s , God h a s m o re an d m ore b e e n s e e n
a s t h e in d w e l lin g S p i r i t u a l l i f e . . .
f i n d i n g s o f g e o l o g i c a l s c ie n c e - - w a s r a p i d l y b e in g ab a n d o n ed
b y s c i e n t i s t s a n d th e o l o g i a n s o f t h e l i b e r a l s c h o o l .
C u r r e n t C h r i s t i a n T h in k in g (C h ic a g o : T he U n i v e r s i t y o f
C h ic a g o P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ) , p p . 1 7 6 -1 9 0 .
190
P o s itiv e ly th e 'i d e a o f an immanent God, which is
th e God o f e v o lu tio n , is i n f i n i t e l y g ran d er th an
th e o c c a sio n a l w onder-w orker who is th e God o f
an o ld th e o lo g y .74
The m o d ern ists had v ery l i t t l e p a tie n c e w ith what
th ey term ed th e sw eeping g e n e ra liz a tio n s and uninform ed
d e n ia ls o f t h e i r a d v e rs a rie s . Edwin G rant C o n k lin , a
s c i e n t i s t o f P rin c e to n U n iv e rs ity , charged th a t B illy
Sunday and W illiam Jennings Bryan had avoided even a
"second hand" stu d y o f th e evidence f o r e v o lu tio n and
hence f a ile d " to q u a lify as tru s tw o rth y w itn e s s e s ." C itin g
th e evidences drawn from m orphology, p h y sio lo g y , em bryol
ogy, p a le o n to lo g y , homology, h e re d ity and v a r ia tio n ,
C onklin o bserved:
A g ain st a l l th is m ountain o f evidence which
Mr. Bryan t r i e s to blow away by a w ord, what does
he b rin g in su p p o rt o f h is view o f s p e c ia l c r e a
tio n ? Only t h i s , th a t e v o lu tio n d e n ies th e
B ib lic a l account o f c r e a tio n o f man.
In th e face o f a l l th e se f a c t s , Mr. Bryan and
h is kind h u r l t h e i r m edieval th e o lo g y . I t would
be amusing i f i t were n o t so p a th e tic and d i s
h e a rte n in g to se e th e s e modem d efen d ers o f th e
f a i t h b e a tin g t h e i r gongs and f i r i n g t h e i r g ia n t
c ra c k e rs a g a in s t th e ram p arts o f science. 75
New York Times , March 12, 1922. In th e e a rly
months o f 1922, th e New York new spaper h o sted a s e r ie s o f
exchanges o f th e p o p u la r is s u e .
^ New York Times . March 5, 1922.
191
H en ry F a i r c h i l d O s b o rn , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e A m eric an
Museum o f N a tu r a l H i s t o r y , w as a n o t h e r s c i e n t i s t who
q u e s tio n e d t h e s c h o l a r s h i p o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t s . The
E a r t h S p e a k s t o B ry a n an d E v o lu ti o n an d R e l i g i o n i n
E d u c a tio n w e re t h e tw o p o le m ic a l v o lu m e s h e c o n t r i b u t e d to
t h e c o n t r o v e r s y . S u g g e s tin g t h a t t h e B i b le i t s e l f s u p p o r ts
th e s p i r i t u a l a n d m o ra l e v o l u t i o n o f m an , h e a s s e r t e d :
" E v o lu ti o n b y no m eans ta k e s God o u t o f t h e u n i v e r s e , a s
M r. B ry a n s u p p o s e s , b u t i t g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e s b o t h t h e
w o n d e r, t h e m y s t e r y , an d t h e m a rv e lo u s o r d e r w h ic h we c a l l
76
’ n a t u r a l la w , 1 p e r v a d in g a l l n a t u r e . ” R e v ie w in g f o r
r e a d e r s o f t h e New Y ork T im es t h e F o x h a l l , P iltd o w n ,
H e i d e lb e r g , N e a n d e r th a l, an d C ro-M agnon f o s s i l d i s c o v e r i e s ,
O sb o rn c o n c lu d e d :
I t i s a d r a m a tic c i r c u m s ta n c e t h a t D arw in h a d w i t h i n
h i s r e a c h t h e h e a d o f t h e N e a n d e r th a l man w ith o u t
r e a l i z i n g t h a t i t c o n s t i t u t e d t h e " m i s s in g l i n k ”
b e tw e e n man an d t h e lo w e r o r d e r o f c r e a t i o n . A l l
t h i s e v id e n c e i s to d a y w i t h i n r e a c h o f e v e r y s c h o o l
b o y . I t i s a t t h e s e r v i c e o f M r. B r y a n .??
7 f %
E v o lu ti o n an d R e l i g i o n i n E d u c a tio n (New Y o rk :
C h a r le s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s , 1 9 2 6 ) , p p . 3 4 - 3 5 . A ls o s e e T he
E a r t h S p eak s t o B ry an (New Y o rk : C h a r le s S c r i b n e r ’ s S o n s ,
1925).
^ New York Times , March 5, 1922, p. 1.
192
For th e fu n d a m e n ta lis t c a u s e , on th e o th e r h an d ,
th e d o c trin e o f e v o lu tio n q u ic k ly became th e g r e a t G o lia th
o f th e P h i l i s t i n e camp. "Anyone who a c c e p ts th e B ib le
l i t e r a l l y , " a d m itte d th e l i b e r a l G erald B irn ey S m ith ,
78
"m ust r e j e c t th e e v o lu tio n a ry th e o ry ." I t seemed obvious
th a t th e th e o rie s o f v e r b a l in s p i r a tio n and e v o lu tio n could
n o t m u tu a lly p r e v a i l. E v o lu tio n n o t o n ly c u t a c ro ss th e
th r o a t o f th e f i r s t c h a p te rs o f G enesis b u t e q u a lly con
t r a d ic te d th e whole system o f s u b s titu ti o n a r y atonem ent
b u i l t upon m an's f a l l and red em p tio n . The c o n s e rv a tiv e s
m a in ta in e d t h a t th e B ib le was s tr u c tu r e d around th e d o c
t r i n e o f s in in h e re n t in th e acco u n t o f th e f a l l o f Adam
and Eve. I f s i n w ere o n ly th e rem ains o f th e ape in man,
th e n i t was n o t o n ly le s s s e rio u s , b u t man was le s s g u ilt y .
To th e fu n d a m e n ta lis ts , m an's need o f s a lv a tio n by a d iv in e
redeem er was c h a lle n g e d ; th e v e ry l i f e o f th e C h r is tia n
79
r e l i g i o n was a t s ta k e . A dm itting t h a t God co u ld have
used e v o lu tio n as th e to o l o f c r e a tio n had he so e le c te d ,
th e y r e p lie d t h a t th e B ib le d i s t i n c t l y te a c h e s t h a t man
78
C u rre n t C h r is tia n T h in k in g , p . 27.
79
See James O rr, G od's Image in Man and I t s
D efacem ent in th e L ig h t o f Modem D en ia ls (New York; A. C.
A rm strong and Son, 1 9 0 6 ), pp. 3 -3 0 .
193
d id n o t e v o lv e fro m lo w e r s p e c i e s b u t was c r e a t e d by
s p e c i a l d e s ig n . T h e i s t i c e v o l u t i o n w as b lam ed f o r th e
f a c t " t h a t God i s l e s s and l e s s r e c o g n iz e d i n t h e m o d em
80
i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r ld ." C h a rg in g t h a t a s m a t e r i a l i s t s m o st
e v o l u t i o n i s t s w e re a d m itte d a t h e i s t s o r a g n o s t i c s , W illia m
J e n n in g s B ry an s a i d o f th o s e c la im in g t o b e t h e i s t i c
e v o l u t i o n i s t s :
Some c a l l th e m s e lv e s " t h e i s t i c e v o l u t i o n i s t s b u t
t h e t h e i s t i c e v o l u t i o n i s t p u ts God s o f a r away
t h a t h e c e a s e s to b e a p r e s e n t i n f l u e n c e i n th e
l i f e . . . . T h is i s a l i v i n g w o r ld . Why n o t a
l i v i n g God upon t h e th r o n e ? Why n o t a llo w him to
w ork now? . . . The r e a l q u e s t i o n i s , D id God u s e
e v o l u t i o n a s h i s p la n ? I f i t c o u ld b e show n t h a t
m an, i n s t e a d o f b e in g m ade i n t h e im age o f G od,
i s a d e v e lo p m e n t o f b e a s t s , we w o u ld h a v e to
a c c e p t i t , r e g a r d l e s s o f i t s a f f e c t , f o r t r u t h
i s t r u t h an d m u st p r e v a i l . B u t when t h e r e i s no
p r o o f we h a v e a r i g h t t o c o n s i d e r t h e e f f e c t o f
th e a c c e p ta n c e o f an u n s u p p o r te d h y p o t h e s i s .8 1
The te n a c io u s f u n d a m e n ta lis ts in tr o d u c e d i n t o th e
l e g i s l a t u r e s o f n e a r l y h a l f th e s t a t e s o f t h e u n io n , b i l l s
d e s ig n e d to f o r b i d t h e te a c h i n g o f th e d o c t r i n e . W h ile i n
T e x a s , L o u i s i a n a , A rk a n sa s an d S o u th C a r o l in a th e y p u sh e d
s u c h b i l l s th r o u g h o n e h o u s e o n ly to . f a i l i n t h e o t h e r , i n
T e n n e s s e e , O klahom a, and M i s s i s s i p p i t h e i r i n j u n c t i o n s w e re
^ ° H o rs c h , o p . c i t . , p . 2 2 4 .
^ N e w Y ork Tim es , F e b ru a ry 2 6 , 1 9 2 2 .
194
Q O
w r itte n in to law . But th e i n te n s i t y o f f e e lin g was
perhaps b e s t a t t e s t e d by th e numerous leag u es w hich sprang
up w ith a view to e lim in a tin g th e th e o ry from Am erica.
In 1923, W illiam B. R ile y i n s t i t u t e d th e A n ti-E v o lu tio n
League o f M in n eso ta, w hich a y e a r l a t e r became th e A n ti-
E v o lu tio n League o f A m erica. J . W . P o r te r , a Kentucky
m in is te r , was th e f i r s t p r e s id e n t o f th e n a tio n a l o rg a n iz a
t i o n , and g e o lo g is t George McCready P r ic e , a d v e rtis e d as
one o f th e g r e a t e s t liv in g s c i e n t i s t s , was i t s prom inent
spokesman. A second o r g a n iz a tio n , th e Bryan B ib le L eague,
was alm ost sin g le -h a n d e d ly th e work o f P au l W . Rood o f
T u rlo c k , C a lif o r n ia . Rood t e s t i f i e d : " In th e y e a r th a t
83
Bryan d ie d I saw a ls o th e L o rd ." H arry Rimmer o f Los
A ngeles , who had been a s c ie n c e s tu d e n t f o r a number o f
O O
F re d e ric k Lewis A lle n , Only Y esterd ay (New York
and London: H arper and B ro th e rs , 1931), p . 200. The
T ennessee b i l l w hich tr ig g e r e d th e Scopes T r i a l re a d : " I t
s h a l l be u n law fu l fo r any te a c h e r in any o f th e u n iv e r
s i t i e s , norm als and a l l o th e r p u b lic sch o o ls o f th e S ta te ,
to te a c h any th e o ry th a t d e n ie s th e s to r y o f th e D ivine
C re a tio n o f man as ta u g h t in th e B ib le , and to te a c h
in s te a d th a t man has descended from a low er o rd e r o f
a n im a ls," p. 2 0 1 .
^ C o l e , op. c i t . , p. 262. In 1925, Rood re p o rte d
th ro u g h h is o f f i c i a l o rg a n , th e Bryan B ro a d c a s te r: " I am
in th is f ig h t to th e end. There is no r e t r e a t . . . . The
f ig h t m ust go on p e r s i s t e n t l y , f e a r l e s s l y , u n t i l th e
v ic to r y is won. . . . The League has come in to b ein g
th ro u g h a v is io n from God."
195
y e a r s , becam e a C h r i s t i a n i n 1920 a n d im m e d ia te ly s e t
a b o u t t o r e c o n c i l e t h e f a c t s o f s c i e n c e w ith th e te a c h i n g s
o f t h e B i b l e . I n 1 9 2 1 , h e an d f i f t y o t h e r men e s t a b l i s h e d
s t i l l a n o t h e r l e a g u e , t h e R e s e a r c h S c ie n c e B u r e a u , " t h e
o n ly s c i e n t i f i c a s s o c i a t i o n i n e x i s t e n c e w hose c h a r t e r
s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e s t h a t i t i s a c o r p o r a t i o n t h a t i s s e t
84
f o r t h e s c i e n t i f i c d e f e n s e o f t h e W ord o f G o d ." C o le
w as o f t h e o p in io n t h a t t h e b u lk o f R im m e r's e f f o r t s
a g a i n s t e v o l u t i o n in c l u d e d n o th in g m ore th a n s h i b b o l e t h s
o f p s e u d o - s c ie n c e . I n 1 9 2 7 , Rim m er j o i n e d f o r c e s w i t h t h e
D e fe n d e rs o f t h e C h r i s t i a n F a i t h , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n h e a d e d
b y p u b l i c l e c t u r e r G e r a ld B. W in ro d o f K a n s a s . I t was
W inrod who c a r i c a t u r e d H a rry E m erson F o s d ic k a s o n e who
lo o k e d f o r t h e g e n e s i s o f man i n a s p e c k o f j e l l y . The
B ib le C r u s a d e r s o f A m e ric a w as t h e a n t i - e v o l u t i o n le a g u e
h e a d e d by t h e w e a lth y F l o r i d a c a p i t a l i s t G eo rg e F .
W ash b u rn . He u r g e d f a i t h f u l ch u rch m en t o co m p el l e g i s
l a t o r s i n e v e r y s t a t e t o e n a c t a n t i - e v o l u t i o n l a w s , o r to
d i s p l a c e th em f o r men who w o u ld do s o . W ashburn a l s o
o f f e r e d f i v e h u n d re d d o l l a r s t o a n y " A g n o s ti c , M o d e r n i s t i c ,
E v o l u t i o n i s t o r A t h e i s t o f e q u a l p r o m in e n c e ," who w o u ld
®^Cole, op. cit., p. 264.
196
m eet R ile y , John R. S tra to n , o r J . Frank N o rris in p u b lic
85
d e b a te . Two thousand d o lla r s was o ffe re d fo r any
opponent w illin g to e n te r a s e r ie s o f s ix d e b a te s . Edward
Y. C lark was th e founder o f th e Supreme Kingdom, a s e c r e t
a n ti- e v o lu tio n s o c ie ty p a tte rn e d a f t e r th e Ku Klux K lan,
The show-window o f th e le a g u e 's h e a d q u a rte rs in A tla n ta ,
G eo rg ia, fe a tu re d a g o r i l l a sh a ck le d in c h a in s . A f i n a l
example from th e m yriad o rg a n iz a tio n s which a ro se to e x tin
g u ish e v o lu tio n was th e American S cien ce F o u n d atio n , begun
in Chicago in 1928 by Fred E llsw o rth B en n ett. B ennett
m a rsh a lle d h is fo rc e s under th e b a t t l e cry th a t a l l e v ils
o f crim e , communism, c a p ita lis m , and m ilita r is m have
r e s u lte d from th e th e o ry o f e v o lu tio n as an e x p la n a tio n o f
m an's b io lo g ic a l background.
U ltim a te ly , th e fu n d a m e n ta lists came to c e n te r
t h e i r o p p o sitio n in th e charge t h a t e v o lu tio n , a t i t s b e s t ,
was b u t an unproved h y p o th e s is . They fre q u e n tly p o in te d to
such s c i e n t i f i c adm issions o f incom plete ev id en ce as
W illiam B a te so n 's 1921 ad d ress to th e American A sso c ia tio n
fo r th e Advancement o f S cience in T o ro n to , Canada.
T heologian G erald B irney Smith re b u tte d th a t B a te so n 's
8^Cole, op. cit. , p. 272.
197
m e ssa g e b u t "show s how f a r rem o v ed i s h i s a t t i t u d e o f
s c i e n t i f i c h o n e s ty fro m t h e d o g m a tic a t t i t u d e o f t h e a n t i -
e v o l u t i o n i s t s . B ry a n , h o w e v e r, c o n t in u e d t o e m p h a s iz e
t h a t " t h e w ord ’h y p o t h e s i s , ' th o u g h e u p h o n io u s , d i g n i f i e d ,
an d h i g h - s o u n d i n g , i s m e re ly a s c i e n t i f i c synonym f o r t h e
o l d - f a s h i o n e d w ord ’g u e s s . ' " A s s e r t i n g t h a t t h e p r o p o n e n ts
o f t h e i s t i c e v o l u t i o n r e d u c e t h e B i b le t o a " s c r a p o f
p a p e r ," h e c a l l e d u p o n a l l C h r i s t i a n s e v e ry w h e re to a r i s e
O *7
an d " p r o t e c t r e l i g i o n fro m i t s m o st i n s i d i o u s enem y.
T he s p e a k e r s a t t h e A b ile n e p l a t f o r m w e re among
t h o s e who r o s e t o m e e t t h e e n e m y 's c h a l l e n g e . A lth o u g h
t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y h y p o t h e s i s w as b y no m eans o n e o f t h e
m a jo r i s s u e s a t t h e L e c t u r e s h i p , fro m 1918 t o 1961 m ore
th a n a d o z e n s p e a k e r s d i s c u s s e d t h e p ro b le m s p o s e d b y t h e
d o c t r i n e . Among t h i s num ber w e re m i n i s t e r s , l a w y e r s , an d
c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r s . An a n a l y s i s o f t h e i r a d d r e s s e s r e v e a l s
a u n i t e d a t t i t u d e to w a rd t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y t h e o r y , t h e i s t i c
o r o t h e r w i s e — t o t a l r e j e c t i o n .
From t h e v e r y f i r s t , t h e A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s w e re
u n a b le t o e n v is a g e an y l e v e l o f harm o n y b e tw e e n t h e
8 8J o u r n a l o f R e l i g i o n , M ay, 1 9 2 2 , p . 2 4 5 .
87New Y o rk T im es , F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 2 2 .
198
e v o lu tio n a ry h y p o th esis and th e te ach in g s o f th e B ib le -
In th e e a rly programs th e methods o f r e f u t a t i o n , resem bling
th o se used by th e n a tio n a lly prom inent c o n s e r v a tiv e s ,
ranged from rig h te o u s in d ig n a tio n to h ea ted v itu p e r a tio n .
W hile some sp eak ers dw elt on th e f r a i l t i e s o f sc ie n c e in
g e n e r a l, o th e rs attem p ted to d is c r e d it th e e v o lu tio n a ry
h y p o th e sis by c r i t i c i z i n g fa c e ts o f i t p er s e . In 1918,
Klingman rem inded h is l i s t e n e r s th a t " s e v e ra l n o ta b le
books b e a rin g on th is s u b je c t have appeared in th e p a s t
y e a r ,” su g g e stin g th a t " th e re is no room to doubt th e
decadence o f th e D arw inian th e o ry in th e h ig h e s t s c i e n t i f i c
c i r c le s o f Germany."®^
A. LeRoy E lk in s co n tin u ed th e d i r e c t f r o n ta l
a tta c k in h is 1925 l e c t u r e , "God Hath Spoken."
D arwinism , th e only r e a l r i v a l o f th e B ib le in a l l
th e e a r th , teach es th a t e v e ry th in g came by ev o lu
t i o n , th a t we came from a low er o rd e r o f a n im als,
and th a t th e se came from a s t i l l low er o r d e r , and
th a t th is lin e can be run to a s in g le o rg a n ic c e l l .
The law as we se e i t in o p e ra tio n today is th a t i t
re q u ire s th e p o s itiv e and th e n e g a tiv e --th e male
88
K lingm an, o p . c i t ., p. 248. Klingman names
George P a u lp in 's No S tru g g le fo r E x iste n c e ; No N atu ral
S e le c tio n , L. T. Townsend's C o llap se o f E v o lu tio n , and
P ro fe s s o r E. D e n n e rt's At th e D eath-bed o f D arw inism , as
s c h o la rly works which t e s t i f y th a t " th e th e o ry i s in
ex trem es."
199
an d t h e f e m a le . T h is i s j u s t a s t r u e o f t h e
v e g e t a b l e k in g d o m a s i t i s o f t h e a n i m a l . 89
I n 1 9 2 6 , W. L . O l i p h a n t 's s p e e c h , "T h e B i b l e an d
S c i e n c e , ” e x a m in e d t h e t h r e e b r a n c h e s o f l e a r n i n g m o st
o f t e n u s e d t o d i s c r e d i t t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e :
g e o l o g y , a s tr o n o m y , a n d a n t h r o p o lo g y . He s u g g e s te d t h a t
t h e N e b u la H y p o th e s is w as m a n 's a t t e m p t t o e x p l a i n t h e
b e g in n in g o f t h e e a r t h o n n a t u r a l i s t i c g r o u n d s . O lip h a n t
d e s c r i b e d t h e t h e o r y t h a t t h e e a r t h a n d o t h e r p l a n e t s w e re
s lo w ly e v o lv e d th r o u g h u n t o l d a g e s fro m t h e c i r c u l a r m ove
m e n t o f c lo u d y v a p o u r o r m a s s e s o f i n c a n d e s c e n t g a s , " a s
b e i n g fo u n d e d u p o n a s e r i e s o f a s s u m p tio n s s o g i g a n t i c
t h a t t h e y . . . s t r e t c h hum an c r e d u l i t y t o t h e v e r y b r e a k -
90
in g p o i n t . " T he f a c t t h a t S a t u r n an d J u p i t e r move fro m
e a s t t o w e s t, t h e m oons o f U ra n u s an d N e p tu n e r e v o l v e fro m
w e s t t o e a s t , w h ile V enus a n d M e rc u ry h a v e a lm o s t no m ove
m e n t a t a l l , w as p r e s e n t e d a s e v id e n c e i n c o n f l i c t w i t h
t h e b a s i s o f t h e N e b u la t h e o r y .
D e a lin g m o re s p e c i f i c a l l y w i t h D a rw in is m , O lip h a n t
a l s o d i s c u s s e d an d d i s c o u n t e d t h e P i t h e c a n t h r o p u s ,
^Lectures , 1924-1925, p. 168.
^Lectures, 1926-1927, p. 258.
200
H e id e lb e rg , P iltd o w n , N e a n d e rth a l, Cro-Magnon, and T a lg a i
f o s s i l specim ens as p o s s ib le "m issin g lin k s " from low er to
h ig h e r l i f e fo rm s.
J . P. S an d ers’ 1958 l e c t u r e , "God, th e C re a to r,"
tr e a te d th e D arw inian h y p o th e s is . He p a r ti c u l a r l y s tr e s s e d
th e "im probable assum ption" upon w hich th e th e o ry r e s t s :
H. H. Newman in h is book O u tlin e s in G eneral
Z oology, says th a t even though c o n d itio n s as we
know them on th e e a r th today would p re c lu d e th e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f th e o r ig in o f liv in g m a tte r from
l i f e l e s s m a te r ia ls t h a t , n e v e r th e le s s , i t is
n e c e ssa ry f o r us to assume th a t a t some tim e
c o n d itio n s w ere so fa v o ra b le th a t liv in g forms
a ro se from l i f e l e s s m a te r ia l. T h is , o f c o u rs e ,
i s a v io le n t assum ption and in v o lv e s a g r e a te r
s t r a i n on o n e 's c r e d u lity th a n an y th in g a
C h r is tia n is c a lle d upon to believe. 91
Sanders drew th e p o in t o f im p ro b a b ility even f u r th e r :
I f some such germ o f l i f e sh o u ld come in to
e x is te n c e on th e e a r th by mere chance o r even
by c r e a tio n , and i f i t were th en l e f t to i t s e l f ,
i t is im p o ssib le fo r us to im agine i t s s u r v iv a l.
How long co u ld i t p o s s ib ly c o n tin u e to liv e ? 9 2
The m ost thoroughgoing L e c tu re sh ip a n a ly s is o f th e
D arw inian th e o ry was J . D. Thomas' 1960 sp e ech , "The
P re se n t S ta tu s o f th e D o ctrin e o f O rganic E v o lu tio n ."
A dm itting th a t " th o s e who ac ce p t th e d o c trin e count th e
9~ 4,ectures, 1958, p. 43.
92Ibid., p. 44.
201
o t h e r s o f u s a s b e in g q u i t e n a i v e , an d e v e n o b s c u r a n t i s t , ”
Thomas e x p l a i n e d :
T he p r e s e n t s t a t u s o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f o r g a n i c e v o
l u t i o n m ig h t c o r r e c t l y b e c a l l e d 'a s o r t o f " s p i r i t -
u a l c o l d w a r .” C e r t a i n l y t h e r e i s no a t t i t u d e o f
" w i l l i n g c o - e x i s t e n c e " o n t h e p a r t o f e i t h e r s i d e .
T h o se who b e l i e v e i n t h e d o c t r i n e o f o r g a n ic
e v o l u t i o n h a v e l i t t l e t o l e r a n c e f o r t h o s e who do
n o t , a n d v i c e v e r s a . 93
T hom as1 c r u c i a l p o i n t , i n a g re e m e n t w i t h a l l o f
t h e s p e a k e r s p r e c e d in g h im , w as t h a t t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y
th e o r y i s b u t a t h e o r y - - a f a i t h on t h e p a r t o f t h o s e who
h o ld i t . ^ I n 1 9 1 8 , K lin g m an h a d b o l d l y c h a r g e d : " T h a t
t h e D a rw in ia n th e o r y h a s i n t h e re a lm s o f n a t u r e n o t a
s i n g l e f a c t to c o n f ir m i t i s t h e u n e q u iv o c a l te s tim o n y o f
men d i s t i n g u i s h e d i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e d e p a r tm e n ts o f
95
s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h . " F o r ty - tw o y e a r s l a t e r , w i t h som e
w h a t m ore m o d e s ty , Thomas m ade t h e sam e p o i n t :
98
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 6 0 , p . 1 4 7 .
94
T he F o r t W o rth S t a r T e le g r a m , F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 1 9 6 0 ,
p . 1 . T hom as' l e c t u r e r e c e i v e d w id e c o v e r a g e b y t h e news
s o u r c e s th r o u g h o u t t h e s o u th w e s t. S u ch n e w s p a p e rs a s The
A m a r illo G lo b e -T im e s , T he B ig S p r in g H e r a l d , T he H o u sto n
P o s t , an d T he M id la n d R e p o r te r - T e le g r a m q u o te d h im a s
s a y i n g : " E v o lu ti o n i s j u s t a s m uch a f a i t h a s t h a t o f
an y o n e who b e l i e v e s t h e B i b l e , an d w i t h l e s s j u s t i f i c a
t i o n . "
95
Klingman, op. cit., p. 248.
202
. . . th e d o c trin e o f e v o lu tio n today is r e a lly .o n ly
an e x p re ssio n o f f a i t h on th e p a r t o f th o se who hold
i t , and . . . no s in g le a b s o lu te f a c t o f any k in d
has y e t been determ ined th a t ta k es away our r i g h t to
b e lie v e th e B ib lic a l account o f c r e a t i o n .96
The words o f b o th men were s t r ik in g l y re m in isc e n t o f
B ry an 's p o s itio n :
C h r is tia n ity has n o th in g to fe a r from any tr u th ;
no f a c t d is tu rb s th e C h ris tia n r e lig i o n o r th e
C h r is tia n . I t is th e u n su p p o rted guess t h a t is
s u b s titu te d fo r sc ie n c e to which o p p o s itio n is
made, and I th in k th e o b je c tio n is a v a lid o n e . 97
S cience and th e B ib le
Even among th e fu n d a m e n ta lis ts , th e p r e s tig e o f
sc ie n c e d u rin g th e f i r s t th re e decades o f th e tw e n tie th
ce n tu ry was c o lo s s a l. M erle C u rti p o in ts o u t th a t in s p it e
o f t r a d i t i o n a l s u p e rn a tu ra lis m , th e American environm ent
provided co n g e n ia l s o i l fo r th e growth o f th e s c i e n t i f i c
Q Q
p o in t o f view . ° Under th e d eluge o f new m achines and th e
dictum s o f A lb e rt E in s te in , th e man in th e s t r e e t and th e
woman in th e k itc h e n were ready to b e lie v e th a t sc ie n c e
could accom plish alm ost a n y th in g . F osdick w e ll s ta te d th e
96
Thomas, op. cit. , p. 148.
^ New York Times , February 26, 1922.
9^The Growth o f American Thought (New York:
H arper and B ro th e rs , 1943), p. 555.
203
e f f e c t o f t h e p r e s t i g e o f s c i e n c e u p o n ch u rch m en :
When a p ro m in e n t s c i e n t i s t com es o u t s t r o n g l y f o r
r e l i g i o n , a l l t h e c h u rc h e s th a n k H eaven and ta k e
c o u ra g e as th o u g h i t w e re t h e h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e
c o m p lim e n t t o God t o h a v e E d d in g to n b e l i e v e i n
h im . 99
I n t h e i n t e r e s t o f s u r v i v a l , t h e f u n d a m e n ta li s ts h a d s e e n
no a l t e r n a t i v e b u t to u n r e s e r v e d ly a t t a c k t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y
h y p o t h e s i s . They d id n o t , h o w e v e r, f e e l d is p o s e d to ta k e
o n t h e w h o le s c i e n t i f i c s p i r i t o f th e a g e w ith i t s a lm o s t
h o ly gam ut o f e l e c t r o n s , chrom osom es , h o rm o n e s , v i t a m i n s ,
r e f l e x e s , and p s y c h o s e s . To f i g h t e v o l u t i o n h a d b e e n
a d m itte d ly r i s k y , b u t e s s e n t i a l ; t o c h a l l e n g e s c ie n c e
i t s e l f w o u ld h a v e b e e n s u i c i d a l . I n s e a r c h i n g f o r a
s o l u t i o n t o t h e i r d ile m m a , th e c o n s e r v a t i v e s w e re re m in d e d
t h a t e v o l u t i o n h ad b e e n d is p o s e d o f on t h e g ro u n d s t h a t i t
w as m e re ly an u n p ro v e n t h e o r y . H e n c e , th e y c o n c lu d e d t h a t
t h e f i e l d was o p en to acco m m o d ate, w ith a l l c o n s i s t e n c y ,
t h e v e r i f i e d f i n d i n g s o f s c i e n c e t o t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h .
I t i s c e r t a i n l y t r u e t h a t w h ile t h e A b ile n e
l e c t u r e r s u n a n im o u s ly r e j e c t e d t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y h y p o th e s is
a s an u n p ro v e n th e o r y i n f e r i o r t o t h e G e n e s is r e c o r d , t h e i r
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd s c i e n t i f i c k n o w led g e i n g e n e r a l w e re
^Quoted in Allen, op. cit. , p. 199.
204
more v a r ie d and g e n e r a lly fa v o r a b le . From among th e
a d d re s s e s w hich came to g r ip s w ith th e s c ie n c e - r e lig io n
c o n tr o v e r s y , th r e e dom inant them es em erged, each em bracing
a ch o rd o f r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . The f i r s t so u g h t to av o id
e m b a rra ssin g c o n f l i c t by a p p e a lin g to th e f r a i l t i e s o f
s c ie n c e . The seco n d them e su g g e ste d t h a t r e l i g i o n and
s c ie n c e , though o f te n a t o d d s, c o u ld n e v e r a c t u a l ly c la s h
b e c a u se th e y d e a l t w ith d i f f e r e n t s p h e re s o f l i f e ; one th e
n a t u r a l , th e o th e r th e s u p e r n a tu r a l. The t h i r d ap p ro ach
was an a tte m p t to harm onize p roven s c i e n t i f i c f a c t s w ith
th e te a c h in g s o f th e B ib le , to d e m o n stra te th e co m p ati
b i l i t y o f s c ie n c e and r e l i g i o n .
W . L. O lip h a n t in 1926 was th e f i r s t to a f f irm
u n w a v e rin g ly , "T h ere a r e no c o n f l i c t s betw een th e B ib le
and S c ie n c e " :
The te a c h in g s o f th e B ib le a re tr u e and o n ly t r u t h
; can be r e a l s c ie n c e . H ence, a c o n f l i c t i s im pos
s i b l e . A ll th e seem ing d is c re p a n c ie s betw een
s c ie n c e and th e B ib le may be acco u n ted f o r by s a y
in g t h a t w here a d if f e r e n c e a p p e a r s , i t i s due to
e i t h e r ig n o ra n c e o f s c ie n c e o r ig n o ra n c e o f G od's
w ord. . . . Many s c i e n t i s t s a r e w o e fu lly ig n o ra n t
o f G od's w ord. I v e n tu re th e a s s e r ti o n t h a t th e
av e ra g e p re a c h e r knows more ab o u t s c ie n c e th a n th e
u n b e lie v in g s c i e n t i s t knows ab o u t C h r i s t i a n i t y . 1 0 0
l^Oliphant, op. cit. , p. 254.
205
T he l i m i t a t i o n s o f s c i e n c e w e re a l s o c r e d i t e d w i t h
c r e a t i n g m o s t o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y c o n c e r n i n g t h e a g e o f t h e
e a r t h a n d t h e a n t i q u i t y o f m an. O l i p h a n t e m p h a s iz e d t h a t
a "n u m b e r o f p r o m in e n t s c i e n t i s t s now a d m it t h a t g e o lo g y
know s n o t h i n g a s t o t h e a g e o f t h e e a r t h . B e s id e s , t h e
B i b l e d o e s n o t s a y w hen t h e e a r t h w as c r e a t e d . . . ."
H e, t o o , q u o te d B ry a n : " I t i s b e t t e r t o t r u s t i n t h e R ock
o f A g e s , t h a n i n t h e a g e o f t h e r o c k s . O l i p h a n t
c o n c lu d e d :
T h e r e i s no a n ta g o n is m b e tw e e n t h e B i b l e a n d a
c o m p le te d s c i e n c e . S c i e n c e m u s t a d v a n c e b y
c l im b in g u p o n t h e d e a d r u i n s o f d i s c a r d e d t h e o
r i e s . D ay b y d a y s h e com es n e a r e r t o a l l t r u t h
an d w h e n , i f e v e r , s c i e n c e l e a r n s a l l a b o u t
G o d 's g r e a t b o o k o f n a t u r e , e v e r y h o n e s t s c i e n
t i s t w i l l b eco m e a C h r i s t i a n , a n d u p o n t h e t i t l e
p a g e o f t h e t e x t s o f s c i e n c e may b e w r i t t e n t h e
w o rd s : " I n t h e b e g i n n i n g , G o d ." 1 0 2
I n 1 9 6 0 , J . D. Thom as e c h o e d O l i p h a n t * s t h e o r y
t h a t a c o m b in a tio n o f B i b l i c a l i g n o r a n c e a n d s c i e n t i f i c
s h o r tc o m in g c a u s e d t h e G e n e s i s - g e o l o g y " i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y
c o n c e r n in g t h e a g e o f t h e e a r t h . Q u e s t i o n i n g t h e i d e a
t h a t t h e e a r t h w as c r e a t e d i n 4 0 0 4 B .C . , h e r e v e a l e d t h a t
A rc h b is h o p U s s h e r , o f t h e C h u rc h o f E n g la n d , a c t u a l l y
^•°^01iphant, op. cit. , pp. 276-277.
206
o r ig in a te d th is n o tio n by adding th e ages o f th e p a tria rc h s
in th e Hebrew te x t . Through U ssh e r's in f lu e n c e , ex p lain ed
Thomas, th e f ig u re was p r in te d in th e m argin o f th e King
James V ersion in 1701; "and many o f us have th o u g h t th a t
t h is is what th e B ib le ta u g h t. . . . A c tu a lly , U ssh er’s
fin d in g s a re d isc o u n ted today by a l l who have made a
103
s e rio u s stu d y o f th e m a tte r."
Thomas n e x t p o in te d h is doubts tow ard th e fin d in g s
o f geology and p ale o n to lo g y in an e f f o r t to d em onstrate
th a t evidence o f th e h ig h a n tiq u ity o f man " i s s t i l l
s u s p e c t."
S ince Romer acknowledges a t le a s t some d eg ree o f
u n c e rta in ty in.. such d a tin g , we have to conclude
f i n a l l y t h a t we do n o t know fo r s u re when man
came upon th e e a r t h , n o r does th e B ib le have any
req u irem en t a t t h i s p o in t; b u t s t i l l th e re is
good evidence from a l l th e s c i e n t i f i c d is c ip lin e s
to in d ic a te th a t man is v ery re c e n t. W e know fo r
s u re th a t e v o lu tio n i s n o t by any means e s ta b
lis h e d , and we know th a t in o rd e r to b e lie v e in
every sta te m e n t o f th e B ib le , we do n o t have to
s e t any c e r ta in d a te fo r Adam. W e can b e lie v e
th e B ib le and a c c e p t every d e f i n i t e f a c t th a t
sc ie n c e has advanced so f a r . 104
A. DeW itt C haddick, a 1938 l e c t u r e r , te r s e ly summa
r iz e d th e view s o f h is c o lle a g u e s who h e ld th a t any
103
Thomas, op. cit. , p. 175.
104Ibid., p. 178.
207
a p p a r e n t q u a r r e l b e tw e e n s c i e n c e a n d t h e B i b l e w as l a r g e l y
d u e t o t h e f r a i l t i e s o f t h e f o r m e r : "A nd m in d y o u , I h a v e
n o q u a r r e l w i t h s c i e n c e . M ore p o w er t o s c i e n c e '. . . . X
a c c e p t e v e r y c o n c l u s i o n s c i e n t i f i c a l l y a r r i v e d a t . I do
n o t a c c e p t a s t r u t h m e re g u e s s e s , h y p o t h e s e s , o r t h e o -
A s e c o n d g ro u p o f l e c t u r e r s , w h i l e n o t d i s p a r a g i n g
t h e m e r i t s o f s c i e n c e p e r s e , s o u g h t t o r e s o l v e t h e c o n -
. t r o v e r s y b y e m p h a s iz in g t h a t s c i e n c e a n d r e l i g i o n t r e a t
d i f f e r e n t s p h e r e s o f l i f e . I n 1 9 4 3 , J . P . S a n d e r s
s u g g e s t e d t h a t s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s a r e n o t e m p i r i c a l l y
v e r i f i a b l e :
T he r a p i d d e v e lo p m e n ts o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y a n d o f
t h i s l e d m any t o f e e l t h a t t h e h o p e o f t h e w o r ld
l a y i n t h e d e v e lo p m e n ts o f s c i e n t i f i c i n t e r e s t s
an d s c i e n t i f i c m e c h a n is m s . S c ie n c e h a s d o n e s o
m any w o n d e r f u l t h i n g s t h a t m en h a v e b e e n w o n t t o
t h i n k t h a t t h e r e w as n o t h i n g t h a t i t c o u l d n o t
d o . To m any o f i t s s e r v a n t s , t h e r e f o r e , i t h a s
becom e a g o d . B u t s c i e n c e , t o o , h a s f a i l e d u s i n
d e a l i n g w i t h t h e u l t i m a t e . I t s s p h e r e , w h i l e u s e
f u l , i s to o l i m i t e d . I t i s o n l y a t o o l o f l i f e
an d n e v e r a n e n d . I t h a s g iv e n u s g o o d l i g h t w i t h
w h ic h t o e x te n d o u r d a y s , b u t h a s n o t b e e n c o n
c e r n e d w i t h w h a t we d i d w i t h t h e e x t r a t im e . I t
h a s e n a b le d u s t o t r a v e l fro m o n e p l a c e t o a n o t h e r
m uch m o re q u i c k l y . I t h a s n o t i n t e r e s t e d i t s e l f
w i t h t h e w o r th w h ile n e s s o f t h e t r i p . I t h a s
105
" J e s u s o f N a z a r e t h , G o d 's G i f t t o H u m a n ity ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 8 , p . 4 .
208
prolonged our l i f e by showing us how to conquer
d is e a s e , b u t i t has n o t d e a lt w ith th e problem
o f what makes l i f e w orth p ro lo n g in g .106
" S c ie n c e , 1 1 d e c la re d Joe Sanders in 1960, " is v a lid
in some f ie ld s b u t is lim ite d in i t s a p p lic a tio n to o th e r
f i e l d s ." In h is ad d ress on " F a ith and R eason," he
co n tin u ed :
I t cannot pass judgment on v a lu e s , m o ra ls, r ig h t
o r wrong. I t cannot prove o r d isp ro v e God.
These problem s a re n o t s c i e n t i f i c , and th e r e f o r e ,
th e method o f sc ie n c e cannot be a p p lie d . J u s t
because sc ie n c e cannot determ ine th e tr u th o r
e r r o r o f th e s e problem s does n o t mean th a t they
do n o t e x i s t . I f a C h ris tia n should say th a t by
th e a p p lic a tio n o f h is r e lig io n he could n o t
fin d th e a d re n a l gland in th e body, and th e r e f o r e ,
no such glands e x is te d , th e s c i e n t i s t would fin d
f a u l t . He would say th a t th e method and to o ls o f
r e lig io n were n o t designed to d isc o v e r such th in g s .
Yet th e same man may say th a t because God cannot
be proved s c i e n t i f i c a l l y , He does n o t e x i s t. The
C h ris tia n would say th a t th e method and to o ls o f
th e s c i e n t i s t were n o t adequate in th is a r e a .107
Joe Sanders concluded th a t f a i t h and sc ie n c e are
n o t c o n tra d ic to ry b u t supplem entary; r e lig io n should n o t
re fu s e to use re a s o n 's in stru m e n ts, b u t i t should n o t be
b a ffle d when they prove in ad eq u ate. " F a ith w ill trium ph
in many s itu a tio n s where reaso n alo n e is d e fe a te d . F a ith
106„,£he Foundation of Christian Hope," Lectures ,
1943, p. 18.
107"Faith and Reason," Lectures, 1960, p. 118.
209
an d r e a s o n b o th n e e d e a c h o t h e r - T hey come i n c o n f l i c t
o n ly w hen e a c h t r i e s t o u s u r p t h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e
o t h e r . ” 1 0 8
J . D. T hom as, a l s o l e c t u r i n g i n 1 9 6 0 , s p o k e som e
w h a t m ore b l u n t l y :
The f i e l d i n w h ic h s c i e n c e an d t h e s c i e n t i f i c
m eth o d c a n s p e a k a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y i s l i m i t e d t o
t h a t o f t h i n g s , o r p h en o m en a, w h ic h a r e e m p i r i
c a l l y v e r i f i a b l e th r o u g h o u r f i v e s e n s e s . S c ie n c e
c a n n o t p ro n o u n c e w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l ,
b u t o n ly t o t h a t w h ic h y i e l d s t o n a t u r e 's la w s .
A l l a b s t r a c t m e n ta l c o n c e p ts , o r noum ena; a l l
s u p e r n a t u r a l r e a l i t i e s ; an d a l l s u b j e c t i v e v a lu e s
w h ic h men g iv e t o c e r t a i n r e a l i t i e s a r e o u t s i d e
t h e f i e l d o f s c i e n c e . Y e t t h e s e t h i n g s do h a v e
t r u e r e a l i t y an d a r e n e c e s s a r i l y a p a r t o f t o t a l
t r u t h . T hey c a n n o t b e e v a l u a t e d b y s c i e n c e b u t
a r e a p p re h e n d e d o t h e r w i s e . F o r m en, t h e n , t o
w o rs h ip s c i e n c e a n d n a t u r e an d n a t u r a l p r o c e s s e s
a s a s o r t o f " s a c r e d cow " an d t o t h i n k t h a t
s p i r i t u a l t r u t h s c a n n o t b e , u n l e s s th e y f i r s t b e
a p p ro v e d b y a p h ilo s o p h y o f " S c i e n t i s m , " i s i t s e l f
a n a i v e t e p a r e x c e l l e n c e .I Q 9
N o t a l l l e c t u r e r s , h o w e v e r , c o n c u r r e d t h a t s c i e n c e
a n d r e l i g i o n d e a l w i t h e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f l i f e .
I n 1 9 6 0 , V i r g i l R. T r o u t r e f e r r e d t o t h e f o llo w in g w o rd s
o f A lf r e d N o rth W h ite h e a d a s " a p p r o p r i a t e ” : " I t i s f a s h
i o n a b l e t o s t a t e t h a t r e l i g i o n an d s c i e n c e c a n n e v e r c l a s h
1 0 8 n p a ith an d R e a s o n ," L e c t u r e s . 1 9 6 0 , p p . 1 2 4 ,
125.
109ThOmas, op. cit. . p. 150.
210
because they d e a l w ith d if f e r e n t to p ic s . I b e lie v e th a t
th is s o lu tio n is e n t ir e ly mis ta k en .
T ro u t's le c tu r e ag re e d , how ever, w ith th e prem ise
th a t sc ie n c e is n o t q u a lif ie d to speak a u th o r ita tiv e ly con
ce rn in g th e fo u n d atio n s o f su p e rn a tu ra lism . He s ta te d :
C re a tio n must be reg ard ed as a m etap h y sical p ro b
lem r a th e r th an an ex p erim en tal one. . . . The
co n clu sio n o f th e w orld tran scen d s th e realm o f
m an's ex p erim en tal knowledge. . . . The in c a rn a
tio n is a problem o f h is to r y th a t cannot be
so lv ed in th e l a b o r a t o r y . m
A th ir d group o f le c tu r e r s launched a more vigorous
c o u n te ro ffe n siv e in an e f f o r t to dem o n strate th e p o s itiv e
c o m p a tib ility between th e B ib le and s c i e n t i f i c in v e s tig a
tio n . S ev eral sp eak ers n o t only re fu s e d to r e t r e a t from
th e charges o f modern s c ie n c e , b u t even l i s t e d B ib lic a l
s c i e n t i f i c foreknow ledge as a prom inent p ro o f o f in s p i r a
tio n . W . L. O lip h an t was once ag ain an e a rly spokesman:
I n s p ir a tio n d e c la re d th e e a rth to be round long
b e fo re th e tim e o f C h r is t. "He s e t a compass (or
c i r c l e ) upon th e face o f th e deep" (Prov. 8 :2 7 ).
Is a ia h is even c l e a r e r . He speaks o f Him "who
s i t t e t h upon th e c i r c l e o f th e e a rth " (Is a . 40:
2 2 ) . M o ffa tt's tr a n s l a ti o n o f th i s passage says
th a t God " s i t s over th e round e a r th ." Y es,
H 0"T he R easonableness o f S u p e rn a tu ra lism ,"
L e c tu re s , 1960, p. 129.
1U Ibid. , pp. 137-138.
211
I s a i a h knew o f t h e s p h e r i c a l fo rm o f t h e e a r t h ,
b u t h e d i d n o t l e a r n i t fro m s c i e n c e . When
s c i e n c e a r r i v e d a t t h i s k n o w le d g e o f t h e t r u t h ,
" t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e tw e e n s c i e n c e ( ? ) a n d t h e
B i b l e " o n t h i s p o i n t d i s a p p e a r e d . ^ 2
T he " h a rm o n y " O l i p h a n t c o n s t r u c t e d a l s o i n c l u d e d
t h e f i e l d s o f a s tro n o m y a n d a n t h r o p o l o g y . I n 1 9 3 6 ,
C l a r e n c e C. M organ c o n t i n u e d t h e r a t i o n a l e :
T he B i b l e h a s s t o o d t h e t e s t o f A s tro n o m y , f o r a s
t h e s o - c a l l e d w is e men o f t h e e a r t h w e re t e a c h i n g
t h a t t h e w o r ld w as f l a t a n d r e s t e d u p o n som e s u p e r
f o u n d a t i o n t h e m an o f God w as s a y i n g , "H e h a n g e th
t h e e a r t h u p o n n o t h i n g . "1 1 3
" i n e v e r y i n s t a n c e , " d e c l a r e d Y a t e r T a n t i n 1 9 4 6 ,
" i n w h ic h s e c u l a r h i s t o r y a n d d i v i n e h i s t o r y t o u c h o n t h e
sam e e v e n t s , t h e r e i s t o b e fo u n d a c o m p le te h a rm o n y
b e tw e e n t h e tw o a c c o u n t s . g ^ G o o d p a s tu r e a d d e d
s u p p o r t t o t h e h arm o n y t h e s i s i n h i s 1950 l e c t u r e :
J e r e m ia h s a i d t h a t " t h e h o s t o f h e a v e n c a n n o t b e
n u m b e re d " ( J e r . 3 3 : 2 2 ) . T h e a n c i e n t s t h o u g h t ,
h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e s t a r s c o u l d b e n u m b e re d . T h ey
t h o u g h t t h a t t h e y h a d c o u n t e d th e m . Now no
a s tr o n o m e r e v e r h o p e s t o know t h e n u m b e r o f t h e
h o s t o f h e a v e n . How d i d J e r e m ia h know t h i s ?
J o b s a i d m any c e n t u r i e s a g o : "H e s t r e t c h e t h
o u t t h e n o r t h o v e r t h e e m p ty p l a c e , a n d h a n g e t h
t h e e a r t h u p o n n o t h i n g " (J o b 2 6 : 7 ) . How d i d
H ^ Q i i p h a n t , o p . c i t . , p p . 2 6 4 - 2 6 5 .
* 1 - 1 “ 5
Morgan, op. cit. , p. 55.
114"Tjie Bible, God's Revelation," Lectures, 1946,
p. 59.
212
th is Uzzean sage know th a t th e re i s a v a s t s t r e t c h
in th e n o rth e rn heavens w hich i s w ith o u t s ta r s ?
How d id he know about th e law o f g r a v ita tio n and
th e fo rc e s by w hich th e e a r th is h e ld in i t s
p ro p er p la ce?
George W . DeHoff in 1955 was th e m ost re c e n t
A bilene le c tu r e r to em phasize " s c i e n t i f i c foreknow ledge"
as a p ro o f o f B ib lic a l in s p i r a tio n .
H erb ert Spencer (1820-1903) d e c la re d th a t th e re a re
o n ly f iv e th in g s in e x is te n c e —f iv e m a n ife s ta tio n s
o f th e un k n o w ab le--tim e, f o rc e , a c tio n , sp a c e , and
m a tte r. A ll o v er th e w orld men h a ile d th is as a
g r e a t d isc o v e ry . Then someone opened th e B ib le and
found th a t Moses had p u t a l l f iv e o f th e s e s c ie n
t i f i c fundam entals in to th e f i r s t v e rs e o f th e
B ib le . . . .
L innaeus announced in 1735 th a t th e re a re only
th re e k in d s o f th in g s in e x is te n c e —m in e ra l,
v e g e ta b le , and anim al. T his made i t p o s s ib le
fo r men to c l a s s i f y a l l th in g s . Someone ag ain
tu rn e d to G enesis I and found th a t Moses used
th e f i r s t te n v e rse s o f th e B ib le t e l l i n g o f th e
m in e ra l kingdom, th e n e x t n in e v e rs e s t e l l i n g o f
th e v e g e ta b le kingdom and th e l a s t p a r t o f th e
c h a p te r t e l l i n g o f th e anim al kingdom. Moses
had h is th r e e s c i e n t i f i c d iv is io n s r ig h t there!
The th e s is t h a t th e B ib le is c o n s is te n t w ith
h is to r y and f a c ts o f s c ie n c e seem ed, to th e A bilene le c
tu r e r s , to g a in an a l l y w ith th e advent o f th e sc ie n c e o f
arch eo lo g y . In 1918, George Klingman s a id :
115
G oodpasture, op. c i t . , p. 166.
■^^DeHoff, op. c i t . , p. 1 0 .
213
I t i s o n e o f t h e w o n d e rs o f t h e m o d ern tim e s t h a t
j u s t w hen t h e f a i t h o f C h r i s t i a n men i n t h e
I n s p i r e d A u t h o r i t y o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s i s b e in g
s o r e l y t r i e d by t h e p r o f e s s e d f r i e n d s o f t h e B i b l e ,
t h a t t h e r e c o r d s o f a n t i q u i t y s h o u ld s o p r o v id e n
t i a l l y o p e n t o t h e a i d o f t h e g e n u in e s e e k e r a f t e r
t h e t r u t h . T he te s tim o n y o f A rc h e o lo g y d e f i n i t e l y
an d u n if o r m ly s u s t a i n s t h e h i s t o r i c t r u t h o f t h e
S c r i p t u r e s , an d d o e s n o t s u p p o r t t h e h y p o t h e s i s o f
H ig h e r C r i t i c i s m i n a s i n g l e p a r t i c u l a r .1 1 7
I n 1 9 4 4 , C. R. N ic h o l p o i n t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e
d i s c o v e r i e s o f W adi A r a b ia an d e x c la im e d :
I t i s am azin g how m uch o f t h e B i b le s t o r y i s v e r i
f i e d b y f i n d s m ade i n a r c h e o l o g i c a l e x p l o r a t i o n
o r e x c a v a tio n . . . . I t i s b ec o m in g m ore an d m ore
a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e B i b le c o n t a i n s m uch m ore h i s t o r i
c a l l y v a l i d m a t e r i a l th a n w as s u p p o s e d b e f o r e t h e
s p a d e ad d e d i t s in d e p e n d e n t e v id e n c e t o t h a t o f t h e
w r i t t e n w o r d .U S
Two y e a r s l a t e r , Y a te r T a n t a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e s p a d e o f t h e
s c i e n t i s t h ad m ade c o n t a c t i n a th o u s a n d d i f f e r e n t p la c e s
w ith t h e w r i t i n g o f t h e p r o p h e t. P o i n t i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y to
t h e a r c h e o l o g i c a l e v id e n c e d is c o v e r e d a t t h e s o u t h e r n en d
o f th e D ead S e a , w h ic h h e c o n c lu d e d w e re t h e B i b l i c a l
c i t i e s o f Sodom an d G o m o rrah , T a n t s t a t e d :
Had t h e w r i t e r o f G e n e s is b e e n a n e y e - w it n e s s to
t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e C i t i e s o f t h e P l a i n , h e
c o u ld n o t h a v e g iv e n a m ore a c c u r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n
117
■ ‘ ■ Klingman, op. cit. , p. 249.
118?,The Bible, II,” Lectures, 1944, p. 121.
214
o f what th e a rc h e o lo g is t d e c la re s a c tu a lly
happened. Only a w illf u l and p e rv e rte d i n t e l l e c t
would seek to deny i t o r evade i t s im p lic a tio n s .
In h is 1950 a d d re s s, "Archeology and F a ith ,"
J . D. Thomas d isc u sse d th e fin d s o f J e ric h o , M egiddo, th e
Ras Shamra t a b l e t s , th e O racular S hrine o f C o rin th , and
th e Dead Sea S c r o lls . He concluded:
What does a l l o f th is mean? I t means th a t although
people have to ld you in days gone by th a t you could
n o t b e lie v e th e B ib le , and th a t you could n o t
b e lie v e th e Lord Jesus C h r is t, because much o f what
is in th e B ib le is n o t th e tr u t h , archeology is now
ab le to t e l l you th a t th e se people a re j u s t making
pure s u b je c tiv e judgm ents, w ith o u t c e r ta in ty o f
what they a re sa y in g . 1 2 0
In re c e n t y e a r s , how ever, a few L ectu resh ip
speakers have q u estio n ed th e wisdom o f attem p tin g "o v erly
o p tim is tic " harmonies between th e B ib le and s c i e n t i f i c
fin d in g s . In 1960, V ir g il R. T rout d escrib ed th e p o s tu la
tio n o f Dr. C arl F. H. Henry:
I t is v ain to c o n s tru c t s o -c a lle d harm onies o f
sc ie n c e and th e B ib le . Although th is has been
p o p u la r, th e r e s u lt s a re g e n e ra lly s u p e r f ic ia l
and u ltim a te ly c o n tra d ic to ry .1 2 1
119
Nichol, op. cit., p. 57.
^^Lectures, 1950, p. 22.
121
Trout, op. cit. . p. 137.
215
T r o u t s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e C h r i s t i a n s h o u l d t r a n s c e n d
t h e c o n f l i c t b y d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f s u p e r
n a t u r a l i s m . He a p p a r e n t l y a p p r o v e d a m o d e r a te fo rm o f
h a r m o n y , h o w e v e r :
I t i s n o t a n e x a g g e r a t i o n t o s a y t h a t t h e s c i e n
t i f i c o r e x p e r i m e n t a l m e th o d i s i n s y m p a th y w i t h
t h e C h r i s t i a n s o l u t i o n . W h ile I w is h t o a v o i d
w i t h e x tr e m e c a r e t h e m a k in g o f s e n t i m e n t a l o r
o v e r l y o p t i m i s t i c a s s e r t i o n s a b o u t s o - c a l l e d
" h a r m o n ie s o f s c i e n c e a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y , " i t i s
w o r t h w h i l e t o n o t e t h a t o u r s c i e n c e a s s u m e s t h a t
t h e u n i v e r s e i s b o t h r e g u l a r a n d c o n t i n g e n t - -
t h a t i s , e v e n t s a r e s u b j e c t t o u n f o r e s e e n o r
u n k n o w n c o n d i t i o n s . W h i le , o f c o u r s e , t h i s i s
i n n o w ay p r o o f o f p r a y e r o r m i r a c l e s , i t d o e s
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e u n i v e r s e i s n o t t h e " c l o s e d
b o o k " a s b e l i e v e d b y n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y
p h y s i c i s t s . 1 2 2
T h e w o rd s o f l e c t u r e r J . P . S a n d e r s i n 1958
a p p r o p r i a t e l y d e s c r i b e d t h e a t t i t u d e s o f m any o f t h e s p e a k
e r s who w e re c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e c o n f l i c t s b e tw e e n s c i e n c e
a n d t h e B i b l e .
I b e l i e v e t h a t n a t u r e i s t h e w o rk o f God a n d t h a t
t h e B i b l e i s t h e w o rd o f G o d , a n d t h a t b e tw e e n t h e
tw o t h e r e c a n b e n o d is h a r m o n y . S o m e tim e s m en i n
c o r r e c t l y r e a d t h e B i b l e , a n d s o m e tim e s s c i e n t i s t s
s e t f o r t h t h e o r i e s t h a t a r e i n c o r r e c t i n t e r p r e t a
t i o n s o f n a t u r e . B e tw e e n t h e s e tw o , o f c o u r s e ,
t h e r e i s l i k e l y t o b e a g r e a t c o n f l i c t . . . . I
b e l i e v e t h a t t h e s c i e n t i s t s , a s a r e s u l t o f t h e i r
own i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f n a t u r e , w i l l r e a c h c o n c l u
s i o n s u l t i m a t e l y t h a t a r e i n h a rm o n y w i t h t h e
l^Trout, op. cit. . p. 131.
216
te ach in g o f th e B ib le . Science is young and has
a g re a t d e a l y e t to l e a r n .123
The H igher C ritic is m
In th e eyes o f th e fu n d am e n ta lists groups , n o t
only d id th e D arw inian h y p o th e sis im p e ril th e foundations
o f f a i t h in th e God o f th e B ib le , b u t i t s com panion, th e
h ig h e r c r iti c is m , re p re s e n te d an e q u a lly trea c h ero u s th r e a t
to th e i n f a l l i b i l i t y o f th e B ib le . Stemming from th e
a p p lic a tio n o f s c i e n t i f i c methods to th e stu d y o f h is to r y ,
" th e h ig h e r c r itic is m . . . su b je c te d th e Holy W rit to
rig o ro u s h i s t o r i c a l a n a ly s is ." Im ported from German
u n iv e r s ity c e n te r s , h ig h e r - c r itic is m was th e u se o f
accep ted methods o f h i s t o r i c a l in v e s tig a tio n to answer
c e r ta in q u estio n s about th e S c rip tu re s :
W ho w rote them? Are th e documents , as we have
them , genuine com positions o f th e au th o rs who a re
supposed to have w ritte n them? Has m a te ria l been
added? Have th ey been a lte re d ? What were th e
h i s t o r i c circu m stan ces under which they have been
123
S an d ers, op. c i t . , pp. 40-41.
124
A rth u r M . S c h le s in g e r, The R ise o f th e C ity .
V ol. X o f A H isto ry o f American L ife (New York: M acmillan
Company, 1933), p . 324.
217
w r i t t e n ? Do t h e w r i t i n g s show r e f l e c t i o n s o f
t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ? 125
S c o r e s o f B i b l i c a l s c h o l a r s , t h e s o - c a l l e d h i g h e r
c r i t i c s , h a d c o n c lu d e d b y 1900 t h a t t h e B i b l e w as n o t
w r i t t e n a t o n e tim e n o r w as i t i n f a l l i b l e . T h ey i n s i s t e d
t h a t t h e S c r i p t u r e s , t h e p r o d u c t o f m any a u t h o r s , w e re
hum an d o c u m e n ts c o n t a i n i n g t h e e r r o r s o n e m ig h t e x p e c t t o
1 9 6
f i n d i n s u c h a m o n u m e n ta l l i t e r a r y p r o d u c t i o n . V olum es
s u c h a s C h a r l e s B. W a i t e 's H i s t o r y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n
R e l i g i o n t o t h e Y e a r Two H u n d re d , w h ic h a l l e g e d t h a t t h e
G o s p e ls o f M a tth e w , M a rk , L u k e , a n d J o h n h a d n o t b e e n
w r i t t e n u n t i l t h e l a s t q u a r t e r o f t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y , w e re
common t o t h e a g e . Common a l s o w e re s u c h i n d i g n a n t r e b u t
t a l s a s T he D a te o f O ur G o s p e ls , b y S am u el I v e s C u r t i s , who
s a i d o f W a ite ’ s t h e o r y : " I t i s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e f o u n d a
t i o n s o f o u r f a i t h , s o f a r a s t h e G o s p e l r e c o r d i s c o n
c e r n e d , h a v e n o t b e e n s h a k e n , e x c e p t among t h e u n in f o r m e d ,
an d i n t h e i m a g in a tio n s o f t h o s e who w is h t o b e l i e v e a
125
D o re s R o b in s o n S h a r p e , W a lte r R a u s c h e n b u s c h
(New Y o rk : M a c m illa n C om pany, 1 9 4 2 ) , p . 6 .
126
W a s h in g to n G la d d e n , R e c o l l e c t i o n s (B o s to n :
H o u g h to n M i f f l i n C om pany, 1 9 0 9 ) , p p . 2 5 9 f f .
218
i 07
l i e . " By 1924, how ever, S h a ile r Matthews could ren d er
th e fo llo w in g summary o f th e work o f th e c r i t i c s :
. . . th e re is p r a c t i c a l unanim ity in th e b e l i e f
t h a t th e P en ta te u c h and many o th e r Old T estam ent
w ritin g s a re com binations o f much o ld e r m a te r ia l;
th a t th e B ib lic a l m a te r ia l has been s u b je c te d to
su c c e s s iv e e d itin g s ; th a t many o f th e Old T e s ta
ment w ritin g s a re c e n tu rie s younger th an th e
ev en ts th ey re c o rd ; and th a t s e v e ra l o f th e New
Testam ent books d id n o t sp rin g from a p o s to lic
so u rces in th e se n se th a t th ey w ere w r itte n by
th e a p o s tle s th em selv es.
. . . At th e end o f t h i r t y y e a rs o f w idespread
c r i t i c a l and h i s t o r i c a l stu d y o f th e S c rip tu re s
i t would seem as i f m in is te r s , a t l e a s t , would
know th e s e c o n c lu sio n s . The f a c t t h a t th e ran k
and f i l e o f m in is te rs a re n o t o n ly u n acq u ain ted
w ith a s c i e n t i f i c stu d y o f th e B ib le , b u t a re
ig n o ra n t o f some o f th e more elem entary f a c ts
co n cern in g th e S c rip tu re s i s a commentary on th e
w orking o f th e dogm atic m in d .128
W ithout co n cu rrin g w ith M atthew s’ co n c lu sio n s
re g a rd in g th e h i s t o r i c a l m ethod, th e A bilene spokesmen
would c e r ta in ly have agreed t h a t fo r most o f th e L e c tu re
sh ip l i s t e n e r s , and perhaps fo r some o f th e s p e a k e rs , th e
problem o f h ig h e r c r iti c is m had n ev er r e a l ly been a prob
lem. "W hile i t is n o t easy to over-em phasize th e
im portance o f th e is s u e s r a is e d by modem s c ie n c e ," w rote
■*-^The D ate o f Our Gospels , pp. 75-76. As quoted
in McBath, op. c i t . , p. 115.
^^®Matthews, op. cit. , p. 42.
219
W illia m Adams Brow n i n 1 9 2 2 , tri t i s w e l l t o rem em b er t h a t
t h e n u m b er o f p e r s o n s d i r e c t l y a n d c o n s c i o u s l y a f f e c t e d b y
1 9Q
th em i s l e s s t h a n we a r e a p t t o s u p p o s e . . . . ” A t a n y
r a t e , w h e th e r f o r l a c k o f i n f o r m a t i o n o r i n d e f e r e n c e t o
t h e g r e a t e r n e e d s o f t h e a u d i e n c e , m any A b ile n e s p e a k e r s
e i t h e r a v o id e d t h e i s s u e a l t o g e t h e r o r b y p a s s e d i t a s d i d
M. C. K u rfe e s i n h i s 1920 l e c t u r e , ” T he S uprem e A u t h o r i t y
i n R e l i g i o n " :
I t i s n o t p a r t o f my p u r p o s e i n t h i s o p e n in g
a d d r e s s t o d i s c u s s t h e s u b j e c t o f a u t h o r i t y i n
r e l i g i o n fro m t h e s t a n d i n g p o i n t o f u n b e l i e f o r
t h e H ig h e r C r i t i c i s m o f t h e B i b l e . On a l l p r o p e r
o c c a s i o n s t h i s p h a s e o f t h e s u b j e c t i s o f t h e
p r o f o u n d e s t i n t e r e s t an d i s e m in e n tly w o rth y o f
t h e v a s t am o u n t o f c r i t i c a l a t t e n t i o n b e s to w e d
u p o n i t b y s c h o l a r s f o r t h e p a s t c e n t u r y an d a
h a l f , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e t h e d a y s o f
F e r d in a n d C h r i s t i a n B a u r an d t h e T u b in g e n s c h o o l
o f r a t i o n a l i s t i c p h i lo s o p h y . I w is h now t o
p r e s e n t t h e s u b j e c t i n i t s r e l a t i o n t o t h o s e who
a c c e p t t h e B i b l e a s t h e i n s p i r e d w o rd o f G od. .
. . B u t e v e n among t h o s e who a c c e p t t h e B i b l e a s
t h e i n s p i r e d w o rd o f G o d , i n c l u d i n g t h e c o n
s e r v a t i v e s i n t h e s c h o o l o f B i b l i c a l C r i t i c i s m ,
t h e r e i s g r e a t c o n f u s io n o v e r w h a t i s , a n d w h a t
i s n o t , o f b i n d i n g a u t h o r i t y u p o n men t o d a y . 130
T he C h u rc h i n A m e ric a (New Y o rk : T he M a c m illa n
C om pany, 1 9 2 2 ) , p p . 1 4 0 -1 4 1 .
130nT he S uprem e A u t h o r i t y i n R e l i g i o n , o r How God
S p e a k s t o M en, 1 1 L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 , p . 4 .
220
I t should a ls o be remembered th a t th e sco rch in g
winds o f h ig h e r c r i ti c i s m , perhaps blow ing a t peak v e lo c ity
around th e tu rn o f th e c e n tu ry , were b eg in n in g to su b sid e
by 1918. The li b e r a l s viewed th is s tra n g e calm as th e
n a tu ra l a fte rm a th o f a storm in which th e f ig h t fo r th e
s c i e n t i f i c tech n iq u e and i t s accompanying s p i r i t u a l freedom
had been c le a r ly won. They m ain tain ed th a t th e h i s t o r i c a l
method was f i n a l l y coming o f age a f t e r a r a th e r tu rb u le n t
ad o lescen ce. Speaking o f th e e s ta b lis h e d p o s itio n o f
h ig h e r c r it i c i s m , P ro fe s s o r E. F. S c o tt o f Union T h eo lo g i
c a l Seminary w rote in 1916: "We know a t l a s t what our
r e lig io n is based on; f a i t h has found a r e a l s t a r t i n g
131
p o in t." The c o n s e rv a tiv e s , how ever, were in c lin e d to
a s sig n to th e same le sse n in g o f th e winds a n o te o f
su rre n d e r and adm ission o f e r r o r on th e p a r t o f th e l i b
e r a l s . P ro fe s s o r John L. Campbell o f Carson and Newman
C ollege in T ennessee d e c la re d :
The tid e has tu rn e d . In th e realm o f sc h o la rs h ip
th e b a t t l e a g a in s t H igher C ritic is m has been fought
and won. The haughty b o a st o f " S c ie n tif ic Methods"
and "a ssu re d r e s u lt s " no more o ccasio n any alarm .
131
The New Testam ent Today (New York: M acmillan
Company, 1921), p. 87.
221
. . . An a b l e r s c h o l a r s h i p h a s p r i c k e d t h e
b u b b l e . 132
C a m p b e ll's com m ents w e re s i m i l a r t o t h o s e o f E . W. M c M illan
a t A b ile n e i n 1 9 4 6 :
D e s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m , w h ic h t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s ago
r o d e h ig h i t s v a u n te d p r i d e i n t h e nam e o f s c i e n c e ,
s a y in g t h a t m uch i n t h e C h r i s t i a n t e a c h i n g s i s
f a l s e a n d s e n s e l e s s , h a s becom e e m b a r ra s s e d b y i t s
own a c h ie v e m e n ts an d f o r c e d t o a d m it t h a t t h e
B i b le i s t r u e . 133
W h e th e r t h e p e a c e w as m ore d u e t o a t r u c e th a n a s e t t l e m e n t
i s p e r h a p s n o t c e r t a i n . 1 ^
I t i s p o s s i b l e t o c o n c l u d e , h o w e v e r, t h a t b y 1918
t h e o p p o s in g p o s i t i o n s h a d becom e s o f i x e d an d t h e g u l f
b e tw e e n th em s o g r e a t t h a t an y m e a n in g f u l d i a l o g u e w as
v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e . T he h i g h e r c r i t i c s o f t h e l a t e n i n e
t e e n t h c e n t u r y h a d h o p e d t o p l a c a t e t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e s w ith
a co m p ro m ise p o s i t i o n w h ic h w o u ld r e t a i n r e v e r e n c e f o r
b o t h t h e B i b le a n d t h e s c i e n t i f i c m e th o d , w h i l e r e j e c t i n g
1 3 2rphe B i b le U n d er F i r e (New Y o rk : H a rp e r and
B r o t h e r s , 1 9 2 8 ) , p . 1 0 5 .
133ti*jhe K ingdom T h a t C a n n o t Be S h a k e n , I I ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 6 , p . 1 2 4 .
^■ ^S ee W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , " S c ie n c e an d R e l i
g io n T o d a y : A T ru c e o r a S e t t l e m e n t , " i n S c ie n c e a n d t h e
I d e a o f God (C h a p e l H i l l : T he U n i v e r s i t y o f N o rth C a r o l i n a
P r e s s , 1 9 4 4 ) , p p . 3 - 2 6 .
222
b o th b lin d and u n reaso n in g l i t e r a l i s m as w e ll as i r r e l i -
135
gious and d e s tr u c tiv e c r iti c is m . But as A. C. M cG iffert,
p re s id e n t o f Union T h e o lo g ic a l Sem inary ad m itted in 1916,
t h i s hope had been d enied f r u i t i o n in th e fa c e o f ir r e c o n
c i l a b l e d if f e r e n c e s :
I t is n o t th a t sim ply our view o f th e B ib le has
changed as a r e s u l t o f i t , b u t o u r whole view o f
r e lig io u s a u th o r ity has changed. . . . B ib lic a l
c r i ti c i s m . . . has c u t d eep er in to th e t r a d i
tio n s o f th e p a s t th an any o th e r s in g le movement
and has made o u r modern th e o lo g ic a l l i b e r t y p os
s i b l e . The c o n s e rv a tiv e s who fe a re d and opposed
i t in i t s e a rly days , because th ey saw what
r e v o lu tio n i t p o rte n d e d , w ere f a r more c l e a r
s ig h te d th an most o f th e l i b e r a l s who th o u g h t i t
m eant sim ply a s l i g h t s h i f t i n g o f p o s itio n . . . .136
A lthough th e h ig h t i d e o f h ig h e r c r iti c is m had
been reach ed y e a rs e a r l i e r f o r th eo lo g y in g e n e r a l, i t s
waves were j u s t b eg in n in g to b reak on th e sh o res o f many
c o n s e rv a tiv e camps when th e A bilene p la tfo rm was being
founded. T hat th e c h ie f spokesmen fo r a movement which
had been founded upon th e in e rra n c y o f th e S c rip tu re s
135
For a lu c id d is c u s s io n o f th i s e a rly m oderate
p o s itio n o f h ig h e r c r iti c is m w hich sought m erely " to
r e f u r b is h th e B ib le ," see Lyman A b b o tt, R em iniscences
(B oston: Houghton M if f lin Company, 1915), pp. 260-262,
136'iThe P ro g ress o f T h e o lo g ic a l Thought D uring
th e P a s t F if t y Y ea rs," American Jo u rn a l o f T heology, J u ly ,
1916, pp. 326-327.
223
s h o u ld r e a c t s h a r p l y a g a i n s t s u c h c r i t i c i s m o f t h e B i b le
i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g . I n t h e 1918 a d d r e s s t h a t c h r i s t e n e d
t h e w e s t T ex a s L e c t u r e s h i p , G eo rg e A. K lin g m an g a v e t h e
o r th o d o x a n s w e r t o h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m :
We a r e n o t o b j e c t i n g t o B i b l i c a l C r i t i c i s m , lo w e r
o r h i g h e r . We r e j o i c e t h a t . . . th r o u g h t h e
m edium o f h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m we h a v e come i n t o p o s
s e s s i o n o f v e r y v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g
t h e d a t e , a u t h o r s h i p , i n s p i r a t i o n , g e n u i n e n e s s ,
r e l i a b i l i t y an d c a n o n i c i t y o f t h e s e v e r a l b o o k s
o f t h e B i b l e , a n d h a v e b e e n t a u g h t t o a p p r e c i a t e
t h e i r l i t e r a r y b e a u ty an d v a l u e . We h a v e no
f i g h t t o m ake a g a i n s t c r i t i c i s m p r o p e r l y an d
l e g i t i m a t e l y c o n d u c te d ; n a y , we w elcom e e v e r y
t e s t t o w h ic h t h e B i b l e may b e s u b j e c t e d f o r we
know i t w i l l come o u t o f t h e c r u c i b l e s w e e t e r ,
r i c h e r , p u r e r , an d m o re r a d i a n t w i t h t h e p r o m is e s
o f God an d h i s e t e r n a l t r u t h . O ur f i g h t i s
a g a i n s t t h e d e s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m o f t h e r a t i o n
a l i s t i c s c h o o l . 137
As w itn e s s e d b y K lin g m a n 's p a r a g r a p h , i n t h e
A b ile n e s p e e c h e s t h a t t r e a t e d h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m tw o d o m in a n t
th e m es w e re r e p e a t e d l y d i s c u s s e d . F i r s t t h e r e w as a w i l l
in g n e s s t o a c c e p t t h e c o n c e p t o f c r i t i c i s m - - a c o n f id e n c e
t h a t t h e B i b le w o u ld b e u n i n j u r e d b y t h e c l o s e s c r u t i n y o f
h i s t o r i c a l a n a l y s i s . C o n c u r r e n t w it h t h i s r e s p e c t f o r t h e
te c h n iq u e o f c r i t i c i s m , t h e r e w as a f i r m r e j e c t i o n o f many
c o n c lu s io n s w h ic h t h e " r a t i o n a l i s t i c s c h o o l" o f h i g h e r
137
Klingman, op. cit. , p. 245.
224
c r i t i c s u ltim a te ly reach ed . B ecause, to th e A bilene
l e c t u r e r s , h ig h e r c r iti c is m was championed by th e advocates
o f r e lig io u s modernism, i t w ill be n ecessary to n o tic e th e
l e c t u r e r s ' a t titu d e s toward th e e s s e n tia l fe a tu re s o f th is
movement.
Jack P . L ew is1 1954 l e c t u r e , "Overcoming Modern
ism ," was perhaps th e p la tfo rm 's most thorough stu d y o f
th e problem s posed by h ig h e r c r itic is m . Lewis s a id o f th e
m odernist movement: " I t is an a t t i t u d e , n o t a fix e d
b e l i e f . As d efin ed by i t s ex p o n en ts, i t is an e f f o r t to
b rin g r e lig io u s knowledge in to conform ity w ith c u rre n t
138
s c i e n t i f i c know ledge." Four y ears e a r l i e r , J . D. Thomas
had d e scrib ed th e movement as " th e g r e a te s t ch a lle n g e th a t
139
has ev e r come to th e f a i t h o f C h r is tia n s ."
W . B. B arto n , who along w ith Lewis d isc u sse d
modernism in thorough d e t a i l , d iv id ed th e movement in to
th re e groups: c l a s s i c a l modernism, s c ie n tis m , and new-
modemism. He n ex t su ggested fo u r forms o f sc ie n tism :
lo g ic a l p o s itiv is m , championed by B ertran d R u sse ll;
n a tu ra lis m , headed by John Dewey; m a te ria lis m , le d by
^^Lectures, 1954, p. 84.
1 '5 Q
^^Thomas , op. cit. , p. 19.
225
R. W. S e l l a r s ; a n d p s y c h o lo g is m . O f p s y c h o lo g is m , h i s
1950 a d d r e s s d e c l a r e d :
The a p p l i c a t i o n o f p s y c h o lo g y t o r e l i g i o n h a s i t s
p r o p e r d o m a in , b u t w hen i t assu m es t h e p l a c e o f
r e l i g i o n i t s e l f , t h i s may b e r i g h t l y c a l l e d " p s y
c h o lo g is m .” . . . i t h a s becom e a f a i t h an d F re u d
i s i t s God. I t h a s b ey o n d a n y d o u b t c o n t r i b u t e d
m uch t o o u r k n o w led g e o f m an , m a in ly th r o u g h t h e
d i s c o v e r i e s o f F re u d . . . . A c c o rd in g t o F r e u d ,
h o w e v e r, e v e ry o n e who t a k e s r e l i g i o n s e r i o u s l y i s
f o llo w in g a n " i l l u s i o n . "14-0
L ew is s u g g e s te d t h a t t h e m o d e r n is t m ovem ent r e s t s
on tw o b a s i c p i l l a r s : t h e c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s o f t h e B i b l e ,
an d a n a t te m p t to i n t e g r a t e l i f e a ro u n d som e f o c a l p o i n t
o t h e r th a n t h e B i b l e . The s p e a k e r e m p h a siz e d t h a t th e
f i r s t p i l l a r , h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m , h a d m ade s e v e r a l im p o r ta n t
c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o B i b l i c a l s tu d y : t h e c o r r e c t i n g o f e r r o n e
o u s i d e a s w h ic h h a v e a c c u m u la te d th r o u g h t h e y e a r s ,
e n c o u ra g in g t h e h i s t o r i c a l a p p r o a c h , an d p r o v i d i n g v a l u a b l e
t o o l s f o r B i b le s t u d y . He c o m p lim e n te d t h e m o d e r n i s t i c
m o v em en t:
T he q u e s t i o n s th e y b e g i n t o a s k a r e l e g i t i m a t e
q u e s t i o n s : When w as t h i s b o o k w r i t t e n ? Who i s
i t s a u t h o r ? W hat w as h i s p u r p o s e i n w r i t i n g ?
W hat s t y l e d id h e u s e ? W hat s o u r c e s o f in f o r m a
t i o n d i d h e h a v e ? D id h e u s e o r a l o r w r i t t e n
s o u r c e s ? D id h e m ake a n y m is ta k e s ? W hat i s
t h e r e l a t i o n o f t h i s s y s te m t o o t h e r r e l i g i o u s
■^^"The Gods of Modernism," Lectures , 1958, p. 56.
226
c u rre n ts o f th e tim e? These q u e stio n s can be
answered by what can be found in th e book and
what can be le a rn e d from o th e r so u rces o f th e
p e rio d from whence i t came. 14-1
Lewis then s y s te m a tic a lly a tta c k e d th e h ig h e r
c r iti c is m on fo u r f r o n ts : th e ev o lu tio n a ry h y p o th e s is ,
th e d e n ia l o f th e s u p e rn a tu ra l, a la c k o f p ro o f concerning
a lle g e d d isc re p a n c ie s o f th e B ib le , and a la c k o f o b je c
t i v i t y . These fo u r p o in ts w il l se rv e as a b a s ic s tr u c tu r e
upon which to examine th e p la tfo rm 's tre a tm e n t o f h ig h e r
c r itic is m and th e m o d ern ist movement.
In 1918, Klingman had observed: "A pplying th e
p r in c ip le s o f d e s tr u c tiv e c r iti c is m to th e c r e a tio n o f
man, we must s t r i k e o u t th e S c r ip tu r a l account as given in
G en esis, and acce p t th e D arw inian Theory o f E vo lu tio n !
Almost fo u r decades l a t e r , Lewis responded: " I t is adm it
te d by a l l th a t th e c r i t i c a l movement has proceeded on th e
assum ptions o f th e e v o lu tio n a ry h y p o th e sis. . . . Is i t
n ec essary to rem ind o u rse lv e s th a t e v o lu tio n , a f t e r a l l
th e se y e a r s , is s t i l l only a h y p o th e s is ? " ^ ^
^ "L e w is , op. c i t . , p. 85.
1 / 0
Klingman, op. c i t . , p . 247.
"^ L ew is , op. c i t . , pp. 1 0 0 - 1 0 1 .
227
L e w is s e c o n d l y e x p l a i n e d t h a t t o t h e h i g h e r c r i t i c ,
t h e m i r a c l e h a d a lw a y s b e e n o n e o f t h e c h i e f o b j e c t i o n a b l e
f e a t u r e s o f t h e B i b l e . I n 1 9 1 8 , K lin g m a n h a d c h a r g e d :
" N o t o n ly d o e s t h i s d o c t r i n e o f d e s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m b e a r
t h e b r a n d 'm a d e i n G e rm a n y ,' b u t i t s v e r y f o u n d a t i o n r e s t s
u p o n t h e d e n i a l o f t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l o r im m e d ia te r e v e l a t i o n
fro m G o d ."-* -^ "A m o d e r n i s t c o n t i n u e d F r a n k P a c k i n 1 9 5 0 ,
" c a n 't a c c e p t a m i r a c l e a s s u c h . He i s a m an t h a t c a n ’ t
b e l i e v e i n a n y s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r t h a t h a s h a d a n y i n f l u
e n c e u p o n t h e c o u r s e o f m a n 's d e v e lo p m e n t r e l i g i o u s l y o r
i n t h e g i v i n g o f t h e B i b l e t o h i m . " '^ '’ I n h i s 1954
l e c t u r e , L e w is e x te n d e d t h e p o i n t :
M i r a c l e d o e s n o t f a l l i n t h e r e a l m w i t h w h ic h
s c i e n c e i s p r e p a r e d t o d e a l . A l l h i s t o r y c a n
do i s r e p o r t t h a t p e o p l e b e l i e v e d i n a m i r a c l e
a t s u c h a n d s u c h a t i m e . I t c a n n e i t h e r p r o v e
i t h a p p e n e d n o r d i s p r o v e i t . H e re t h e n we
com e a g a i n t o a p h i l o s o p h i c a l p r e s u p p o s i t i o n . 3-46
L e w is ' t h i r d p o i n t , a n d a m a jo r o n e f o r m any
s p e a k e r s , w as a n o b j e c t i o n t o h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m b e c a u s e i t
h a d a s su m e d t h e B i b l e t o b e " s o f u l l o f e r r o r s an d
144
K lin g m a n , o p . c i t . , p. 2 4 6 .
1 4 “ *"The C h u rc h a n d t h e T im es L e c t u r e s , 1950 .
p. 85.
^^Lewis, op. cit. , p. 102.
228
in c o n s is te n c ie s th a t no inform ed man could th in k o f
fo llo w in g i t . " ^ 1 ^ The p o s s i b i l i t y o f B ib lic a l d iscrep an c y
was a thought which th e v a s t m a jo rity o f L e c tu re sh ip
sp eak ers d id n o t e n te r ta in . In th e e a rly program s, th e
B ib le was unanim ously accep ted as b ein g fre e from any
manner o f in c o n s is te n c y . As l a t e as 1955 , George W . DeHoff
a s s e rte d :
Every word o f th e B ib le is in s p ire d . I f God had
wanted an o th e r " i" d o tte d o r a n o th er " t " c ro s s e d ,
he would have had i t done. When one th in k s he
has found a c o n tra d ic tio n in th e B ib le , he has
o n ly reached th e lim it o f h is own knowledge. I t
is a m ighty s o rry excuse fo r a man to make h is
own ig n o ran ce an excuse fo r c r i t i c i z i n g th e God
o f th e U n iv e rse I1^8
A y ea r e a r l i e r , how ever, Lewis had tr e a te d more
r e a l i s t i c a l l y th e problem o f a lle g e d d is c re p a n c ie s .
A dm itting th a t in th e s e v e ra l thousand New Testam ent
m an u scrip ts th e re a re 200,000 v a r ia n t re a d in g s , Lewis
em phasized th a t only two hundred o f them a f f e c t th e p a s
sa g e , w ith only f i f t e e n o f m ajor im portance. "They n e ith e r
add to nor d i s t r a c t from a s in g le duty o f m a n ." ^ ^
^ ^ L e w is , op. c i t . , p. 103.
^^D eH off, op. c i t . , p. 12.
149
Lewis, op. c i t . , p. 104.
229
N e il R. L i g h t f o o t a g r e e d w i t h L e w is ' e m p h a s is i n
h i s 1960 s p e e c h , " O r i g i n an d P r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e . "
He e x p l a i n e d t h a t a s t h e B i b l e w as c o p ie d a g a i n an d a g a i n ,
i t "w as i n e v i t a b l e t h a t t r a n s m i s s i o n m is ta k e s w o u ld
a p p e a r " :
T he hum an h a n d i s n e v e r s o f i r m o r t h e e y e s o k e e n
a s t o p r e c l u d e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f e r r o r . So e r r o r s
c r e p t i n . E r r o r s w e re c o p ie d a n d b ecam e a p a r t o f
t h e t e x t . And l e t u s rem em b er t h a t i t i s j u s t a s
p o s s i b l e t o m ake a n u n i n t e n t i o n a l e r r o r i n a
B i b l i c a l m a n u s c r ip t a s i t i s i n d e a l i n g w i t h a co p y
o f P l a t o 's R e p u b l i c . To s u p p o s e o t h e r w i s e i s t o
l e a d t o t h e a s s u m p tio n t h a t t h e H o ly S p i r i t o v e r
p o w e re d t h e a b i l i t i e s a n d i n a b i l i t i e s o f t e n s o f
th o u s a n d s o f s c r i b e s f o r a p e r i o d o f 1500 y e a r s - -
a n a s s u m p tio n t h a t i s n o t o n ly u n w a r r a n te d b u t
a l s o u n t r u e . 150
L i g h t f o o t q u o te d t h e G re e k a u t h o r i t a t i v e s , W e s tc o tt
an d H o r t , i n a f f i r m i n g t h e r e l i a b l e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e New
T e s ta m e n t t e x t :
T he p r o p o r t i o n o f w o rd s v i r t u a l l y a c c e p t e d o n a l l
h a n d s a s r a i s e d a b o v e d o u b t i s v e r y g r e a t , n o t
l e s s , on a ro u g h c o m p u ta t io n , t h e n s e v e n - e i g h t h s
o f t h e w h o le . . . . T he am o u n t o f w h a t c a n i n an y
s e n s e b e c a l l e d s u b s t a n t i a l v a r i a t i o n i s b u t a
s m a l l f r a c t i o n o f t h e w h o le r e s i d u a r y v a r i a t i o n ,
an d c a n h a r d l y fo rm m o re t h a n a t h o u s a n d th p a r t
o f t h e e n t i r e t e x t . S in c e t h e r e i s r e a s o n t o
s u s p e c t t h a t a n e x a g g e r a te d im p r e s s io n p r e v a i l s
a s t o t h e e x t e n t o f p o s s i b l e t e x t u a l c o r r u p t i o n
i n t h e New T e s ta m e n t . . . we d e s i r e t o m ake i t
1 50
Lectures, 1960, p. 51.
230
c l e a r ly u n d ersto o d b efo reh an d how much o f th e New
T estam ent sta n d s in no need o f a te x tu a l c r i t i c 's
la b o rs . 151
David H. Bobo, who a ls o le c tu r e d in 1960, w ent much
beyond Lewis and L ig h tfo o t in su g g e stin g t h a t " th e many
d is c re p a n c ie s o f th e B i b l e f a l l in to th r e e c a t e g o r i e s ,
v e r b a l, h i s t o r i c a l , and id e o lo g ic a l. He s tr e s s e d t h a t
th e r e a re d is c re p a n c ie s in a l l o f n a tu re and th a t th e B ib le
is n o t proved in v a lid sim ply b ecau se i t c o n ta in s th o se
"norm al d is c re p a n c ie s w hich c h a r a c te r iz e a l l o th e r m a n ife s-
152
ta tio n s o f G od-given l i f e . " A p p aren tly r e f e r r i n g to
some o f h is b r e th r e n , Bobo s a id :
In t h e i r e f f o r t s to deny a l l d is c re p a n c ie s th ey
have r e s o r te d to u n s c h o la r ly , r id ic u lo u s , and some
tim es d is h o n e s t m eans. R eg ard less o f how good and
p io u s t h e i r in te n tio n s may have b e e n , t h e i r methods
have o f te n been below th e le v e l o f r e s p e c t a b i l i t y .
T his lik e w is e has co n tin u ed down to th e p re s e n t
151
L e c tu re s , 1960, p . 60. A lso The H ouston P o s t ,
F eb ru ary 2 2 , 1960. S e v e ra l Texas new spapers c a r r ie d th e
fo llo w in g s to r y th e m orning a f t e r L ig h tf o o t's le c tu r e :
"A B ib le s c h o la r s a id Sunday n ig h t t h a t p eo p le w orry
u n n e c e s s a rily ab o u t th e accu racy o f th e B ib le . He s a id
f a i r l y r e c e n t d is c o v e r ie s show th e B ib le as now p r in te d
s u b s t a n t i a ll y conform s to th e words re co rd ed alm ost 2,000
years ago. 'And even when a substantial variation may
e x i s t , n o t one fundam ental C h r is tia n d o c trin e o r command o f
th e Lord i s a t s t a k e , ' s a id D r. N e il R. L ig h tf o o t, A s s is t
a n t P ro fe s s o r o f B ib le a t A b ilen e C h r is tia n C o lle g e ."
1 52
Bobo, op. cit. , p. 70.
231
tim e . . . . S uch b e h a v io r i s s u b - C h r i s t i a n an d w i l l
n e v e r w in t h e r e s p e c t and c o n f id e n c e o f i n t e l l i g e n t
p e o p le . I n f a c t , i t w i l l do m ore t o t u r n them fro m
f a i t h ; f o r i f f a i t h m u st s t a n d u p o n s u c h s o p h i s t r y ,
th e y w an t n o th in g t o do w ith i t . I t w eakens f a i t h
f a r m ore th a n i t s t r e n g t h e n s i t , and f a r m ore th a n
any o f t h e a l l e g e d d i s c r e p a n c i e s a lo n e c o u ld . I t
i s i t s e l f a d is c r e p a n c y o f f a i t h . 153
A d m ittin g t h a t som e o f t h e d i s c r e p a n c i e s c o u ld n o t
b e " r e c o n c i l e d o r e l i m i n a t e d ," Bobo a rg u e d t h a t th e y do
n o t w eaken th e v a l i d i t y o f t h e B i b l e . F o c u s in g s p e c i f i
c a l l y u p o n an a p p a r e n t d is c r e p a n c y i n D a v id ’ s a s s o c i a t i o n
w ith S a u l a s r e c o r d e d i n I Sam uel 16 an d 1 7 , Bobo s t a t e d :
T h is i s o n e o f t h e d i s c r e p a n c i e s f o r w h ic h no
s a t i s f a c t o r y a n sw e r h a s y e t b e e n fo u n d . . . .
W hat h a s t h a t to do w ith t h e r e a l v a lu e and
s p i r i t u a l r e le v a n c e o f t h e B ib le ? I t i s n o t
t h e m in u te h i s t o r i c a l e x a c tn e s s t h a t m akes i t
t h e w o n d e rfu l l i f e - g i v i n g b o o k t h a t i t i s ,
b u t i t s s p i r i t u a l q u a l i t y and p o w e r . 154
B o b o 's la n g u a g e h a d a d i f f e r e n t r i n g fro m t h a t o f K lin g -
m a n 's L e c t u r e s h i p o p e n e r:
B u t t h e r e i s a n o t h e r c l a s s to w h ic h we now i n v i t e
y o u r a t t e n t i o n . T hey a r e c a l l e d t h e " M o d e ra te
H ig h e r C r i t i c s . " T h e se a r e men who do n o t d en y
t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l b u t h a v e c o n s c i o u s l y o r u n c o n
s c i o u s l y a d o p te d som e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f th e
d e s t r u c t i v e s c h o o l and a r e on t h a t a c c o u n t th e
m ore d a n g e ro u s . T hey f o llo w w h at i s known a s
" t h e H i s t o r i c M ethod" and t r y t o h a rm o n iz e i t
153
B obo, o p . c i t . , p p . 6 6 -6 7 .
1 5 4 I b i d . , p . 8 1 .
232
w ith th e B ib le . They a re c a rry in g on a subm arine
w a rfa re : we do n o t always know where th ey a r e . .
155
• •
A fo u rth o b je c tio n w hich Jack P. Lewis le v e le d
a g a in s t th e h ig h e r c r i t i c s was t h e i r la c k o f c r i t i c a l
o b je c tiv ity .
A c tu a lly no sm a ll p a r t o f th e o b je c tio n to c r i t i c a l
co n c lu sio n s about th e B ib le is t h e i r s u b je c tiv e
n a tu re . A fte r a l l th e cry o f " l e t 's look a t th e
B ib le o b je c tiv e ly ," I b e lie v e one can be p re ju d ic e d
" a g a in s t" as e a s ily as " f o r ." Where one comes o u t
depends to a degree on what p re s u p p o s itio n s he has
when he s t a r t s . . . .
Many tim es when one looks o ver th e method by which
c r i t i c a l stu d y p ro c e e d s , i t seems th a t i t only
ta k e [s i c ] two "p ro b ab ly s" to make a " c e r t a i n l y ."
Three " c e r ta in ly s " make an "u n d o u b te d ly ." Two
"u n d o u b ted ly s" make " a l l s c h o la rs a g re e ." And
th e n you have " I t i s no lo n g e r q u e s tio n e d ." And
y e t th e whole s tr u c t u r e may be one unproved
h y p o th e sis lean ed a g a in s t a n o th er u n t i l people
fo rg e t th ey a re u n p r o v e d . 156
E a r lie r sp eak ers had a ls o q u estio n ed th e o b je c
t i v i t y and v a l i d i t y o f th e h ig h e r c r iti c is m . W . M . Davis
charged in 1925:
H igher c r itic is m has jo in e d hands w ith s p e c u la tiv e
s c ie n c e and f a ls e p h ilo so p h y in an e f f o r t a g a in s t
th e B ib le . The c h ie f o b je c tio n to h ig h e r c r iti c is m
i s i t s u n reaso n ab le h y p o th e s is . I t p u ts f o r th
u n s u b s ta n tia te d claim s w ith re fe re n c e to some
■^Klingman, op. cit. , pp. 250-251.
1 S6
Lewis, op. cit. , pp. 104, 106.
233
p o r t i o n s o f t h e B i b l e . . . . X f t h e m e th o d s o f
h i g h e r c r i t i c i s m w e re e m p lo y e d a g a i n s t l i t e r a t u r e
g e n e r a l l y , t h e r e w o u ld b e l i t t l e o r no l i t e r a t u r e
l e f t . A t e s t w as m ade o n B u r n s ’ poem e n t i t l e d
"T o a M o u n ta in D a i s y ." T h e r e w as n o t h i n g l e f t o f
a g e n u in e c h a r a c t e r a f t e r t h e t e s t w as m a d e . T he
v o c a b u l a r y o f t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e poem c o u l d n o t
b e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h B u r n s . T he l i t e r a r y s t y l e o f
t h e l a s t p a r t w as t h a t o f a n o t h e r m an. B u t B u rn s
w as t h e a u t h o r o f t h e poem . 157
I n h i s 1936 a d d r e s s , " T h e B i b l e D u rin g t h e D a rk
A g e s ," R o b e r t C. J o n e s a l s o a t t a c k e d t h e s u b j e c t i v e p r e
s u p p o s i t i o n s o f t h e h i g h e r c r i t i c s . A f t e r d i s c u s s i n g t h e
r e l e v a n c e o f t h e C odex S i n a i t i c u s , C odex A le x a n d r i a n u s ,
C odex V a t i c a n u s , an d C odex E p h ra e m i m a n u s c r i p t s , h e
s u g g e s t e d :
When we c o n s i d e r t h e a n c i e n t m a n u s c r i p t s , t h e
e a r l y t r a n s l a t i o n s , a n d t h e w r i t i n g s o f t h e e a r l y
f a t h e r s , we a r e a s s u r e d t h a t we h a v e i n o u r p r e s
e n t B i b l e , w i t h o u t a d d i t i o n o r s u b t r a c t i o n , t h e
t r u t h t h a t H o ly m en s p a k e a s t h e y w e re m oved b y
t h e H o ly S p i r i t , a n d we a l m o s t b l u s h f o r t h e
a r r o g a n c e , i g n o r a n c e , a n d s t u p i d i t y o f t h o s e who
h a v e s t i g m a t i z e d t h e s e s a c r e d b o o k s a s f i c t i o n s
o r f o r g e r i e s . L e t th e m f i r s t p r o v e t h a t a l l
h i s t o r y a n d a l l n a t i o n s a r e a n i l l u s i v e c h e a t ;
t h a t Hom er n e v e r s u n g i n G r e e c e ; t h a t C a e s a r
D a v i s , o p . c i t . , p p . 7 8 - 7 9 . A t t h e tim e D a v is
m e n tio n e d B u r n s 1 " M o u n ta in D a is y " i t w as common f o r t h e
c o n s e r v a t i v e s t o d a r e t h e l i b e r a l s t o p r a c t i c e t h e h i s t o r i
c a l m e th o d o n S h a k e s p e a r e , C o l e r i d g e , o r t h e A n g lic a n
P r a y e r B o o k . F r a n k l i n J o h n s o n , T he F u n d a m e n ta ls ( C h ic a g o :
T e s tim o n y P u b l i s h i n g C om pany, 1 9 1 0 ) , V o l. I I , C h a p . I I I .
A ls o s e e C a m p b e ll, "T h e M yth o f T h e o d o re R o o s e v e l t , "
p p . 9 9 -1 1 4 .
234
never reigned in Rome; and th a t Cromwell never
re b e lle d in. England. U n til th e n , l e t them not
th in k of denying the genuiness and the c r e d i
b i l i t y o f the Bible. ^58
" Is the m odernistic system r e a l ly s c ie n tif ic ? "
asked Jack Lewis. Examining the b a sic p i l l a r o f modernism,
the e f f o r t to in te g ra te l i f e around some p o in t o th e r than
the B ib le , Lewis answered h is own questio n :
W e w ill not be led a s tra y by a l l th is ta lk of
" r e lig io u s co n scio u sn ess." The old i n f a l l i b i l i t y
o f th e Roman church has j u s t changed clo th e s to
become th e i n f a l l i b i l i t y of a l l r e lig io u s men. .
Or to put i t in o th e r term s, the age old Vox p o p u li,
vox d e i r a is e s i t s head ag ain —th is tim e, th e voice
of re lig io u s men is the voice o f God. Though i t
has on grandm other's cap and is in grandm other's
bed, the big ey e s, the sharp te e th , and the long
ears are the same. D espite the numbers, th e edu
c a tio n , and the s in c e r ity o f those who advocate i t ,
L i t t l e Red Riding Hood need not be deceived. I t
is th e w o lf!159
By the la te 1950's some L ectureship speakers were
expressing concern th a t the w o lf, in sh e ep 's c lo th in g , had
even entered the flo ck . In 1956, L e s lie D iestelkam p's
le c tu r e , "The E ffe c ts of Modernism," warned th a t th e f r u i t s
of higher c r itic is m were being n u rtu red in some q u a rte rs
■ I £L r\
of th e brotherhood. "This s p i r i t has pervaded the
^^Lectures, 1936, p. 33.
^--^Lewis , op. cit. , p. 99.
^^Lectures, 1956, p. 369.
235
C h u r c h a d d e d J a c k L e w is , " . . . p e rh a p s f a r m ore th a n
161
any o f us r e a l i z e . " He th e n l i s t e d s i x " d a n g e r s i g n s "
w h ic h u s u a l l y c h a r a c t e r i z e th e d e p a r t u r e o f p r e a c h e r s from
t h e b r o th e r h o o d i n t o th e arms o f m od ern ism .
I f th e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s who d i s c u s s e d th e h i g h e r
c r i t i c i s m w ere o p p o se d to t h e e x tre m e s o f r a t i o n a l i s m , th e y
w e re a l s o unanim ous i n t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n t h a t j u d i c i o u s
s c i e n t i f i c c r i t i c i s m o f th e B i b le c o n s t i t u t e d no t h r e a t to
th e f o u n d a tio n s o f r e l i g i o n . I n 1 9 6 0 , Jo h n T. S m ith so n
d i s c u s s e d " A u th o r ity i n C h r i s t i a n i t y " :
B e fo re we w i l l be j u s t i f i e d i n p l a c i n g i m p l i c i t
r e l i a n c e i n th e New T e s ta m e n t, a s t h e b o o k o f f a c t s
and d o c t r i n e s o f th e G o s p e l, two im p o r ta n t q u e s t i o n s
m u st b e d e te r m in e d . F i r s t : I s t h e r e s a t i s f a c t o r y
e v id e n c e t h a t t h e w r i t i n g s w e re w r i t t e n b y men to
whom th e y a r e a s c r i b e d ? T h is in v o lv e s t h e a u t h e n
t i c i t y o f t h e New T e s ta m e n t. S e c o n d ly : I s t h e New
T e s ta m e n t d e s e r v in g o f i m p l i c i t r e l i a n c e a s to
m a t t e r s o f h i s t o r i c a l d e t a i l so t h a t we may r e c e i v e
any n a r r a t i v e a s u n q u e s tio n a b l y t r u e , b e c a u s e c o n
t a i n e d t h e r e i n ? T h is r e f e r s to t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f
th e New T e s ta m e n t.162
"The H i s t o r y o f th e E n g l i s h B i b l e , " was t h e t o p i c
o f C e c i l H i l l ' s 1936 l e c t u r e w h ic h t r a c e d th e p r o g r e s s o f
th e E n g lis h B ib le th r o u g h i t s v a r i o u s t r a n s l a t i o n s . In th e
same y e a r , C h a rle s H. R o b e rso n d i s c u s s e d "T he C a n o n ic ity
■^■^Lewis, o p . c i t . , p . 107.
^•^ L e c t u r e s , 1 9 6 0 , p . 34.
236
o f the S c rip tu re s" :
The problem o f how we came to have s ix t y - s i x books
known as th e S c rip tu re s i s la rg e ly an h i s t o r i c a l
in v e s tig a tio n . The q u estio n is n o t who w rote the
books , b u t who made them in to a c o lle c tio n ; not of
t h e i r o rig in or t h e i r c o n te n t, but t h e i r h i s t o r y . 163
The concluding remarks o f Lewis1 address are
a p p ro p ria te :
In th is c o n f lic t the churches o f C h rist must bear
th e b ru n t of th e a tta c k . Although th e C atholic
church has expressed i t s e l f in o p p o sitio n to modern
th e o r ie s , and in th e decree "Lam entabili" (1907)
s p e c ifie d a number o f o b je ctio n s to modern tre n d s ,
i t s own p o s itio n is too v u ln e ra b le fo r i t to be o f
value in th is s tru g g le . I t is e x h ib it "A" o f the
s o r t o f development of which th e c r i t i c sp e ak s.
The old lin e denominations are sh o t through w ith
th e se th e o rie s . . . . The H oliness groups who claim
to b e lie v e the B ible a re r e a l ly based on emotion
and not on i n t e l l e c t u a l co n v ictio n . The New T e sta
ment church alone o ffe rs and is prepared to defend
a f a i t h "once d e liv e re d ."
I am n o t impressed by th e in s in u a tio n s , s u b tle or
open, of the o p p o sitio n and also sometimes heard
from b re th re n newly drunk on le a rn in g th a t B ible
b e lie v e rs are a f r a id o f in v e s tig a tio n . I b e lie v e
j u s t th e c o n tra ry to be tru e in most ca ses. Give
us th e f a c ts . In v e s tig a tio n is the only la s tin g
s o lu tio n to any p r o b l e m .f 64
"^Lectures, 1936, p. 67.
l64Lewis , op. cit. , p. 112.
237
S tu d y in g t h e B i b l e
A p o p u l a r t o p i c f o r L e c t u r e s h i p d i s c u s s i o n c o n
c e r n e d t h e n e e d and m eth o d s f o r B i b le s t u d y . A d d re s s e s i n
t h i s c a t e g o r y r a n g e d fro m h e l p f u l h i n t s c o n c e r n in g e x e g e
s i s , to s u g g e s t i o n s f o r s u c c e s s i n t h e p u b l i c r e a d i n g o f
t h e B i b l e . G. D a l l a s S m ith , t h e p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r i n
1 9 1 9 , la u n c h e d t h i s them e w i t h a s e r i e s o f f i v e a d d r e s s e s :
V
"Why S tu d y t h e B i b l e , " " D i v i s i o n s o f t h e B i b l e , " "How t o
S tu d y t h e B i b l e ," " M y s t e r ie s o f t h e B i b l e , " an d "Who W ro te
t h e B i b l e . " I n o ne o f h i s m e ssa g e s h e s t a t e d th e p ro b le m :
I c o n f i d e n t l y b e l i e v e t h a t much o f t h e l i t t l e tim e
t h a t i s g iv e n t o B i b l e s t u d y i s w a s te d f o r t h e
l a c k o f a s y s t e m a t i c p l a n o f s t u d y . . . . P e r h a p s
t h e m o st common way o f r e a d i n g t h e B i b l e among t h e
m a sse s i s t o a llo w i t t o f a l l o p en a t random and
r e a d w i t h o u t a n y t h in g d e f i n i t e i n v ie w . . . .
O th e r s t h i n k t h e o n ly way t o r e a d t h e B i b l e p r o f
i t a b l y , i s t o r e a d fro m b o o k t o b o o k , fro m " l i d t o
l i d " i n o r d e r . . . . Many o t h e r s a r e c o n t e n t e d t o
f o llo w y e a r a f t e r y e a r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S unday
S c h o o l L e s s o n s , l i m i t i n g t h e i r B i b l e s t u d y a lm o s t
a l t o g e t h e r t o t h i s . The I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e s s o n p l a n ,
t o my m in d , i s f a r fro m b e i n g p e r f e c t ; i n f a c t , i t
i s d i s t r e s s i n g l y d e f e c t i v e . I s e r i o u s l y d o u b t i f
one w o u ld e v e r b e a b l e t o g e t a c l e a r an d g e n e r a l
g r a s p o f t h e B i b l e a s a w h o le by f o l l o w i n g t h e
I n t e r n a t i o n a l S unday S c h o o l Lesson.166
■^^Don H. M o r r i s , "How t o R ead and S tu d y t h e
B i b l e , " L e c t u r e s , 1936.
166tiHOW to Study the Bible," Lectures, 1919,
pp. 116-117.
238
Smith proffered a number of ru les for Bible study:
n otice to whom the passage a p p lie s , study each passage in
i t s proper s e ttin g , study every passage in the Bible th a t
re la te s to a given su b je c t, approach the study w ith an
honest and open h e a rt. In 1936, Melvin J. Wise recom
mended th a t the Bible reader ask the following questions:
W ho speaks? To whom spoken? What spoken: n a rra tiv e ,
prophesy, or command? How spoken: fig u ra tiv e ly , i l l u s t r a
tiv e ly , or lit e r a ll y ? For what purpose?*'^
Several speakers stre sse d the importance of
1
" rig h tly dividing the word." Smith urged Bible students
to become fam iliar w ith the two testam ents, the th ree d is
p ensations, and the s ix ty -s ix books of the Bible. " I f i t s
contents are not properly c la s s ifie d ," said Early Arceneaux
in 1921, "we w ill never understand the re a l teaching of
the divine volume."'*'^
■ ^"R ig h tly Dividing the Word of T ruth," L ectures,
1928-1929, pp. 65-88.
^^H arvey C h ild ress, "Our Misunderstood B ible,"
L e c tu re s, 1928-1929, pp. 65-88.
1 6 Q
"The Promises, Law, and the Gospel," L ectures,
1920-1921, pp. 218-219.
239
Summary
To t h e A b i l e n e l e c t u r e r s , C h r i s t i a n i t y w as t h e
r e l i g i o n o f t h e B i b l e , t h e r e l i g i o n o f a f i n i s h e d a n d f i x e d
b o o k o f S c r i p t u r e . T he R e s t o r a t i o n M ovem ent h a d b e e n
e s t a b l i s h e d u p o n t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e B i b l e . By 1 9 1 8 , t h e
B i b l e h a d b eco m e t h e c h u r c h ’ s l i f e l i n e a n d v i t a l s u p p o r t .
T he l e c t u r e r s b e l i e v e d t h a t s p e c i a l l y s e l e c t e d men h a d
com e u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e H o ly S p i r i t a n d r e c o r d e d
t h e f i n a l a n d i n f a l l i b l e w i l l o f t h e C r e a t o r i n t h e B i b l e .
T he e a r l y s p e a k e r s w e re g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t t h e
B i b l e w as a b s o l u t e l y o r v e r b a l l y i n s p i r e d - - t h a t God g u i d e d
t h e w r i t e r s b o t h i n t h e i r t h o u g h t s a n d i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f
t h e i r w o r d s . A few s p e a k e r s , h o w e v e r , p e r h a p s c o n s c i o u s
o f t h e im p o s in g c o n c l u s i o n s o f t h e h i g h e r c r i t i c s , s u g
g e s t e d t h a t t h e w r i t e r s e n j o y e d t h e l a t i t u d e o f i n d i v i d u a l
o r p e r s o n a l e x p r e s s i o n i n t h e r e c o r d i n g o f t h e i r a c c o u n t s .
W h ile a g r e e i n g w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t God i n s p i r e d a n d p r o
t e c t e d t h e m e s s a g e o f t h e o r i g i n a l a u t o g r a p h s , a few r e c e n t
s p e a k e r s p r o p o s e d t h a t t r a n s m i s s i o n o r c o p y i s t f la w s o f
s e v e r a l v a r i e t i e s h a d e n t e r e d t h e t e x t s i n c e t h e o r i g i n a l
c a n o n w as c o m p l e t e d . P e r h a p s i t w o u ld b e a c c u r a t e t o
conclude th a t the m a jo rity of the l a t e r speakers favored a
m odified v e rb a l th e o ry , as ap p lied only to the o r ig in a l
au to g rap h s. That i s , w hile b e lie v in g th a t th e Holy S p ir i t
influenced th e very wording of the S c rip tu re s , they were
n o n eth eless r e p e lle d by th e m echanical or l e g a l i s t i c
im p lic a tio n s o f th e s t r i c t v e rb a l view. On th e o th e r hand,
w hile b e lie v in g th a t each w rite r was fre e to c o lo r h is
account w ith h is own s t y l e , p e r s o n a lity , and background,
they were v ig o ro u sly su sp icio u s of a theory which did not
involve God in the a c tu a l s e le c tio n of th e language. I t
can a lso be concluded th a t th e v ario u s shades o f d iffe re n c e
in th e sp e a k e rs' opinions found a common denominator and
r e a liz e d t h e i r p r a c t ic a l meaning in th e d o c trin e of
B ib lic a l i n f a l l i b i l i t y .
To the A bilene speakers , th e C h ris tia n f a i t h and
th e ev o lu tio n a ry hypothesis were m utually ex clu siv e.
They, w ith one a c c o rd , were unable to t o le r a te any measure
o f c o m p a tib ility between th e im p lica tio n s o f Darwinism,
and th e concept o f an i n f a l l i b l e B ib le. Although le c tu r e rs
atta c k e d the hypothesis a t se v e ra l p o in ts--n o exp lan atio n
o f f i r s t l i f e , inadequate th e o rie s o f mechanism, the
u n lik e lin e s s o f chance p r o b a b i l i t i e s , the absence of
"m issing lin k s the lim ita tio n s o f d atin g tech n iq u es—the
241
u l t i m a t e c o n c lu s io n was t h a t i t was b u t a th e o r y t h a t
r e q u i r e d f a i t h on t h e p a r t o f t h o s e who c h o s e t o em brace
i t s i m p l i c a t i o n s .
The l e c t u r e r s u s e d t h r e e m eth o d s o f re m o v in g t h e
a p p a r e n t c o n f l i c t s b e tw e e n s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t i o n and
B i b l i c a l t e a c h i n g . Some l e c t u r e r s e m p h a siz e d t h e f r a i l t i e s
o f s c i e n c e , w h ile r e s p e c t i n g i t s p ro v e n c o n c l u s i o n s .
O th e r s a rg u e d t h a t s c i e n c e and r e l i g i o n c o u ld n e v e r c l a s h
b e c a u s e th e y d e a l t w i t h two e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f
l i f e . The t h i r d them e was an a t t e m p t t o h a rm o n iz e s c i e n c e
and r e l i g i o n , t o d e m o n s tr a te t h e p o s i t i v e c o m p a t i b i l i t y
b e tw e e n t h e B i b le and s c i e n c e .
W h ile r e a c t i n g v i g o r o u s l y a g a i n s t t h e a c c u s a t i o n s
o f t h e " r a t i o n a l i s t i c s c h o o l" o f " d e s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c s ,"
t h e l e c t u r e r s ' p o s i t i o n dem anded t h a t th e y b e f a v o r a b l y
d is p o s e d t o t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e s e a r c h l i g h t o f h i s t o r i c a l
a n a l y s i s and c r i t i c a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n . C o n s e q u e n tly , t h e y
c h a lle n g e d t h e w id e s p r e a d c o n c lu s io n s o f t h e h i g h e r c r i t i c s
a s b e i n g u n s o u n d , b u t a t t h e same tim e a p p l i e d , w i t h i n
t h e i r own b r o t h e r h o o d , many o f t h e v a l u a b l e t o o l s and
t e c h n iq u e s o f t h e i r o p p o n e n ts . The s p e a k e r s r e j e c t e d t h e
u n p a l a t a b l e f i n d i n g s o f t h e r a t i o n a l i s t i c h i g h e r c r i t i c s
a s b e in g m o ti v a te d b y t h e u n p ro v e n t h e o r y o f e v o l u t i o n , as
242
being shaped by a p reju d ic ed and presupposed d isd a in fo r
the s u p e rn a tu ra l, as being n u rtu red on the f a ls e n o tio n
th a t the B ible is r e p le te w ith in c o n siste n c ie s and con
tr a d ic tio n s , and as dem onstrating a p arad o x ical lack of
o b je c tiv ity .
The A bilene speakers le c tu re d about the B ible in a
deep s p i r i t of rev eren c e, and w ith a keen sense of respon
s i b i l i t y . I t is v i r t u a l l y im possible to c a lc u la te how
many times the w alls o f .Sewell Auditorium resounded w ith
the b a t t l e cry: "Where the B ible sp e a k s, we w ill speak;
where the B ible is s i l e n t , we w ill be s i l e n t . " James
B a ird , an Oklahoma e d u c ato r, concluded h is 1952 ad d ress,
"A uthority in R e lig io n ," w ith these a p p ro p ria te words:
As I stand here and apprehend the thousands of
e ld e rs and preachers th a t have been h ere in p re
vious y e a r s , and have come or would lik e to be
h ere during the coming week; and I th in k of the
thousands of churches from which they1 came, I
am th a n k fu l. . . . May we be humble and not
proud; b u t re s o lu te in our purpose o f standing
by th e word o f God by which C h rist ex e rcises h is
a u th o rity . Others b efo re us have been un w illin g
to l e t the f i r e s go out; now the m a tte r is in
our hands. L et us be c a re fu l th a t the f ir e s of
our fa th e rs do not go o u t .170
1 70
Lectures, 1952, pp. 166-167.
CHAPTER VII
THE DOCTRINE OF GOD, MAN, AND SALVATION
I n t r o d u c t i o n
God o r G o r i l l a was m ore th a n t h e g r i s l y t i t l e o f
A lf r e d W a tte rs o n M cCann's w i d e l y - r e a d r e p u d i a t i o n o f
e v o l u t i o n . ^ I t was t h e g n a w in g , p i v o t a l q u e s t i o n o f an
e r a . As c h u rc h a t t e n d a n c e d e c l i n e d d u r in g t h e p o s t- w a r
d e c a d e , W a lte r Lippm ann o b s e rv e d t h a t i t was b e c a u s e p e o p le
c o u ld no lo n g e r b e a s s u r e d t h a t th e y w ere g o in g to m eet
God when th e y w en t t o W o rsh ip . The c e r t a i n t y had d e p a r t e d
from e v e ry f a c e t o f l i f e . T r a d i t i o n - h o n o r e d id e a s o f
r i g h t and w rong w ere q u e s tio n e d a t t h e v e r y s o u r c e o f t h e i r
t r a n s c e n d e n t a l a u t h o r i t y , and f r e q u e n t l y ab a n d o n e d . H igh
s c h o o l s t u d e n t s p o n d e re d t h e a c c i d e n t o f g e n e t i c s t h a t h ad
^McCann e s s a y e d a s c i e n t i f i c d e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e
n a t u r a l th e o r y o f m a n 's d e v e lo p m e n t i n an a m b itio u s 3 5 0 -
p ag e volum e e m b e llis h e d w i t h g r a p h ic p i c t u r e s and i l l u s t r a
t i o n s . God o r G o r i l l a (New Y ork: The D e v in -A d a ii Company,
1 9 2 2 ).
243
244
placed them on an in s ig n ific a n t s a t e l l i t e spinning aim
le s s ly through one of countless m illio n s of galaxies
s c a tte re d throughout space. A pro fesso r of psychology a t
Bryn Mawr published in 1916 a shocking study of college
students which showed th a t young people had su ffered a
d e f in ite loss o f f a ith during th e ir four years exposure to
2
modern ideas. The r e le n tle s s pronouncements of science
and sch o larsh ip boldly in te rro g a te d b e lie v e rs about the
i f , why, where, and how of God's e x iste n c e , while supplying
few s a tis fy in g answers. To the l i s t of d is in te g ra tin g
d isco v eries of the 1920's , Frederick Lewis Allen added
th ese:
. . . th a t our behavior depends la rg e ly upon
chromosomes and d u ctless glands; th a t the H otten
to t obeys impulses sim ila r to those which a c tiv a te
the p a sto r of the F i r s t B a p tist Church, and is
probably already b e tte r adapted to his H ottentot
environment than he would be i f he followed the
B a p tist code; th a t sex is the most im portant thing
in l i f e , th a t in h ib itio n s are not to be to le ra te d ,
th a t s in is an o u t-o f-d a te term , th a t most
untoward behavior is the r e s u lt of complexes
2
See James Henry Leuba, The B e lie f in God and
Im m ortality, a book to which Bryan frequently and an g rily
re fe rre d in h is speeches and a r tic le s and which is cre d ite d
w ith drawing the "Great Commoner" in to the fundam entalist
fray. Norman F. F u rn iss, The Fundam entalist C ontroversy,
1918-1931 (New Haven: Yale U niversity P re ss, 1954),
pp. 17, 122.
245
a c q u i r e d a t a n e a r l y a g e , a n d t h a t men a n d women
a r e m e re b u n d l e s o f b e h a v i o r p a t t e r n s a n y w a y .3
T he d o c t r i n e o f t h e T r i n i t y o r G odhead w as a b a s i c
t e n e t o f o r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n i t y a t t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y .
T he c o n c e p t w h ic h w as f o r m a l i z e d i n t h e c r e e d s o f N ic a e a
a n d C o n s t a n t i n o p l e h a d b e e n a c c e p t e d b y t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y
o f C h r i s t i a n s i n a l l a g e s , w r o t e L e w is F r e n c h ' S t e a r n s ,
" n o t b e c a u s e i t was p r o c l a i m e d b y u n i v e r s a l c o u n c i l s , b u t
b e c a u s e i t com mended i t s e l f t o t h e C h r i s t i a n c o n s c i o u s n e s s
o f t h e C h u rc h a s s c r i p t u r a l a n d t r u e . " ^ T h e e s s e n c e o f
t h e t h e o r y , w h ic h s t r i v e s t o l a y e q u a l em phas i s o n t h e
u n i t y a n d t h e t r i n a l i t y o f G od, c a n b e s i m p l y s t a t e d a s :
God i s o n e ; t h e F a t h e r i s God; t h e Son i s God; t h e H o ly
S p i r i t i s God; y e t t h e F a t h e r , S on a n d H o ly S p i r i t a r e
e t e r n a l l y d i s t i n c t . S t e a m s , w h o se P r e s e n t Day T h e o lo g y
w as p u b l i s h e d i n 1 8 9 8 , s t a t e d i t m o re t e c h n i c a l l y .
God i n H is e s s e n c e o r n a t u r e i s i n d i v i s i b l y O ne.
To t h i s o n e n a t u r e b e l o n g t h e d i v i n e a t t r i b u t e s ,
i n f i n i t y , e t e r n i t y , i m m e n s i ty , i m m u t a b i l i t y ,
o m n ip o t e n c e , o m n i s c i e n c e , w isd o m , h o l i n e s s ,
r i g h t e o u s n e s s , t r u t h , a n d l o v e . T h e r e a r e n o t
t h r e e E t e r n a l s , b u t o n l y o n e E t e r n a l . . . . B u t
3 .
O n ly Y e s t e r d a y (New Y o rk : H a r p e r a n d B r o t h e r s ,
1 9 3 1 ) , p . 1 9 8 .
4
P r e s e n t Day T h e o lo g y (New Y o rk : C h a r l e s
S c r i b n e r ' s S o n s , 1 8 9 8 ) , p . 1 9 5 .
246
in the u n ity of th e Godhead th re e E te rn a l d i s t i n c
tio n s , which are c a lle d , in the te c h n ic a l language
o f theology, hypostases o r persons. . . . But the
th re e d iv in e persons possess th e same n a tu re , the
one id e n tic a l essence. They do not d iv id e i t ,
they do not share i t ; i t is t h e i r common n atu re in
th e sense th a t each possesses the whole in i t s
in d iv is ib le u n i t y .5
Even the smoke of th e fundam entalist controversy
did n o t cloud th e orthodox d o c trin e o f th e Godhead fo r many
re lig io u s bo d ies. P ro fesso r Edwin E. Abbey, a spokesman
fo r l i b e r a l P ro te sta n tism , concurred a h a lf century l a t e r
w ith S te a rn s 's d e s c rip tio n of the T rin ity . Abbey s ta te d :
. . . the m anifold working o f God is expressed in
the d o c trin e o f th e T rin ity : the c re a tio n and
c o n tro l o f th e world by the F a th e r, the entrance
o f the d iv in e in to human l i f e in th e Son, and the
abiding a c tiv i ty o f God in th e so u l o f man and in
th e C h ris tia n community through th e Holy S p i r i t . 6
More than s ix ty addresses a t the Abilene L ectu re
ship were devoted to a d isc u ssio n of the d o c trin e o f the
Godhead or the n atu re of one o f i t s th re e p e r s o n a litie s .
An im portant s e r ie s of fo u rteen le c tu re s was d e liv e re d in
1958 under the general theme, "God." Although th e re were
a few e a r l i e r re fe re n c e s to the re la tio n s h ip between the
^Present Day Theology, pp. 195-196.
£
"L ib e ra l P ro te sta n tism ," in P a tte rn s of F a ith in
America, e d ite d by F. E rnest Johnson (New York: Harper
and B ro th e rs, 1957), p. 6 6 .
247
F a t h e r an d t h e S o n , t h e L e c t u r e s h i p y i e l d e d no d e f i n i t i v e
s t u d y o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e G odhead u n t i l B a t s e l l B a r r e t t
B a x t e r 's 1958 a d d r e s s . B e g in n in g w i t h d e f i n i t i o n s , B a x t e r
s a i d : " A c t u a l l y , t h e w ord 'G o d h e a d ' i s j u s t a n o t h e r fo rm
o f t h e w ord 'G o d h o o d 1 . . . t h e s t a t e , d i g n i t y , c o n d i t i o n ,
q u a l i t y o f G o d ."^ E a r l y i n h i s m e s s a g e , h e summed up t h e
T r i n i t a r i a n d o c t r i n e .
When we h a v e s a i d t h a t t h e r e i s b u t o n e G od, t h a t
t h e F a t h e r , S o n , an d S p i r i t i s e a c h G o d , an d t h a t
t h e F a t h e r , S o n , an d S p i r i t i s e a c h a d i s t i n c t
p e r s o n , we h a v e s t a t e d t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e T r i n i t y
f u l l y a n d c o m p l e t e l y . 8
T h re e y e a r s b e f o r e B a x t e r 's m e s s a g e , L eM oine L ew is
p o i n t e d t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f T e r t u l l i a n ,
i
w hose t e r m i n o lo g y b ecam e t h e la n g u a g e o f T r i n i t a r i a n
th e o l o g y .
He t h o u g h t h e fo u n d i n Roman Law a n a n s w e r t o t h e
p ro b le m o f how t h r e e c o u l d b e o n e a n d o n e c o u l d
b e t h r e e , an d how J e s u s c o u l d b e b o t h human and
d i v i n e . . . . T he w o rd " s u b s t a n c e " s u g g e s t e d t h e
i d e a o f p r o p e r t y . The te r m " p e r s o n " s u g g e s t e d
o n e who c o u l d own p r o p e r t y . D i v i n i t y was a s u b
s t a n c e o r p i e c e o f p r o p e r t y . I n Roman Law t h r e e
p e r s o n s c o u l d own t h e sam e p i e c e o f p r o p e r t y .
D i v i n i t y was a p i e c e o f p r o p e r t y owned b y F a t h e r ,
S o n , and S p i r i t .9
^"The Godhead," Lectures, 1958, pp. 17-18.
^ I b i d . , p p . 1 8 -1 9 .
o
"The Word Became Flesh," Lectures, 1955, p. 24.
248
The p re v a ilin g a t titu d e of the A bilene le c tu re rs
toward the unsolved m ysteries of the T rin ity was r e f le c te d
in the clo sin g e x h o rta tio n o f B axter’s address:
. . . i t is f a r more im portant fo r us to have a
r ig h t a t titu d e toward and a r ig h t f a ith in the
Godhead than i t is fo r us to be sure th a t we
understand a l l o f the fin e p o in ts of th e d o c trin e
o f the Godhead. I t is more im portant fo r us to
be sure th a t our b e l i e f in God and C h rist and the
Holy S p ir i t is r e a l than i t is fo r us to be overly
concerned w ith th e o re tic a l explanations o f the
d iffe re n c e s in functions among the th re e . I t is
f a r more im portant th a t we be rev eren t and obedi
en t to th e Godhead than i t is fo r us to be
sch o lars about the G odhead.^
God, the F ather
’’The C h ristia n churches o f America," wrote Anton T.
Boisen, "a re agreed in b eliev in g th a t human d estin y is
under an i n t e l l i g e n t and frie n d ly co n tro l th a t can b e s t be
rep rese n ted by the idea of a Heavenly F a t h e r . I t is
lik e ly th a t th is b asic b e l i e f was never more suspect and
s u b je c t to g re a te r challenge than during the dawning hours
o f th e tw e n tie th century. The path of C h r is tia n ity during
the l a s t q u a rte r of the n in e te e n th ce n tu ry , according to
^Baxter, op. cit. , p. 27.
11
R eligion in C ris is and Custom (New York: Harper
and B ro th e rs), 1945, p. 197.
249
t h e h i s t o r i a n S c h l e s i n g e r , h a d b e e n s o r e l y b e s e t w i t h
u n p r e c e d e n te d p i t f a l l s and p e r i l s . ^ By 1 9 0 0 , t h e t r i -
u m v e ra te o f e v o l u t i o n , B i b l i c a l c r i t i c i s m , an d t h e S o c i a l
G o sp e l h a d a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y d e c r e e d much o f t h e h a r d - e a r n e d
13
R e f o r m a tio n o r th o d o x y t o b e f o l k l o r e an d f a n c y . I n
s h o r t , t h e new id e a s seem ed t o many " t o d e s t r o y t h e v e r y
f o u n d a t i o n s o f r e l i g i o n , and le a v e t h e i n d i v i d u a l f o r s a k e n
i n a G o d le s s w o rld .
D i l l e n b e r g e r an d W e lc h , i n t h e i r t r e a t m e n t o f
" D i r e c t i o n s i n R e c e n t P r o t e s t a n t T h o u g h t," d e s c r i b e d a
t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y G o d -c o n c e p t a g a i n s t w h ic h t h e m ind o f
t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e r e c o i l e d i n s h o c k .
A r t h u r M. S c h l e s i n g e r , "A C r i t i c a l P e r i o d i n
A m eric an R e l i g i o n , 1 8 7 5 -1 9 0 0 ," P r o c e e d in g s o f t h e
M a s s a c h u s e tts H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y . LXIV ( J u n e , 1 9 3 2 ) ,
5 2 3 -5 2 4 .
13
Edwin A. B u r t t , T ypes o f R e l i g i o u s P h ilo s o p h y
(R ev. e d . ; New Y o rk : H a rp e r an d B r o t h e r s , 1 9 3 9 , 1 9 5 1 ).
B u r t t d e s c r i b e s t h e l i b e r a l i n n o v a t i o n s a s a d e p a r t u r e
fro m t h e o r th o d o x R e fo r m a tio n p a t t e r n . He s t a t e s : "W hat
i s now u s u a l l y c a l l e d F u n d a m e n ta lis m i n P r o t e s t a n t c i r c l e s
( a t l e a s t i n A m e ric a ) i s t h e h e r i t a g e o f t h e c o n te m p o ra ry
w o rld fro m t h e o r th o d o x P r o t e s t a n t i s m e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e
R e fo r m a tio n i n t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y , " p . 142.
^ R a l p h H. G a b r i e l ( e d . ) , C h r i s t i a n i t y an d M odem
T h o u g h t (New H aven: Y a le U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 4 ) , p . x .
250
For lib e r a lis m , God became e s s e n ti a ll y th e c o u n te r
p a r t o f r e lig io u s e x p e rie n c e , and r e v e la tio n tended
to become id e n tic a l w ith h is to r y (R itc h e l) o r r e l i
gious ex perience (S c h leie rm ach e r). The prim ary
r e a l i t y , the one d i r e c t l y known, was r e lig io u s
ex p erien ce. . . . But God then is d efin e d sim ply as
th e source o f r e lig io u s e x p e rie n c e , and th e r e a l i t y
o f God i s lo g ic a lly dependent upon th e r e a l i t y o f
r e l i g i o n . 15
Many l i b e r a l s no longer appealed to God as the
g u a ra n to r of r e lig i o n . R e lig io n , i t seemed, would con
tin u e , even i f God should cease to play any p a r t in
r e lig io u s th in k in g . "We a re thus brought face to face w ith
th e q u e s tio n ," w rote G erald B irney Sm ith, "w hether such a
r e lig i o n needs in e v ita b ly to a ffirm th e e x iste n c e o f God.
16
Is theism e s s e n ti a l to re lig io n ? " In P ro fe ss o r S m ith's
e x p e r ie n tia l in t e r p r e t a t i o n o f r e l i g i o n , th e d o c trin e of
God was not a rig id - r e lig io u s e s s e n ti a l fo r the person who
d id not f e e l th e r e a l i t y o f God,
C onsequently, as brotherhood le a d e rs made p re p a ra
tio n f o r A bilene addresses they sensed th e ch a lle n g e to
defend th e concept o f God as re v e a le d in th e B ible on two
15
John D ille n b e rg e r and Claude W elch, P ro te s ta n t
C h r is tia n ity (New York: C harles S c r ib n e r's Sons, 1954),
p. 271.
1 f\
Current Christian Thinking (Chicago: The
University of Chicago Press, 1928), p. 146.
251
b a t t l e f r o n t s ; n o t o n ly t h a t He e x i s t e d , b u t t h a t He e x i s t e d
a s a p e r s o n a l , H e a v e n ly F a t h e r , r a t h e r t h a n " a s o r t o f
o b lo n g b l u r . " We s h a l l f i r s t exam in e t h e l e c t u r e s w h ic h
w e re d e s ig n e d t o p ro v e G o d 's e x i s t e n c e , and th e n n o t i c e
th o s e w h ic h a tte m p te d t o d e f i n e H is n a t u r e an d a s s e s s H is
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
The E x i s t e n c e o f God
I n h i s a r t i c l e on " C l a s s i c a l P r o t e s t a n t i s m , "
R o b e rt McAfee Brown s u g g e s te d a p r e v a i l i n g P r o t e s t a n t
a t t i t u d e to w a rd a t t e m p t s t o p r o v e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f God:
. . . c l a s s i c a l P r o t e s t a n t i s m h a s by and l a r g e
ta k e n a dim v ie w o f a t t e m p t s t o p ro v e t h e e x i s t
e n c e o f God. N ot o n ly a r e t h e p r o o f s u s u a l l y
s u s p e c t on g ro u n d s o f l o g i c a l o r p h i l o s o p h i c a l
a n a l y s i s , b u t ev e n i f v a l i d t h e i r c u m u la tiv e
e f f e c t i s no m ore th a n t o s u g g e s t t h a t th e e v i
d e n c e p o i n t s to w a rd a " S o m e th in g Somewhere
t h a t a p p e a r s t o h a v e a s l i g h t l y b e t t e r th a n
f i f t y - f i f t y c h a n c e o f e x i s t i n g . T h is i s a f a r
c r y from t h e o u t g o i n g , s e e k in g God o f t h e
B i b l e . 1 7
A b ile n e l e c t u r e r W. B. W e s t, i n h i s 1946 a d d r e s s ,
"God I s , " e c h o ed B ro w n 's s u s p i c i o n . W est s a i d :
" C l a s s i c a l P r o t e s t a n t i s m , " P a t t e r n s o f F a i t h i n
A m e r ic a , e d i t e d b y F. E r n e s t J o h n so n (New Y o rk : H a rp e r .
and B r o t h e r s , 1 9 5 7 ) , p . 19.
252
The B ible assumes th e e x iste n c e of God. His r e a l i t y
and e t e r n ity a re accepted. Evidence o f His e x i s t
ence a re abundant upon th e pages o f Sacred S c r ip tu r e ,
b u t n o t arguments fo r i t . The man who s a y s , "There
i s no God," is c h a ra c te riz e d as a " f o o l." . . . The
id ea o f S c rip tu re as a r e v e la tio n presupposes
b e l i e f in a G o d .
In s p it e of an announced d is d a in fo r "p ro o fs of
God," a few A bilene le c tu r e s were s p e c i f i c a l l y designed to
dem onstrate His e x iste n c e through th e use o f e x tr a - B ib lic a l
lin e s o f reaso n in g . The t r a d i t i o n a l p h ilo s o p h ic a l arg u
ments fo r th e e x iste n c e o f God provided a b a s ic s tr u c tu r e
fo r an aly zin g th e L e c tu re s h ip 's p ro o fs. There a re four
p r in c ip a l t r a d i t i o n a l arguments fo r th e e x iste n c e o f God
which seek to answer a f f irm a tiv e ly th e q u e s tio n , "Does God
E x ist? " They a re th e o n to lo g ic a l argum ent, th e cosmo
lo g ic a l argum ent, th e te le o lo g ic a l argum ent, and the moral
1 9
argument. The f i r s t th re e form a tr ilo g y and attem pt to
TO
L e c tu re s , 1946, p. 1. L ectu rin g on th e id e n tic a l
to p ic , and in s tra n g e ly id e n tic a l p h raseo lo g y , George H.
Stephenson s a id in 1958: "The B ible does not p re se n t a
l i s t of arguments f o r th e e x iste n c e o f God. His r e a l i t y
and e t e r n ity a re accepted as f a c t s . Evidences o f th e
e x iste n c e o f God a re found in th e B ib le , but not arguments
to t r y to prove Him. The man who d e c la re s th e re is no God
is c h a ra c te riz e d as a 'f o o l . ' (Psalms 14:1) The id e a of
S c rip tu re as a r e v e la tio n im plies a God who gave th e re v e
l a t i o n ." L e c tu re s , 1958, p. 1.
19
Perhaps th e b e s t contemporary re sta te m e n t o f th e
c l a s s i c p ro o fs is George H. Joyce, P rin c ip le s o f N atural
Theology (London: Longman' s , 1934).
253
answ er th e q u e s tio n i n f e r e n t i a l l y , by r a t i o n a l d e m o n s tra
t i o n . The l a s t i s an a p p e a l b a s e d upon th e e x p e r ie n c e o f
i 20
v a l u e s .
The o n t o l o g i c a l a rg u m e n t, th e argum ent from th e
id e a o f p e r f e c t i o n , c la im s A nselm and D e s c a r te s as i t s m ost
n o t a b l e p r o p o n e n ts . Assum ing th e s t a n c e , " I do n o t s e e k
t o u n d e r s ta n d t h a t I may b e l i e v e , b u t I b e l i e v e i n o r d e r
t h a t X may u n d e r s t a n d ," Anselm d e c la r e d t h a t th e e x i s t e n c e
o f God i s s e l f - e v i d e n t . God i s sim p ly " a b e in g th a n w hich
n o th in g g r e a t e r ca n be c o n c e iv e d ," and m a n 's v e r y a b i l i t y
to c o n c e iv e an i n f i n i t e p e r f e c t i o n t e s t i f i e s to i t s
21
e x i s t e n c e . W alker d e s c r i b e s t h e t h e o r y , w hich a ro u s e d
th e o p p o s i t i o n o f G a u n ilo , a monk o f M a rm o u tie rs , i n
A n selm 's l i f e t i m e , as a p la y on w o rd s , b u t a d m its t h a t i t s
22
p erm an en t v a l i d i t y h a s n o t la c k e d d e f e n d e r s .
20
Geddes M acG regor, I n t r o d u c t i o n t o R e lig io u s
P h ilo s o p h y (B o sto n : H oughton M i f f l i n Company, 1 9 5 9 ),
p . 95.
21
W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , S c ie n c e and th e I d e a o f
God (C hapel H i l l : U n i v e r s i t y o f N o rth C a r o l i n a , 1 9 4 4 ),
p . 14.
22
W i l l i s t o n W a lk e r, A H is to r y o f th e C h r i s t i a n
C hurch (New Y ork: C h a rle s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s, 1 9 5 9 ), p . 239.
254
In 1919, G. H. P. Showalter reasoned a t Abilene:
"Now an idea cannot o b ta in , except fo r the ex isten ce of
the o b je c t or the th in g which o rig in a te s the id e a ."^3
W . B. West form alized the argument in 1946, r e f e r rin g to
i t as the o n to lo g ic a l theory. West reviewed the word's
etymology.
The word "ontology" is derived from two Greek words ,
ontos and logos , which mean "the reason or ground
of b ein g ." S tate d b r i e f l y , God e x is ts because we
th in k He d o es. This is the argument from thought
to Being. . . . The very idea o f God is p o ssib le to
us only because God is behind i t ; and by God,
Anselm, th e fa th e r of the o n to lo g ic a l argument,
meant " th a t than which nothing g re a te r can be
conceived."24
In 1958, George Stephenson continued the r a tio n a le :
In a se n se , even the man who sa y s, "There is no
God," bears testim ony to the ex isten ce o f God.
Where did he g et h is idea of a God to deny?
Whence came the thought o f God? Is i t ju s t an
invention o f man? I f s o , when did man f i r s t
o rig in a te the idea? How did th is idea become
so universal?25
West, in 1946, and Stephenson, in 1958, also
advanced the cosm ological theory. The argument, which was
based upon the c a u se -e ffe c t h y p o th e sis, suggested th a t the
2^”G od Revealed," Lectures, 1919, p. 162.
2 A
West, op. c i t . , p. 6. ,
25
Stephenson, op. c it . , p. 4.
255
f i n a l c a u s e o f a l l t h i n g s m u s t b e t h e o n e s e l f - e x i s t e n t
26
B e in g , God. P l a t o , i n t h e T im aeu s , was among t h e f i r s t
t o s a y t h a t e v e r y c r e a t e d t h i n g m u s t b e c r e a t e d b y som e
c a u s e . S in c e t h e r e a r e c o u n t l e s s s e c o n d a r y c a u s e s i n
e x i s t e n c e , b e y o n d a l l s e c o n d a r y c a u s e s t h e r e m u st b e a
f i r s t u n c a u s e d an d s e l f - e x i s t e n t c a u s e . G. Dawes H ic k s
e x p l a i n e d t h e a rg u m e n t:
A c k n o w le d g in g , a s we c a n n o t h e l p d o i n g , t h e e x i s t
e n c e o f a w o r ld o f n a t u r e , we a r e l o g i c a l l y d r i v e n
t o a c k n o w le d g e t h a t t h e r e i s a r e a l e x i s t e n c e
b e y o n d n a t u r e , u n l e s s , i n d e e d , we a r e p r e p a r e d t o
r e s t i n an u l t i m a t e i n e x p l i c a b i l i t y , an d t o r e l i n
q u i s h t h e a t t e m p t t o fra m e a n i n t e l l i g e n t c o n c e p
t i o n o f n a t u r e a t a l l . 27
A t t h e A b ile n e p l a t f o r m , G e o rg e S te v e n s o n s i m i l a r l y
r e a s o n e d :
L o o k in g a b o u t u s , i t i s b u t n a t u r a l f o r u s t o p o i n t
t o some g r e a t c a u s e f o r a l l o f t h e e f f e c t s we s e e
i n t h e w o rld a b o u t us. . . . L o o k in g a t t h e s k y on
a c l e a r n i g h t , w h i l e t h e s t a r s a r e s h i n i n g a s a
m y r ia d o f d iam o n d s i n t h e s k y , we a r e made t o
e x c la im w i t h D av id o f o l d , "T h e h e a v e n s d e c l a r e
t h e g l o r y o f God an d t h e firm a m e n t s h o w e s t H is
h a n d iw o r k ." (P sa lm s 1 9 :1 ) Does o n e b e l i e v e t h e
D av id E l t o n T r u e b l o o d , P h ilo s o p h y o f R e l i g i o n
(New Y o rk : H a r p e r an d B r o t h e r s , 1 9 5 7 ) , p . 92.
^ G . Dawes H i c k s , The P h i l o s o p h i c a l B a s is o f
T h eism (New Y o rk : The M a c m illa n Com pany, 1 9 3 7 ) , p . 1 8 0 .
256
R ussian s a t e l l i t e s got in th e sky j u s t by ac cid e n t?
No more than I b e lie v e th e s t a r s above us a re th e re
j u s t by a c c id e n t.28
J . P. Sanders a lso spoke in 1958 about th e re a so n
ableness o f viewing God as th e f i r s t cause. He affirm ed
th a t b a s ic to any philosophy o f l i f e , b oth C h ris tia n and
n o n -C h ris tia n , a re c e r t a i n p re su p p o sitio n s o r assum ptions.
Any n a t u r a l i s t i c h y p o th esis assumes th e e te r n a l
e x iste n c e o f m a tte r and fo rc e . From th e n a t u r a l
i s t i c p o in t o f view , th e o r ig in o f th e se cannot
be e x p la in e d , they sim ply have to be taken fo r
g ra n te d . Some o f th e se p o in ts o f view claim to
hold s t r i c t l y to th e laws o f phenomenon and
r e j e c t any concern fo r u ltim a te cau ses. W ithin
th e s e system s th e re i s no s p i r i t u a l p r in c ip le a t
- a l l . 29
Twenty years e a r l i e r , A. DeWitt Chaddick had p in
p o in te d th e cosm ological prem ise:
The power to c re a te is a power h ig h e r than th a t o f
man. This power we c a l l God. I f any man would be
an a t h e i s t , l e t him c r e a te som ething. That alone
would advance h is argument. I f sc ie n c e could p ro
duce l i f e out o f i n e r t m a tte r, he could not do
away w ith God u n t i l he could c r e a te m a tte r. And
i f , even, he should c r e a te m a tte r, he would s t i l l
be co n fro n ted w ith th e problems of how man came
f i r s t to be and to have th e a b i l i t y to c r e a t e . 30
28
Stephenson, op. c i t . , p. 6.
I Q
"God, the Creator," Lectures, 1958, p. 37.
30
"Jesus o f N azareth , God's G ift to Humanity,"
L e c tu re s , 1938, pp. 5-6.
257
P ro b a b ly t h e m o st f o r c e f u l arg u m e n t f o r t h e e x i s t
e n ce o f God i s th e t e l e o l o g i c a l t h e o r y , commonly c a l l e d
t h e arg u m en t from d e s ig n o r o r d e r . I t s u g g e s ts t h a t th e
p r e s e n c e o f o r d e r i n t h e u n i v e r s e p o i n t s t o God a s th e
31
s o u r c e o f t h a t o r d e r . I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , r e a l l y a
s p e c i a l i z e d a p p l i c a t i o n o f th e c o s m o lo g ic a l a rg u m e n t. The
D a rw in ia n d o c t r i n e o f n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n w ould p u r p o r t to
u n d e rm in e th e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e th e o r y by show ing t h a t
c h a n g e s h a v e come a b o u t th r o u g h p u r e l y n a t u r a l c a u s e s
r a t h e r th a n b y s u p e r n a t u r a l d e s i g n . A lth o u g h b o th men
a d m it t h a t th e t e l e o l o g i c a l arg u m e n t c a n n o t s t a n d a l o n e ,
T ru e b lo o d d e fe n d s i t by a s s e r t i n g t h a t D a r w in 's a t t a c k
32
" i s by no means e v i d e n t t o d a y ," and M acG regor adds t h a t
" t h e c o n te m p la tio n o f t h e e v id e n c e o f o r d e r and p u rp o s e
33
d o es make th e a t h e i s t lo o k in e x c u s a b ly sm u g ."
S e v e r a l A b ile n e s p e a k e r s ad v a n ce d t h e t e l e o l o g i c a l
arg u m en t f o r G o d 's e x i s t e n c e . V i r g i l T r o u t 's 1960 l e c t u r e ,
"The R e a s o n a b le n e s s o f S u p e r n a t u r a l i s m ," s t a t e d th e
31
A. E. T a y l o r , Does God E x i s t ? (New Y ork:
M a c m illa n Company, 1 9 4 7 ) , p . 5 7 f f .
32
T ru e b lo o d , o p . c i t . , p . 93.
33
MacGregor, op. cit., p. 100.
258
C h ris tia n th e s is : M . . . the u n iv e rse is the c re a tio n of
God. T h erefo re, order e x is ts not because o f a system of
n a tu ra l law but because o f th e tran scen d en t reason of the
C re a to r.""^ In 1939, H. E. Speck allu d ed to the te le o lo g i
c a l theory by d esc rib in g the immutable laws o f th e u n iv erse
as fix ed and unchangeable, suggesting th a t "th e u n ity is
35
produced by the C reator o f a l l liv in g th in g s ," P a le y 's
c la s s ic i l l u s t r a t i o n of th e watch in h is N atural O rd er,
the h a b its of in s e c ts and animals , th e grandeur of the
human body, p a r tic u la r ly the eye, and the p re c is io n o f the
stars and planets were data West and Stephenson used in
support of th is theory. The former pointed to the te r s e
statem en t o f p h y s ic is t James Jeans: "The U niverse begins
3 6
to look more lik e a g re a t thought than a g re a t m achine."
The fo u rth p h ilo so p h ic a l theory which th e Abilene
le c tu r e rs employed as a proof of th e e x isten c e o f God was
the an th ro p o lo g ical or moral argument. Though forms of
the, moral argument are more a n c ie n t, i t is g e n e ra lly
a s so c ia te d w ith the name of Kant. "Two th in g s f i l l the
^ L e c tu r e s , 1960, p. 130.
-^"The R elatio n sh ip of God's N atural and S p ir itu a l
W orlds," L e c tu re s , 1939, pp. 94-97.
West, op. c it . , p. 11.
259
m ind w i t h a new and i n c r e a s i n g a d m i r a t i o n and aw e, t h e
o f t e n e r and m ore s t e a d i l y we r e f l e c t on them ; t h e s t a r r y
37
h e a v e n s ab o v e and th e m o ra l law w i t h i n . " S te p h e n s o n
s t a t e d t h e g i s t o f t h e t h e o r y :
I t i s w o n d e r f u l t o t h i n k o f m a n 's p h y s i c a l m a k e -u p ,
y e t i t i s m ore w o n d e r f u l t o t h i n k o f h i s c o n s c ie n c e
and s e n s e o f m o r a l v a l u e s . I f e v o l u t i o n i n s t e a d o f
C r e a t i o n b e t r u e , w hence came m a n 's c o n s c i e n c e .38
S te p h e n s o n ex p a n d ed h i s d i s c u s s i o n t o i n c l u d e m a n 's
s e n s e o f t h e b e a u t i f u l and becam e t h e l e c t u r e r t o a d v a n c e
an " a e s t h e t i c a r g u m e n t," a s a p r o o f o f G o d 's e x i s t e n c e .
He re m in d e d h i s h e a r e r s t h a t b i r d s h a v e w o n d e r f u l e y e s and
d o g s h e a r b e t t e r t h a n m e n , b u t s u c h a n im a ls a r e n o t t h e
w o r l d 's g r e a t a r t c r i t i c s an d do n o t e n jo y t h e c o n c e r t o f
t r a i n e d m u s i c i a n s . We c a n n o t c o n c e iv e o f b e a u ty com ing
i n t o e x i s t e n c e by c h a n c e ," s a i d S te p h e n s o n , " a n d we c a n n o t
c o n c e iv e o f t h a t w h ic h i s i n man w h ic h c a n a p p r e c i a t e t h e
b e a u t i f u l com ing i n t o e x i s t e n c e by c h a n c e ." As a f i n a l
a d d e n d a , t h e s p e a k e r s a d v a n c e d an a rg u m e n t f o r t h e e x i s t
e n c e o f God w h ic h was te rm e d " t h e h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e ."
W e s t's l e c t u r e b e g a n , and S t e p h e n s o n 's c o n c lu d e d , w i t h
■ ^ K a n t's c e l e b r a t e d s t a t e m e n t a s c i t e d i n
M a c G re g o r, o p . c i t . , p . 113.
38
Stephenson, op. cit. , p. 11.
260
appeals to the h i s t o r i c u n iv e rs a lity o f b e l i e f in God.
West remarked:
No f a c t of h is to ry has been as w ell supported by
the spade of the a r c h e o lo g is t, the stu d ie s of the
a n th ro p o lo g ist and th e research es o f the psycholo
g i s t , than the f a c t th a t from times immemorial,
wherever man has l i v e d , he has had some conception
of some kind o f su p e rn a tu ra l b e in g .39
The cosm ological, o n to lo g ic a l, and te le o lo g ic a l
proofs are a l l c lo s e ly r e la te d . Some h is to ria n s o f p h ilo s
ophy have viewed them as v a ria tio n s of the o n to lo g ic a l,
o th ers as v a ria tio n s of th e cosm ological argument. "The
b e s t th a t might be claim ed fo r them," concluded MacGregor,
" is th a t one helps out th e o th e r, but no one of them by
i t s e l f does the re q u ire d j o b . " ^ The very f a c t th a t a
p l u r a l i t y o f such arguments is needed in d ic a te s th a t no
one o f them is alone s u f f i c ie n t to prove God’s e x isten c e.
Perhaps Anselm, who did not p rofess to be able to demon
s t r a t e God's ex isten ce to the u n b eliev er but sought only
to j u s t i f y to h is own i n t e l l e c t the f a i t h th a t he h e ld ,
has e s ta b lis h e d the purpose which th ese t r a d it io n a l
arguments b e s t serv e. The moral argument, which had g re a t
in flu en c e in the e ig h tee n th and n in e te e n th c e n tu rie s , does
39
West, op. c i t . , p. 2.
40
MacGregor, op. cit. , p. 112.
261
n o t p u r p o r t t o p ro v e God b y t h e e x e r c i s e o f p u r e r e a s o n .
B u t t o g r a n t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f m o r a l law an d human c o n
s c i e n c e p o s t u l a t e s t h e c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f a n u l t i m a t e B e in g
w h ic h e x i s t s in d e p e n d e n t l y a s t h e s o u r c e o f a l l m o r a l
dem ands. I t was t o t h i s s o u r c e o f p r o o f t h a t t h e s p e a k e r s
m o st f r e q u e n t l y , i f i m p l i c i t l y , a p p e a le d . B u r t t r e p o r t s
t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e d o e s n o t r e j e c t t h e t h r e e
p h i l o s o p h i c a l a rg u m e n ts o f n a t u r a l t h e o lo g y a s i n v a l i d , h e
d o e s te n d t o r e l y m o st h e a v i l y u p o n t h e a p p e a l t o m a n 's
m o ra l c o n s c i e n c e . ^
The D iv in e N a tu r e
The q u e s t i o n o f G o d 's e x i s t e n c e w as i n r e a l i t y n o t
a s c e n t r a l t o t h e c o n t r o v e r s y o f t h e 1 9 2 0 ' s a s was t h e
q u e s t i o n o f t h e n a t u r e o r ty p e o f God w h ic h e x i s t e d . An
e d i t o r i a l i n t h e C h r i s t i a n C e n tu r y a s s e r t e d : " I n a d e b a t e
on God t h e m inds o f t h e F u n d a m e n ta l is t an d t h e M o d e rn is t
do n o t m e e t. To o p p o se s y s te m a g a i n s t s y s te m i n v o l v e s e n d -
/ 9
l e s s an d s t e r i l e d i s p u t a t i o n . " H e r e , d e f i n i t e l y , was a
m a jo r s o u r c e o f d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n t h e two m in d s . R a th e r
41
B u r t t , o p . c i t . , p . 150.
42
Christian Century. March 20, 1924, p. 359.
262
than p i t t i n g theism a g a in s t atheism , th e two systems
a c tu a lly began w ith two d if f e r e n t gods. The e s s e n tia l
q u a l itie s o f one sy stem 's god would have been t o t a l l y
repugnant to th e n atu re o f th e o th e r god. What one god
could lo g ic a lly be expected to d o , the o th e r god would not
p u rp o rt to accom plish.
The co n serv ativ e s had in h e rite d from th e Reforma
tio n le ad ers th e t r a d i t i o n a l P ro te s ta n t concept of God as
a Being w ith p e r s o n a lity , p o ssessin g both w ill and i n t e l
lig e n ce , and immeasurably more p erso n al than mere id e a liz e d
A3
r e a l i t y or ab so lu te energy. The theology of fundam ental
ism was b a s ic a lly C a lv in i s tic , i t s c h ie f th e o lo g ia n ,
J . Gresham Machen se rv in g as p ro fe sso r a t the P re sb y te ria n
a f f i l i a t e d P rin c eto n T heological Seminary. Hence, the
god-concept of th e movement was dyed th e c o lo r of C a lv in 's
system of e le c tio n , fo re o rd in a tio n , and p re d e s tin a tio n .
Although some of the co n serv ativ es r e je c te d th e C a lv in is tic
theory o f in h e rite d g u i l t , p re fe rrin g the d o c trin e of
Arminianism and tra n s m itte d g u i l t , th e re was complete
accord th a t God was a p erso n al F a th e r , th e c r e a t o r , r u l e r ,
^Burtt, op. cit. , p. 153.
4
263
s a v i o r , and u l t i m a t e ju d g e o f t h e w o r l d . ^
To th e l i b e r a l m in d , t h e o n ly hope f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y
r e s t e d i n t h e d e p e r s o n a l i z a t i o n o f th e Yahweh o f I s r a e l
from th e " c o n c e p tio n o f a d e i t y w hose c h a r a c t e r i s on a
l e v e l w ith t h a t o f M o lo c h ." H orace James B r id g e s , i n
h i s a t t a c k upon th e "God o f F u n d a m e n ta lis m ,” i n t e r r o g a t e d
P r o f e s s o r Machen:
I c h a lle n g e D r. Machen t o s a y w h e th e r a human p a r e n t
c o u ld u n d e r any c ir c u m s ta n c e s h a v e th e r i g h t to c o n
s i g n h i s own c h i l d , f o r any o f f e n c e w h a ts o e v e r , t o
l i f e l o n g t o r t u r e . More p a r t i c u l a r l y , c o u ld h e h a v e
t h e r i g h t t o do so i f th e c h i l d ' s o f f e n c e w ere
a d m itte d ly due to some h e r e d i t a r y d e f e c t o f n a t u r e
w h ich i t c o u ld n o t a v e r t ? Add t o t h i s th e s u p p o s i
t i o n t h a t th e f a t h e r , b e f o r e b e g e t t i n g th e c h i l d ,
had known w hat i t w ould d o , and h ad d e l i b e r a t e l y
p r e p a r e d th e t o r t u r e cham ber i n a d v a n c e o f i t s r e
c e p t i o n . T h a t i s as e x a c t a p a r a l l e l as c a n b e
draw n b e tw e e n human a c t i o n and t h e p r o c e d u r e o f God
as d e s c r ib e d by F u n d a m e n ta lis m .46
^ J . Gresham M achen, What I s F a i t h ? (New Y ork:
The M acm illan Company, 1 9 2 7 ).
45
The God o f F u n d am e n talism and O th e r S tu d ie s
(C h ic ag o : P a s c a l C o v i c i , 1 9 2 5 ), p . 30.
^ I b i d . , p p . 3 7 -3 8 . B r id g e s ' s h a rp a t t a c k upon
Machen and B ryan r e v e a l s t h a t n o t a l l o f th e v i t u p e r a t i o n
was i n th e c o n s e r v a t i v e colum n. I r o n i c a l l y , b e tw e e n t h e
w r i t i n g and p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e b o o k , t h e " G r e a t Commoner"
p a s s e d away. H en ce, B rid g e s in c lu d e d th e f o llo w in g
" e u l o g i s t i c " e x p l a n a t i o n as a p r e f a c e t o h i s w ork:
"NOTE.--The su d d e n d e a th o f Mr. B ry a n , when t h i s
book was i n ty p e and c o u ld n o t be e x t e n s i v e l y a l t e r e d ,
g iv e s o c c a s io n f o r a w ord o f r e g r e t i f , i n t h e h e a t o f
264
For modernism, God became e s s e n tia lly the source
and the product of re lig io u s experience. God was not
thought of as a p e rs o n a lity se p a ra te from the u n iv erse
b u t r a th e r as the immanent law of the u n iv erse.
God is conceived . . . as th e soul o f the w o rld ,
th e s p i r i t anim ating a l l n a tu re ; the u n iv e rsa l
fo rce which takes the myriad forms of h e a t,
l i g h t , g r a v ita tio n , e l e c t r i c i t y and th e lik e ;
the all-em bracing substance o f which even men
and things are but d if f e r e n tia tio n s . . . .47
S tre ssin g the d o c trin e of d iv in e immanence, th e lib e r a ls
conceived of God as a u n ity o f fo rce or o f su b stan ce,
making a l l things the expression o f one all-p e rv a d in g
energy. "The d o c trin e o f d iv in e immanence," sa id
M cG iffert, "has served to bridge the old chasm between
co n tro v ersy , I have used any expressions which h is w ith
drawal renders unbecoming. I am glad to know th a t having
never doubted h is s in c e r ity or h is e a rn e st devotion to
what he thought r ig h t and good, I have never sa id or
w ritte n a word implying doubt.
" A v ia to rs, during the w ar, s e t th e k n ig h tly example
of dropping wreaths on the graves of t h e i r f a lle n foemen.
Mental f ig h t should be not le s s ch iv alro u s; and I glad ly
o f fe r my tr ib u te o f re sp e c t to th e d au n tless courage, high
purpose, and unwearied z e a l o f one whom i t was to me a
duty to oppose," p. x v ii.
^ A r th u r Cushman McGif f e r t , The R ise o f Modern
R eligious Ideas (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1915),
p. 2 0 1 .
265
n a t u r e an d t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l and t o make them c o m p le t e ly
11*48
o n e .
A s s e r t i n g t h a t t h e c r i t i c a l m ind c o u ld no l o n g e r
a llo w t h e im a g e ry o f a h e a v e n ly m o n a rc h t o d e t e r m in e i t s
th o u g h ts o f s p i r i t u a l r e a l i t y , many l i b e r a l s i n s i s t e d t h a t
no s u c h God e x i s t e d , e x c e p t p e r h a p s a s a f ig m e n t o f
f r i g h t e n e d i m a g in a tio n s c o n j u r e d up t o m e e t a p s y c h o l o g i c a l
n e e d . "My p o s i t i o n t h e n , " an n o u n c ed D r. W illia m L .
D a v id s o n , " i s t h a t God i s a n e c e s s i t y o f human n a t u r e . .
. . i n d e n y in g e x i s t e n c e t o t h e p e r s o n a l God o f t h e
B i b l e , th e l i b e r a l s n o t o n ly d i s c l a i m e d p o s s e s s i n g an y
f e a r o f i n c u r r i n g t h e d i v i n e w r a t h , b u t m a n i f e s t l y i n s i s t e d
t h a t th e y w e re b e s to w in g h o n o r u p o n t h e God w h ic h a c t u a l l y
e x i s t e d . Thus a l l o f t h e d o c t r i n e s c o n c e r n in g t h e
" m o n a r c h ia l" G o d 's w i l l , H is c o v e n a n t s , H is modes o f
o p e r a t i o n , H is p la n s f o r e t e r n a l re w a rd a n d p u n is h m e n t
w e re deem ed f i c t i t i o u s and p o s i t i v e l y u n e t h i c a l . "May we
n o t s a y , " a s k e d W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , " t h a t God i s t h e
law o f n o rm a l m e n ta l l i f e ? "
^ The American Journal of Theology, March, 1916,
p. 323.
49
Gerald Biraey Smith, op. cit. , p. 153.
266
I f th is is the c a se , we may say of God th a t He is
an unceasing a c t i v i t y , one which in te rf e r e s in no
way w ith s c i e n t i f i c o b serv atio n , but which is
n ev erth eless in d isp en sab le to any complete psy
cho lo g ical statem ent of what the l i f e o f man is.^O
John Horsch spoke fo r h is contemporary conserva
tiv e s when he a s se rte d th a t asid e from the re je c tio n of
the in s p ira tio n of the B ib le, the d ep e rso n aliz atio n of
God was lib e ra lis m 's most in sid io u s and d ev astatin g
c o n trib u tio n .* ^ The d o c trin e of d iv in e immanence, consid
ered to be the S atanic product of evolution which equated
God w ith the a b s tra c t force or energy which had developed
the w orld, was an arch-enemy of C h ristia n tr u th . In s is tin g
th a t the god of modernism had g re a tly impoverished the idea
o f God, the conservatives feared th a t a re lig io u s system
was developing in which even the very thought of God would
u ltim a te ly pass away. Hence, the C h ristia n R eg ister
charged in 1919 th a t i t had become very fashionable to
"d isg u ise a p r a c tic a l atheism under t h e i s t i c phrases.
■^Hocking, op. c i t . , p. 49.
^Modern R eligions L iberalism (S c o ttsd a le , P a.:
Mennonite P ublishing House, 1920), p. 62.
52
George R. Dodson, Christian Register. October 2,
1919, p. 15.
267
I f o n l y a h a n d f u l o f t h e A b i l e n e s p e a k e r s s o u g h t
t o p r o v e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f G od, a l a r g e b a t t a l i o n o f th em
a n s w e re d t h e c a l l t o p r o t e c t h i s p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r an d
p r e s e r v e t h e d i g n i t y o f t h e d i v i n e n a t u r e . J a c k B a t e s ’ s
1958 l e c t u r e p i c t u r e d f o r t h e A b i l e n e a u d i e n c e t h e a b s t r a c t
t h e o r y o f God w h ic h many s p e a k e r s a t t a c k e d . D e s c r i b i n g
t h e g e n e r a t i o n t h a t g rew up a f t e r W o rld War I , B a te s s a i d :
God w as r o b b e d o f H is h o l i n e s s . He w as d e t h r o n e d
a n d d e fa m e d . He was d e s c r i b e d a s " a b s o l u t e
e n e r g y , " " i d e a l i z e d r e a l i t y , " o r , i n t h e w o rd s o f
o n e New E n g la n d l i b e r a l a s a " s o r t o f o b lo n g
b l u r . " D r. A l f r e d N o r th W h i te h e a d , o n e o f t h e
b e t t e r known p h i l o s o p h e r s o f t h i s c o u n t r y , o n c e
d e f i n e d God a s f o l l o w s : "God i s n o t c o n c r e t e , b u t
He i s t h e g r o u n d f o r c o n c r e t e a c t u a l i t y . " I t
w o u ld seem t h a t God i s a v a i l a b l e t o l o g i c i a n s
o n l y !53
S p e a k in g o n t h e sam e p r o g r a m , B a t s e l l B a r r e t t
B a x t e r c o u n t e r e d w i t h t h e B i b l i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e f i r s t
p e r s o n o f t h e T r i n i t y .
F i r s t o f a l l , t h e r e i s t h e C r e a t o r , J e h o v a h , t h e
A lm ig h t y , L o rd G od, an d F a t h e r . He a lw a y s s t a n d s
f i r s t among t h e T r i u n e D i v i n i t y . T he B i b l e p i c
t u r e s Him a s su p re m e i n w is d o m , p o w e r , l o v e ,
m e r c y , an d j u s t i c e . He i s t h e g r e a t p l a n n e r ,
d e s i g n e r , a n d c r e a t o r o f t h e u n i v e r s e . He i s
t h e su p re m e F a t h e r a n d we a r e H is c h i l d r e n . I n
Him we l i v e a n d move a n d h a v e o u r b e i n g . He i s
a S p i r i t an d i s t o b e w o r s h ip p e d . He i s a lw a y s
53"The Holiness of God," Lectures , 1958, p. 73.
268
r e fe r re d to in ,the m asculine gender and w ith a
p erso n al pronoun. 54
The A bilene l e c t u r e r s , reverencing the s c r ip t u r a l
view of God, r e je c te d the modern im p lica tio n s of both
immanentism and i t s o p p o s ite , th e concept of God's t r a n s
cendence. In 1958, le c tu r e r W . B. Barton s ta te d th a t
d iv in e immanence was a th eo ry championed by F rie d ric h
Schlierm acher which tended to id e n tif y God w ith the id e a l
processes o f n a tu re . "He can n o t, th e r e f o r e ," sa id B arton,
" r e f e r to God as a p erso n , o r admit the B ib lic a l d o c trin e
o f the Godhead, which teaches th e d i s t in c t io n o f th re e
d iv in e P e r s o n a litie s ." - ^ Barton quoted Henry Nelson
Wieman, an in f l u e n t i a l p ro fe sso r a t th e U n iv ersity of
Chicago who embraced c l a s s i c a l modernism: "Whatever e ls e
c £
God i s , He is not a p e r s o n a lity ."
R evolting a g a in s t th e immanentism of c l a s s i c a l
modernism, a m o d ern istic theory which emphasized th e tr a n s
cendence o f God began to sweep across the country follow ing
th e f i r s t World War. Soren K ierkegaard had w ritte n a t the
beginning o f th e n in e te e n th century about the "a b so lu te
-^Baxter, op. cit. , p. 23.
55»The Gods of Modernism," Lectures . 1958, p. 144.
56Ibid., p. 145.
269
d i f f e r e n c e " b e tw e e n God and man. I t was K a rl B a r t h ,
h o w e v e r, a Sw iss t h e o l o g i a n , w hose em p h asis on " t h e o t h e r
n e s s o f God" d e p e r s o n a l i z e d God i n t o a k in d o f d i s i n t e r
e s t e d , m o t i o n l e s s , im p e rs o n a l f o r c e . ^ B a rto n r e f e r r e d to
t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s w h ich t h e o l o g i a n P a u l T i l l i c h made to
t h i s c o n c e p t: " T i l l i c h f u r t h e r a s s e r t s t h a t God d o es n o t
e x i s t . When we a tte m p t to a p p ly any human c a t e g o r i e s ,
s u c h as p e r s o n a l i t y , w i l l , l o v e , and even e x i s t e n c e to God
C O
we commit a g r a v e e r r o r . "
The A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s r e j e c t e d t h e e x tre m e s o f
t h e s e v iew s o f God on th e g ro u n d s t h a t th e y te n d e d to
d e p e r s o n a l i z e th e d i v i n e n a t u r e . The f i r s t b e c a u s e i t
te n d e d to w ard p a n th e is m , and t h e se c o n d b e c a u s e i t r e d u c e d
God to an u n a p p r o a c h a b le , im p e rs o n a l a b s t r a c t i o n . They
a g r e e d , h o w e v e r, t h a t th e p e r s o n a l God o f th e B ib le i s
b o th im m anent and t r a n s c e n d e n t . Raymond K elc y s t a t e d i n
h i s 1958 l e c t u r e :
Two w ords h a v e come i n t o u s e i n c o m p a r a tiv e ly
r e c e n t tim e s to s e t f o r t h th e r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n
God and th e u n i v e r s e . . . Immanence and T r a n s
c e n d e n c e . . . . T ra n s c e n d e n c e means t h a t God
. . . i s m ore th a n th e w o rld and t h a t He i s
5 ^ W alk er, o p . c i t . , p p . 5 4 4 -5 4 5 .
- ^ B a r t o n , o p . c i t . . p . 159.
270
above i t . However, though He transcends th e w orld,
s t i l l He in h a b its i t and pervades i t , drawing near
to i t in His love and continuing to work in i t . 59
Through th e years approxim ately te n le c tu re s d e a lt
s p e c ia lly w ith some fa c e t o f the d iv in e n a tu re . A chrono
lo g ic a l glance a t th ese speeches re v e a ls th e le c tu r e r s
concept o f the chairacter and p e rs o n a lity o f God. In the
s e r ie s of 1919, G. H. P. S h o w alter, e d ito r of th e Firm
F oundation, expressed g r a titu d e fo r th e f a c t th a t a l l of
God's a t t r i b u t e s had "g ra d u a lly been re v e a le d ." Showalter
named i n f i n i t y , l o f t i n e s s , h o lin e s s , power, mercy, peace,
and c o n sta n t presence as being the c h a r a c te r i s tic s of God's
nature.^® In 1927, John T. Smithson l i s t e d th re e b a sic
fe a tu re s o f God's p e rs o n a lity : "Divine n a tu re then is
61
S p i r i t , L ig h t, and Love, fo r God is th e s e ." Ten years
l a t e r , A. DeWitt Chaddick focused p a r tic u la r a tte n tio n
upon the f i r s t o f th e th re e q u a l itie s :
Jesus , who should know more about the n a tu re of h is
F ath e r than anybody e l s e , s a id , "God is a S p i r i t
and they th a t worship Him must worship Him in S p i r i t
59
"God's Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipo
te n c e ," L ectures , 1958, p. 55.
^ S h o w a lte r, op. c i t . , p. 170.
61"The Divine Nature," Lectures, 1926-1927, p. 224.
271
and i n t r u t h " (John 4 : 2 4 ) . . . . T h u s, 1 know t h a t
when s p e a k in g o r t h i n k i n g o f God, I m u st g e t f l e s h
and b o n es o u t o f my m in d .62
" Je h o v a h God R e ig n e t h ," was t h e t i t l e o f L. S.
W h ite 's 1942 l e c t u r e w hich d e s c r ib e d God as " p e r s o n a l ,
l o v e , s p i r i t , and g o o d n e s s ." Of t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c s , W h ite d e c l a r e d :
F o r a p e r s o n who does n o t b e l i e v e i n a P e r s o n a l
God, d o es n o t b e l i e v e i n th e t r u e God a t a l l .
By t h i s we mean t h a t God knows h i m s e l f a s G od,
d i r e c t s H is own a c t i o n s , and i s t h e one p e r f e c t
p e r s o n a l i t y .63
The same y e a r , J e s s e P. S e w e ll s t a t e d : " I n th e
e t e r n a l F a t h e r , we h av e an a b id in g s o u r c e o f : S t r e n g t h ,
p o w e r, l o v e , m e rc y , g r a c e , h e l p , s e c u r i t y , p l e a s u r e , j o y ,
and v i c t o r y . " ^ N ot a l l o f G o d 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere so
p l e a s a n t to d i s c u s s , how ever. I n s p e a k in g o f "The G oodness
and S e v e r i t y o f G od," J . L eo n a rd J a c k s o n d e c l a r e d : " I n
t h e B ib le we f i n d G o d 's lo v e and H is h a t r e d , H is m e rc y ,
and H is w r a t h , H is b l e s s i n g and H is c u r s e . L a t e r
^ C h a d d i c k , o p . c i t . , p . 2.
^ L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 2 , p p . 7 9 -8 0 .
"O ur A b id in g S o u rc e s o f S t r e n g t h , " L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 4 2 , p . 44.
fi s
"The Goodness and the Severity of God," Lectures,
1958, p. 66. ---------
272
Jackson added:
D espite th ese w arnings o f God, however, some contend
th a t e te r n a l punishment i s c o n tra ry to and incom
p a t ib le w ith th e mercy and goodness o f God. Modern
ism makes th e m istake h ere of beholding th e goodness
o f God, w hile a t th e same tim e b lin d in g i t s e l f to
th e s e v e r ity o f G o d . 66
Raymond C. K elcy 's 1958 a d d re ss, "God's Omnipres
ence, Om niscience, and Omnipotence," was th e p la tfo rm 's
most thorough exam ination o f God's n a tu re . Kelcy f i r s t
reasoned:
There a re two u n its o f e x iste n c e . . . God and the
u n iv e rse . . . God and a l l th a t i s not God. Omni
p resence im plies th a t God, one u n i t , p e n e tra te s
and f i l l s th e o th e r u n i t , the u n iv e rs e , in a l l i t s
p a r ts . God is everywhere. Not th a t th e re i s a
p a r t o f Him in every p la c e b u t th a t His e n t ir e ty
in every p la c e .67
He next a s s e rte d th a t God's com plete knowledge o f
a l l th in g s is b u t a companion o f His om nipresence.
"Omnipresence im plies om niscience. . . . The p e r f e c t mind
cannot be p re se n t w ithout knowing th a t to which i t is
/ I Q
p r e s e n t." Of d iv in e om nipotence, Kelcy s ta te d : "The
power of God is th e most obvious o f h is a t t r i b u t e s . 'With
66
Lectures, 1958, p. 67.
^Lectures, 1958, pp. 53-54.
6ft
Ibid., pp. 55-56.
273
God a l l t h i n g s a r e p o s s i b l e , ' d e c l a r e d J e s u s (M atthew
1 9 : 2 6 ) . " 69
K e lc y r e f l e c t e d t h e a t t i t u d e o f a l l o f t h e l e c t u r
e r s who h ad a tte m p te d t o a r t i c u l a t e t h e d i v i n e n a t u r e a s
h e c o n c lu d e d : "Any c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o r a t t r i b u t e o f God
/
m u st b e d e s c r i b e d i n te rm s man c a n u n d e r s t a n d and we a r e
t o v ie w s u c h e x p r e s s i o n s a s acco m m o d ativ e la n g u a g e . " 7 9
I n 1958 , H. A. D ixon a g r e e d : "T he m ind o f man h a s n e v e r
b e e n a b l e t o g r a s p God f u l l y . H is e y e s c a n n o t s e e God.
H is h a n d s c a n n o t to u c h God. H is m ind c a n n o t e x p l o r e God.
God accom m odated H im s e lf i n r e v e a l i n g t o man H is n a t u r e
and H is a t t r i b u t e s .
J e s u s C h r i s t
The them e o f G o d 's lo v e l o g i c a l l y l e d t h e A b ile n e
l e c t u r e r s t o c o n s i d e r t h e h i g h e s t e x p r e s s i o n o f d i v i n e
l o v e - - t h e g i f t o f G o d 's s o n f o r t h e t r a n s g r e s s i o n s o f
m a n k in d . T h e re was no e m p h a sis m ore c e n t r a l t o t h e A b ile n e
p l a t f o r m th a n t h e d e i t y and a b s o l u t e k i n g s h i p o f C h r i s t .
^ Lectures , 1958 , pp. 57-58.
7QIbid., p . 60.
^"God Is Love," Lectures . 1958, p. 29.
274
In h is a r t i c l e on " C la ss ic a l P ro te sta n tism ," Robert McAfee
Brown revealed th a t th is c h r is to c e n tr ic emphasis was not
p e c u lia r to the churches o f C h rist:
Jesus C h rist is "th e h e a rt and c e n te r o f a l l C h ris
tia n f a i t h . . . c l a s s i c a l P ro te s ta n tis m 's d i s t i n c
tiv e emphasis has been on what is c a lle d the work
of C h ris t (or the d o c trin e of atonem ent). That is
to say , the norm ity of the th in g is found in the
fa c t th a t in C h r is t, God did something. The most
fa m ilia r form ulation would perhaps be the P auline
summary o f the f a i t h , th a t " in C h r is t, God was
re c o n c ilin g the world to H im self."72
Charles H. R oberson's 1938 address a r tic u la te d the
C h rist-c e n te re d premise which was b a sic to the l i f e o f the
Abilene platform :
The l i f e of Jesus is the knot in which a l l the
threads o f previous h is to ry are gathered u p , and
from which the threads of succeeding events again
div erg e. Men may r id ic u le th is or inveigh a g a in st
t h a t , but the main fa c ts are undeniable and are
not denied. Jesus remade the ev o lu tio n of h is to ry .
He stands f o r th , even in the estim atio n o f unsym
p a th e tic opponents, as the one p e rfe c t embodiment
of the d iv in e s p i r i t in human n a tu re . The conclu
sio n to which a l l our lin e s of thought p o in t is
th a t the b e l i e f in a d iv in e w ill ru lin g in and
d ire c tin g the course of h is to ry lo g ic a lly and
in e v ita b ly involves the b e l i e f th a t the h i s t o r i c a l
Jesus is the e te rn a l Christ. 73
72
Brown, op. c i t . , p. 22.
73
"Historic Evidences of Jesus Christ," Lectures,
1938, p. 138.
275
T h ro u g h o u t t h e p l a t f o r m 's f o u r d e c a d e s , C h r i s t was
f e a t u r e d a s t h e h e a r t and l i f e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . I n t h e
e a r l y 1 9 2 0 's , O s c a r S m ith d e f i n e d C h r i s t i a n i t y a s a s y s te m
74
o f r e l i g i o n r e v e a l e d i n C h r i s t an d e n e r g i z e d b y C h r i s t .
Y e a r a f t e r y e a r t h e l e c t u r e r s a f f i r m e d t h a t " t h e f o u n d a
t i o n s o f C h r i s t i a n h o p e r e s t s q u a r e l y on J e s u s , th e
c r u c i f i e d b u t r i s e n S a v i o r . " 7”* I n 1 9 2 3 , E. W. M cM illan
r e d u c e d t h e many s i d e s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y t o a s u c c i n c t
7 fi
f o r m u l a , " C h r i s t i n A c t i o n , " an d a g e n e r a t i o n l a t e r ,
L e o n a rd M u lle n s u n d e r s c o r e d t h e f o r m u la :
C h r i s t i a n i t y i s t h e r e l i g i o n o f a P e r s o n . The
c e n t e r and c o r e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y i s t h i s J e s u s o f
N a z a r e th . What i s C h r i s t i a n i t y ? The a n s w e r i s
o b v i o u s , " C h r i s t i a n i t y i s C h r i s t . " 7 7
The Word becam e f l e s h .- - T o t h e A b ile n e a s s e m b ly ,
J e s u s was " t h e B re a d o f L i f e , t h e W a te r o f L i f e , t h e Way,
t h e Good S h e p h e r d , t h e D o o r, t h e R e s u r r e c t i o n , t h e L i g h t
^ " C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h e R e v e l a t i o n o f C h r i s t , "
L e c t u r e s , 1922-192.3, p p . 3 1 4 -3 2 4 .
7 ~^J. P . S a n d e r s , "T he F o u n d a tio n o f C h r i s t i a n
H o p e ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 3 , p . 19.
7 6 ,'ih e C h r i s t o f C a l v a r y ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 2 -1 9 2 3 ,
p. 241.
77"Basis for Faith," Lectures, 1960, p. 11.
276
o f th e W o r l d . B u t le c tu r e r LeMoine Lewis cap tu red the
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c most b a s ic to C h r is t 's n a tu re by c i t i n g th e
opening words o f th e Gospel o f John:
In th e beginning was th e Word, and th e Word was w ith
God, and th e Word was God. The same was in th e
beginning w ith God. A ll th in g s were made through
Him; and w ith o u t Him was not anything made which
h ath been made. In Him was l i f e ; and th e l i f e was
th e l i g h t o f men. And the l i g h t s h in e th in the
d arkness; and th e darkness apprehended i t n o t. . . .
And th e Word became f l e s h , and dw elt among us (and
we beheld His g lo ry , g lo ry as o f th e only b eg o tten
o f th e F a t h e r ) , f u l l o f grace and tr u th .
Logos , th e Word, was a p h ilo s o p h ic a l term which
had long been immersed in th e r i c h t r a d it io n s o f Greek
th ought. But when i t was used to c h a ra c te riz e Jesus r e s t
le s s minds had many q u estio n s to ask: What is th e n a tu re
o f th e Logos? How was C h ris t b oth man and God? Were th e re
two gods , th e F a th e r and th e Son? The A bilene answer to
th e ag e le ss c h r is t o lo g ic a l co n tro v ersy can be sim ply
s ta te d : Although the human mind cannot f u lly conceive the
n a tu re o f C h r is t, His com plete humanity and com plete
d iv in i ty com pletely q u a lify Him to be man's s a v io r.
"This theme th a t Jesus is the Son o f God," d ec lared
Roy H. L an ie r in 1938, "God m an ifested in th e f l e s h , is th e
^®"The Word Became Flesh," Lectures , 1955, p. 21.
I l l
v e ry h e a r t o f th e G o s p e l, i t i s th e f o u n d a tio n upon w hich
7 9
e v e r y th in g e l s e r e s t s . The m ain p o i n t o f John T.
H in d s ’ s 1925 sp e e c h was t h a t C h r i s t was e t e r n a l l y w ith
God and a p a r t o f th e p la n o f re d e m p tio n b e f o r e th e w o rld
was fo u n d ed . He c o n te n d e d ?
J u s t how th e o n ly b e g o tte n so n o f God c o u ld be w ith
t h e f a t h e r b e f o r e He was made f l e s h and d w e lt among
men i s , o f c o u r s e , beyond human wisdom to e x p l a in ;
b u t t h a t does n o t r e n d e r th e f a c t l e s s t r u e . I f
man c o u ld s o lv e a l l th e s e c r e t s o f d i v i n i t y , he
w ould become God h i m s e l f . 8 0
Two y e a r s l a t e r , John T. S m ith so n sp o k e o f "The
D iv in e N a tu r e ." "The Son o f G od," h e s a i d , " b e in g b o th
d i v i n e and human i n n a t u r e , r e v e a l s p e r f e c t l y t o th e human
81
n a t u r e th e d i v i n e n a t u r e . "
The m ost s c h o l a r l y L e c tu r e s h ip i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f
th e c h r i s t o l o g i c a l p ro b lem was th e 1955 s p e e c h by LeMoine
L e w is, "The Word Became F l e s h ." Lew is t r a c e d th e h i s t o r i
c a l d i s p u t a t i o n s s u r ro u n d in g th e n a t u r e o f C h r i s t : th e
E b io n ite s e c t w h ich so u g h t to p r e s e r v e m onotheism by
J e s u s , th e M a n i f e s t a t i o n o f God i n th e F l e s h ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1938, p . 102.
80
" C h r i s t B e fo re th e C r o s s ," L e c tu r e s . 1 9 2 4 -1 9 2 5 ,
p. 166.
8lectures . 1926-1927, p. 224.
278
a s s e r tin g th a t Jesus was n o t God, th e D o c e tists who solved
th e problem by denying th e humanity o f C h r is t, th e G nostics
who made C h ris t one o f alm ost an endless su c cessio n o f
aeo n s.
A ll o f th e names which have been im m ortalized
because o f t h e i r connection w ith th e c h r is to lo g ic a l problem
were in tro d u ced by Lewis: th e A d o p tio n istic and M o d alistic
M onarchians, Irenaeus and th e Theory o f R e c a p itu la tio n ,
T e r tu ll ia n , O rigen, A rius , A lexander, M a rc e llu s, S e b e llia s ,
A p o llin a ris , N e s to riu s , E u ty ch es, and th e M onophysites.
The s ig n ific a n c e o f th e se men and issu e s was v iv id ly
p ic tu re d by Gibbon, who suggested th a t th e C h ris tia n world
s p l i t over a s in g le " i . " But to many, th e v i t a l d iffe re n c e
between "homoiousios" and "homo-ousious" was a su rre n d e r
o f th e f u l l d iv in i ty o f C h ris t.
I t was Lewis' judgment th a t th e endless p h ilo s o p h i
c a l sp e c u la tio n s d id l i t t l e except d iv id e and confuse. He
emphasized th a t a concept which could not be expressed in
th e language o f th e S c rip tu re s should not be bound upon
b e lie v e rs . "N icea," he su g g ested , "was doomed to f a i l
from th e f i r s t because 'hom o-ousian' was a p h ilo s o p h ic a l,
r a th e r than a s c r i p t u r a l term . . . P o in tin g to th e
279
d a n g e rs o f v a i n s p e c u l a t i o n s , Lew is com m ented:
I t was a lm o s t im p o s s ib le to w a lk t h e l i n e o f
o rth o d o x y . I t was so e a s y t o f a l l i n t o s u b o r d in a -
tio n i s m o r P a t r i p a s s i o n i s m , o r i n t r y i n g to s t a y
o u t o f A p o l l i n a r i a n i s m o r E u ty c h ia n is m t o f a l l
i n t o N e s to r ia n is m . . . . T h ese e a r l y c o n t r o v e r s i e s
p la y e d a b i g p a r t i n t h e r i s e o f t h e h i e r a r c h y
t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s th e m e d ie v a l c h u r c h . I n o r d e r
to c a r r y t h e i r p o i n t many s to o p e d t o p o l i t i c a l
t r i c k s u t t e r l y f o r e i g n t o C h r i s t i a n i t y . The
C hurch i n c o n t r o v e r s y su n k t o a v e r y low m o ra l
l e v e l . I n t r y i n g to d e f i n e th e n a t u r e o f C h r i s t
th e y l o s t th e s p i r i t o f C h r i s t . 8 2
Lew is c o n c lu d e d t h a t t h e G o sp el was n e v e r in te n d e d
to b e th e s u b j e c t o f p h ilo s o p h y . " L e t us n o t f o r g e t th e
le s s o n s o f th e p a s t . . . . L e t u s b e c o n t e n t w ith th e
s im p le f a i t h , 'T h e w ord becam e f l e s h and d w e lt among
The w ords o f H a r r is o n M a tth e w s 1 1956 s p e e c h a r e
a p t :
Mr. O p p en h eim er, th e a to m ic s c i e n t i s t , one tim e
s a i d , "The b e s t way t o e x p o r t an i d e a i s t o w rap
i t up i n a p e r s o n and se n d th e p e r s o n . " T h a t i s
j u s t e x a c t l y w h at God d i d when He r e v e a l e d Him
s e l f . He w rapped up th e i d e a o f H im s e lf i n th e
p e r s o n o f H is Son and s e n t H is own Son t o t h i s
o ld w o rld . T h u s, t h e L o rd s a i d on one o c c a s i o n ,
"When you h a v e s e e n me you h a v e s e e n th e F a t h e r . "
82
Lewis, op. cit. , p. 30.
8 3 ^ . , _
I b i d . , p . 31.
280
I f we would understand God, we must understand the
Lord Jesus Christ.84
The D eity o f C h r is t.--By 1920, the em pirical method
o f modem science and the f r u it s o f higher c r itic is m had
o p en ly , and to many co n v in cin g ly , challenged the d e ity of
C h rist. James F. Cox, a 1923 speaker, quoted Dr. Percy S.
G rant, m in iste r fo r the New York Episcopal church:
Very few clergymen today who have been educated in
the la rg e u n iv e r s i tie s , by which I mean places
where science as w ell as the c la s s ic s and mathe
m atics are ta u g h t—accept the idea th a t Jesus had
the power of God. . . . W e may accept the s p i r i t u a l
teachings o f C h rist as the b asis of our r e lig io n ,
b u t we need not b e lie v e th a t He has ascended and
is seated on the r ig h t hand of G o d .85
As a r e s u lt of the slash in g attac k s of lib e r a l
theology, " fiv e points of fundamentalism" had been adopted
at the Niagara Bible Conference in 1895 as a rebuttal
statement representing the conservative position.^ Four
of the five points, the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth,
Q A
^"Opportunities on Sunday Morning," Lectures ,
1956, pp. 109-110.
85"The A uthority of C h ris t," L ec tu re s, 1923-1924,
pp. 302-303.
8 6
William Maurice A iz e n sta t, "R eligious Fundamen
ta lism As an Aspect of American C ulture in the 1920's"
(unpublished M aster's th e s is , The U niversity of Southern
C a lifo rn ia , 1957), p. 18.
281
t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n a r y a t o n e m e n t, an d t h e p h y s i c a l r e s u r r e c
t i o n an d b o d i l y r e t u r n , w e re d e s ig n e d t o r e i n f o r c e t h e
b e l i e v e r ' s c o n f i d e n c e i n th e d i v i n i t y an d a u t h o r i t y o f
8 7
C h r i s t . The k e y t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i s t v ie w o f J e s u s and t h e m o d e r n i s t v ie w i s
fo u n d i n t h e d i s s i m i l a r a t t i t u d e w i t h w h ic h t h e o p p o s in g
f o r c e s a p p ro a c h e d Him. The c o n s e r v a t i v e r e s p e c t f o r
B i b l i c a l r e v e l a t i o n p ro d u c e d a n a p r i o r i fram ew o rk i n w h ic h
J e s u s was t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f t h e " p l a n o f s a l v a t i o n " w h ic h
h a d e n g a g e d t h e d i v i n e m ind fro m t h e b e g i n n i n g . M o d e rn ism ,
i n i t s h i s t o r i c a l a p p r o a c h t o J e s u s , i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e
p e r s o n a l i t y o f C h r i s t a s a f a c t o f h i s t o r y m u s t b e d i v o r c e d
fro m t h e fra m ew o rk o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n p e c u l i a r t o t h e f i r s t
c e n t u r y and r e i n t e r p r e t e d i n f r e s h and v i t a l te rm s f o r
every age. In short, the former approached Jesus primarily
a s a f a c t o f f a i t h ; t h e l a t t e r p r i m a r i l y a s a f a c t o f
history.8®
Jam es H a s t i n g s N i c h o l s , H i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y
1 6 5 0 -1 9 5 0 (New York: The R o n a ld Press Com pany, 1 9 5 6 ) ,
p. 273. Also see Walker, op. cit. , p. 517. These five
"fundamentals ," drawn at the Niagara Bible Conference in
1895 , w e re p o p u l a r l y a c c e p te d a s a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l i s t p o s i t i o n .
^ ^ S h i r l e y J a c k s o n C a s e , "T he L i f e o f J e s u s , " i n
Religious Thought in the Last Quarter Century, edited by
G e r a ld B ir n e y S m ith (C h ic a g o : The U n i v e r s i t y o f C h ic a g o
P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ) , p p . 2 6 -4 1 .
282
J u s t as d iffe re n c e s re g a rd in g th e god-concept did
n o t emerge as much from a q u e stio n o f God's e x is te n c e as
from th e d isc u ssio n s o f th e n a tu re o f th a t e x is te n c e , so
th e c e n te r o f th e c o n tro v e rsy over C h ris t was n o t to decide
w hether C h ris t was d iv in e , b u t to determ ine th e n a tu re of
th a t d iv in i ty . Was C h ris t t r u l y God, o r j u s t a man w ith
unique powers o f "God conscio u sn ess?" This was th e ques
tio n a t s ta k e , and th e Watchman-Examiner s ta te d th e terms
of th e debate as th e c o n se rv a tiv e s saw i t : "The B ible
and th e B ib le only can s e t t l e th e q u estio n s a t is s u e . L et
F undam entalists and L ib e ra ls come f o r th to b a t t l e armed
89
w ith t h e i r B ib le s ." W illiam Jennings Bryan p rese n ted
th e n a tu re o f C h ris t and th e type o f d iv in i ty to which the
fu n d am e n talists were devoted:
The B ib le , from beg in n in g to e n d , teaches th e d e ity
o f C h ris t. In th e Old T estam ent, His coming is
fo r e to ld and His d iv in e c h a ra c te r is p la in ly
announced. Seven hundred y ea rs b e fo re His in c a rn a
t i o n , I s a ia h s a i d , "He s h a l l be c a lle d m ighty God,
th e e v e rla s tin g F a th e r." . . . Matthew announces
th e v ir g in b i r t h o f J e s u s , who was " to save His
people from t h e i r s i n s ." Luke d e s c rib e s in g r e a te r
d e t a i l th e conception o f Jesus by th e Holy Ghost
89
As c i te d in W illiam Jennings Bryan, Seven Ques
tio n s in D ispute (New York: Fleming H. R e v e ll, 1924),
p. 53.
283
and sa y s t h a t " o f His kingdom t h e r e s h a l l be
no e n d ." 90
The l i b e r a l s a ls o s u b s c r ib e d to th e d i v i n i t y o f
91
C h r i s t , a lth o u g h a t b e s t i n d i r e c t l y . The d o c t r i n e o f
d iv in e immanence a p p e a re d to have i t s m ost s t r i k i n g e f f e c t s
upon th e t r a d i t i o n a l c o n c e p tio n s o f th e p e rs o n o f C h r i s t .
Those who a p p lie d th e d o c t r i n e lo o k ed f o r C h r i s t 's d i v i n i t y
in H is h u m a n ity , r a t h e r th a n i n some s u p e r n a t u r a l a r t o f
d e i t y . "D iv in e and human . . . w ere re c o g n iz e d as t r u l y
o n e ," s a i d P r e s i d e n t M c G iffe rt o f Union T h e o lo g ic a l
S em inary. " C h r i s t , t h e r e f o r e , i f human, m ust be d i v i n e ,
92
as a l l men a r e . " " E s s e n t i a l l y C h r i s t i s no more d iv in e
93
th a n we a r e o r th a n n a t u r e i s . The i n c a r n a t i o n o f God
i n C h r is t was c o n s id e re d an a n t i c i p a t i o n o f w hat a l l
h u m a n ity , i n th e c o u rs e o f th e e v o lu tio n a r y p r o c e s s , m ig h t
hope to become in th e f u t u r e . The i n c a r n a t i o n o f God in
C h r i s t was l i t t l e e l s e th a n th e i n c a r n a t i o n o f God i n a l l
men c a r r i e d to a s u p e r l a t i v e d e g re e . The l i b e r a l s th u s
90
Seven Q u e stio n s i n D i s p u t e , p p . 3 3 -3 4 . T h is
book i s p e rh a p s B ry a n 's b e s t s ta te m e n t o f th e d o c t r i n a l
p o s i t i o n o f fu n d am e n talism on th e is s u e s in v o lv e d .
91
F u rn is s , op. c i t . , p . 16.
92
H o rsch , op. c i t . , p . 207.
93Ibid. , p. 208.
284
concluded th a t th e h i s t o r i c a l Jesus had achieved in His
c h a ra c te r a l l th a t God ever intended o r expected o f His
c re a tio n and the p e r f e c t manhood which r e s u lte d could as
w ell be termed ’’d iv in e Sonship."
The A bilene p la tfo rm was d ed icated to th e defense
o f C h ris t as the p r e - e x is te n t Word, th e in c a rn a tio n o f God
in th e f l e s h , which was conceived o f th e Holy S p i r i t , born
o f a v i r g i n , re s u rre c te d from th e g rav e, and ascended in to
Heaven. In f a c t , th e m a jo rity of L ectu resh ip addresses
th a t d iscu ssed the person o f C h rist were designed to
re a ffirm h is sonship. "What th in k Ye of C h rist? Whose
Son is He?” was a q u estio n which more than f i f t y speeches
sought to answer. The 1938 program, w ith the s p e c ia l
theme, "Jesus C h ris t the S a v io r," was p a r tic u la r ly s i g n i f i
c a n t as testim ony .in answer to th e q u e stio n . I t is no
o verstatem ent to a s s e r t t h a t , to the A bilene le c t u r e r s ,
th e re was no middle ground; C h rist was e ith e r a l l or
nothing a t a l l . In 1923, E. W . McMillan summarized the
claim s o f C h rist:
Nine tim es He claim ed to have th e a u th o rity o f God.
N inety times i t is s a id th a t He affirm ed to be th e
Son o f God. T h irty -th re e times He d ec lared th a t He
was s e n t f o rth from God. T h irty -o n e tim es He sa id
He was th e Messiah of whom th e prophets w rote.
285
F iv e tim e s He c la im e d He w i l l b e ju d g e o f th e
n a t i o n s when t h e ag es s h a l l h a v e b e e n consum
m a te d . 94
C. R. N ic h o l, a v e t e r a n T exas p r e a c h e r m easu red
t h e s e c la im s a g a i n s t th e a c c u s a tio n s o f m o d ern ism , and
c o n c lu d e d :
I f C h r i s t i a n i t y i s n o t t r u e , C h r i s t was th e g r e a t e s t
d e c e iv e r e v e r among men. I f He was n o t t h e Son o f
God, He was a c o l o s s a l f r a u d . He was n o t a "good
man” i f He was n o t w hat He c l a i m e d - - t h e Son o f God.
L i a r s a r e n o t good m e n .95
M cM illan and N ic h o l s e l e c t e d la n g u a g e s t r i k i n g l y
i
s i m i l a r to t h a t w h ich W illia m J e n n in g s B ryan u s e d i n h i s
p o p u la r book Seven Q u e s tio n s i n D i s p u t e . B ryan a s s e r t e d :
" C h r i s t 's c la im s to D i v i n i t y w ere e i t h e r t r u e o r f a l s e ;
t h e r e i s no m id d le g ro u n d . . . . Was He an im p o s te r? I f
s o , He was th e g r e a t e s t im p o s te r o f a l l t i m e . " ^ A b ile n e
s p e a k e r J . P . S a n d e rs ' 1943 s p e e c h , "What K ind o f C h r i s t
I s th e Hope o f th e W o rld ," d e s c r i b e d th e l i b e r a l c o n c e p t
o f C h r i s t w h ich c a u se d th e A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s t o b e sym pa
t h e t i c to w ard B ryan and o t h e r p ro m in e n t l e a d e r s i n th e
94
M cM illan , o p . c i t . , p . 246.
95
" J e s u s C h r i s t , t h e Son o f G od," L e c t u r e s , 1946,
p . 93.
96
Bryan, op. cit. , p. 40.
286
n a tio n a l s tru g g le .
The e s s e n tia l elements o f C h r is tia n ity —th a t which
makes i t d i s t i n c t l y C h ristia n --h a v e been n eg lected
fo r a re lig io u s L ib eralism which is d i s t i n c t l y
u n c h r is tia n . . . . God no longer holds th e c e n tr a l
p la c e . The c e n tr a l p la ce . . . l i e s in th e in d i
v id u a l’s r e lig io u s experience which is q u ite d i f
f i c u l t o fte n fo r him to d efin e . . . In a sense
every man becomes a law unto h im self. . . .
C onsequently, th e re is no need fo r redem ption,
th e re is no need fo r a S a v io r, th e re is no need
fo r a s a c r i f i c e , th e re is no need fo r a death on
the cross re c o n c ilin g man to God.97
There were a t l e a s t two d i s t i n c t types of L ectu re
ship approach to lib e r a lis m 's emphasis upon the humanity
o f C h ris t. The f i r s t , e s p e c ia lly c h a r a c te r i s tic o f the
e a rly le c tu re programs , was a vigorous r e a c tio n of r id ic u le
and bombastic a tta c k . For in s ta n c e , in 1925, S ila s E.
Templeton summarily dism issed the iss u e in th ese words:
This f a ls e d o c trin e we are now co n sid erin g r e je c ts
God, C h r is t, th e Holy S p i r i t , the a p o s tle s , and
both th e Old and New T estam ents; and i t w ill
f in a ll y damn th e so u l o f the one th a t b e lie v e s and
teaches i t . 98
In 1927, John T. Smithson spoke of " th a t b r u t a l ,
b e a s tly , bloody, and C h ris tle s s theory th a t has been
97
L e c tu re s , 1943, pp. 2-3.
98
Templeton, op. cit., p. 35.
287
a d o rn e d by i t s d e v o te e s i n t h e f a s h i o n o f M odernism ,
R a t i o n a l i s m , and E v o l u t i o n ." Of t h i s " d o w n rig h t
i n f i d e l i t y , " S m ith so n s a i d : "We h a v e n e i t h e r tim e n o r
r e s p e c t f o r s u c h a t h e o r y , b u t d e n o u n c e i t w i t h a l l t h e
99
pow ers o f o u r b e i n g . "
C o n v e r s e ly , m o st l e c t u r e r s s u p p o r te d t h e i r b e l i e f
i n t h e d e i t y o f C h r i s t w i t h m ore r a t i o n a l and c a r e f u l l y
o r g a n iz e d e v id e n c e . W hereas t h e l e c t u r e r s who a tte m p te d
t o p ro v e G o d 's e x i s t e n c e em ployed p h i l o s o p h i c a l and m o ra l
a rg u m e n ts , t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f e v id e n c e a d v a n c e d to
d e m o n s tr a te t h e d e i t y o f C h r i s t was a lm o s t e x c l u s i v e l y
b a s e d upon t h e t e a c h i n g s o f th e B i b l e . C h a r le s H. R o b e r
s o n ’s 1938 l e c t u r e , " H i s t o r i c E v id e n c e s o f J e s u s C h r i s t , "
was one o f th e few e x c e p t i o n s . B e g in n in g w i t h t h e a d m it
ta n c e t h a t " p r a c t i c a l l y t h e o n ly s o u r c e s o f o u r k n o w led g e
o f J e s u s C h r i s t a r e th e c a n o n i c a l r e c o r d s o f M a tth e w , M ark,
L u k e , and J o h n ." ^ ^ ^ R o b e rso n s o u g h t t o e s t a b l i s h th e
^ S m i t h s o n , o p . c i t . , p . 223.
■ ^ ° R o b e rs o n , o p . c i t . , p . 126. R o b e rso n was c o
a u t h o r w i t h A. N. T r i c e o f t h e b o o k , B i b l e v e r s u s M odern
ism . A Compendium o f S u n d ry C r i t i c a l H y p o th e s e s and T h e ir
R e f u t a t i o n ( N a s h v i l l e : M cQ uiddy, 1 9 3 5 ). Norman F .
F u r n i s s , t h e " h i s t o r i a n o f t h e F u n d a m e n ta l is t c o n t r o v e r s y "
d e s c r i b e s i t a s an ex am p le o f " m o d e ra te F u n d a m e n ta l is t
p r o p a g a n d a ." The F u n d a m e n ta l is t C o n t r o v e r s y , 1 9 1 8 -1 9 3 1 ,
p . 187.
288
d iv in i ty o f C h ris t from s e c u la r evidence. The w ritin g s of
th e Talmuds, T a c itu s , P lin y , S e u to n iu s, and H egesippus,
" a l l so fa r as they go confirm th e fa c ts given in the New
101
Covenant." The a p o s to lic fa th e rs and th e a p o lo g ists
were also summoned by Roberson as w itn e sses " to th e g re a t
1 0 ?
fe a tu re s o f C h r is t’s l i f e . "
Speaking on th e same program w ith Roberson,
Melvin J. Wise employed an approach much more consistent
with the Lectureship norm. Assuming the authority of the
Bible, Wise used it as a basis for demonstrating the deity
of Christ:
It shall not be my mission to prove the infalli
bility of the Old Testament Scriptures , for I take
it th a t you accep t them u n reserv ed ly ; b u t my work
shall be to show that Jesus perfectly fulfilled
what was w r itte n in th e law o f Moses , th e p ro p h e ts ,
and the Psalms concerning Him.1^3
The evidences advanced in favor o f C h r is t 's
d iv in i ty embraced th re e prim ary asp ects of His e a rth ly
life: His character, His teachings, and His miracles.
Perhaps th e most prom inent means of proof was th e c h a ra c te r
•^•^B ib le v ersus Modernism . . . , pp. 127-129.
1 0 2 Ib id . , pp. 129-130.
1 03
Christ, the Fulfillment of Prophesy," Lectures,
1938, p. 29.
289
o f H is l i f e - I n 1923, O scar S m ith d e s c r ib e d Him a s " t h e
m ost lo v a b le c h a r a c t e r th e w o rld h a s e v e r s e e n , " ^ and i n
1 936, H orace W. Busby r e f e r r e d to th e " p u re n e s s o f H is
l i f e , " as a d e f i n i t e p r o o f o f H is d e i t y . T w o y e a rs
l a t e r , P a u l S o u th e r n ’s l e c t u r e , "The Mind o f C h r i s t , "
named o b e d ie n c e , p r a y e r , h u m i l i t y , f o r g i v e n e s s , and lo v e
a s th e e n d u rin g v i r t u e s o f C h r i s t 's c h a r a c t e r . D u rin g
t h e same s e r i e s o f l e c t u r e s , W. D. B i l l s sp o k e o f "The
In c o m p a ra b le C h r i s t , " and W. W. O tey d e c la r e d t h a t C h r i s t
l i v e d a " s i n l e s s l i f e o f p e r f e c t i o n " :
For nearly two thousand years the enemies of Jesus
h av e b e e n c r i t i c a l l y ex am in in g th e l i f e o f J e s u s .
. . . He s ta n d s b e f o r e e v e ry known s ta n d a r d o f law
known to m an, n o t o n ly n o t condem ned, b u t sinless.107
O th e r s p e a k e r s fo c u s e d a t t e n t i o n upon th e u n iq u e
n e s s and in f l u e n c e o f C h r i s t 's te a c h i n g s . In 1 9 2 5 , E lm er
Lee N ic h o ls a f f ir m e d t h a t th e e t h i c a l te a c h in g s o f J e s u s
e s t a b l i s h Him as t h e c h i e f c h a r a c t e r o f a l l h i s t o r y .
1 0 ^ 0 s c a r S m ith , o p . c i t . , p . 316.
l ° 5,'T h ese T h in g s A re W r itte n T h a t Ye M ight
B e l i e v e ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 6 , p . 132.
^ ^ L e c tu re s , 1938, p p . 7 0 -8 5 .
■^^"The Sinlessness of Jesus," Lectures . 1938,
pp. 105-106.
290
"Mr. H. G. W e lls," s a id N ich o ls, "p la c e s Jesus as th e
108
g r e a t e s t o f th e s ix forem ost c h a ra c te rs o f h i s t o r y ."
N ichols co n tin u ed :
Jesus s e t f o r th two p r in c ip le s which would b rin g
u n iv e rs a l p e a c e , provided th ey were f a i t h f u l l y
observed. F i r s t , Jesus i n s i s t e d th a t th e re is
an in e stim a b le v a lu e on human l i f e . . . .
S econdly, Jesus saw humanity as a u n iv e rs a l
brotherhood c a lli n g fo r m utual a id .
S ev eral ad d resses were p rim a rily designed to e x a lt
Jesus as th e "m aster te a c h e r ." In 1938, Hulen L. Jackson
suggested th a t Jesus was th e g r e a t head te a c h e r in an
" e d u c a tio n a l movement ."H O Leonard Mullens used th e words
o f John S tu a r t M ill: "Who among h is d is c ip le s or t h e i r
p ro s e ly te s were capable o f in v e n tin g th e sayings a sc rib e d
to Jesus or im agining th e l i f e and c h a ra c te r rev ea led in
th e G o s p e l . M u l l e n s p o in te d to th e o p in io n o f many
"The Man o f G a lile e ," L e c tu r e s , 1924-1925,
p. 45. The w r i te r o f th e b e s t s o c ia l h is to r y o f th e
1 9 2 0 's , F re d e ric k Lewis A llen (Only Y e ste rd a y , pp. 81, 124,
1 9 8 ), d e s c rib e d W e lls's O u tlin e o f H isto ry as a b e s t - s e l l e r
w ith a d is q u ie tin g in flu e n c e upon r e lig io u s orthodoxy.
109
I b i d . , p. 52.
^ ■ ^ "C h rist, a Teacher Come from God," L e c tu r e s ,
1938, pp. 60-61.
^Hlullens, op. cit. , p. 15.
291
A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s when he b o l d l y a s s e r t e d : "D u rin g t h e
n i n e t e e n h u n d red y e a r s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y i n t h e w o r ld , w ith
a l l o u r p r o g r e s s o f human th o u g h t and l i f e , n o t a s i n g l e
new e t h i c a l id e a h as b e e n d is c o v e r e d o u t s i d e th e te a c h in g
o f o u r L o r d . " ^ ^
A c c o rd in g to th e L e c tu r e s h ip s p e a k e r s , J e s u s n o t
o n ly came as a good man w ith a good m e s s a g e , b u t "He
b ro u g h t w ith Him H eaven’s c r e d e n t i a l s - - m i r a c l e s — and by
113
H is m ig h ty w orks p ro v e d t h a t He was th e Son o f G od."
I n th e r e l i g i o u s c o n tr o v e r s y f o llo w in g t h e f i r s t W orld
W ar, th e g e n e r a l q u e s tio n o f m i r a c l e s was n e v e r a m a jo r
p o i n t o f c o n t e n ti o n . The m o d e r n is t, o f c o u r s e , was
i n h o s p i t a b l e to a l l m ir a c le s w h i l e , f o r th e fu n d a m e n ta l
i s t , th e q u e s tio n was s e t t l e d i n t h e d o c t r i n e o f an
i n e r r a n t B i b le . Only th e v i r g i n b i r t h and th e r e s u r r e c t i o n
o f C h r i s t from th e d e a d , h o w ev e r, r a t h e r th a n t h e w hole
c a t a l o g o f s u p e r n a t u r a l e v e n t s , becam e th e t e s t i n g g ro u n d .
A t t h i s p o i n t th e s o - c a l l e d f u n d a m e n ta li s t was jo i n e d by
many m o d e ra te c o n s e r v a tiv e s and even by some who d id n o t
112
" B a s is f o r F a i t h , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 6 0 , p . 15. A lso
s e e F ra n k D unn's l e c t u r e , " J e s u s , th e M a s te r T e a c h e r ,"
L e c t u r e s . 1956.
Morgan, op. cit. , p. 164.
292
share the view of B ib lic a l inerran cy . E. C. Vanderlaan
wrote:
Many a C h ristia n who fin d s i t necessary to t r e a t
the book o f Jonah as an a lle g o ry , and who is not
q u ite sure about th e co n v e rsatio n a l powers of
Balaam's a s s , grows frig h ten ed when i t is p ro
posed to t r e a t these supposed events in the l i f e
of Jesus , th e v irg in b i r t h and the b o d ily r e s u r
re c tio n as legendary.
The fundam entalists waged th e ir defense fo r a l l B ib lic a l
m iracles on the case fo r the v irg in b i r t h and the r e s u r
re c tio n . Since they were v i t a l l y r e la te d to the very
substance of C h r is tia n ity , th e ir removal would n e c e s s ita te
a major m o d ificatio n of the orthodox d o c trin e about C h rist.
On the o th e r hand, i f th ese two m iracles could be demon
s tr a te d to be tr u e , a l l B ib lic a l claims o f su p e rn a tu ra l
in te rv e n tio n by C h rist and the ap o stles would autom atically
become more b e lie v a b le .
In h is statem ent on the " fiv e p o in ts ," Bryan
d escribed th e v irg in b i r t h as "th e p iv o ta l p o in t in the
p resen t c o n tro v e rs y ." ^ ^ He pointed to the record in
Matthew and Luke and appealed to the reasonableness of the
•^^Fundamentalism versus Modernism (New York: The
H. W . Wilson Company, 1925), pp. 9-10.
^ 5"The Fundamentals," Forum, July, 1923, p. 1668.
293
u n iq u e b i r t h a s e v id e n c e i n f a v o r o f t h e m i r a c l e . B e n ja m in
B. W a r f i e l d r e a s o n e d t h a t C h r i s t ' s s i n l e s s n e s s and t h e
s u p e r n a t u r a l n a t u r e o f h i s w ork c o u ld n o t b e e x p l a i n e d
11 6
a p a r t fro m a d i s t i n c t i v e l y s u p e r n a t u r a l b i r t h . J o h n
R oach S t r a t o n , i n h i s d e b a t e s w i t h t h e U n i t a r i a n C h a r le s F .
P o t t e r , a f f i r m e d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e v i r g i n b i r t h i n
t h e l i g h t o f b o th f a i t h an d s c i e n c e . G oing f u r t h e r , h e
a s s e r t e d t h a t O ld T e s ta m e n t p r o p h e s y and t h e te s tim o n y o f
M atthew an d Luke made t h e m i r a c l e p r o b a b l e , " H e re i s o n e
d o c t r i n e , " s a i d S t r a t o n , "u p o n w h ic h P r o t e s t a n t s , Roman
C a t h o l i c s , an d G reek C a t h o l i c s a l l s t a n d t o g e t h e r
The m o d e r n i s t s , m e a n w h ile , made much o f t h e f a c t
t h a t o n ly two o f t h e G o s p e ls c o n t a i n e d any r e f e r e n c e w h a t
s o e v e r to t h e a l l e g e d m i r a c l e . One w r i t e r o b s e r v e d t h e
a b s e n c e o f t h e d o c t r i n e i n t h e P a u l i n e e p i s t l e s an d t h e
J o h a n n in e w r i t i n g s an d c o n c lu d e d t h a t s i n c e i t e x e r c i s e d
no i n f l u e n c e o v e r t h e t e a c h i n g o f m o st o f t h e New T e s ta m e n t
w r i t e r s i t m u st n o t b e r e g a r d e d a s a t r a d i t i o n c e n t r a l t o
116
A m eric an J o u r n a l o f T h e o lo g y . J a n u a r y , 1 9 0 6 ,
p . 2 5 .
117
Jo h n R oach S t r a t o n , The Famous New Y ork
F u n d a m e n ta l is t- M o d e r n is t D e b a te s (New Y o rk : G eo rg e H.
D o ra n , C om pany, 1924) , p . 169.
294
ap o sto lic th in k in g , Others c a st aspersions upon the
h is t o r ic a l accuracy of the testimony of Matthew and
119
Luke. Above a l l , the lib e ra ls were unable to reconcile
the s c ie n tif ic method w ith the orthodox notion th a t Jesys
was m iraculously conceived by the Holy S p ir it and born of
the v irg in Mary w ithout b e n e fit of an ea rth ly fa th e r. In
a famous sermon, Dr. Fosdick consented th a t God sp e c ia lly
influenced C h ris t's b ir th but hastened to explain th a t the
firs t-c e n tu ry mind had phrased the b ir th of C hrist "in
terms of a b io lo g ic a l m iracle th a t our modern minds cannot
120
accep t." George A. Gordon, who contended th a t C hris
t ia n ity ought to dispense with m iracles , wrote:
The nearer to C hrist th a t men and women in th e ir
homes come, the le ss acceptable becomes th a t
m iracle, the le ss compatible w ith th e ir own l i f e
and hope. Besides, i t s trik e s them as an awkward
m ira c le . 1 2 1
The bodily re su rre c tio n of C hrist from the grave
was considered by orthodoxy to be the supreme sign for the
118
Rush Rhees, American Journal of Theology,
January, 1906, p. 19.
119
B. W . Bacon, American Journal of Theology,
January, 1906, pp. 9-10.
120
Bryan, Seven Questions in D ispute, pp. 49-50.
1 21
R eligion and M iracle (New York: Houghton
M ifflin Company, 1909), p. 99.
295
t r u t h o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . A p p e a lin g t o t h e l a n g u a g e o f
P a u l , " I f C h r i s t b e n o t r i s e n , t h e n i s o u r f a i t h v a i n , "
m i l l i o n s o f w o rd s w e r e s p o k e n an d w r i t t e n b y t h e fu n d a m e n
t a l i s t s i n t h e 1 9 2 0 's i n a n e f f o r t t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t
122
a c t u a l l y b ecam e o f t h e b o d y o f J e s u s . E . Y. M u l l e n s ,
t h e l o n g - t i m e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e S o u t h e r n B a p t i s t T h e o l o g i c a l
S e m i n a r y , d e a l t a t l e n g t h w i t h t h e m i r a c l e o f t h e b o d i l y
r e s u r r e c t i o n i n h i s b o o k , Why I s C h r i s t i a n i t y T r u e ? He
p o i n t e d t o t h e d e t a i l e d r e c o r d s fro m t h e f o u r G o s p e ls , t h e
t e s t i m o n y o f t h e A p o s t l e P a u l , a n d t h e m a jo r p a r t w h ic h
t h e m i r a c l e p l a y e d i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e C h r i s t i a n
c h u r c h a s e v i d e n c e i n f a v o r o f i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y . He a l s o
r e v ie w e d a n d r e f u t e d t h e a l t e r n a t i v e t h e o r i e s a d v a n c e d t o
e x p l a i n t h e e m p ty to m b : t h a t t h e d i s c i p l e s s t o l e t h e
b o d y , t h a t J e s u s d i d n o t d i e b u t m e r e l y s w o o n e d , t h a t t h e
p o s t - r e s u r r e c t i o n w i t n e s s e s m e r e l y h a d a h a l l u c i n a t i o n o r
saw a v i s i o n . M u lle n s w e l l summed t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e c a s e :
" C h r i s t i a n i t y s t a n d s o r f a l l s w i t h t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f
J e s u s . T he i s s u e may a s w e l l b e s q u a r e l y f a c e d . O th e r
* ■ ^1 . M. H a ld e m a n , A K i n g 's P e n k n i f e o r Why I Am
O p p o sed t o M o d e rn ism (New Y o rk : F r a n c i s Em ory F i t c h , I n c . ,
1 9 2 9 ) , p p . 2 9 - 3 8 . H a ld e m a n 's v o lu m e i s t y p i c a l o f t h e
h u n d r e d s o f b o o k s , p a m p h l e t s , a n d a r t i c l e s w h ic h w e re
p r i n t e d fro m 1915 t o 1930 i n d e f e n s e o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e
b o d i l y r e s u r r e c t i o n .
296
m ira c le s o f C h ris t a re easy to accep t i f t h i s one took
1 oo
p la c e . Our hope is b u i l t on i t . "
The m o d e rn ists, on th e o th e r hand, re fu se d to
b e lie v e in o r even to g ra n t th e n e c e s s ity f o r th e d o c trin e
o f b o d ily r e s u r r e c tio n . " I do not b e lie v e ," announced
Dr. Fosdick a t th e Yale le c tu r e s on p re a c h in g , " in th e
TO/
r e s u r r e c tio n o f th e f l e s h ." A scrib in g to Jesus a con
tin u e d s p i r i t u a l e x is te n c e in th e liv e s o f His f o llo w e r s ,
th e l i b e r a l s drew t h e i r i n s p i r a tio n from P a u l's concept o f
an emergence o f C h r i s t 's s p i r i t from th e re g io n o f th e
dead r a th e r th an from th e a lle g e d ly c o n fu se d , m utually
c o n tr a d ic to r y , and m a te r ia liz e d form o f th e orthodox
125
t r a d i t i o n o f b o d ily r e s u r r e c tio n in th e G ospels.
D iscounting th e p l a u s i b i l i t y o f a b o d ily r e s u r r e c ti o n ,
Dean R ash d all d e sc rib e d th e m o d e rn istic b a s is fo r b e l i e f
in th e d e ity o f C h r is t.
1 2 3 E. Y. M ullens, Why Is C h r is tia n ity T rue?
(P h ila d e lp h ia : American B a p tis t P u b lish in g S o c ie ty ,
1921), p. 312.
124
Harry Emerson F o sd ick , The Modern Use o f th e
B ib le (New York: M acmillan Company, 1924), p. 98.
125
Durant D rake, Problems o f R e lig io n : An I n t r o
du cto ry Survey (New York: Houghton M iff lin Company,
1916), p. 85.
297
B ut i n th e p r e s e n t s t a t e o f o u r know ledge o f th e
k in d o f c a u s a l i t y w h ich i s d is c o v e r e d i n th e
r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n m ind and m in d , o r b e tw e e n mind
and b o d y , t h e r e i s n o th in g t o b e s a i d a g a i n s t
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f an a p p e a ra n c e o f C h r i s t to
H is d i s c i p l e s , w h ich was a r e a l th o u g h s u p e r
n o rm al p s y c h o lo g ic a l e v e n t , b u t w h ich in v o lv e d
n o th in g w h ich c a n p r o p e r l y b e sp o k en o f a s a
s u s p e n s io n o f n a t u r a l l a w .126
I n k e e p in g w ith th e l a r g e r n a t i o n a l s t r u g g l e , th e
two m ir a c le s w hich f i g u r e d m o st p ro m in e n tly i n t h e A b ile n e
e v id e n c e f o r th e d i v i n i t y o f C h r i s t w ere a l s o t h e v i r g i n
b i r t h and t h e b o d i l y r e s u r r e c t i o n . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t ,
h o w e v e r, t h a t th e l a t t e r r e c e i v e d f a r g r e a t e r L e c tu r e s h ip
a t t e n t i o n th a n th e fo rm e r. Not o n ly w ere th e A b ile n e
s p e a k e r s c o m p le te ly s i l e n t on t h e q u e s t i o n o f th e v i r g i n
b i r t h d u r in g th e t e n s e 1 9 2 0 's , b u t th e y a l t o g e t h e r ig n o r e d
th e s u b j e c t f o r th e f i r s t tw e n ty y e a r s o f t h e p l a t f o r m 's
h i s t o r y . I n 1 9 3 8 , G lenn L. W a lla c e becam e th e f i r s t
s p e a k e r t o d e v o te an e n t i r e l e c t u r e t o th e s u b j e c t . He
d e s c r ib e d th e c e n t r a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e d o c t r i n e :
One o f th e f o u n d a tio n s to n e s t h a t h e l p s t o p ro v e
J e s u s to b e t h e Son o f God i s H is v i r g i n b i r t h . .
. . The C h r i s t i a n b e l i e v e s t h a t J e s u s was b o rn
as th e S c r i p t u r e s te a c h . He b e l i e v e s t h a t J e s u s
h ad an e a r t h l y m o th e r b u t t h a t H is f a t h e r was
1 26
K irso p p L a k e , The H i s t o r i c a l E v id e n c e f o r th e
R e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t (New Y ork: Putnam Company,
1907), p. 269.
298
God th e f a th e r o f th e u n iv e rs e . He b e lie v e s t h a t
i f C h r is t was n o t born o f a v i r g in th e n th e whole
o f th e B ib le is unworthy o f th e c o n s id e ra tio n o f
man as an in s p ir e d Book. . . .127
In 1943, J . P. Sanders ch a lle n g e d th o se denying
th e v i r g i n b i r t h to e x p la in a s i n l e s s l i f e on th e p a r t o f
a human p e rso n . A fte r s t a t i n g t h a t H arry Emerson F osdick
viewed th e " v ir g in b i r t h as a b io lo g i c a l m ira c le our minds
cannot a c c e p t," Sanders co u n tered w ith a quote from A. B.
Bruce: "A s i n l e s s man i s as much a m ira c le in th e m oral
1 OQ
w orld as a v i r g i n b i r t h in th e p h y s ic a l w o rld ."
Of much g r e a t e r s ig n if ic a n c e in term s o f L e c tu re
s h ip a t t e n t i o n was th e m ira c le o f th e r e s u r r e c ti o n .
E. W. McMillan s e t th e to n e f o r most subsequent d is c u s s io n s
o f th e r e s u r r e c ti o n when he s a id i n 1923: "T here is too
129
much i n t e r n a l evidence to adm it o f re a so n a b le d o u b t."
McMillan p o in te d to th e " b e a u tif u l harmony o f testim o n y in
th e fo u r G o sp e ls," th e many p o s t- r e s u r r e c ti o n eye
w itn e sse s , and th e f a i t h and d e v o tio n o f th e e a r ly
127nTh e v i r g i n B i r t h ," L e c tu re s , 1938, pp. 44-45. .
1 oo
Sanders , "What Kind o f C h r is t Is th e Hope o f
th e W orld," p. 6 .
1 ?Q
"The Christ of Calvary," Lectures, 1922-1923,
p. 246.
299
d i s c i p l e s as g iv in g v e r a c i t y to th e t r u t h o f th e m i r a c l e .
Jo h n T. S m ith 's 1938 a d d r e s s , "The R e s u r r e c t i o n o f
th e C h r i s t , " was t h e o n ly l e c t u r e d e v o te d e x c l u s i v e l y to
t h i s fu n d a m e n ta l o f f a i t h . S m ith i n t r o d u c e d h i s s p e e c h by
p o i n t i n g to th e v i t a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n i n th e
C h r i s t i a n sy ste m :
The o u t s t a n d i n g e v e n t o f w o rld h i s t o r y i s th e
r e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t . No o t h e r i s com
p a r a b l e t o i t . No e v e n t , upon e i t h e r th e s a c r e d
o r th e s e c u l a r p a g e , h a s w ro u g h t s u c h m a rv e lo u s
c h a n g es upon t h e w o rld o f m an k in d . V e r i l y , th e
r e s u r r e c t i o n o f C h r i s t i s t h e c e n t e r o f th e a g e s .
A ll t h a t w en t b e f o r e i t p o i n t e d fo rw a rd to i t .
A l l th in g s s i n c e p o i n t b ack w ard t o i t , and h a v e
b e e n m oulded by i t . H is r e s u r r e c t i o n i s th e
pow er w h ich tr a n s f o r m s t h e w o r ld , and form s th e
o n ly g ro u n d f o r th e C h r i s t i a n 's hope o f a n o t h e r
l i f e . 1 3 0
"The r e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t , " s a i d P a u l
S o u th e rn i n 1 9 4 0 , " i s th e c e n t r a l triu m p h o f H is l i f e . " '^ '* '
J . P. S a n d e rs ech o ed t h i s em p h asis i n 1943: "The r e v i v i
f i c a t i o n o f th e c r u c i f i e d body o f J e s u s i s t h e f o u n d a tio n
on w h ich C h r i s t i a n i t y r e s t s . . . . B e lie v e i t and a l l
^•30Lectures, 1938, p. 189.
131iiThe Triumph of the King," Lectures , 1940,
p. 264.
300
o th e r m irac les a re easy. Deny i t and a l l th e o th ers make
no d i f f e r e n c e . " '^
"Now e ith e r human hands removed th a t body,"
p o s tu la te d Leonard Mullens , o r superhuman power ra is e d up
133
Jesus from th e dead." In answer to th is q u e stio n ,
Mullens and o th e rs d iscu ssed the v ario u s " s k e p tic a l
hypotheses" th a t have been suggested to ex p lain away the
re s u r r e c tio n : C h ris t was not dead b u t m erely unconscious,
His body was taken by a u th o r itie s o r s to le n by d i s c i p l e s ,
th e a p o stle s were m erely e x c ite d , th e sto ry is only a myth.
John T. Smith summarized h is study and a c c u ra te ly expressed
th e unanimous L ectu resh ip a t t i t u d e toward the re s u r re c tio n :
Then W H A T DID BECO M E OF THE BODY? And a mighty
chorus of voices breaks f o r th in thunderous
r o a r , ch allen g in g the tem pest’s lo u d est shock,
and resounding to e a r t h 's rem otest bounds, "He
arose from th e dead. He is a l i v e . "134
"And I , i f I be l i f t e d u p , w ill draw a l l men unto
me" Reverence fo r a re s u rre c te d Lord was the lif e - g iv in g
fo rce which annually drew thousands to the L ec tu re sh ip .
•^^S an d ers, "What Kind of C h rist Is the Hope o f
th e W orld," p. 15.
M ullens, op. c i t . , p. 16.
■^^John T. Smith, op. cit. , p. 194.
301
I t i s r e l e v a n t to o b s e r v e t h a t t h e l y r i c s o f a m oving hymn
fo u n d t h e i r way w i t h am azing r e g u l a r i t y i n t o t h e re m a rk s
o f d o z e n s o f A b ile n e s p e a k e r s . A so n g w h ic h form ed t h e
c o n c lu d in g s t a t e m e n t o f t h r e e m a jo r a d d r e s s e s d u r in g th e
135
1938 s e r i e s and s e r v e d as t h e alm a m a te r f o r m ore th a n
f o r t y y e a r s o f L e c t u r e s h i p sp e e c h m a k in g .
A l l h a i l t h e pow er o f J e s u s ' name!
L e t a n g e ls p r o s t r a t e f a l l ,
B rin g f o r t h t h e r o y a l d ia d e m ,
And crow n Him L o rd o f a l l !
L e t e v e r y k i n d r e d , e v e ry t r i b e
On t h i s t e r r e s t r i a l b a l l ,
To Him a l l m a j e s t y a s c r i b e ,
And crow n Him L o rd o f a l l !
T he H oly S p i r i t
The t h i r d member o f t h e G odhead r e c e i v e d s c a n t
a t t e n t i o n a t th e A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p . A lth o u g h th r o u g h
th e y e a r s t h e r e w ere num erous r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e n a t u r e and
w ork o f t h e H oly S p i r i t , n o t a s i n g l e m a in a d d r e s s was
e x c l u s i v e l y d e s ig n e d t o d e l i n e a t e t h a t n a t u r e , and o n ly one
l e c t u r e r d i s c u s s e d i n d e p t h t h e w ork o f t h e H oly S p i r i t ;
P a u l S o u th e r n , W. W. O te y , an d C la r e n c e C.
M organ q u o te d th e v e r s e t o c o n c lu d e t h e i r 1938 s p e e c h e s .
I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t t h e b o o k , The Famous New Y ork
F u n d a m e n ta l is t- M o d e r n is t D e b a te s (p . 2 5 6 ) , b y Jo h n R oach
S t r a t o n , " t h e pope o f F u n d a m e n ta lis m ," a l s o c l o s e s w i t h
t h e s e l y r i c s .
302
and even th a t 1957 speech by John H. B a n iste r was lim ite d
to "The Indw elling o f th e Holy S p i r i t . ” In re c e n t years
s e v e ra l panel d isc u ssio n s on the Holy S p i r i t were presented.
B a ts e ll B a rre tt Baxter c h a ra c te riz e d the Holy
S p i r i t by saying:
The th ir d member of th e Godhead is th e Holy S p ir i t.
He has the same n a tu re and essence as God and C h rist.
Like them, He is r e f e r r e d to by a p erso n al pronoun
and always in th e m asculine gender. The Holy S p i r i t
i s always mentioned th ir d when spoken o f in the
B ible in connection w ith the o th e r two members of
th e Godhead. He is spoken o f in the New Testament
as th e means by which man would be guided and
in s tru c te d . He is our C om forter.136
Je sse P. Sewell sought to id e n tif y the Holy S p ir i t
in h is 1942 speech:
The same " S p i r i t of God" th a t "moved upon th e face
o f th e w aters in th e process o f th e o rg a n iz a tio n
o f th e e a r th , th e heavens, and the se a. The same
S p i r i t th a t f i l l e d Jesus w ithout measure. The same
S p i r i t promised by Him to the a p o s tle s , and which
came on P en te co st to make the m a te ria l He had p re
pared in to a liv in g church, and to in s p ire the
d is c ip le s th a t they might preach th e gospel. The
same S p i r i t th a t in s p ire d the w ritin g o f the
B ib le .137
Although L ectureship inform ation reg ard in g the
n a tu re o f th e Holy S p i r i t was s c a rc e , se v e ra l speakers
136
Baxter, op. cit. , p. 24.
^^Sewell, op. cit. , pp. 47-48.
303
d i s c u s s e d th e w ork o f t h e H oly S p i r i t . I n 1 9 2 7 , W. D.
C am p b ell s t r e s s e d t h a t th e S p i r i t i n s p i r e d t h e w r i t e r s o f
t h e B i b l e and w orks to d a y th r o u g h t h e t e a c h i n g s o f t h e
B i b l e . "H o ly men o f God s p a k e a s th e y w e re moved b y t h e
H oly S p i r i t . . ." s a i d C a m p b e ll. " I n t h i s s e n s e t h e
S p i r i t t e s t i f i e s , and i s a w i t n e s s f o r C h r i s t on e a r t h .
T h is we c a n u n d e r s t a n d . What h e d o e s m o re , we do n o t know ,
and we s h o u ld n o t s e e k t o becom e w is e ab o v e t h a t w h ic h i s
w r i t t e n . "138
*
I n 1 9 4 0 , F o r r e s t R. W a ld ro p , a t t a c k i n g t h e d o c t r i n e
o f t h e d i r e c t o p e r a t i o n o f t h e S p i r i t i n m an’ s s a l v a t i o n ,
im p lie d a g re e m e n t w i t h C a m p b e ll's p r e m is e t h a t t h e H oly
S p i r i t ' s c h i e f w ork was w ro u g h t i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e
B i b l e . "T h o se who c o n te n d t h a t t h e S p i r i t o p e r a t e s
d i r e c t l y u p o n t h e h e a r t o f m an, o v e r lo o k t h e f a c t s o f t h e
G o s p e l," a s s e r t e d W a ld ro p . " F o r i n e v e r y c o n v e r s io n t h e
13 9
w ord o f God was p r e a c h e d by m e n ."
O th e r s p e a k e r s , n o t c o n t e n t t o l i m i t t h e a c t i v i t y
o f th e S p i r i t t o t h e w ork o f i n s p i r i n g and e n e r g i z i n g th e
138” The T h re e W i t n e s s e s ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 6 -1 9 2 7 ,
p . 114.
139
"How to Become a Citizen of the Kingdom,"
Lectures, 1940, p. 115.
304
word, su g g ested th a t th e Holy S p i r i t dw ells c o n s ta n tly
w ith in th e h e a r t o f th e b e l ie v e r . J e s s e P. Sew ell took
is s u e w ith th o se who ta u g h t t h a t 1 1 th e S p i r i t dw ells in
C h ris tia n s through th e word and only s o ." He added th a t
th e S p i r i t w ith in th e h e a r t is th e u ltim a te so u rce o f power
in p ra y e r. "This is one way a t l e a s t in which he h e lp s our
i n f i r m i t i e s , in a manner in which th e word c a n n o t." 14^
In th e e a r ly moments o f th e p la tfo rm , John C.
T a y lo r 's sp e ech , " P e te r , B efore and A fte r P e n te c o s t,"
a t t r i b u t e d a d r a s t i c change in P e t e r 's l i f e to th e workings
o f th e S p i r i t w ith in him. "T his change i s accounted fo r
by th e f a c t th a t he had been 'b e g o tte n ag ain to a li v e l y
hope by th e r e s u r r e c ti o n o f Jesus C h r is t from th e d e a d ." '
T aylor c lo sed w ith th e words: "He was now f i l l e d w ith th e
Holy S p i r i t . " 1 4 1
John H. B a n is te r 's d is c u s s io n o f th e in d w e llin g
S p i r i t was p re fa c e d w ith th i s adm ission:
I t is f r e e ly ad m itted th a t th e in d w e llin g o f th e
Holy S p i r i t i n th e liv e s and h e a r ts o f C h ris tia n s
i s a g r e a t m ystery which we can n e i th e r com pletely
u n d ersta n d n or f u l l y e x p la in . Y e t, we must n o t
deny th i s w e ll a t t e s t e d f a c t , because o f th e
m ystery surro u n d in g i t . W e make a s e rio u s m istak e
14®Sewell, op. cit. , pp. 48, 49.
141Lectures, 1925-1926.
305
when we r e j e c t th e m y s tic a l and in c o m p re h e n s ib le
i n r e l i g i o n . C h r i s t i a n i t y h as many deep and p r o
found m y s te r ie s w hich we can n e v e r f u l l y u n d e r s ta n d
i n t h i s l i f e . 2A 2
The c h i e f c o n t r i b u t i o n o f B a n i s t e r 's a d d re s s was
th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f se v en ways i n w hich th e Holy S p i r i t
" c o m fo rts " th e c h i l d o f God: g iv e s p r o o f o f s o n s h ip , p r o
v id e s s t r e n g t h and h e lp i n C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g , in t e r c e d e s i n
p r a y e r , p ro d u ces good f r u i t , p ro d u ces an i n c e n t i v e f o r
h o l i n e s s , i n s p i r e s h o p e , and g u a r a n te e s im m o r t a lit y .
B a n i s t e r c o n c lu d e d : "We sh o u ld be th a n k f u l t h a t God, in
h i s m ercy , h a s made su ch a g r a c io u s p r o v is io n f o r o u r h e lp
1 / * 5
and e n c o u ra g em e n t."
The Human R esponse
The W orld C o n feren ce on F u ndam entals a t P h ilad e lp h ia
i n 1919 d e c la r e d : "We b e l i e v e t h a t th e Lord J e s u s C h r i s t
d ie d f o r o u r s i n s a c c o rd in g to th e S c r i p t u r e s as a r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e and s u b s t i t u t i o n a r y s a c r i f i c e ; and t h a t a l l t h a t
b e l i e v e i n Him a r e j u s t i f i e d on th e ground o f H is shed
l42,iThe indwelling of the Holy Spirit," Lectures ,
1957, p. 62.
143Ibid. , p. 71.
306
blood. In the tr a d itio n a l orthodox in te r p r e ta tio n ,
C h ris tia n ity is e s s e n tia lly a su p ern atu ral means or method
o f sa lv a tio n . Human h is to ry is viewed w ithin the framework
o f an o rig in a l d iv in e c re a tio n , followed by the f a l l of
man, which n e c e ss ita te d a s p e c ia l p rovision o f divine grace
145
fo r h is redemption. The d o ctrin e of s u b s titu tio n a ry
atonement was one of the fiv e points upon which fundamen
ta lism was hinged. And one o f the sources o f loudest
complaint ag ain st lib e ra lis m was i t s n eg lect of emphasis
"on the e ffic a c y of the shed blood." Through the love of
God, the s in le s s C h rist had o ffered him self as an atonement
fo r the sin s of the w orld, thus becoming man's personal
sa v io r from the predicament of humanity.
Although th e in d iv id u al Abilene addresses yielded
a wide array o f ideas about the Godhead, i t s p e r s o n a liti e s ,
th e i r work and n a tu re , the combined voice of the L ecture
ship chorus d e c isiv e ly named love as the dominant charac
t e r i s t i c of God's p e rso n a lity ; and the p la tfo rm 's
crescendo—the most abundantly quoted passage of S crip tu re
in the 681 lectu res--w as John 3:16: "For God so loved the
1 A .A
Current C h ristia n T hinking, p. 73.
■ ^ B u r tt, op. c i t .
307
w o r ld t h a t He g a v e H is o n l y b e g o t t e n S on; t h a t w h o s o e v e r
s h o u l d b e l i e v e o n Him m ig h t n o t p e r i s h , b u t h a v e l i f e
e v e r l a s t i n g . " T h is t e x t , w h ic h w as q u o te d v e r b a t i m i n t h e
p u b l i s h e d m a n u s c r i p t s m o re t h a n o n e h u n d r e d tim e s , fo rm e d
t h e t o p i c a l b a s i s f o r a l m o s t a d o z e n a d d r e s s e s . E . W.
M c M illa n s p o k e i n 1924 o n "God I s L o v e " :
W hat men c a l l t h e p o w e r , t h e la w , t h e b e a u t y an d
t h e h arm o n y o f God a r e o n l y t h e f r u i t s o f H is
l o v e . I n l o v e t h e y w e r e c o n c e iv e d a n d o u t o f
l o v e t h e y g re w . K now ing t h i s , t h e A p o s t l e J o h n
s a i d , "God i s L o v e . " 1^
The f o l l o w i n g y e a r , S i l a s E . T e m p le to n a s s e r t e d :
" J o h n 3 :1 6 c o v e r s a l l o f G o d 's d e a l i n g w i t h t h e hum an
f a m i l y s i n c e t h e f a l l i n t h e G a rd e n o f E d en t o t h i s p r e s e n t
t i m e . ” ^ ^ C h a d d i c k 's a d d r e s s i n 1938 r e f e r r e d t o t h i s
p a s s a g e a s t h e " g o l d e n t e x t " a n d t h e " l i t t l e B i b l e , "
b e c a u s e " i t seem s t o e n f o l d w h a t t h e r e s t o f t h e B i b l e
seem s t o u n f o l d . I n 1 9 4 2 , W. B. W e s t, J r . , c a l l e d t h e
p a s s a g e " t h e m o s t w o n d e r f u l s e n t e n c e e v e r w r i t t e n , " an d
d e s c r i b e d i t a s " t h e th e m e o f t h e e n t i r e B i b l e e x p r e s s e d
146L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 4 - 1 9 2 5 , p . 1 3 8 .
^ 4 ^ " G o d 's L ove f o r t h e W o r ld ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 4 - 1 9 2 5 ,
p . 30.
^4^Chaddick, op. cit., p . 1.
308
149
in one v e r s e .” • In 1948, C arl Spain t i t l e d h is le c tu r e ,
”God So Loved the W orld," and in 1958, H. A. Dixon was
assigned th e to p ic , "God Is Love." Dixon s ta te d :
Men d e sc rib e John 3:16 as th e golden te x t o f the
B ib le. I t is a f i t t i n g d e s c r ip tio n , because th is
passage is an epitome o f th e e x te n t o f God's love.
He so loved the world th a t He gave His son to d ie
in our s t e a d .150
Roy O sborne's words in 1960 summarized th is c h ie f
co rn ersto n e o f L ectu resh ip speechmaking:
Even a cursory study o f th e B ible w ill impress one
w ith th e f a c t th a t th e o u tstan d in g c h a r a c te r i s tic
o f God is love. Not love th a t He h a s , or love th a t
He e x h i b i t s , but love th a t He i s . W e a re to ld in
the B ible th a t God is lo v e .151
I f John 3:16 was the L e c tu re s h ip 's key v e rs e , one
o f th e phrases w ith in th e v e rse contained a key L ectureship
concept: " . . . th a t whosoever should believed . . ."
"There is a human as w ell as a d iv in e sid e to God's plan
o f s a lv a tio n ," d ec lared W . D. Campbell, "and i f we are
f i n a l l y lo s t . . . i t w ill be because we did not work out
^ ^ " G o d 's Love Through Jesus C h r is t, His Son,"
L e c tu re s , 1942, p. 56.
^■^Dixon, op. c i t . , p. 31.
151"The Nature of Man," Lectures, 1960, pp. 190-
191.
309
152
o u r own s a l v a t i o n w ith f e a r and t r e m b l i n g .” The human
s i d e o f s a l v a t i o n can b e o b se rv e d th ro u g h a n a l y s i s o f th e
two do m in an t them es w hich th e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s p r e s e n te d :
th e n a t u r e o f man and th e scheme o f re d e m p tio n .
The N a tu re o f Man
One o f th e p o in ts o f c l e a r e s t d i s t i n c t i o n betw een
th e sp eechm aking a t th e A b ile n e L e c tu r e s h ip and th e t y p i c a l
em phasis o f th e f u n d a m e n ta lis t movement c e n te r e d i n th e
d i f f e r e n c e o f p h ilo s o p h y r e g a r d in g m an 's n a t u r e . S in c e th e
b a s i c th e o lo g y o f fu n d a m e n ta lism was C a l v i n i s t i c , th e
movement was s a t u r a t e d w ith C a l v i n ’s sy ste m o f p r e d e s t i n a
t i o n and e l e c t i o n . W hile n o t a l l o f fu n d a m e n ta lism
s u b s c r ib e d t o th e d o c t r i n e o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n , many o f th e
r e l i g i o u s b o d ie s w ere e s s e n t i a l l y C a l v i n i s t i c and v i r t u a l l y
a l l o f th e g e n u in e ly t h e o l o g i c a l v o ic e s o f th e movement
w ere p r e d e s t i n a r i a n . B r id g e s ' b o o k , The God o f Fundamen
t a l i s m , w hich m ig h t b e more a c c u r a t e l y t i t l e d , The D o c tr in e
o f S in and S a lv a tio n i n C a lv in is m , c a u s t i c a l l y a s s a i l e d th e
movement i n term s o f i t s p r e d e s t i n a r i a n p r e d i l e c t i o n s .
Though th e y make th e s t r a n g e s t o f b e d f e l lo w s , i t m ust be
152
"The Gospel, the Power of God unto Salvation,"
Lectures, 1922-1923, p. 214.
made c le a r th a t th e A bilene spokesmen would d e lig h t in
every c u ttin g s tro k e o f B ridges' pen, in s o fa r as he b e ra te s
153
th e c r e d u lity o f the d o c trin e of p re d e s tin a tio n .
On th e o th e r hand, th e A bilene le c tu r e r s would
hasten, to th e defense o f c l a s s i c a l fundam entalism ’s i n s i s t
ence upon th e d o c trin e o f man’s in so lu b le g u i l t and
dependence upon God’s g race. Each viewed man as a s p i r i t
u a l c re a tu re formed in th e very image of God; and each
conceded th a t man had been deceived by Satan and had
v o lu n ta r ily co rru p ted h is n a tu re by tu rn in g h is back upon
God in Eden, choosing both the p le a su re s and th e conse
quences o f s in . For th e C a lv in is tic fu n d a m e n ta list, man’s
n a tu re im m ediately became in h e re n tly and h o p e le ssly e v i l ,
w ith each succeeding g en e ra tio n conceived in a s t a t e of
u t t e r g u i l t and born in to a t o t a l l y depraved c o n d itio n .
I t is from th is s t a t e o f hopeless condemnation th a t God’s
grace through C h r is t’s d eath snatches those o f th e e l e c t ,
who have been c a lle d according to His purpose. Man is
affo rd ed no o p p o rtu n ity to a l t e r h is c o n d itio n fo r b e t t e r
o r fo r w orse, except as God’s grace should fo re o rd a in him
as one of th e e l e c t . The C a lv in is t is p a r tic u la r ly
153
Bridges, op. cit. , pp. 3-58.
311
r e p e l l e d by th e s u g g e s tio n t h a t man c a n p la y any p a r t i n
h i s e s c a p e from s i n .
F o r th e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s , man i s n o t i n h e r e n t l y
e v i l , b u t b a s i c a l l y v i r t u o u s . A lth o u g h h e i s b o rn r i g h t
eous and f r e e o f s i n , h e i s u n a v o id a b ly p ro n e t o s i n and
e v e n t u a l l y becom es c o n ta m in a te d by th e e v i l i n t h e w o rld
a b o u t him . Above a l l , h i s f a t e i s n o t d e te rm in e d by an
a r b i t r a r y e x t e r n a l pow er; h e i s a m o ra l i n d i v i d u a l w ith
th e fu n d a m e n ta l freedom to c h o o se b e tw e e n good and e v i l - -
to e l e c t t o a c c e p t G od's g r a c e o r s p u r n i t . H is g u i l t i s
n o t i n h e r i t e d b u t b ro u g h t a b o u t by h i s own te n d e n c y to
c h o o se th e e v i l ; h i s s a l v a t i o n i s n o t p r e d e s t i n e d , b u t ca n
o n ly r e s u l t from h i s own w i l l i n g n e s s to c h o o se th e g r a c e
i n C h r i s t . I t i s i n th e n a t u r e o f m a n 's a c q u i s i t i o n o f
g u i l t and i n h i s d e g re e o f freed o m i n e s c a p in g g u i l t and
i t s c o n se q u e n c e s t h a t th e em phasis o f t y p i c a l f u n d a m e n ta l
ism d i f f e r s m ost s h a r p ly w ith th e sp eech m ak in g a t th e
A b ile n e p la tf o r m .
To th e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s , man was p r i m a r i l y a
s p i r i t u a l c r e a t u r e c o n s t r u c t e d i n th e v e r y im age o f h i s
c r e a t o r . "Man h as r e c e iv e d a tw o - f o ld n a t u r e from th e
C r e a t o r , " s a i d Roy O sb o rn e. "The p h y s i c a l n a t u r e i s
312
i n c id e n t a l and o f no im portance ex cep t as i t must be d e a l t
w ith to p re v e n t i t from becoming dom inant. The s p i r i t u a l
n a tu re i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f th e n a tu re o f G od."^-^ S ince
"God i s lo v e ," and s in c e man r e f l e c t s th e v e ry n a tu re o f
God, th e A bilene sp e ak ers concluded t h a t man, by h is v ery
n a t u r e , must love som ething. Man was d esig n ed to lo v e .
In c r e a tin g man, how ever, God g ra n te d to him com plete
freedom in s e l e c t i n g th e o b je c t o f h is lo v e . S tre s s in g
th e d o c tr in e o f th e freedom o f th e w i l l , A. DeWitt Chaddick
d e c la r e d : "Men te a c h t h a t o ur s a lv a ti o n depends e n t i r e l y
upon God's p r e d e s t i n a t i o n , b u t th e B ib le s p e c i f i c a l l y
d e c la r e s t h a t our s a lv a ti o n r e s t s u t t e r l y w ith our
v o l i t i o n .
T his freed o m , argued many A b ilen e l e c t u r e r s , n o t
o n ly gave abundant o p p o rtu n ity to love God, but' i t
a ls o p ro v id ed him w ith u n lim ite d o p p o rtu n ity to f u l f i l l
th e need to love in i l l e g i t i m a t e w ays. S ince Adam tu rn e d
h is back upon Eden, t h i s has been m an's in e sc a p a b le p ro b
lem. Spurning th e lo v e o f God, he has la v is h e d h is
154j'The G ospel, th e Power o f God u nto S a lv a tio n ,"
L e c tu r e s , 1922-1923, p. 214.
1 S5
C haddick, op. c i t . , pp. 9-10. The L e c tu re sh ip
sp e ak ers s o l i d l y r e j e c t e d th e d o c tr in e o f e l e c t i o n , f o r e
o r d in a ti o n , and p r e d e s tin a t io n .
313
a f f e c t i o n s on o b j e c t s w hich a r e b u t l i m i t e d and f i n i t e .
C o n s e q u e n tly , h i s l e v e l o f s a t i s f a c t i o n h as b ee n l i m i t e d
and f i n i t e .
S in i s th e te rm w hich th e s p e a k e rs u se d to d e s c r i b e
th e c o n d i t i o n w hich r e s u l t s when man p la c e s any t h in g o r
p e rs o n o t h e r th a n God i n th e c e n t e r o f h i s a f f e c t i o n s .
Some l e c t u r e r s d e f in e d s i n as a c o n d i t i o n i n w h ich th e
p h y s i c a l n a t u r e comes to h av e dom inance o v e r th e s p i r i t
u a l . 1^^ O th e rs d e s c r ib e i t as m a n 's te n d e n c y to f u l f i l l
h i s c r a v in g to lo v e th ro u g h av en u es and upon o b j e c t s w hich
a r e w arped and i l l e g i t i m a t e . " P s y c h o l o g i c a l l y , s i n i s
s e l f i s h n e s s , " d e c la r e d C e c il E. H i l l . " .. . e v e ry form
o f s i n h as i t s r o o t s in s e l f i s h n e s s . " 1^
R. C. B e l l 's l e c t u r e s i n 1943 and 1946 s p e c i a l i z e d
i n th e n a t u r e o f man and th e schem e o f re d e m p tio n . B e ll
l i s t e d m a n 's depen d en ce upon h i s own know ledge r a t h e r th a n
h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o lo v e God, as th e b a s i c w eakness o f
h u m a n ity . He, a lo n g w ith o t h e r s p e a k e r s , i n t e r p r e t e d
m a n 's f a i l u r e s a s b e in g c a u se d by th e d e s t r u c t i v e work o f
^ ^ L o g a n F ox, "One Which P la c e s th e S p i r i t u a l
Above th e M a t e r i a l , " L e c t u r e s , 1961.
1 57
"Christ Our Savior," Lectures , 1938, p. 25.
i
314
Satan. "Satan is only a c re a tu re ," sa id B e ll, "but he is
no joke. Throughout the Bible he is taken most se rio u sly
158
as a capable, powerful, dangerous adversary. . . . "
Thus, while r e je c tin g the d o ctrin e of in h e rite d
s in , the Abilene le c tu re rs nonetheless held th a t man, by
his very n a tu re , is an incurable sin n er. "We have a l l
sinned," said J. P. Sanders. "Every one of us has a lie n
ated him self from God as a r e s u lt of the tran sg ressio n s of
the law. . . . And the Bible fu rth e r informs us th a t the
159
wages of s in is d eath ." Through the y e a rs, the speakers
c o n s iste n tly emphasized the g ra v ity and enormity of man's
sin . In 1929, J. L. Hines said :
Sin defied God, hated p u rity , wrecked a home and
sen t the human family on a journey through the
blackness of a n ig h t, to be thrown and tossed
ag a in st the rocks of greed, pride and jealo u sy ,
and to be to rn by the thorns of h a te , envy,
s t r i f e and se lfis h n e s s . I t is a serpent th a t
lurks in the d ark n ess, to b ite the fe e t of the
tir e d and weary pilgrim . I t b ite s and stin g s ,
i t blackens and b l u r s , i t disgraces and degrades.
I t brings to shame and d e stru c tio n and a t la s t
causes one to w rithe in agony and pain in the
158
" S t e a d f a s t n e s s L e c t u r e s , 1946, p. 25. Also
see B e ll's address, "The Great P hysician," L ectures, 1943.
159
"The Foundation of Christian HopeLectures ,
1943, p. 24.
315
l a k e o f f i r e an d b r i m s t o n e , w h e re t h e worm d i e t h
n o t , a n d w h e re t h e f i r e i s n o t q u e n c h e d .160
A d e c a d e l a t e r , C e c i l E . H i l l r e a s o n e d : "To s p e a k
o f s a l v a t i o n i m p l i e s t h a t man i s l o s t . T he w h o le r e v e l a
t i o n o f God a ssu m e s t h i s . I t i s f u n d a m e n ta l. T h is i s t h e
v e r y f i r s t t h i n g we m u s t m ake t h e w o r ld r e a l i z e . " He
c o n t i n u e d :
F r a n k l y , l e t me t e l l y o u t h a t w i t h many t h e s e n s e
o f s i n i s d e c l i n i n g . The C h r i s t i a n S c i e n t i s t i s
t r y i n g t o e x p l a i n i t aw ay. . . . T h e r e a r e many
who lo o k u p o n s i n a s a m i s f o r t u n e a n d n o t a f a u l t .
W ith th em t h e s i n n e r i s a v i c t i m a n d n o t a n
o f f e n d e r . He h a s n o t d o n e w ro n g b u t h a s s u f f e r e d
w ro n g . He d o e s n o t owe God r e p e n t a n c e , b u t
h u m a n ity owes h im a n a p o l o g y . . . . t h e f a c t o f
s i n s t i l l r e m a i n s . I t h a s n o t b e e n e r a d i c a t e d
fro m o u r n a t u r e . T he v o i c e o f c o n s c i e n c e c a n n o t
b e h u s h e d . S i n i s s t i l l t h e m o s t f r i g h t f u l f a c t
i n t h e w o r ld an d w r i t e s i t s r u i n i n a th o u s a n d
w a y s. I t i s t h e a w f u l t r a g e d y o f t h e u n i v e r s e an d
o n l y f o o l s m ock a t i t . God c a n n o t o v e r l o o k s i n
an d b e a j u s t a n d r e s p e c t a b l e God. I t i s s t i l l a n
e t e r n a l law t h a t "T h e w ages o f s i n i s d e a t h . "1 6 1
H i l l c o n c lu d e d : " A g a in I r e m in d y o u t h a t y o u c a n n o t d i s
c u s s s a l v a t i o n s e p a r a t e an d a p a r t fro m s i n . T he w h o le
G o s p e l s t o r y i s w r i t t e n o n t h e d a r k b a c k g r o u n d o f d e s p a i r .
i / : o
T he sch em e o f r e d e m p tio n g ro w s o u t o f t h e f a c t o f s i n . "
160upOw e r i n t h e B l o o d ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 8 - 1 9 2 9 ,
p p . 1 3 9 -1 4 0 .
1 6 1 H i l l , o p . c i t . , p p . 2 1 - 2 2 , 2 3 .
^^Ibid. , p. 25.
316
In 1944, Hugh A. C la rk c o n c u rre d :
The o n ly re a s o n men do n o t g e n e r a l l y acknow ledge
. th e h o n o r o f C h r i s t and a p p ly a t once to Him f o r
d e l i v e r a n c e , i s b e c a u se th e y h ave no a d e q u a te
c o n c e p tio n o f th e e v i l o f s i n and do n o t p r o p e r ly
v a lu e th e v i r t u e s w hich i t d e s t r o y s . One m ust
know th e m a lig n ity and in s i d io u s n e s s o f th e
d is e a s e b e f o r e he can o r w i l l p r o p e r ly a p p r e c ia t e
e i t h e r th e p h y s ic ia n o r th e rem e d y .163
Many c o n s e r v a tiv e s fe a re d t h a t m odem th e o lo g y made
no room f o r a r e a l c o n c e p tio n o f s i n . W hile f o r some
l i b e r a l s th e th e o ry o f e v o lu tio n had made s i n m e re ly a
n e c e s s a r y s ta g e i n m an 's developm ent tow ard p e r f e c t i o n ,
f o r o th e r s th e d o c t r i n e o f d iv in e immanence and th e c o n c e p t
o f th e u n i v e r s a l F a th e rh o o d o f God had e lim in a te d th e s e r i
o u sn e ss o f s i n and re d u c e d m an 's d e g re e o f g u i l t . The
c o n s e r v a tiv e s i n s i s t e d t h a t s i n , w hich i n e v i t a b l y produced
enm ity w ith God, in v o lv e d deep p e r s o n a l g u i l t . The c o r
r u p tin g c h a r a c t e r and g u i l t o f s i n w ere c o n s id e re d su ch as
to r e q u i r e more th a n m ere s o c i a l r e f o rm a tio n o r h u m a n is tic
im provem ent as a remedy. The p r i c e o f s a l v a t i o n had been
th e c r o s s . The u g lin e s s and g u i l t o f s i n w ere o n ly to be
b l o t t e d o u t in a s u p e r n a tu r a l r e g e n e r a tio n made p o s s i b le
by th e atonem ent o f C h r i s t .
163njeSUs Christ, the Savior," Lectures „ 1944,
p . 5.
317
The Scheme o f Redem ption
In h i s 1928 a n a ly s is o f C u rre n t C h r i s t i a n T h in k in g ,
G erald B irn e y Sm ith named as an e s s e n t i a l o f fu n d a m e n ta l
ism th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y in term s o f a
s u p e r n a tu r a l p la n o f s a l v a t i o n . The s ta te m e n ts o f le a d in g
16 A
f u n d a m e n ta lis ts se rv e d to c o n firm S m ith 's a n a l y s i s .
" I f we b e l i e v e i n a G od," W illia m Je n n in g s Bryan a s s u re d
h i s c o n s t i t u e n t s , "we m ust b e l i e v e t h a t we a r e a p a r t o f
h i s p la n . . . . I f one b e l ie v e s i n a God who i s a l l - l o v i n g ,
as w e ll as a l l - p o w e r f u l , th e scheme o f red e m p tio n by s u b
s t i t u t i o n a r y s u f f e r i n g i s n o t o n ly b e l i e v a b l e b u t n a tu -
■ 1 /* r
r a l . " 3 P a r t i c u l a r l y fa v o rin g th e p h r a s e , " t h e p la n o f
s a l v a t i o n , " Bryan h e ld t h a t no B ib le t r u t h had been more
c l e a r l y s t a t e d and y e t none was more " h o tly c o n te s te d
to -d a y " th a n th e d o c t r i n e o f b lo o d ato n em e n t. The h o t
c o n t e s t em anated d i r e c t l y from th e l i b e r a l s ' la c k o f
re v e re n c e f o r th e h allo w ed d o c t r in e o f o rth o d o x y . Many
m o d e rn is ts announced deep s u s p ic io n s as to th e n e c e s s i t y
and n a t u r e o f th e b lo o d atonem ent i n th e C h r i s t i a n sy stem .
^ ^ C l i f t o n E. O lm stead , H is to r y o f R e lig io n i n th e
U n ite d S ta te s (Englewood C l i f f s , N. J . : P r e n t i c e - H a l l ,
I n c . , 1 9 6 0 ), pp. 4 7 4 , 544-553.
165
Seven Questions in Dispute, pp. 78-79.
318
For in sta n c e , W alter Rauschenbusch calmly s ta te d th a t
orthodoxy had committed a c o lo ssa l blunder by tr e a tin g the
atonement as something su p e rn atu rally d i s t i n c t , r a th e r than
as a n a tu ra l p a rt of the l i f e of C h rist. Both the l i f e and
death of C h rist were seen to have value only as an example
fo r C h ristian s of a l l ages, "His d eath ," said Rauschen
busch, " is a m atter almost n e g lig ib le in the work of
sa lv a tio n .
The Abilene platform was c le a rly a co n trib u tio n to
th a t phase of re lig io u s thought which in te rp re te d the
C h ristian message in terms of a supernatural scheme of
redemption. The le c tu re rs suggested th a t the two basic
requirem ents which had to be f u l f i l l e d in God's atonement
fo r man's s in were ju s tic e and mercy. "On the one hand,"
declared Hugh Clark a t the Abilene assembly, "th ere was
law, s in , g u i l t , p en alty , and death; on the o th e r, th ere
was love, mercy, clemency, j u s t i f i c a t i o n , and l i f e .
Between these antipodal a lte r n a tiv e s , God, out of His love
fo r man, interposed the death of His son."'*'^
166
A Theology fo r the Social Gospel (New York:
The Macmillan Company, 1919), p. 260.
Clark, op. cit. , pp. 7-8.
319
J . P . S a n d e r s i l l u s t r a t e d how p e r f e c t l y t h e d e a t h
o f C h r i s t f u l f i l l e d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f j u s t i c e a n d m e rc y
b y r e c o u n t i n g t h e f a m i l i a r s t o r y o f Z a le u c u s , t h e L o c r e a n
l a w - g i v e r an d r u l e r :
He fo u n d i t n e c e s s a r y t o m ake a la w t h a t t h o s e who
c o m m itte d a c e r t a i n c r im e s h o u l d h a v e b o t h e y e s
p u t o u t . The v e r y f i r s t v i o l a t o r o f t h a t la w w as
o n e v e r y n e a r a n d d e a r t o h im , h i s own s o n .
N a t u r a l l y a l l e y e s w e r e t u r n e d t o t h e k i n g t o s e e
w h e t h e r j u s t i c e o r l o v e w o u ld t r i u m p h . . . .
T he k i n g ’ s w isdom d e v i s e d a sch em e w h ic h s a t i s f i e d
b o t h j u s t i c e a n d m e rc y . He h a d o n e o f t h e o f f e n d
e r ’ s e y e s p u t o u t , a n d o n e o f h i s own.168
As e a r l y a s 1 9 2 4 , Roy H. L a n i e r w as e m p h a s iz in g
t h e t w in c h o r d s o f j u s t i c e a n d m e rc y i n t h e sc h em e o f
r e d e m p t i o n . L a n i e r s a i d :
Man w as l o s t , s e p a r a t e d fro m G od, an d w h o l l y u n a b l e
t o b r i n g h i m s e l f b a c k . He w as g u i l t y o f a c r i m e ,
t h e p e n a l t y o f w h ic h w as d e a t h , a n d i t i s e v i d e n t
t h a t h e c o u l d n o t p a y t h a t p e n a l t y an d s t i l l e n j o y
l i f e w i t h God. T h e r e w as o n l y o n e way t o s o l v e
t h e p r o b l e m , a n d God s e n t H is s o n t o d i e f o r m an ,
t h e j u s t f o r t h e u n j u s t , t h e s i n l e s s f o r t h e s i n
f u l , t h e h o l y f o r t h e u n h o l y , t h a t h e m ig h t re d e e m
man fro m h i s f a l l e n c o n d i t i o n , a n d r e s c u e t h e w o r ld
fro m t h e r u l e a n d d o m in io n o f S a t a n . . . .1 6 9
A p p e a lin g t o t h e t e r r o r a n d d r e a d c r e a t e d b y t h e
w o r l d ’ s w o r s t w a r , W. B. W est s a i d i n 1 9 4 2 : " I s u b m it t o
1 fifK
J. P. Sanders, op. cit., pp. 24-25.
■^^"Christ, the Unique Sacrifice," Lectures,
1924-1925, pp. 320-321.
320
you th a t the only hope o f th e world to n ig h t is th e love of
God, which was m anifested in th e coming o f Jesus C h rist to
1 70
the w orld." " I do not h e s ita t e to sa y ," exclaimed J . L.
H ines, "and w ith em phasis, no s in was ever re m itte d ,
171
except through th e blood shed on c a lv a ry ." "Our g r e a t
e s t need," added C ecil E. H i l l , " is . . . s a lv a tio n . . . .
many o ffic e s and t i t l e s are ascrib ed to C h ris t, b u t th ese
172
a re a l l included when we speak o f Him as the s a v io r."
T hus, th e A bilene speakers would shout agreement
w ith R. C. B e ll's statem en t: "The only way fo r u n s a tis
f ie d , u n sta b le man, who is dependent upon h is C reator by
n a tu ra l c o n s titu tio n , ever to have s te a d f a s tn e s s , happiness
173
and s e c u r ity , is to become a r t i c u l a t e w ith God. . . . "
Man can only f u l f i l l h is purpose fo r e x is tin g when he
s a t i s f i e s h is need to love by loving Him whom he was
c re a te d to love. "God came to men in lo v e ," B ell reasoned,
"and i t must be by loving Him back th a t men go to God, they
cannot reason themselves to Heaven." He continued:
^■^West, op. c i t . , p. 73.
■^^Hines , op. c i t . , p. 140.
1 72
H i l l , op. c i t . , pp. 17-18.
■^Bell, "Steadfastness," p. 38.
321
C o n s e q u e n tly , when a la w y e r a s k e d C h r i s t , "W hich
i s t h e f i r s t commandment?" C h r i s t , w i t h a d e p th
o f w isdom t h a t m u st h a v e s u r p r i s e d t h e la w y e r ,
r e p l i e d : "Thou s h a l t lo v e t h e L o rd th y God w i t h
a l l th y h e a r t , w i t h a l l th y s o u l , and w i t h a l l
th y m in d . T h is i s t h e g r e a t and f i r s t command
m ent . "174
J u s t a s th e two b a s i c r e q u ir e m e n ts o f j u s t i c e and
m ercy w ere f u l f i l l e d i n C h r i s t ' s d e a t h , so m a n 's r e s p o n s e
t o t h a t d e a t h in v o lv e d th e two fu n d a m e n ta ls o f g r a c e and
f a i t h . G. C. B re w e r, w hose L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k in g cham pioned
t h e d o c t r i n e o f G o d 's g r a c e , s a i d i n 1938:
L e t us n o t t h i n k f o r a moment t h a t o u r L o rd
e x p e c ts u s t o s a v e o u r s e l v e s . L e t u s s e e t h a t
we h a v e a s a v i o r . A s a v i o r i s o n e who s a v e s . .
. . w e do n o t a c h ie v e s a l v a t i o n b y r i g h t d o in g .
T h a t w ould b e w orks and n o t f a i t h . We w ould
th e n h a v e s a v e d o u r s e l v e s and made u s e l e s s a
s a v i o r . 175
I n 1 9 5 2 , B rew er l e c t u r e d on " G ra c e an d S a l v a t i o n . "
He s t a t e d h i s p r o p o s i t i o n :
O ur s a l v a t i o n from s i n and o u r h o p e o f e t e r n a l
l i f e comes a s a f r e e g i f t fro m God and d o e s n 't
d ep en d upon human w o rth . T h is s a l v a t i o n h a s
a l r e a d y b e e n b r o u g h t t o man and i s o f f e r e d upon
t h e te rm s o f t h e G o s p e l, w h ic h te rm s a r e em
b r a c e d i n one w o rd , " b e l i e v e . " The w h o le s t o r y
o f human r e d e m p tio n i s co m prehended i n two
^^Bell, "The Great Physician," pp. 179, 183.
1 7S
" C h r i s t T o d ay , Our M e d ia to r and H igh P r i e s t , "
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 8 , p . 208.
322
words: "grace" and " f a i t h ." I t is grace on
God's p a rt and f a i t h on man's p a r t . 176
"God is lo v e ," added E lbridge Linn in 1958, "and
grace is th a t love in a c tio n . Grace is always unm erited.
To be s u re , i t is man's dem erit th a t makes grace p o ssib le
and n e c e ss a ry ."177 Other speakers agreed th a t th e d o c trin e
o f God's fre e grace is in c o n s is te n t w ith the idea o f human
m e rit. Man does not deserve s a lv a tio n as a reward fo r
accom plishm ent, and God does not provide s a lv a tio n as
though He were paying a debt fo r rig h teo u s deeds. "Oh,
frie n d , I d o n 't know anybody th a t is going to come 'c lo s e '
1 78
to paying God fo r h is s a lv a tio n ," sa id Linn.
Brewer, c o rre c tin g what he f e l t was an improper
brotherhood em phasis, summarized the concept of the
e ffic a c y o f grace:
T h erefo re, our s a lv a tio n does not depend upon our
p e r fe c t adherence to th e requirem ents of law. I t
does not depend upon our being good enough by our
own achievement to m e rit s a lv a tio n . By making
our s a lv a tio n dependent upon our own p e rfe c tio n ,
we make void the grace o f God. And to make our
p e rfe c tio n a m a tte r of le g a l requirem ents f u lly
met would make C h r is t's death useless. 179
^ ^ L e c tu re s, 1952, pp. 104-105.
k
^ ■ 7 7 ,,God's G race," L e c tu re s, 1958, p. 89.
1 7 8 I b id . , p. 97.
179
Brewer, op. cit. , p. 115.
323
As g r a c e i s G o d 's lo v e i n a c t i o n , s o f a i t h i s m a n 's
lo v e i n a c t i o n ; a s lo v e i s e x p r e s s e d i n G o d 's g r a c e , so
lo v e m u st b e e x p r e s s e d i n m a n 's f a i t h .
I n 1 9 4 3 , J . P . S a n d e rs made t h e p o i n t t h a t G o d 's
g r a c e i s c o n d i t i o n a l i n i t s a p p l i c a t i o n .
O nly t h o s e who h a v e a c c e p t e d i t b y f a i t h and h a v e
o b e y e d t h e G o sp e l o f o u r L o rd h a v e b e n e f i t e d
t h e r e b y . I t i s th u s l i m i t e d b y t h e w i l l o f man
an d n o t b y t h e w i l l o f God. God p r o v i d e s i t f o r
a l l , b u t we m u st a c c e p t i t a s t h e r e s u l t o f o u r
own c h o i c e . 180
Y e a rs e a r l i e r , H a l l L . C a lh o u n m ade t h e sam e p o i n t
i n t h e s e w o rd s : " T h u s , i t i s c l e a r t h a t i t i s G o d 's p a r t
t o f u r n i s h t h e c l e a n s i n g b lo o d an d o u r s t o make u s e o f
i t . . . . God an d men w o rk in g t o g e t h e r , e a c h o n e d o in g h i s
1 81
p r o p e r p a r t . "
I n 1 9 3 8 , A. D eW itt C h a d d ic k s u g g e s t e d two s i g n i f i
c a n t and d i f f e r e n t u s e s o f t h e B i b l i c a l te rm " f a i t h " :
Why m u st men come t o r a m b lin g s o r why m u st we ev e n
q u i b b l e o v e r t h e e f f i c a c y o f f a i t h . . . . I n o n e
s e n s e t o " b e l i e v e " m eans t o p u r e l y a c c e p t t h e
v e r a c i t y o f g iv e n t e s t i m o n y . I n t h e o t h e r s e n s e ,
t o " b e l i e v e " co m p reh en d s t h e w h o le d u ty o f man—
a c o m p le te s u b m is s io n t o t h e w i l l o f God. When
e v e r i t i s c o u p le d a l o n e w i t h s a l v a t i o n o r i t s
i o n
Sanders, "The Foundation of Christian Hope,"
p. 29.
181;( The Human Heart," Lectures, 1928-1929, p. 332.
324
e q u iv a le n t, " b e lie f" or " f a ith " means complete
obedience to d iv in e commands.^82
H all L. Calhoun le c tu re d on "F aith " in 1929 and
concluded: "A ll th is simply means th a t a sin n e r is j u s t i
fie d by th a t f a i t h which leads him to obey the Gospel which
183
is th e power o f God unto s a lv a tio n ." T h erefo re, f a i t h
comprehends the ac ts o f obedience which man performs and
serves as the m ainspring which prompts a l l s p i r i t u a l
s e rv ic e . In th is c o n te x t, Abilene speakers o fte n re fe rre d
to th e " fiv e ste p s" in the "plan o f s a lv a tio n ." They were
o c c asio n ally l i s t e d as hearin g the Gospel, b e lie v in g i t ,
repentance fo r s i n s , confession o f the name of C h r is t, and
baptism fo r th e rem ission o f s in s . These were in te rp re te d
as being expressions o f and in c lu siv e in th e concept of
f a i t h .
The le c tu re r s made i t abundantly c le a r th a t the
preaching of th e Gospel was e s s e n tia l i f men were to be
saved. R. L. W hiteside sa id :
There is no such th in g as "an in n er lig h t" by
which we may walk. "The voice o f conscience"
does not re v e a l God. By our own n a tu ra l powers
we cannot know God, could never have discovered
182
Chaddick, op. cit. , p. 11.
^^^Lectures, 1928-1929, p. 277.
325
God. . . . N e i t h e r d o es n a t u r e t e a c h us a n y th in g
o f G o d 's f o r g i v e n e s s , n o r o f th e r i c h p r o v i s i o n s
he h a s made f o r us. . . . W hile man c o u ld n o t b y
h i s own pow ers f i n d o u t t h e s e t h i n g s , t h e H oly
S p i r i t s e a r c h e d o u t th e d eep t h i n g s o f God and
r e v e a l e d t h e m . 184
A few y e a r s e a r l i e r , H a ll C alh o u n h ad a l s o empha
s i z e d m a n 's n eed o f h e a r i n g t h e G o sp e l:
I n Romans 1 0 :1 7 , h e s a y s : " F a i t h com eth by h e a r i n g
and h e a r i n g by th e Word o f G od." T h a t i s , I h e a r
G o d 's W ord, I b e l i e v e G o d 's Word and t h i s i s t h e
way I g e t f a i t h ; and i t may be s a i d i n a b s o l u t e
c o n f id e n c e t h a t t h i s i s th e o n ly way t h e B ib le
te a c h e s t h a t f a i t h co m es. T h e re i s n o t a l i n e i n
t h e B ib le from t h e f i r s t o f G e n e sis t o t h e l a s t
o f R e v e la tio n w h ich t e a c h e s t h a t f a i t h comes i n
any o t h e r way th a n from h e a r i n g t h e Word o f G o d . 1 8 5
O th e r s p e a k e r s s t r e s s e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f r e p e n t
a n c e and c o n f e s s io n i n t h e schem e o f r e d e m p tio n . I n 1 9 3 3 ,
W. M. D av is sp o k e on "How t o G et i n t o t h e C h u rch :
R e p e n ta n c e ." "W hile r e p e n t a n c e i s n e i t h e r G odly so rro w
f o r s i n on th e one h a n d , n o r r e f o r m a t i o n o f l i f e on t h e
o t h e r , i t i s i n s e p a r a b l y c o n n e c te d w ith e a c h . The v a l u e o f
r e p e n t a n c e l i e s m ore i n w h at i t d o es , th a n w h at i t i s ."
D av is c o n tin u e d : " L i t e r a l l y , r e p e n t a n c e i s a r e v e r s i o n o f
m ind w ith r e s p e c t to p u r p o s e . He who s i n c e r e l y r e p e n t s ,
184
"How to Get into the Church: Hearing,"
Lectures, 1933, pp. 58-59.
I D C
Calhoun, "Faith," p. 247.
326
-I QgL
no longer purposes to s i n ."
Although most s tro n g ly s tr e s s e d in th e e a rly p ro
grams , baptism fo r th e rem issio n o f s in s was c o n s is te n tly
a fe a tu re d L ec tu re sh ip theme. E arly Arceneaux s ta te d in
1933: "The New Testament w rite rs fre q u e n tly used th e words
b e lie v e rs and b e lie v e when they d i s t i n c t l y meant a b a p tiz e d
b e l ie v e r , or b e lie v e in th e comprehensive sense of obedient
b e l i e f or f a i t h . "187 same y ear B a ts e ll B axter s a id :
*
The S c rip tu re p la in ly says baptism saves u s. Of
c o u rse , we understand th a t baptism alone w ill not
save anybody; b u t baptism w ill save from p a s t s in s
him who i s a proper s u b je c t fo r baptism .
Baptism , th e n , gives men a symbol o f th e d e a th ,
b u r ia l and r e s u r re c tio n o f C h ris t. Every tim e
someone is b a p tiz e d , those who w itness th e a c t
have t h e i r minds brought a fre s h to the s a c r i
f ic e and trium ph o f our Lord. 188
S ev eral le c tu r e r s supported th e prem ise th a t
le g itim a te baptism could only be in th e form o f immersion,
n o t s p rin k lin g or pouring. B axter explained: "Immersion
o f th e p e n ite n t b e lie v e r in w ater in th e name o f th e F ath er
and o f th e Son and o f th e Holy S p i r i t unto rem ission o f
^ ^ L ectures , 1933, p. 74.
187
"How to Get in to the Church: F a ith ," L e c tu re s ,
1933, p. 6 6 .
^■^"How to Get into the Church: Baptism,"
Lectures, 1933, pp. 84, 88.
327
s i n s p u ts t h e b e l i e v e r i n t o C h r i s t i n whom i s h o p e o f
e t e r n a l l i f e , and w ith o u t whom t h e r e i s t h e c e r t a i n t y o f
189
e t e r n a l d a r k n e s s and d e s p a i r . ”
J . L. H ines sum m arized th e " p la n o f s a l v a t i o n " :
So i f you w ould r e a c h t h e b lo o d o f C h r i s t , i t i s
n e c e s s a r y t o h e a r God, b e l i e v e God, r e p e n t o f
y o u r s i n s , c o n f e s s C h r i s t and obey Him i n b a p tis m .
F o r b a p tis m to a b e l i e v i n g p e n i t e n t who h a s c o n
f e s s e d C h r i s t , i s " f o r t h e r e m i s s i o n o f s i n s "
f o r i t b r i n g s t h a t one t o t h e b lo o d w h ich i s i n
C h r i s t w h ich w ashes away h i s s i n s . 190
Summary
R ev iew in g t h e h ig h p o i n t s o f t h e h i s t o r i c T r i n i t a r
i a n c o n t r o v e r s i e s , th e A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s fo u n d i t d i f f i c u l t
to im prove upon th e la n g u a g e o f th e la w y e r T e r t u l l i a n :
"God i s one s u b s ta n c e and t h r e e p e r s o n s . ” I n o t h e r w o rd s ,
God, C h r i s t , and th e H oly S p i r i t s h a r e e q u a l l y th e p o s s e s
s i o n o f d i v i n i t y o r " G o d - n e s s ." Y et th e y a r e t h r e e
p e r s o n a l i t i e s ; t h r e e s e p a r a t e f u n c t i o n i n g b e i n g s .
R e a c tin g a g a i n s t t h e a b s t r a c t god o f r e l i g i o u s
l i b e r a l i s m , th e l e c t u r e r s d e fe n d e d t h e d i g n i t y o f th e God
as r e v e a l e d i n th e B i b le on two m a jo r b a t t l e f r o n t s . F i r s t ,
l^ " H o w t o G et i n t o th e C h u rch : B a p tis m ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 3 , p . 90.
190
Hines , op. cit. , p. 145.
328
they sought to dem onstrate th a t God e x is te d . Secondly,
they attem pted to d e lin e a te His p erso n a l c h a ra c te r as a
Heavenly F a th e r.
A dm itting th a t th e B ib le d id n o t p ro v e , b u t r a th e r
assumed th e e x iste n c e of God, s e v e ra l speakers appealed to
e x tr a - B ib lic a l lin e s o f reaso n in g to e s ta b li s h His r e a l i t y .
In g iv in g t h e i r assessm ents o f th e d iv in e n a t u r e , th e le c
tu r e r s named lo v e , l i g h t , and s p i r i t as being major
concepts d e s c r ip tiv e o f God's c h a ra c te r and p e rs o n a lity .
While r e je c tin g th e extreme im p lic a tio n s o f modern
th e o lo g y 's immanent and tra n sc e n d e n t gods, th e speakers
n o n eth ele ss agreed th a t God was b oth very n e a r, and y e t
com pletely se p a ra te d from man. The theme o f God's love
lo g ic a lly le d th e A bilene speakers to d isc u ss th e l i f e ,
d e a th , and r e s u r r e c tio n o f Jesus C h ris t. The k n o tty
m y ste rie s posed by th e c h r is t o lo g ic a l c o n tro v e rsie s did
n o t d e te r th e speakers from f e a tu rin g C h ris t as the id e a l
atonement fo r man's s in . While some speakers s tr e s s e d h is
p e r f e c t human l i f e , o th e rs emphasized h is a b so lu te
d iv in i ty ; a l l concurred th a t C h ris t was both com pletely
human and com pletely d iv in e . He was, th e re fo r e , p rese n ted
as th e p e r f e c t f u lf illm e n t o f mercy and j u s t i c e - - t h e only
329
av en u e o f p e r f e c t r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b e tw e e n man and God.
The l e c t u r e r s s a i d c o m p a r a tiv e ly l i t t l e a b o u t t h e H oly
S p i r i t . A few s p e a k e r s s u g g e s te d t h a t th e c h i e f w ork o f
th e G o d h ea d 's t h i r d p e r s o n a l i t y was t o c o m fo rt and d w e ll
w i t h i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e b e l i e v e r .
Love was p r e s e n t e d as th e common l i f e l i n e w h ich
p r o v id e d a b a s i s f o r th e h u m a n -d iv in e r e l a t i o n s h i p . G o d 's
lo v e was e x p r e s s e d i n g r a c e , t h e g i f t o f C h r i s t . M an's
lo v e m u st be e x p r e s s e d f a i t h , an a b s o l u t e s u r r e n d e r t o th e
w i l l o f th e F a t h e r . P l a c i n g h eav y s t r e s s upon th e e n o rm ity
and u n i v e r s a l i t y o f m a n 's s i n , th e s p e a k e r s s u g g e s te d t h a t
t h e o n ly a to n e m e n t f o r s i n was th e b lo o d o f C h r i s t . The
r e d e m p tiv e b l o o d , h o w e v e r, i s c o n d i t i o n a l i n i t s a p p l i c a
t i o n - - c o n d i t i o n e d upon t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f a f a i t h w h ich i s
a c t i v e and o b e d i e n t . O b e d ie n t f a i t h was o f t e n d e s c r i b e d as
th e b a s i s f o r t h e " p l a n o f s a l v a t i o n , ” w h ich c u lm in a te d i n
b a p tis m by im m ersio n f o r th e r e m is s io n o f s i n s .
G. C. B re w e r, w hose num erous L e c t u r e s h i p s p e e c h e s
f e a t u r e d t h e schem e o f r e d e m p tio n , co m p re ssed th e human
r e s p o n s e t o God i n t o a f i v e - p o i n t c o n c lu s io n :
1. S a l v a t i o n i s by th e g r a c e o f God. I t i s a
f r e e g i f t d e p e n d in g n o t upon m a n 's d e s e r v in g
o r m a n 's w o rth .
330
2. This g i f t o f God's grace and love has alread y
been given (John 3:16; John 4:10; Heb. 2:9;
I I Cor. 9 :15).
3. This grace o f God has brought s a lv a tio n to
a l l men (T itus 2 :1 1 ).
4. W e come in to the enjoyment o f th is s a lv a tio n
by f a i t h and th is f a i t h is e x p re sse d , a c tu a l
ized or made p e r f e c t by obeying C h rist or by
complying w ith th e terms named by C h ris t and
th e Holy S p i r i t as c o n d itio n s of s a lv a tio n
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:30-34).
5. When we have, through f a i t h , su rren d ered to
C h r is t, subm itted to His w i l l , we have then
p u r if ie d our so u ls in obeying the tr u th
(I P e te r 1:22) and thus th e same a p o s tle
says our h e a rts are p u r ifie d by f a i t h
(Acts 15:9).191
191
Brewer, "Grace and Salvation," p. 122.
CHAPTER VIII
THE CHURCH
I n t r o d u c t i o n
The im p o r ta n c e o f t h e c h u r c h i n t h e s t o r y o f t h e
A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p c a n n o t b e o v e rd ra w n . A lth o u g h c h a r a c
t e r i z e d by a c a l c u l a t e d i n f o r m a l i t y , t h e w e s t T exas m e e tin g
was f u n d a m e n ta lly a c h u r c h m e e tin g . The s p i r i t o f c h u rc h
b r o th e r h o o d was th e common d e n o m in a to r w h ic h p r o v id e d th e
b a s i s f o r t h e F e b r u a r y f e l l o w s h i p . The s p e a k e r s w ere
c h u rc h men; t h e a u d ie n c e came a s members o f th e c h u r c h .
I d e a s w ere p r e s e n t e d t o s t r e n g t h e n and c h a l l e n g e t h e
c h u rc h . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t m ore th a n o n e - f i f t h o f
t h e L e c t u r e s h i p sp e e c h m a k in g c o n c e rn e d t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e
c h u r c h - - i t s n a t u r e , i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n , i t s m i s s i o n , i t s
w o r s h i p .
The N a tu r e o f t h e C h u rch
From t h e r e p o r t o f t h e s e c o n d W orld C o n fe re n c e on
F a i t h and O rd e r h e l d a t E d in b u rg h i n 1 9 3 7 , ” i t seem ed to
331
many th a t probably th e most d iv is iv e fe a tu re s in the
th e o lo g ic a l c o n tro v e rsie s o f modern Christendom were rooted
1
in d iffe re n c e s about th e n a tu re of th e ch u rch ." F ifte e n
years l a t e r , as over 250 d e le g a te s from v ario u s communions
met a t Lund fo r th e th ir d World C onference, sharp d is a g re e
ment over th e n a tu re of th e church s t i l l occupied a
prom inent p o s itio n .^
The ta s k of c l e a r ly comprehending th e l e c t u r e r s 1
concept o f th e n a tu re o f th e church is enhanced by t h e i r
r i g i d sta n c e o f re s p e c t f o r and subm ission to th e ab so lu te
a u th o rity o f th e New Testam ent. The A bilene speakers
addressed them selves, from f i r s t to l a s t , to th e "New
Testament Church." From t h e i r R e sto ra tio n fo re b ears they
in h e rite d th e hope o f co n v ertin g the world to C h ris t.
The m a te ria l p r in c ip le fo r achieving th is goal was th e
union of a l l b e lie v e rs , and th e form al p r in c ip le fo r
a tta in in g th is union was th e r e s to r a t io n of th e p rim itiv e
church as s e t fo r th in th e New Testam ent.
1
Geddes MacGregor, Corpus C h r is ti (P h ila d e lp h ia :
The W estm inister P re s s , 1958), p. 4.
2
R. Newton Flew ( e d .) , The N ature o f th e Church
(London: SCM P re s s , 1951). Flew was Chairman o f th e
I n te r n a tio n a l T h eo lo g ical Commission on th e Church,
333
The " E c c l e s i a "
In th e G reek New T e s ta m e n t, th e te rm m ost o f t e n
u se d to d e s c r i b e th e c h u rc h i s e c c l e s i a . M. C. K u rfee s ,
l e c t u r i n g on "The C hurch R e v ea led i n t h e New T e s ta m e n t,"
s a i d i n 1920: "The o r i g i n a l te rm , t r a n s l a t e d 'c h u r c h 1 i n
t h e A u th o riz e d and R e v ise d v e r s i o n s i s e c c l e s i a . T h is
te rm l i t e r a l l y means 'c a l l e d o u t 1. . . K u rfee s w ent on
to e x p l a in t h a t th e c h u rc h c o n s i s t s o f th e c h i l d r e n o f God
"who become su c h b y v i r t u e o f t h e i r o b e d ie n c e to th e g o s p e l
o f C h r i s t . " He c o n c lu d e d : "H en ce, G o d 's p e o p le i n C h r i s t
b e in g c a l l e d o u t o f th e w o rld and p la c e d u n d e r th e solem n
o b l i g a t i o n t o m a in ta in t h e i r s e p a r a t i o n th e r e f r o m , a r e ,
w ith p re -e m in e n t a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s , c a l l e d an e c c l e s i a o r a
3
c a l l e d - o u t p e o p l e - - t h e c h u r c h ."
A lth o u g h many s p e a k e rs e q u a te d th e te rm e c c l e s i a
w ith th e w hole number o f r e g e n e r a t e b e l i e v e r s on e a r t h ,
co n tem p o rary th e o lo g ia n s d id n o t a g re e t h a t etym ology
i t s e l f j u s t i f i e d su c h a l i m i t e d u s e o f th e w ord. B r u n e r 's
The M is u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e C hurch c r i t i c i z e s even th e u s e
^Lectures, 1920-1921, p. 23.
334
4
of th e term " i n s t i t u t i o n " to d e s c rib e th e church.
F. J . A. Hort adds th a t th e word, e c c l e s i a , does n o t ex clu -
s iv e ly mean a people " c a lle d out o f th e w orld by God."
George Johnston p o in ts out in h is im p o rtan t stu d y o f th e
New Testam ent d o c trin e th a t th e n o tio n th a t "as e c c l e s i a ,
th e church is a community c a lle d out o f th e world by God"
i s one th a t "may le g itim a te ly be deduced from passages in
th e New T estam ent, according as th e 'w ord' i s d e fin e d , b u t
i t is n o t p re s e n t in th e word i t s e l f . " The word was,
th e r e f o r e , n o t e ty m o lo g ic ally r e s t r i c t e d to a r e lig io u s
meaning and m ight r e f e r to any assembly o f c i tiz e n s sum
moned by a h e ra ld to g a th e r fo r s p e c if ic b u sin e ss a t an
appointed p la c e .
Je s s e P. S ew ell, who s p e c ia liz e d in le c tu r e s on
th e ^ n a tu re o f th e ch u rch , was among th e A bilene speakers
who saw s ig n ific a n c e in th e "p u rp o siv en ess" o f th e
^Emil B runner, The M isunderstanding of th e C hurch,
tr a n s . H. Knight (London: L u tte rw o rth P re s s , 1952),
pp. lO ff. -
5
F. J . A. H o rt, The C h r is tia n E c c le s ia (London:
M acmillan and Company, 1898), p. 5.
£
George Jo h n sto n , The D o ctrin e o f th e Church in
th e New Testam ent (Cambridge: Cambridge U n iv e rsity P r e s s ,
1943) , p. 35.
335
a ssem b led com m unity. I n 1 9 2 2 s h e d e c l a r e d :
The word " c h u rc h " i n t h e New T e sta m e n t i s t r a n s
l a t e d from e c c l e s i a and means " c a l l e d o u t
" a s s e m b ly ," e t c . I t m ig h t r e f e r t o any k in d o f
" c a l l e d o u t , " " m e e tin g ," o r " a s s e m b ly ," o r " c o n
g r e g a t i o n . " The e c c l e s i a o f th e L o rd w ould b e
th e " c a l l e d o u t , " t h e " a s s e m b ly ," t h e " c o n g re g a
t i o n " o f th e L o rd , and r e f e r s to th o s e p e o p le
who h av e b e e n c a l l e d by th e L ord th ro u g h th e
g o s p e l o u t o f t h e s e r v i c e o f S a ta n and s i n i n t o
t h e s e r v i c e o f God and r i g h t e o u s n e s s . . . .
G o d 's c h u r c h , e c c l e s i a , c o n s i s t s o f th o s e
c h o se n o u t o f th e w o r ld , a l l o f th em , w ith o u t
e x c e p tio n o f one s i n g l e o n e .?
I n 1 9 4 4 , G. C. B rew er c o n tin u e d th e r a t i o n a l e t h a t
th e c h u rc h i s com posed o f th o s e who h a v e b e e n " c a l l e d by
th e g o s p e l" to f o llo w C h r i s t :
We may l e a r n a l i t t l e m ore a b o u t w hat th e c h u rc h
i s by c o n s id e r in g th e word c h u r c h . The G reek
word w h ich i s t r a n s l a t e d c h u rc h i s e c c l e s i a , and
t h i s w ord i s compounded o f th e two G reek w ords
e k , w hich means o u t , and k a l e o , w h ich means to
c a l l o u t . The c h u r c h , t h e r e f o r e , c o n s i s t s o f a
g ro u p o f p e o p le who h av e b e e n c a l l e d o u t and
c a l l e d t o g e t h e r . When i t r e f e r s t o t h e body o f
C h r i s t , i t means th o s e who h a v e b e e n c a l l e d by
th e g o s p e l o f C h r i s t o u t o f th e s e r v i c e o f S a ta n
and i n t o th e l i b e r t y o f th e L o rd . T h is G reek
word o c c u rs i n th e New T e sta m e n t a b o u t 115 tim e s .^
O th e r s p e a k e r s s p e c i f i c a l l y s t r e s s e d t h a t th o s e who
w ere " c a l l e d o u t" by th e g o s p e l w ere th o s e who had r e n d e r e d
^"Undenominational Christianity," Lectures . 1922-
1923, p. 130.
^"The Church," Lectures, 1944, p. 74.
336
o bedience to th e p la n o f s a lv a ti o n ; h e n c e , th ey concluded
■ that th e a c tio n o f s a l v a t i o n from s i n and th e p ro c e ss o f
in c o r p o r a tio n in to th e church o c c u rre d s im u lta n e o u s ly .
"T here i s no such th in g in th e New T e sta m e n t," a s s e r te d
W ilbur H. W hite in 1925 , "a s one p ro c e ss to be saved and
a n o th e r to g e t in to th e ch u rch . The p ro c e s s t h a t saves me
makes me a member o f His ch u rch . The church i s th e medium
th ro u g h which s a lv a ti o n i s to be r e c e iv e d ." E a rly
A rceneaux echoed t h i s se n tim e n t in h is 1933 sp eech :
The law o f pardon i s th e law o f in d u c tio n in to th e
ch u rch . T hat was th e Church o f C h r i s t , a l l C h r is
t i a n s were members o f i t . When men today obey th e
same commands, t h a t same law o f pardon makes them
C h r is tia n s ; and God adds them to th e same i n s t i
t u t i o n . ^
In 1938, R obert C. Jones added th e i n e v ita b le
c o r o l l a r y , t h a t , s in c e th e ch u rch eq u a ls th e sa v e d , member
s h ip in th e church i s e s s e n t i a l to e t e r n a l s a lv a ti o n :
. . . membership in th e L o rd 's ch urch i s e s s e n t i a l
to th e s a l v a t i o n o f th e s o u l. The church i s th e
body o f C h r is t (Eph. 5 :2 3 ). God s e t s th e members
in th e body as i t p le a s e s Him (I Cor. 1 2 :1 8 ). The
Lord adds to th e church th o s e t h a t sh o u ld be saved
(Acts 2 :2 7 ). . . . T h e r e f o re , a man can n o t obey
^"The Church of Tomorrow," Lectures, 1924-1925,
p. 133.
I0,1The Identity of the Church," Lectures, 1933.
p. 93.
337
th e L o rd , and he c a n n o t do t h a t f o r w hich he was
c r e a t e d w ith o u t b e in g a member o f th e L o r d 's
c h u r c h .H
By th e term e c c l e s i a , t h e r e f o r e , th e A b ile n e
s p e a k e rs r e f e r r e d e i t h e r to th e c o r p o r a te body o f b a p tiz e d
b e l i e v e r s o r e l s e one o f th e l o c a l com m unities o f C h r is
t i a n s c o m p risin g a c o n g r e g a tio n . They co n ten d ed t h a t th e
New T estam en t was p a i n s t a k i n g l y c l e a r i n i t s d e f i n i t i o n o f
th e n a t u r e o f th e c h u rc h . Geddes M acG regor, i n h i s volume
on th e n a t u r e o f th e c h u rc h , i m p l i c i t l y a g re e s t h a t i f th e
New T estam en t w ere th e s o l e c o u r t o f a p p e a l, much o f th e
e c c l e s i o l o g i c a l c o n tr o v e rs y would d is a p p e a r . MacGregor
e x p l a i n s :
The New I s r a e l c o n s i s t s o f th o s e who h av e b een
in c o r p o r a te d i n t o C h r i s t by b a p tis m . I t would
n o t have o c c u rre d to any New T estam e n t w r i t e r
to su p p o se t h a t a man m ig h t b e " i n C h r i s t " y e t
n o t " i n th e C hurch": i t w ould h av e seemed a
l o g i c a l i m p o s s i b i l i t y , somewhat l i k e s a y in g o f
a man t h a t he h as p a r e n ts , y e t i s n o t a member
o f a f a m il y . 1 2
The Kingdom o f Heaven
In a d d i t i o n to e c c l e s i a , th e "Kingdom o f H eaven,"
was a n o th e r s c r i p t u r a l e x p r e s s io n w hich th e s p e a k e rs u se d
■^"The Influence of the Church in the Life of the
Individual," Lectures, 1953, pp. 14-15.
12
MacGregor, op. cit. , p. 4.
338
to d esig n ate the n a tu re o f the church. Most o f those who
d iscu ssed the ’’Kingdom o f H e a v e n o r the ’’Kingdom of God"
employed th e terms as synonyms fo r th e church. In 1915,
A. C. M cG iffert's book, The R ise o f Modem R eligious I d e a s , "
noted the " e x tra o rd in a ry prom inence, in p resen t-d ay C hris-
1 3
tia n thought and speech, of the Kingdom o f God."
Although tr a d i t i o n a l l y id e n tif ie d w ith the church as an
i n s t i t u t i o n , th e Kingdom o f God, according to M cG iffert's
1915 vantage p o i n t , was more w idely in te rp r e te d as th e
re ig n o f the C h ris tia n s p i r i t on e a rth . He a ttr ib u te d
th is b roader in te r p r e ta tio n o f the Kingdom to the in flu en ce
o f th e S ocial Gospel,
"What th e Kingdom o f Heaven I s w a s the t i t l e of
C harles Roberson’s 1940 A bilene le c tu r e which tended to
confirm M cG iffert's theory. Implying th a t th e term
"Kingdom" is co n cep tu ally more comprehensive than the
" v is ib le church," Roberson reasoned:
The church is the d iv in e ly appointed means to a
d iv in e ly ordained end. The fu n ctio n o f the church
is to extend and upbuild th e kingdom; to execute
th e w ill o f the re ig n in g so v ereig n . The kingdom
r e l a t e s to a purpose to be achieved; th e church is
th e means by which th a t purpose is r e a liz e d . Men
13
The R ise of Modern R eligious Ideas (New York:
The Macmillan Company, 1915), p. 275.
339
g e t i n t o th e c h u rc h by w h at th e y p r o f e s s ; th e y
g e t i n t o th e kingdom o f God o n ly as th e y h u n g e r
and t h i r s t a f t e r r i g h t e o u s n e s s . ^
R oberson c o n c lu d e d t h a t th e kingdom o f h e a v e n i s
" n o t a s e p a r a t e e n c l o s u r e , n o t a bounded kingdom , b u t a
p e r v a s iv e s p i r i t . The kingdom o f God i s goodness made
n a t u r a l , v i t a l , s u b m is s iv e , and dynam ic i n th e l i v e s o f
m e n . " ^ W. B. W est, J r . , s p e a k in g on th e same day o f
R o b e rs o n 's l e c t u r e , r e f e r r e d to th e l a t t e r ' s c o n c e p t o f th e
kingdom as " th e r e i g n o f God o r C h r i s t i n th e h e a r t s o f
men and women f in d in g c o r p o r a te e x p r e s s io n i n th e kingdom
o f God o r c h u rc h on e a r t h .
The m a jo r i ty o f th e A b ile n e s p e a k e rs w ere much more
d e c i s i v e in i d e n t i f y i n g th e kingdom w ith th e " v i s i b l e
c h u r c h ." The em phasis o f R eu el Lemmons' 1940 s p e e c h c o n
t r a s t e d r a t h e r s t r i k i n g l y w ith t h a t o f R o b e rs o n 's l e c t u r e
o f th e same y e a r :
Thus f a r we have shown t h a t th e kingdom and th e
c h u rc h a r e i n a c t u a l e x i s te n c e now; t h a t C h r i s t
i s th e h ea d o f b o th o f them; t h a t h e r e c e iv e d th e
p o s i t i o n s a t th e same i n s t a n t , by th e same p r o c e s s ,
14
L e c t u r e s , 1940, p p . 4 -5 .
1 5 I b i d . , p . 16.
"The Existence of the Kingdom of Heaven Past,
Present, and Future," Lectures, 1940, p. 18.
340
and th a t the kingdom and the church began sim u l
ta n eo u sly , a t th e same s p o t, and by the same
p ro cess.
To be in th e kingdom is to be in th e church, and
to be in th e church is to be in th e kingdom.
Show me any man in the New Testament age, and
prove to me th a t he was in th e kingdom, and I
w ill prove by the same process th a t he was in the
church. Show me one man in th e New Testament
church, and prove him to be a member th e re o f, and
I w ill by the same process show th a t he is a c i t i
zen o f th e k i n g d o m . 1 7
The d o c trin e o f p re m ille n n ia lism , an e sc h a to lo g ic a l
theory contending th a t the tr u e Kingdom o f Heaven has not
y e t been e s ta b lis h e d , was perhaps th e most o ft-d is c u s s e d
controversy to occupy th e a tte n tio n o f th e pre-1950
le c tu r e r s . J . B. Nelson in 1 9 2 0 ,^ John T. Hinds in
1 Q O p
1953, John H. B a n is te r, Athens Clay P u llia s , and
17
’’The Kingdom and the Church,” L ectures , 1940,
pp. 45 , 47-48.
18
"The Throne o f David o r th e Reign of C h r is t,"
L e c tu re s, 1920.
^ " C h r i s t in His Kingdom," L e c tu re s, 1924-1925,
p. 187. "The f in a l conclusion o f th e m a tte r is th a t
C h rist has been re ig n in g as King on D avid's throne sin c e
he made th e o ffe rin g fo r s i n , and w ill continue to re ig n
u n t i l th e f in a l judgm ent."
20
"The Keys of the Kingdom," Lectures, 1940.
341
21
Lemmons i n 1940, and L u th e r G. R o b e rts i n 1941 w ere
among th o s e who a t ta c k e d th e m i l l e n n i a l d o c t r i n e s .
G e n e r a lly , th o s e r e l i g i o u s g ro u p s t h a t w ere k e e n ly
c o n s c io u s o f a s o c i a l o b l i g a t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y opposed
p r e m i l l e n n i a l i s m . By th e same to k e n , m ost p o s t m i l l e n a r i a n
b o d ie s w ere o r d i n a r i l y i n t e n s e l y i n t e r e s t e d i n s o c i a l
im provem ent. I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t , w h ile th e c h u rc h e s
o f C h r i s t w ere a f f e c t e d v e r y l i t t l e by th e d o c t r i n e s o f
t h e s o c i a l g o s p e l , th e y w ere n e v e r t h e l e s s v ig o r o u s ly
opposed to p r e m il le n n i a lis m .
A c c e p tin g th e te rm s kingdom and c h u rc h a s b i b l i
c a l l y synonom ous, th e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s r e j e c t e d th e th e o r y
t h a t C h r i s t w i l l r e t u r n to th e e a r t h a t some f u t u r e d a t e
t o e s t a b l i s h a kingdom and r e i g n f o r a l i t e r a l th o u sa n d
y e a r s . A f t e r e m p h a siz in g t h a t su c h m i l l e n n i a l d o c t r i n e s
h ad p la g u e d th e c h u rc h s i n c e t h e se co n d c e n t u r y , P u l l i a s '
l e c t u r e r e v e a le d th e b r o th e r h o o d u n r e s t w h ich th e contem
p o r a r y t h e o r i e s had o c c a s io n e d :
^ " C i t i z e n s h i p i n an E s t a b l i s h e d K ingdom ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1941, p . 8 3 . "T h e re a r e m any, some who c la im to
b e members o f th e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t , who deny t h e e x i s t
en c e o f th e Kingdom o f C h r i s t . I n f a c t , t h e r e a r e vag u e
t h e o r i e s advanced b y th o s e who deny t h a t th e kingdom i s In
e x i s t e n c e now , t h a t a t some f u t u r e age th e kingdom w i l l b e
s e t up on e a r t h , and J e s u s w i l l r e i g n a l i t e r a l th o u sa n d
y e a r s on e a r t h i n a m i l l e n n i a l a g e ."
342
In re c e n t years , such teach ers have been e s p e c ia lly
a c tiv e . As a consequence, in some p laces the body
of C h rist has been s e rio u s ly d istu rb e d . The whole
brotherhood has been adversely a ffe c te d and h an d i
capped in i t s work o f preaching th e gospel to the
whole c re a tio n by th e d isp u te s , d iv is io n s , and
m isunderstandings which the teaching o f th e p re-
m ille n n ia l d o c trin e s have occasioned. Whatever
may be th e a tte n d a n t aggravating c irc u m sta n ces,
th e prim ary blame must f a l l upon those who i n s i s t
upon teaching t h e i r sp e c u la tiv e th e o rie s j u s t as
those who brought in the instrum ents are respon
s ib l e fo r th a t d iv is io n . 22
The Body o f C h rist
The "Body o f C h r is t," was another d e s c rip tiv e term
which appeared re g u la rly in the le c tu re s on the church.
The A bilene le c tu re s employed the fig u re to fe a tu re the
"The King and His Throne," L e c tu re s , 1940, pp.
247-248. As can be c le a r ly observed, th e p re m ille n n ia l
co n tro v e rsie s were p a r tic u la r ly in te n se during th e 1940
s e r ie s . The program 's theme, "The Kingdom o f Heaven," was
obviously designed to d eal w ith the is s u e . Charles H.
Roberson, the resp ected Abilene p ro fe s s o r, was one o f the
"su sp ects under f ir e " in th e le c tu r e week caucus rooms.
In f a c t , a handful o f v i s i t i n g preachers charged th a t
Roberson openly fo ste re d the p re m ille n n ia l th e o rie s in h is
book, What Jesus Taught. A s p e c ia l m eeting—perhaps the
most b i t t e r page in th e e n tir e L ectureship h isto ry --w a s
c a lle d to a i r th e controversy. Although h is opponents
p u b lic ly quoted from h is book as ev id en ce, Roberson appar
e n tly capably defended him self in th e minds o f the la rg e
m a jo rity o f l i s t e n e r s . I t was, however, an u n fo rtu n a te
in c id e n t in th e c a re e r of one o f th e L e c tu re sh ip 's most
ab le spokesmen. Probably as a r e s u l t of the m eeting,
Roberson prepared a re a ssu rin g exp lan atio n of the co n tro
v e r s i a l pages o f h is book, which has been included in a l l
I
343
u n i t y o f th e a p o s t o l i c c h u rc h . The R e s t o r a t i o n Movement
had b e e n m o tiv a te d by t h e hope o f u n i f y i n g a l l b e l i e v e r s
i n C h r i s t , and t h e m odem e c u m e n ic a l d i s c u s s i o n r e v iv e d
g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t i n th e s tu d y o f th e u n i t y o f th e e a r l y
c h u rc h . A lth o u g h th e y a c c u s e d t h e m odern e c u m e n ic a l
t h e o r i e s and i n t e r - c h u r c h f e d e r a t i o n s o f f o s t e r i n g u n io n
w ith o u t u n i t y , th e l e c t u r e r s b e l i e v e d u n i t y t o be one o f
23
th e c a r d i n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e f i r s t - c e n t u r y c h u rc h .
In te rw o v e n w ith th e them e o f u n i t y was a h eav y
s t r e s s upon t h e n o n - s e c t a r i a n n a t u r e o f th e "Body o f
C h r i s t . " "The w o rld m u st b e ta u g h t t h a t t h e c h u rc h i s n o t
a d e n o m in a tio n o r a c h u rc h among c h u r c h e s ," s a i d M. C.
C u th e r b e r ts o n i n 1925 , " b u t t h a t i t i s t h e one body s p i r i t
u a l o f th e L o rd J e s u s C h r i s t . I n 1 9 2 2 , J e s s e P. S e w e ll
l e c t u r e d on " U n d e n o m in a tio n a l C h r i s t i a n i t y " :
s u b s e q u e n t p r i n t i n g s . R. C. B e l l , p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w ,
O c to b e r 2 4 , 1961.
^ S e e , Abraham J . M a l h e r l e e , "The U n ity o f th e
C hurch i n P a u l ," R e s t o r a t i o n Q u a r t e r l y , I I , No. 3 , 1 9 5 8 ,
1 8 7 -1 9 6 .
2^ " E x a l tin g t h e C h u rc h ," L e c tu r e s , 1924-1925 ,
p . 106. On p ag e 1 0 0 , C u th e r b e r ts o n d e f in e d t h e c h u rc h :
" I mean by th e w ord 'c h u r c h ' t h a t one u n i v e r s a l body o r
kingdom o v e r w h ich J e s u s C h r i s t r u l e s a s King and L o rd ."
M y b re th re n are C h ristia n s only. They have joined
nothing o f any kind. They have accepted th e Lord
Jesus C h rist and in Him they worship God and serve
th e i r fellow s. In th is p o s itio n they are e n tire ly
fre e from any r e s p o n s ib ility fo r th e d iv isio n s
th a t e x is t. There is no denom inational w all around
u s. A ll C h ristia n s on e a rth , a l l who have believed
and obeyed C h ris t, are our b re th re n . . . . W e are
sep arated from a l l denom inational b e lie v e rs by the
w alls which they have erected about them selves.
They are sep arated from each o th e r by th ese same
w a lls. Our p le a is fo r th ese w alls to be to rn down,
fo r a l l who b e lie v e in C h rist to be l e f t fre e under
God in th e i r lo c a l congregations to stu d y , under
stand and p ra c tic e the word of God, w ithout the
in te rv e n tio n of denom inational a u th o rity or consid
e ra tio n fo r denom inational creeds or confessions.
I t is th is freedom th a t c o n s titu te s the g r e a te s t
of our plea. 25
Addresses on the o rig in and h i s t o r i c a l development
of the church were fre q u en tly used to dem onstrate i t s
u n ity and undenom inational c h a ra c te r. An im portant s e rie s
of such le c tu re s was d e liv e re d in 1934, on the theme:
"The New Testament Church in H isto ry ." Through the y e a rs ,
scores of speakers pointed to the record in the second
chapter of A c ts , m aintaining th a t the church was born in
Jerusalem on the f i r s t Jewish P entecost a f te r the re su r-
26
re c tio n of C h rist. O thers, ch a rtin g the h i s t o r i c a l
^ Lectures, 1922-1923, p. 140.
E. C. Coffman, "The Beginning of the Church,"
L e c tu re s , 1933, p. 15. "Before the day of P e n te c o st, the
church was spoken of as a th in g of the fu tu re , and a f te r
345
p r o g r e s s i o n o f t h e c h u r c h , c o n c lu d e d t h a t i t re m a in e d
r e l a t i v e l y f r e e fro m t h e " e v i l s o f human a p o s to s y " t h r o u g h
o u t t h e f i r s t c e n t u r y , d e s p i t e i n t e n s e i n t e r n a l p ro b le m s
27
an d o v e r t p e r s e c u t i o n s .
W ith in t h i s h i s t o r i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e l e c t u r e r s
i n t e r p r e t e d Roman C a t h o l i c i s m a s t h e a p o s t a t e r e s u l t o f a
s e r i e s o f human i n n o v a t i o n s t h a t e v e n t u a l l y ro b b e d t h e New
T e s ta m e n t c h u r c h o f i t s p u r i t y an d s i m p l i c i t y . I t i s
i n t e r e s t i n g t o o b s e r v e t h a t some s t u d e n t s h a v e a s s e r t e d
t h a t s u c h g ro u p s a s t h e c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t h o ld s e v e r a l
p o i n t s i n common w i t h t h e C a t h o l i c c h u r c h . The b o o k ,
R e l i g i o u s T h o u g h t i n t h e L a s t Q u a r t e r C e n t u r y , p u b l i s h e d
i n 1 9 2 7 , d e t e c t e d a s t r a n g e a t t i t u d i n a l a l l i a n c e b e tw e e n
Roman C a t h o l i c i s m and P r o t e s t a n t f u n d a m e n ta lis m i n i t s
f i g h t a g a i n s t m o d e rn ism . E d i t o r G e r a ld B ir n e y S m ith
t h a t d a y i t was s p o k e n o f a s a n a c t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n . We
c o n c l u d e , t h e r e f o r e , b ey o n d a d o u b t , t h a t t h e c h u r c h o f
t h e L o rd J e s u s C h r i s t h a d h e r b e g i n n in g on th e F i r s t
P e n t e c o s t w h ic h f o llo w e d t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n and a s c e n s i o n o f
t h e L o rd J e s u s C h r i s t . ”
^ J o h n T . S m ith , "T he C h u rch i n C o n f l i c t w i t h
P ag an P h i l o s o p h i e s , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 4 , p . 4 2 . " T h ro u g h o u t
t h e New T e s ta m e n t, r e f e r e n c e s an d a l l u s i o n s a r e made t o
t h e g r e a t c o n f l i c t b e tw e e n C h r i s t i a n i t y an d p a g a n
P h i l o s o p h i e s . "
346
contended that the Catholics and the fundamentalists in
Protestantism "have precisely the same feeling concerning
authority." Both, he insisted, are concerned with retain
ing the "older conception of authority in order to maintain
28
th e o ld e r r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e o f a b s o lu te a s s u ra n c e ."
In a second volume p u b lis h e d th e fo llo w in g y e a r , Sm ith
c o n tin u e d : "The program o f fu ndam entalism i s i n many
r e s p e c ts p r e c i s e l y p a r a l l e l to th e program o f th e C a th o lic
o n
Church in r e l a t i o n to m odernism ."
I f th e A b ilen e l e c t u r e r s co u ld be j u s t l y lin k e d
w ith th e C a th o lic p o s i t i o n in t h e i r f i e r c e o p p o s itio n to a
common f o e , t h i s was th e o n ly c o n g e n ia l p o in t o f agreem ent
in an o th e rw is e t o t a l l y a n t a g o n is t ic r e l a t i o n s h i p . For
in s t a n c e , Homer H a ile y , sp e ak in g in 1934 on "The Church in
th e A n ti-N ice n e P e r i o d ,” d e c la r e d :
In t h i s p e rio d o f h i s t o r y . . . we s e e th e b r i g h t
l i g h t o f a p u re sim p le f a i t h , in i t s c o n q u e s t, b e
coming c o n ta m in a te d and d e f i l e d by th e w orld i t i s
co n q u e rin g ; to s u p p la n t in l a t e r y e a rs w ith "P ap a l"
Rome, what i t was co n q u e rin g in "Pagan" Rome. 30
G erald B irn ey Sm ith ( e d . ) , R e lig io u s Thought in
th e L a s t Q u a rte r C entury (C hicago: U n iv e r s ity o f Chicago
P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), pp. 100-101.
29
G erald B irn ey S m ith , C u rre n t C h r is t ia n T hinking
(C hicago: U n iv e r s ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), p . 64.
30
Lectures, 1934, p. 30.
347
S peaking on th e same s e r i e s , John T. Sm ith was
e q u a lly as d isa p p ro v in g o f th e C a th o lic r i s e to power:
T hus, we have se en th e p r im it iv e c h u rc h , w hich had
i t s b e g in n in g a t J e ru s a le m , c o r r u p te d by a s u c c e s
s io n o f d e p a rtu re s and in n o v a tio n s u n t i l i t com
p l e t e l y l o s t i t s o r i g i n a l s i m p l i c i t y and p u r i t y .
In i t s s t e a d , we have se e n th e "man o f s i n " r a i s e d
up to h is f u l l pow er, " e x a l t i n g h im s e lf above a l l
t h a t i s c a l l e d God, o r t h a t i s w o rs h ip p e d ." He
claim ed to be th e s u c c e s s o r o f P e t e r , th e v i c a r o f
C h r is t : s e t up by God to g o v ern th e ch u rch and th e
w o r ld .31
The l e c t u r e r s a d m itte d t h a t th e C a th o lic c o n t r o ll e d
M iddle Ages y i e l d s c a n t h i s t o r i c a l d a ta r e l a t i n g to th e
e x is te n c e o f an i n s t i t u t i o n known as th e Church o f C h r is t
W hile a few sp e a k e rs su rm ised t h a t in d iv i d u a l b e l i e v e r s
m ight have c o n tin u e d to fo llo w th e New T estam ent b l u e p r i n t
in re m o te , unknown q u a r te r s , o th e r s m a in ta in e d t h a t a
c a r e f u l l y docum ented knowledge o f th e c h u r c h 's h i s t o r y was
n o t germane to th e q u e s tio n o f i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y . "You ask
me i f I can t r a c e th e ch u rch o f w hich I am a member back
to J e ru s a le m ," q u e rie d W . D. Campbell in 1923, "and I
answer no. T here i s no unbroken l i n e o f s u c c e s s io n . . . .
o 2
The o n ly t r u e s u c c e s s io n i s th e s e e d , th e word o f God."
^"The Church and Clerical Authority," Lectures,
1934, p. 53.
32uThe church Which Was Built by Jesus the Christ,"
Lectures, 1922-1923, p. 191.
348
A. 0. Colley agreed in 1934:
W e do not have to tr a c e an unbroken chain o f human
su ccessio n from th e a p o s tle s u n t i l now to have the
church; b u t, we can fin d th e p rin c ip le s o f th e New
Testam ent, as th e "Seed o f th e Kingdom" or th e
word of God (Luke 8 :1 3 ), w ill reproduce the k in g
dom in human h e a rts to d a y , when h e a rd , b eliev e d
and obeyed, j u s t as i t did th e f i r s t tim e i t was
p rese n ted . Hence, th e power to tr a c e th e kingdom
o f God—th e church o f th e liv in g God—c o n s is ts
not in a su ccessio n o f Popes, o r in any le s s p r e
te n tio u s denom inational f a b r ic s . . . .33
Moving to th e s ix te e n th c e n tu ry , the A bilene
le c tu r e r s d isc u sse d th e P ro te s ta n t Reform ation w ith mixed
fe e lin g s o f a p p re c ia tio n and r e g r e t. "A fter a thousand
years of c o rru p tio n , s u p e r s t i t i o n , and s p i r i t u a l d a rk n e s s,"
d ec lared John T. Sm ith, " th e clouds r i f t e d and th e sun
3 A *
broke through once m ore." Although th e reform ers were
eulogized as brave so u ls who salvaged th e freedom to study
the B ible and worship according to co n scien ce, they were
in te rp r e te d as an im perfect t r a n s i t i o n between th e ebony
blackness of Romanism, and th e p u re r li g h t o f th e n in e
te e n th cen tu ry R e sto ra tio n Movement. Though th e re are no
apparent h i s t o r i c a l t i e s between th e two groups , some
33
A. 0. C o lley , "The Church during the Dark Ages,"
L e c tu re s , 1934, pp. 69-70.
ny
John T. Smith, op. cit. , p. 53.
349
i n t e r e s t i n g d o c t r i n a l s i m i l a r i t i e s c o u p le d w i t h t h e common
c h a rg e t h a t th e R e fo rm a tio n was o n ly h a l f s u c c e s s f u l , i s
s t r o n g l y r e m i n i s c e n t o f th e p o s i t i o n o f th e v i r i l e A na-
35
b a p t i s t Movement o f t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y .
In 1 9 2 3 , p r i n c i p a l s p e a k e r W. D. C am pbell b o th
commended and c r i t i c i z e d t h e w ork o f W y c l i f f e , H u s s ,
L u t h e r , C a l v i n , K nox, Z w i n g l i e , W e s le y , and o t h e r s : " T h a t
th e y d i d good we a r e g la d t o c o n c e d e , b u t th e y d i d n o t
c o n c e iv e t h e i d e a o f a r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e f a i t h and p r a c
t i c e o f a p o s t o l i c t i m e s - - i n an e f f o r t t o le a d t h e p e o p le
O fi
b a c k t o J e r u s a l e m ." I n a se c o n d a d d r e s s on t h e 1923
p ro g ra m , C am pbell r e d u c e d t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n s u c c e s s
and f a i l u r e i n L u t h e r 's w o rk , t o t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
th e c o n c e p ts o f r e f o r m a t i o n and r e s t o r a t i o n :
35
F o r an o u t s t a n d i n g d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t
M ovem ent, s e e F r a n k l i n L i t t e l l , The A n a b a p t i s t View o f t h e
C h u rch (B o s to n : H oughton M i f f l i n Company, 1 9 5 8 ). A lso
s e e W i l l i s t o n W a lk e r, A H i s t o r y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C hurch
(New Y ork: C h a r le s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s , 1 9 5 9 ) , p p . 3 2 6 -3 3 2 .
36
" T o d a y 's New T e s ta m e n t M essage t o M a n k in d ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 2 -1 9 2 3 , p . 201. C o n t r a s t i n g L u t h e r 's a p p ro a c h
w i t h t h a t o f A le x a n d e r C am pbell and B a r to n W. S to n e ,
C am pbell s t a t e d , on p a g e s 2 0 2 -2 0 3 : " I n d o in g t h i s th e y
w en t w i t h an open B i b le b a c k o f O x fo r d - -a n d L ondon—b a c k
o f G en ev a, and W i t t e n b e r g , b a c k o f Rome, b a c k , b a c k to
J e r u s a le m , t o d i s c o v e r t h e o r i g i n a l s u r v e y made b y t h e
i n s p i r e d a p o s t l e s s e n t o u t by t h e a u t h o r i t y o f C h r i s t . "
350
. . . M artin L uther was a g re a t and good man, and
d id a grand work. I t would be more than human to
e x p e c t, th a t he a f t e r th e s p i r i t u a l darkness o f
th e dark ages a t one s t r i d e could s te p from Rome
back to Jerusalem —W e thank God fo r what he d id --
But i f he had preached j u s t what th e A postles
preach ed , th e word--no more—no le s s - -a n d led th e
people to b e lie v e and obey th e word, no m ore, no
le s s ; he would have produced th e church d escrib ed
in th e word; no m ore, no le s s . . . . The church
which Jesus b u i l t does n o t need to be reform ed- -
As a d iv in e o rg a n iz a tio n i t was never deformed- -
I t was d iv in e ly given and p e r f e c t , b u t through
th e g re a t apostosy was l o s t to th e w orld. What
is needed is a r e s to r a t io n o f th e New Testament
c h u rc h .37
C. M. S tu b b le f ie ld ’s 1926 le c tu r e a lso d e te c te d a
s i g n i f i c a n t d iffe re n c e between th e concepts o f r e s to r a t io n
and refo rm a tio n .
M artin L uther undertook to reform th e C a th o lic
Church. In th is he f a i l e d . But h is la b o r
r e s u lte d in th e esta b lish m e n t o f P ro te sta n tism .
John Wesley undertook to reform th e E n g lish
church, and h is work r e s u lte d in th e e s ta b li s h
ment o f Methodism. The Campbells and t h e i r
c o -la b o re rs undertook n e ith e r to e s ta b li s h another
denom ination nor to reform any e x is tin g one. I f
t h e i r l i t e r a t u r e is to be th e guide to our co n clu
sio n s , they sought . . . to r e s to r e th e church to th e
world as i t was in th e b e g i n n i n g .
^ C a m p b e ll, "The Church Which Was B u ilt by Jesus
C h r is t," p. 191.
38
"Plea and Principles of DisciplesLectures ,
1926-1927, p. 159.
351
The l e c t u r e r s c o n te n d e d t h a t d e n o m in a tio n a lis m ,
by i t s v e r y n a t u r e , f o s t e r e d and condoned d i v i s i o n i n th e
"Body o f C h r i s t . " They r e g a r d e d t h e o r g a n iz e d d i v i s i o n s o f
m odern d e n o m in a tio n a lis m a s in c o m p a tib le w ith t h e p la n o f
39
u n i t y i n th e a p o s t o l i c c h u rc h . I n t h e a t t a c k upon
d e n o m in a tio n a lis m , some s p e a k e r s fo c u s e d s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n
upon the oneness of the New Testament church:
T h e re was b u t one c h u rc h i n th e a b s o l u t e s e n s e -
many c o n g r e g a tio n s o f l i k e p r e c i o u s f a i t h com pos
in g t h a t c h u rc h . C o n g re g a tio n s w ere c a l l e d
c o l l e c t i v e l y " c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t , " and i n d i v i d u a l l y
C h r i s t i a n s , D i s c i p l e s o f C h r i s t , —b r e t h r e n ,
s a i n t s . They r e c o g n iz e d b u t one l e a d e r , - - C h r i s t
a s h e a d o v e r a l l t h i n g s t o h i s c h u rc h : They w ere
bound t o Him, by no law b u t th e law o f th e L o rd ,
a s r e v e a l e d i n th e New T e s ta m e n t. T h e ir c r e e d
was th e w ord i t s e l f — th e y r e p r e s e n t e d on e fa m ily
a l l c h i l d r e n o f God: One b r o th e r h o o d i n w h ic h a l l
w ere b r e t h r e n . 40
O th e r l e c t u r e s , su c h a s John T. H in d s' 1924
a d d r e s s , q u e s tio n e d th e " d e n o m in a tio n a l n o tio n " t h a t i t
makes no d i f f e r e n c e "w h ich c h u rc h you j o i n " :
39
M. C . K u rfe e s , "The U nion Movement o r S e e in g
T h in g s A l i k e , " L e c tu r e s , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 , p . 3 1 . " E i t h e r C h r i s
t i a n s ca n be o n e , and a l l s p e a k t h e same t h i n g w ith no
d i v i s i o n s among th e m , o r God r e q u i r e s o f them an im p o s s i
b i l i t y , one o r th e o t h e r . "
^ C a m p b e l l , "The C hurch W hich Was B u i l t by J e s u s
C h r i s t , " p . 190.
352
What i s th e f a c t i n th e m a tte r o f th e way to Heaven?
Two o r more ro ad s o r j u s t one? T his i s v e ry d e f i
n i t e l y f ix e d by C h r is t h im s e lf in h is c o n t r a s t o f
th e two d e s t i n a t i o n s , and th e two ways le a d in g to
them , he say s "The way le a d in g to l i f e i s narrow and
few fin d i t , b u t th e way le a d in g to d e s t r u c t i o n is
b ro ad and many go t h a t w ay." See Matthew 7 :1 3 . By
no s o r t o f ju g g lin g o f words o r l o g i c a l scheming
can t h i s p a ssa g e be made to say t h a t th e r e a re many
ways to H eaven.4-1
E v e n tu a lly , th e l e c t u r e r s concluded t h a t th e con
c e p t o f u n ity i n th e a p o s to lic church and th e p re se n c e o f
d iv is io n s in modern d en o m in atio n alism were m u tu a lly
e x c lu s iv e . A. Hugh C la rk ch a rg e d : " T h e re fo re , th e only
r e l a t i o n s h i p w hich can p o s s ib ly o b ta in betw een th e church
o f which we re a d i n th e New T estam ent and in d en o m in atio n
a lis m , e i t h e r in th e ch u rch o r o u t o f i t , i s one o f
u n a l t e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n .”4^ C. M. S tu b b le f ie ld rem inded
h is au d ien ce t h a t one o f th e b a s ic g o a ls o f th e r e s t o r e r s
was " th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f d e n o m in a tio n a lism from th e
M 4 3
e a r t h , and Guy N. Woods s t r e s s e d th e need to p re s e rv e
t h e i r a t t i t u d e o f u n r e le n tin g a t t a c k :
^ "C o m in g to God," L e c tu r e s , 1924-1925, p . 202.
42
C la rk , op. c i t . , pp. 117-118.
43
S t u b b l e f i e l d , op. c i t . , p . 160. S t u b b l e f i e l d 's
co n c ep t o f fe llo w s h ip was more com prehensive th a n t h a t o f
m ost o f h is c o lle a g u e s , as s t a t e d on page 159: "We c la im
to be C h r is tia n s o n l y , b u t we do n o t c la im to be th e o n ly
353
D enom inationalism i s th e c u rs e and bane o f th e age.
So long as i t rem ains to m is le a d and d e c e iv e th e
p e o p le , o u r work w i l l n o t be f in is h e d . I t i s o ur
d u ty f e a r l e s s l y to u n sh e a th th e sword o f th e S p i r i t ,
b o ld ly go f o r t h to b a t t l e , and p lunge i t in to th e
v e ry h e a r t o f s e c ta r ia n is m , u n t i l , m angled and
b le e d in g , i t i s l e f t to d ie in i t s own sham e.44
In 1952, C. R. N ichol lam ented th e s p l i t s and
s p l i n t e r s w hich p lag u ed th e C h r is t ia n w orld:
W ith in th e U n ited S ta te s to d ay th e r e a re 265 d i f
f e r e n t r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s , s e c ts , o r d e n o m in a tio n s ,
each group making th e c la im t h a t th e y te a c h th e
way o f l i f e . The d iv id e d c o n d itio n o f th e p r o
fe s s e d C h r is t ia n w orld i s a f a r c ry from th e u n ity
w hich e x i s te d when th e ch u rch o f C h r is t b e g a n .45
C oncluding h is 1934 l e c t u r e , "The Church and
P r o te s ta n tis m ," A. Hugh C lark e x p re sse d th e p la tf o r m 's
a t t it u d e toward C a th o licism and p r o te sta n tism :
F i r s t , we h a v e .le a rn e d t h a t th e C a th o lic Church i s
n o t th e ch urch o f C h r is t. I t may be s a id to be an
i n s t i t u t i o n which grew o u t o f c e r t a i n d e p a rtu re s
from th e f a i t h o f th e p a r t o f th e ch u rch o f o u r
Lord i n th e e a r l y c e n t u r i e s .
C h r is t ia n s . W hile we b e lie v e t h a t many i d e n t i f i e d w ith
th e d enom inations have become C h r i s t i a n s , th e y have ta k en
on much t h a t i s n e i t h e r C h r i s t i a n i t y n o r a n y th in g a k in to
i t . Such p eo p le a r e more th a n C h r i s t i a n s , and in becoming
more th a n C h r i s t i a n s , th e y have become l e s s th a n what
C h r is tia n s sh o u ld b e ."
'C h r i s t i a n i t y in a Changing W orld," L e c tu r e s ,
1939, p. 57.
45"Back to the Old Paths," Lectures, 1952, p. 87.
354
Second, we have seen t h a t because o f th e e x tra v a
g an cies and abuses o f th e C a th o lic Church in th e
m edieval age th e re grew up from th e fo u rte e n th to
th e s ix te e n th c e n tu r ie s a movement in o p p o sitio n
to C a th o licism known as th e G reat R eform ation;
th e ad h e ren ts o f w hich . . . became known as
P r o te s ta n ts . . . .
T h ir d ly , i t is e v id e n t th e r e f o r e , th a t th e church
o f C h ris t is n e ith e r C a th o lic n o r P r o te s ta n t. . .
. T hat i t a n te d a te s n o t only th e cau se o f P r o te s
ta n tis m , b u t as w e ll t h a t m ighty e c c le s ia s tic is m
th e e v ils o f w hich gave b i r t h to P ro te s ta n tis m .
And l a s t l y , th a t C h r is tia n s , members o f th e Body
o f C h r is t, a re n e ith e r C a th o lic s nor P r o te s ta n ts ,
b u t only C hris t i a n s . 4-6
The Church and S e c ta ria n ism
A lthough th e e a rly le c tu r e s on church u n ity were
la rg e ly aimed a t th e e v ils o f o rg an ized d en o m in atio n alism ,
by th e m id -1 9 3 0 's an in te r e s ti n g s h i f t began to appear.'
Many le c tu r e r s warned th a t th e b ro th erh o o d was n o t p ro v i
d e n tia l ly immune to th e human w eaknesses which m anufactured
d en o m in atio n alism and d e stro y e d th e u n ity o f th e a p o s to lic
church. As e a rly as 1934, A. Hugh C lark p ro p h esied : nW e
have in th e church today c e r t a in w e ll-d e fin e d c o n te n tio n s
w hich, i f th ey have n o t a lre a d y done s o , only la c k
^Lectures, 1934, pp. 102-103.
355
s u f f i c i e n t tim e t o d e v e lo p i n t o f u l l - f l e d g e d d e n o m in a
t i o n s . " ^ S e v e r a l y e a r s e a r l i e r , H a l l L . C a lh o u n a n n o u n c e d
t h a t , t o m o st r e l i g i o u s o b s e r v e r s , t h e c h u r c h o f C h r i s t was
a c t u a l l y b u t a n o t h e r som ew hat u n s a v o r y d e n o m in a tio n :
I t h a s so m e tim e s b e e n nam ed " F u n d a m e n ta lis m ,"
" M o s s b a c k is m ," " P h a r i s e e i s m ," " S e c t a r i a n i s m , "
" N o n - P r o g r e s s iv e - is m ," " L i t e r a l i s m , " " L e g a lis m ,"
" A n tis m ,” "A Book R e l i g i o n . " I t h a s so m e tim e s
b e e n d e s c r i b e d a s s t a t i c , a n t i q u a t e d , f o s s i l i z e d ,
c r y s t a l l i z e d , h id e b o u n d , o s s i f i e d , n a r r o w , i n d i
v i d u a l i s t i c . Some h a v e s a i d t h a t i t w as b e g o t t e n
b y e g o t is m , c o n c e iv e d i n b i b l i o l a t r y , b r o u g h t
f o r t h i n i g n o r a n c e , p r o p a g a te d i n b i g o t r y , an d
i t s p ro g e n y t h e n a r r o w e s t a n d b i t t e r e s t o f a l l
s e c t a r i a n s . O u ts id e r s h a v e so m e tim e s d e s c r i b e d
u s a s p r e a c h e r s o f u n i o n , b u t p r a c t i c e r s o f d i v i
s i o n ; h o ld in g t h e fo rm o f g o d l i n e s s , b u t n o t
h a v in g t h e p o w e r; s t i c k l e r s f o r t h e l e t t e r , b u t
i g n o r a n t o f t h e s p i r i t ; t i t h e r s o f m i n t , a n i s e
an d cum m in, b u t n e g l e c t e r s o f j u s t i c e , m e rc y an d
f a i t h ; w r a n g le r s o v e r n o n - e s s e n t i a l s , b u t c a r e l e s s
a b o u t f u n d a m e n ta ls ; lo v i n g o u r s e l v e s , b u t d e s p i s i n g
o t h e r s ; p r o f e s s i n g C h r i s t i a n i t y , p r a c t i c i n g P h a r i
s e e is m ; a n x io u s t o p r o s e l y t e , c a r e l e s s t o c o n v e r t ;
s k i l l f u l t h e o r i s t s b u t b u n g lin g p r a c t i c e r s ; g r e a t
d e b a t e r s , b u t l i t t l e d o e r s . 48
T h o se l e c t u r e r s e x p r e s s i n g c o n c e r n o v e r t h e m a n i
f e s t a t i o n o f d e n o m in a tio n a l te n d e n c i e s w i t h i n t h e b r o t h e r
h o o d s i n g l e d o u t t h r e e m a jo r d a n g e r s i g n s : th e s t r i f e an d
d i v i s i o n w i t h i n t h e c h u r c h , t h e te n d e n c y o f som e l e a d e r s to
^Clark, op. cit. , p. 118.
4^"0ur Religion," Lectures . 1928-1929, pp. 339-340.
356
bind t h e ir opinions in to law , and th e b ro th e rh o o d 's
in c lin a tio n to s e c ta r ia n iz e th e name, "Church o f C h r is t."
G. C. B rew er, who fo r more th an th re e decades
warned L e ctu resh ip lis te n e r s o f growing se c ta ria n is m w ith in
th e ch u rch , le c tu re d in 1934 on "The Modern Schism in th e
C hurch." He review ed th e 1906 s p l i t w ith in th e d is c ip le s
movement:
These two groups a re in th e se l a s t days u s u a lly
d is tin g u is h e d by th e name " C h ris tia n Church"
fo r th e one and "church o f C h rist" fo r th e
o th e r, which names alone c le a r ly announce th a t
h ere a re two s e c ts and b o th claim ing to be th e
church C h ris t founded. What a sham eful s i t u
a tio n ! Of c o u rse , th e se are n o t two d if f e r e n t
churches b u t fa c tio n s o f th e same church—
th e re fo re s e c ts . . . . When people come from
th e s o -c a lle d " C h ris tia n Church" do th ey have
to obey th e g o s p e l--h e a r, b e lie v e , re p e n t, and
be b ap tize d ? No, th ey have a lre ad y done th a t.
Then o f c o u rse , they a re alre ad y in th e tru e
church. . . . W e should n o t speak o f them as
having l e f t one church to be members o f an o th er.
Since 1940, an in c re a sin g number o f speakers have
been preoccupied w ith th e paradox o f d iv is io n w ith in a
movement b u i l t upon th e p le a fo r u n ity . Joseph W . White
attem pted to encourage h is contem poraries in 1952 by
rem inding them th a t u n re s t had always plagued th e b ro th e r
hood. He provided an in te r e s tin g l i s t o f problems which
49
Lectures, 1934, pp. 160-161.
357
h e h a d g le a n e d fro m " t h e f i l e s o f r e l i g i o u s j o u r n a l s o f
f o r t y - f i v e o r f i f t y y e a r s a g o . ” " ^
I n t h e c h a p t e r o n "T h e R e s t o r a t i o n M o v e m en t,"
C o le ’ s H i s t o r y o f F u n d a m e n ta lis m c h r o n i c l e s t h e c h u r c h 's
i n c l i n a t i o n t o d i v i d e i n t o b i t t e r f a c t i o n s . " A t t h e p r e s
e n t t i m e , " h e w r o te i n 1 9 3 1 , " t h e D i s c i p l e 's d e n o m in a tio n
i s m o re s e r i o u s l y d i v i d e d t h a n i s a n y o t h e r e v a n g e l i c a l
51
p e o p le i n A m e r ic a ." A lth o u g h C o l e 's re m a rk s w e re a im e d
a t t h e b r o a d sw eep o f R e s t o r a t i o n b o d ie s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e
C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , h i s com m ents w e re a l s o r e l e v a n t t o th e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e m o v e m e n t's c o n s e r v a t i v e w in g . C o le
c r e d i t e d a " c o n t r o v e r s i a l p s y c h o l o g y ," " t h e d e b a t i n g
50
"T h e P r o g r e s s We H ave M a d e ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 2 ,
p p . 3 3 - 3 4 . "Two a c t s o f w o r s h ip s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , w h e th e r
an i n v i t a t i o n s o n g w as s c r i p t u r a l , o r d a i n i n g e l d e r s b y t h e
l a y i n g o n o f h a n d s , p r e a c h i n g f o r a s t i p u l a t e d s a l a r y ,
r e b a p t i s m , t h e o r d e r o f w o r s h i p , p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c i v i l
g o v e r n m e n t, l i f e i n s u r a n c e ( I w o u ld l i k e t o h a v e y o u r v ie w s
o n l i f e i n s u r a n c e . I t i s b e c o m in g v e r y p o p u l a r i n T e x a s .
Some o f o u r b e s t p r e a c h e r s a r e h o l d i n g p o l i c i e s . Some
h a v e g o t s o d e e p i n t o i t t h e y h a r d l y h a v e tim e t o p r e a c h l ) ,
t h e u s e o f a c h a r t i n a s e rm o n , c o n t r i b u t i o n d u r i n g , o r
a f t e r , t h e p u b l i c w o r s h i p , p a s s i n g a b a s k e t ( i n s t e a d o f
l a y i n g i t o n t h e t a b l e ) , b u i l d i n g a m e e tin g h o u s e ( i t w as
a l l r i g h t t o u s e o n e a l r e a d y b u i l t ) , s h a k in g h a n d s ( i n s t e a d
o f a h o ly k i s s ) , t h e nam e o f t h e c h u r c h ( t h e P e a r l a n d
B ry a n c o n g r e g a t i o n w as know n a s t h e F i r s t C h r i s t i a n C h u rc h
u n t i l n e a r l y 1 9 2 0 ) ."
51
S te w a r t G. C o l e , H i s t o r y o f F u n d a m e n ta lis m
(New Y o rk : R ic h a r d R. S m ith , I n c . , 1 9 3 1 ) , p . 1 6 0 .
358
s p i r i t , " and "a d is p u ta tio n a l a t t i t u d e " w ith p e rm ittin g
th e movement’s p re a c h e rs to "go to such extrem es in p e r
s o n a l a tta c k and d iv is iv e a c tio n , such as have n o t been
52
ex p e rien ce d in o th e r d e n o m in a tio n s."
As th e 1 9 5 0 's p ro g re s s e d , th e te n s io n s o f a se v e re
schism r i v a l i n g in en o rm ity th e o f f i c i a l s p l i t o f 1906,
53
began to be r e f l e c t e d in th e A b ilen e a d d re s s e s . Delmar
Owens spoke in 1953 on " S tr iv in g fo r U n ity among B re th re n ."
"The f u l l b e n e f its o f th e r e lig i o n o f o u r L o rd ," he
a d v is e d , "can n o t be had in a b ro th erh o o d to rn asu n d er w ith
5
s t r i f e and d is c o r d ." In 1956, R euel Lemmons ch arg ed :
The s i n o f "draw ing away d is c ip le s " i s th e c u rse
o f th e ch u rch to d ay . T here i s no p o in t in con
demning th e c o u rse o f a p o sto sy in th e e a rly
c e n t u r i e s , n o r th e s i n f u l p r a c tic e o f s e c ta r ia n
d iv is io n in d en o m in atio n al c i r c l e s to d a y , when
th e o n ly church f o r w hich my Lord d ie d is cu rsed
w ith s e c ta ria n is m o f th e r a n k e s t s o r t . From tim e
to tim e th e r e have a r is e n among us te a c h e rs who
have drawn away d is c ip le s a f t e r them . Some have
s ta g g e re d n o t a t c a rv in g th e body o f o u r b le s s e d
Lord in to rib b o n s to s a t i s f y an in d o m ita b le ego.
I t i s n e c e ss a ry t h a t we s t r e s s th e exceeding
52
C o le, H is to ry o f F undam entalism , p . 161.
53
The b a s is o f t h i s d iv is io n concerned th e methods
o f c a rin g f o r orphan c h ild re n and o f c o o p e ra tin g in p re a c h
in g th e g o s p e l. Both o f th e s e is s u e s a re d is c u s s e d in
c o n te x t l a t e r in t h i s stu d y .
^Lectures, 1953, p. 141.
359
s i n f u l s p i r i t o f a man who w o u ld s p l i t t h e c h u rc h
i n o r d e r t o b e a b i g d u c k i n a l i t t l e pond 1^5
H. A. D ix o n 's 1957 s p e e c h , " U n ity i n C h r i s t , "
c l e a r l y s t a t e d th e k n o t t y p a ra d o x :
The m o st d i s t u r b i n g th o u g h t to d a y i s n o t t h a t
d e n o m in a tio n a lis m e x i s t s , a lth o u g h t h a t f a c t ru n s
s o c o u n t e r to t h e L o r d 's p r a y e r and p l a n s , b u t i t
i s t h a t s e r i o u s d i v i s i o n an d d i s c o r d p r e v a i l
w i t h i n th e c h u r c h o f th e L o rd . S erm ons o n ce
p r e a c h e d i n w h ic h we p le a d e d w i t h h o n e s t s o u ls t o
come o u t o f s e c t a r i a n b o d ie s i n t o t h e m a rv e lo u s
. u n i t y o f th e c h u r c h o f t h e l i v i n g God seem to h a v e
l o s t f o r c e and p o w er. D e b a te s an d s t r i f e a r e
r e p o r t e d on e v e ry h a n d among o u r own b r e th r e n '.
B r e th r e n who t o g e t h e r w aged t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t
d i v i s i o n a few y e a r s ago a r e now d i v i d e d among
th e m s e I v e s .5 6
A se c o n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f s e c t a r i a n i s m , w h ic h th e
l e c t u r e r s p r e s e n t e d i n c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p to t h e p ro b le m
o f b r o th e r h o o d s t r i f e , was t h e te n d e n c y o f some b r e t h r e n
t o b in d o p in io n i n t o r i g i d la w . The c o n t r o v e r s i e s o v e r
tr a n s f o r m in g su p p o s e d m a t t e r s o f o p in io n i n t o m a t t e r s o f
law w e re b y no m eans l i m i t e d t o t h e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t .
I n t h e d e c a d e f o llo w in g W orld War I , t h e t e n s i o n s o v e r th e
m o d e r n i s ti c t h e o r i e s c r e a t e d a c l i m a t e c o n d u c iv e to s c r u
t i n y , c e n s o r s h ip and law m ak in g . I n v e s t i g a t i n g c o m m is s io n s ,
■^"Christian Fellowship," Lectures, 1956. pp. 344.
352.
^Lectures , 1957, p. 311.
360
a p p r o p r ia te ly dubbed " w itc h -h u n te r s ," and attem p ts to
invoke d o c tr in a l t e s t s o f fe llo w sh ip upon "su sp e c te d "
m in is te rs , were common to every m ajor denom ination.
The tendency to in v e s tig a te and o f f i c i a l l y cen so r
was p a r t i c u l a r ly a p p a re n t in th e B a p tis t fe llo w s h ip .
P r io r to th e 1920 annual m eeting o f th e N o rth ern B a p tis t
C o n v en tio n , 150 le a d e rs in th e church is s u e d a c a l l to a
p re -c o n v e n tio n "C onference on th e F u n d am en tals." This
u n o f f ic ia l g a th e rin g was keynoted by an ad d ress on "The
Menace o f Modernism in Our Schools and when th e conven
tio n i t s e l f came fo rm a lly in to s e s s io n , a m otion was
p re se n te d fo r an o f f i c i a l in v e s tig a tio n o f th e r e lig io u s
o p in io n s ta u g h t in a l l B a p tis t s c h o o ls . A fte r b i t t e r
d e b a te , a com m ission was s e t up to in v e s tig a te th e lo y a lty
o f te a c h e rs in a l l B a p tis t i n s t i t u t i o n s .^*7
Elsew here th e s i t u a t i o n was e q u a lly as te n s e . In
1922, H arry Emerson F o sd ick a tta c k e d h e re sy h u n te rs in h is
famous serm on, " S h a ll th e F u n d am e n talists Win?" In
r e b u t t a l , such d ia tr i b e s as John R. S tr a to n ’s " S h a ll th e
Funnym onkeyists Win?" cropped up around th e n a tio n . The
5 7 W atchm an-Exam iner. V III (Ju ly 1 , 192 0 ), 854.
(An in d ep en d en t B a p tis t w e e k ly ).
361
P r e s b y t e r i a n G e n e ra l A ssem b ly i n 1910 a tte m p te d to m ake
a l l m i n i s t e r s sw e a r a l l e g i a n c e t o " t h e F iv e P o i n t s " o f
d o c t r i n e . The C a th o li c c h u rc h s o lv e d t h e p ro b le m w i t h an
e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d e g r e e p u t t i n g m o d e rn ism o u t o f b u s i n e s s .
The i s s u e was a l s o p r e s e n t i n th e A b ile n e l e c t u r e s .
As e a r l y a s 1 9 1 9 , F . L . Young e x p r e s s e d c o n c e rn o v e r t h e
h a s t e w ith w h ic h some p r e a c h e r s q u e s tio n e d t h e s o u n d n e s s
and c e n s o r e d t h e te a c h i n g o f t h e i r c o l l e a g u e s :
W hat i s so u n d o r w h at i s u n so u n d i s so m e tim es h a r d
to d e te r m in e . T hen th e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s , "Who made
him a ju d g e ? W here d id h e g e t h i s a u t h o r i t y to
p a s s on th e s o u n d n e s s o r u n s o u n d n e s s o f a n o t h e r 's
te a c h i n g ? D oes n o t t h e A p o s tle t e a c h , " t o h i s own
m a s te r h e s ta n d s o r f a l l s ? " Too o f t e n t h e man who
d i f f e r s fro m u s , b e c a u s e h e h a s l e a r n e d m ore th a n
we h a v e , i s p ro n o u n c e d a h e r e t i c , w h ile t h e man
who t h i n k s a s we do i s so u n d i n th e f a i t h , th o u g h
h e n e v e r s p e n t a moment i n t h e e x a m in a tio n o f t h e
f o u n d a tio n s o f t h e f a i t h . . . . I h a v e r e s o lv e d
n e v e r t o m ake a n y th in g a t e s t o f f e l l o w s h i p w h ic h
th e H o ly S p i r i t h a s n o t m ade a c o n d i t i o n o f
salvation.58
E . W. M cM illan was a l s o a la rm e d a t th e i n c l i n a t i o n
o f som e p r e a c h e r s to m ake la w s . I n 1 9 3 4 , h e w arn ed o f an
" u l t r a - c o n s e r v a t i v e " e x tre m e i n t h e c h u r c h , c h a r a c t e r i z e d
by a s e c t a r i a n b i g o t r y an d " e n c a s e d w ith w i l f u l l e t h a r g y ,
s t i f l i n g th e s p i r i t u a l a tm o s p h e r e ." He a d d e d :
58
"Some P re s e n t- D a y P e r i l s an d P ro b le m s ," L e c tu r e s ,
1919, pp. 133-134.
362
L e t u s know t h a t n o t a l l s e c t a r i a n dogmas a r e bound
w ith in th e l i d s o f b o o k s. L e t us know t h a t n o t a l l
human c re e d s w ere form ed i n p u b lic c o u n c ils . L e t
us know t h a t th e men who p u b lis h e d human c re e d s
w ere n o t by n a t u r e , o f n e c e s s i t y , more g iv e n to
dogm atism o r r e l i g i o u s d i c t a t o r s h i p th a n we. L e t
u s know t h a t we a r e s u s c e p t i b l e to a l l e r r o r s
r e l i g i o u s th in k e r s h av e made from th e d e a th o f John
th e A p o s tle to th e c lo s e o f th e r e f o r m a tio n .59
G. C. B rew er, sp e a k in g on th e same program w ith
M cM illan, o b se rv e d t h a t i t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f c re e d
m akers to b e v o id o f th e s p i r i t o f lo v e . He d e s c r ib e d th e
f a c t i o n a l i s t 1s r a t i o n a l e :
Of c o u r s e , th o s e who a r e in v o lv e d in a d i v i s i o n
alw ays c la im t h a t some v i t a l p o in t i s i n q u e s tio n .
They s t r i v e to j u s t i f y th e c o n d itio n t h a t e x i s t s
by c i t i n g some d o c t r i n a l d i s l o y a l t y , o r some
u n f a ith f u ln e s s to th e word o f G o d .' F r e q u e n tly ,
h o w ev er, i t i s o n ly o u r o p in io n o r o u r judgm ent
t h a t h as b een d is r e g a rd e d and n o t th e word o f
God. . . . Even i f h e te a c h e s e r r o r , t h i s e r r o r
w ould h av e to b e v e ry h e in o u s i f i t i s as g r e a t
a s i n as th e s i n o f d i v i s i o n . 6 0
The fo llo w in g y e a r , E rn e s t Beam co n ten d ed t h a t
u n it y d id n o t demand u n if o r m ity : " I t i s t r u e t h a t i n th e
^ " T h e P r o t e s t a n t R e fo rm a tio n and th e C h u rch ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1934, p . 85.
6 0
"A P le a f o r U n ity ," L e c tu re s , 1934, p . 180.
A ls o , on page 1 8 2 , B rew er s t a t e d : F 7 T f o u r m anner o f co n
te n d in g f o r th e t r u t h k ee p s p e o p le from b e l ie v i n g th e
t r u t h . . . th e n we a r e o u r s e lv e s enem ies o f th e t r u t h . . .
. What good end i s s e rv e d i f we d e s tr o y p ea ce and harmony
among th o u sa n d s o f p e o p le in o u r e f f o r t to c o r r e c t a s m a ll
e r r o r w hich p ro b a b ly w ould re a c h o n ly a few p e o p le in one
l o c a l i t y ? "
363
c h u rc h we do h av e a harm ony o f d if f e r e n c e s as w e ll as
l ik e n e s s e s . I t i s t r u e l W e a r e d i f f e r e n t w h ile we a r e
o n e ." Beam a d v o c a te d a p h ilo s o p h y o f f e llo w s h ip som ewhat
b ro a d e r th a n t h a t to w hich m ost o f h i s c o lle a g u e s
s u b s c r ib e d :
W hether you l i k e i t o r n o t , w hoever a c c e p ts C h r is t
: a s L ord and g iv e s e v e ry e v id e n c e h e i s as a n x io u s
t o obey him a s anyone can b e , t h a t man i s y o u r
b r o t h e r in C h r is t ( i f you a r e in ) and happy a r e
you i f you h av e th e H oly S p i r i t and i t s f i r s t
f r u i t w h ich i s lo v e and e x e r c is e i t to w ard t h a t
b r o t h e r . 61
H. A. D ix o n ’s 1954 s p e e c h , "O vercom ing D enom ina
t i o n a l T e n d e n c ie s ," num bered s e lf-m a d e law s and a r b i t r a r y
t e s t s o f f e llo w s h ip among th e c a u s e s o f s e c t a r i a n d i v i s i o n
w ith in th e c h u rc h . A f te r m e n tio n in g some m in o r m a tte r s o f
d i s c o r d , D ixon a d d re s s e d h im s e lf to th e m ore tim e ly to p ic s
o f c o n te n tio n :
One d e c id e s t h a t w orks o f c h a r i t y can b e done by
o n ly one a rra n g e m e n t. One d e c id e s t h a t w o rld
e v a n g e lism m ust b e done by s e n d in g fu n d s d i r e c t
to th e e v a n g e li s t in th e f i e l d . . . . I t i s c o n
te n d e d t h a t th e c h u rc h th ro u g h w h ich th e fu n d s
a r e s e n t becom es a c o n t r o l l i n g p o w er, and d e s tr o y s
th e autonom y o f th e l o c a l c h u rc h w hich su b m its i t s
fu n d s f o r su c h u s e . Each m a n 's p la n becom es law
to a l l in h i s e y e s . 62
^"The Church in Its Ideas and Ideals of Unity,"
Lectures, 1935, pp. 106, 108.
^Lectures, 1954, p. 38.
364
Reuel Lemmons su g g ested in 1956 th a t much o f th e
b rotherhood d iv is io n had re s u lte d from "ta k in g th e word o f
man as i f i t were th e word o f God." He i l l u s t r a t e d h is
p o in t:
O c c a sio n a lly , one o f u s , in h is z e a l to see th e
church be e x a c tly as he has th e o p in io n i t ought
to b e , s e ts h im se lf to c o r r e c t a l l abuses and to
p u rify th e church according to h is sta n d a rd of
p u r if ic a tio n . He may be a g a in s t most an y th in g —
to b acco , c o ffe e , s h o rt h a i r , B ib le c la s s e s , o r
orphan homes—and h is z e a l may d riv e him to s e c
ta ria n is m . When one o f us e s ta b lis h e s h is own
code o f f a i t h and re q u ire s o th e rs to su b sc rib e to
i t , he is g u ilt y o f producing a s e c t . 63
In 1957, John C. Stevens a s s e rte d th a t one is n o t
a m ature C h ris tia n u n t i l he is " a b le to accep t h is fellow s
w ith o u t having to re a rra n g e every d e t a i l o f t h e i r liv e s to
s u i t h is opinions. . . . too o fte n we allow our co n v ictio n s
to p ro tru d e too f a r in to th e realm o f o p in io n and expedi-
_____ T T 64
ency.
The speakers a lso d e te c te d danger in th e e x c lu siv e
use o f th e name, "Church o f C h r is t." As e a rly as 1920,
M . C. K urfees warned o f " th e growing tendency today to
63
Lemmons, op. c i t . , pp. 349-350. A lso , on page
356, Lemmons s ta te d : "W hile we f ig h t th e id e a o f a
d io cesan r e lig i o n , we a re producing i t a t a ra p id r a t e ."
64
"Maturity in Christ," Lectures, 1957, p. 85.
365
s e c t a r i a n i z e e v e n t h e te r m " C h u rc h o f C h r i s t . " D e n y in g
t h a t t h e e x p r e s s i o n w as t h e s p e c i a l d o m a in o f t h e n o n -
i n s t r u m e n t a l w o r s h i p p e r s , K u r f e e s s t a t e d :
T h is i s i n v a r i a b l y t h e c a s e w hen i t i s u s e d , a s i t
f r e q u e n t l y i s n o w a d a y s , t o m ean m e r e ly t h o s e p e o p l e
o f God who do n o t w o rk t h r o u g h m i s s i o n a r y s o c i e t i e s
an d do n o t u s e i n s t r u m e n t a l m u s ic i n w o r s h i p , a n d
t o e x c lu d e o t h e r c h i l d r e n o f God who m ake t h e m is
t a k e o f w o r s h ip p in g an d w o rk in g i n t h e s a i d w a y s .65
"T h e Name o f t h e C h u r c h ," w as C le d E . W a l l a c e 's
1933 l e c t u r e i n w h ic h h e c o n c lu d e d : "T h e y w e re know n b y
n o p a r t y n a m e s , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g th e m a s t o f a i t h a n d o r d e r
ft ft
fro m a n y o f t h e o t h e r p e o p l e o f G o d ." D ix o n 's 1954
a d d r e s s a l s o p o i n t e d t o d e n o m i n a t i o n a l i n f l u e n c e i n t h e
u s e o f r e l i g i o u s te r m i n o lo g y . A f t e r d e n o u n c in g t h e u s e o f
s u c h te rm s a s " r e v e r e n d , " " p a s t o r , " " d o c t o r , " a n d " e l d e r , "
a s t i t l e s f o r t h e p r e a c h e r , h e w a rn e d o f s e c t a r i a n o v e r
to n e s i n t h e e x c l u s i v e u s e o f t h e t i t l e , " C h u rc h o f
C h r i s t . " 6 7
P e r h a p s n o A b ile n e l e c t u r e r w as m o re c o n c e r n e d
t h a n G. C. B re w e r a b o u t s e c t a r i a n t e n d e n c i e s w i t h i n t h e
£ C
"T h e C h u rc h R e v e a le d i n t h e New T e s t a m e n t ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 , p . 2 9 .
66Lectures. 1933, pp. 22-23.
f t 7
Dixon, op. cit. . p. 35.
366
c h u rc h . He b o ld ly c h a rg e d i n 1934:
We h a v e , in s p i t e o f o u r s e lv e s , become a s e c t whose
s p e c i a l p u rp o se i s to c o n te n d a g a in s t s e c ta r ia n is m .
The word " C a m p b e ll!te " h as ab o u t d is a p p e a re d from
th e v o c a b u la ry o f o u r n e ig h b o r s . Why? B ecause
th e y a r e w i l li n g f o r us to have a s c r i p t u r a l name
i f we w i l l g iv e i t s e c t a r i a n l i m i t a t i o n s . They
a r e re a d y to co n ced e u s th e r i g h t to form a s e c t
and to c a l l i t w h a te v e r we choose. 68
D e a lin g s p e c i f i c a l l y w ith th e te rm , " c h u rc h o f
C h r i s t ," B rew er c o n tin u e d : " I r e p e a t , th e ch u rch i s n o
w here named in th e New T e sta m e n t. A ll o u r t a l k a b o u t th e
s c r i p t u r a l names f o r th e c h u rc h i s sim p ly u n s c r i p t u r a l
ja r g o n ." A f te r a p p ro v in g o f su c h d e s c r ip tio n s as th e
" c h u rc h o f C h r i s t ," and th e "C hurch o f G od," B rew er a rg u e d :
. . . b u t to r e p e a t w hat h as b een s a id b e f o r e , to
e x a l t anyone o f th e s e in to th e p a te n te d name o f
th e ch u rc h i s to s e c t a r i a n i z e t h a t e x p r e s s io n .
I f we h av e n o t done t h a t v e ry th in g w ith th e ex
p r e s s io n " c h u rc h o f C h r i s t ," th e n why do we n o t
v a ry o u r term s in sp e a k in g o f th e c h u rc h . Why
I s e v e ry deed made to th e c h u rc h o f C h r is t? Why
I s " c h u rc h o f C h r is t " p u t upon ev e ry c o r n e r s to n e
o r in f r o n t o f e v e ry m e e tin g h o u se . Why does
th e " c h u rc h o f C h r is t" h av e a l i t e r a t u r e s e r i e s .
So f ix e d and u n ifo rm i s t h i s d e s ig n a tio n t h a t
i f we sh o u ld i n s e r t th e name " J e s u s " in th e
e x p r e s s io n , i t w ould c a u se c o n fu s io n . . . . To
u s e th e te rm " c h u rc h o f C h r is t" to in c lu d e any
lim ite d number o f s a i n t s o r to make i t th e name
o f th e ch u rc h i s to s e c t a r i a n i z e th e e x p r e s s io n .
"The Church and Sectarianism," Lectures, 1934.
367
B r e th r e n , I do n o t e x p e c t you to g e t t h i s p o in t
w ith o u t some s u f f e r i n g . B ut i f you w i l l en d u re
th e n e c e s s a r y p a in c a u sed by f o r c in g th e n e e d le
th ro u g h th e s k in by w hich you g e t th e a n t i
s e c t a r i a n , seru m , y o u r s u f f e r i n g w i l l th e n be
o v e r and y o u r s p i r i t u a l c o n d itio n w i l l soon b e
b e t t e r . 69
In c o n c lu s io n , i t may b e s a id t h a t th e A b ile n e
s p e a k e rs r e s o l u t e l y h e ld t h a t th e n a tu r e o f th e c h u rc h
in h e re d in a f ix e d a p o s to lic p a t t e r n . They d e n ie d t h a t
th e c h u rc h was an a c c id e n ta l id e o lo g y a r i s i n g o u t o f th e
u n iq u e e n v iro n m e n ta l dynam ics o f th e f i r s t c e n tu r y . They
b e lie v e d t h a t J e s u s C h r is t c o n c e iv e d o f h im s e lf as th e
fo u n d e r o f th e c h u rc h , an i n s t i t u t i o n w hich s tu d i o u s ly
f u l f i l l e d th e e x p e c ta tio n s o f th e O ld C o v en an t. C o n s ti
tu te d o f b a p tiz e d b e l i e v e r s i n whom th e S p i r i t d w e lls th e
c h u rc h w a s, to th e l e c t u r e r s , th e sa v ed body o f C h r i s t .
In s p i t e o f acknow ledged d i f f i c u l t i e s in l i v i n g up to th e
p a t t e r n , th e y c o n s id e re d th e m se lv e s to b e l i v i n g p ro o f
t h a t u n d e n o m in a tio n a l C h r i s t i a n i t y i s p o s s i b le in th e m id s t
o f s e c t a r i a n c h a o s . W hile co n c e d in g t h a t human l i m i t a t i o n s
f r e q u e n tly m arred th e i d e a l , J e s s e P . S e w e ll's 1920 l e c
t u r e , "O ur P le a S t a t e d ," a d m ira b ly p h ra s e d th e n a tu r e o f
th e p le a f o r an u n d e n o m in a tio n a l c h u rc h :
^Brewer, op. cit. , pp. 124, 138-139.
368
Ours i s a p le a f o r p ro g re s s in th e d is c o v e ry and
p r a c t ic e o f d iv in e t r u t h . The im p o rta n ce o f o u r
p le a and o u r s a f e ty in m aking i t do n o t c o n s is t in
th e p a r t i c u l a r t r u t h we have a c c e p te d and w hich we
now p r a c t i c e , b u t r a t h e r in o u r a t t i t u d e tow ard
a l l t r u t h in C h r is t . I f we e v e r a llo w o u rs e lv e s
to become s a t i s f i e d w ith o u r ach iev em en ts in th e
realm o f s p i r i t u a l know ledge and p r a c t i c e , o u r
u s e fu ln e s s w i l l be ended. I t i s n o t th e t r u t h
we know and p r a c t i c e t h a t i s im p o r ta n t, b u t a l l
t r u t h re v e a le d in C h r is t J e s u s . Our m inds m ust
e v e r be k e p t open and o u r h e a r ts m ust warm as we
c o n tin u e to s e a rc h th e s c r i p t u r e s .
The O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e Church
In h is 1926 l e c t u r e , Foy W a lla c e , S r. e x p re s se d a
fu n d am en tal te n e t o f th e L e c tu re s h ip d is c u s s io n o f ch u rch
o r g a n iz a tio n : "The c h u rc h , th e n , b e in g a kingdom , i s n o t
a dem ocracy and c a n n o t b e s u b je c t to th e l e g i s l a t i o n o f
men. I t i s an a b s o lu te m onarchy w ith C h r is t as i t s k in g
and th e New T estam en t as i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n . " ^ S e v e ra l
y e a rs l a t e r , C h a rle s H. R oberson a s s e r te d :
T here i s , s t r i c t l y s p e a k in g , no ch u rch g o v ern m en t,
since the church has no legislative authority, and
no right to enforce her own will upon Christ's
free men. Within certain limits , judicial author
i t y and e x e c u tiv e power a r e g iv e n to chosen
70Lectures, 1920-1921, p. 187.
7^"The Church," Lectures , 1926-1927, pp. 143-144.
369
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f th e body o f C h r i s t to a p p ly
th e law o f H is Kingdom and to e n f o r c e th e w i l l
o f th e K ing th ro u g h o u t h i s e a r t h l y realm. 72
The l e c t u r e r s c o n te n d e d t h a t th e u n i t o f u l t i m a t e
o r g a n i z a t i o n i n th e a p o s t o l i c c h u rc h was th e l o c a l c o n g re
g a t io n . C o n s e q u e n tly , th e y c a t e g o r i c a l l y r e j e c t e d any
c o n c e p t o f c h u rc h -w id e e c c l e s i a s t i c i s m and s o u g h t to p r e
s e r v e th e r i g h t o f s e l f - r u l e f o r th e l o c a l c o n g r e g a tio n .
S e v e ra l s p e a k e rs em p h asized th e p r i n c i p l e o f autonom y as a
s a fe g u a r d a g a i n s t g e n e r a l c h u rc h -w id e a p o s ta s y . When
a n sw e rin g th e c h a rg e s o f i n e f f i c i e n c y and in m o b i lity
b e c a u s e o f th e a b s e n c e o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , th e
s p e a k e rs re s p o n d e d : "The f a i l u r e o f th e c h u rc h e s to m eet
th e l e g i t i m a t e dem ands and n ee d s o f th e tim e s i s n o t a
r e s u l t o f w eakness i n G o d 's p l a n , b u t th e r e s u l t o f a f a i l
u r e upon th e p a r t o f th o s e p r o f e s s in g to b e th e c h i l d r e n
o f God to w ork o r a p p ly t h a t p l a n . " ^
The l e c t u r e r s m a in ta in e d t h a t ea ch a p o s t o l i c
congregation was governed by a body of elders who, upon
m e e tin g s p e c i f i c s c r i p t u r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , w ere d e le g a te d
72
"The Organization of the Church," Lectures,
1 9 3 3 , p . 3 0 .
^ F . B. S h e p h e rd , " I B e lie v e ," L e c t u r e s , 1943,
p p . 8 0 -8 1 .
370
power o f e x e c u tiv e o v e rs ig h t by C h r is t , th e head o f th e
ch u rch . T h e re fo re , on a s c a le o f descen d in g a u th o r ity ,
th e sp eak ers approved th e fo llo w in g s tr u c t u r e o f church
governm ent: C h ris t as th e supreme head o f th e c h u rc h , th e
a p o s tle s as i t s founding f a t h e r s , th e e ld e rs as a d m in is tra
to r s w ith in th e lo c a l c o n g re g a tio n , deacons as s e rv a n ts o f
th e lo c a l c h u rc h , and e v a n g e lis ts as perm anent te a c h e rs in
th e ch u rch . In h is 1941 l e c t u r e , L. R. W ilson summarized
t h i s c h a in o f ch u rch a u th o r ity :
You can now u n d e rsta n d what I mean by th e o rg a n iz a
tio n o f th e c i tiz e n s o f th e Kingdom. C h ris t is th e
head; th e a p o s tle s a re h is p le n ip o te n tia r y r e p r e
s e n ta tiv e s ; th e e ld e rs in each c o n g re g a tio n a re th e
s e rv a n ts e s p e c ia lly chosen to look a f t e r m a te r ia l
needs o f th e lo c a l body; th e e v a n g e lis ts a re th o se
who p reac h th e word . . . th e membership o f any
c o n g re g a tio n comprehends th e e n t ir e body, re g a rd
le s s o f th e work each d o es. T his i s a v ery sim ple
arran g em en t, and th e b ea u ty o f i t i s t h i s sim ple
arrangem ent is th e m ost e f f i c i e n t known to man.
The re a so n i s , i t i s God's a r r a n g e m e n t . ^
C o n tra s tin g r a th e r s h a rp ly w ith a b a s ic te n e t o f
Roman C a th o lic ism , th e le c tu r e r s contended t h a t th e o f f ic e
o f a p o s tle was perm anently v a c a te d a t th e c o n c lu sio n o f
th e s e rv ic e o f th e o r ig in a l tw elv e. The le c tu r e r s were in
b a s ic agreem ent w ith m ost o f th e P r o te s ta n t w orld in
74tiThe citizens of the Kingdom Organized for
Work,1 1 Lectures, 1941, p. 112.
371
o p p o s in g t h e C a th o li c p o s i t i o n o f a p o s t o l i c s u c c e s s io n .
I n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l P r o t e s t a n t o p in io n t h e a p o s t o l i c o f f i c e
was i n s e p a r a b l y a t t a c h e d to p e r s o n s . The d e a th o f th e
75
p e r s o n im p lie d t h e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e o f f i c e . I n 1 9 5 1 ,
M e lv in J . W ise s t a t e d t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e A b ile n e p la tf o r m :
The a p o s t l e s h a d no o f f i c i a l s u c c e s s o r s . T h is f a c t
i s s e e n i n t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i r q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . . .
. T hus , t h e a p o s t o l i c o f f i c e c e a s e d a s a v i s i b l e
body on e a r t h a t th e d e a th o f t h e A p o s tle J o h n , and
e v a n g e l i s t s an d p a s t o r s becam e t h e p e rm a n e n t t e a c h
e r s an d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s o f t h e c h u r c h .
The n a t u r e o f th e o f f i c e i n w h ic h e x e c u ti v e l e a d e r
s h i p was v e s t e d f o llo w in g t h e a p o s t o l i c p e r i o d i s r e v e a l e d
i n t h e B i b l i c a l te rm s u s e d t o d e s i g n a t e i t . P r e s b u te r o s ,
p r e s b y t e r o r e l d e r , e p is k o p o s , b is h o p o r o v e r s e e r , an d
p o im e e n , p a s t o r o r s h e p h e r d , a r e t h e t h r e e G reek w ords
w h ic h name and d e s c r i b e t h e o f f i c e . E . W. M cM illan
d e s c r ib e d t h e s c o p e o f th e e l d e r 's a u t h o r i t y t o w h ic h th e
A b ile n e s p e a k e r s s u b s c r i b e d :
. . . i n th e l o c a l g r o u p , a l l a u t h o r i t y i s v e s t e d i n
t h e men c a l l e d e l d e r s . T hey a r e l i m i t e d by t h e New
T e s ta m e n t law o f t h e i r K in g ; b u t w i t h i n th e
^ T . 0 . W e d e l, The Coming G re a t C h u rch (New Y o rk :
C h a rle s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s , 1 9 4 5 ) , p . 1 4 4 .
7 6
"T he O r g a n iz a tio n o f t h e C h u rc h ," L e c t u r e s .
1 9 5 1 , p . 8 . A lso s e e T . B. T hom pson, "T he A m b assad o rs o f
th e K ingdom ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 1 .
372
p r e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h a t law th e r e i s no man w ith th e
r i g h t to d i s c r e d i t , o r r e j e c t o r o th e rw is e h in d e r
th e p e a c e fu l w ork o f th e ch u rch u n d e r them . When
t h e i r f i n a l d e c is io n h as b een p r a y e r f u lly re a c h e d
and an n o u n ced , u n le s s i t i s e n t i r e l y o u t o f h a r
mony w ith p l a i n B ib le te a c h i n g , th e o th e r members
o f th e c o n g re g a tio n a r e commanded to c o o p e ra te
w ith t h a t ju d g e m e n t.77
S e v e ra l s p e a k e rs l i s t e d th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r th e
o f f i c e o f e ld e r as re c o rd e d in I Tim othy 3 :1 -7 and T itu s
1 :6 - 9 : " b la m e le s s ," " th e husband o f one w i f e , " ^ " v i g i
l a n t , " " s o b e r ," " o f good b e h a v io r ," "g iv e n to h o s p i t a l i t y , ”
" a p t to te a c h ," " n o t g iv e n to w in e ," "no s t r i k e r , " " n o t
g re ed y o f f i l t h y l u c r e ," " p a t i e n t , " " n o t a b r a w le r ," " n o t
c o v e to u s ," "one t h a t r u l e t h w e ll h is own h o u s e ," " n o t a
n o v ic e ," "a good r e p o r t o f them t h a t a r e w ith o u t," "h av in g
77nThe Kingdom T h at C annot Be S h ak en ," L e c tu r e s ,
1946, p . 101.
78
"Does he mean t h a t an e l d e r m ust n o t n e c e s s a r ily
be m a rr ie d , b u t i f m a rrie d he sh o u ld have b u t one w ife ; o r
does he mean t h a t an e l d e r m ust have a t l e a s t one w ife ; o r
does h e mean t h a t an e l d e r m ust be a m a rrie d man w ith b u t
one w ife ? O b je c tio n s can b e found to th e f i r s t two i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n s m e n tio n e d , b u t none w h a tso e v e r can b e found w ith
th e l a s t o n e. Hence th e s a f e s t view i s t h a t a m a rrie d man
w ith b u t one w ife can f u l f i l l t h i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n , and t h a t
e i t h e r c e lib a c y o r polygam y w ould d i s q u a l i f y a man from
s e rv in g as an e ld e r in th e ch u rch o f G od." M elvin J .
Wise, "The Organization of the Church," Lectures, 1951,
p. 14.
373
79
f a i t h f u l c h i l d r e n , " " n o t s e l f - w i l l e d , " " n o t so o n a n g r y ,"
" a lo v e r o f good m en ," " j u s t , " " h o ly ," " te m p e r a te ," " h o ld
in g f a s t th e f a i t h f u l w o rd .”
E. H. I ja m s 1 o b s e r v a tio n s in 1935 p o in te d to a
g e n e r a l la c k o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s among some e l d e r s h i p s :
Som etim es men a r e e l d e r s i n name o n ly . S o m etim es,
th o u g h e l d e r s i n nam e, th e y a r e n o t a p t to te a c h ,
o r th e y f a i l to command h i g h e s t r e s p e c t and c o n f i
d en c e o f th e p e o p le w ith in and w ith o u t th e c o n g re
g a t io n . Som etim es we f in d men l i s t e d a s e l d e r s
and d eaco n s who seem to b e c o n te n t w ith " h o ld in g
o f f i c e . " They th in k o f th e e l d e r s h ip as an o f f i c e
to b e h e ld r a t h e r th a n a s e r v i c e to b e r e n d e r e d .
I t h a p p e n s , t h e r e f o r e , som etim es t h a t we h av e th e
r u l e o f th e un w o rth y and in c o m p e te n t i n s t e a d o f
th e h u m b le st and b e s t men i n th e c o n g r e g a tio n .
Thus , i t comes a b o u t t h a t in s t e a d o f le a d e r s h ip o f
th e b e s t , a c c o rd in g to th e f i r s t c e n tu r y s ta n d a r d ,
we o c c a s i o n a lly h av e th e le a d e r s h ip o f th e u s u r p e r
o r th e c h i l d i s h w e a k lin g .80
W hile some a d d re s s e s f e a t u r e d th e n eed f o r m ore
t r u l y q u a l i f i e d e l d e r s , o th e r s h i g h l i g h t e d s p e c i f i c p ro b
lem s o r c h a lle n g e s w hich th e o f f i c e m u st em b race. In
79
"The q u e s tio n i s som etim es a s k e d , 'D oes an e l d e r
h av e to h a v e m ore th a n one c h i l d ? ' The q u a l i f i c a t i o n t h a t
P a u l p r e s e n ts h e r e i s r u l e r s h i p and n o t f a th e rh o o d .
'C h i ld r e n ' i s th e o n ly w ord t h a t th e H oly S p i r i t c o u ld u se
t h a t w ould f u l l y c o v e r b o th th e s i n g u l a r and th e p l u r a l . .
. . One c h i l d w i l l b r in g o u t a m a n 's r u l i n g a b i l i t y . "
W ise, o p . c i t . , p . 16.
80
"The Church in Its Organization," Lectures,
1935, pp. 9-10.
374
1939, S ew ell s in g le d o u t th e f a i l u r e o f many le a d e rs to
a c tu a l ly fu n c tio n as sh e p h e rd s:
On th e b a s is o f more th a n f o r ty y e a rs o f a c tiv e and
r a t h e r w id esp read o b s e rv a tio n o f and p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in th e a f f a i r s o f o u r L o rd 's c h u rc h e s , my d e l i b e r
a te judgm ent i s t h a t th e g r e a t e s t d an g er in th e
e ld e r s h ip in th e s e ch u rch es a t t h i s tim e is a t th e
p o in t o f t h e i r ste w a rd sh ip f o r s o u ls . . . . I am
f u l l y p ersu ad ed t h a t th e good e ld e r s o f th e L o rd 's
ch u rch es e x p e rie n c e t h e i r w eak est p o in t and fa c e
t h e i r g r a v e s t d an g er as ste w ard s o f s o u l s . 81
In 1946, Eldon A. Sanders em phasized a n o th e r
w eakness o f p r a c tic in g e l d e r s : "The ch u rch needs le a d e rs
who le a d and show th e way o f rig h te o u s n e s s by t h e i r deeds
r a t h e r th a n m erely to t e l l o f th e way. P erhaps to o many
who s e rv e as b ish o p s a re l i k e th e p a re n t who commands h is
an
c h ild as he say s and n o t as he d o e s ." In 1953, C lif to n
Rogers c o n tin u e d : " I t i s to be r e g r e t t e d t h a t o f te n a
c o n g re g a tio n o f p eo p le e a g e r to be a t w ork, m ust a c tu a lly
t r y to prod th e e ld e r s in to some sem blance o f in d u s trio u s
le a d e r s h ip .
81
" E ld e rs o r B ishops As S te w a rd s, L e c tu re s , 1939,
p . 88.
82
"The E ld e rs and T h e ir W ork," L e c tu re s , 1946,
pp. 177-178.
83
"Planning the Work of the Church," Lectures,
1953, p. 77.
375
M. N o rv e l Young i n t r o d u c e d h i s 1956 a d d r e s s ,
" C h u rc h L e a d e r s h ip an d V i s i o n , " b y s t a t i n g : " . . . t h e r e
i s no g r e a t e r n e e d i n t h e c h u r c h o f o u r L o rd to d a y th a n
g r e a t e r v i s i o n o n t h e p a r t o f e l d e r s a n d p r e a c h e r s . The
B i b le s a i d a lo n g tim e a g o , 'w i t h o u t v i s i o n t h e p e o p le
p e r i s h 1 ( P r o v e r b s 2 9 : 1 8 ) . As t h e l e a d e r s g o , so go t h e
p e o p l e ." L a t e r i n h i s s p e e c h , Young c h a l l e n g e d h i s
h e a r e r s :
A l l to o f r e q u e n t l y , c h u r c h e s o f t h e L o rd a r e r u n
w i t h l i t t l e o r no p l a n n i n g . V ery l i t t l e tim e i s
g iv e n b y m any o f t h e L o r d 's b is h o p s t o p r a y in g
a n d t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t c a n b e d o n e to d a y t o
b e a r f r u i t i n t h e c o n v e r s io n o f s o u l s o n e y e a r
fro m now an d t e n y e a r s fro m now . Many e l d e r s '
m e e tin g s a r e o c c u p ie d w i t h m in u te d e t a i l s c o n
c e r n i n g f i x i n g t h e r o o f o r m im e o g ra p h in g t h e
b u l l e t i n i n s t e a d o f lo o k in g a h e a d .84
L e c t u r e s h i p sp e e c h m a k in g y i e l d e d v e r y l i t t l e i n f o r
m a tio n r e l a t i n g t o t h e o f f i c e o f d e a c o n . A few s p e a k e r s
s u g g e s te d t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e o f f i c e i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y t h e G re e k te r m t r a n s l a t e d " d e a c o n " a n d m e a n in g
" s e r v a n t . " O th e r s m e n tio n e d t h a t t h e d e a c o n s ' g e n e r a l
a r e a o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y p e r t a i n e d t o t h e p h y s i c a l o r f i n a n
c i a l m a t t e r s o f t h e c h u r c h . "T h e f i r s t j o b , " s a i d L . R.
W ils o n , i s t o p l a n t h e finances. . . . we u s u a l l y s p e a k o f
^Lectures, 1956, pp. 319, 323-324.
376
85
t h i s as p re p a rin g a b u d g e t." R o b e rso n 's o b s e rv a tio n o f
th e c h u r c h 's f a i l u r e to p r o p e r ly em ploy th e o f f i c e o f
d e a c o n , a ls o e x p la in s th e L e c tu r e s h ip 's s i l e n c e on th e
s u b je c t: "The s c r i p t u r a l r e c o g n itio n o f th e o f f i c e o f
d e a c o n , and th e r e q u i s i t e s f o r i t , l i f t i t up to a d ig n ity
and l o f t y p la n e o f u s e f u ln e s s . . . f a r beyond any p r e s e n t
a tta in m e n t.
More A b ile n e speechm aking was d e v o te d to th e o f f i c e
o f e v a n g e li s t o r p re a c h e r th a n any o th e r a s p e c t o f ch u rch
governm ent. In 1919, H. E. Speck c h a lle n g e d th e g a t h e r
in g o f p r e a c h e r s : "T h ere n e v e r was an a g e , p e r h a p s , when
th e r e was a g r e a t e r need f o r men s e n t from God; men who
know th e m essag e , b e lie v e th e m essag e, lo v e th e m essage.
O 7
. . . In a v e ry t r u e s e n s e , th e L e c tu re s h ip has alw ays
b een a p r e a c h e r 's m e e tin g .
Some o f th e m ost i n t e r e s t i n g and d r a s t i c s h i f t s o f
b ro th e rh o o d custom w ith in th e L e c tu r e s h ip 's f o r t y - t h r e e
y e a rs o f s e r v i c e , a r e to b e o b se rv e d in th e c h u r c h 's
85
W ilso n , o p . c i t . , p . 117.
R o b erso n , op. c i t . , p . 43.
87
"The Preacher, His Task and Opportunity,"
Lectures, 1919, p. 33.
377
c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s to w ard th e p r e a c h e r and h i s w o rk . T h ese
a t t i t u d i n a l t r a n s i t i o n s w i l l b e c h r o n o lo g ic a ll y exam ined
u n d e r two m ain h e a d in g s : th e p r e a c h e r 's p la c e in th e
o r g a n i z a ti o n o f th e c h u r c h , and th e p r e a c h e r 's w ork i n th e
c h u r c h .
What i s th e p la c e o f th e p r e a c h e r in th e g o v ern m en t
o f th e c h u rc h ? A lth o u g h m o st s p e a k e r s named th e e l d e r 's
o f f i c e a s th e p o s i t i o n o f u l t i m a t e d e r iv e d a u t h o r i t y ,
C h a rle s H. R o b e rso n was among th o s e who d is a g r e e d :
From th e a p o s t l e s th e a u t h o r i t y o f C h r i s t d e s c e n d s
t o th e e v a n g e l i s t s . They a r e t h e n e x t l i n k i n th e
c h a in o f d e r iv e d a u t h o r i t y i n th e c h u rc h . . . .
The e v a n g e l i s t i s th e f i r s t p e rm a n e n t o f f i c e r in
th e kingdom o r c h u rc h o f G od, and h i s c la im r e s t s
on f ir m e r g ro u n d th a n t h a t o f th e e l d e r o r
p r e s b y t e r . . . . The e v a n g e l i s t i s th e m i n i s t e r
by whom men b e l i e v e , and i t i s h i s d u ty to c a r e
f o r th e c o n v e r ts u n t i l h e c a n le a v e them u n d e r
p r o p e r c a r e and le a d e r s h i p . I n an o r d e r l y adm in
i s t r a t i o n , th e e v a n g e l i s t 's o f f i c e i s f i r s t i n
tim e and i n a u t h o r i t y . 8 8
S e v e r a l y e a r s l a t e r , G len L. W a lla c e to o k s h a rp
i s s u e w ith t h e p o s i t i o n assum ed by R o b e rso n :
T h e re a r e o n ly two c l a s s e s o f o f f i c e r s i n th e New
T e sta m e n t c h u rc h . T h ese a r e th e e l d e r s and th e
d e a c o n s . The e v a n g e l i s t i s sim p ly a p r e a c h e r o f
88
R o b e rs o n , o p . c i t . , p p . 3 6 -3 7 . A lso s e e M e lv in
J . W ise , "T he O r g a n iz a tio n o f th e C h u rc h ," L e c tu r e s , 1 9 5 1 ,
p . 1 1 . "From th e e v a n g e l i s t s th e a u t h o r i t y i n th e c h u rc h
p a s s e s to th e p a s t o r s o r e l d e r s i n th e l o c a l c h u r c h ."
378
th e g o s p e l, a m in is te r o f th e Word o f God and a
te a c h e r o f good th in g s . C a ll him w hat he i s .
He i s an " e v a n g e lis t," a " p re a c h e r," y e a , even
a " m in is te r ," b u t c e r t a in ly n o t th e o n ly m in is te r
in th e co n g reg a tio n . . .89
The ta p ro o t o f t h i s d isag reem en t re g a rd in g th e
r o le o f th e p re a c h e r in th e s tr u c tu r e o f th e church was
re v e a le d in th e e a rly le c tu r e s a t A b ilen e. F. L. Y oung's
1919 a d d re s s , "Some P re s e n t Day Problem s and P e r i l s , " d i s
cu ssed th e "p re a c h e r problem ":
One o f th e most im p o rta n t phases o f th is problem is
th e a t t i t u d e o f th e church to th e p re a c h e r and th e
r e l a t i o n o f th e p re a c h e r to th e ch u rch . Should th e
church ta k e ch arg e o f th e p re a c h e r, o r th e p re a c h e r
th e church? What i s t h e i r r e la tio n s h ip ? Should a
p re a c h e r h o ld membership and be in fe llo w sh ip w ith
a lo c a l assem bly lik e o th e r fo lk ? . . . Are p re a c h
e rs am enable to th e b ish o p s o r th e b ish o p s to th e m ? ^
For th e f i r s t one hundred y ea rs o f R e s to ra tio n
a c t i v i t y , p rea c h ers o f th e churches o f C h ris t had p rim a rily
fu n ctio n e d i t i n e r a t e l y , h o ld in g p r o tra c te d e v a n g e lis tic
campaigns and moving about th e c i r c u i t from c o n g re g a tio n
to c o n g re g a tio n . Almost c o n c u rre n t w ith th e founding o f
th e A bilene p la tfo rm , a few p re a c h e rs began to contend fo r
th e r i g h t to lo c a te and la b o r as th e h ir e d m in is te r o f a
89
" E v a n g e lis t," L e c tu re s , 1954, pp. 176-177.
90
F. L. Young, op. cit. , p. 133.
379
s i n g l e c o n g r e g a t io n . The d i v i s i o n o f f e e l i n g w h ic h t h i s
t r a n s i t i o n e n g e n d e re d was v i v i d l y r e f l e c t e d i n t h e e a r l y
A b ile n e s p e e c h e s . A f t e r Young h a d r a i s e d t h e q u e s t i o n i n
1 9 1 9 , W. G. M alcom son l e c t u r e d i n 1921 on " M u tu a l E d i f i c a
t i o n o f t h e C h u rch o f C h r i s t ," h i s p r i n t e d t e x t co n su m in g
f o r t y p a g e s o f t h e 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 v o lu m e . M alcom son1s a d d r e s s
p r e s e n te d a n e x t e n s i v e , s c r i p t u r e f i l l e d , c a r e f u l l y p r e
p a r e d a t t a c k u p o n t h e " l o c a t e d p r e a c h e r s y s te m ." F e a t u r i n g
t h e e v i l s o f t h e g ro w in g p r a c t i c e o f c o n g r e g a tio n s h i r i n g
" f u l l - t i m e " p r e a c h e r s , M alcom son i n s i s t e d : " I t p l a c e s t h e
'r e s i d e n t m i n i s t e r ' i n th e u n - S c r i p t u r a l p o s i t i o n o f
a p p e a r in g t o d i s t i n g u i s h h i m s e l f fro m h i s b r e t h r e n b y
g r a t u i t o u s l y a s su m in g a p r e - e m in e n c e an d a f i x e d , p e r s o n a l
f a c t o r i n t h e m e e tin g o f t h e c h u r c h e v e r y f i r s t d ay o f t h e
w e e k ." A f t e r le n g th y and e l a b o r a t e a rg u m e n t, M alcom son
c o n c lu d e d :
C a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s S c r i p t u r e s
s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e w o rs h ip o f t h e c h u r c h i n
a p o s t o l i c tim e s f a i l s t o d i s c l o s e p r o v i s i o n f o r
an y o n e p e r s o n w i t h o r w ith o u t t i t l e a ssu m in g
t h e p r a c t i c e o f d o in g a l l t h e f o rm a l te a c h i n g
an d e x h o r ti n g i n th e p r i n c i p a l a s s e m b ly o n t h e
f i r s t d a y o f t h e w eek . S uch p r a c t i c e i s , th u s ,
m a n i f e s t l y o u t o f a c c o r d w it h d i v i n e l y - r e v e a l e d
p r e c e d e n t . 91
9^Lectures , 1920-1921, pp. 90-91,
380
The " lo c a te d p re a c h e r" custom was g ra d u a lly
a c ce p te d by th e b ro th erh o o d u n t i l , by 1930, any o p p o s itio n
w hich e x is te d had ceased to ap p ear in th e A bilene
a d d re s s e s . I n s te a d , th e sp e ak ers w ere becoming g r e a tly
e x e rc is e d o v er th e " p a s to r s y ste m " --a tendency o f th e r e s i
d e n t p re a c h e r to u su rp th e a u th o r ity o f th e e ld e rs and
d i r e c t th e a f f a i r s o f th e ch u rch .
I n d ir e c tl y com plim enting M alcom son's powers as a
p ro p h e t, many su b seq u en t le c tu r e r s lam ented th e d ig re s s io n
from th e lo c a te d p re a c h e r to th e p a s to r system . "Perhaps
th e re is no g r e a te r tendency tow ard p ro fe s s io n a lis m in th e
m in is tr y ," d e c la re d P aul S o u th ern , " th a n th a t o f d ev elo p in g
a p a s to r system . Good men in t h e i r en th u siasm to see th e
92
church grow may assume d i c t a t o r i a l a u th o r ity ." "We m ust
g e t away from lo o k in g upon th e e v a n g e lis t as 'The M in is
t e r , ' " added James B. W ille fo rd . "The members w ill n o t
s e rv e w e ll i f th e y liv e under th e d e lu s io n th a t a h ir e d
93
s e rv a n t can be b ro u g h t in to do t h e i r work fo r them.
P au l L. W allace co n tin u ed th e ch a rg e : " I t is ta k e n fo r
g ra n te d in m ost co n g reg a tio n s th a t th e p re a c h e r is
q p
Overcoming P ro fe s s io n a lis m in th e M in is try ,"
L e c tu r e s , 1954, p . 78.
^3"Every Member at Work," Lectures,’1954, p. 172.
381
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n v e r s io n o f t h e u n s a v e d and f o r t h e
94
b u i l d i n g up o f t h e c h u r c h ." Guy N. Woods summed up th e
i n d ic tm e n t a g a i n s t t h e p a s t o r s y s te m :
I t w i l l n o t b e s e r i o u s l y d e n ie d t h a t t h e r e i s an
a rra n g e m e n t i n o p e r a t i o n i n t h e c h u r c h o f C h r i s t
w h ic h b e a r s s u s p i c i o u s s i m i l a r i t y to t h e p a s t o r
s y s te m o f t h e d e n o m in a tio n s . I t i s i d l e t o d en y
t h i s . E ld e r s h a v e , i n many i n s t a n c e s em ployed
an e v a n g e l i s t to f e e d th e f l o c k , an d ta k e t h e
o v e r s i g h t t h e r e o f , to th e u t t e r n e g l e c t o f t h e
w ork th e m s e lv e s . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t ,
w h ere t h i s i s d o n e , t h e e l d e r s a r e , to o o f t e n ,
r e g a r d e d a s b u t m ere f i g u r e - h e a d s , w ith o u t
a u t h o r i t y an d i n f l u e n c e i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . ^
A f t e r d i s c u s s i n g t h e p r e a c h e r 's r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e
t o t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h , t h e s p e a k e r s tu r n e d t h e i r
a t t e n t i o n to h i s s p e c i a l s p h e r e o f w o rk . A lth o u g h e x p r e s s
in g a v a r i e t y o f o p i n i o n s , th e y d is c o v e r e d g ro u n d s f o r
a g re e m e n t i n F . B. S h e p h e rd ’ s s t a t e m e n t : " P r i m a r i l y , th e
w ork o f th e p r e a c h e r i s t o p r e a c h t h e w o rd . . . ." 9 6
L . R. W ils o n , m ak in g t h i s sam e p o i n t i n h i s 1941 l e c t u r e ,
re m in d e d h i s h e a r e r s t h a t i t i s a s e q u a l l y u n s c r i p t u r a l
Q A
"U n to Him Be t h e G lo ry i n t h e C h u r c h ,” L e c tu r e s ,
1 9 5 3 , p . 1 2 2 .
95
" C h r i s t i a n i t y i n a C h a n g in g W o rld ," L e c tu r e s ,
1 9 3 9 , p . 5 4 .
96
"The Preacher and His Work," Lectures, 1946,
p. 184.
382
fo r th e p re a c h e r to fu n c tio n as " th e p r i e s t , " as i t i s fo r
him to be reg ard ed as " th e p a s to r" :
The prim ary jo b o f an e v a n g e lis t is to "p rea ch th e
w ord." No g r e a te r work was ev er g iv en to any man
th a n t h i s . W e need to keep on our guard l e s t we
make th e p reach in g o f th e g o sp el a secondary m a tte r.
R inging d o o rb e lls , making goodw ill speeches to
women's c lu b s , and d ir e c tin g young p e o p le 's s o c ia l
a c t i v i t i e s may be im p o rta n t, b u t th ey sh o u ld n ever
overshadow th e p re ac h in g o f th e g o sp e l. W hatever
e ls e an e v a n g e lis t may b e , he sh o u ld make h is
p reach in g f i r s t and fo re m o s t.97
L e s lie G. Thomas rem inded h is audience o f th e work
o f e v a n g e lis ts d u rin g th e a p o s to lic e ra :
Thus , w ith o u t atte m p tin g to s p e c ify every in d iv id
u a l d u ty , we n o te t h a t in a g e n e ra l way, e v a n g e lis ts
were to te a c h and b a p tiz e p eo p le; g a th e r th e con
v e r ts in to co n v e n ien t assem b lies o r co n g reg atio n s
f o r t h e i r e d i f i c a t i o n , im provem ent, and w orship;
se e th a t e ld e rs and deacons w ere d u ly chosen and
ap p o in ted to t h e i r r e s p e c tiv e o f f ic e s ; and la b o r
e a rn e s tly fo r th e g e n e ra l w e lfa re o f th e ch u rch es.
A greeing th a t th e d i s t i n c t i v e work o f th e p rea c h er
was p re a c h in g , th e sp eak ers o ffe re d s e v e ra l su g g e stio n s in
th e realm o f h o m ile tic s . D uring th e second L e c tu re sh ip
program , H. E. Speck spoke on "The P re a c h e r, His Task and
O p p o rtu n ity ." He fe a tu re d th e in d is p e n s a b le im portance o f
^"The Citizens of the Kingdom Organized in Work,"
Lectures, 1941, pp. 109-110.
^"Evangelists As Stewards," Lectures, 1939,
p. 63.
383
c a r e f u l s tu d y i n th e p r e p a r a t i o n o f s e rm o n s :
I t i s q u i t e p r o b a b le t h a t y o u m ay , y e s , i t i s
l i k e l y , t h a t som e o f y o u w i l l s t a n d i n t h e way o f
th e m e s s a g e ; y o u w i l l l e s s e n i t s p o w e r, you w i l l
s t i f l e i t s i n f l u e n c e th r o u g h a l a c k o f p r e p a r a
t i o n . T he c o n tin u e d an d g ro w in g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f p r e a c h in g m u st b e m et w i t h s e r v i c e t h a t
in v o lv e s a l l o f t h e r e s o u r c e s a t y o u r command.
. . . Tim e m u st b e m ade f o r r e a d i n g , f o r s e r i o u s
t h i n k i n g , f o r p a i n s t a k i n g se rm o n p r e p a r a t i o n an d
f o r s e a s o n s o f r e a l p r a y e r . T h e s e a r e d a n g e ro u s
d a y s f o r t h e man who i s f l u e n t i n s p e e c h an d c a n
e a s i l y g e t aw ay w ith p u b l i c a d d r e s s . A lm o st a n y
o n e c a n consum e t h e tim e s e t a p a r t f o r t h e se rm o n
i n t h e o r d e r o f p u b l i c w o r s h ip . Too few men c a n
r e a l l y p r e a c h a c l a r i f y i n g , m o v in g an d c o n v in c in g
serm o n t h a t s h a l l s e t c o n f u s e d m in d s s t r a i g h t and
b r i n g th em t o g r e a t d e c i s i o n s . 99
T w enty y e a r s l a t e r , Homer H a ile y in tr o d u c e d a
s i m i l a r l y s e n s i t i v e e x h o r t a t i o n i n h i s l e c t u r e , "T he
S te w a r d s h ip o f T im e ":
T h e re i s no g ro u p o f i n d i v i d u a l s t o d a y , w i t h
g r e a t e r a d v a n ta g e s an d o p p o r t u n i t i e s th a n t h e
p r e a c h e r s , b u t a t t h e sam e tim e t h e r e i s no
g ro u p w i t h g r e a t e r t e m p ta tio n t o w a s te tim e
th a n t h e y . E n g ag ed b y t h e c o n g r e g a tio n to
p r e a c h an d t e a c h . . . th e n " tu r n e d lo o s e " t o
do t h i s w o rk , n o t f e e l i n g r e s p o n s i b l e t o any
" e m p lo y e r" a s men o f common o c c u p a ti o n s , t h e
p r e a c h e r d a n g e r o u s ly d r i f t s i n t o t h e h a b i t o f
w a s tin g t i m e . 100
99
Lectures, 1919, pp. 26-27.
^ ^Lectures, 1939, p. 38.
384
D uring th e 1943 s e r i e s , Shepherd l i s t e d some
" D o n 'ts" w hich r e l a t e d to th e p r e a c h e r 's p e rs o n a l l i f e and
h is p re p a ra tio n and d e liv e r y o f serm ons. Shepherd rem inded
th e A b ilen e s tu d e n ts t h a t th e p r e a c h e r 's c h a r a c te r i s th e
fo u n d a tio n upon w hich a l l e ls e r i s e s o r f a l l s .
D o n 't stu d y w ith o u t p ra y e r. D o n 't p ray w ith o u t
s tu d y in g . D o n 't fee d p eo p le w ith unbaked dough.
D o n 't m iss an o p p o rtu n ity to speak in th e honor
o f God. D o n 't t e l l a l l you know in one serm on.
Don1t p u t th e hay to o h ig h in th e r a c k s . Don' t
m istak e p h ilo so p h y f o r C h r is t ia n i ty . . . n o is e
f o r p ro fu n d ity ; n o r crowds fo r s u c c e s s . D o n 't
s c o ld . D o n 't la s h th e back o f th e s in n e r in s te a d
o f th e s i n . D o n 't o f f e r o th e r p eo p le manna which
you h a v e n 't ta s te d y o u r s e lf . D o n 't im agine your
sermons to be th e r e v e la tio n o f a n y th in g you a re
th e f i r s t to d is c o v e r. D o n 't s h o u t. . . . I t i s
th e lig h te n in g th a t k i l l s ; th e th u n d er o n ly makes
one u n co m fo rtab le. Avoid a l l e n ta n g lin g a l l i
ances such as " M in is te r ia l A l l i a n c e s " S e r v i c e
C lu b s." Know your own w eaknesses. S tay o u t o f
d e b t. Renounce a l l s e lf - s e e k in g .
S in c e r ity is a n o th e r im p o rta n t a t t r i b u t e o f th e
e f f e c t iv e p re a c h e r. S p eck 's 1919 A b ilen e ad d ress a ls o
p o in te d to th e p r e a c h e r 's need fo r s i n c e r i t y and c o n v ic tio n
in th e p r e s e n ta tio n o f h is m essage:
A firm p e rs u a s io n o f th e a b s o lu te t r u t h o f t h e i r
m essages i s a n o th e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e p re a c h e r.
. . . The w orld w ants such a s su ra n c e . The
p re a c h e r m ust b e c o n fid e n t o f th e i n f a l l i b l e
101MThe Father of Success," Lectures, 1943,
pp. 86-88.
385
c e r t a i n t y o f h i s m e s s a g e . M u ltitu d e s a r e w eary
an d s i c k o f s p e c u l a t i o n s , o f b a r r e n i d e a l i t i e s ,
and h o llo w fo rm a lis m . T hey w a n t r e a l i t i e s , n o t
h y p o th e s e s ; f o o d , n o t h u s k s n o t s t o n e . The
p r e a c h e r s h o u ld h a v e p r e c i s e l y s u c h a m e s s a g e ,
and h i s f a i t h i n h i s m e ssa g e m u st b e u n w a v e rin g . ^ 2
Young p r e a c h e r s w ere r e p e a t e d l y u r g e d to r e l y u p o n
t h e B ib le a s t h e c h i e f s o u r c e o f se rm o n m a t e r i a l s . To t h e
A b ile n e sp o k e sm e n , th e B ib le was t h e p r e a c h e r 's m e s s a g e --
h i s o n ly m e s s a g e . He h a d n o t e a rn e d t h e r i g h t t o p r e a c h
u n t i l h e b e l i e v e d i t c o m p le te ly an d u n e q u iv o c a b ly . I n
1 9 4 4 , G. H. P . S h o w a lte r c h a r g e d : "A p r e a c h e r who d o e s
n o t b e l i e v e t h e B i b l e - - a l l o f i t — i s th e r e b y d i s q u a l i f i e d
1 A O
f o r a c c e p t a b l e s e r v i c e . . . " L . S . W h ite s t r e s s e d t h e
im p o r ta n c e o f B i b l e - c e n t e r e d p r e a c h in g i n h i s 1926 s p e e c h ,
"T he P u l p i t o f Pow er i s t h e P u l p i t o f t h e G o s p e l.
I n 1935 , O s c a r S m ith w a rn e d t h e p r e a c h e r s t u d e n t s
t o b e w a re o f t h e p i t f a l l s o f m o d ern th e o lo g y : "T h e t r u t h
w h ic h n e e d s t o b e p re a c h e d i s n o t th e o lo g y . T h e o lo g y i s
t h e w ord o f God d i l u t e d b y human o p i n i o n . " ^ " ’ A few y e a r s
1 02gpe c k > p p . c i t . , p . 3 0 .
■ * -0 3 ” Some Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f a G o sp e l P r e a c h e r ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 4 , p . 128.
104
L e c tu r e s , 1 9 2 6 -1 9 2 7 .
lOSnphe Church in Its Preaching and Teaching,"
Lectures, 1935, p. 71.
386
e a r l i e r , U. R. F o r r e s t had been even more s p e c i f i c in h is
a d v ic e to th e young men a t A b ile n e C h r is tia n C o lle g e :
"F o r th e f i r s t two y e a r s , d o n 't you p re a c h on a n y th in g b u t
1 flfi
f i r s t p r i n c i p l e s - - a h i n t to th e w ise i s s u f f i c i e n t . "
As th e A b ile n e p la tfo rm was r e a s s e r t i n g a need f o r
d o c t r i n a l p r e a c h in g , W yatt A iken Sm art r e p o r te d a c o n s p ic u
ous d e c lin e in d o c t r i n a l p re a c h in g from 1920 to 1940 in
th e t y p i c a l A m erican p u l p i t . " F o rsa k in g g r e a t d o c t r in a l
t r u t h s , " s a id S m art, "serm ons had a te n d en cy to become
e s s a y s . C le v e r h o m ile tic s and p r o f e s s io n a l s k i l l w ere
107
more co n sp icu o u s th a n a s e n s e o f com m ission from God."
M eanwhile a t A b ile n e , th e c a l l w ent f o r t h f o r p re a c h e rs
w ith a m essage in s p ir e d by m an's need o f s a lv a ti o n and
ch arg ed w ith th e c o n f id e n t p r e f a c e , "God h a th sp o k e n ."
G ra n tin g th e p rim ary need o f d o c t r in a l p re a c h in g , Alonzo
Welch v iv id l y announced th e com panion need o f g r e a t e r
b a la n c e and p r o p o rtio n in th e c h u r c h 's p u l p i t s p ro d u c tio n s:
The g r e a t q u e s tio n b e fo re th e ch u rch to d ay i s n o t
so much w h eth er th e serm ons we h e a r a r e d o c t r in a l
1 0 6 " s tand in g by th e C ro s s ," L e c tu re s , 1926-1927,
p . 180.
^L u th er A. W eigle ( e d . ) , P re a c h in g in These
Times (New Y ork: C h a rles S c r ib n e r 's S o n s, 1 9 4 0 ),
p p . 130-135.
387
p r e a c h i n g , b u t w h e th e r th e G o sp el we r e c e i v e i s a
b a la n c e d G o sp e l. P a r t i a l , f r a c t i o n a l p r e a c h in g
o f th e G o sp el o f C h r i s t h a s done m ore to w arp th e
m inds o f man and to p ro m o te s e c t a r i a n i s m th a n any
o t h e r i n f lu e n c e we know. I t h a s l e f t a s p e c t a c l e
o f r e t a r d e d C h r i s t i a n s , d e a d c h u r c h e s , and hobby
r i d e r s i n i t s w ake. Some c o n g r e g a tio n s h a v e b e e n
so p o o r ly fe d t h a t th e y p r e s e n t a m is le a d in g c a r i
c a t u r e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y - - a b u lg in g sto m ach o f lo v e
and a w ith e r e d arm o f d i s c i p l i n e - - a box c a r h e a d
o f s p i r i t u a l k now ledge and a d w a rfe d h e a r t o f com-
p a s s i o n - - a b r o a d - s h o u ld e r e d p ro g ra m o f w ork a t
home and a s h o r t- le g g e d k n e e p a n ts m is s io n
p ro g ra m .108
The W orship o f th e C hurch
B etw een 1926 and 1 9 5 2 , th e m a jo r P r o t e s t a n t
d e n o m in a tio n s , e n jo y in g an a p p a r e n t v i c t o r y o v e r fundam en
t a l i s m , show ed an a v e ra g e m em bership i n c r e a s e o f 60 p e r
c e n t ; b u t new ly form ed f u n d a m e n ta lis ts s e c t s - - P e n t e c o s t a l s ,
C h u rch es o f God, H o lin e s s C h u r c h e s - -g a in e d b e tw e e n 400 and
109
900 p e r c e n t . Much o f w h at th e s e g ro u p s w ere s t r i v i n g
to f in d - - p e r h a p s th e v e r y r e a s o n f o r t h e i r g ro w th --w a s
r e f l e c t e d i n a p a s s a g e w r i t t e n i n 1923 by t h e i r "m o st p e r
c e p t i v e and i n t e l l e c t u a l l e a d e r , " J . G resham M achen:
■^^"Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ," Lectures ,
1957, p. 146.
109
H e r b e r t W. S c h n e id e r , R e lig io n i n T w e n tie th -
C e n tu ry A m erica (C am bridge: H a rv a rd U n iv e r s ity P r e s s ,
1 9 5 2 ), p . 212.
388
T here a re c o n g re g a tio n s , even in th e p re s e n t age
o f c o n f l i c t , t h a t a re r e a l l y g a th e re d around th e
ta b le o f th e c r u c if ie d Lord; th e re a re p a s to rs
th a t a re p a s to rs in d eed . But such c o n g re g a tio n s ,
in many c i t i e s , a re d i f f i c u l t to f in d . Weary
w ith th e c o n f lic ts o f th e w o rld , one goes in to
th e Church to seek re fre sh m e n t f o r th e s o u l. . .
. A la s , to o o f te n , one fin d s o n ly th e tu rm o il o f
th e w o rld .
Is th e re no re fu g e from s t r i f e ? . . . Is th e re no
p la c e where two o r th r e e can g a th e r in Je su s nam e,
to f o rg e t fo r th e moment a l l th o se th in g s th a t
d iv id e n a tio n from n a tio n and ra c e from r a c e , to
fo rg e t human p r i d e , to fo rg e t th e p a ssio n s o f w a r,
to f o rg e t th e p u z z lin g problem s o f i n d u s t r i a l
s t r i f e , and to u n ite in o v erflo w in g g r a titu d e a t
th e fo o t o f th e C ross? I f th e re be such a p la c e ,
th en th a t is th e house o f God.HO
The N ature o f W orship
The t h r i l l o f c o rp o ra te w orship was a t r a d i t i o n a l
L e c tu re sh ip ex p e rie n ce w hich th e au d ien ce g r e a tly a n t i c i
p a te d . At th e same tim e , more th an two dozen speeches
were concerned w ith th e p u b lic w orship o f th e c h u rc h , o r
one o f i t s s p e c ia l a c ts . W orship was th u s an im p o rta n t
fa c e t o f th e p la tfo rm w hich th e sp e ak ers b o th ex p erien ced
and e x p la in e d . S e v e ra l sp eak ers a ttem p ted to d e fin e
w o rsh ip . In 1941, E a rly A rceneaux s ta te d :
Gresham Machen, C h r is tia n ity and L ib e ra lism
(New York: The M acm illan Company, 192 3 ), p . 179f.
389
W hat do we m ean b y w o rs h ip ? W hat i s w o rs h ip ? I
t h i n k i f we c o u ld sum u p , p u t i n t o o n e w o rd , a l l
o f o u r i d e a s o f r e s p e c t , a d m i r a t i o n , a d o r a t i o n ,
r e v e r e n c e , l o v e , r e c o g n i t i o n o f a u t h o r i t y , we
w ould h a v e a p r e t t y good id e a w h at t h e w ord "w o r
s h i p " m ean s. H I
A t t h e 1946 L e c t u r e s h i p , E . W. M cM illan s a i d o f
w o r s h ip :
W o rs h ip p in g God i s a p r i n c i p l e o f h e a r t . I t i s an
e x p e r ie n c e o f h e a r t w h ic h r e l a t e s d i r e c t l y t o God.
I t i s th e p io u s , r e v e r e n t f e e l i n g o f d e v o tio n i n
t h e s o u l to i t s God. I t i n c l u d e s a p r o fo u n d v s e n s e
o f a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r s a l v a t i o n fro m God; i t c o n t a i n s
th e y e a r n in g o f h e a r t f o r c l o s e com m union w i t h God;
i t c a r r i e s a h o m e sic k f e e l i n g o f d e s i r e to f e e l th e
m o st t e n d e r to u c h e s o f H is lo v e an d h e a r t . H 2
Jo h n H. B a n i s t e r g a v e t h i s d e f i n i t i o n o f w o rs h ip i n
h i s 1951 l e c t u r e :
One o f t h e m a in p u r p o s e s o f w o rs h ip i s t o d raw n ig h
u n to G od. I n w o r s h ip , we a r e to commune w ith G od,
an d m e d i t a t e u p o n th e m a j e s t y , p o w e r, and m ercy o f
God. We a r e t o th a n k him f o r h i s b l e s s i n g s ; we a r e
to p r a i s e , a d o r e , h o n o r , e x a l t , m a g n if y , an d e u l o
g i z e h im . . . . I f r e l i g i o n i s p e r s o n a l f e llo w s h i p
w ith G od, th e n w o rs h ip i s p e r s o n a l com m union w ith
G od. 1 1 3
•^■^"W orship i n t h e P ro g ra m o f th e C h r i s t i a n
C i t i z e n , " L e c tu r e s , 1 9 4 1 , p . 6 2 .
112
"T he Kingdom T h a t C an n o t Be S h a k e n ," L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 4 6 , p . 105.
H 3”The Worship of the Church," Lectures, 1951,
p. 145.
390
The fo llo w in g y e a r , T rin e S ta r n e s ' ad d re ss on
w orship c o n ta in e d th e s e s i g n i f i c a n t s ta te m e n ts :
W orship is n o t an a c c id e n ta l e f f o r t m ade, n o r an
o c c a s io n a l, in c id e n t a l p e rio d s p e n t, b u t on th e
c o n tra ry i s a s p i r i t u a l a tta in m e n t in s o u l c u ltu r e
and in tim a te communion w ith God.
T here i s an u n v ary in g law o f l i f e t h a t d e c re e s
t h a t a man has a ten d en cy to grow in to w hat he
b e lie v e s h im s e lf to b e , and in to a lik e n e s s o f
t h a t w hich he venerates. . . . In tr u e w o rs h ip ,
we a s s im ila te in to o u r s p i r i t u a l n a tu re th e
lik e n e s s o f him whom we h o n o r. As P e te r e x p re s se s
i t , "T h at by th e s e ye m ight become p a r ta k e r s o f
th e d iv in e n a tu r e . . . ."114
A b ilen e P ro f e s s o r Frank Pack in tro d u c e d h is 1954
le c tu r e w ith th e fo llo w in g d e f i n i t i o n o f w o rsh ip :
"When Thou s a i d s t , Seek ye my fa c e ; my h e a r t s a id
u n to T hee, Thy f a c e , 0 L o rd , w i l l I seek " (Psalm s
2 7 :8 ). In t h a t rem ark a b le v e r s e , I b e lie v e we
have th e v ery e ssen c e o f tr u e w o rsh ip e x p re s se d .
I t i s th e c a l l o f God to th e h e a r t o f man, and
th e re sp o n se o f a b e lie v in g h e a r t se e k in g God who
i s draw ing n e a r. W orship i s th e g r e a t e s t p r i v i
le g e t h a t God has e v e r g ra n te d to m ankind. I t i s
a p r iv ile g e t h a t we s h a re w ith a n g e ls . I t i s a
p r iv ile g e th a t i s n o t lim ite d to t h i s w orld b u t
w i l l a ls o be th e jo y and th e g lo ry o f t h a t w hich
i s to come. W orship i s th e c a l l o f God to your
h e a r t and m ine as h is c h ild r e n as we draw n e a r to
him and as he draws n e a r to u s . I t i s th e fe llo w
s h ip o f our s p i r i t w ith him as a lo v in g h eav en ly
F a th e r .
. . . W e a re coming in to th e p re se n c e o f God. The
l i t e r a l m eaning o f th e word "w o rsh ip " i s " to k is s
13-^"Worship," Lectures, 1952, pp. 131, 152-153.
391
t h e g ro u n d to w a rd ” o r " t o k i s s t h e h an d to w a r d ."
When I w o rs h ip G od, I " k i s s th e g ro u n d to w a rd "
him an d i t i s w ith a p ro fo u n d s e n s e o f r e v e r e n c e
t h a t I a p p ro a c h my h e a v e n ly F a t h e r .
To w o rs h ip and a d o re J e h o v a h th r o u g h th e m e d ia t o r -
s h i p o f C h r i s t was , a c c o r d in g t o t h e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s , th e
su p rem e and s a c r e d p r i v i l e g e o f th e c h u r c h and t h e o n ly
hom age w o rth y o f b e l i e v e r s . T he a l t e r n a t i o n s b e tw e e n
s e lf - a b a s e m e n t an d h o ly e x a l t a t i o n in v o k e d th e a s s i s t a n c e
o f t h e e m o tio n s a s w e ll a s a p ro fo u n d and r e a s o n e d f a i t h .
T hey c o n te n d e d t h a t w h a te v e r e x t e r n a l a c t i v i t i e s a r e n e c e s
s a r y f o r t h e e x e r c i s e o f w o r s h ip , i t s r e a l i t y and m e an in g
d ep en d u p o n t h e r e i g n o f t h e S p i r i t o f God i n t h e h e a r t s
o f m en.
The A ct o f W o rsh ip
The c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t a r e a n o n l i t u r g i c a l b o d y i n
w h ic h p u b l i c w o rs h ip c e n t e r s a ro u n d p r a i s e and th a n k s g iv in g
t o God. The c o n s e n s u s o f L e c t u r e s h i p o p in io n nam ed f i v e
c h a n n e ls o r a c t s th r o u g h w h ic h s u c h p u b l i c s e r v i c e may b e
p r o p e r l y o f f e r e d t o God. B a n i s t e r su m m arized t h e s e com
p o n e n t p a r t s o f w o rs h ip i n h i s 1951 s p e e c h :
Overcoming Problems in Worship," Lectures ,
1954 , pp. 114, 116.
392
The w orship o f th e a p o s to lic ch u rch c o n s is te d o f
f iv e d i s t i n c t a c ts o r item s o f w o rsh ip on th e
L o rd 's Day. F i r s t , th e y o b serv ed th e L o rd 's
Supper (A cts 2 7 ); se co n d , th e y sang s o n g s , hym ns,
and s p i r i t u a l songs (Eph. 5 :1 9 ); t h i r d , th e y
p ray ed (A cts 2 :4 2 ); f o u r th , th e y p reach ed and
ta u g h t (A cts 2 :4 2 ); and f i f t h , th e y gave o f t h e i r
money as th e y had been p ro sp e re d ( I C or. 1 6 :1 ,2 ) .
To be s c r i p t u r a l , o u r L o rd 's Day w orship m ust
c o n ta in a l l o f th e s e f iv e r e q u ire d ite m s . No
s p e c if i c o rd e r o f them i s g iv e n .H 6
As in a l l th in g s , th e a u th o r ity f o r th e forms o f
p u b lic w orship was b ased upon an a p p e a l to d iv in e p a t te r n .
The sp e a k e rs d id n o t recommend any s c r i p t u r a l o rd e rin g o f
117
th e f iv e ite m s . "To accommodate a w orship to a l l s o r ts
o f p e o p le ," reaso n ed John A lle n Hudson, " re q u ire d th e
wisdom o f Jehovah. He h as g iv e n t h a t w ise w o rship th a t
em braces b u t a few item s t h a t can be p r a c tic e d th e w orld
o v er and he h as fo rb id d e n any to add to o r ta k e from
118
i t . " In h is 1920 a d d r e s s , M . C. K urfees a ls o s tr e s s e d
11 £ \
B a n is te r , op. c i t . , p . 146. The o n ly L e c tu re
s h ip l i s t i n g o f th e item s o f w o rsh ip to c o n ta in more o r
le s s th a n f iv e was from M . C. K u rfe e s1 sp e e c h , "The New
T estam ent Law o f W o rsh ip ,” L e c tu re s . 1920, p . 45. He
a r r iv e d a t th e number s i x by s e p a r a tin g te a c h in g in to
" re a d in g th e Word o f God,” and " e x h o r ta tio n ."
117
F or a contem porary s u g g e s tio n o f th e o rd e r o f
s e r v ic e in th e ty p ic a l P r o te s ta n t t r a d i t i o n , se e J . R. P.
S c l a t e r , The P u b lic W orship o f God (New York: George H.
Doran Company, 1 9 2 7 ), pp. 17-54.
118"^he church in Its Worship," Lectures, 1935,
p. 101.
393
th e im p o rta n c e o f B i b l i c a l p a t t e r n i n th e a c t i v i t i e s o f
w o rs h ip :
We h a v e s e e n , from t h e r u l e l a i d down by J e s u s h im
s e l f , t h a t any a c t o f w o rs h ip w h ic h r e s t s on th e
m ere w i l l o f man i s v a i n w o r s h ip . H en c e, no m a t t e r
w h at may s u g g e s t i t s e l f a s p r o p e r i n th e w o rs h ip o f
G od, we m u st f i r s t o f a l l , s e t t l e th e q u e s t i o n
w h e th e r i t b e s o m e th in g God h i m s e l f h a s a p p o in te d .
I f i t i s n o t , t h a t f a c t a lo n e s h o u ld a t o n ce p l a c e
i t u n d e r t h e b a n t h a t w o u ld b a r i t fro m o u r w o rs h ip .
The a c t i t s e l f m ig h t b e p e r f e c t l y s i n l e s s and h arm
l e s s , y e t i t c a n n o t b e l a w f u l l y d o n e a s w o rs h ip to
God i f h e h i m s e l f d id n o t a p p o in t i t . H 9
Of t h e s e f i v e ite m s o f p u b li c w o r s h ip , t h e e x e r c i s e
o f a c a p e l l a s i n g i n g and p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n th e f i n a n c i a l
c o n t r i b u t i o n r e c e iv e d m o st o f t h e sp e e c h m a k in g a t t e n t i o n .
The h e a v y e m p h a sis upon th e c o l l e c t i o n i s p e rh a p s s e l f -
e x p l a n a t o r y ; b u t th e a r r e s t i n g f a c t t h a t th e a c t o f
w o rs h ip th r o u g h s in g i n g a t t r a c t e d as much a t t e n t i o n a s a l l
o f th e o t h e r ite m s o f p u b l i c w o rs h ip com bined i s c a u s e f o r
s p e c i a l e x p l a n a t i o n .
"T he s t o r y o f m u sic i s t h e s t o r y o f w o r s h ip ,"
w ro te G eorge H e d le y , " e n t i r e l y i n i t s o r i g i n s and im p o r-
1 2 0
t a n t l y a t e v e ry p o i n t i n i t s h i s t o r y . " M usic i s p e rh a p s
119
M. C. K u r f e e s , "T he New T e s ta m e n t Law o f
W o rs h ip ," p . 4 7 .
120
Christian Worship: Some Meanings and Means
(New York: The Macmillan Company, 1953), p. 102.
394
th e m ost i n s t i n c t iv e and re fin e d e x p re ssio n o f human
f e e lin g . As George W alter F isk e ex p ressed i t , "R e lig io n
121
must s in g o r d ie ." One o f th e famous th e s e s th a t M artin
L u th er n a ile d to th e door o f th e W ittenburg church was a
p le a fo r c o n g re g a tio n a l s in g in g , th e demand th a t laymen be
g iv en th e r i g h t to s in g hymns as a p a r t o f w o rsh ip . His
own g r e a t hymn, "A M ighty F o rtre s s Is Our God," was c a lle d
"The M a rs e illa is e o f th e R efo rm atio n ." Frowning upon th e
u se o f a c h o ir , th e churches o f C h ris t use c o n g re g a tio n a l
sin g in g in which each member can be an a c tiv e p a r tic ip a n t
as an in te g r a l p a r t o f p u b lic w o rship.
The sp eak ers 1 p re o c c u p a tio n w ith w orship in song
was r e la te d to th e c h u rc h 's o p p o s itio n to th e use o f
m echanical in stru m e n ts o f m usic in w o rship. Almost as
much was s a id in A bilene a g a in s t in s tru m e n ta l m usic as was
s a id fo r a l l o f th e o th e r a s p e c ts o f p u b lic w o rship.
S ev eral ad d resses were e n t i r e l y devoted to th e m usic ques
t i o n , and many o th e rs touched upon i t . In 1961, Vernon
Moody r e a l i s t i c a l l y o b serv ed :
121
The Recovery of Worship: A Study of the
Crucial Problem of the Protestant Churches (New York:
The Macmillan Company, 1931), p. 130.
395
I t seem s t h a t we h a v e l a b o r e d s o lo n g an d s o h a r d
o v e r ’’W h a t's w ro n g w i th i n s t r u m e n t a l m u s ic ? " t h a t
m any o f u s h a v e y e t t o l e a r n w h a t i s r i g h t w i t h
s i n g i n g . We a r e s a t i s f i e d t h a t a s lo n g a s no
in s t r u m e n t i s p l a y e d , s u r e l y a l l i s w e l l w i t h o u r
s i n g i n g . 1 2 2
The f i r s t c o m p le te l e c t u r e on " I n s t r u m e n t a l M u sic
i n W o r s h ip ,” was d e l i v e r e d b y A. 0 . C o lle y i n 1 9 2 3 . He
p h r a s e d t h e c h i e f L e c t u r e s h i p a rg u m e n t a g a i n s t i t s u s e :
" I t i s u n i v e r s a l l y a d m itte d b y t h o s e c o m p e te n t t o j u d g e ,
t h a t t h e r e i s n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t i n d i c a t i o n i n t h e New
T e s ta m e n t o f d i v i n e a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e u s e o f i n s t r u m e n t a l
1 oo
m u s ic i n th e C h r i s t i a n w o r s h ip .
O th e r s p e a k e r s c o n te n d e d t h a t t h e New T e s ta m e n t h a d
e x p l i c i t l y a u t h o r i z e d o n ly t h e p r a c t i c e o f a c a p e l l a s i n g
in g i n p u b l i c w o r s h ip . I n 1 9 2 6 , E . M. B o rd en d e c l a r e d :
The L o rd n o t o n ly a u t h o r i z e s m u sic i n t h e c h u r c h ,
b u t t e l l s u s t h e k in d o f m u s ic we s h o u ld h a v e .
T he L o rd h a s n o t l e f t i t w i t h u s t o s e l e c t t h e
k in d o f m u sic we s h o u ld h a v e . The B i b le i s n o t
s i l e n t on t h i s q u e s t i o n a s som e p e o p le t h i n k . 124
I n 1 9 2 9 , F . B. S h e p h e rd c o n t in u e d t o a r g u e t h a t ,
w ith t h e B i b le a s a s t a n d a r d , t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f m u s ic c o u ld
•^^"Worship in Song," Lectures . 1961, p. 166.
123Lectures, 1922-1923, p. 335.
■^^"Music in the Church," Lectures . 1926-1927,
p. 210.
396
n o t be le g itim a te ly u se d . He em phasized t h a t most New
Testam ent s c h o la rs agreed th a t th e w orship o f th e a p o s to lic
church d id n o t employ an in stru m e n t:
A fte r a l l , th e co n tro v e rsy is n o t upon th e q u e stio n
o f in t e r p r e t a t i o n , fo r no s c h o la r has ev er r is e n to
claim to fin d w a rra n t fo r i t in th e New T estam ent
c h u rc h e s. The m a tte r is p u re ly one o f th e a u th o r
i t y . And th e s o le a u th o r ity fo r i t now is th a t o f
c o u n c ils , synods , boards , c o n v e n tio n s, o r th e pope
and th e church. A ll such th in g s e x i s t in o p p o sitio n
t o , and in c o m p e titio n w ith , sim ple and o r ig in a l
arrangem ents o f our Lord. 125
E a rly A rceneaux, in h is 1933 l e c t u r e , resumed
S h ep h erd 's lin e o f argum ent:
The word " sin g " is a s p e c i f i c , n o t a g e n e ric term .
There is no a u th o r ity fo r in stru m e n ta l m usic in
th e command to s in g . I t excludes i t . The New
Testam ent and church h is to r y f o r n e a rly seven
c e n tu rie s a re s i l e n t on th e s u b je c t o f in stru m en
t a l m usic in th e C h r is tia n w orship. Why was i t
n o t m entioned? E v id e n tly because i t was n o t
used.1^6
The sp eak ers c o n fro n ted s e v e ra l o f th e f a v o r ite
argum ents o f th e o p p o s itio n : th e l i n g u i s t i c im p lic a tio n s
o f th e Greek word p s a l l o , th e f a c t th a t in stru m e n ts were
used in th e Old T estam ent, th e prophesy th a t h arp s w ill be
1 O rr
"The Integrity of the New Testament Worship,"
Lectures, 1928-1929, p. 155.
126
"The Worship of the Church: Prayer and Praise,"
Lectures, 1933, p. 107.
397
p la y e d i n h e a v e n , t h e c l a i m t h a t p i t c h f o r k s a n d s o n g b o o k s
a r e i n t h e sam e c l a s s w i t h i n s t r u m e n t s , a n d t h e u n c o n t e s t e d
u s e o f i n s t r u m e n t s i n t h e hom e. H o w ev er, t h e c h i e f c o n t e n
t i o n o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n w as t h a t t h e B i b l e d id n o t s p e c i
f i c a l l y p r o h i b i t t h e u s e o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t i n w o r s h ip .
T he l e c t u r e r s m e t t h i s o b j e c t i o n b y c o n te n d in g t h a t t h e
c l e a r a p p r o v a l o f a c a p e l l a m u s i c , c o u p le d w i t h th e
s i g n i f i c a n t s i l e n c e o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s c o n c e r n in g i n s t r u
m e n ts o f m u s i c , p r o h i b i t e d t h e u s e o f s u c h b y t h e “ la w o f
e x c l u s i o n . " I n 1 9 6 1 , H e r s h e l D y er r e d u c e d t h e a t t a c k t o a
t e r s e s t a t e m e n t :
We c a n n o t u s e i n s t r u m e n t s o f m u s ic i n t h e w o r s h ip
o f God w i t h o u t r e n o u n c in g t h e a u t h o r i t y o f J e s u s
C h r i s t . . . . I f we w o u ld o b e y C h r i s t , we m u st n o t
o n ly s t a r t w i t h w h a t h e com m ands, b u t we m u st
a l s o s t o p w h e re h e h a s g iv e n n o c o m m a n d . 127
E . M. B o r d e n 's 1926 s p e e c h s i n g l e d o u t t h e p a s s a g e :
“ By Him t h e r e f o r e l e t u s o f f e r t h e s e s a c r i f i c e s o f p r a i s e
t o God c o n t i n u a l l y , t h a t i s t h e f r u i t o f o u r l i p s , g i v i n g
th a n k s t o h i s n a m e ." He r e a s o n e d t h a t m u s ic i n w o r s h ip i s
“ t h e f r u i t o f o u r l i p s , " an d t h a t i t s p u r p o s e i s t o e d i f y ,
p r a i s e , t e a c h , a d m o n is h , p r a y , an d e x p r e s s t h a n k s g i v i n g .
He a r g u e d t h a t a n i n s t r u m e n t c a n n o t f u l f i l l a n y o f t h e s e
1^"A Life of Obedience," Lectures , 1961, pp. 60-
61.
398
p u rp o se s. "W hile in s tru m e n ta l m usic i s f i n e , and i t s tu n e s
a re b e a u t i f u l , b u t g iv e me th e words t h a t ex p re ss to me th e
128
se n tim e n t o f a w o n d erfu l t r u t h . " Borden was n o t c o n te n t
to m erely condemn th e u se o f an in s tru m e n t, b u t a ls o p le d
f o r an im proved song s e r v ic e :
W ith o u r c o n te n tio n , we sh o u ld ta k e a g r e a t i n t e r e s t
in le a rn in g how to s in g , so as to b rin g o u t th e s e n
tim e n t o f th e song. In o rd e r to be c o n s i s t e n t , we
sh o u ld p a tro n iz e o u r s in g in g te a c h e rs more th a n we
do. . . .W e a re n o t c o n s is te n t i f we condemn i n s t r u
m e n tal m usic and th e n do n o t t r y to le a r n to s i n g . 129
A side from th e m usic q u e s tio n , th e le c tu r e r s had
more to say about th e f in a n c ia l c o n trib u tio n s th a n any
o th e r item o f w o rsh ip . S e v e ra l p r in c ip le s g o v ern in g th e
c o n tr ib u tio n w ere e s ta b lis h e d . I t sh o u ld be ta k en each
f i r s t day o f th e week; i t a lo n e sh o u ld p ro v id e a l l o f th e
funds f o r th e su p p o rt o f th e c h u rc h ’s program o f work; i t
sh o u ld be g iv en c h e e r f u lly and l i b e r a l l y ; and i t sh o u ld
a c c u r a te ly r e f l e c t th e g i v e r 's le v e l o f p r o s p e r ity .
The m ost s i g n i f i c a n t p r in c ip l e in v o lv e d in th e a c t
o f w orship th ro u g h f i n a n c ia l g iv in g , was t h a t Of d iv in e
ow nership and human ste w a rd s h ip . In 1939, Y ate r T ant spoke
1 9R
Borden, op. cit. , p. 222.
L29Ibid., p. 212.
399
o f "T he S te w a r d 's A c c o u n t a b i l i t y t o G od":
M ankind r e f u s e s to ack n o w led g e t h a t h e i s a c c o u n t
a b l e to a n y th in g o r an ybody f o r w h at h e th in k s o r
s a y s o r d o e s . The w h o le m o ra l to n e o f o u r g e n e r a
t i o n i s t h a t " i t ' s e v e ry man f o r h i m s e l f , and th e
d e v i l ta k e th e h in d m o s t." I n s t e a d o f lo o k in g upon
l i f e a s a s a c r e d e n tr u s tm e n t f o r w h ic h an a c c o u n t
m u st u l t i m a t e l y b e g iv e n , th e m odern man i s
i n c l i n e d to c o n s id e r h i m s e l f t h e L o rd o f l i f e .
He g l o r i e s i n h i s own pow er o f s o u l and m ind and
b o d y , and d e f i e s th e w h o le u n i v e r s e to c a l l him to
a c c o u n t f o r a n y t h i n g .1 3 0
S p e a k in g on t h e sam e p ro g ra m w ith T a n t , P . D»
W ilm eth f u r t h e r d e f in e d th e p r i n c i p l e o f s te w a r d s h ip : " I n
i t s b r o a d e s t s e n s e , s te w a r d s h ip m eans t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r a d m i n i s t e r i n g o u r w h o le l i f e , p e r s o n a l i t y , ti m e ,
t a l e n t s , i n f l u e n c e , m a t e r i a l s u b s t a n c e , e v e r y t h i n g - - i n
131
a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e p u rp o s e o f G o d ." The s p e a k e r s th u s
a f f ir m e d t h a t an a w a re n e ss o f d i v i n e o w n e r s h ip , an d a
p r o p e r u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f s te w a r d s h ip w o u ld
u n a v o id a b ly r e s u l t i n d eep s e n s e o f human r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
i n m a t e r i a l a f f a i r s . A lth o u g h th e y u s u a l l y p r e f e r r e d th e
d i s c u s s i o n o f b ro a d p r i n c i p l e s and g u i d e l i n e s to s p e c i f i c
re c o m m e n d a tio n s c o n c e r n in g d o l l a r s and c e n ts , a few
•^^Lecfcures, 1939, p. 132.
131
"Stewardship of Material PossessionsLectures,
1939, p. 146.
400
s p e a k e rs r a i s e d th e p r a c t i c a l q u e s tio n , "How much sh o u ld I
g iv e ? " In h is 1961 s p e e c h , R o b e rt S. B e l l , a D a lla s
b u sin e ssm a n , s u g g e s te d t h a t th e C h r i s t i a n ’ s o b li g a t i o n to
God c a n n o t a c t u a l l y b e lim ite d :
C h r i s t i a n i t y i s a g iv in g r e l i g i o n . God n o t o n ly
gave us a l l t h a t we h a v e , in c lu d in g l i f e i t s e l f ,
b u t He gave H is o n ly b e g o tte n Son t h a t we m ig h t
hav e e t e r n a l l i f e . C h r is t gave H im se lf f o r th e
c h u rc h . The a p o s tle s gave t h e i r a l l and t h e i r
l i v e s f o r th e g o s p e l. What sh o u ld we g iv e?1 3 2
As a g e n e ra l r u l e , th e s p e a k e rs d id n o t recommend
th e p r a c t i c e o f t i t h i n g . They u s u a l l y i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e ,
law o f g ra c e c o u ld n o t b e r e s t r i c t e d to th e l e g a l i s t i c
Je w ish te n t h . L. S. W h ite 's 1920 s p e e c h , h o w ev er, was an
i n t e r e s t i n g e x c e p tio n . S p eak in g on "C hurch F in a n c e ,"
W hite m a in ta in e d t h a t th e Old T estam en t p r i n c i p l e o f th e
t i t h e had n e v e r a c t u a l l y b een a b o lis h e d :
How much sh o u ld C h r is t ia n s g iv e ? F o r m ore th a n
tw e n ty - f iv e y e a rs I h av e c a r e f u l l y s tu d ie d t h i s
q u e s tio n and am f u l l y c o n v in c e d t h a t th e B ib le
te a c h e s C h r is tia n s to g iv e to th e L ord a t l e a s t
o n e - te n th o f t h e i r g ro s s incom e. I b e l ie v e i t
i s as c e r t a i n l y ta u g h t as b a p tis m f o r r e m is s io n
o f s i n s . . . . T h is d o c t r in e o f t i t h i n g was
ta u g h t to and p r a c t ic e d by God’s p e o p le many c e n
t u r i e s b e f o r e th e Law o f Moses was e v e r g iv e n , and
I w ant to show you t h a t b o th C h r is t and P a u l ta u g h t
i t and t h a t i t i s now b in d in g on C h r i s t i a n s .133
132
" C h r is tia n S te w a rd s h ip ," L e c tu r e s , 1961, p . 137.
133
Lectures, 1920-1921, p. 123.
401
A few s p e a k e rs s t r e s s e d th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f f i n a n
c i a l s te w a rd s h ip as i t r e l a t e d to th e f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
m is s io n o f th e c h u rc h . D enouncing a l l fund r a i s i n g d r i v e s ,
g im m ick s, and te c h n iq u e s as v i o l a t i n g th e c r u c i a l p r i n c i p l e
o f v o lu n ta r y g iv in g in p r o p o r tio n to p r o s p e r i t y , L eo n ard
M u llen s d e c la r e d in 1953:
The L o rd 's c h u rc h i s engaged in p e rfo rm in g th e
g r e a t e s t ta s k u n d e r h e a v e n . To f u l f i l l t h i s
m is s io n , th e g e t t i n g and th e sp e n d in g o f money
i s n e c e s s a r y . . . . Now th e c h u rc h i s made up o f
i n d i v i d u a l s . Each one i s to " l a y by i n s t o r e . "
What th e c h u rc h r e c e iv e s to sp en d in d o in g th e
w ork o f C h r is t w i l l b e c o n tr ib u te d by i n d i v i d
u a l s . T h is i s G od's w i l l f o r u s . The L ord h as
n o t i n s t r u c t e d us to h av e r a f f l e s , d ra w in g s ,
d i n n e r s , p i e s u p p e r s , and rummage s a l e s to r a i s e
money f o r h i s w ork. T h ro u g h o u t h i s g r e a t lo v e
f o r u s , God h as a p p e a le d to o u r lo v e f o r him .
Jeh o v ah e x p e c ts us to lo v e him enough to g iv e
o f o u r m ean s, s im p ly , c h e e r f u l l y , as h e h as
ta u g h t i n h i s word. 134
C h a lle n g in g ch u rch le a d e r s to u n d e rta k e m ore
v ig o ro u s program s o f w o rk , Ja c k H a r d c a s t i e 's 1955 l e c t u r e
r e l a t e d th e am ount o f th e g iv in g to th e in c e n ti v e s e t
b e f o r e th e g i v e r s . He u rg e d e l d e r s to p la n in f a i t h w ith
th e a s s u ra n c e t h a t th e f i n a n c i a l means w ould be s u p p lie d :
1 O/ ,
"The Church and Money," Lectures, 1953,
pp. 95-96.
402
The c o n g r e g a tio n t h a t p la n s to grow m u st p la n a l s o
to sp e n d m oney—n o t j u s t th e b a r e minimum n e c e s s a r y
to c a r r y on th e w o rs h ip and h o ld s e r v i c e s , b u t th e
maximum t h a t c a n b e in v e s te d w is e ly to h e lp b r in g
t o f r u i t i o n o u r p la n s and p u rp o s e . . . . I t i s t r u e
t h a t we m ust h a v e money i n o r d e r to sp e n d m oney,
b u t th e r e i s no la c k o f money f o r th e th in g s we
r e a l l y w a n t. L e t members o f th e L o r d 's c h u rc h b e
shown a g o a l w h ich to them seem s w o rth s a c r i f i c i n g
f o r , and th e y w i l l s u p p o r t th e p la n n e d e f f o r t s to
r e a c h t h a t g o a l .135
The sum m it o f P r o t e s t a n t w o rs h ip h a s t r a d i t i o n a l l y
b e e n re a c h e d in th e o b s e rv a n c e o f th e L o r d 's S u p p e r, i n
w h ich b e l i e v e r s p a r ta k e o f th e v i s i b l e sym bols o f C h r i s t 's
red ee m in g lo v e and com m em orate h i s a g o n iz in g d e a th . "The
L o r d 's S u p p er s h o u ld b e th e cro w n in g s e r v i c e i n th e
c h u r c h ," w ro te Andrew B lackw ood, "an d th u s b e e a r t h 's
n e a r e s t a p p ro a c h to h e a v e n ."136 A g re e in g t h a t th e L o r d 's
S u p p er sh o u ld h av e a p la c e o f s p e c i a l p rim ac y i n th e w o r
s h ip p e r i o d , th e A b ile n e s p e a k e rs w ere s t r a n g e l y q u i e t
a b o u t i t s m eaning and f u n c tio n . O nly E a r ly A rc e n e a u x 's
1933 s p e e c h , "T he W orship o f th e C h u rch : Communion and
F e llo w s h ip ," was p r i m a r i l y d e s ig n e d to d e a l w ith th e L o r d 's
S u p p e r. A lth o u g h h e b r i e f l y s u g g e s te d th e p r o p e r a t t i t u d e s
135S'The church As It Can Be,” Lectures, 1955,
pp. 230-231.
13 6
The F in e A rt o f P u b lic W orship ( N a s h v ille :
C o k esb u ry P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), p . 204.
403
w hich o u g h t to accompany th e p a r ta k in g o f th e u n le av en e d
b re a d and th e f r u i t o f th e v i n e , th e e s s e n t i a l c o n tr ib u tio n
o f h is l e c t u r e r e l a t e d to th e r e g u l a r i t y o f th e communion
o b se rv a n c e . A rceneaux advanced s i x s e q u e n tia l re a s o n s f o r
h is p re m ise : "We b e lie v e th e New T estam en t c l e a r l y te a c h e s
t h a t C h r is tia n s a r e r e q u ir e d to .o b s e r v e th e L o rd 's Supper
* 1 3 7
upon th e f i r s t day o f th e w eek."
S p e c ia l Problem s o f W orship
Two s p e c ia l w o rsh ip problem s a t t r a c t e d th e a t t e n
t i o n o f th e A b ile n e s p e a k e rs . The f i r s t co n cern ed a b se n
te e is m a t th e a s s e m b lie s . "N ot F o rsa k in g th e A ssem bly,"
was th e t i t l e o f Dan F. F o r g a r ty 's 1955 s p e e c h , in w hich
he d e c la r e d :
In m ost q u a r t e r s , th e c h u rch assem b les, tw ic e on th e
f i r s t day o f th e week and on Wednesday n ig h ts .
Somewhere down th e l i n e someone h as handed us th e
id e a t h a t th e assem bly i s on Sunday m o rn in g . . . .
Now when th e c h u rc h assem b les a t th e s e d i f f e r e n t
tim es , who h as th e r i g h t to b e a b s e n t? As i t
s ta n d s now, ab o u t o n e - h a lf o f th e m em bership does
n o t a t te n d . L e t th e .q u e s ti o n im p ress you now.
J u s t who has th e r i g h t to b e a b s e n t? . . . When
one f a i l s to a t t e n d , t h a t one i s fo rs a k in g th e
assem b ly . T here i s no e s c a p e . I f th e ch u rch i s
137
Lectures, 1933, p . 99. Arceneaux's sp e ech was
in te n d e d to answ er th e argum ents o f th o s e who w o rsh ip on
S a tu rd a y , a s w e ll as th o s e who to o k th e su p p e r le s s f r e
q u e n tly th a n w eekly.
404
m eetin g f o r w o rs h ip , o r f o r e d i f i c a t i o n o r f o r
w ork, th e n i t i s im p o rta n t enough f o r a l l to be
th e r e and i f i t i s n o t t h a t im p o rta n t, th e n i t
i s goin g beyond i t s i n s t r u c tio n s and no one
sh o u ld a t t e n d . 138
F rank Pack su g g e ste d in 1954 t h a t a tr u e re c o g n i
t i o n o f th e s c r i p t u r a l s ig n if ic a n c e o f w orship would
e lim in a te th e h ig h a b s e n te e f ig u r e s a t th e a s s e m b lie s :
I f a man r e a l i z e s t h a t in w o rsh ip he i s ap p ro ach in g
th e Lord and t h a t th e r e i s f e llo w s h ip , communion,
and com panionship betw een h is own s p i r i t and God,
th e n he sh o u ld n o t have to b e rem inded o f th e need
f o r w orship w h erev er he i s and o f th e im p o rtan ce
o f i t in h is own l i f e . He would long and y e a rn
f o r i t . He would se ek th e fa c e o f God.139
C leon L y les in tro d u c e d a second and more s i g n i f i
c a n t w orship problem in h is 1956 s p e e c h , "T eaching in
W orship": " I t i s p o s s ib le f o r one to go th ro u g h th e a c ts
o f w orship and s t i l l n o t w o rsh ip God, W e would p o in t o u t
t h a t th e a c t a lo n e does n o t c o n s t i t u t e tr u e w o rsh ip to
G od.1 1 l^O L y les a ls o m a in ta in e d t h a t p u r ity o f l i f e must
be p re lim in a ry to communion w ith God. He s a id :
Then th e re a re th o s e who s u b s t i t u t e o rth o d o x y fo r
w o rs h ip , and a ls o th e r e a re th o s e t h a t w orship
o rth o d o x y . W e a l l re c o g n iz e th e n e c e s s ity o f
^^Lectures, 1955 , p. 70.
1 39
Pack, op. cit. , p. 126.
140
Lectures, 1956, p. 175.
405
b e in g r i g h t i n w hat we d o , b u t o f w h at v a lu e i s i t
to b e r i g h t in te a c h in g a d o c t r i n e i f th e d o c t r i n e
d o es n o t make us r i g h t ? I f one i s sound i n th e
f a c t s h e p r e s e n ts , b u t u nsound i n th e l i f e w h ich
h e l i v e s , h i s so u n d n ess i n te a c h in g w i l l n o t e r a s e
u n so u n d n e ss i n l i v i n g . I t i s u n f o r tu n a te t h a t some
men who h a v e c r i e d th e lo u d e s t f o r sound te a c h in g
h av e c o n s ta n t l y p r a c t i c e d u n sound l i v i n g . 141
Jo h n B a n is te r a l s o w arned t h a t m ere o b s e rv a n c e o f
th e ite m s o f w o rs h ip and t r u l y w o rs h ip p in g God a r e n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y s im u lta n e o u s p r o c e s s e s . D e s c rib in g w o rs h ip as
an in w a r d , s p i r i t u a l f u n c tio n b ro u g h t a b o u t th ro u g h th e
o b s e rv a n c e o f c o r r e c t fo rm s , B a n is te r c o n c lu d e d :
L e t u s b e c e r t a i n t h a t w e , i n w o r s h ip , n e i t h e r
n e g l e c t th e s c r i p t u r a l form n o r th e r e v e r e n t
s p i r i t o f w o rs h ip . They who c o r r u p t th e w o rs h ip
w ith u n s c r i p t u r a l in n o v a tio n s s i n no g r e a t e r
th a n th o s e b r e th r e n w ho, w h ile h o ld in g s t r e n u
o u s ly to th e c o r r e c t form o f w o rs h ip , go th ro u g h
th e w o rs h ip w ith o u t any r e a l and v i t a l communion
w ith GodI L e t u s to d a y r e s t o r e t h e s p i r i t o f
q u ie tn e s s and r e v e r e n c e t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e d th e
w o rsh ip o f th e a p o s t o l i c c h u rc h . L e t u s r e s t o r e
th e t r u e m eaning o f w o rs h ip . 14-2
Howard H o r to n 's 1961 l e c t u r e a l s o f e a tu r e d th e
w o r s h ip p e r 's n eed to tr a n s f o r m th e fo rm a l ite m s o f w o rsh ip
i n t o g e n u in e e x p e rie n c e s o f communion w ith God. "C o ld and
fo rm a l t r u t h i s a s v a in a s warm , e c s t a t i c e r r o r . God w i l l
■ ^^"T each in g in W o rsh ip ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 6 , p . 177.
" ^ ^ B a n is te r , o p . c i t . , p. 148.
406
have n e ith e r . One assumes t h a t God is a s to n e w ith no
fe e lin g ; th e o th e r , th a t He is an e c s t a t i c s p r i t e w ith no
i/o
a u th o r ity nor pow er." H orton co n tin u ed :
How may we tra n sfo rm th e s c r i p t u r a l "item s o f w or
sh ip " in to liv in g e x p e rien ce s o f fe llo w sh ip ? Even
in th e c o rp o ra te w orship o f th e co n g reg a tio n i t is
in d iv id u a lly a c h iev e d . I t h e lp s me to th in k o f
each item o r elem ent as in v o lv in g fo u r s ta g e s :
(1) th e o b je c tiv e p rese n ce o f th e s p e c if ic elem ent
o f w o rs h ip , (2) th e co n scio u s e n tra n c e o f th e
w o rsh ip p er in to th e purpose and meaning o f th e
p a r t i c u l a r elem e n t, (3) th e moment when th e wor
sh ip p e r is co m p letely absorbed in lo v in g a d o ra tio n
o f and communion w ith God, th e o b je c tiv e elem ent
b e in g l o s t to v ie w , (4) th e r e tu r n to th e o b je c
t i v e elem ent o f w orship a t i t s co m p letio n . U nless
th e w o rsh ip p er goes beyond mere p a r tic ip a t io n in
th e o b je c tiv e elem ent he is o n ly a p e rfo rm e r, n o t
a w o rsh ip p er, and th e r e is no C h r is tia n fe llo w sh ip
in v o lv e d , becau se C h r is t has n o t r e a l l y e n te re d
th e e v e n t.3-44
The system o f w orship is one o f th e m ajor f a c to rs
in d eterm in in g th e c h a ra c te r and in sh ap in g th e form o f a
r e lig io u s movement. I t i s one o f th e main m edia fo r in c u l
c a tin g and one o f th e p r in c ip a l in stru m e n ts fo r t r a n s
m ittin g th e essen ce o f a f a i t h . I t is a t once one o f th e
m ost b le s s e d y e t c h a lle n g in g o p p o rtu n itie s to c o n fro n t th e
b e lie v e r . The A bilene sp e ak ers announced t h a t only th e
143"The More Abundant L ife As One o f High F ellow
sh ip V a lu e s," L e c tu re s , 1961, p . 96.
l44Ibid., pp. 76-77.
407
m o st d i l i g e n t q u e s t b y t h e t r u l y p u r e i n h e a r t w o u ld b e
re w a rd e d b y t r u e com m union w i t h God.
The M is s io n o f t h e C h u rch
S h a rp d is a g r e e m e n t o v e r t h e n a t u r e an d m is s io n o f
t h e c h u r c h p r o v id e d m uch o f t h e a m m u n itio n f o r t h e f u n d a
m e n t a l i s t - m o d e r n is t w a rs o f t h e 1 9 2 0 's . T he c o n s e r v a t i v e
l e a d e r s h i p c o n c e iv e d o f t h e c h u r c h a s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n
fo u n d e d f o r t h e e x p r e s s p u r p o s e o f p r o p a g a t in g a m e s s a g e o f
s a l v a t i o n t o a l o s t w o r ld . T h is e v a n g e l i s t i c m is s io n g a v e
t h e c h u r c h i t s v e r y g ro u n d s f o r e x i s t e n c e . The m o d e rn
i s t s , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , r e f u s e d t o a g r e e t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y
c o u ld b e e q u a te d w ith t h e c h u r c h . H a rry E m erson F o s d i c k 's
1922 b o o k , C h r i s t i a n i t y an d P r o g r e s s , s t a t e d t h e l i b e r a l
v ie w o f t h e c h u r c h ’ s m is s io n i n t h e w o r ld . F o s d ic k m en
t i o n e d t h e t e n s i o n w h ic h e x i s t e d b e tw e e n t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c
a n d r a t i o n a l i s t i c p o i n t s o f v ie w : "Two c o n c e p tio n s o f t h e
c h u r c h a r e i n c o n f l i c t to d a y i n m o d ern p r o t e s t a n t i s m , an d
o n e o f t h e m o st c r u c i a l p ro b le m s o f A m e r ic a 's r e l i g i o u s
l i f e i n t h i s n e x t g e n e r a t i o n i s t h e d e c i s i o n a s t o w h ic h
145
Machen, Christianity and Liberalism, pp. 168-
170.
o f th e s e two id e a s o f th e church s h a l l triu m p h ." Denying
t h a t th e church sh o u ld be based upon a fix e d d o c tr in a l
system to w hich th e p ro s p e c tiv e member m ust conform , .
F o sd ick m a in ta in e d t h a t th e church can e x i s t w ith o u t
th e o lo g ic a l u n ifo rm ity "w herever p eo p le have t h a t s p i r i t
u a l d e v o tio n , who p o sse ss t h a t lo v e . .
A y e a r l a t e r fu n d a m e n ta lis t champion J . Gresham
Machen gave r e b u t t a l . In a d d itio n to h is book, C h r i s t i
a n ity and L ib e r a lis m , Machen a ls o w ro te in th e H o m iletic
Review ;
Two m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e r e lig io n s a re b ein g p ro p a
g a te d w ith in th e P re s b y te ria n c h u rc h , as w ith in
o th e r " e v a n g e lic a l" c h u rch e s. One i s th e g r e a t
red em p tiv e r e l i g i o n known as C h r is t ia n i ty ; th e
o th e r is th e n a t u r a l i s t i c o r a g n o s tic modernism
re p re s e n te d by D r. F o sd ick and by many P re s b y te
r i a n m in is te r s . I f one o f th e s e i s t r u e , th e
o th e r i s f a l s e . 147
As th e to r r e n ts rag ed w ith in th e m ain strea m o f
r e lig io u s th o u g h t, th e A b ilen e t r i b u t a r y l e f t l i t t l e doubt
as to th e d ir e c tio n in w h ic h .its in flu e n c e would flow :
"The New T estam ent Church has th e r i g h t to l i v e because
1.46
H arry Emerson F o sd ic k , C h r is t ia n i ty and P ro g ress
(New York: Flem ing H. R e v ell Company, 192 2 ), pp. 232-233.
147u,rhe B a ttle w ith in th e Churches ," H o m iletic
Review , Septem ber, 1923, p . 186.
409
t h e r e i s no o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n i n t h e w o rld i n w h ic h p e o p le
c a n b e s a v e d o r t h a t i s p u t t i n g f o r t h a n y e f f o r t t o s a v e
t h e l o s t . " 148 T h is s e n te n c e fro m L . S . W h ite 's 1933
a d d r e s s e x p r e s s e d t h e l e c t u r e r 's u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e
p r im a r y p u r p o s e f o r th e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e c h u r c h - - t o s a v e
th e s p i r i t u a l l y l o s t . T h is m is s io n w as o f t e n d i v i d e d i n t o
t h r e e a r e a s o f p r a c t i c a l a c t i v i t y : e d i f i c a t i o n , e v a n g e l-
is m , an d b e n e v o le n c e :
T h re e m a jo r w o rk s m ake up t h e p ro g ra m o f th e l o c a l
c h u r c h . F i r s t , e a c h c o n g r e g a tio n s h o u ld s e e k t o
k e e p t h e l o c a l m em b ersh ip e d i f i e d , s t r o n g , an d
l o y a l . S e c o n d , t h e c h u r c h s h o u ld r e a c h o u t to
o t h e r c o m m u n itie s an d la n d s w h e re t h e g o s p e l i s
unknow n w i t h a p ro g ra m o f e v a n g e l i z a t i o n . T h i r d ,
t h e d i s t r e s s e d s h o u ld b e g iv e n h e l p an d p r o v i
s i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y th o s e who a r e o f t h e " h o u s e h o ld
o f f a i t h . "1 4 9
L e ro y B ro w n lo w 's 1951 l e c t u r e , "T he E d i f i c a t i o n o f
th e C h u rc h ," was a c o m p re h e n s iv e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e a c t i v i
t i e s w i t h i n t h e l o c a l c h u r c h w h ic h s e r v e t o s p i r i t u a l l y
s t r e n g t h e n an d e d i f y i t s m e m b e rsh ip . P r e a c h i n g , c la s s r o o m
14 8 "T h e R ig h t o f t h e C h u rc h t o L i v e , " L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 3 3 , p . 1 3 1 . T h is c h i e f aim o f th e c h u r c h i s a l s o em pha
s i z e d i n L i f f S a n d e r s , "T he F a m ily , S t a t e , an d t h e C h u rc h ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 ; an d W. S . L o n g , "T h e C h u rch i n I t s War
a g a i n s t S i n , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 5 .
149
Glen L. Wallace, "The Church and the Community,"
Lectures. 1953, p. 3.
.410
te a c h in g , p e rso n a l v i s i t a t i o n , c o tta g e m e e tin g s, th e church
b u l l e t i n , books and t r a c t s , and d is c ip li n e o f th e wayward
150
w ere p re se n te d as means o f e d ify in g th e m embership.
Brownlow’s l i s t su g g ested t h a t w h ile evangelism and e d i f i
c a tio n were d ir e c te d a t d i f f e r e n t a u d ie n c e s , t h e i r methods
were s im ila r and t h e i r m issio n id e n t i c a l . The m ajor
em phasis w hich th e sp e ak ers gave to evangelism j u s t i f i e s
i t s p la c e as a s e p a ra te c h a p te r l a t e r in th e stu d y . In
th a t c h a p te r, th e e f f o r t s o f th e church to e d ify i t s mem
b e rs w ill be d isc u sse d as an a s p e c t o f evangelism . This
u n it on th e m issio n o f th e church w i l l , th e r e f o r e , be
lim ite d to th e b e n e v o len t program o f th e church and th a t
phase o f e d i f ic a ti o n w hich th e le c tu r e r s d e s c rib e d as
"church d is c i p l i n e ."
The Church and D is c ip lin e
Three s p e a k e rs , A. 0 . C o lley in 1920, E. H. Ijam s
in 1935, and Gus Nichols in 1955 , delivered addresses which
were desig n ed to p re s e n t church d is c ip li n e as a prim ary
means of congregational edification. Several other lec
tu r e r s touched upon th e s u b je c t in le s s d e t a i l . C olley
su g g e sted th a t th e church has "been r a th e r slow to apply
^^Lectures, 1951, pp. 32-46.
411
t h e p a r t o f G o d 's law t h a t r e l a t e s t o t h e w ith d r a w a l fro m
m em bers who w a lk d i s o r d e r l y . ” He nam ed p r e o c c u p a t i o n w ith
" t h e s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s o f how t o g e t men i n t o t h e c h u r c h ,"
a s t h e c h i e f r e a s o n f o r t h e b r o t h e r h o o d 's f a i l u r e " t o c o n
s i d e r v e r y s e r i o u s l y how t o g e t th em o u t . " C o lle y w as
p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e c h u r c h 's i n c l i n a t i o n t o
i g n o r e m em bers v i o l a t i n g t h e m a r r ia g e v o w s:
F o r n i c a t i o n , a t l e a s t o n e fo rm o f i t , i s lo o k e d a t
l i g h t l y i n m any c h u r c h e s to d a y . T he New T e s ta m e n t
d o e s n o t r e c o g n i z e b u t o n e r e a l c a u s e f o r d i v o r c e ,
an d t h a t i s f o r a m a r r ie d man o r a m a r r ie d woman
t o a c t u n f a i t h f u l t o t h e m a r r ia g e vow s w i t h o t h e r s .
1 do n o t c o n te n d t h a t e v e n t h a t s e p a r a t e s , b u t
w hen c o m m itte d i t g iv e s t h e in n o c e n t o n e t h e r i g h t
t o b e s e p a r a t e d fro m t h e g u i l t y . Many to d a y a r e
l i v i n g i n o p e n v i o l a t i o n t o G o d 's law an d do n o t
know i t . A l l p r e a c h e r s an d e l d e r s s h o u ld t e a c h
t h a t e v e ry o n e t h a t p u ts aw ay h i s o r h e r c o m p an io n
an d m a r r i e s a n o t h e r w h ile t h e f i r s t i s s t i l l l i v
in g i s v i o l a t i n g t h e law o f G od. To t h o s e who
h a v e a l r e a d y i g n o r a n t l y g o n e i n t o t h i s u n f o r t u n a t e
s t a t e , I w a n t t o e x p r e s s my s y m p a th y . A n d , t o you
b o y s an d g i r l s who a r e y e t s i n g l e , I r a i s e t h i s a s
a v o i c e o f w a r n in g . T he f o llo w in g s c r i p t u r e s a r e
g iv e n w i t h a r e q u e s t t h a t a l l t u r n t o th e m an d r e a d
w h a t t h e L o rd h a s s a i d on t h e s u b j e c t : I C o r. 5 ;
M a tt. 5 :3 2 ; 1 9 :8 - 9 ; Rom. 7 : 1 - 4 ; M a tt. 1 9 : 9 . T h e re
i s o n ly o n e e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s r u l e a n d t h a t i s h e l d
i n d o u b t b y many a b l e m en. F o r my own i d e a , I
b e l i e v e t h e L o rd m akes o n ly o n e e x c e p t i o n . T h e re
w i l l c o n t in u e t o b e m any in n o c e n t v i c t i m s u n t i l
p r e a c h e r s , m o th e rs an d f a t h e r s t e a c h t h e law o f God
on divorce, both in home and in public assemblies,
and until the church e x e r c i s e s m ore d i s c i p l i n e i n
r e g a r d t o i t . 151
^"Discipline of the Church," Lectures, 1920-1921,
pp. 97, 101. ‘
412
E. H. Ijam s was e q u a lly as alarm ed a t th e g e n e ra l
d e a r th o f d i s c i p l i n e among th e c o n g r e g a tio n s . He was
p a r t i c u l a r l y co n cern ed w ith th e a d v e rs e in f lu e n c e o f su ch
d i s c i p l i n a r y l a x i t y upon th e f u tu r e o f th e c h u rc h :
M isconduct on th e p a r t o f Church members and p o o r
d i s c i p l i n e in d e a lin g w ith th o s e g u i l t y o f m is
co n d u c t have done g r e a t harm to th e r e p u ta tio n
and th e in f lu e n c e o f th e Church o f C h r is t . The
f a i l u r e o f c e r t a i n in d iv id u a ls to o b se rv e th e
tr u e s ta n d a rd s o f C h r is t ia n c h a r a c t e r , and th e
f a i l u r e o f C hurch o f f i c e r s to d i s c i p l i n e th e
g u i l t y p a r t i e s h av e b ro u g h t re p ro a c h upon th e
name o f C h r is t and have h in d e re d th e sp re a d o f
the Gospel.152
A p a r t i c u l a r l y a c u te problem w hich th e fundam en
t a l i s t s fa c e d co n c ern ed t h e i r w is e s t c o u rs e o f d i s c i p l i n a r y
a c tio n in d e a lin g w ith c o n g re g a tio n s and ch u rch le a d e r s
s u s p e c te d o f l i b e r a l te n d e n c ie s . The p r e v a ilin g o p in io n
was t h a t a l l m o d e rn is ts sh o u ld b e fo rc e d to le a v e th e
153
o rth o d o x c h u rc h e s . E r u d ite E p is c o p a l b ish o p s s tr a n g e ly
a lig n e d th e m selv es w ith " h e l l f i r e and brim sto n e* 1 p re a c h e rs
in an e f f o r t to r i d t h e i r ch u rch e s o f th e common enemy.
S c h o la rly c o n s e r v a tiv e s o f P rin c e to n T h e o lo g ic a l S em inary,
152nTke church in Its Discipline," Lectures, 1935,
p. 16.
153 ,
M achen, C h r i s t i a n i t y and L ib e r a lis m , p p . 4 8 -5 2 .
413
who on many p o in ts found B ryan o n ly p a t h e t i c , form ed a
u n iq u e a l l i a n c e w ith th e r a b i d p r o p h e ts o f th e B ib le
I n s t i t u t e s i n th e d r i v e to d i s c i p l i n e th e d i g r e s s i v e s . In
1 9 2 3 , W illia m J e n n in g s B ryan c a l l e d f o r a l l f a i t h f u l d i s
c i p l e s to a s s i s t in th e s e a r c h f o r and p r o s e c u tio n o f
d o c t r i n a l o f f e n d e r s . He ev en q u e s tio n e d th e i n t e g r i t y o f
l i b e r a l p r e a c h e r s who c lu n g to o rth o d o x p u l p i t s in th e
i n t e r e s t o f f i n a n c i a l s e c u r i t y :
A p r e a c h e r who c o n c e a ls h i s v ie w s from th o s e who
p ay h i s s a l a r y , know ing when h e d o es so t h a t h i s
s a l a r y w ould te r m in a te i f h i s v ie w s w ere know n,
i s o b ta in in g money u n d e r f a l s e p r e te n c e s and i s
j u s t as g u i l t y o f a c rim e a s th e man who i s s e n t
to th e p e n i t e n t i a r y f o r o b ta in in g money on f a l s e
s ta te m e n ts . . . . The P r e s b y t e r i a n A ssem bly h a s
n a i l e d t h e s e " e s s e n t i a l " d o c t r i n e s o f th e c h u rc h
on th e f r o n t o f th e p u l p i t so t h a t th e c o n g re g a
t i o n c a n m e asu re th e m i n i s t e r by th e c h u r c h 's
p ro n o u n c e m e n t.1 5 4
C la re n c e E. M acC artn ey , p ro m in e n t P h i l a d e l p h i a
P r e s b y t e r i a n , a d m itte d i n 1923 " t h e s a d and h u m ilia t in g
f a c t t h a t we h a v e m i n i s t e r s in o u r p u l p i t s who a r e n o t
l o y a l to th e C o n fe s s io n o f F a i t h . . . . " He th e n reco m
mended th e c o u r s e o f d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n to b e p u rs u e d i n
d e a lin g w ith su c h p r e a c h e r s :
154"The Fundamentals," Forum, July, 1923, p. 665.
414
L oyal men in th e ch u rch w i l l do a l l th ey can to
p ersu ad e them o f th e in c o n s is te n c y o f t h e i r p o s i
t i o n , so t h a t th e y w i l l q u ie tly w ithdraw . But i f
th e y do n o t w ith d raw , and i f th ey p e r s i s t in t h e i r
d e fia n c e o f th e c h u rc h , th e n , i f th e P re s b y te ria n
church is to e n d u re , i t nrust proceed a g a in s t them.
No church can endure h a l f r a t i o n a l i s t i c and h a l f
e v a n g e lic a l. Nor can th e re be any tr u e peace w ith
th e s e two p a r t i e s in th e same ch u rch . How can
two w alk to g e th e r ex c ep t th ey be a g r e e d . 155
L is tin g im m o rality and f a ls e d o c trin e as two
in f r a c tio n s w orthy o f im m ediate and r i g i d d i s c i p l i n e ,
A bilene sp e a k er Gus N ich o ls d e s c rib e d th e s c r i p t u r a l p ro
ced u re w hich ch u rch es o f C h ris t observed in w ithdraw ing
fe llo w s h ip from wayward members:
Of co u rse th e e ld e rs a re to ta k e th e le a d in a l l
such m a tte r s . They a re th e G od-appointed o v e r
s e e rs o f th e church (A cts 20:28; I P e te r 5 :1 - 6 ) .
They a re to in v e s tig a te any c a s e , and when th ey
have q u ie tly g a th e re d a l l th e f a c ts and fin d th e
r e p o r t t r u e , th e y a re to s e t about to r e s t o r e th e
g u il t y b r o t h e r , and i f th ey f a i l , th e y may ask
th e church i f any one knows any s c r i p t u r a l re a so n
why th e fe llo w sh ip sh o u ld n o t be w ithdraw n from
th e g u i l t y b r o th e r u n t i l he re p e n ts and co n fe sse s
h is s in s . I f no s c r i p t u r a l re a so n i s g iv en
a g a in s t i t , th e y sh o u ld announce th a t th e church
m ust n o t fe llo w sh ip th e excluded b ro th e r any
f u r th e r . T his sh o u ld be done in a p u b lic assem
b ly "When you be g a th e re d to g e th e r" (1 Cor. 5 :1 -
1 3 ), Of c o u rs e , a l l th in g s a re to be done in
g e n tle n e s s and ac co rd in g to th e golden r u l e . No
good surgeon h av in g to p erform an o p e ra tio n to
remove a lim b from th e body would want to be
135Christian Work, July 21, 1923, p. 89.
415
c r u e l , o r a s p a i n f u l as p o s s i b l e ; L e t u s b e k in d
to a l l m en, e v e n th e d i s o r d e r l y . 1 5 6
L e ro y Brow nlow s t r e s s e d t h a t w h ile c o r r e c t i o n
s h o u ld n o t b e im posed a s an end w i t h i n i t s e l f , two b a s i c
r e a s o n s dem anded th e e x e r c i s e o f d i s c i p l i n e : "T he B ib le
te a c h e s t h a t we s h o u ld e x e r c i s e d i s c i p l i n e f o r t h e good o f
th e g u i l t y p a r t y , and f o r th e good and e d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e
c h u r c h . M a n y y e a r s e a r l i e r , C o lle y h a d a g re e d t h a t th e
p rim a ry p u rp o s e o f p u n i t i v e a c t i o n s h o u ld b e to s t r e n g t h e n
and r e s t o r e th e o f f e n d e r :
L e t u s lo o k fo rw a rd t o a b e t t e r d a y , when t h e c h u rc h
c a n , i n an u n p a r t i s a n w ay , c a r r y o u t t h e L o r d 's w i l l
i n d i s c i p l i n e w ith a s much i n t e r e s t and z e a l a s we
do o t h e r p a r t s o f h i s d i v i n e la w . M ark y o u ! t h e
v e r y b e s t d i s c i p l i n a r i a n s a r e n o t t h e o n es who w i t h
d raw fro m t h e g r e a t e s t n u m b e r, b u t t h e o n e s who c a n
ta k e th e L o r d 's w ord an d s i t down q u i e t l y b y t h e
s i d e o f t h e one who h a s g o n e w rong and g e t them to
c o r r e c t t h e w r o n g . 158
The A b ile n e p l a t f o r m a l s o p r e s c r i b e d a c o u r s e o f
d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n t o b e im p o sed u p o n v ayw ard c o n g r e g a
t i o n s w i t h i n t h e b r o th e r h o o d . V e te ra n e v a n g e l i s t Gus
N ic h o ls a s s e r t e d : "Now, i f a c o n g r e g a tio n s h o u ld d e p a r t
-ICC
"W ith d raw Y o u rs e lv e s fro m T h o se T h a t W alk
D i s o r d e r l y ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 5 , p p . 8 7 -8 8 .
157
Brownlow, op. cit. , p. 40.
1 S8
Colley, op. cit. . pp. 107-108.
416
from th e t r u t h so f a r as to c e a se to be a ch u rch o f th e
L o rd , no o th e r c o n g re g a tio n sh o u ld fe llo w s h ip i t any
f u r t h e r , anymore th a n i t would a d e n o m in a tio n a l co n g reg a
t i o n . " N ich o ls a ls o recommended a p ro c e d u re f o r d i s c i p l i n
in g d ig r e s s iv e o r im m oral e l d e r s : " I f an e ld e r goes w rong,
he sh o u ld be d e a l t w ith j u s t l i k e any o th e r b r o t h e r , e x c e p t
t h a t he i s n o t to b e reb u k ed . The o th e r e ld e r s sh o u ld ta k e
th e le a d in e x c lu d in g him from th e fe llo w s h ip o f th e
159
c h u rc h ." In h is s p e c ia l 1954 le c t u r e on e ld e r s h ip p ro b
lems , John G. Young even more d e c is iv e ly d en ied t h a t
wayward e ld e r s w ere immune to s c r i p t u r a l d i s c i p l i n e . He
s a id :
T his th in g o f "once an e l d e r , alw ays an e ld e r " i s as
f o re ig n to th e t r u t h as "o n ce s a v e d , alw ays s a v e d ."
When he c e a s e s to have th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f an
e l d e r , when he c e a se s to f u n c tio n as an e l d e r , he
may b e c o r r e c te d and d is c ip li n e d th e same as any
o th e r member. B eing an e ld e r does n o t make him
immune from th e d i s c i p l i n e o f th e c h u rc h . P a u l
say s in I Tim othy 5 :1 9 , "A g a in st an e ld e r r e c e iv e
n o t an a c c u s a tio n , b u t b e fo re two o r th r e e
w itn e s s e s ."160
159
Nichols, op. cit. , pp. 90, 91.
160.,
"Overcoming Eldership Problems ," Lectures ,
1954, pp. 198-199.
The C h u rc h 's S o c i a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y
The d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v ie w a s to th e m is s io n o f
t h e c h u rc h came i n t o s h a rp fo c u s u n d e r t h e k e e n m ic ro s c o p e
w h ich was u s e d to exam ine th e e x t e n t o f i t s s o c i a l r e s p o n
s i b i l i t y . I n 1 9 1 7 , j u s t a few s c a n t m onths b e f o r e th e
f i r s t L e c tu r e s h ip a u d ie n c e a s se m b le d d u r in g a m id - w in te r
A b ile n e b l i z z a r d , W a lte r R a u sc h e n b u sch c i r c u l a t e d h i s
d e f i n i t i v e f o r m u l a ti o n , A T h e o lo g y f o r t h e S o c ia l G o s p e l.
R a u s c h e n b u s c h , i n becom ing th e S o c i a l G o s p e l's t h e o l o g i c a l
v o i c e , a l s o b r o u g h t to f u l l f r u i t i o n th e d e d i c a te d la b o r s
o f W a sh in g to n G la d d e n , o f t e n c a l l e d " t h e F a th e r o f th e
S o c ia l G o s p e l," J o s i a h S tr o n g , R ic h a rd T . E l y , D av id J a y n e
H i l l , E . B en jam in A ndrew s, Edw ard B e lla m y , G eorge D.
H e rro n , O r e llo C one, S h a i l e r M a tth e w s, F r a n c is G. P e a b o d y ,
and a h o s t o f l e s s e r known a d v o c a te s o f s o c i a l C h r i s t i -
161
a n i t y . T h e ir c o o p e r a tiv e e f f o r t s , a c t u a l l y b e g in n in g
i n th e d e c a d e f o llo w in g th e C i v i l W ar, n o t o n ly q u ic k e n e d
C h r is te n d o m 's s o c i a l c o n s c io u s n e s s , b u t a l s o c o m p e lle d a
161
"T he s o c i a l g o s p e l . . . i s no lo n g e r a p r o
p h e t i c and o c c a s i o n a l n o te . I t i s a n o v e lty o n ly in
b ack w ard s o c i a l o r r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n itie s . The s o c i a l
g o s p e l h a s becom e o r th o d o x ." W a lte r R a u sc h e n b u sc h ,
A T h eo lo g y f o r th e S o c i a l G o sp e l (New Y o rk : The M a cm illan
Com pany, 1 9 1 9 ), p . 2.
418
re -e x a m in a tio n o f th e v e ry n a tu re o f th e r e lig i o u s e x p e ri
ence i t s e l f . R auschenbusch p o s tu la te d : "When we subm it
to God we subm it to th e suprem acy o f th e common good.
S a lv a tio n ,'1 he b o ld ly a s s e r te d , " i s th e v o lu n ta ry s o c i a l
iz in g o f th e s o u l . " ^ ^
Under R au sch en b u sch 's le a d e r s h ip , th e S o c ia l G ospel
m atured as a m oulder o f o p in io n and g r e a tly in flu e n c e d th e
n a tu re o f American p r o te s ta n tis m . In 1908, th e F e d e ra l
C ouncil o f Churches o f C h r is t gave form al re c o g n itio n to
th e s o c ia l d o c tr in e . The o rg a n iz a tio n ad o p ted a " S o c ia l
Creed o f th e C h u rch e s," w hich se rv e d f o r y e a rs as P r o te s
tantism's official position regarding various social
163
q u e s tio n s . By 1915, th e re w ere few r e lig i o u s b o d ie s
t h a t had n o t e s ta b lis h e d s o c ia l s e rv ic e com m issions.
Religious publishing houses released annually an avalanche
o f pam phlets and books in th e i n t e r e s t o f s o c ia l
■t £ 0
R auschenbusch, A Theology f o r th e S o c ia l G o sp el,
p . 96. From th e v a s t l i t e r a t u r e w hich t e l l s th e s to r y o f
th e S o c ia l G o sp el, a p e n e tr a tin g , d e f i n i t i v e stu d y is
C. H. H opkins, The R ise o f th e S o c ia l G ospel in American
P ro te s ta n tis m (New Haven: Y ale U n iv e rs ity P r e s s , 1940).
•^ ^ S h a ile r M atthew s, "The Development o f S o c ia l
C h r is t ia n i ty in A m erica," R e lig io u s Thought in th e L a st
Q u a rte r C e n tu ry , ed. G erald B irn ey Sm ith (C hicago:
U n iv e rs ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), p . 235.
419
C h r is tia n ity . In 1 9 2 7 , S h a ile r Matthews w rote th a t when
"one compares t h is s it u a t io n w ith th a t o f th e decade
f o llo w in g 1 8 9 5 , o n e i s c o n v in c e d t h a t t h e o ld i n d i v i d u a l i s m
o f e v a n g e lic a lis m i s b ein g supplem ented by th e s o c i a l
e v a n g e lic a lis m ." ^ ^ -
Was th e g o sp e l s o c i a l , or was i t in d iv id u a l?
A lthough i t would be m islea d in g to la b e l a l l o f th e fr ie n d s
o f t h e S o c i a l G o sp e l " m o d e r n is ts an d c l a s s i f y a l l o f i t s
16S
opponents " fu n d a m e n ta lists," a s iz a b le p a rt o f th e
sharp r e jo in d e r o f fundam entalism to modernism was in con
demnation o f t h e ir s o c i a l l y sa tu r a te d in te r p r e ta tio n o f
man's s p ir i t u a l predicam ent. As th e S o c ia l G ospelers
a tte m p te d t o m ake p r o t e s t a n t i s m r e l e v a n t t o t h e p u n g e n t
wrongs o f th e new in d u s tr ia l age and i t s accompanying con
g e ste d su b u rb ia , c o n se r v a tiv e s responded w ith a chorus o f
a n a th e m a s . T hey w e re c o n v in c e d t h a t t h e s o c i a l p r a c t i
tio n e r s were subm erging th e w i l l o f God ben eath th e mundane
^ k ^ M a tth e w s, o p . c i t . , p p . 2 3 8 -2 3 9 . C h ie f among
th e p u b l i s h i n g h o u s e s w e re t h e A m e ric a n B a p t i s t P u b l i s h i n g
S o c ie ty an d th e M e th o d is t Book C o n c e rn .
• I
P a u l A. C a r t e r d e s c r i b e s s e v e r a l s o u r c e s o f
S o c i a l G o sp e l o p p o s i t i o n w h ic h w e re " b y no m eans Fundam en
t a l i s t i n te m p e r ." T he D e c lin e an d R e v iv a l o f t h e S o c i a l
G o sp e l ( I t h a c a , New Y o rk : C o r n e l l U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 4 ) ,
p . 6 0 .
420
w e lf a r e o f man. One d is tu r b e d c r i t i c w ro te :
The s o c i a l g o sp e l la y s enormous s t r e s s upon a m an 's
p h y s ic a l and m a te r ia l w e ll- b e in g . R e lig io n i s h e ld
to b e n o th in g more th a n a p la n o f s o c i a l w e ll- b e in g .
C h r i s t i a n i t y i s c o n s id e re d a scheme o f s o c i a l
im provem ent. I t i s red u ce d to h u m a n ita ria n is m . . .
. E d u c a tio n and s a n i t a t i o n ta k e th e p la c e o f p e r
s o n a l r e g e n e r a tio n and th e Holy S p i r i t . 166
The B a p tis ts w ere a ls o alarm ed . I t s w eekly j o u r
n a l , th e W atchm an-Exam iner, a sk e d :
W hat, th e n , i s th e s o c i a l i d e a l i n i t s f i n a l a n a ly
s i s ? I t i s b r i e f l y t h i s : su rro u n d th e in d iv id u a l
o r community w ith a good en v iro n m en t and s a lv a ti o n
w i l l r e s u l t . No g r e a t e r o r more in s id io u s h e re s y
e v e r is s u e d from h e l l th a n t h i s . . . .167
In 1911, a Com m ission on E v an g elism was e s ta b lis h e d
in th e F e d e ra l C o u n c il o f C hurches to c o u n te rb a la n c e th e
work o f th e S o c ia l S e rv ic e Com m ission. " I f anyw here s o c i a l
s e r v ic e h as become o n ly a m a tte r o f h u m a n ita ria n i n t e r e s t
. . . d e c la re d th e Com mission in 1928, " i t i s tim e to
r e p e a t th e words o f B u s h n e ll, 'T he s o u l o f re fo rm i s th e
168
re fo rm o f th e s o u l . 1 1 1 In F e b ru a ry , 1914, two th o u san d
1 flfi
John H o rsch , Modern R e lig io u s L ib e ra lis m
( S c o tts d a le , P a .: Fundam ental T ru th D e p o t, 1 9 2 1 ), p . 134.
^Quoted in C o le , o p . c i t . , p . 83.
I £ Q
F e d e ra l C o u n c il o f th e C hurches o f C h r is t in
A m erica, A nnual R e p o r t, 1928, p . 60.
421
men and women from n e a r ly e v e ry s t a t e in th e u n io n assem
b le d a t Moody B ib le I n s t i t u t e to i n v e s t i g a t e s o - c a l l e d
n e g le c te d t r u t h s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . They co n c lu d ed t h a t m ost
C h r is t ia n s w ere as h a r l o t s f l i r t i n g w ith th e w o rld , "an d
s u b s t i t u t i n g p i t i f u l s o c i a l s e r v ic e f o r th e power o f th e
b l o o d . A l t h o u g h th e r o o ts o f th e S o c ia l G ospel w ere
r e l i g i o u s l y and p o l i t i c a l l y co m p lex , th e movement was
c l o s e ly i n t e r r e l a t e d w ith th e o lo g i c a l l i b e r a l i s m and grew
in p a r t from l i b e r a l em p h ases. The l i b e r a l s ' o p tim ism
r e g a r d in g th e v i r t u e o f human p e r s o n a l i t y and th e e v o lu
t io n a r y p ro g re s s o f h i s t o r y , t h e o r ie s w hich w ere g r e a t l y
sh a k en by th e a d v e n t o f W orld War I , w ere p rim a ry assum p
tio n s o f th e new s o c i a l e m p h a sis.
I t s d e te rm in e d o p p o s itio n , w hich c a n n o t b e e a s i l y
e q u a te d w ith fu n d a m e n ta lism , was a l s o m a n y -sid e d . On t h i s
s u b j e c t , h o w ev er, th e o p p o sin g v o ic e o f th e A b ile n e p l a t
form was s i n g u l a r l y s im p le . W hile n o t a h a l f dozen
169
Jam es W . G ray , The Coming and Kingdom o f God
(C h icag o : B ib le I n s t i t u t e C o lp o rta g e A s s o c ia tio n , 1 9 1 4 ),
p . 10.
^■^For th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f l i b e r a l th e o lo g y and
th e S o c ia l G o sp e l, s e e Jo h n D ille n b e r g e r and C lau d e W elch,
P r o t e s t a n t C h r i s t i a n i t y (New Y ork: C h a rle s S c r i b n e r 's
S o n s, 1 9 5 4 ), p p . 24 1 -2 5 4 .
s p e c i f i c re f e r e n c e s to th e S o c ia l G ospel can b e found in
th e hundreds o f p r in te d a d d r e s s e s , th e v e ry e sse n c e o f th e
speechm aking se rv e d to lo d g e one b a s ic o b je c tio n : th a t
th e s o c ia l l i b e r a l s w ere n e g le c tin g th e p rim ary m is sio n o f
th e c h u rc h , nam ely, th e w inning o f in d iv id u a l s o u ls . Any
i n t e r e s t w hich th e sp e a k e rs m a n ife ste d in la b o r re fo rm ,
p r o h i b i t i o n , c a p i t a l i s t i c c o n t r o l , mass unem ploym ent, b read
l i n e s , o r orphan su p p o rt was in some way in e x tr ic a b ly ti e d
to s p i r i t u a l r e b i r t h and in d iv id u a l s a lv a ti o n .
The q u e s tio n o f th e c h u rc h 's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y tow ard
th e p h y s ic a l and s o c i a l needs o f hum anity p ro v id ed th e
b a s is f o r th e m ost in te n s e b ro th e rh o o d c o n tro v e rs y to be
a ir e d a t A b ile n e . A lthough n o t d i r e c t l y in v o lv e d w ith th e
S o c ia l G ospel te n s io n s o f th e m ain stre a m o f n a tio n a l
th o u g h t, some o f th e b a s ic q u e s tio n s o f th e la r g e r d e b a te
w ere e s s e n t i a l l y th e ones a t s ta k e in th e A b ile n e t r i b u
ta r y : What i s th e e x te n t o f th e c h u rc h 's s o c i a l r e s p o n s i
b i l i t y ? How can e f f o r t s a t s o c ia l b e tte rm e n t b e r e l a t e d
to th e problem o f in d iv id u a l s a lv a tio n ? I s i t p o s s ib le
f o r th e ch u rch to fo rs a k e i t s s p i r i t u a l p u rp o ses by becom
in g in o r d in a te ly encum bered w ith s o c i a l s e rv ic e s ? Among
th e ch u rch es o f C h r i s t , th e s e in f e c tio u s q u e s tio n s
423
g a t h e r e d , f e s t e r e d , and e r u p te d i n t o o n e b i t t e r , b e n e v o le n t
i s s u e : I n w h at way c a n t h e c h u rc h s c r i p t u r a l l y p r o v id e f o r
th e n e e d s o f widow s and o rp h a n s ?
W h ile th e A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s p r o v id e d an a d e q u a te
t e c h n i c a l p i c t u r e o f t h i s c o n tr o v e r s y and i t s s a l i e n t
i s s u e s , th e y b y no m eans a c c u r a t e l y p o r tr a y e d t h e i n t e n s i t y
and b i t t e r n e s s o f t h e d is a g r e e m e n t. A lth o u g h th e L e c t u r e
s h i p c o n ta in e d a d d r e s s e s on b o th s i d e s o f th e i s s u e , i t
made no e f f o r t to s t a g e a d i r e c t ex c h a n g e o r to p e r p e t u a t e
a d i v i s i o n o f f e e l i n g . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e b a t t l e
was v i r t u a l l y o v e r and th e l i n e s o f p r a c t i c a l f e llo w s h i p
r a t h e r s h a r p l y draw n b e f o r e t h e c o l l e g e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f e l t
th e y c o u ld c o m fo r ta b ly a llo w th e d is a g r e e m e n t t o b e f o r m a l
iz e d a t th e p la tf o r m . The r e c o r d s o f w id e l y - a tte n d e d
p u b l i c d e b a te s , th e p a g e s o f c a u s t i c j o u r n a l i s t i c c r o s s
f i r e , th e h e a te d " c h u r c h - s t e p s " e x c h a n g e s , t h e h u n d re d s o f
d i s i l l u s i o n e d d i s c i p l e s , and t h e s c o r e s o f s p l i t c o n g re g a
t i o n s w o u ld h a v e to b e p e r u s e d b e f o r e th e a c t u a l f l a v o r o f
t h e c o n tr o v e r s y c o u ld b e t a s t e d .
P e rh a p s th e A b ile n e s p e e c h m a k in g 1s m o st v a l u a b l e
c o n t r i b u t i o n to a b e t t e r u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e c o n tr o v e r s y
l i e s i n th e a r e a o f h i s t o r i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e . The s t o r y
424
b e g in s w ith th e b a s ic d if f e r e n c e s o f o p in io n c o n c e rn in g
th e c h u rc h ’s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y in s u p p ly in g m an 's p h y s ic a l
and s o c i a l n e e d s . L e c tu r e r G len L . W allace su rv ey e d th e
e x tr e m itie s o f th e d is a g re e m e n t c o n c e rn in g th e c h u r c h 's
s o c i a l o b l i g a t i o n s :
T here a r e two ex trem es t h a t a r e h e ld by members o f
th e ch u rc h on th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e ch u rc h to th e
com m unity. One g roup sa y s t h a t th e c h u rc h , b e in g a
s c r i p t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n , b e lo n g s to God and t h a t
th e r e can b e no c o n n e c tio n betw een th e C h r is t ia n
and th e w o rld . . . . A n o th er view h e ld by some
C h r i s t i a n s , i s t h a t th e ch u rc h i s a s e r v ic e o r g a n i
z a tio n ; a v e s s e l o f community a c tio n ; t h a t C h r is
t i a n s a r e members o f a s e m i- r e lig io u s o r d e r and
t h a t a Chamber o f Commerce a t t i t u d e sh o u ld p r e v a i l
in a l l t h a t i s d o n e. . . . The t r u t h i s betw een
th e s e two e x tre m e s . The ch u rc h does h av e a d e f i n
i t e r e l a t i o n s h i p to s u s t a i n to th e com m unity, and
y e t th e r e i s a l i n e t h a t sh o u ld b e draw n betw een
th e r e l a t i o n o f th e c h u rc h and th e s e r v i c e re n d e re d
by th e members to th e community l i f e . 171
The two ex trem es w hich W allace d e te c te d among h is
b r e th r e n w ere a ls o r e a d i l y o b s e rv a b le in th e l e c t u r e s a t
A b ile n e . S e v e ra l s p e a k e rs s t r e s s e d th e f a c t t h a t th e
ch u rch was n o t d e s ig n e d to s h o u ld e r th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
th e c o r r e c t io n o f s o c i e t y 's m o ra l, s o c i a l , and d o m e stic
e v i l s , F. B. S hepherd s t a t e d i n 1943: " C h r i s t i a n i t y has
to do p r im a r ily w ith th e s o u l and i t s s a lv a ti o n r a t h e r
171"The Church and the Community," Lectures, 1953,
pp. 1-2.
425
th a n th e body and i t s p r e s e r v a t i o n . '1 He e x p la in e d h i s
th e s i s :
A . . . m is c o n c e p tio n o f th e d i v i n e l y o rd a in e d
f u n c tio n o f th e c h u rc h C h r is t b u i l t i s t h a t i t
s h o u ld assum e th e b u rd e n o f s u p p ly in g th e p h y s ic a l
and m a t e r i a l n eed s o f th e w o rld to d a y . C e r t a in l y
th e L ord J e s u s n e v e r sp o k e t r u e r w ords th a n when
h e s a i d , "The p o o r you alw ay s h av e w ith y o u ." B ut
i n t h a t v e r y e x p r e s s io n and t h a t v e r y tim e he
q u i t e c l e a r l y in d ic a t e d t h a t p r im a r il y th e c h u rc h
was n o t i n s t i t u t e d as a b e n e v o le n t o r eleem o sy n a ry
s o c i e t y to b e b u rd e n e d w ith th e o b l i g a t i o n to
assum e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r th e e a t i n g , w e a rin g ,
and h o u s in g o f th e w o rld . . . .. I am n o t o p p o sin g
th e g iv in g to th e r e l i e f o f th e n e e d y , c h i l d o r
a d u l t . Such i s th e n a t u r a l e x p r e s s io n o f a h e a r t
warmed w ith th e lo v e o f God. I t i s C h r i s t i a n i t y .
What I h a v e in m ind i s t h a t th e New T estam e n t
now here te a c h e s , e i t h e r b y p r e c e p t o r ap p ro v ed
p r e c e d e n t, t h a t th e c h u rc h o r c h u rc h e s s h a l l b e
co m m itted to th e d is p e n s a t io n o f " c h a r i t y " p ro m is
c u o u s ly . T h a t th e c h u rc h s h o u ld go i n t o th e
b u s i n e s s .
O th e r s p e a k e rs c o n c u rre d w ith S h e p h e rd 's e m p h a s is ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n th e p l a t f o r m 's e a r l y p ro g ra m s. In 1 9 2 7 ,
G. F. M ickey sp o k e o f th e p u rp o se o f th e c h u rc h . He
c l e a r l y announced w hat th e c h u rc h was n o t d e s ig n e d to d o :
N e ith e r a r e we h e r e to b u i l d up an e x c lu s iv e s o c i a l
o r d e r f o r p l e a s u r e , o r d i v e r s i o n ; n o r do we s e e k to
e s t a b l i s h n o v e l f r a t e r n a l s o c i e t i e s f o r p h y s ic a l
p r o t e c t i o n . The f i e l d f o r th e s e te m p e ra l b e n e f i t s
i s a lr e a d y w e ll o c c u p ie d . We c o n s id e r t h a t i t i s
172nTheory in Practice," Lectures . 1943, p. 95.
426
n o t th e b u sin e ss o f churches to s tr e s s th e p ro te c
tio n o f th e p e ris h a b le body to th e n e g le c t o f
im p erish ab le s o u l s .173
O ther le c tu r e r s , w h ile ag reein g th a t th e prim ary
purpose o f th e church was s p i r i t u a l in n a tu re , m ain tain ed
th a t a p ru d en t s o c ia l co n scio u sn ess would se rv e e te r n a l
ends. The speeches o f th e se men made no re fe re n c e to th e
c l a s s i c a l writings o f th e s o c ia l c a u se , and t h e i r rem arks
were c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y more m oderate th an th e p ro p o sals
o f th e movement's le a d e r s . I t is i n t e r e s t i n g , how ever,
to n o tic e th e S o c ia l G ospel o v e rto n e s , no m a tte r how
i n d i r e c t . " ^ For in s ta n c e , John A llen Hudson s a id in 1935:
" C h ris t d id p reach a S o c ia l Gospel and He undertook to
r e lie v e a l l s o r ts o f d i s t r e s s ; b u t to ta k e th e p o s itio n on
th e s u b je c t o f th e S o c ia l Gospel th a t th e prim ary ends o f
th e r e lig io n o f C h ris t a re tem p o ra l, w ill be to re v e rs e
th e fundam entals o f th e te a c h in g s o f C h r i s t ."175 Xn 1956,
^■^"We Are Here , Why?" L ec tu res , 1926-1927, p. 249.
^ ^W ashington G ladden's "0 M aster, L et M e Walk w ith
T hee," a hymn w r itte n s p e c if ic a lly to c e le b r a te and popu
l a r i z e th e S o c ia l Gospel cause was a f a v o r ite a t th e annual
L e c tu re sh ip . The audience was a p p a re n tly unaware o f i t s
h i s t o r i c a l s ig n ific a n c e .
' * ‘^"The Church in Its Care for the Poor and Sick,"
Lectures, 1935, p. 19.
427
G eorge S. B enson p e rfo rm e d an ev e n c l o s e r m a r r ia g e b e tw e e n
th e s p i r i t u a l and p h y s i c a l m is s io n s o f th e c h u r c h :
I n t h e B ib le God h a s ta k e n m ore s p a c e t o d i s c u s s
m a n 's w e l f a r e i n t h i s l i f e th a n to d e s c r i b e h i s
l i f e i n t h e w o rld to com e. I t i s n ' t t h i n k a b l e
t h a t God s h o u ld lo v e u s en o u g h t o g iv e h i s Son to
red eem u s and en o u g h to b u i l d th o s e m a n sio n s f o r
u s i n t h e s k i e s and th e n b e u n c o n c e rn e d a b o u t o u r
w e l f a r e h e r e . . . . The t e a c h i n g o f so u n d d o c t r i n e
in v o lv e s m a n 's w e l f a r e h e r e and now an d m a n 's e t e r
n a l w e l f a r e . 176
As s u g g e s te d e a r l i e r , th o s e s p e a k e r s who u rg e d th e
b r o th e r h o o d to s h o u ld e r a g r e a t e r s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
u s u a l l y f o c u s e d t h e i r p r a c t i c a l re c o m m e n d a tio n s u p o n a m ore
v ig o r o u s p ro g ra m f o r s u p p o r tin g t h e n e e d s o f w idow s and
o r p h a n s . As t h e S o c i a l G o sp e l r e a c h e d i t s p e a k , th e
A b ile n e p l a t f o r m was a l s o b e g in n in g to show s o c i a l c o n c e r n .
I n 1 9 2 3 , W. L . S w in n e y , a s p e a k e r who c h a r a c t e r i z e d h i m s e l f
as a " v i s i o n a r y d r e a m e r ," r e p o r t e d on th e a c t i v i t i e s o f th e
f i r s t o r p h a n 's home w h ic h th e c h u rc h h ad e s t a b l i s h e d i n
T e x a s :
On t h e f i r s t d ay o f M arch , 1 9 2 1 , i n t h e l i t t l e
c i t y o f C a n a d ia n , away o u t o n t h e u p p e r r e a c h e s
o f th e C a n a d ia n r i v e r , on t h e w in d -s w e p t p r a i r i e s
o f t h e g r e a t p a n h a n d le , we f o r m a lly o p en ed t h e
o r p h a n s ' home w ith so n g s an d p r a y e r s and to o k God
i n t o p a r t n e r s h i p w ith u s . W e commended th e home
Teaching Sound Doctrine," Lectures. 1956,
p. 226.
428
to Him who i s th e h u sb an d to th e widow and th e
f a t h e r to th e f a t h e r l e s s . 177
L am enting th e in e p tn e s s o f th e c h u r c h 's program o f
o rp h an c a r e , Swinney r e p o r te d t h a t th e r e c o r d o f 200,000
c h u rc h members in th e s o u th c a r in g f o r l e s s th a n two
h u n d red h o m eless c h i l d r e n p ro d u ced th e sa d r a t i o o f one
th o u sa n d to o n e. P o in tin g to th e more s u p e r io r w ork o f
o th e r r e l i g i o u s b o d ie s , h e s a i d :
The P r e s b y te r ia n s h av e a home a t A lbany; th e
M e th o d is ts h av e one a t Waco; th e B a p tis t s one a t
D a lla s , and p e rh a p s th e l a r g e s t one in th e s o u th ;
th e C a th o lic s h av e s e v e r a l in T exas a lo n e . . . .
B ut w here i s th e home t h a t we can p o in t to as a
g r e a t home and s a y , "T h is i s o u r home f o r c h i l
d r e n ." B r e th r e n , i s i t s t i l l t r u e t h a t th e
c h i ld r e n o f t h i s w o rld a r e w is e r in t h e i r g e n e ra
t i o n th a n th e c h i ld r e n o f l i g h t ? . . . Week a f t e r
w eek, c h i ld r e n come to o u r d o o r and w ith weak and
f e e b le hands knock f o r a d m itta n c e , and I tu r n
them away b e c a u s e " t h e r e i s no ro o m ," and w ith
t e a r - s t a i n e d fa c e s I s e e them go b ac k in t o th e
n ig h t o f c h e e r le s s w o rld . 0 b r e t h r e n , my b r e th r e n !
What w i l l th e r e c o r d in g a n g e l w r i te j u s t h e re !
What w i l l th e r e c o r d b e? . . . How can we c la im to
b e " th e l i g h t o f th e w o rld ," and " th e s a l t o f th e
e a r th " and le a v e th e c a re o f H is l i t t l e ones to
o t h e r s .178
177
"O f A ll T h at J e s u s B eg an , B oth to Do and to
T e a c h ," L e c tu r e s , 1 9 2 2 -1 9 2 3 , p . 275.
178Ibid. , pp. 268-269.
429
S w in n ey 's p io n e e r in g p le a assum es even g r e a t e r
s t a t u r e b e c a u se o f th e lo n g i n t e r v a l o f s i l e n c e b e f o r e i t
was jo in e d by s i m i l a r v o ic e s . As th e p la tf o r m m a tu re d ,
h o w ev er, s c o re s o f s p e a k e rs sou n d ed th e same a la rm o v e r
th e c h u r c h 's a p a th y and u n p re p a re d n e s s i n c a r in g f o r th e
h o m e le ss . In 1 951, A. R. H o lto n w arned o f th e d a n g e r o f
v a c a tin g th e s o c i a l f i e l d i n fa v o r o f s e c u l a r o r g a n iz a
t i o n s . He o b s e rv e d :
The b e n e v o le n t program n f th e l o c a l c o n g re g a tio n
i s gro w in g w eak er and w e a k e r. We a r e d ep e n d in g
m ore and m ore upon s e c u l a r i n s t i t u t i o n s . . . .
May th e day n e v e r come when we s h a l l w h o lly s e p a
r a t e human l i f e on t h i s e a r t h from God and h i s
c a u s e .179
M. N o rv el Young a g re e d w ith H o lto n :
A s tu d y o f th e b u d g e t o f many c o n g re g a tio n s w i l l
r e v e a l an am azing la c k o f c o n c e rn o f th e p h y s ic a l
n eed s o f th o s e ro u n d a b o u t us. . . . S h a ll th e
c h u rc h t u r n o v e r a l l b e n e v o le n t w ork to th e s t a t e
o r to some com m unity c h a r i t y o r some n a t i o n a l
agency? How s h a l l th e c h u rc h b e m a g n ifie d ? How
s h a l l C h r is t b e honored?180
The c h u r c h 's h e s i t a t i o n to e s t a b l i s h and m a in ta in
homes f o r th e c a re o f widows and o rp h an s l a r g e l y r e s u l t e d
from th e d o u b ts and s u s p ic io n s a b o u t th e s c r i p t u r a l n e s s o f
■^^"Church Benevolence," Lectures, 1951, p. 101.
180"The Congregation at WorkLectures , 1946 »
p. 158.
430
such i n s t i t u t i o n s . Swinney1s 1923 le c tu r e r e f l e c t e d th e
c o n te n tio n s over m ethodology which even th e n , w ere s t i f l i n g
v ig o ro u s b en e v o len t a c tio n :
T hat r e lig io u s o rg a n iz a tio n th a t is growing f a s t e r
th an a l l o th e r is one t h a t h o ld s no r e lig io u s
r e v i v a l s , h o ld s no d e b a te s , engages in no s t r e e t
c o rn e r d is c u s s io n s , b u t i t i s one t h a t has o u t
s tr ip p e d a l l o th e rs in th e m a tte r o f c a rin g fo r
th e hom eless and dependent c h ild re n . . . , They
have been busy f o r y e a rs and y e a rs ta k in g c h ild re n
and ed u c atin g them in t h e i r own p e c u lia r te n e ts o f
f a i t h and p r a c t i c e , w h ile we, w ith a l l our b o aste d
s c r i p t u r a l n e s s , have been c o n te n t to d is c u s s ways
and means o f ru n n in g a home.
0 my b r e th r e n , have we n o t done l i t t l e th in g s long
enough. W e have th o u g h t l i t t l e th in g s , and done
l i t t l e th in g s so long t h a t i t is w ith d i f f i c u l t y
th a t we can g e t away from l i t t l e th in g s . The doing
o f b ig th in g s a re f o r o th e rs to d o , n o t fo r u s , so
th e y seem to t h i n k .181
"The v is io n I have o f such a home," Swinney co u ra
g eo u sly c o n tin u e d , "m ight w e ll be c a lle d an 'I n s t i t u t i o n a l
182
Home’ . . I t may have been due to Sw inney's r a th e r
u n fo rtu n a te ch o ice o f term s , b u t in any e v e n t, many o f h is
co n tem p o raries c o n sid e re d h is p ro p o sa l f o r a "b en ev o len t
i n s t i t u t i o n , " s e p a ra te and a p a rt from th e c h u rc h , y e t
e s ta b lis h e d to f u l f i l l th e m issio n o f th e c h u rch , t o t a l l y
l si
Swinney, op. c i t . . pp. 267, 274-275.
182I b i d , , p . 270.
431
u n a c c e p ta b le . The L e c tu r e s h ip o b j e c t i o n to su c h an
a rra n g e m e n t a p p e a rs to h av e b e e n q u i t e s u b s t a n t i a l d u r in g
th e 1 9 2 0 's .
I n h i s 1925 a d d r e s s r e g a r d in g t h e n a t u r e o f th e
c h u r c h , W. D. B la c k a s s e r t e d : " I t i s th e o n ly c h a r i t a b l e
i n s t i t u t i o n known to th e B i b l e . Foy W a lla c e , S r .
c e r t a i n l y im p lie d o p p o s it io n to th e e s ta b li s h m e n t o f an
o r p h a n s ' home i n a l e c t u r e d e l i v e r e d th e f o llo w in g y e a r :
The c h u rc h a l s o h a s a b e n e v o le n t m is s io n i n th e
w o rld . . . . No g ro u p i n t h e c h u rc h s h o u ld c r e a t e
fu n d s a p a r t from th e c h u rc h and o p e r a t e th ro u g h
an a rra n g e m e n t o f t h e i r own i n d o in g th e w ork o f
th e c h u r c h . O ur b e n e v o le n c e s s h o u ld b e done
th r o u g h t h e c h u r c h , g iv in g g l o r y to C h r i s t . . . .^ ^ 4
I n 1 9 2 7 , G. F . M ickey lik e n e d th e e s ta b li s h m e n t o f
an o r p h a n s ’ home t o th e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a m is s io n a r y
s o c i e t y . S p e a k in g o f th e e v a n g e l i s t i c and b e n e v o le n t p r o
c e d u re s o f t h e c h u rc h i n h i s d a y , M ickey s t a t e d : " I n t h e i r
s e r v i c e to o t h e r s , th e s e w o rk e rs p r e a c h th e g o s p e l a t hom e,
and a b r o a d , w ith o u t o r g a n iz e d m is s io n a r y s o c i e t i e s , and
ta k e c a r e o f th e n ee d y w ith o u t e s t a b l i s h i n g b e n e v o le n t
183"The Grandeur of the Church," Lectures , 1924-
1925, p. 90.
184
"The Church," Lectures, 1926-1927, p. 151.
432
i n s t i t u t i o n s .
The L e c tu re s h ip o p p o s itio n to th e r i g h t o f an
o rp h a n s' home to e x i s t was b e g in n in g to su b s id e by th e
1 9 3 0 's . D iffe re n c e s o f o p in io n as to how such homes sh o u ld
be o rg a n iz e d , how ever, w ere j u s t b e g in n in g to a r i s e . Some
sp e a k e rs contended t h a t an o rp h a n s' hom e, o r a home fo r th e
ag ed , c o u ld be s c r i p t u r a l l y e s ta b lis h e d o n ly as th e p r o je c t
o f a lo c a l c o n g re g a tio n , w ith th e e ld e r s h ip o f th e co n g re
g a tio n s e rv in g as th e hom e's board o f t r u s t e e s . In 1939,
Guy N. Woods w arned o f th e "ten d en cy tow ard i n s t i t u t i o n a l
ism ." He e x p la in e d t h a t h e co u ld n o t " a p p re c ia te th e lo g ic
o f th o se who a f f e c t to s e e -g ra v e d an g er in M issio n ary
S o c ie tie s , b u t s c ru p le n o t to form a s im ila r o rg a n iz a tio n
f o r th e p u rp o se o f c a rin g f o r orphans and te a c h in g young
men to be g o sp e l p r e a c h e r s ." H is language le a v e s no room
to doubt h is 1939 p o s itio n :
On th e th e o ry t h a t th e end j u s t i f i e s th e m eans,
b re th re n have n o t s c ru p le d to form o rg a n iz a tio n s
in th e church to do work th e church i t s e l f was
d esig n ed to do. . . . O f c o u rse i t is r i g h t f o r
th e church to c a re f o r th e " f a th e r l e s s and widows
in t h e i r a f f l i c t i o n , " b u t t h i s work sh o u ld be
done by and th ro u g h th e c h u rc h , w ith th e e ld e rs
h av in g th e o v e rs ig h t th e r e o f , and n o t th ro u g h
b o ard s and co n clav es unknown to th e New T estam ent.
■^Mickey, op. cit. , p. 247.
433
I n t h i s c o n n e c ti o n i t i s a p l e a s u r e t o commend t o
t h e b r o th e r h o o d T ip to n O rp h a n s ' Home, T i p t o n ,
O k lah o m a. T he w o rk t h e r e i s e n t i r e l y S c r i p t u r a l ,
b e in g m anaged an d c o n d u c te d b y t h e c h u r c h i n
T i p t o n , O k lah o m a, a id e d b y fu n d s s e n t to them b y
t h e e l d e r s o f o t h e r c o n g r e g a tio n s ro u n d a b o u t.
We h e r e an d now d e c l a r e o u r p r o t e s t a g a i n s t an y
o t h e r m eth o d o r a r r a n g e m e n t f o r a c c o m p lis h in g t h i s
w o r k .186
I n h i s 1953 a d d r e s s , "T he C h u rc h an d t h e Commu
n i t y , " G len L . W a lla c e a p p e a r e d t o a g r e e w i t h t h e m eth o d
Woods h a d o u t l i n e d :
Jam es te a c h e s t h a t o rp h a n c h i l d r e n s h o u ld b e c a r e d
f o r b y C h r i s t i a n s (Jam es 1 : 2 7 ) . T h is w o rk c a n n o t
b e h a n d e d t o b e n e v o le n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t h a v e no
c o n n e c ti o n s w i t h t h e e l d e r s o f a l o c a l c o n g r e g a t i o n .
T he c h u r c h c a n n o t h a v e an y o r g a n i c c o n n e c ti o n w i t h
w o r l d ly i n s t i t u t i o n s who c la im t o do w h a t t h e c h u r c h
i s com m anded t o d o . O ur r e l a t i o n s h i p t o s u c h o r d e r s
i s v e r y c l e a r . 187
From t h e v e r y f i r s t , h o w e v e r, t h e r e w e re t h o s e
s p e a k e r s who fo u n d s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t h e s i l e n c e o f t h e B i b le
r e g a r d i n g t h e p a t t e r n f o r o rp h a n c a r e . T hey m a in ta in e d
t h a t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a s c r i p t u r a l p a t t e r n , t h e c h u r c h
w as f r e e t o e x e r c i s e e x p e d ie n c y i n t h e a r e a o f m e th o d o lo g y .
O nce a g a i n , S w in n ey w as t h e f i r s t t o a n n o u n c e : " S in c e t h e
C h u rc h o f God s h o u ld do t h i s w o rk , I h e r e an d now l a y down
Woods, op. cit., pp. 53-54.
- LO/Glen L. Wallace, op. cit. , p. 4.
434
the proposition, from which none w ill d isse n t, that the
command of the Lord, eith er by precept, example, or neces
sary in feren ce, carries with i t the authority to employ a ll
1 ftA
needed h e lp s in i t s e x e c u tio n .”
Ten y e a rs a f t e r Swinney’s l e c t u r e , W . L. O lip h a n t
said of "The W ork o f the Church in M inistering to the Sick,
th e Needy, and th e U n fo rtu n a te ” :
W e a re n o t g iv en many d e t a i l s as to m ethods. The
New T estam ent i s a book o f p r i n c i p l e s , r a th e r th an
a d e ta ile d c a ta lo g u e o f m ethods. Much th a t has to
do w ith methods is l e f t to th e judgm ent o f th e
churches and th e men who have th e o v e rs ig h t o f th e
c h u rc h e s. IS 9
In 1935, R. B. Sweet co n tin u ed to argue t h a t no
b e n e v o len t p a tte r n had been g iv e n . Speaking o f th e f i r s t
in s ta n c e o f s o c ia l a c tio n in th e c h u rch , th e r e l i e f o f th e
G recian widows in A c ts , C hapter 6 , Sweet concluded:
Something o f v ery g r e a t i n t e r e s t is seen h e re in
th a t th e se deacons w ere n o t g iv en d e ta ile d i n s t r u c
tio n s ab o u t how th e y w ere to c a re f o r th e s e widows.
I f a l l th e G recian widows w ere lodged to g e th e r in
some h o u se , o r i f th e y w ere g iv en homes w ith C h ris
t i a n f a m i l i e s , one o r two h e r e , and a n o th e r one o r
two th e r e , we a re n o t to ld . At l e a s t , i f th e
deacons w ere g iv en t h e i r in s tr u c tio n s in d e t a i l ,
th o se d e t a i l s a re n o t p re se rv e d f o r u s , f o r th e
d e t a i l s o f what was done in Je ru salem in th e f i r s t
Swinney, op. cit. , p. 270.
189
Lectures. 1933, p. 114.
435
c e n tu r y w o u ld n o t f i t i n t o o t h e r c e n t u r i e s in
d i s t a n t c o u n t r i e s w ith r e s p e c t t o t h e f i n a n c i a l
an d b u s i n e s s p r o c e d u r e s . T h a t we n e e d n o t f o llo w
e x a c t l y t h e i r s e tu p seem s i m p l i c i t i n t h e f a c t
t h a t th e d e t a i l s o f t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a r e n o t
g iv e n t o u s .1 9 0
G eorge H. S te p h e n s o n a l s o s t r e s s e d th e a b s e n c e o f
a p a t t e r n i n h i s 1954 s p e e c h , " C a r in g f o r Widows and
O rp h a n s " :
H av in g s e e n t h a t t h e B i b le te a c h e s o u r o b l i g a t i o n
t o c a r e f o r t h e f a t h e r l e s s an d w idow s , we now w a n t
t o c o n s i d e r t h i s q u e s t i o n , "How c a n we s c r i p t u r -
a l l y c a r e f o r them ?" In a n sw e r t o t h i s q u e s t i o n ,
I w o u ld s a y t h a t we do n o t h a v e d e f i n i t e i n s t r u c
t i o n s i n t h e B ib le c o n c e r n in g t h e m eth o d o r m eth o d s
o f d o in g t h i s w o rk . The New T e s ta m e n t i s n o t a
b o o k o f d e t a i l e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t e l l i n g u s how to do
th e w o rk o f th e L o rd ; i t i s a b o o k s e t t i n g f o r t h
g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s w h ic h s h o u ld g u id e u s i n a l l we
do i n r e l i g i o n . . . . I t d o e s f u r n i s h u s u n to e v e ry
good w ork we a r e t o d o , b u t I w o u ld re m in d y o u i t
d o e s n o t alw a y s t e l l u s how we a r e t o do e v e ry good
w o r k . ^ l > v
The C h u rch i n I t s C a re o f Widows and O rp h a n s ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 5 , p . 3 1 . On p a g e 4 1 , S w eet s t a t e d : "So f a r
a s t h e s p e a k e r knows t h e r e a r e n o w idow s hom es , e s t a b l i s h e d
f o r c a r i n g f o r w idow s o n ly . T hey h a v e n o t becom e a v e r y
s e r i o u s p ro b le m , we s u p p o s e b e c a u s e w idow s h a v e , a s a r u l e ,
f a m i l i e s , o r r e l a t i v e s t o c a r e f o r th e m . I n th e e x c e p
t i o n a l c a s e s , h o w e v e r, w h ere 'w idow s i n d e e d 1 may b e f o u n d ,
t h a t i s , w idow s who h a v e no n e a r r e l a t i v e s u p o n whom th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f a l l s , th e y s h o u ld b e ta k e n c a r e o f b y t h e
c h u r c h , i n t h e m an n er t h a t i s m o st e f f e c t i v e and e f f i
c i e n t . . . . "
^ ^ Lectures, 1954, p. 48.
436
A fte r c i ti n g s e v e r a l New T estam ent examples o f
c o n g re g a tio n s w hich " c o -o p e ra te d to g e th e r in r a is in g funds
to send to a n o th e r co n g reg a tio n to h e lp w ith i t s b en e v o len t
w ork," Stephenson s a id : "T here a re needs to be met to d a y ,
and i t is s c r i p t u r a l fo r c o n g reg a tio n s to c o n trib u te to th e
same need. . . . and th ey do n o t s u rre n d e r t h e i r autonomy
o r independence any more th an th e churches o f M acedonia and
A chaia su rre n d e re d t h e i r s . " Of homes fo r th e h o m eless,
Stephenson s a id :
I b e lie v e i t “i s S c r ip tu r a l and r i g h t fo r th e church
to b u ild and h a in ta in homes w hich e s p e c ia lly c a re
f o r needy c h ild re n o r fo r widows. The church may
m a in ta in such a home in i t s own community. I
b e lie v e a ls o t h a t i t i s S c r ip tu r a l and r i g h t fo r
any number o f c o n g reg a tio n s who so d e s ir e to make
c o n trib u tio n s to such a w o rk .192
A lthough th e recom m endations fo r more b en e v o len t
a c t i v i t y c e n te re d around in c re a s e d c h a r ita b le r e l i e f to
needy in d iv id u a ls and b e t t e r c a re o f orphans and widows,
two sp eak ers ex p ressed th e hope t h a t th e church m ight one
day p ro v id e m edical and h o s p ita l s e r v ic e s . In 1935, John
A lle n Hudson contended:
One would reaso n lam ely who would argue i t is a l r i g h t
to have o rp h a n s' hom es, th e widows' colony I men
tio n e d , th e c l i n i c a l s e r v ic e , and th e g i r l s ' home in
192
"Caring for Widows and Orphans," Lectures ,
1954, pp. 54, 58-59.
437
N a s h v i l l e , who th e n w o u ld o b j e c t t o t h e f o u n d in g o f
a h o s p i t a l t h a t s h o u ld b e m a in ta in e d on e x a c t l y t h e
sam e b a s i s a s o t h e r f i e l d s o f w o rk n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y
m e n tio n e d a s t h e e x a c t p ro g ra m o f t h e New T e s ta m e n t
C h u rc h . I n o t h e r w o r d s , o n e w o u ld h a v e t h e r i g h t
t o o b j e c t t o t h e m a in t a in i n g o f a c o l l e g e w hose
b u s i n e s s I t i s to c a r e f o r t h e m in d s an d i d e a l s o f
b o y s an d g i r l s , o r t o t h e f o u n d in g o f a h o s p i t a l on
e x a c t l y t h e sam e b a s i s . T he c l i n i c i s b u t a f o r e
r u n n e r o f an e f f o r t a t h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n p e r h a p s i n
t h e c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t . I am lo o k in g f o r t h e d a y ,
e v e n i n my l i f e , w hen th e c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t w i l l
h a v e som e h o s p i t a l s s c a t t e r e d o v e r t h e la n d h e r e
an d t h e r e . 193
" C h u rc h B e n e v o le n c e " w as t h e t i t l e o f A. R.
H o l t o n 's 1951 l e c t u r e t h a t c o n t in u e d H u d s o n 's p o i n t o f
v ie w . H o lto n a p p e a le d f o r t h e m o b i l i z a t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l
t a l e n t s w i t h i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n s :
T he c h u r c h h a s a s i t s command t h e r e s o u r c e s o f
s c i e n c e i n t h e b e t t e r o f h u m a n -k in d . T h e re i s n ' t
a c o n g r e g a tio n i n t h e la n d b u t w h a t c o u ld r e n d e r
a g r e a t s e r v i c e i n an y c o m m u n ity , i f th e y m o b i
l i z e d t h e r e s o u r c e s o f t h a t c o n g r e g a tio n f o r human
h e l p . T h e re a r e d o c t o r s , t h e r e a r e b u s i n e s s m en,
t h e r e a r e s u c c e s s f u l t e a c h e r s i n a l l t h e p r o f e s
s i o n s , an d s u c c e s s f u l men an d women i n m any w a y s . 1 - 9 4
A lth o u g h t h e r e i s am p le e v id e n c e t h a t t h e A b ile n e
L e c t u r e s h i p u r g e d a b r o a d e r c o n c e p ti o n o f t h e c h u r c h 's
b e n e v o le n t m i s s i o n , i t c a n i n no w is e b e c o n s tr u e d a s a
193
H u d so n , o p . c i t . , p p . 2 6 -2 7 . H udson d ie d
tw e n ty - s e v e n y e a r s l a t e r , i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 6 2 , w ith o u t
s e e i n g h i s w is h f o r e v e n o n e h o s p i t a l come t r u e .
194
Holton, op. cit. , p. 97.
438
sounding b o ard o f th e S o c ia l G ospel- A lthough th e
le c t u r e r s s tr e s s e d th e b ro th e rh o o d o f man, s o c i a l re s p o n
s i b i l i t y was alw ays c a s t a g a in s t th e b ro a d e r backdrop o f
s u b s t itu ti o n a r y atonem ent and r e b i r t h a t th e in d iv id u a l
le v e l . A ccep tin g th e s o c i a l n a tu re o f p e rs o n a l e x is te n c e ,
th e y te n a c io u s ly c lu n g to th e b e l i e f t h a t "one" was th e
t r u l y im p o rta n t u n i t in r e l i g i o n . And m ost im p o rta n t o f
a l l , th e y d en ied t h a t men w ere u n ite d in s in m erely
th ro u g h t h e i r common in v o lv em en t in th e s o c i a l e v i ls and
i n j u s t i c e s - They i n s i s t e d t h a t in d iv id u a l red em p tio n
o cc u rs s e p a r a te and a p a r t from s e r v ic e to s o c ie ty . They
r e j e c t e d th e th e o ry t h a t men may fin d escap e from t h e i r
c o l l e c t i v e s in s th ro u g h s o c i a l s o l i d a r i t y . They w ere
r e p e lle d by th e n o tio n o f s a lv a ti o n by n a tio n s . They
re g a rd e d th e a c tiv e d is c h a rg e o f b e n e v o le n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
n o t to be m an's red eem er, b u t th e n a t u r a l f r u i t o f h is
p e rs o n a l red em p tio n .
Summary
The A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s co u ld n o t co n ceiv e o f
C h r i s t i a n i t y as b e in g p o s s ib le a p a r t from C h r i s t 's ch u rch .
They h allo w ed C h r i s t 's ch u rch as a d iv in e i n s t i t u t i o n ,
439
"w h ich h e p u rc h a s e d w ith h i s own b lo o d ," th e v e r y m eans by
w h ich God i s s a v in g th e w o rld . They r e s o l u t e l y m a in ta in e d
t h a t th e n a t u r e o f th e c h u rc h in h e r e d i n a f ix e d a p o s t o l i c
p a t t e r n . From th e f i r s t to th e l a s t th e y a d d re s s e d th em
s e lv e s to th e "New T e sta m e n t C h u rc h ." T h e ir u l t i m a t e g o a l
was to u n i t e a l l redeem ed b e l i e v e r s i n C h r i s t th ro u g h th e
r e s t o r a t i o n o f th e a p o s t o l i c c h u rc h i n i t s n a t u r e , o r g a n i
z a t i o n , w o r s h ip , and m is s io n . To b e in C h r i s t was to b e
i n th e c h u rc h . A lth o u g h th e c h u rc h was i t s e l f n o t a
s a v in g i n s t i t u t i o n , i t was th e c o r p o r a te body o f th e s a v e d .
A lth o u g h a few s p e a k e r s th o u g h t o f th e kingdom as
a p e r v a s iv e s p i r i t , r a t h e r th a n a b o u n d ed k in g d o m , and
a s s ig n e d to i t a n a t u r e m ore c o m p re h e n siv e th a n th e
" v i s i b l e c h u r c h ," m o st o f them d e c i s i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d th e
kingdom w ith th e c h u rc h . The p r e m i l l e n n i a l t h e o r i e s o f
th e k in g d o m , w h ich as b a s i c t e n e t s o f many c o n s e r v a tiv e
b o d ie s a b s o rb e d a m a jo r s h a r e o f th e f u n d a m e n ta lis t c o n
t r o v e r s y , w ere c a t e g o r i c a l l y r e j e c t e d a t th e L e c tu r e s h ip .
The s p e a k e r s c o n te n d e d t h a t th e e c c l e s i a w h ich
was e s t a b l i s h e d on th e f i r s t P e n te c o s t a f t e r t h e r e s u r r e c
t i o n o f C h r i s t was g r a d u a l ly c o r r u p te d by th e human
in n o v a tio n s w h ich u l t i m a t e l y c r y s t a l l i z e d i n t o th e Roman
440
Catholic Church. Because of th eir sheer disdain for C a
tholicism , the lecturers were sympathetic with the motives
and principles which sparked the Reformation Movement.
The shortcomings of the reformers were usually reduced to
the vast im plications between the d ifferin g concepts of
reformation and restoration. The lecturers in sisted that
denominationalism, by it s very nature, fostered and
approved d ivision in the body o f Christ. The speakers
in sisted that the church was not another s e c t, but the
*“
non-denominational New Testament in stitu tio n .
Several early addresses reflected the keen d iffe r
ences of opinion concerning the preacher's place in the
church. In their effo rts to convince the congregations of
their right to hire fu ll-tim e , "located" preachers, the
speakers inadvertently helped to create a problem at the
opposite end of the continuum—"the pastor system." While
directing so cia l a c t iv it ie s , conducting v isita tio n cam
paigns , delivering c iv ic addresses , and handling public
relations affairs were often necessary and sig n ifica n t
items on the preacher's agenda, the lecturers maintained
that nothing should overshadow his primary work—preaching
the word. It was equally as unscriptural, they observed,
441
t o r e g a r d t h e p r e a c h e r a s a p r i e s t endow ed w i t h p e c u l i a r
p o w e rs t o b l e s s a s t o t h i n k o f h im a s a p a s t o r w i t h s p e c i a l
o b l i g a t i o n s t o o v e r s e e .
A lm o s t a s m uch w as s a i d a t A b ile n e a g a i n s t i n s t r u
m e n ta l m u s ic a s w as s a i d i n f a v o r o f t h e o t h e r f o u r
a c t i v i t i e s o f p u b l i c w o r s h ip . T he s p e a k e r s m a i n t a i n e d
t h a t t h e d i v i n e p r e c e d e n t f o r a c a p e l l a m u s i c , c o u p le d w i t h
t h e s i g n i f i c a n t s i l e n c e o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e
u s e o f i n s t r u m e n t a l m u s i c , a m o u n te d t o a c l e a r - c u t p r o
h i b i t i o n o f t h e l a t t e r b y t h e " la w o f e x c l u s i o n . "
T h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h 's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to w a r d
m a n 's s o c i a l a n d p h y s i c a l n e e d s p r o v i d e d t h e b a s i s f o r t h e
m o s t b i t t e r b r o t h e r h o o d c o n t r o v e r s y t o b e d i s c u s s e d a t t h e
L e c t u r e s h i p . T h e o v e r t o n e s o f t h e S o c i a l G o s p e l m ovem ent
s e r v e d t o g i v e t h e s e q u e s t e r e d c o n f l i c t a f l a v o r o f n a t i o n
a l r e l e v a n c y . A t A b i l e n e , t h e c o m p le x q u e s t i o n s i n v o l v i n g
t h e e x t e n t o f t h e c h u r c h 's s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w e re
o b j e c t i f i e d i n t o o n e i s s u e : t h e s c r i p t u r a l m e th o d o f
c a r i n g f o r w idow s a n d o r p h a n s .
T he s p e a k e r s w e re o b v i o u s l y u n c e r t a i n , p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n t h e e a r l y d a y s , a s t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c h u r c h 's
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n p r o v i d i n g f o r m a n 's p h y s i c a l a n d s o c i a l
442
n e e d s . As th e y e a rs p a s s e d , h o w ev e r, th e y a g re e d t h a t th e
s p i r i t u a l p u rp o se o f th e c h u rc h m ig h t b e s e rv e d by p r o
v id in g p h y s ic a l r e l i e f f o r th e h o m e le s s , th e h u n g ry , and
th e l o n e l y .
The b r o th e r h o o d 's h e s i t a t i o n to e s t a b l i s h and.
m a in ta in o rp h a n s 1 homes was p a r t i a l l y due to s u s p ic io n s
r e g a r d in g th e s c r i p t u r a l n e s s o f su c h i n s t i t u t i o n s . M ost
o f th e s p e a k e rs b e l ie v e d t h a t th e a b s e n c e o f a s c r i p t u r a l
p a t t e r n l e f t th e c h u rc h f r e e to e x e r c is e e x p e d ie n c y in i t s
m ethods o f o rp h a n c a r e . A lth o u g h th e A b ile n e s p e a k e rs
a p p e a le d to th e c h u rc h to awake to a b r o a d e r b e n e v o le n t
and s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , th e y d id n o t le n d en co u rag em en t
to th e d o c t r in e o f s o c i a l C h r i s t i a n i t y . They f e a r e d t h a t
th e S o c ia l G o sp el te n d e d to p la c e th e p h y s ic a l w e lf a r e o f
man above th e s p i r i t u a l w i l l o f God.
And s o , as was s a i d in th e b e g in n in g , th e im p o r
ta n c e o f th e c h u rc h i n th e s t o r y o f th e A b ile n e L e c tu r e s h ip
c a n n o t b e o v erd raw n . I n 1 9 2 3 , W. D. C am pbell c lo s e d h is
l e c t u r e , "The C hurch W hich Was B u i l t by J e s u s th e C h r i s t , "
w ith th e s e w o rd s:
443
- - L e t u s , b e lo v e d , s ta n d l i k e a w a ll o f f i r e f o r
th e G o s p e l, a s th e L ord g av e i t , and as h i s a p o s
t l e s p re a c h e d i t ; and f o r th e c h u rc h o f C h r i s t ,
i n i t s p u r i t y and s i m p l i c i t y as r e v e a le d i n th e
New T e sta m e n t and f a i t h f u l l y g iv e o u r l i v e s in
r e s t o r i n g i t , and in th e com ing cro w n in g d a y —
We s h a l l s ta n d on th e w in n in g sid e .^ -9 5
Lectures, 1922-1923, p. 194
CHAPTER IX
EVANGELISM
In tro d u c tio n
There is probably co n c en trated upon th is campus th is
week more p o te n tia l fo r b rin g in g mankind to C h rist
than has ever assembled in one p la ce sin c e the
Church was born. I can h a rd ly b ea r to meet th is
awful c h a lle n g e , fo r th e gaunt and form idable in te n
s i t y o f a l o s t hum anity, th e claim o f unsaved m il
lio n s weigh h e a v ily upon th is moment, and th is
o p p o rtu n ity to in s p ir e you on t h e i r b e h a lf w ill mean
p a ra d ise l o s t to some. Y et, I dare not face ray God
w ithout saying th e se th in g s which must be s a id . For
even a t th is moment a man known only to h is C reator
moves in th e garb o f humanity somewhere in th e
g re a t marsh th a t l i e s along th e T igres R iver in
Ira n . Tomorrow th is man w ill d ie nameless to you
and to me. But I f e a r th is man, fo r he may stand
as my accu ser in th a t day when my Lord asks fo r th e
r e tu r n o f h is t a l e n t s . These myriads o f nam eless,
hopeless l o s t a re th e mute judges o f th e Church of
th e 20th cen tu ry . Ravaged by s i n , entangled in
chains o f darkness and ig n o ran ce, they grope through
th is darkness in to endless n i g h t . 1
This paragraph from Guy C askey's 1961 address cap
tu re s th e com bination o f d iv in e m ission and te r r if y in g
■^"The More Abundant L ife fo r th e One That Goes and
T eaches," L e c tu re s , 1961, p. 177.
444
445
u r g e n c y w h ic h w a s , m o re t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h e v e r y s o u l
o f t h e A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p . T he p l a t f o r m was c o n c e iv e d
o u t o f a s e n s e o f u n i v e r s a l o b l i g a t i o n an d w as b o r n i n
r e s p o n s e t o t h e G r e a t C o m m issio n : "Go y e i n t o a l l t h e
w o r ld an d p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l t o e v e r y c r e a t u r e . He t h a t
b e l i e v e t h an d i s b a p t i z e d s h a l l b e s a v e d . "
T he s t a t e o f s u s p i c i o n an d u n r e s t , w h ic h b y 1925
h a d s a t u r a t e d p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y v e s t i g e o f o r th o d o x
C h r i s t i a n i t y , e n t e r e d t h e f i e l d o f e v a n g e li s m w i t h t h e
o
a u g u s t a p p e a r a n c e i n 1932 o f R e -T h in k in g M i s s i o n s . T h is
v o lu m e , t h e r e s u l t o f an i n q u i r y b y an i n t e r - d e n o m i n a t i o n a l
c o m m itte e c h a i r e d b y W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , r e i n t e r p r e t e d
t h e m o tiv e an d m e th o d s o f m i s s i o n a r y a c t i v i t y s o a s t o b e
c o n s o n a n t w i t h t h e p o s t u r e o f t h e o l o g i c a l l i b e r a l i s m .
T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h e C h r i s t i a n m e s s a g e o f s a l v a t i o n
h a d s t o o d i n r i g i d ju d g m e n t u p o n a l l o t h e r c la im s o f t r u t h
o r r e v e l a t i o n . The c l a s s i c a l p u r p o s e o f C h r i s t i a n m i s
s i o n s h a d b e e n r e s t a t e d s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e t u r n o f t h e
c e n t u r y b y A r t h u r J u d s o n Brow n:
2
W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , R e - T h in k in g M is s io n s
(New Y o rk : H a r p e r a n d B r o t h e r s , 1 9 3 2 ) .
3
C h a r l e s H e n ry R o b i n s o n , H i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n
M is s io n s (New Y o rk : C h a r l e s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s , 1 9 3 0 ) , p p .
1 - 7 .
446
W e have th e r e v e la tio n o f God which is p o te n tia l
o f a c i v i l i z a t i o n th a t b e n e fits man . . . and
above a l l a r e l a t i o n to Jesus C h ris t th a t n o t only
lends new d ig n ity to th is e a rth ly l i f e b u t th a t
saves h is so u l and p rep ares him fo r e te r n a l com
panionship w ith God. f,N eith er i s th e re s a lv a tio n
in any o th e r." T h e re fo re , we must convey th is
gospel to th e w orld.^
To th e l i b e r a l mind, th is p o s itio n made th e C h ris
t ia n r e lig i o n r a d ic a lly e x c lu siv e and ir r e c o n c ila b le w ith
th e id e a of g en e ra l r e v e la tio n and th e r e l a t i v e n a tu re of
man's u nderstanding o f tr u t h . In t h e i r 1932 r e p o r t, the
members o f th e Committee o f A p p raisal r a is e d p erp lex in g
q u estio n s reg ard in g th e r e la tio n s h ip between C h r is tia n ity
and o th e r r e l i g i o n s , o r even n o n -re lig io n . They proposed
t h a t th e C h ris tia n m issio n ary should d e c la re h im se lf a
co-w orker w ith , r a th e r than an enemy to th e n a tiv e r e l i
gion. A sse rtin g th a t th e re a re elem ents o f t r u t h w ith in
every r e lig io u s system , they recommended th e C h ris tia n
m issionary to " a id or encourage th e se fo rc e s" in every
way."* As a r e s u l t o f th e w idespread impact o f th e 1932
p u b lic a tio n , "most of th e major P r o te s ta n t denom inations
^The Foreign M issionary: An In c a rn a tio n of a
World Movement (New York: Fleming H. R evell Company,
1907), pp. 14-15.
^Hocking, Re-Thinking Missions . p. 40.
447
b e g a n t o r e t o o l t h e i r m is s io n a r y p ro g ram s a ro u n d m ore
l i b e r a l and t o l e r a n t p r i n c i p l e s so a s to show g r e a t e r c o n -
6
c e r n f o r human w e l l - b e i n g and t o f o s t e r s o c i a l s e r v i c e . "
W h ile many P r o t e s t a n t b o d ie s w ere r e t o o l i n g t h e i r
m is s io n a r y pro g ram s , t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c o u tlo o k o f th e
A b ile n e t r i b u t a r y re m a in e d c l o s e t o t h e o r th o d o x o r t r a d i
t i o n a l p o i n t o f v ie w . A s id e from th e s p e e c h e s on t h e
c h u r c h , t h e s u b j e c t o f e v a n g e lis m r e c e i v e d m ore L e c t u r e s h i p
a t t e n t i o n th a n any o t h e r m a jo r th em e. S t o r i e s o f v i c t o r i e s
won and o p p o r t u n i t i e s l o s t ; o f e x c i t i n g re n d e z v o u s i n
re m o te p l a c e s and unm et c h a l l e n g e s j u s t n e x t d o o r ; o f t h e
t h r i l l o f g o in g and th e n e e d o f s e n d in g w ere b le n d e d
t o g e t h e r t o form t h e v e r y h e a r t b e a t o f t h e a s s e m b ly . M ost
o f a l l , t h e l e c t u r e r s w ere d r i v e n fo rw a rd by th e th o u g h t
o f a w o rld i n c o n d e m n a tio n w i t h o u t C h r i s t .
C r e a tin g th e E v a n g e l i s t i c S p i r i t
The A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p was t h e l o g i c a l p l a c e to
c r e a t e and p e r p e t u a t e an e v a n g e l i s t i c s p i r i t among t h e
c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t . I t was a m e e tin g p l a c e f o r
^ J . W esley R obb, " H e n d rik K raem er v e r s u s W illia m
E r n e s t H o c k in g ," The J o u r n a l o f B i b le and R e l i g i o n . XXIX
( A p r i l , 1 9 6 1 ), 93.
448
m is s io n a rie s . Each y ea r v e te ra n s from a f a r scheduled t h e i r
fu rlo u g h s to c o in cid e w ith th e February d a te s . New m ission
workers were an n u a lly born am idst th e excitem ent o f th e
e v a n g e lis tic s e s s io n s . Never was C h r i s t 's G reat Commission
more fre q u e n tly quoted and never was i t more g rav ely
re c e iv e d .
The le c tu r e m anuscripts a re r e p le te w ith p erso n a l
te stim o n ie s to th e p la tfo r m 's e l e c t r i f y i n g in flu e n c e as a
m issio n ary stim u lu s. In 1954, fo r in s ta n c e , a m issionary
to I t a l y d e c la re d :
I am su re th a t A bilene C h r is tia n C ollege is n o t
aware o f th e g r e a t amount o f good t h a t is accom
p lis h e d h ere each y e a r. I p e rs o n a lly know o f
some who a re ab sen t th i s morning who were p re se n t
upon o th e r occasio n s and whose a b s e n c e .th is morn
ing is tr a c e a b le to th e f a c t th a t they were h ere
on o th e r occasions and re c e iv e d t h e i r in s p ir a tio n
to go in to d i s t a n t lands w ith th e gospel o f C h r i s t . 7
In 1957, a m issio n ary to Germany t e s t i f i e d :
J u s t seven y e a rs ago I s a t where you a re now
s i t t i n g , l i s t e n i n g to re p o r ts from th e m ission
f i e l d s . I had come from Memphis, T ennessee, where
I had been working w ith th e Union Avenue Church
fo r le s s th an a y e a r. . . . As I s a t th e re h ea rin g
o f f a r away p la c e s w ith no church o f th e New T e s ta
m ent, a number o f q u e stio n s began to fo rc e t h e i r
way in to my th in k in g . . . . I became more and more
7Cline R. Paden, "The Church in ItalyLectures,
1954, pp. 131-132.
449
aw are t h a t I was n o t exem pt from th e commandment
t o "Go i n t o a l l th e w o rld and p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l
t o e v e ry c r e a t u r e . " 8
A n o th e r m is s io n a r y t o l d th e 1959 a u d ie n c e o f th e
i n f l u e n c e s t h a t le d him to t h e m is s io n f i e l d : "The c o n
s t a n t s tim u lu s o f B ib le c l a s s e s h e r e and t h e i n s p i r a t i o n
o f th e y e a r l y L e c tu r e s h ip w ere p rim e i n f l u e n c e s w h ich to o k
me t o A f r i c a f o r f o u r y e a r s and w h ich h a v e l e d me to
9
P i t t s b u r g h , a n e g l e c t e d m is s io n f i e l d i n o u r own c o u n tr y .
The same y e a r , a n o th e r s p e a k e r ad d ed : I f e e l c e r t a i n i t
i s th e p r a y e r o f e v e ry o n e h e r e a t A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n
C o l le g e , t h a t , a s a r e s u l t o f t h e s e L e c t u r e s , many o f you
w i l l r e t u r n to y o u r homes w ith th e b u r n in g d e s i r e t o c r e a t e
g r e a t e r m is s io n a r y z e a l w i t h i n y o u r own c o n g r e g a t i o n , a n d ,
i f p o s s i b l e , become a s p o n s o r in g c h u r c h . " ^
In w hat ways d id th e L e c t u r e s h i p s p e a k e r s c r e a t e
w i t h i n th e h e a r t s o f t h e i r h e a r e r s th e e v a n g e l i s t i c s p i r i t ?
T h is q u e s t i o n s h a l l b e an sw ered i n s i x d i f f e r e n t w ays.
Q
Don F i n t o , "The C hurch i n G erm any," L e c tu r e s ,
1957, p . 211.
Q
Don G a rd n e r, "M ethods f o r M is s io n s ," L e c tu r e s ,
1959, p p . 169-170.
10
Leon C. Bums, "Except They Be Sent," Lectures,
1959, p. 147.
450
The speakers s t i r r e d e v a n g e lis tic i n t e r e s t by p ic tu rin g
th e trag e d y o f a w orld condemned w ith o u t C h r is t; by f e a t u r
ing evangelism as th e prim ary purpose o f th e ch u rch , by
r e c a llin g th e e v a n g e lis tic v i c t o r i e s o f th e a p o s to lic
church; by comparing th o se v i c t o r i e s w ith th e dism al .
e f f o r t s o f th e tw e n tie th c e n tu ry ; by s tr e s s in g th e u n p ar
a l l e l e d m issio n ary o p p o r tu n itie s o f th e modem church; and
by re p o rtin g o f th e p ro g re ss and p o s s i b i l i t i e s from sco res
o f s p e c if ic m issio n f i e l d s .
The World W ithout C h r is t
The 1932 appearance o f Re-Thinking M issions o b je c
t i f i e d a th e o lo g ic a l t r a n s i t i o n which d i r e c t l y a ffe c te d
th e m issio n ary m otive. As a t t e n t i o n was drawn away from
th e fe a r o f God's p u n itiv e j u s t i c e in th e e v e r la s tin g
torm ent o f th e unsaved, th e c l a s s i c a l concept o f h e l l was
changed. Being le s s preoccupied w ith " o th e r w orldly"
is s u e s , m is sio n a rie s were in c re a s in g ly concerned about th e
problems o f s in and s u f fe rin g in th e p re s e n t l i f e . Speak
ing s p e c i f i c a l l y o f th e r o le o f m issions in th e w orld o f
to d a y , th e "R e-Thinking" committee d e c la re d :
451
W hatever i t s p r e s e n t c o n c e p tio n o f t h e f u t u r e l i f e ,
t h e r e i s l i t t l e d i s p o s i t i o n to b e l i e v e t h a t s i n c e r e
and a s p i r i n g s e e k e r s a f t e r God i n o t h e r r e l i g i o n s
a r e to b e damned; i t h a s become l e s s c o n c e rn e d i n
any la n d t o s a v e men from e t e r n a l p u n ish m en t th a n
from th e d a n g e r o f l o s i n g th e suprem e g o o d .H
The C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n was th u s c o n s id e r e d b u t one
m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f th e s e a r c h f o r t r u t h . E ig h t y e a r s a f t e r
h i s w ork as ch airm an o f th e C om m ittee o f A p p r a i s a l ,
p h ilo s o p h e r W illia m E r n e s t H ocking came f o r t h w ith an even
b o ld e r s t a t e m e n t , L iv in g R e lig io n s and a W orld F a i t h .
A tta c k in g th e c o n c e p t o f " r a d i c a l d is p l a c e m e n t ," a te rm
H ocking u se d to d e s c r i b e view s o f s p e c i a l r e v e l a t i o n , he
a rg u e d t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y m ust b e c o n t e n t to ta k e i t s p la c e
a lo n g s id e th e o t h e r g r e a t r e l i g i o u s t r a d i t i o n s o f th e
w o rld i n an a t t i t u d e o f t r u t h - s h a r i n g . C h id in g th e ad v o
c a t e s o f th e s o - c a l l e d "O nly Way" t h e o r y , H ocking c o n te n d e d
t h a t " s a v e d n e s s i s d i s c e r n i b l e o u t s i d e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . "
He s a i d o f th e "O nly Way" d o c t r i n e :
I t was once a form o f r e l i g i o u s i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n ,
an e m o tio n a l and d o g m a tic p o s t u l a t e p r a g m a tic a lly
v a l u a b l e , so lo n g a s i t c o u ld b e r e a l i s t i c a l l y
b e l i e v e d . I t h a s now become a p e r v e r s e and
i n j u r i o u s in s tr u m e n t f o r g u id in g th e c o n t a c t o f
r e l i g i o n s , i n f l i c t i n g p a in beyond t h e m eaning o f
th e o c c a s i o n , i n t o l e r a b l e i n i t s i n t o l e r a n c e . I t
i s i n c r e a s i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e i n w in n in g s o u ls who
^Hocking, Re-Thinking Missions . p. 40.
452
have learn ed th a t r e lig io n cannot be based on fe a r;
b u t i t is c h ie f ly obnoxious to th e u ltim a te sense o f
t r u t h in th e h e a rts o f those who t r y to b e lie v e i t . 12
At th is ju n c tu re , th e emphasis o f th e A bilene
p la tfo rm is sh a rp ly d is tin g u is h e d from the course o f con
temporary m issionary movements. The d ir e c tio n o f th e
L ectu resh ip was d e f i n i t e l y e v a n g e lis tic . C a llin g fo r the
p r i o r i t y o f B ib lic a l f a i t h as th e norm ative stan d ard fo r
e v a lu a tin g the t r u t h o f r e l i g i o n , th e le c tu r e r s drew th e
e v a n g e lis tic m otive from th e s it u a ti o n of a world condemned
w ithout C h ris t. With l i t t l e f a i t h in education and s o c ia l
iz a tio n as instrum ents fo r b rin g in g about th e s a lv a tio n of
th e human ra c e , th e dominant theme o f th e m issionary
addresses was conversion to Jesus C h ris t. Following what
they b eliev e d to be the a p o s to lic p a tte r n , the Abilene
13
m issio n a rie s were in te r e s te d in th e s a lv a tio n o f so u ls.
12W illiam E rn e st Hocking, L iving R eligions and a
World F.aith (London: George A llen and Unwin, L td ., 1940),
pp. 172, 173.
13
This p o in t o f view was shared by a l l o f th e fun
d a m e n ta list communions. Such works as W illiam Owen C arver,
M issions in th e P lan o f th e Ages (New York: Fleming H.
R evell Company, 1909); Stephen J . Corey, The P reacher and
His M issionary Message (N ash v ille: Cokesbury P re s s , 1931);
J. 0. Dobson, Why C h ris tia n M issions? (London: S tudent
C h ris tia n Movement, 1930); W . E. Shaw ( e d .) , M issionary
M otivation (New York: M ethodist Book Concern, 1931); and
H. E. Wark, New Era in M issions (New York: Fleming H.
R evell Company, 1929) r e f l e c t the e v a n g e lis tic a t titu d e
embraced by th e A bilene l e c t u r e r s .
453
R is k in g th e c h a rg e o f i n t o l e r a n c e and b i g o t r y , th e
l e c t u r e r s t e n a c i o u s l y h e l d t o t h e u n iq u e n e s s o f C h r i s t i
a n i t y and p e r p e t u a t e d th e c la im t h a t J e s u s a lo n e c a n s a v e .
I n an sw er t o t h e g ro w in g a t t i t u d e t h a t " t h e day o f p r i v a t e
and l o c a l r e l i g i o n s i s o v e r ," th e y s t r e s s e d t h e u n i v e r s a l -
•j j
i t y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . R e fu s in g t o f r a t e r n i z e w i t h a l i e n
f a i t h s , th e y re m in d e d t h e i r l i s t e n e r s t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l
h o p e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y h ad b e e n to b r i n g t h e e n t i r e w o rld
u n d e r i t s sw ay. To s u r r e n d e r an in c h o f t h a t o b j e c t i v e ,
th e s p e a k e r s m a i n t a i n e d , was t o c u t t h e n e r v e o f t h e
m is s io n m o tiv e i t s e l f . ^
^ W i l l i a m E r n e s t H o c k in g , The Coming W orld C i v i l i
z a t i o n (New Y ork: H a rp e r and B r o t h e r s , 1 9 5 6 ), p . 8 0 . F o r
an i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r a s t i n t h e a t t i t u d e s to w a rd o t h e r r e l i
g io n s , s e e R o b b 's " H e n d ric k K raem er v e r s u s W illia m E r n e s t
H o c k in g ," K ra em e r, a C o n t i n e n t a l t h e o l o g i a n , assum es a
s t a n c e r e g a r d i n g t h e e x c l u s i v e n e s s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y t h a t
te n d s t o le n d en c o u ra g e m e n t t o t h e A b ile n e p o i n t o f v ie w .
One o f h i s s i g n i f i c a n t w orks i s , R e l i g i o n and t h e C h r i s t i a n
F a i t h ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : W e s tm in is te r P r e s s , 1 9 5 6 ). " . . .
J e s u s C h r i s t a lo n e i s t r u t h , " p . 3 2 2 . "T he l e a s t s u r r e n d e r
on t h i s p o i n t m eans i n p r i n c i p l e t h e t o t a l s u r r e n d e r o f
th e B i b l i c a l t r u t h , " p . 373.
■^Hocking h a s an i n t e r e s t i n g an sw e r f o r t h e a r g u
m ent " t h a t w ith o u t t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e 'O n ly Way' m is s io n s
l o s e t h e i r s u f f i c i e n t m o ti v e ." He w i l l n o t a c c e p t th e
f i x e d p re m is e t h a t m is s io n s m u st go o n . " F o r u s , th e p r a c
t i c a l p re m is e i s th e b r o a d e r o n e , t h a t a w o r l d - f a i t h m u st
b e a c h ie v e d ; and w h e th e r t h e m i s s i o n , i n some o f i t s
v a r i o u s f o r m s , i s now th e f i t m eans to t h a t end i s t h e
q u e s t i o n i n h a n d ." L iv in g R e lig i o n s and a W orld F a i t h ,
p . 174.
454
In h is 1919 l e c t u r e , " M issio n s," F. B. Shepherd
a s s e r te d t h a t th e heed f o r w orld evangelism " i s s e l f -
e v id e n t" in view o f th r e e c o n s id e r a tio n s :
1. Of th e sp re a d o f fa lse h o o d in r e l i g i o u s th in g s .
2. Of our h ig h claim s to a p o s t o l i c i t y , which makes
i t encumbent upon us to e v a n g e liz e to th e u t t e r
most p a r ts o f th e e a r th .
3. Of th e f a c ts t h a t th e s a lv a ti o n o f men depends
upon t h e i r ac ce p tan c e to th e G o sp e l, and our
s a lv a ti o n depends la r g e ly upon th e e f f o r t we
make to p reac h i f f u l l y . 16
The s t a t i s t i c a l urgency o f Guy C ask ey 's 1955 speech was
common L e c tu re s h ip p a rla n c e : " I f your h e a r t cannot weep
f o r two hundred m illio n so u ls who a re p o ise d bn th e b rin k
o f e t e r n i t y w ith o u t knowing t h a t C h r is t d ie d to save them,
th e n t h e i r l a s t hope i s go n e.^"7 In 1925, John T. Hinds
spoke o f "The U n iv e rsa l N ature o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . " He
e x p la in e d t h a t a l l men "must a c c e p t C h r i s t i a n i t y and re n d e r
h o n e st s e r v ic e to God o r be l o s t . There i s no o th e r a l t e r
n a t i v e ." Hinds e lu c id a te d h is p o s it io n :
T his r i g i d demand o f C h r i s t i a n i t y m ust be u n d e r
s to o d , o f c o u rs e , as b e in g a p p lic a b le o n ly to th o se
re s p o n s ib le . The i n f a n t and th e m e n ta lly incom
p e te n t a re n o t g o sp e l s u b je c ts . As th e g o sp e l i s
n o t ad d ressed to them , th ey a re n o t in c lu d e d in
th e demands f o r o b ed ien ce. C h r i s t i a n i t y a p p lie s
^Lectures, 1919, p. 176.
17"The African Field," Lectures, 1955, p. 165.
455
o n ly to th o s e who have liv e d o r w i l l l i v e s in c e
i t s e s ta b lis h m e n t and a r e c a p a b le o f re n d e r in g
i n t e l l i g e n t o b ed ien ce to i t s r e q u ir e m e n ts . To
a l l s u c h , C h r i s t i a n i t y o f f e r s th e o n ly h o p e .18
In 1937, a v e ry s i g n i f i c a n t s e r i e s o f l e c t u r e s was
d e l iv e r e d on th e them e: "The Church and I t s G re at M issio n :
To P re a c h th e G ospel to th e Whole C r e a tio n ." George S.
B e n so n 's a d d re s s t h a t y e a r c o n ta in e d th e s e s e n te n c e s :
W e sh o u ld a ls o be u rg ed forw ard i n th e e x e r tio n o f
o u r ev e ry e f f o r t th ro u g h o u r lo v e f o r l o s t s o u l s .
E very i n d iv i d u a l has a n e v e r-d y in g s p i r i t . Each
one s h a l l be judged a c c o rd in g to th e works done in
th e f l e s h . T here a re o n ly two d e s t i n i e s f o r th e
s o u ls o f men. Only th e G ospel can sa v e and we a r e
th e s o l e ste w a rd s o f th e G ospel. T h e r e f o r e , no
one can be saved e x c e p t i n p r o p o r tio n as we
resp o n d to o u r d u ty i n d e c la r in g th e m essage o f
l i f e . 19
S peaking on th e same s e r i e s w ith B enson, P au l
S o u th ern c o n s id e re d th e a sc e n d in g th e o ry t h a t th e " h e a th e n s
a r e n o t r e s p o n s ib le f o r t h e i r c o n d u c t." S o u th ern gave
r e b u t t a l :
Are th e h e a th e n s i n a s t a t e o f s a f e t y u n t i l th e y
h e a r and d iso b e y th e G ospel? I f s o , we m ust co n
c lu d e t h a t th e G ospel makes s in n e r s in s t e a d o f
s a v in g them. I t i s im p o s s ib le to sa v e t h a t w hich
i s a lre a d y s a f e . The t r u t h o f th e m a tte r i s t h a t
^Lectures, 1924-1925, pp. 144-145.
1 Q
"Workable Plans," Lectures , 1937, p. 61.
456
the heathens are lo s t because they are in s i n , and
not because they have not been b a p t i z e d . 20
Charles H. Roberson’s ad d ress, "The B ible fo r A ll
Peoples expressed concern fo r the souls of m ultitudes
which speak languages in which the B ible has not y e t been
9 1
tr a n s la te d . x C. A. Norred added th a t g re a te r m issionary
z e al in sharing the B ible w ith th ese m ultitudes would come
only w ith a r e a l i s t i c a p p ra is a l o f the tragedy of e te rn a l
damnation. He exclaimed:
They are l o s t - - l o s t now, and to the fu tu re . I mean
by th is th a t they are now under condemnation and
sep arated from th e con so latio n s and d e lig h ts of
tru e r e lig i o n , and furtherm ore, they have no a s s u r
ance o f the s a lv a tio n ready to be rev ealed a t the
l a s t tim e. I am a fr a id we j u s t f a i l to r e a liz e
what i t means to be lo s t . And I am co n strain ed to
b e lie v e th a t j u s t in p ro p o rtio n as we r e a liz e the
h o rro rs of damnation we s h a ll fin d ourselves
d riv en to save the l o s t . 22
2Q„
They A ll w ith One Consent Began to Make
Excuse," L ec tu re s, 1937, pp. 47-48.
^ L e c tu r e s , 1946. "For example, th e re are 300,000
Sulu Moros in the P h ilip p in e s who have only one Gospel;
lik e w ise , 280,000 Quiche Indians in Guatemala; 295,000
Dioula on th e Ivory Coast. There are only two Gospels for
1,300,000 S h illu k in the Sudan; fo r 1,800,000 B alinese in
th e Butch E ast In d ie s ," p. 77.
22
"The Perfected Church— For What Purpose,"
Lectures , 1937, p. 7.
457
Y ea rs l a t e r , G eorge W. B a i l e y t e r s e l y s t a t e d t h e
same a p p e a l: "We t h i n k so l i t t l e a b o u t s o u l s b e in g s a v e d
23
b e c a u s e we t h i n k s o l i t t l e a b o u t s o u l s b e in g lo s t ! * ' In
1 9 5 9 , S t a n l e y L o c k h a r t s o le m n ly su m m arized "The W o rld ’ s
Need f o r C h r i s t " :
T h e re a r e m i l l i o n s l o s t to d a y ; how d i s t u r b e d a r e we
a b o u t them ? W here a r e t h e s e p e o p le ? E v ery w h ere!
T ake a lo o k a t o u r own c i t i e s ; t h e v i l l a g e s h o p p in g
c e n t e r w h ere we b u y o u r g r o c e r i e s ; w a lk down m ain
s t r e e t and you w i l l p a s s many o f them ; lo o k a t y o u r
n e x t d o o r n e i g h b o r . How much s l e e p h a v e we l o s t
o v e r t h i s p ro b le m ? Who a r e t h e s e p e o p le ? Y our
f r i e n d s , r e l a t i v e s , a c q u a i n t a n c e s - - a n d m in e . T h e re
a r e th e p ro m in e n t and t h e o b s c u r e ; t h e g ay and t h e
s a d ; t h e known and t h e unknow n; b u t e a c h on e h a s a
s o u l m ore v a l u a b l e th a n a l l t h e w o r l d . 24
The M is s io n o f t h e C hurch
Many l e c t u r e r s s o u g h t t o q u ic k e n t h e m is s io n a r y
s p i r i t by f o c u s in g upon e v a n g e lis m a s t h e c h i e f m is s io n o f
t h e c h u r c h . A. R. H o lto n , o f t e n d e s c r i b e d a s " t h e e l d e r
s ta te s m a n o f m i s s i o n a r y w o rk ," c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o God’ s
i n t e r e s t i n t h i s m is s io n : " P e rh a p s t h e m o st im p o r ta n t
l e s s o n t h a t c a n b e l e a r n e d by a n y p e r s o n who u n d e r ta k e s t o
c a r r y o u t t h e G r e a t C om m ission i s t h e l e s s o n t h a t t h i s i s
23
"World Vision for Christ," Lectures , 1961,
p. 192.
^Lectures, 1959, p. 17.
458
25
G od's w o rk ." H olton warned i n 1919 o f th e w id esp read
ten d en cy to a c c e p t th e perform ance o f p u b lic w orship as
th e p rim ary m is sio n o f th e ch u rch . He c h a rg e d :
T h is c o n c e p tio n i s t h a t th e ch urch i s i d e n t i f i e d
w ith p u b lic w o rs h ip , and o u ts id e o f p u b lic w or
s h ip and a c ts o f b en e v o len c e th e Church has no
sp h e re o f a c t i v i t y . . . . The w o rsh ip p e r s in g s
and p ray s and co n te m p la te s going to a n o th e r
w o r ld , b u t f o r g e ts th e one in w hich he l i v e s .
When t h i s o cc u rs on a w ide s c a l e , th e g r e a t t i d e
o f hum anity w ith i t s many u n so lv e d problem s goes
by th e Church and th e Church wonders why i t s
in f lu e n c e i s n o t any s tr o n g e r and why i t i s t h a t
th e w orld i s so w o rth le s s and c r u e l . 26
In 1937, B. D. Morehead le c tu r e d on th e t o p i c ,
"Awakening th e C h u rc h e s." He l i s t e d some p r a c t i c a l ways
o f i n s p i r i n g th e c o n g re g a tio n s to f u l f i l l t h i s c o rp o ra te
m is sio n w ith God: "Keep s c r i p t u r a l m o tto es s u g g e s tin g
m is s io n work c o n s ta n tly b e f o re th e eyes o f th e p e o p le . . .
. Read l e t t e r s from m is s io n a r ie s r e l a t i n g t h e i r e x p e r i
e n c e s. Have th e m is s io n a ry d e s c r ib e c o n d itio n s o f th e
p e o p le b e fo r e and a f t e r th e g o sp e l was p reach ed in t h e i r
9 7
com m unity."
^ " T h a t None Should P e r i s h ," L e c tu r e s , 1959,
p. 60.
26.,
The World as the Subject of Redemption,"
Lectures, 1919, p. 58.
27
Lectures, 1937, p. 65.
459
Guy Caskey a g ree d t h a t m is s io n s w ere th e c h u r c h 's
f i r s t p u rp o s e , b u t o b se rv e d t h a t th e ch u rc h had n o t been
f a i t h f u l to th e m is s io n . "We have, l o s t p r a c t i c a l s i g h t o f
th e o p e r a tio n o f th e C h u rch ," he c h a rg e d . "The v e r y p u r
po se and f u n c tio n o f th e Church i s w hat i t i s n o t d o in g - -
p re a c h in g th e G ospel around th e w o rld . I t was e s t a b l i s h e d
to p e rfo rm t h i s t a s k . Any p ie c e o f m ach in ery o r equipm ent
w hich f a i l s to p erfo rm th e work i t was b u i l t to do i s
d is c a r d e d .
In 1946, Olan L. H icks co n ten d ed t h a t " th e Church
w hich i s n o t m is s io n a ry i s a d y ing C hurch. . . . I t i s
th ro u g h th e medium o f such m is s io n a ry a c t i v i t y t h a t a
ch u rch keeps i t s p u ls e q u ick en ed and i t s l i f e b lo o d p u re .
29
O th e rw ise , we s h a l l become ingrow n and w i t h e r ." P a t
H a r r e l l e f f e c t i v e l y p h ra se d th e a p p e a l t h a t ev a n g elism i s
th e re a s o n f o r th e e x is te n c e o f th e ch u rch :
W e have f a i l e d to c l e a r l y s e e th e r e l a t i o n s h i p
betw een th e Church and m is s io n s . By w hat d i a b o l i
c a l t u r n have we come to th in k t h a t m is s io n s a r e i
a ta s k and n o t th e ta s k o f th e Church? They a r e
n o t an appendage. They a r e n o t som ething to be
in d u lg e d in when a c o n g r e g a tio n , h a v in g s a t i s f i e d
^ C a s k e y , "The A fric a n F i e l d , " p. 172.
29
"Beyond the Western Hemisphere," Lectures , 1946,
p. 204.
460
i t s every whim, s u r p r i s i n g l y d is c o v e rs i t s tr e a s u r y
i s n o t d e p le te d . The G re at Commission i s th e
C h u rch 's c h a r t e r and m is sio n s a r e i t s re a s o n f o r
b e in g . The argum ent f o r m issio n s i s e x a c tly th e
same as th e argum ent f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y . When a co n
g r e g a tio n f a i l s to do m issio n w ork, i t i s n o t
sim ply f a i l i n g to do a n o th e r good work among many,
i t proves u n tru e to i t s n a t u r e , f a l s e to i t s o r i g i n ,
and has d e f a u lte d in i t s v e ry e s s e n c e .30
The A p o s to lic Example
C o n tin u in g th e e f f o r t to r a i s e th e b ro th e rh o o d 's
e v a n g e l i s t i c te m p e ra tu re , s e v e r a l sp e a k e rs r e c a l l e d th e
m is sio n a ry z e a l o f th e a p o s to lic ch u rch . In 1923, C a rl L.
E t t e r , an e a r ly m is s io n a ry to th e O r ie n t, d e s c rib e d th e
f i r s t - c e n t u r y ch u rch as " a s o u l sa v in g i n s t i t u t i o n " whose
m essage was " th e G ospel.,of C h r is t as th e power o f God to
s a v e ." E t t e r co ncluded h is ad d re ss w ith th e w ords:
" B re th re n , th e Church o f y e s te r d a y had a p a s s io n f o r s o u ls .
31
Do we, th e Church o f to d a y , m easure up to th e s ta n d a rd ? "
C. M. P u l l i a s ' 1928 s p e e c h , " in A ll Judea and
S am a ria ," rem inded th e au d ien ce o f th e Je ru sa le m C h r is
t i a n s ' z e a l in p re a c h in g th e G ospel w h ile b e in g s c a t t e r e d
"The Expansion of Christianity," Lectures, 1959,
pp. 209-210.
31
"The Church of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,"
Lectures. 1922-1923, pp. 260, 262.
461
th ro u g h p e r s e c u t i o n . He p o se d th e q u e s t i o n : "S u p p o se th e
C hurch o f th e p r e s e n t tim e i n t h i s to w n , o r any o t h e r i n
32
y o u r com m unity, s h o u ld b e s c a t t e r e d a b ro a d . . . 7"
P u l l i a s p r e s s e d th e e m b a r ra s s in g c o n c lu s io n t h a t th e la c k
o f z e a l and s c a n t B i b l i c a l know ledge o f many m odern
d i s c i p l e s w ould r e n d e r them im p o te n t a s t e a c h e r s o f o t h e r s .
Seven y e a r s l a t e r , W. S. Long made th e same p o i n t :
They w ere w h o lly c o n v e rte d t o th e L ord and r e a d y t o
f o r s a k e a l l f o r H is Name. T h e i r lo v e f o r C h r i s t
i n s p i r e d them to t e l l e v e ry o n e th e y m et th e w o n d er
f u l s t o r y o f C h r i s t who d ie d f o r them . We ta k e o u r
v a c a t i o n s and go ev e ry w h e re s e e k in g p l e a s u r e ; th e y
w ent ev e ry w h e re p r e a c h in g t h e Word. S a l v a t i o n
m ean t so much t o them t h a t th e y w an te d t o s a v e e v e r y
one e l s e . M o reo v e r, th e y d id n o t b e l i e v e th e y c o u ld
b e sa v e d u n l e s s th e y g av e t h e i r l i v e s i n s a v in g
o t h e r s . ^ 3
I n h i s 1952 l e c t u r e , "W orld E v a n g e lis m ," C lau d e A.
G u ild sum m arized th e e v a n g e l i s t i c r e c o r d o f t h e a p o s t o l i c
c h u rc h . He p o in te d to th e q u a l i t y o f s a c r i f i c e a s i t s
m o st s a l i e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c :
The C hurch i n i t s f i r s t g l o r y had one c o n g r e g a t i o n ,
t h r e e th o u s a n d members and tw e lv e p r e a c h e r s ! In
f o r t y y e a r s , e v e ry c r e a t u r e u n d e r h e a v e n h ad h e a r d
th e G o sp e l. T h is i s th e q u e s t i o n : How d id th e y
*^"In All Judea and Samaria," Lectures , 1928,
p. 212.
33jiThe Church in Spreading the Gospel," Lectures ,
1935.
462
do i t ? The answer i s sim p le: th e b r e th r e n
s a c r i f i c e d , th e y had f a i t h in God and a deep
p a s s io n f o r th e l o s t . Today, we have one m illio n
members , seven thousand c o n g r e g a tio n s , th r e e
thousand p r e a c h e r s , and maybe te n p e r c e n t o f th e
w orld has h eard th e G ospel. W e sh o u ld be ashamed.
Contemporary Shortcom ings
The m is sio n a ry re c o rd o f th e a p o s to lic church p r o
v id e d an a p p r o p r ia te backdrop a g a in s t which th e in c r im in a t
in g in c o n s is te n c ie s o f th e modern church were c o n tr a s te d in
b o ld r e l i e f . "From th e S t r a i t s o f M agellan to th e p i l l a r s
o f H ercules and from T iju a n a to Tim buktu, one fin d s on
every hand modern denom inations b u t n o t th e Church o f th e
35
L o rd ," lam ented a concerned sp e a k e r. " I f th e w orld is
n o t l o s t in i t s p r e s e n t c o n d itio n ," began a n o th e r , "our
r e l i g i o n is v a in . I f i t i s l o s t , we had b e t t e r g e t busy o r
Q fL
i t w i l l be v a in anyway." These t y p i c a l q u o ta tio n s sug
g e s t a f a v o r i t e L e c tu re s h ip te c h n iq u e f o r s tim u la tin g
L e c tu re s , 1953, p. 249. A lthough G u ild 's l e c tu r e
was d e liv e r e d in 1952, i t was in a d v e r te n tly o m itted from
th e p u b lis h e d volume o f t h a t y e a r and was n o t p r in te d u n t i l
1953. P e rs o n a l l e t t e r from Don H. M orris to Claude A.
G u ild , May 4 , 1952.
35
C askey, "The A fric a n F i e l d ," p. 165.
^Bailey, "World Vision for Christ," p. 188.
463
f u tu r e e v a n g e l i s t i c a c t i v i t y - - t h r o u g h a p p e a l to th e l i m i t a
ti o n s and f a i l u r e s o f th e s t a t u s quo. " I am n o t a m orbid
p e s s i m i s t , " i n s i s t e d P au l S o u th e rn , " n e i t h e r am I a b l i n d
o p t i m i s t . And I would n o t m inim ize th e g r e a t work w hich
h as been and i s b e in g done by th e L o r d 's p e o p le . At th e
same tim e , a c a s u a l g la n c e a t o u r e v a n g e l i s t i c program
o n
shows t h a t le th a r g y r e i g n s . "
In 1919, F. B. Shepherd r e p o r te d t h a t o f 9,000
c o n g re g a tio n s o f th e c h u r c h , few er th a n f i v e hun d red had
e v e r c o n t r ib u t e d f i n a n c i a l l y to m is s io n w o rk , w h ile l e s s
th a n one hun d red o f them s u p p o rte d w ith any r e g u l a r i t y th e
38
n in e A m erican m is s io n a r ie s in f o r e ig n la n d s . A lthough
th e n u m e ric a l f ig u r e s grew i n c r e a s i n g l y l a r g e r w ith th e
p a s s in g o f each L e c tu r e s h ip , th e s p e a k e rs n e v e r c e a se d to
s t r e s s th e c h u r c h 's sh o rtc o m in g s. F o rty -tw o y e a r s a f t e r
S h e p h e rd 's in d ic tm e n t, Guy V. Caskey ask ed :
Can t h i s be th e Church f o r w hich J e s u s gave h i s
p re c io u s l i f e , whose s e r v a n ts on f i e l d s a f a r number
b u t one hundred and s e v e n t y - f i v e and whose s u p p o r t
e rs i n A m erica m ust re a c h th e f a n t a s t i c f i g u r e o f
11,429 to p u t j u s t one man in a c o u n try beyond th e
s e a s ? J u s t one G ospel p r e a c h e r to e v e ry 2 4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
p e o p le . . . . My b r e th r e n gave s i x Am erican c e n ts
37
S o u th e rn , op. c i t . , p. 47.
38
Shepherd, op. cit. , pp. 176-177.
464
per person per month, o r $.72 a year to the preach
ing of the Gospel beyond our b o rd ers. In Texas
th e re is one Gospel preacher to every 1,600 people,
six ty -tw o times as many as in the r e s t of the world
o u ts id e , and y e t Texas comprises but .38 o f 1% of
th e world p o p u la tio n .39
Olan L. Hicks was among the speakers who pinpointed
the em barrassing im p licatio n s o f m issionary apathy among
the people o f a movement which had been in sp ire d by evan
g e l i s t i c fe rv o r. He charged:
Now as a people we have been g lib a t quoting the
Great Commission, W e have used i t perhaps more
than any o th e r r e lig io u s group; but our use of i t
has been fa u lty . W e quoted i t , but we say only
th a t p a rt of i t d ea lin g w ith baptism . This we
used pow erfully to d isco m fit the g ain say er. But
w hile we were lampooning him fo r ignoring th e com
mand regarding baptism , we were laying ourselves
open to an even s te rn e r condemnation by ignoring
th e p a rt which commands us to preach the gospel
to the whole world. I t comes w ith poor grace to
claim th a t we have th e only tru e te a c h in g , and
then to s i t id ly w ith i t and not urge i t upon the
h e a rts of a l l the world. In the h e a rts of th in k
ing men th e re must be some doubt o f our complete
s i n c e r i t y .40
Several speakers la id much o f the blame fo r the
b ro th erh o o d 's m issionary in d iffe re n c e a t the fe e t o f i t s
preach ers. In 1921, C. G. Vincent s tre s s e d the in te g ra l
39
Caskey, "The More Abundant L ife Is One That Goes
and Teaches," p. 173.
40
Hicks, op. cit. , p. 196.
465
r o l e o f th e p r e a c h e r i n e x h o r t i n g t h e c o n g r e g a tio n s to
w o rld -w id e e v a n g e lis m . He a d d e d :
I r e g r e t t o s a y i t , b u t a f a c t i t i s j u s t t h e sa m e,
n a m e ly , th e r e a s o n why so many p r e a c h e r s a r e s i l e n t
on t h i s g r e a t e s t o f B i b le them es i s , th e y f e a r t h e i r
s u p p o r t may b e c u t s h o r t . B ut t h i s i s n e a r - s i g h t e d
s e l f i s h n e s s . The jo y and e n th u s ia s m t h a t come t o a
m is s io n a r y c h u rc h alw a y s i n t e n s i f i e s i t s s e l f -
s a c r i f i c i n g s p i r i t , and th u s t h e C hurch ta k e s good
c a r e o f t h e p r e a c h e r and a t th e same tim e r e a c h e s
o u t i n t o f i e l d s b e y o n d .
Many y e a r s l a t e r , Owen A ik in r e p e a t e d V i n c e n t 's
a c c u s a t i o n a g a i n s t " l o c a t e d p r e a c h e r s . " He s a i d : "Men
a r e d y in g w ith o u t C h r i s t e v e ry s e c o n d w h ile p r e a c h e r s h e r e
i n t h e s t a t e s a r e c o m p e tin g i n many i n s t a n c e s f o r h i g h e r
s a l a r i e s , b i g g e r p r e a c h e r s ' h o m es, b i g g e r e x p e n s e a c c o u n t s ,
and a ' p o s i t i o n . ' Oh, my b r e t h r e n , " c o n t in u e d A i k i n ,
"w h a t w i l l you s a y when t h e m i l l i o n s o f th e e a r t h who h a v e
n e v e r h e a r d th e G o sp el o n c e , a c c u s e you i n t h a t d a y . " ^
H a ro ld Thomas c h a lle n g e d h i s p r e a c h in g c o l l e a g u e s w i t h
t h e s e p o i n t e d w ords i n 1955:
And f i n a l l y , " p r a y y e t h e L o rd o f t h e h a r v e s t t o
se n d f o r t h l a b o r e r s i n t o t h e h a r v e s t . " P r a y , b u t - -
I w arn y o u - - n o t to o e a r n e s t l y . D o n 't p r a y to o
o f t e n . Be v e r y g e n e r a l i n y o u r p r a y e r s . D o n 't l e t
^"World Evangelism," Lectures, 1920-1921, p. 154.
42..
T h e i r Sound Went O ut i n t o A l l t h e E a r t h , "
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 4 , p p . 1 6 0 -1 6 1 .
466
th e needs of any one p lace become too acute in your
thoughts. Remember to keep your prayers in the
th ir d person and your ex h o rtatio n s in the second
person. Always put th is in your p ra y e rs—don’t
fo rg e t t h i s —"help us to send them, Lord." O ther
w ise, you might g et in to th is business y o u r s e l f ! ^
The m issionary o fte n c re d ite d w ith c re a tin g more
e v a n g e lis tic s p i r i t among the churches of C h rist o f the
tw e n tie th century than any o th e r man was O tis Gatewood.
The f i r s t American m issionary o f any f a i t h to e n te r Germany
follow ing the war, Gatewood d eliv ered four m issionary
addresses a t A bilene. He freq u en tly c h a stiz ed h is preach
ing b re th re n fo r t h e i r lack of m issionary z e a l:
Is i t because we love the s a la r ie s we g et here in
America too much? Yes, i t is very n ice to have
$100.00 o r $150.00 per week w ith a house furnished
and u t i l i t i e s paid and then sometimes w ith ca r
expenses and insurance and taxes paid on top of
th a t. . . . And i f we do e v a n g e lis tic work, the
s a la ry is even b e t te r . An ev a n g e list can hold
th re e and sometimes four meetings per month i f he
schedules them r ig h t. And what does he receiv e?
From $200.00 to $400.00 per m eeting, and th is
means th a t he averages from $600.00 to $1 ,2 0 0 . 0 0
or maybe $1,600.00 per month. D on't deny th a t th is
is tru e . . . . W e preachers are o fte n m ilking the
churches to death f in a n c ia lly w hile we preach
m ostly to members of th e Church who have heard our
messages time and again. How, b re th re n , can we
face God in the day of judgment and do things lik e
th is w hile a t the same time we allow m illio n s o f
43
"The Challenge of the Northeast," Lectures,
1955, p. 186.
467
t h e e a r t h t o go b e f o r e God i n t h e d a y o f ju d g m e n t
w i t h o u t h a v in g h e a r d t h e G o s p e l e v e n o n c e ? 4 4
I n 1 9 5 9 , L eon C. B u rn s c h a r g e d t h a t c o m p la c e n c y was
t h e m a jo r h i n d r a n c e t o t h e c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t ' s p ro g ra m o f
e v a n g e lis m . He e x h o r te d h i s l i s t e n e r s :
We m u s t f i n d someway t o e x p e r i e n c e a r e v i v a l o f
C h r i s t i a n z e a l , g r e a t e r t h a n a n y t h i n g t h e w o rld
h a s e v e r s e e n , i f we c a n e v e r h o p e t o t a k e t h e
w o rld f o r C h r i s t . We m u st f i n d som e way t o s h o c k
o u r b r e t h r e n o u t o f t h e i r c o m p la c e n t an d i n d i f
f e r e n t a t t i t u d e to w a rd m i s s i o n w o rk . We m u s t
f i n d som e way t o im p r e s s u p o n o u r p e o p l e t h a t
i n t e r e s t i n t h e s o u l s o f o t h e r s i s j u s t a s e s s e n
t i a l t o o u r own s a l v a t i o n a s f a i t h , r e p e n t a n c e ,
and b a p t i s m . . . . The o n e b i g j o b t h a t r e m a in s
i s t h a t o f p e r s u a d i n g u s t o s e n d th e m . We may
d re a m a l l we p l e a s e o f c r o s s i n g d i s t a n t h o r i z o n s
w i t h t h e G o s p e l o f C h r i s t , an d we may c o n t i n u e
t o c r e a t e m i s s i o n a r y z e a l i n t h e h e a r t s o f y o u n g
men an d women, b u t u n t i l we a r e a b l e t o t r a i n
c o n g r e g a t i o n s h e r e a t home t o s e n d th em i n t o t h e
f o r e i g n l a n d s , o u r c a u s e i s l o s t . 45
U n lim i te d O p p o r t u n i t i e s
Some l e c t u r e r s f o llo w e d t h e p o s i t i v e c o u r s e o f
f e a t u r i n g t h e u n p a r a l l e l e d p o t e n t i a l s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n
t u r y c h u r c h . I r a L e e W i n te r r o w d 's 1922 s p e e c h , "O ur
M e a su re o f R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w a s among t h e f i r s t o f t h i s
^"Mission Challenges Not Yet MetLectures ,
1958, p. 163.
^"Except They Be Sent," Lectures, 1959, pp. 143-
144.
468
ty p e . He contended th a t r e s p o n s i b ilit y is commensurate
w ith o p p o rtu n ity :
Today th e church o f th e liv in g God has w ith in i t s
numbers more men and women prepared in a s p e c ia l
way to lead and i n s t r u c t in th e ways o f r ig h te o u s
ness than ever b e fo re . Those who have th e se
b le s s in g s are re s p o n s ib le in th e g r e a t e s t m easure,
no doubt. Much le a rn in g b rin g s g r e a te r p b lig a -
tio n s . And y e t , th e se tr a in e d ones cannot do
t h e i r b e s t i f th e e n t i r e body of C h ris tia n s w ill
n o t sta n d behind them o r send them in to t h i s f i e l d
o f endeavor. Every d o l l a r , every m a te r ia l p o sse s
sio n must be u t i l i z e d in accom plishing th is ta s k .
They re p re s e n t t a l e n t s . And woe i s unto th e one
who does not answer fo r th e a b i l i t y he e n jo y s!
Then what is our measure? I t is w o r l d - w i d e ! 4 6
In 1937, George S. Benson in s i s te d th a t th e church
was more m a te r ia lly equipped fo r evangelism than at any
o th e r tim e in i t s h is t o r y . He was a lso im pressed w ith th e
enormous r e s p o n s i b ilit y which accompanied th is a b i l i t y .
"We today have adequate money to ev an g elize th e w orld. W e
a re th e s o le watchmen on th e w a ll. The Lord is depending
4 7
upon us alone to accom plish th is g re a t ta s k . . . .
In a d d itio n to f in a n c ia l and num erical r e a d in e s s ,
s e v e ra l speakers m aintained th a t th e post-W orld War I I
c lim a te provided a unique tim ing advantage fo r e v a n g e lis tic
o p p o rtu n ity . In th e e a rly 1 9 5 0 's, s e v e ra l f ie ld s were
^Lectures, 1922-1923 , p. 118.
47
Benson, "Workable Plans," p. 63.
469
d e s c r ib e d as s p i r i t u a l l y d e s t i t u t e so as to c r e a t e a
n a t u r a l vacuum f o r th e p r e a c h in g o f th e g o s p e l . The O r ie n t
was f r e q u e n t l y u se d to i l l u s t r a t e t h i s a s s e t i n tim in g .
I n 1 9 4 8 , E. W. M cM illan r e p o r t e d t h a t G e n e ra l D ouglas
M acA rthur and o t h e r l e a d e r s i n Ja p a n had r e v e a le d t o him
two fu n d a m e n ta l f a c t s :
1. F i r s t , th e y a l l s a i d t h a t th e h e a r t o f th e
O r ie n t was em pty s p i r i t u a l l y , and t h a t
C h r i s t i a n i t y a f f o r d s t h e o n ly a n c h o ra g e
n ee d ed to s t a b i l i z e and f i l l th e s e l i v e s .
2. They a l l s a i d , as w ith one v o i c e , t h a t i f
C h r i s t i a n p e o p le d id n o t b r i n g C h r i s t i a n
h ope to f i l l t h e vacuum i n th e h e a r t o f
O r i e n t a l s , Communism, w ith i t s many d e v ic e s ,
d e c e p tio n s , and glam orous p ro m ise s w ould w in
t h e m a jo r p o r t i o n o f th o s e d e s o l a t e p e o p le s
w i t h i n th e n e x t tw e n ty y e a r s . 48
H a rry R o b e rt F o x , J r . l a t e r c o n t r a s t e d th e s i t u
a t i o n in Ja p a n w ith th e p re -w a r m is s io n a r y e f f o r t s . He
c o n c lu d e d :
Such r e s p o n s e to th e G o sp el i s p h e n o m e n a l, and i s
e s p e c i a l l y so when com pared w ith th e p re -w a r
r e s p o n s e . Back i n th o s e d ay s i f an e v a n g e l i s t
c o u ld b a p t i z e as many a s f i v e in one y e a r he th o u g h t
h e had h e a d lin e n ew s. T h e re w ere tim e s when a
w o rk e r m ig h t n o t b a p t i z e even one p e r s o n i n s e v e r a l
y e a r s . Y et to d a y I do n o t know o f a s i n g l e to w n ,
v i l l a g e , o r c i t y i n a l l o f Ja p a n w here an e v a n g e l i s t
m ig h t n o t go a n d , a f t e r a y e a r o r so o f p r e a c h i n g ,
^®MThe Work at Ibaraki," Lectures, 1956, p. 286.
470
b ap tize many people and e s ta b lis h a congregation.
Thus is removed one of the c h ie f o bjections
ag a in st sending workers to Japan which was ra ise d
in pre-war days: th a t the r e s u lts achieved over
th e re were not worth the d o lla rs in v e ste d .49
The O rient was not the only se c tio n of the world in
which the fie ld s were rip e unto h a rv e st. Howard Horton
c h a ra c te riz e d the young n atio n of N igeria as a "b o ilin g
cauldron in which every conceivable element of c iv iliz a tio n
and savagery are to g e th e r." He added:
Ju s t what the fu tu re w ill dip out of th is confused
m ix tu re , b o ilin g a t a furious r a t e , is not c le a r
y e t. One thing is c e rta in : N igeria is n o t, nor
w ill she be fo r se v e ra l decades, s t a t i c . She is
going som ewhere--just where nobody can p r e d ic t--
and no force can tu rn the tid e back even to the
p o in t of th ree years ago.
Into th is seeth in g confusion God saw f i t to
in je c t h is word, the one force which could s t a b i
l i z e the young and v io le n tly en e rg e tic country. .
• *
In 1951, Leonard Mullens observed th a t the Nigerian
s itu a tio n ty p ifie d the e n tire dark co n tin en t:
In the opinion of competent a u t h o r i t i e s , the n a tiv e
re lig io n s of A frica w ill g rad u ally be superseded by
e ith e r C h r is tia n ity or Mohammedanism. At the p re s
ent tim e, these two t h e i s t i c m issionary f a ith s are
contending fo r the h e a rts of th e people of A frica.
49..
The Work of the Church in Japan," Lectures,
1951, p. 86.
-^"The Work in Nigeria," Lectures, 1956, p. 267.
471
W hich s h a l l i t b e f o r t h e m - - C h r i s t o r Mohammed, t h e
B i b l e o r t h e K o ra n , t h e t r u t h o r e r r o r ? To a l a r g e
d e g r e e , t h e a n sw e r d e p e n d s u p o n u s i n t h e c h u r c h o f
J e s u s C h r i s t i n A m e r ic a .51
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i c o n o c l a s t i c im p a c t o f W orld
War I I , t h e o u t p o u r i n g o f A m e ric a n m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l i n t o
t h e d i s i l l u s i o n e d c o r n e r s o f t h e e a r t h p r o v id e d a v e r y
t a n g i b l e e v a n g e l i s t i c a s s e t . A h a l f - d o z e n s p e a k e r s m en
t i o n e d t h i s a d v a n ta g e . Don F i n t o d e s c r i b e d t h e w ork i n
G erm any:
Upon a r r i v i n g i n Germany i n 1 9 5 3 , we w e re g l a d t o
f i n d g ro u p s o f A m e ric a n C h r i s t i a n s w i t h whom we
c o u ld w ork w h i l e l e a r n i n g t o s p e a k t h e German l a n
g u a g e . As t e r r i b l e a s t h e l a s t w a r w a s , i t h a d
d o n e much t o f u r t h e r w o rld e v a n g e lis m . A m e ric a n
C h r i s t i a n s h a v e b e e n p l a c e d a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d ,
an d h a v e b e e n l a r g e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r much o f t h e
e v a n g e l i s t i c w o rk t h a t h a s b e e n d o n e . P r a c t i c a l l y
e v e r y c o n g r e g a t i o n i n S o u th G erm any, a s w e l l a s i n
o t h e r p a r t s o f E u r o p e , w as e n c o u ra g e d b y A m e ric a n
s e r v ic e m e n who b e g a n w o r s h ip p in g r e g u l a r l y . I n many
c a s e s t h e s e men p ro m o te d w ork i n new c i t i e s f a s t e r
th a n t h e l i m i t e d s u p p ly o f p r e a c h e r s c o u l d go t o
h e l p th em . T hey o f t e n h a v e i n t e r e s t e d t h e i r home
c o n g r e g a t i o n s i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s . T hey h a v e g iv e n
g e n e r o u s l y t o b e g i n w ork i n new c i t i e s . ^2
O t i s G atew ood a g r e e d w i t h F i n t o ’s o b s e r v a t i o n s
r e g a r d i n g A m e ric a n m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l . He a d d e d t h a t t h e
Sl’iihe Work of the Church in Africa,” Lectures,
1951, p. 134.
52
Finto, op. cit., p. 213.
472
war had also served to e le v a te the p re s tig e of Americans
in g en e ra l. Gatewood d eclared :
. . . even b efo re he begins to speak, the people of
o th e r co u n trie s want to hear what he has to say.
Many people of th e d if f e r e n t n atio n s co n sid er i t a
g re a t honor to have an American as a frie n d . He is
th e re fo re welcomed in to homes wherever he goes.
The people o f the world want to know what he
b e lie v e s and th in k s . They are even more re c e p tiv e
when he speaks th e i r n a tiv e language. American
preachers a re th e re fo re o fte n able to accomplish
more than n a tiv e p re a c h e rs.53
"There has never been a time sin ce the f i r s t
c e n tu ry ," continued Richard Walker, " th a t equals our day
in o p p o rtu n itie s abroad." He then explained h is a s s e rtio n :
"American id e a s , i d e a l s , products and army personnel are
s c a tte re d everywhere. May God give the Church the courage
and the stre n g th to go in through the doors which he has
54
opened." A. R. H olton's 1959 le c tu r e , "M issionaries on
T heir Own," revealed th a t American armed se rv ic e s were
lo cated in seventy-two o f the n atio n s o f th e w o r l d .^
Speaking on the same program w ith H olton, Gatewood rep o rted
th a t "th e se servicemen are able to make work p o s s ib le , to
C T
Gatewood, "M ission Challenges Not Yet Met,"
p. 167.
F /
"Germany," Lectures, 1954, pp. 217-218.
•^Lectures, 1959, p. 294.
473
g e t v i s a s and p e r m i t s , t o p u r c h a s e p r o p e r t y and to do many
r (L
o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t w ould b e im p o s s ib le w ith o u t th e m .1
The f o llo w in g y e a r , H a s k e ll C h e s s i r e s p e c i a l l y commended
th e e v a n g e l i s t i c w ork o f s e rv ic e m e n i n K o re a:
Some o f t h e g r e a t f o r e i g n w o rk e rs to d a y a r e fo u n d
i n c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t e s t a b l i s h e d on m i l i t a r y b a s e s
on f o r e i g n s o i l s . Many m i l i t a r y men s a i d i n K orea
t h a t th e y th o u g h t th e y h a d come t o t h e end o f th e
e a r t h when th e y came t o K o re a , b u t b e f o r e t h e i r
t o u r o f d u ty was o v e r th e y w e re p r o c la im in g K orea
th e g r e a t e s t e x p e r ie n c e i n t h e i r l i v e s . 57
In c o n n e c tio n w ith t h e g e n iu s o f t i m i n g , a s t r a n g e
p a ra d o x d e v e lo p e d i n t h e l e c t u r e s on e v a n g e lis m . W h ile
many s p e a k e r s w ere t h r i l l i n g a t t h e w o rld -w id e w elcom e
e x te n d e d t o A m erican s e rv ic e m e n and m i s s i o n a r i e s , o t h e r s
r e p o r t e d t h a t ev e n t h e few a t te m p ts a t o p p o s i t i o n and p e r
s e c u t i o n h ad boom eranged i n t o v i c t o r i e s f o r t h e c h u r c h e s o f
C h r i s t . The i n s t a n c e s o f m o st i n t e n s e o p p o s i t i o n w ere
r e p o r t e d b y s p e a k e r s from t h e I t a l i a n m is s io n f i e l d s .
B e g in n in g i n m id - J a n u a ry o f 1950 , t h e A s s o c ia te d P r e s s , th e
U n ite d P r e s s , and t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l News S e r v i c e c a r r i e d
d e t a i l e d s t o r i e s c o n c e r n in g t h e c o n f l i c t s b e tw e e n th e
C a t h o l i c c h u rc h and th e c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t m i s s i o n a r i e s i n
■ ^"W hite u n to H a r v e s t , 1 1 L e c tu r e s , 1 9 5 9 , p . 51.
- ^ " T e a c h in g th e Word o f God i n K o rea,* 1 L e c tu r e s ,
1 9 6 0 , p . 265.
474
I t a l y . Jimmy Wood, an A b ilen e sp e ak er in F ebruary o f 1950,
gave th e f i r s t o f many L e c tu re sh ip re sp o n se s to t h i s so u rce
o f p e r s e c u tio n :
Many have asked why th e C a th o lic s have p e rse c u te d
us so much in I t a l y . One o f o ur r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s
asked us w h ile we were in W ashington l a s t m onth,
why th e church o f C h r is t m is s io n a r ie s a r e b e in g
p e rse c u te d so much more in I t a l y th a n many p r o te s -
t a n t m is s io n a r ie s . Of co u rse i t would be impos
s i b l e to e x p la in to a man who is n o t a member o f
th e Church why th e C a th o lic s a re p e rs e c u tin g us
more th a n o th e r m i s s i o n a r i e s , b u t you and I know
th e re a s o n . The g o sp e l o f our Lord i s th e only
th in g in th e w orld today t h a t can o f f e r any r e a l
t h r e a t to C a th o lic ism to d a y . The o nly fo rm id ab le
t h r e a t t h a t C a th o lic ism has had o r ev e r w i l l have
i s u n d enom inational C h r i s t i a n i t y . Our b re th r e n
have preached and ta u g h t th e g o sp e l o f C h r is t in
I t a l y and t h i s i s th e re a so n th e y have been
p e r s e c u te d .58
In 1953, C a rl M itc h e ll r e tu r n e d from I t a l y to t e l l
o f co n tin u o u s r e s i s t e n c e from th e C a th o lic chu rch . He
r e p o rte d fo u r m ajor a tte m p ts to d r iv e th e American m is s io n
a r ie s from th e co u n try . "The o nly re a so n we have n o t been
p u t to d e a th ," he added, " i s b ecause th e y a re a f r a i d o f th e
r e s t o f th e w o rld , and i f i t s u it e d t h e i r p u rp o se s, they
would be w illi n g to p e rs e c u te you o r p u t you to d e a th in
o rd e r to e s t a b l i s h t h e i r e n d s . " ^ F ive y e a rs l a t e r ,
“^"The Church in Italy," Lectures, 1958, p. 240.
^"The Church at Work in Italy," Lectures, 1953,
p. 32.
475
M itc h e ll r e tu r n e d from a seco n d I t a l i a n t o u r , and s a i d o f
th e o p p o s itio n i n I t a l y :
S a ta n h as n e v e r le a rn e d t h a t th e more th e C hurch i s
p e r s e c u te d th e more i t w i l l t h r i v e and grow. . . .
The more th e C a th o lic c h u rc h a s k s p e o p le to ig n o re
u s , th e more th e y seem t o d e s i r e in f o rm a tio n a b o u t
u s , th e more th e p e o p le w ere a r r e s t e d and o u r b u i l d
in g s c l o s e d , th e more p e o p le h e a rd o f u s , and th e
more r e q u e s ts poured in from th o s e d e s i r i n g to be
. ta u g h t. T oday, l a r g e l y b e c a u se o f p e r s e c u t i o n , we
a r e known th ro u g h o u t I t a l y , and ca n be s u r e o f good
a u d ie n c e s a lm o st a n y p la c e we go w ith th e Gospel.^0
S p e c i f ic M issio n F ie ld s
In a d d i t i o n to th e a c c o u n ts o f o p p o s itio n i n I t a l y ,
th e l e c t u r e program s w ere a n n u a lly e m b e llis h e d w ith f i r s t
hand r e p o r t s from f i e l d s n e a r and f a r . T hese c h a lle n g in g
and a d v e n tu ro u s r e c o rd s o f th e work from T anganyika to
S askatchew an p ro v id e d a s i x t h means o f c r e a t i n g th e ev a n
g e l i s t i c s p i r i t a t th e L e c tu r e s h ip .
A t o t a l o f n in e ty - s e v e n l e c t u r e s w ere d e s ig n e d to
announce th e p ro g re s s o r d e s c r ib e th e p o s s i b i l i t i e s in
s p e c i f i c m is s io n f i e l d s . A c h r o n o lo g ic a l a lig n m e n t o f
th e s e sp e e c h e s p ro v id e s a d ra m a tic exam ple o f th e p o s t -
W orld War I I m is s io n a r y boom i n th e b ro th e rh o o d . Only f iv e
o f them w ere d e l iv e r e d i n th e tw e n ty - e ig h t y e a r p e r io d
^"The Church in Italy,1 1 Lectures, 1958, p. 240.
476
p rio r to 1946; C. G. Vincent to ld of the work in Japan in
1925; W . N. Short spoke of A frican m issions in 1929; in
1937, John Wolfe and George S. Benson discussed m issionary
progress in the O rien t, the Near E ast, and L atin America;
and in 1940, Colin Smith trav eled to Abilene to t e l l of
the p o s s i b ilit ie s fo r evangelizing A u stra lia .
By way of contrast, ninety-two speeches concerning
the work in sp e c ific f ie ld s were d eliv ered between 1946
and 1961. Of th is number, a t o t a l of f if te e n were con
cerned w ith the O rien tal f i e l d s , w ith p a r tic u la r s tre s s
upon the work in Japan. Running a clo se second to the
O rient were the fourteen addresses dealing w ith A fric a,
e s p e c ia lly the N igerian f ie ld . Twelve le ctu res discussed
the work in Germany and Europe, eleven were devoted to
Mexico and the L atin American countries , and nine concerned
the progress of m issionary e ffo rts in I ta ly . The remaining
th irty -o n e speeches were sc a tte re d from Taylor County,
Texas to Soviet Russia.
One of the most in te re s tin g rep o rts from a sp e c ific
f ie ld was Leonard Channing's 1950 speech o f "The Church in
England," Reminding h is hearers th a t i t was the resp o n si
b i l i t y of the church’s m issionaries to C h ristia n iz e ra th e r
477
th a n A m e r ic a n iz e , h e p le a d e d f o r a s p i r i t o f t o l e r a n c e and
r e s p e c t f o r t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n c u s to m b e tw e e n A b ile n e and
L ondon. C h an n in g s i n g l e d o u t t h e E n g l i s h c o n g r e g a t i o n s '
p r a c t i c e o f c l o s e d communion and t h e i r e m p h asis upon
m u tu a l m i n i s t r y as t h e two m a jo r p o i n t s o f d i f f e r e n c e
b e tw e e n B r i t i s h and A m erican b r e t h r e n . He added a n o t h e r
s i g n i f i c a n t n o t e :
A n o th e r t h i n g , b r e t h r e n , and X w o u ld p r a y t h a t you
w ould u s e e v e r y i n f l u e n c e t h a t you c a n t o c h e c k
t h i s i n B r i t a i n , t h a t th e B r i t i s h c h u r c h e s and th e
B r i t i s h f a i t h i s r a p i d l y b eco m in g t h e dum ping
g r o u n d -- a n d I am g o in g t o b e c o l l o q u i a l i n t h i s - -
r a p i d l y becom ing t h e dum ping g ro u n d f o r t h e l i t e r
a t u r e o f e v e r y h o b b y i s t i n A m e ric a . U n f o r t u n a t e l y ,
p r o b a b ly th o s e b r e t h r e n i n A m erica h a v e b e e n w e l l
summed up and t h e i r f i e l d i s l i m i t e d h e r e , and
t h e r e f o r e , f o r t h a t r e a s o n , t h e y w i l l go o v e r and
p l a c e t h e i r p e r v e r s i v e d o c t r i n e s i n B r i t a i n .
U n d o u b te d ly , t h i s h a s l e d t o f u r t h e r m i s u n d e r s ta n d i n g .
The B r i t i s h b r e t h r e n t u r n up some g o s p e l p a p e r , w h ich
i s in d e e d e x tr e m e , and lo o k a t i t and s a y , "L o o k ,
th e A m erican b r e t h r e n f o r y o u . "61
G hanning was n o t th e o n ly A b ile n e l e c t u r e r t o w arn
a g a i n s t th e i n c l i n a t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h A m eric an cu sto m s o f
w o rs h ip and p r a c t i c e i n f o r e i g n l a n d s . As f a r b a c k as
1 9 2 0 , J . M. M cCaleb i n t r o d u c e d t h e p ro b le m o f s u p e r
p a t r i o t i s m on t h e m is s io n f i e l d :
^ Lectures , 1950, pp. 201-202.
478
But a t the same time th e re is g re a t danger j u s t here
l e s t we allow our love fo r country and countrymen to
overshadow the love fo r God and a l o s t world.
P a trio tis m helped to n a i l Jesus to th e cross , kept
th e Gospel from th e G en tiles fo r seven years and is
today one o f th e most stubborn b a r r ie r s to the
u n iv e rs a l propagation o f th e message of l i f e . I t
a p p ro p riate s r e lig io n fo r p o l i t i c a l ends and de
grades i t in to a s t a t e p o lic y . There are no
p o l i t i c a l or r a c i a l boundaries to th e G ospel.62
Many years l a t e r , L. E. O'Neal reminded h is au d i
ence th a t wisdom and p rid e c re a te d w ith in the Ancient
Chinese an a t titu d e o f iso la tio n ism . "Many C h ristia n s in
America have made th a t same m istak e ," he charged. "To be
s u re , the w all we have b u i l t is not co n crete in i t s e x is t-
63
ence; n e v e rth e le s s , some C h ristia n s a re behind a w a ll."
Mack K erch ev ille m aintained th a t an a t t i t u d e of r a c i a l
s u p e rio r ity p a r tic u la r ly hindered th e work in L atin
America:
The f i r s t thing th a t I am going to suggest is the
e lim in a tio n o f r a c i a l p re ju d ic e . I t is and always
w ill be im possible fo r us to in flu en c e people as
long as we f e e l su p e rio r to them. I f th e re were
nothing e ls e wrong w ith our custom o f r a c i a l d i s
crim in atio n b u t th e f a c t th a t i t hinders our
62
"The Commission After Twenty Lectures," Lectures
1920-1921, p. 196.
63,,
Work for Christ in the Philippine Islands ,"
Lectures, 1953, p. 59.
479
e f f o r t s t o p r e a c h t h e G o sp e l t o t h e w h o le w o r l d , i t
w ould h a v e enough t o condem n i t .6 4
I n h i s 1951 l e c t u r e , J . W. T r e a t b r o u g h t t h e i s s u e
i n t o s h a r p f o c u s . E a r l y i n t h e m e ssa g e h e d e c l a r e d :
I n no w is e w ould I im p ly t h a t o n ly w h e re some
E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g p r e a c h e r ( o r o n e th o r o u g h ly
i n d o c t r i n a t e d by s u c h ) h a s gone i s t h e r e a c h u r c h .
W h e re v er t h e s e e d o f t h e Kingdom h a s p ro d u c e d i t s
f r u i t , t h e r e t h e C h u rch i s . I c r y o u t a g a i n s t t h e
i d e a , i n w h a te v e r q u a r t e r s i t may b e f o u n d , t h a t
C h r i s t i a n i t y m u st w e a r a U. S . o r Y ankee b r a n d :
t h r e e so n g s , a r e a d i n g and p r a y e r , a n o t h e r so n g
an d a serm o n ; a n t i - t h i s an d a n t i - t h a t . We a r e t o
p r e a c h C h r i s t an d n o t t h e A m eric an way o f l i f e . 65
A lth o u g h m o st o f t h e s p e c i f i c r e p o r t s from t h e
f i e l d c o n c e rn e d w ork i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s , s p e a k e r s from
v a r i o u s m i s s i o n p o i n t s i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s a l s o a p p e a r e d
on th e L e c t u r e s h i p . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o o b s e r v e t h a t i n
1 9 1 9 , G eorge A. K lingm an was c h a l l e n g i n g t h e a u d i e n c e t o
b e g i n a t A b ile n e and t a k e t h e G o sp e l th r o u g h o u t a l l o f
T e x a s . He e m p h a siz e d t h e f o r t u n a t e l o c a t i o n o f A b ile n e :
. . . A b ile n e i s t h e g a te - w a y N o rth and S o u th ,
E a s t an d W e s t, f o r a l a r g e t e r r i t o r y . On a c c o u n t
o f r e c e n t d e v e lo p m e n ts i n o i l and o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s ,
t h e e y e s o f t h e c o u n t r y a r e t u r n e d to w a rd A b ile n e .
T h is i s a g r e a t c o u n t r y and no o n e i s a b l e t o
64
"The Latin American Field," Lectures, 1946,
p. 140.
6^"The Work of the Church in Latin America,"
Lectures, 1951, p. 136.
480
fo re c a s t the e x te n t of i t s awakening and develop
ment. . . . W e have th e same message, th e same
advantages of s i t u a t i o n , and w ith th e same s p i r i t
o f devotion and love o f human souls , A bilene w ill
become an Ephesus—a " g re a t door and e f f e c t u a l . " 6 6
The scope o f m ission a c t i v i t y in 1919 was re f le c te d
in Klingman's concluding appeal for each congregation in
Texas to have re g u la r preaching: "There should be re g u la r
p reach in g , i f only once a month, in every community where
ft 7
th e re is a co n g reg atio n ." "Home M issionary Work," was
the t i t l e o f C. A. Buchanan's 1926 le c tu r e . Reviewing the
work in Johnson County, Texas, Buchanan r e i t e r a t e d K ling
man's appeal: " I t is b e t t e r to fu rn ish every m ission w ith
preaching a t le a s t one Sunday in th e month and a re g u la r
mid-week s e rv ic e , e ith e r a B ible c l a s s , a p ray er m eeting,
/TQ
or a sermon."
As the years p assed , the scope o f American m ission
ary work graduated from T aylor County in to T exas, and
e v e n tu ally throughout the e n t ir e U nited S ta te s . In 1958,
^ " A Great Door Is Opened," L e c tu re s, 1919, p. 16.
6 7 I b i d . , p. 2 1 .
^ L e c tu r e s , 1926-1927, p. 206. A lso, on page 205:
"B rother Powell (Jesse) preaches one Sunday and conducts a
weekly B ible c la ss and B rother Paul S o uthern, a young
preacher in the Cleburne cong reg atio n , v i s i t s them two
Sundays. 1 1
481
O tis G atew ood s p o k e o f " M is s io n C h a lle n g e s N ot Y e t M e t."
He s a i d : " T h e r e a r e s i x tim e s a s many p l a c e s i n t h e U. S .
w h e re t h e r e a r e no c h u r c h e s o f C h r i s t a s t h e r e a r e w h e re
t h e r e a r e c o n g r e g a t i o n s . So i f y o u h a v e t h e c o n c e p t i o n
t h a t a p r e a c h e r m u st c r o s s t h e o c e a n i n o r d e r t o g e t t o t h e
69
m i s s i o n f i e l d , y o u a r e m i s t a k e n . B u r to n C offm an c h a l
le n g e d t h e 1956 a u d ie n c e t o aw aken t o t h e u n iq u e m i s s i o n
o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n A m e r ic a 's l a r g e s t c i t y :
Does i t make an y s e n s e a t a l l , l e t me a s k y o u , t o
b u i l d c h u r c h b u i l d i n g s i n M o n te r e y , Tokyo , F r a n k
f u r t , an d s o f o r t h , an d n o t b u i l d o n e i n t h e
w o r l d 's f i r s t and g r e a t e s t c i t y , w h ic h h a p p e n s t o
b e o u r own? . , . C h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t h a v e n e v e r
b u i l t a c h u r c h h o u s e o n M a n h a tta n I s l a n d , t h e
c a p i t a l o f t h e U n ite d N a t i o n s , p e rm a n e n t home o f
two m i l l i o n p e o p l e , an d t h e eco n o m ic h e a r t o f t h e
New W orld! I t j u s t d o e s n 't m ake s e n s e t h a t i t
h a s b e e n so lo n g n e g l e c t e d . 70
The A b ile n e L e c t u r e s h i p was t r u l y t h e l o g i c a l p l a c e
t o c r e a t e t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c s p i r i t among t h e c h u r c h e s o f
C h r i s t . The s p e a k e r s c o n c e iv e d o f t h e p l a t f o r m a s a m eans
o f f o s t e r i n g a s e n s e o f u n i v e r s a l o b l i g a t i o n i n t h e h e a r t s
o f t h e i r h e a r e r s . The l e c t u r e r s s p o k e , t h e r e f o r e , w i t h t h e
c o n f i d e n t a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e s e e d s o f F e b r u a r y p l a n t i n g
69
Gatewood, op. cit., pp. 163-164.
70"The Work in the Northeast," Lectures . 1956,
p. 300.
482
would bear f r u i t in an endless world y e t to come. The
audience lis te n e d in th e co n v ictio n th a t God him self was
somehow e x tra o rd in a rily in te r e s te d in th e conduct of th e
west Texas proceedings. Both those who spoke and those
who heard were now more involved than ever b efo re w ith th e
commission o f Jesus C h ris t: "Go ye in to a l l th e world and
preach the Gospel to every c re a tu re . He th a t b e lie v e th
and is b ap tized s h a l l be saved."
The Local Congregation versus
the M issionary S ociety
The forem ost American h is t o r ia n o f the expansion
o f C h r is tia n ity , Kenneth S co tt L a to u r e tte , has concluded
th a t much of the th r u s t fo r the m issionary movement of the
n in e te e n th and tw e n tie th c e n tu rie s can be a ttr ib u te d to the
r i s e of m issionary o r g a n iz a tio n s . L a rg e -sc a le P ro te s ta n t
m issionary a c t i v i t y is p o p u larly dated from B r itis h shoe
maker W illiam C arey's 1792 p u b lic a tio n , An Enquiry in to
the O b lig atio n s o f C h ristia n s to Use Means fo r the
^A n exhaustive h is to r y o f th e modern m issionary
movement i s to be found in L a to u re tte , A H istory o f the
Expansion o f C h r is tia n ity : The Great C entury, IV^VII
(New York: Harper and B ro th e rs, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945).
483
72
C o n v e rs io n o f t h e H e a th e n s * C a r e y 's p h r a s e , " t o u s e
m eans d i d n o t m e re ly r e v e a l h i s d o c t r i n a l o p p o s i t i o n to
t h e th e o r y o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n , b u t a l s o s u g g e s te d t h e n e c e s
s i t y o f o r g a n iz e d a c t i o n i n t h e a p p ro a c h t o f o r e i g n m i s
s i o n s . As a d i r e c t r e s u l t o f C a r e y 's E n q u iry and o t h e r
s u b s e q u e n t e f f o r t s , a s o c i e t y l a t e r c a l l e d t h e B a p t i s t
M is s io n a r y S o c i e t y was form ed i n 1 793. W ith in f i f t y y e a r s ,
e v e ry m a jo r d e n o m in a tio n i n A m erica and on t h e E u ro p e a n
73
c o n t i n e n t h ad d e v e lo p e d i t s own m i s s i o n a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n .
L a t o u r e t t e sum m arized t h e p h en o m en al a w a k en in g o f m i s s i o n
a r y s p i r i t :
N ever h ad any o t h e r s e t o f i d e a s , r e l i g i o u s o r s e c u
l a r , b e e n p r o p a g a te d o v e r so w id e an a r e a b y so many
m i l l i o n s o f i n d i v i d u a l s . . . . F o r s h e e r m a g n itu d e
i t h a s b e e n w i t h o u t p a r a l l e l i n human h i s t o r y . 74
The m is s io n a r y s o c i e t i e s d i d n o t a r i s e , h o w e v e r,
w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r a b l e o p p o s i t i o n fro m c o n s e r v a t i v e e le m e n ts
72
W i l l i s C h u rch L a m o t t, R e v o lu tio n i n M is s io n s
(New Y ork: The M a c m illa n Company, 1 9 5 4 ) , p . 1.
73
Norman G o o d a ll ( e d . ) , M is s io n s U nder t h e C r o s s :
A d d re s s e s D e li v e r e d a t t h e E n la r g e d M e e tin g o f t h e Commit
t e e o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M is s io n a r y C o u n c il a t W i l l i n g e n ,
G erm any, 1952; w i t h S ta te m e n ts I s s u e d b v t h e M e e tin g
(New Y o rk : F r i e n d s h i p P r e s s , 1 9 5 3 ) , p p . 2 3 3 f f .
74
K e n n e th S c o t t L a t o u r e t t e , Anno D om ini (New Y o rk :
H a rp e r and B r o t h e r s , 1 9 4 0 ) , p . 169.
484
w ith in th e c h u rc h e s. When W illiam Carey f i r s t made h i s
p ro p o s a l f o r a m is s io n o r g a n iz a tio n , th e p r e s id e n t o f a
B a p t i s t c o n fe re n c e r e t o r t e d t h a t when i t p le a s e d God to
75
c o n v e rt th e h e a th e n , he would do i t w ith o u t C a re y 's h e lp .
. E s p e c ia lly was th e s p i r i t o f s u s p ic io n tow ard th e s o c ie ty
movement in te n s e among the. r i g i d l y autonomous c o n g re g a tio n s
o f th e ch u rch es o f C h r i s t . A lthough i t l a t e r sh a re d th e
b a t t l e f i e l d w ith i t s c o u n t e r p a r t, th e in s tru m e n ta l m usic
q u e s tio n , th e m is s io n a ry s o c ie ty is s u e was th e f i r s t m ajor
c r i s i s to d i s t u r b th e p ro g re s s o f th e R e s to r a tio n Movement.
The f i r s t a tte m p t a t o rg a n iz e d m is s io n a ry e f f o r t
among th e D is c ip le s came w ith th e 1849 fo rm a tio n o f th e
American M issio n a ry S o c ie ty . I t s a c t i v i t i e s w ere so
s l i g h t , how ever, t h a t G a rris o n term ed th e ex p erim en t more
o f "an em barrassm ent to i t s f r ie n d s th a n an e x c ite m e n t to
76
i t s en e m ie s." F ollow ing th e C i v il W ar, Is a a c E r r e t t ,
e d i t o r o f th e i n f l u e n t i a l C h r is t ia n S tan d a rd re v iv e d th e
is s u e and became th e champion o f th e m is s io n a ry s o c ie ty
^~*John D ille n b e r g e r and C laude W elch, P r o t e s t a n t
C h r i s t i a n i t y (C h arle s S c r ib n e r 's Sons: New Y ork, 1 9 5 4 ),
p. 170.
76
W infred E rn e s t G a r r is o n , R e lig io n Follow s th e
F r o n t i e r (New York: H arper and B r o th e r s , 1 9 3 1 ), p. 239.
485
movement among th e D i s c i p l e s . I n 1875, he became p r e s i d e n t
o f th e F o re ig n C h r i s t i a n M is s io n a ry S o c ie ty , and by th e
tim e o f h i s d e a th i n 1888 , th e l i n e s o f a m a jo r s p l i t w ere
b e g in n in g t o c r y s t a l l i z e w ith in th e r e s t o r a t i o n r a n k s . 77
As c o - e d i t o r s o f th e G ospel A d v o c a te , T o lb e r t
F anning and D avid Lipscomb form ed th e le a d e r s h ip f o r th e
c o n s e r v a tiv e o p p o s itio n to th e s o c i e t i e s . In 1885, F anning
w ro te i n th e N a s h v ille p e r i o d i c a l :
The p r a c t i c e o f c o - o p e r a tio n o f any body o f men,
su c h as a s s o c i a t i o n , c o n f e r e n c e , p r e s b y t e r y , o r
c o - o p e r a tio n m e e tin g , a c t i n g o u t s i d e o f th e C hurch,
in d e p e n d e n t o f h e r , and w ith a view to b r in g in g th e
r e s p e c t i v e ch u rch e s u n d e r o b l i g a t i o n to do a n y th in g
w hich su c h body m ig h t s u g g e s t, i s an o u tr a g e
a g a i n s t th e c h u rc h o f C h r i s t . 78
T hese d i f f e r e n c e s r e g a r d in g th e s c r i p t u r a l n e s s o f
th e m is s io n a ry s o c i e t y h e lp e d to p r e c i p i t a t e an o f f i c i a l
s p l i t i n th e D is c ip le s b ro th e rh o o d by th e t u r n o f th e
c e n tu r y . The c o n s e r v a tiv e elem en t o f th e movement, l a t e r
to become th e ch u rch e s o f C h r i s t , c a t e g o r i c a l l y r e j e c t e d
any su c h o r g a n iz a tio n as a d o c t r i n a l a s s a u l t upon th e
autonomy o f th e l o c a l c o n g r e g a tio n . As an i n s t i t u t i o n
7 7 G a r r is o n , R e lig io n F ollow s th e F r o n t i e r , p . 119.
^ " E d i t o r i a l , " G ospel A d v o c a te , I , No. 11
(November, 1 8 8 5 ), 135-136.
486
s e p a ra te and a p a rt from th e church, th e s o c ie ty was
accused o f pre-em pting th e m ission fo r which th e church
was pu rp o siv ely designed. As an e c c l e s i a s t i c a l com position
of many churches, i t was charged w ith usurping the in d e
pendent s e l f - r u l e o f lo c a l congregations in the conduct of
m issionary a f f a i r s .
Sharp trem ors from th e s o c ie ty debates were s t i l l
being f e l t when th e s u b je c t o f evangelism was ra is e d a t the
A bilene platform . The le c tu r e r s contended th a t th e church
i t s e l f was a m issionary s o c ie ty , "th e in d isp en sa b le u n it in
e f f e c tiv e m issionary w o r k ." ^ F. B. Shepherd was among the
f i r s t to speak. At th e 1919 program he a s s e rte d :
"Undoubtedly, th e lo c a l congregation is th e one God o r
dained m issionary s o c ie ty to send e v a n g e lists in to a l l
p a rts o f th e e a rth preaching th e Gospel to every
on
c r e a tu r e ." In a d ir e c t f r o n ta l a tta c k on th e m issionary
s o c ie ty th e follow ing y e a r, M . C. Kurfees added: " . . .
w hile th e s p e c if ic method o f o p eratio n is not given in the
New Testam ent, y e t th e one unvarying o rg a n iz a tio n in d ir e c t
^ B u rto n Coffman, "The E sta b lish e d C ongregation,"
L e c tu re s , 1959, p. 300.
80
Shepherd, "Missions,” p. 177.
487
c o n t r o l o f t h e w ork was t h e l o c a l c h u rc h th r o u g h i t s
Ol
d i v i n e l y a p p o in te d b o a rd o f o v e r s e e r s o r m a n a g e r s ." In
1 9 2 1 , C. G. V in c e n t c o n tin u e d t h e r a t i o n a l e : "The d i v i n e
o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r e v a n g e lis m i s s im p le b u t e f f e c t i v e . I t
i s so s im p le t h a t some f a i l t o d i s c o v e r i t . . . . The
C hurch i t s e l f i s H is o r g a n i z a t i o n t o s e r v e t h e b r e a d o f
8 2
l i f e t o t h e h u n g ry m u l t i t u d e s o f t h e e a r t h . "
O th e r r e l i g i o u s communions p ro d u c e d spokesm en who
s h a r e d t h e a la r m o f S h e p h e rd , V i n c e n t , and K u rfe e s c o n c e r n
in g t h e d i r e c t i o n i n w h ich t h e m is s io n a r y s o c i e t y movement
was l e a d i n g . I n 1 9 2 0 , 0 . W. Van O sd e l c a l l e d t h e a t t e n t i o n
o f t h e B a p t i s t c h u rc h e s t o t h e f a c t t h a t o n ly t w e n t y - t h r e e
c e n t s o u t o f e v e ry d o l l a r c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e New W orld
Movement was s p e n t t o c o n v e r t " t h e h e a t h e n , " w h ile t h e
r e m a in d e r was u s e d " f o r c i v i l i z a t i o n , A m e r i c a n i z a t i o n , and
83
s o c i a l s e r v i c e . " The i n f l u e n t i a l F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n
c h u rc h o f P i t t s b u r g h grew so d i s t r u s t f u l o f l i b e r a l l e a d e r
s h i p t h a t i n 1921 i t o r g a n iz e d i t s e l f i n t o a f o r e i g n
^ " M i s s i o n a r y Work i n New T e s ta m e n t C h u r c h e s ,"
L e c t u r e s , 1 9 2 0 -1 9 2 1 , p . 5 1 .
82
V in c e n t, o p . c i t . , p . 150.
83
Baptist Temple News , October 23, 1920.
488
m issionary so c ie ty to use i t s funds where the i n f a l l i b l e
B ible was b eliev e d . Other congregations charged the
P re sb y te ria n so c ie ty w ith " o v e rc e n tr a liz a tio n , and accused
.,84
the s e c r e t a r i a t o f expunging the l i b e r t i e s o f th e Church.
The same y e a r, th e F i r s t C h ristia n Church o f Canton, Ohio,
withdrew i t s fin a n c ia l support from the United C h ristia n
M issionary S ociety u n t i l i t committed i t s e l f d o c trin a lly
to the n e c e ss ity of baptism by immersion.
Six years l a t e r a t A bilene, Foy W allace, Sr.
s im ila rly questioned the d o c trin a l legitim acy as w ell as
th e economic p r a c t i c a l i t y o f the m issionary s o c ie ty system.
He attack ed th e denom inational p ra c tic e of b u ild in g "gigan
t i c human s o c ie tie s a t the expense o f th e ch u rch es, squan
dering the L ord's money in enormous sums, o ilin g the
machinery and g reasin g th e wheels o f these u n s c rip tu ra l
QC
o rg a n iz a tio n s ." Speaking on the program w ith W allace,
C. A. Buchanan c o n tra ste d th e s o c ie ty arrangement w ith the
a p o s to lic p a tte rn :
The lo c a l church is th e o rg a n iz a tio n which se n t the
m issio n arie s in the days o f th e a p o s tle s . There
was no se p a ra te o rg an iz atio n known as M issionary
Q A
Cole, op. cit. , pp. 102, 118.
^"The Church," Lectures, 1926-1927, p. 152.
489
S o c i e t y o f any k i n d , home o r f o r e i g n . E v ery c o n
g r e g a t i o n was a c o m p le te m i s s i o n a r y s o c i e t y w i t h i n
i t s e l f . T h e re was no g e n e r a l a s s e m b ly , s y n o d ,
c o n f e r e n c e , a s s o c i a t i o n , o r c o n v e n t i o n - - d i s t r i e t ,
n a t i o n a l o r o th e rw is e -- a m o n g t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n s .
I n f a c t , t h e New T e s ta m e n t r e v e a l s n o th in g i n th e
way o f a r e l i g i o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n among them e x c e p t
t h e l o c a l c h u r c h . E ld e r s w e re a p p o i n te d i n e v e ry
c h u r c h and e v e ry c h u rc h was in d e p e n d e n t. Any
r e l i g i o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , o t h e r th a n t h e
l o c a l c h u rc h i s u n a u t h o r iz e d i n t h e S c r i p t u r e s .
W ith no o r g a n i z a t i o n o t h e r th a n t h i s th e g r e a t e s t
m is s io n a r y program m e on r e c o r d was c a r r i e d o u t b y
t h e e a r l y c h u r c h . 8 6
I f t h e l e c t u r e r s u n a n im o u s ly c o n te n d e d t h a t t h e
c h u r c h was d i v i n e l y d e s ig n e d t o b e i t s own m is s io n a r y
s o c i e t y , th e y w ere e q u a l l y a s f r a n k t o c o n f e s s t h a t t h e
b r o th e r h o o d was a c h ie v i n g n e i t h e r p r a c t i c a l e f f i c i e n c y n o r
a c t u a l s u c c e s s i n t h e e x e c u ti o n o f t h i s d i v i n e p l a n .
S e v e r a l s p e a k e r s f e a r e d t h a t th e e f f o r t t o a v o id t h e p i t
f a l l o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s t r u c t u r e had e n c o u ra g e d t h e c h u r c h
to d e v e lo p i n e p t m is s io n h a b i t s d e v o id o f d e f i n i t e p u r p o s e
and s y s t e m a t i c p la n n in g . F o r i n s t a n c e , i n 1 9 1 9 , F . B.
S h e p h e rd e x c la im e d th e " u r g e n t n e e d f o r a d e f i n i t e p o l i c y
f o r t h e d o in g o f M is s io n a r y Work a t home and a b r o a d . .
87
. ." The same y e a r , G eorge A. K lingm an la m e n te d t h e
86
B u c h an a n , o p . c i t . , p . 196.
^ S h e p h e r d , " M i s s i o n s ," p . 176.
490
" s lip - s h o d , s lo v e n ly , n ig g a rd ly way in which some congre
g a tio n s c a rry on t h e i r w ork," and urged th e enactm ent o f
OQ
a more " d e f in i te purpose and p la n ." S ev eral y ears l a t e r ,
E. C. Coffman r a th e r s u c c in c tly s ta te d th e m issio n ary
problem fa c in g th e a n t i- s o c ie ty churches: "B usiness s ix
days a week and no r e l i g i o n in i t , and th en r e lig i o n one
day a week and no b u sin e ss in i t w i l l never ev an g elize the
w o r l d . I n 1959, P a t H a r re ll summarized:
In th e p a s t th e a t t i t u d e o f th e Church has been a
n e g a tiv e one in which we have been o v e rly concerned
w ith what n o t to do. This h i s t o r i c a l l y can be
ex p lain ed b u t h a rd ly excused. Too o fte n in th e
p a s t when we lig h te d th e lamp o f m issio n s i t was
n o t to g iv e l i g h t , b u t to f i l l th e room w ith
smoke.90
T h e re fo re , w h ile defending th e th e o ry o f independ
e n t c o n g re g a tio n a l i n i t i a t i v e , th e le c tu r e r s adm itted th a t
th e m ission program o fte n s u ffe re d from a la ck o f c o o rd i
n ated a c tio n . Although they named s e v e r a l ways in which
th e m ission program had broken down a t th e c o n g re g a tio n a l
l e v e l , f a ilu r e s in th re e a re a s were most prom inent: th e
88
Klingman, "A G reat Door Is Opened," p. 16.
OQ
"The R e s p o n s ib ility o f th e Local C ongregation in
P reaching th e G ospel," L ectu res , 1937, p. 38.
90
Harrell, op. cit. , p. 209.
491
f a i l u r e o f th e c o n g r e g a tio n s to a g g r e s s i v e l y l o c a t e and
s u r v e y new m is s io n f i e l d s , t o ta k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e i n
s e l e c t i n g and s e n d in g t h e m i s s i o n a r y , and to p r o p e r l y s u p
p o r t th e m is s io n a r y and h i s w ork. S e v e r a l s p e a k e r s p o in te d
o u t th e f a c t t h a t e a ch o f t h e s e s h o rtc o m in g s was a t t r i b
u t a b l e t o l e a d e r s h i p i n e r t n e s s . H a r r e l l named " t h e l o s s
o f n e rv e on t h e p a r t o f c h u rc h l e a d e r s " as t h e m a jo r c a u s e
o f r e c e s s i o n i n th e h i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n m is s io n s .
E x p la in in g t h a t t h i s la c k o f c o u ra g e i s o f t e n m a n if e s te d
i n f i n a n c i a l t i m i d i t y , H a r r e l l c o n c lu d e d :
T h e re h a s n e v e r b e e n an e x p a n s io n w ith o u t l e a d e r s
who w i l l l e a d . M is s io n s a r e alw ay s g ro u n d t o
pow der when th e y a r e c a u g h t b e tw e e n t h e u p p e r
m i l l s t o n e o f i n e r t e l d e r s and t h e n e t h e r m i l l s t o n e
o f t h e i n d i f f e r e n t m a s s e s .91
The m ost c o n s i s t e n t c h a rg e l e v e l e d a t t h e l o c a l
c o n g r e g a tio n was i t s f a i l u r e t o t a k e th e i n i t i a t i v e i n
s e l e c t i n g and s e n d in g m i s s i o n a r i e s . S h e p h e r d 's 1919 s p e e c h
p i n p o in t e d t h i s s h o rtc o m in g :
We h a v e s e e n th e f a i l u r e o f s e l f - a p p o i n t e d m i s s i o n
a r i e s am enable t o no o n e , d e p e n d e n t f o r f i n a n c i a l
s u p p o r t upon no one i n p a r t i c u l a r , b u t th e b r o t h e r
hood i n g e n e r a l . F o r y e a r s one man h a s d e v o te d
h i m s e l f t o an a lm o s t e n d l e s s f r u i t l e s s e f f o r t to
f i n d men w ith t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s who a r e w i l l i n g
to go o v e r s e a s t o th e w o rk , and th e n t o g e t t h e i r
^Harrell, "The Expansion of Christianity," p. 211.
493
J . Dow M e r r i t t , a v e t e r a n m i s s i o n a r y t o A f r i c a , r i d i c u l e d
t h e b r o t h e r h o o d 's s y s te m o f s e n d i n g m i s s i o n a r i e s :
L e t u s assu m e t h a t t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e c h u r c h ,
e l d e r s , d e a c o n s , p r e a c h e r s , t e a c h e r s , a r e aw ake
t o t h e d u t i e s an d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h a t th e y
h a v e . . . . o n e m o rn in g a n e l d e r a n n o u n c e s t h a t
w ord h a s come o f n e e d f o r w o rk e rs i n some m i s s i o n
p o i n t ; t h e n e x t d a y i s t o b e s e t a s i d e a s a d a y
f o r f a s t i n g an d p r a y e r ; v o l u n t e e r s a r e t o b e
a s k e d f o r t h a t f i e l d .
Noi We h a v e assu m ed to o m uch! I t i s n o t d o n e t h a t
w ay. T h e r e h a s n o t a m i s s i o n a r y g o n e t o t h e f i e l d
b u t h a s h a d t o b e g th e. c h u r c h e s t o s e n d h im , o r
e l s e som eone h a s d o n e t h e b e g g in g f o r h im . T hen
when h e g e t s t o t h e f i e l d h e h a s t o k e e p a c o n t i n
u a l flo w o f " p e t l e t t e r s " co m in g b a c k home l e s t h e
an d h i s w o rk b e f o r g o t t e n . When h e com es home h e
h a s t o b e g f o l k s t o l e t h im t e l l th em o f t h e c o n
d i t i o n s h e h a s fo u n d and u n d e r w h ic h h e h a s t o w o rk ,
an d o f t h e j o y s , s o r ro w s , v i c t o r i e s , a n d f a i l u r e s
t h a t h a v e b e e n h i s .95
E ven t h e p o s t - w a r s u r g e i n m i s s i o n a c t i v i t y w as d u e
m ore t o t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f i n d i v i d u a l m i s s i o n a r i e s r a t h e r
th a n t o v ig o r o u s l e a d e r s h i p a t t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n a l l e v e l .
I n 1 9 5 1 , O t i s G atew ood re m in d e d h i s l i s t e n e r s o f t h e s h o r t
co m in g s o f t h e p a s t :
B r e t h r e n , we a r e j u s t r e c o v e r i n g fro m a p e r i o d o f
tim e w hen a n e v a n g e l i s t w e n t away fro m o u r s h o r e
t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l w h e n , t o a g r e a t e x t e n t , h e
h a d t o go a t t h e r i s k o f b e i n g s t a r v e d t o d e a t h
an d t h e n f o r g o t t e n . I t h a s n ' t b e e n to o lo n g t h a t
c h u r c h e s h a v e b e e n i n t e r e s t e d i n s h o u l d e r i n g t h e
95
"Characteristics of the Workers Lectures ,
1937, p. 76.
492
sup p o rt assured. There is l i t t l e more a p o s to lic
precedent fo r e ith e r course than fo r th e "F.M.S.
[Free M issionary S ociety] and w ith le s s p r a c tic a l
r e s u l t s . Where, th e n , s h a ll we turn? What p ro v i
sio n has the d iv in e mind made to meet th e need?
The g r e a te s t m issionary in the C h ristia n d isp e n sa
tio n , the A postle P a u l, was SENT by th e church a t
A ntioch to th e work. . . . Were such a course
followed today and m issio n a rie s SENT by lo c a l
b o d ie s, those bodies would have a d e f in it e m is
sio n a ry p o lic y . . . . ^ 2
"Although th e re is nothing to p r o h ib it any f a ith f u l
se rv a n t of the Lord who so d e s ire s from going in to the
f i e l d , e ith e r home or fo re ig n , a t h is own ch a rg e s,"
d eclared C. A. Buchanan in 1926, "he should be answerable
fo r h is conduct to some lo c a l congregation where he is
Q 9
known, and he should have th e i r endorsem ent." In 1937,
George S. Benson, re c e n tly re tu rn ed from te n years in
China, contended th a t " th e re is no s c rip tu r e to j u s t i f y
churches in so com pletely f a ilin g to send workers to f o r
eign f i e l d s , th a t alm ost our e n tir e fo rce o f fo reig n
workers have been compelled to r a is e th e ir own tr a v e l fund
v o lu n ta rily and to seek th e i r own support w ith very lim ite d
94
encouragement from the ch urches." On the same program,
^ S h e p h e rd , "M issions," p. 177.
93
Buchanan, op. c i t . , p. 198.
9 4
"Workable Plans," Lectures, 1937, p. 59.
494
r e s p o n s i b ilit y and sta y in g behind th e men who went
and supported them, b u t n o t only su p p o rtin g them,
b u t y e a , ad v isin g them .96
A few y ears l a t e r , C line Paden was even le s s
o p tim is tic than Gatewood:
Not only is our plan n in g too s m a ll, i t is u s u a lly
p oorly done. There a re probably n o t more than a
h a l f dozen men overseas now who were s e n t th e re
by a church who f i r s t decided to send someone and
then got busy and found them and s e n t them. Most
o f th o se men today a re men who decided to go and
sp e n t some months tr y in g to i n t e r e s t someone in
sending them. Many tim es th e f i n a l arrangem ents
were made j u s t in tim e fo r him to c a tc h th e b o a t,
and he went to th e f i e l d w ithout knowing o r being
known by th e church sending him. This arrangem ent
gives r i s e to th e im pression h eld by so many sup
p o rtin g churches th a t they are doing th e man a
f a v o r .97
C losely r e la te d to th e la ck o f i n i t i a t i v e in send
ing th e m is sio n a rie s was th e c h u rc h 's f a i l u r e to support
them adeq u ately on th e fo re ig n f i e l d s . The speakers urged
congregations to f u lly su p p o rt and sponsor a s in g le m ission
e f f o r t , r a th e r than c o n trib u te s m a ll, i r r e g u la r amounts to
s e v e ra l f ie ld s sim u ltan eo u sly . P at H a rre ll sounded th e
need in 1959 fo r more tr u l y sponsoring co n g reg atio n s:
"Preaching the Gospel in GermanyLectures,
1951, p. 114.
97
"Evangelizing the World," Lectures, 1956,
p. 312.
495
. . . th e t e m p ta tio n i s f o r a c o n g r e g a tio n t o make
a to k e n c o n t r i b u t i o n to some f i e l d t o s e r v e a s a
s a l v e f o r i t s c o n s c ie n c e . I t a l s o s e r v e s a s a
t a c t f u l way to r e j e c t a l l o t h e r c a l l s f o r h e l p .
I n s h o r t , i t i s th e m eans by w h ich we c o n g e a l i n t o
a c o m f o r ta b le s t a t e o f s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n . The t e n
d o l l a r s h e r e o r th e tw e n ty d o l l a r s t h e r e t h a t
s h o u ld o n ly b e s t e p p i n g s t o n e s t o a g r e a t e r w ork
becom e p e d e s t a l s w h ich m aroon u s i n t h e p r e s e n t
s t a t e o f m e d i o c r i t y . We m u st b e v e r y c a r e f u l t h a t
we a r e n o t i n o c u l a t e d w i t h s u c h a m ild form o f
m is s io n s t h a t we become immune from t h e r e a l t h i n g .
Leon C. B u r n s , s p e a k in g t h e same y e a r on th e same
p o i n t , c o u ld s e e some s ig n s o f im p ro v em en t. He o b s e rv e d
t h e i n c r e a s e o f s p o n s o r in g c o n g r e g a t i o n s :
We a r e now b e g in n in g t o r e a l i z e t h a t i t i s f o l l y to
s c a t t e r o u r fu n d s o v e r a w id e a r e a w i t h n e v e r enough
i n any one p l a c e to a c c o m p lis h l a s t i n g good. Such
e f f o r t s h a v e l a r g e l y b e e n m o ti v a te d by f e a r on th e
p a r t o f e l d e r s t o a c c e p t f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
w ork i n an y p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e . I t seem s we h a v e f e l t
t h a t b y s e n d in g a s m a ll am ount t o many p l a c e s , we
w ould b e j u s t i f i e d i n p u l l i n g o u t an y tim e we
p l e a s e d . Such f e a r i s u n w o rth y o f o f f i c e r s i n t h e
L o r d 's c h u r c h , and i s a c o n s t a n t h in d r a n c e t o t h e
c a u s e o f Christ.99
B urns a l s o s u g g e s te d a s y s t e m a t i c p l a n f o r m ore
e f f e c t i v e m is s io n a r y w ork b y t h e c o n g r e g a tio n :
The f i r s t s t e p f o r any g ro u p o f e l d e r s d e s i r i n g to
e n t e r i n t o a b ro a d p ro g ra m o f m is s io n w ork s h o u ld
b e t o c a r r y th e c o n g r e g a tio n w i t h them i n t o a s e s
s i o n o f e a r n e s t and s i n c e r e p r a y e r t h a t God may
^Harrell, op. cit. , p. 210.
99
Burns, op. cit. , p. 147.
496
g ive them th e wisdom, f a i t h , and the courage needed
to meet t h e i r f u l l r e s p o n s ib ility . The next ste p
would be to decide upon a f ie ld o f l a b o r , and then
tak e a thorough stu d y of th is f ie ld as to i t s pos
s i b i l i t i e s , i t s n eeds, and the type work re q u ire d ;
a n tic ip a tin g , i f p o s s ib le , th e d i f f i c u l t i e s th a t
might a r i s e , and th e amount of money needed to do
an e f f e c tiv e work. To send a capable man in to th is
f i e l d to g a th e r th is inform ation would be time and
money w ell sp e n t. Having decided upon a p la c e , or
f i e l d o f la b o r, i t is then n ecessary to s e le c t a
man w ell q u a lifie d fo r th e work re q u ir e d . 100
In a d d itio n to th e sh o rtag e o f sponsoring churches,
congregations were accused o f employing u n ju s t and f a ls e
measurements in determ ining whether to continue the m is
s io n a ry ’s support on the f i e l d . In 1922, C. J . Robinson
d ec lared : ”M y h a rd e s t work in th e m ission f i e l d is to get
the co -o p eratio n of a l l the members of the churches. . . ."
E xplaining th a t the churches o fte n did not understand the
n a tu re of th e m issio n a ry 's work, Robinson charged: " . . .
when he does not b a p tiz e a g re a t number they cry o u t ,
'Waste of time and money. 1 But th e word of God is th e seed
o f th e Kingdom and when sown in to good and honest h e a rts
and allowed to remain th e re i t w ill b rin g f o rth good
f r u i t . " 101
100Burns , "Except They Be Sent," pp. 147-148.
lOlngffective Missionary Work," Lectures, 1922-
1923, p. 89.
497
In 1937, P a u l S o u th e rn d i s c u s s e d th e " te n d e n c y to
p u t r e l i g i o n on a c o m p e titiv e b a s i s and demand so many
v i s i b l e r e s u l t s f o r so many d o l l a r s i n v e s t e d . B ut i t i s
im p o s s ib le t o d e te rm in e th e c o s t p e r c a p i t a o f c o n v e r t in g
h e a th e n s a n y w h e re , and i t i s d o w n rig h t s i n f u l to re d u c e
1 0 9
C h r i s t i a n i t y t o s u c h a s t a t i s t i c a l f o r m u la ." S e v e r a l
y e a r s l a t e r , L. D. Webb g o t down t o s p e c i f i c c a s e s :
Many tim e s c o n g r e g a tio n s h e r e i n th e S o u th w i l l se n d
an e v a n g e l i s t o u t i n t o th e N o rth w e st t o e s t a b l i s h a
c o n g r e g a tio n . He p r e a c h e s a few s e rm o n s , b a p t i z e s a
few p e o p le and maybe th e c o n g r e g a tio n w i l l even go so
f a r a s t o make a down paym ent on a b u i l d i n g . Then
t h e s p o n s o rs w ith d ra w t h e i r s u p p o r t and se n d i t
e l s e w h e r e , th u s le a v in g a l i t t l e s t r u g g l i n g g ro u p o f
C h r i s t i a n s w ith o u t an e v a n g e l i s t , w ith o u t e l d e r s and
d e a c o n s . Oh, t h a t makes t h e s i t u a t i o n d i f f i c u l t .103
Don G ard n er u rg e d t h a t th e c h u rc h m u st b e p r e p a r e d
f o r s m a ll b e g in n in g s and m u st c o u n t t h e c o s t o f s e e in g a
w ork to f r u i t i o n : "You may know o f c a s e s , " h e s u g g e s t e d ,
"w here c h u r c h e s , becom ing d is c o u r a g e d w i t h t h e s n a i l p a c e
o f a new w o rk , h av e p u l l e d t h e i r p r e a c h e r s b a c k home l e a v
in g th e f r u i t on th e v i n e . " 10^ G e ra ld P aden jo i n e d G ard n er
102
S o u th e r n , "They A l l w ith One C o n sen t Began to
Make E x c u s e ," p . 50.
101
"The C hurch i n th e N o r th w e s t," L e c tu r e s , 1 9 5 0 ,
p. 11.
104
Gardner, op. cit. , p. 174.
i
498
in th e p le a fo r a r e - e v a lu a tio n o f th e c r i t e r i a o f m is sio n
ary e f f e c tiv e n e s s . He d e s c rib e d th e ty p ic a l p ro ced u re:
But we send o u t o ur men and determ ine t h e i r e f f e c
tiv e n e s s by th e number o f baptism s th ey r e p o r t and
even d ecid e th e f r u i t f u l n e s s o f th e f i e l d on th a t
b a s is . We have h eard s e v e r a l b r e th re n say : "We
can g e t more o u t o f our money in a n o th e r f i e l d . "
So th ey withdraw t h e i r s u p p o rt, p o s s ib ly j u s t as
th e f i e l d i s read y f o r h a rv e s t. A ccording to many
b re th r e n P aul was a f a i l u r e - - h e worked in C o rin th
f o r alm ost two y ea rs and could count on b o th hands
h is b ap tism s. I f th e y had been th e re they would
have d isco u rag ed A pollos from going to C o rin th - -
th e f i e l d i s u n f r u i t f u l —we g e t b e t t e r r e s u l t s e l s e
w here. But Paul was n o t a r e a p e r , and h is baptism s
were no index to th e f r u i t f u l n e s s o f h is f i e l d .
And A pollos had a f r u i t f u l la b o r th e re because Paul
had sown th e seed e x te n s iv e ly b e fo re him. 105
Speaking on th e same program w ith Paden, George W .
B a ile y co n tin u ed th e p o in t:
One g r e a t m istak e th e church has made has been lack
o f f a i t h in th e sowing. The h a rv e s t w i l l come. W e
a re n o t to ld to b a p tiz e every c r e a t u r e , b u t to
p reach th e gospel to every c r e a tu r e (I C o rin th ian s
1:17; Mark 1 6 :1 5 ). I f we d o n 't reap (o r b a p tiz e )
r i g h t away, we b eg in to lo s e f a i t h in th e sowing.
W e must be c o n te n t to l e t o th e rs reap th e h a rv e s t
f o r which we have sown. W e must be w illin g to sow
fo r th e h a r v e s t we may n ev er s e e , b e lie v in g th e
seed w i l l e v e n tu a lly grow, and th e h a r v e s t be
y ie ld e d . "One sow s, and an o th e r re a p s ” (John 4:
37).106
■^"Italy for Christ," Lectures, 1961, pp. 202-203,
"World V isio n f o r C h r i s t , ” L ec tu re s , 1961, p.
191. The same p o in t was made by J . Emmett W ainw right,
" R e s p o n s ib ility o f Each P reach er in C arrying th e Gospel to
499
In a d d i t i o n to th e p r a c t i c e o f r e t r a c t i n g m is s io n
a r y s u p p o r t b e c a u s e o f a l l e g e d i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s on th e
f i e l d , s p e a k e r s w ere a l s o a larm ed a t th e b r o t h e r h o o d 's
i n c l i n a t i o n to abandon any m is s io n a r y s u s p e c te d o f m o ra l
o r d o c t r i n a l w e a k n e ss. The c o n f l i c t i n th e A m erican
c h u rc h e s b etw e en fu n d a m e n ta lism and m odernism was e a r l y
p r o j e c t e d i n t o th e re a lm o f f o r e i g n m is s io n a r y a c t i v i t y on
t h i s p o i n t . The f i r s t i n d i c a t i o n s o f d o c t r i n a l d e p a r t u r e s
w i t h i n s e v e r a l m a jo r d e n o m in a tio n s w ere d e t e c t e d i n th e
te a c h in g a c t i v i t i e s o f m is s io n w o rk e rs . By 1920, i t had
become common p r a c t i c e f o r th e p e r s o n a l b e l i e f s and t e a c h
in g h a b i t s o f any m is s io n a r y to b e c l o s e l y s c r u t i n i z e d by
h i s d e n o m in a tio n a l h e a d q u a r t e r s . C o n s e q u e n tly , as th e l i s t
o f s e c e d e r s from a l l c o n s e r v a tiv e communions b eg an to
a c c u m u la te , i t c o n ta in e d a s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h p e r c e n ta g e
o f p r e a c h e r s w ith m is s io n a r y e x p e r ie n c e .
T e n sio n s w i t h i n th e B a p t i s t d e n o m in a tio n w ere
t y p i c a l o f th e m is s io n a r y p ro b lem s e x p e rie n c e d by many
P r o t e s t a n t g ro u p s . The B a p t i s t c h u rc h f i r s t becam e aw are
t h e Whole C r e a t i o n ," L e c t u r e s , 1937, p . 4 1 . "Had C h r i s t
demanded th e ’c o n v e r s io n 1 o f e v e ry c r e a t u r e , h i s d i s c i p l e s
w ould h av e b e e n b u rd e n e d w ith an im p o s s ib le t a s k . The
L o r d 's r e q u ir e m e n ts a r e w i t h i n th e p a l e o f human p o s s i
b i l i t y . "
500
o f th e l i b e r a l enemy w ith in i t s fo ld when A. H. S tro n g ,
th e p r e s id e n t em eritus o f R ochester T h eo lo g ical Seminary
made an e x te n siv e o v erseas survey to u r in 1917. S trong was
shocked to d is c o v e r th a t even th e t r a d i t i o n a l stro n g h o ld s
o f B a p tis t m issio n a ry a c t i v i t y had been m arkedly in flu e n c e d
by th e te n e ts o f th e o lo g ic a l lib e r a lis m . The e n t i r e
denom ination was q u ic k ly a l e r t e d . At th e 1923 N orthern
B a p tis t C onvention, e ig h t m is s io n a rie s were s in g le d out
o f s e v e r a l hundred because they would n o t a ffirm t h e i r
b e l i e f nin c e r t a in p o p u la r d o c t r in e s ." The fo llo w in g y e a r,
th e denom ination ap p o in ted a s p e c ia l com m ittee,
. . . w ith power and a u th o r ity to in v e s tig a te and
r e p o r t a t th e n e x t m eeting o f th e N orthern B a p tis t
C onvention, th e co n d u c t, p o l i c i e s , and p r a c tic e s
o f th e Board o f Managers o f th e American B a p tis t
F oreign M issionary S o cie ty and i t s s e c r e t a r i e s in
th e s e le c tio n o f m is s io n a rie s in th e fo re ig n
f i e l d . . . .107
By 1925 , th e B a p tis t c o n s e rv a tiv e s had become so
d isg u s te d w ith th e d en o m in atio n 's t o l e r a n t a t t i t u d e toward
l i b e r a l m is s io n a rie s th a t they o rg an ized them selves in to a
s e p a ra te m issio n ary s o c ie ty . A p o p u lar fu n d a m e n ta list
jo u r n a l e d ite d by J . Frank N o rris in F o rt W orth, T exas,
ex p lain e d th e n e c e s s ity fo r th e new o rg a n iz a tio n :
^ ^ Annual o f th e N orthern B a p tis t C onvention,
1924, p. 41.
501
The B ib le B a p t i s t U nion h as r e c e iv e d h u n d red s o f
l e t t e r s a s k in g f o r a d v ic e r e s p e c t i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n s
t o F o re ig n M is s io n s . We can now answ er i n a s e n -
te n c e : Do n o t g iv e one s o l i t a r y c e n t f o r p u rp o se
i n t o th e hands o f th e F o re ig n M is s io n Board o f th e
N o rth e rn B a p t i s t C o n v e n tio n . A f t e r th e e x h i b i t i o n
made a t t h i s C o n v e n tio n , we w ould as soon t r u s t
Ju d as I s c a r i o t . . . .108
The P r e s b y t e r i a n s grew s i m i l a r l y d i s t u r b e d as
r e p o r t s o f l i b e r a l i s m on t h e m is s io n f i e l d s f i l t e r e d i n t o
th e s o c i e t y ’s h e a d q u a r te r s . A s p e c i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n was
t r i g g e r e d when E p is c o p a lia n W. H. G riffith -T h o m a s r e p o r t e d
i n a 1921 a f t e r - d i n n e r sp e e c h t h a t many P r e s b y t e r i a n m is
s i o n a r i e s i n C hina had o p e n ly b ro k e n w ith e v a n g e lic a lis m .
F o r th e n e x t e i g h t y e a r s , P r e s b y t e r i a n c o n c la v e s w ere p r e
o c c u p ie d w ith th e q u e s tio n o f h e te ro d o x y among m i s s i o n
a r i e s .
In a d d i t i o n to th e B a p t i s t s and P r e s b y t e r i a n s , th e
C h r i s t i a n C hurch was a t h i r d g ro u p a la rm e d a t d i g r e s s i v e
te n d e n c ie s on i t s m is s io n f r o n t s . I n 1920, th e c o n s e r v a
t i v e s o f th e d e n o m in a tio n c e n te r e d t h e i r c r i t i c i s m upon
th e U n ite d C h r i s t i a n M is s io n a ry S o c ie ty w ith a v iew to
a r r e s t i n g th e p r a c t i c e o f open-m em bership on C h in e se
“ ^^The Searchlight, July 10, 1925.
109
The Presbyterian, February 10, 1921.
502
m ission f ie ld s . At th e same tim e, freq u en t a r t i c l e s in
th e C h ris tia n Standard condemned the d o c trin a l d ep artu res
th a t m issio n a rie s had taken. By 1923, s ix hundred con
cerned d eleg ates organized an independent m issionary
agency, th e C h ris tia n R e sto ra tio n A sso c iatio n .
The p o s itio n o f th e churches o f C h ris t was r e p r e
sen ted by the speakers a t the A bilene p latfo rm . In 1921,
le c tu r e r C. G. V incent expressed th e opinion th a t "th e
m issionary is surrounded by more tem ptations and by fewer
r e s tr a in in g in flu e n c e s than the average p reacher in the
hom eland.” When a m issionary is suspected o f d o c trin a l
e r r o r V incent recommended th a t th e sponsoring church con
tin u e to support him f u lly w hile making in v e s tig a tio n and
attem pting r e s to r a tio n . " I f the e f f o r t a t r e s to r a tio n
f a i l s , th e appointing church should r e c a l l th e m issio n ary ,
pay h is way back to th e home church, d is c ip lin e him , and
s e t about to fin d and appoint another m issionary and send
him out w ithout d elay .
Vincent also recommended a procedure fo r i n v e s t i
g a tin g a m issio n a ry 's m istake in th e a d m in istra tio n of
funds. He advised th e church " to w rite him a l e t t e r of
'^Vincent, op. cit., pp. 151-152.
503
sym pathy ( f o r i t h u r t s him m ore th a n i t does anyone a t
home) and a s k him to b e m ore c a u tio u s (and h e w i l l , f o r
e x p e r ie n c e i s a w o n d e rfu l t e a c h e r ) and c o n tin u e to s u p p o r t
him and p ra y f o r h im ." V in c e n t a d d e d : " I t m ig h t b e w e ll
to a d v i s e him to c o n s u l t h i s f e llo w w o r k e r s , b o th n a t i v e
and A m e ric a n , b e f o r e he in v o lv e s h i m s e l f a g a in i n some b i g
u n d e r ta k in g ! " V in c e n t th e n made h i s p rim a ry p o i n t : "B ut
to abandon th e f i e l d sim p ly b e c a u s e a m is s io n a r y g o es w rong
o r m a la d m in is te r s some m oney, and so l e t th e h e a th e n re m a in
t o l i v e and d i e i n d a r k n e s s , w ith o u t h o p e , i s b ad l o g i c and
w o rse C h r i s t i a n i t y ! " '* '^
In 1 9 3 7 , P a u l S o u th e rn c o n tin u e d th e d i s c u s s i o n o f
m i s s i o n a r i e s who had l e f t th e f a i t h . I n s h i f t i n g th e b u r
den o f blam e from th o s e who go t o th o s e who s e n d , h e named
i n f e r i o r c o n g r e g a tio n o v e r s i g h t and p o o r f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t
as c o n t r i b u t i n g c a u s e s t o a m i s s i o n a r y 's u n f a i t h f u l n e s s on
th e f i e l d :
We u n d e r s ta n d r e a d i l y why a few m i s s i o n a r i e s h a v e
d e s e r t e d to t h e d e n o m in a tio n s . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e ,
p o o r ju d g m en t was u s e d i n s e n d in g them o u t . Some
w ere p h y s i c a l w e a k lin g s , some w ere p r o f e s s i o n a l
b e g g a r s , and some w ere p o is o n e d w i t h d o c t r i n a l
d e f e c t i o n s lo n g b e f o r e th e y l e f t th e s h o r e s o f
A m erica. No p e r s o n s h o u ld b e s e n t to a n o th e r
^^Vincent, "World Evangelism," p. 152.
504
la n d u n t i l he h as f i r s t pro v ed h im s e lf a t home.
F u rth e rm o re , o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y does n o t end when
th e e v a n g e lis t re a c h e s h is d e s t in a t i o n . F a ilin g
to s u p p o rt him f i n a n c i a l l y and to lo o k a f t e r him
s p i r i t u a l l y may b e as b ig a s i n as d e s e r tio n .
U n less th e y have r e p e n te d , i t i s p ro b a b le t h a t
some ch u rch es in A m erica have th e b lo o d o f a few
m is s io n a r ie s on t h e i r h a n d s.
In s h o r t , th e l e c t u r e r s b o th p r a is e d and c r i t i c i z e d
th e b r o th e r h o o d 's c o n c e p t and p r a c t ic e o f m is s io n a ry m eth
o d s. W hile d e fe n d in g th e th e o ry o f in d e p e n d e n t co n g reg a
t i o n a l a c t i o n , th e y lam ented th e c h u rc h 's i n s i p i d a tte m p t
to p r a c t ic e th e th e o ry . W hile h o n o rin g a p o s to lic m issio n
>
m ethods , th e y ch arg ed th e ch u rch w ith f a i l i n g to f u l l y
ad o p t th o s e m ethods in to a s u c c e s s f u l program . The co n
c lu d in g p a ra g ra p h o f G eorge A. K lin g m an 's 1919 a d d re ss s e t
th e to n e f o r f u tu r e m is s io n a ry d ev elo p m en ts:
112
S o u th e rn , "They A ll w ith One C onsent Began to
Make E x c u se ," p . 52. On page 5 0 , S o u th e rn a ls o a d d re sse d
h im s e lf to th e m is s io n a r y 's h a n d lin g o f fu n d s: " . . . we
som etim es h e a r th e ex cu se t h a t o u r m is s io n a r ie s spend to o
much. F o rs o o th 1 . W e o u g h t to b e ashamed o f th e way we have
t r e a t e d some o f them l . . . Some c a rp in g c r i t i c s have even
ac cu sed o u r m is s io n a r ie s o f m is a p p r o p ria tio n o f th e b r o th
e rh o o d 's fu n d s. O th ers have s a id t h a t B ro th e r J . M .
McCaleb became r i c h in Jap an . P erh ap s h e h as become r i c h ,
b u t h is i s an in ta n g ib le w e a lth w hich ca n n o t b e m easured in
term s o f s i l v e r and g o ld . The b e s t c u re f o r su ch unfounded
c r i t i c i s m i s f o r th e c r i t i c s to jo u rn e y to some o u tp o s t o f
C h r i s t i a n i t y and se e how econom ical o u r e v a n g e lis ts a re
fo rc e d to b e ."
505
The a p o s t o li c ways and m ethods o f d o in g G od's w ork
h av e n o t b ee n a d o p te d and fo llo w e d and f o r t h a t
re a s o n m ore e f f i c i e n t w ork h a s n o t b ee n d o n e. The
w o rld h a s n o t b ee n e v a n g e liz e d and th e s u f f e r i n g
m ass o f h u m an ity h a s n o t b ee n m in is te r e d u n to
b e c a u s e we h av e n o t b e e n LOYAL to New T estam e n t
i d e a l s and p la n s . The same n e v e r-c h a n g in g p r i n c i
p le s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y m ust b e a p p lie d to p r e s e n t- d a y
c o n d i t i o n s . W ith th e c h u rc h o rg a n iz e d a f t e r th e
New T estam e n t p a t t e r n , r e c o g n iz in g no o th e r h ead
b u t J e s u s C h r i s t , we m ust s y s te m a tiz e o u r w ork and
a rra n g e f o r d e f i n i t e w ork i n a d e f i n i t e w ay. L e t
us n o t b e a f r a i d o f d o in g th e r i g h t th in g b e c a u se
som eone e l s e does r i g h t ; n e i t h e r l e t u s r e f r a i n
from d o in g G o d 's w ork b e c a u s e som eone e l s e may do
i t th e w rong way. . . .113
The C o o p e ra tio n P r i n c i p l e
In h i s e n c y c lo p e d ic w o rk , R e lig io u s B o d ies in
A m e ric a , E. F . M ayer d e s c r ib e d th e c h u rc h e s o f C h r is t as
r e p r e s e n tin g " th e m ost ex trem e form o f C o n g re g a tio n a lis m
among c h u r c h e s . " H ^ i t i s c e r t a i n l y t r u e t h a t in d e l i v e r
in g t h e i r a d d re s s e s on e v a n g e lis m , th e A b ile n e s p e a k e rs
assum ed a r e s o l u t e p o s tu r e o f r e s p e c t f o r th e p r i n c i p l e
o f c o n g r e g a tio n a l autonom y. A t th e same tim e , h o w ev er,
th e y f r e q u e n tly a d v o c a te d th e n eed f o r m ore b ro th e rh o o d -
w ide c o o r d in a tio n in th e c o n d u c t o f m is s io n a r y a c t i v i t i e s .
^^Klingman, "A Great Door Is Opened," p. 20.
^ ^ R e lig io u s B odies in A m erica (3d e d .; S t . L o u is :
C o n c o rd ia P u b lis h in g H ouse, 1 9 5 8 ), p . 216.
506
In th e p la tfo rm 's beginning th e se two emphases were in
te n s io n , th e one w ith th e o th e r. And as th e y ears p assed ,
th e enigm atic s itu a tio n o f r e je c tin g th e m issionary s o c ie ty
w hile d e s irin g th e f r u i t s o f an o rd e rly m issionary system
more fa r-re a c h in g than the scope o f any s in g le congregation
became a prom inent L ectu resh ip problem. The s o lu tio n to
th is apparent paradox was to be found in th e p rin c ip le o f
in te r-c o n g re g a tio n a l co o p eratio n w ithout e c c le s ia s tic a l
o rg a n iz a tio n .
In 1919, George A. Klingman became th e f i r s t
speaker to v o ice approval o f th e co o p eratio n p rin c ip le .
He d escrib ed th e P ro te s ta n t program o f evangelism as
flo u n d erin g on th e rocky crags o f "th e S c y lla o f E c c le s i
a s tic ism on th e one s id e and th e Gharybdis o f n eg lected
duty on th e o th e r." Recommending in te r-c o n g re g a tio n a l
co o p eratio n as th e s a fe course between th e se two e v il
ex trem es, Klingman added:
. . . sm aller congregations can co -o p erate in th e
spread o f th e gospel message in th e home community,
and the sam e plan works admirably for preaching the
gospel in th e fo re ig n f ie ld . . . . and j u s t as i t
may be n ecessary fo r s e v e ra l congregations to
c o -o p erate fo r th e purpose o f ev an g elizin g a county,
so l e t any number o f churches co -o p erate in sending
507
o u t a m i s s i o n a r y , t h e e le m e n t o f m i l e a g e b e i n g t h e
o n l y d i f f e r e n c e .
S p e a k in g o n t h e 1919 p ro g ra m w i t h K lin g m a n , F . B.
S h e p h e r d a p p e a r e d t o r e p r e s e n t a s e g m e n t o f b r o t h e r h o o d
t h i n k i n g w h ic h u l t i m a t e l y cam e t o a g g r e s s i v e l y o p p o s e t h e
p r i n c i p l e o f i n t e r - c o n g r e g a t i o n a l m i s s i o n a r y c o o p e r a t i o n .
S h e p h e rd a s k e d :
S h a l l t h e c h u r c h i n t h e a g g r e g a t e s e n d o u t m i s s i o n
a r i e s ? I f s o , i t n e e d s som e o f f i c i a l b o a r d a n d t h e
B i b l e m ak es n o p r o v i s i o n f o r s u c h . I s i t n o t t h e
G o d - o r d a in e d a p p o in tm e n t o f t h e l o c a l i n s t i t u t i o n ?
T h is c o u r s e w o u ld a l s o re m o v e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
u n s c r i p t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s g ro w in g o u t o f a c o m b in a
t i o n o f c h u r c h e s t o s u p p o r t o n e m an. . . .1 1 6
I n 1 9 2 0 , M. C. K u r f e e s c i t e d s e v e r a l a p o s t o l i c
e x a m p le s t o e s t a b l i s h h i s p r e m is e t h a t " tw o o r m o re c h u r c h
e s , i f n e e d b e , may c o - o p e r a t e i n t h e w o r k ." He re c o m
m ended t h a t c o n g r e g a t i o n a l in d e p e n d e n c e b e p r o t e c t e d b y
s e n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n s d i r e c t l y t o t h e m i s s i o n f i e l d , r a t h e r
t h a n t h r o u g h a s p o n s o r i n g c o n g r e g a t i o n . K u r f e e s a d v a n c e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g c o o p e r a t i o n p a t t e r n :
Hence, the fact that one church is contributing to
sustain a missionary is no reason why another
c h u r c h o r o t h e r c h u r c h e s may n o t do s o i f o n e i s
to o p o o r f i n a n c i a l l y t o s u s t a i n t h e w o rk ; a n d i n
115
Klingman, "A Great Door Is Opened," p. 21.
^ S h e p h e rd , " M i s s i o n s , " p . 1 7 7 .
508
such a c a s e , each ch u rch m a in ta in s i t s own in d e
pendence and sen d s d i r e c t l y to th e s u p p o rt o f th e
m is s io n a ry in th e f i e l d . H '
In 1926, C. A. B uchanan, l i k e K u rfe e s, was a ls o
c a u tio u s b u t n o n e th e le s s c l e a r in h is advocacy o f th e p r i n
c i p l e o f c o o p e ra tio n . Buchanan approved th e p o lic y o f
c o o p e ra tio n w ith o u t o r g a n iz a tio n :
Every c o n g re g a tio n t h a t is s tro n g enough to do so
sh o u ld c a r r y on an in d ep en d en t program o f m issio n a ry
w ork. T here i s le s s c o m p lic a tio n and le s s chance
f o r em barrassm ent when t h i s can be done. Any number
o f c o n g re g a tio n s , how ever, may c o o p e ra te in th e su p
p o r t o f any S c r i p tu r a l w ork, w ith o u t th e c r e a tio n o f
any o th e r o r g a n iz a tio n , by p la c in g th e work under
th e d i r e c tio n o f one c o n g re g a tio n . An a r b i t r a r y
c o n tr o l sh o u ld n o t be e x e rc is e d o v er th e w ork, b u t
a l l who a re i n t e r e s t e d sh o u ld a d v ise t o g e t h e r .118
A lthough s e v e r a l e a r l i e r sp e a k e rs had b r i e f l y
ad v o cated th e p r a c t ic e o f in te r - c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o o p e ra tio n ,
J . N. A rm stro n g 's 1935 a d d r e s s , "The L a rg e r V isio n and Need
o f th e H our," was th e epoch-m aking a d d re ss in th e d ev e lo p
m ent o f th e c o o p e ra tio n p r i n c i p l e . He contended t h a t an
o v e rly e x a g g e ra te d p r e s e n ta tio n o f th e autonomous n a tu re
o f th e lo c a l c o n g re g a tio n had robbed th e b ro th erh o o d o f
i t s in flu e n c e as a u n ite d i n s t i t u t i o n . M a in tain in g t h a t
^^^Kurfees, op. cit. , pp. 54-55.
118
Buchanan, op. cit. , p. 199.
509
t h i s w arped em p h asis upon th e in d e p e n d e n c e o f th e l o c a l
c h u rc h h ad te n d e d to make s e p a r a t e d e n o m in a tio n s o f e a c h
c o n g r e g a tio n , A rm stro n g d e c la r e d :
I b e l i e v e t h e r e i s an o v e r s t r e s s i n g , an e x a g g e r
a t i n g o f th e l o c a l body t h a t i s le a d in g th e c h u rc h e s
to lo s e s i g h t o f th e b r o a d e r v i s i o n and t h e r e f o r e
r e t a r d i n g th e c a u s e o f o u r M a s te r on th e e a r t h . I t
o c c u rs t o me t h a t we a r e f a s t m aking th e l o c a l
c h u rc h an end o f e f f o r t , r a t h e r th a n a p r e p a r a t i o n
f o r a g r e a t j o b , th e r e a l s e r v i c e f o r w h ich th e
l o c a l c h u r c h , th e t r a i n i n g cam p u s, e x i s t . H 9
I n s p e a k in g o f a " b ig g e r and b r o a d e r s e r v i c e th a n
th e l o c a l w o rk ," A rm stro n g s u g g e s te d t h a t th e a p o p t o lic
c o n g r e g a tio n s o f t e n "com bined t h e i r s t r e n g t h and r e s o u r c e s
i n a c c o m p lis h in g a w ork t h a t no c o n g r e g a tio n c o u ld do
a lo n e . As G o d 's c h u r c h e s , e a c h c o n g r e g a tio n k e e p in g i t s
own i d e n t i t y , th e y c o o p e ra te d w ith one a n o th e r in t h e p e r
fo rm in g o f b ig t a s k s . " P a r t i c u l a r l y d e p lo r in g th e f r a g
m en ted e x i s te n c e o f h u n d re d s o f s m a l l , s u b s i s t e n c e
c o n g r e g a tio n s , h e c o n c lu d e d t h a t " i t i s g o o d , w is e , and o f
d i v in e a p p ro v a l to s t i r c h u rc h e s t o j o i n o t h e r c h u rc h e s i n
1 90
a c c o m p lis h in g th e jo b s co m m itted to th e c h u r c h ."
^ ^ L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 5 , p . 125.
120
I b i d . , p p . 1 2 7 -1 3 0 . T h is p o i n t was made y e a r s
l a t e r b y O tis G atew ood, "T he Work i n Germany and E u ro p e ,"
L e c tu r e s , 1 9 5 5 , p . 157: " I f ir m ly b e l i e v e t h a t th e l a r g e
num ber o f s m a ll c o n g r e g a tio n s i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a la c k o f
510
A lth o u g h A rm stro n g 's b o ld m essage had e q u a l im p act
upon th e e v a n g e l i s t i c and b e n e v o le n t program s o f c o n g re g a
tio n s w ith in th e U n ite d S t a t e s , th e a s c e n d in g a t t i t u d e
w hich i t p io n e e re d l i t e r a l l y r e v o lu tio n iz e d th e f o r e ig n
m is s io n a ry a c t i v i t y among c h u rc h e s o f C h r i s t . Two y e a rs
a f t e r i t s d e l i v e r y , th e p o lic y m akers o f th e A b ile n e p l a t
form d e v o te d th e f i r s t program in L e c tu re s h ip h i s t o r y to
th e them e o f w o rld e v a n g e lism . The p o s i t i o n t h a t th e o n ly
r e a l i s t i c means f o r e v a n g e liz in g th e w o rld was i n t e r -
c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o o p e ra tio n b eg an to c r y s t a l l i z e i n t o a
p o s i t i v e a f f ir m a tio n . P a u l S o u th e rn was among th e 1937
s p e a k e rs who em braced th e is s u e :
But i t som etim es becom es e x p e d ie n t f o r c o n g re g a tio n s
to c o o p e ra te in o r d e r to s u p p o rt a man w h ile he is
p re a c h in g in a v i r g i n f i e l d . I t was done d u rin g th e
a p o s to lic a g e . W e do i t in th e hom eland and n o th in g
i s s a id ab o u t i t . Why does i t become s i n f u l i f te n
o r a th o u sa n d C h r is tia n s p o o l t h e i r money and send
i t to a la b o r e r a c ro s s th e s e a s ? . . . W hile we
g u a rd a g a in s t an u n s c r i p t u r a l p la n on th e one h a n d ,
we n e g le c t to f u l f i l l th e g r e a t com m ission on th e
o t h e r .
w o rld -w id e e v a n g e lism more th a n any o th e r f a c t o r in o u r
m id s t." The im p act o f th e p r i n c i p l e o f c o n g r e g a tio n a l
c o o p e ra tio n upon th e c h u r c h 's m is s io n program can b e c a l
c u la te d from su ch r e p o r ts as Howard L. S chug, J . W . T r e a t,
and R o b e rt L. J o h n sto n ( e d s . ) , The H a rv e s t F ie ld (A th e n s,
A labam a: C. E. I . B o o k s to re , 1 9 5 8 ).
511
Which i s th e g r e a t e r s i n : to r e f u s e to do a n y th in g
f o r f e a r o f g o in g beyond t h a t w hich i s w r i t t e n , o r
to l e t m il lio n s go to th e ju d g m en t u n p re p a re d to
m eet t h e i r God? T a rd in e s s in e n t e r in g th e m is s io n
f i e l d s was r e s p o n s i b le f o r th e f i r s t m is s io n a ry
b o a rd s and s o c i e t i e s o f th e d i g r e s s iv e c h u rc h . W e
ca n o b v ia te t h i s e v i l w ith in o u r own ra n k s by r a l l y
in g to th e s u p p o rt o f th e w ork in a s c r i p t u r a l
w ay. ^ 2 1
By 1940 , th e dorm ant d i f f e r e n c e s o f o p in io n w hich
h ad from th e b e g in n in g accom panied th e d is c u s s io n s o f
c h u rc h c o o p e ra tio n b eg an to aw aken. T h ese d i f f e r e n c e s ,
th o u g h r e p r e s e n tin g a b a s ic c o n t r a s t in a t t i t u d e and
s p i r i t , c e n te r e d aro u n d m ethods o f e v a n g e lism and b en e v o
le n c e . Some c h u rc h le a d e r s f e a t u r e d th e autonom ous n a tu r e
o f th e c h u rc h and p la c e d s t r i n g e n t l i m i t a t i o n s upon th e
l a t i t u d e o f c o n g r e g a tio n a l c o o p e r a tio n . F e a rin g th e
e v o lu tio n o f e c c l e s i a s t i c a l c o n t r o l , th e y c la s s e d t h e i r
c o o p e ra tio n -m in d e d c o lle a g u e s a s th e d i r e c t d e s c e n d a n ts
o f th e m is s io n a ry s o c i e t y d ig r e s s i v e s o f th e n in e te e n th
c e n tu r y . The L e c tu re s h ip speechm aking does n o t j u s t l y
r e v e a l th e te n s io n c r e a te d by th e many p u b lic d e b a te s and
h e a te d j o u r n a l i s t i c e x c h a n g e s. The s p e a k e r s ' s i l e n c e was
n o t due to th e p l a t f o r m 's d is d a in f o r c o n tro v e rs y b u t
1 21
S o u th e rn , "They A ll w ith One C o n sen t Began to
Make E x c u s e ," p . 52.
512
r e s u lte d from th e c o l le g e 's d e c is io n to c a r e f u l ly avoid
122
en tan g lem en t in th e is s u e d u rin g th e b i t t e r 1 9 4 0 's .
The g r e a t m a jo rity o f th e men who appeared a t
A b ilen e were s i l e n t l y sy m p a th etic w ith th e p r in c ip l e o f
c o o p e ra tio n w ith o u t o r g a n iz a tio n , and in 1954, a f t e r th e
lin e s o f d iv is io n w ere s h a rp ly draw n, l e c t u r e r John H.
B a n is te r was a ssig n e d th e o b v io u sly im p o rta n t to p ic , "Ways
and Means o f Doing M issio n W ork." B a n is te r r e f e r r e d to
th e u n fo rtu n a te schism w h ic h .th e is s u e had o cca sio n ed :
Most o f th e c o n tro v e rs y on t h i s q u e s tio n i s over
th e is s u e o f c o n g re g a tio n a l c o o p e ra tio n . W e a l l
ag ree t h a t each c o n g re g a tio n can and sh o u ld do
m is sio n work. W e a ls o a g re e t h a t each co n g reg a
tio n c e r t a i n l y can p la n i t s own program and a c t
in d e p e n d e n tly o f any and a l l c o n g re g a tio n s . T his
i s a d m itte d . The is s u e is t h i s : can a group o f
c o n g re g a tio n s c o o p e ra te in p re a c h in g th e g o sp el
in a g iv en f ie l d ? I f s o , how? And to w hat
e x te n t? So f a r as i s known, no one contends th a t
co n g re g a tio n s m ust c o o p e ra te o r e ls e . The is s u e
i s , a re c o n g re g a tio n s a t l i b e r t y to c o o p e ra te , i f
th e y so ch o o se, and d e s ire ? Do c o n g re g a tio n s have
th e r i g h t to work to g e th e r in p re a c h in g th e g o sp e l
in a g iv en fie ld ? 1 2 3
B a n is te r l i s t e d th e fo llo w in g as p r in c ip le s th a t
sh o u ld govern c o o p e ra tio n among ch u rch e s: c o o p e ra tio n must
122
Don H. Morris, personal interview, October 24,
1961.
123
Lectures, 1954, p. 4.
513
b e v o l u n t a r y , i t m u st r e s p e c t t h e autonom y o f e a c h l o c a l
c h u rc h ; c o n g r e g a tio n s c a n c o o p e r a te i n e x c h a n g in g a d v i c e ,
i n s o l v i n g d o c t r i n a l and m o ra l p ro b le m s i n th e c h u r c h , i n
t e a c h i n g an d i n d o c t r i n a t i n g o n e a n o t h e r , i n b e n e v o le n t
a c t i v i t y , i n s e l e c t i n g and s e n d in g o u t m en, and i n d o in g
c o r p o r a t e m is s io n w o rk . A f t e r d e c l a r i n g h i m s e l f i n f a v o r
o f c o o p e r a t i o n , B a n i s t e r lo d g e d a c a u t i o n :
T h e re i s a d a n g e r o f b r e t h r e n r e a c h in g t h e c o n c lu
s i o n t h a t " t h e end j u s t i f i e s t h e m ean s" an d com ing
to b e l i e v e t h a t an y way o f d o in g m is s io n a r y w ork
i s a l l r i g h t j u s t s o i t i s d o n e . T h is i s p r o b a b ly
a d a n g e r m ore r e a l and t h r e a t e n i n g th a n we r e a l
i z e . T h is p h ilo s o p h y , i f c a r r i e d t o i t s l o g i c a l
c o n c l u s i o n , w o u ld r e s u l t i n t h e f o r m a tio n o f a
M is s io n a r y S o c i e ty . . . . T h e re i s a l s o t h e d a n g e r
o f s m a l l e r c o n g r e g a tio n s t u r n i n g t h e i r m is s io n
w ork o v e r t o a few l a r g e an d p ro m in e n t c o n g r e g a
t i o n s an d a llo w in g them t o becom e t h e u n o f f i c i a l
d i r e c t o r s an d p ro m o te rs o f b r o th e r h o o d m is s io n
a c t i v i t i e s .1 2 4
J . W. R o b e r t s ' 1959 l e c t u r e , "K e e p in g M is s io n s
S c r i p t u r a l , " t r a c e d t h e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e
c o o p e r a t io n p r i n c i p l e th r o u g h t h e R e s t o r a t i o n M ovem ent.
He d e n ie d t h a t th e p r i n c i p l e o f c o o p e r a t io n c o u ld b e
e q u a te d w ith t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e m is s io n a r y s o c i e t y .
A f t e r r e v ie w in g t h e w r i t i n g s o f C a m p b e ll, B en jam in
124 ' tt
B a n i s t e r , Ways an d M eans o f D oing M is s io n
Work," pp. 23-24.
514
F r a n k lin , T o lb e rt F an n in g , D avid L ipscom b, and o th e r s ,
R o b erts conclu d ed h is c a r e f u l ly docum ented a d d re ss by
a s s e r tin g :
T h is i s o n ly a t i t h e o f th e ev id en ce w hich co u ld
be p re s e n te d to show t h a t th e c o o p e ra tio n w hich
has been th e b a s is o f o u r su c c e ss in th e l a s t few
y e a rs i s th e h i s t o r i c p o s it io n o f th e v a l i a n t
s o ld i e r s who fo u g h t th e encroachm ent o f th e M is
s io n a ry S o c i e t y . 125
C. E. McGaughey's 1961 sp e e c h , "The B r a z il P la n ,”
was in a se n se a symbol o f v ic to r y f o r th e ad v o c ate s o f
th e c o o p e ra tio n p r i n c i p l e . McGaughey re p o rte d t h a t a group
o f se v e n te e n f a m ilie s was b e in g su p p o rte d by s c o re s o f
c o n g re g a tio n s in a c o o rd in a te d m is sio n a ry e f f o r t in L a tin
A m erica. He r e c a lle d the events w hich le d to the group
plan:
The idea of group evangelism caught on and the num
b e r grew u n t i l th e r e a r e now 33 w orkers p la n n in g to
work in Brazil. . . . T here a r e s ix te e n f u l l - t im e
p re a c h e rs and a m ed ical d o c to r i f c irc u m sta n c e s of
th e m e d ical p r o fe s s io n in B r a z il p e rm it h is g o in g .
R e se rv a tio n s have been made to s a i l from th e p o r t
o f H ouston on th e D el N o rte n e x t June 1 s t . W e
b e lie v e t h i s d a te w i l l mark th e b eg in n in g o f one
o f th e g r e a t e s t m is s io n a ry u n d e rta k in g s s in c e th e
days o f th e a p o s tle s . I t i s hoped t h a t th e i l l u s
t r a t i o n s o f t h i s e x c e lle n t group o f young p eo p le
w i l l s e rv e to s tim u la te o th e rs and t h a t i t w i l l
c o n tr ib u te tow ard making us a l l se e th e n e c e s s ity
^^Lectures, 1959, p. 249.
515
o f s e n d in g o u t a s i m i l a r g ro u p e v e ry y e a r u n t i l
t h i s g r e a t w o rld o f o v e r two b i l l i o n p e o p le i s
e v a n g e l i z e d .1 2 6
When t h e D el N o rte s a i l e d fro m th e H o u sto n h a r b o r
on Ju n e 1 , 1 9 6 1 , i t s c a rg o o f y oung m i s s i o n a r i e s w as t o
many a te s tim o n y to t h e w isdom o f th e c o o p e r a t i v e p r i n c i p l e
an d a co m m en d atio n o f t h e b r o t h e r h o o d 's p r o g r e s s i n th e
c o o r d i n a t i o n and r e f in e m e n t o f i t s m is s io n m e th o d s . To
o t h e r s i t s im p ly m arked a new z e n i t h i n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
a p o s ta s y . B u t w h e th e r a s a s i g n o f v i c t o r y o r a sy m b o l o f
d e f e a t , i t was a m u te re m in d e r t o a l l o f t h e b i t t e r d i v i
s i o n o v e r th e c o o p e r a tio n p r i n c i p l e w h ic h , i n s c o p e and
i n t e n s i t y , was a l r e a d y b e in g lik e n e d to t h e s p l i t o f 1 906.
Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r th e M is s io n a r y
" I t i s u n d o u b te d ly t r u e , " w ro te A r th u r J u d s o n Brown
i n 1 9 3 2 , " t h a t th e s t a n d a r d o f m is s io n a r y a p p o in tm e n t i s
127
higher than that o f the m ilita ry and naval serv ic e."
B ro w n 's c o m p re h e n s iv e s tu d y o f f o r e i g n m is s io n a r y w ork
in c lu d e d a l i s t o f s p e c i f i c q u a l i t i e s u p o n w h ic h P r o t e s t a n t
b o a rd s o f th e d ay w e re m aking f o r e i g n m is s io n a p p o in tm e n ts .
2^Lectures, 1961, pp. 217-218.
127
Brown, op. cit. , p. 67.
516
H e a lth , a g e , e d u c a tio n , common s e n s e , s te a d in e s s o f
p u rp o se , tem peram ent, d o c tr in a l v ie w s, m a r ita l s t a t u s ,
freedom from f in a n c ia l o b lig a tio n , c h a ra c te r and ex p erien ce
were th e o f f i c i a l a re a s o f p re p a ra tio n w hich he em phasized.
A lthough th e A bilene p la tfo rm made no e f f o r t to
produce an o f f i c i a l l i s t o f m issio n a ry q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , a
s ig n i f i c a n t s e t o f a t t r i b u t e s w hich th e m issio n a ry should
p o sse ss in e v ita b ly emerged from th e la rg e body o f
a d d re s se s. The f i r s t l e c tu r e r to be concerned w ith th e
m a tte r o f m issio n a ry q u a lif ic a tio n s was C. G. V in cen t. His
1921 speech produced th e fo llo w in g l i s t o f q u a l if i c a t io n s :
The m issio n ary m ust be " ro o te d and grounded" in th e
f a i t h , m ust have a good knowledge o f th e B ib le ,
m ust be h o n o rab le and c o n s c ie n tio u s , must have good
f in a n c ia l judgm ent. He sh o u ld be a b le to speak
w e ll, to s in g w e ll. He should be th o ro u g h ly edu
c a te d . He sh o u ld have a good p e r s o n a lity , be o f a
c h e e rfu l and happy d is p o s itio n . He m ust be p h y s i
c a lly f i t in every r e s p e c t. He sh o u ld be fre e
from "hobbyism s." Some p eo p le th in k th a t i f a man
cannot do much a t home in th e way o f p re a c h in g , e t c . ,
he m ight be a b le to do a good work among th e heathen!
There was n ev er a g r e a te r m istak e made! W e need
h ig h -g ra d e and a b le w orkers fo r th e fo re ig n f i e l d s ,
and i t is n o t f a i r to anybody in v o lv ed to send
i n f e r i o r w orkers 1128
V in c e n t's le c tu r e a n tic ip a te d p r a c t i c a l ly a l l o f
th e q u a lif ic a tio n s th a t were su g g ested by subsequent
^^Vincent, op. cit. „ pp. 158-159.
517
s p e a k e r s a t A b ile n e . The n e x t to in tr o d u c e t h e s u b j e c t
was C. J . R o b in so n i n 1 9 2 2 . I n a d d i t i o n to th o s e a t t r i
b u te s m e n tio n e d b y V in c e n t, R o b in so n ad d ed a s p e c i a l
a c q u a in ta n c e w ith th e B ib le and w ith " t h e n e e d s o f t h e
p e o p le to whom we g o ," as im p o r ta n t f a c e t s o f th e m i s s i o n
a r y 's p r e p a r a t i o n . He p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r e s s e d t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e q u a l i f i e d m is s io n a r y m u st p o s s e s s h ig h p e r s o n a l c h a r
a c t e r . "T he c h a r a c t e r o f l i f e t h a t t h e m is s io n a r y l i v e s
s a i d R o b in s o n , " h a s much to do w ith t h e e f f e c t o f th e
129
m e ssa g e t h a t h e b r i n g s . "
The s p e c i a l 1937 p ro g ra m on e v a n g e lis m y i e l d e d
m ore re c o m m e n d a tio n s r e g a r d in g t h e m i s s i o n a r y 's q u a l i f i c a
t i o n s th a n a l l o f t h e o t h e r s e r i e s co m b in ed . J . Dow
M e r r i t t c o n t r i b u t e d t h e s e t o t h e l i s t : "A m is s io n a r y to
A f r i c a m u st b e a c o n v e r te d m an, m u st h a v e a m e s s a g e , m u st
b e w i l l i n g t o g o . He o u g h t to b e n o t o v e r t h i r t y , a
p r a c t i c a l m an, p a t i e n t , a p t to t e a c h , k i n d , h o n e s t , a p t to
l e a r n t h e la n g u a g e , a n d , l e t me a d d , n o t a u s e r o f
129
R o b in s o n , o p . c i t . , p . 8 4 . "When a g o s p e l
p r e a c h e r g o es to a p la c e to do m is s io n w ork h e s h o u ld b e a
man w ith a good r e p o r t fro m th e c h u rc h t h a t s e n d s h im ; i f
h e d o e s n o t k e e p h i m s e l f u n s p o tt e d fro m t h e w o r l d , t h e
e f f e c t o f h i s m e ssa g e w i l l n o t do t h e good t h a t i t w i l l
when t h e w o rld c a n n o t c l a s s him a s a n e v i l - d o e r . . . ."
518
130
to b a c c o ." George S. Benson added t h a t w o rk ers in th e
O rie n t sh o u ld p o s s e s s p h y s ic a l s t r e n g t h , th e a b i l i t y to
a d j u s t , c o u ra g e , and a know ledge o f th e la n g u a g e , th e
c o u n tr y , and i t s h i s t o r y . To th e s e he a tta c h e d " a deep
c o n c e rn f o r th e s a l v a t i o n o f s o u l s a n d " th e a b i l i t y to
r e l y upon God in d i f f i c u l t and tr y in g tim es ," as th e two
131
m ost b a s ic q u a l i t i e s . J B. L. D o u th itt r e i t e r a t e d
B e n so n 's two fu n d am en tals in h is 1937 s p e e c h , "The M essage
f o r th e W o rk ers," fo c u s in g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n upon th e
d e p th o f th e m is s io n a r y 's c o n v ic tio n and f a i t h in God.
"What i s a v i t a l f a i t h ? " h e q u e r ie d . " I t i s f a i t h in a
p e r s o n - - in C h r is t .
James F. Cox, p r e s id e n t o f A b ile n e C h r is tia n
C o lle g e , was a ls o a 1937 s p e a k e r. He d e s c rib e d th e q u a l i
f ie d m is s io n a ry as one who i s w e ll a c q u a in te d w ith th e
B ib le to be ta u g h t, i s aw are o f th e m ethods o f te a c h in g ,
130
M e r r i t t , op. c i t . , p . 76.
131
" Q u a lif ic a tio n s o f W orkers and M ethods o f Work
in O r ie n ta l F i e l d s ," L e c tu r e s , 1937, p . 8 8 .
132
"A Message for the Workers," Lectures, 1937,
p. 94.
519
133
and knows th e s t u d e n ts who a r e to l e a r n . The same
y e a r , R. C. B e l l 's l e c t u r e , "M o tiv e f o r M i s s i o n a r i e s ,"
to u c h e d upon th e s u b j e c t o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . He u rg e d
w o rk e rs i n f o r e i g n f i e l d s to i m i t a t e P a u l ' s m o tiv e s f o r
p r e a c h in g :
F i r s t , h e was j e a lo u s o f G o d 's r i g h t s and i n t e r e s t s
w ith a s e l f i s h , h o ly j e a lo u s y ; s e c o n d , h e was t r u l y
an u n d e r s ta n d in g , s y m p a th e tic lo v e r o f men; and
t h i r d , h e was d e te r m in e d , r e g a r d l e s s o f c o s t , to
ta k e no c h a n c e s and make s u r e o f e t e r n a l l i f e f o r
h im s e lf . T h ese m o tiv e s made P a u l a v e r y b ig m an,
to w e rin g ab o v e o t h e r s .1 3 4
The s e t o f m is s io n a r y q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w h ich accum u
l a t e d i n th e L e c tu r e s h ip a d d r e s s e s re s e m b le s i n many
p a r t i c u l a r s th e o f f i c i a l l i s t s p r e p a r e d b y d e n o m in a tio n a l
b o a r d s . A lth o u g h w id e ly d i s s i m i l a r em phases i n d o c t r i n a l
p ro n o u n cem en t e x i s t e d , m o st o f th e s e n d in g a g e n c ie s
e x p e c te d t h e i r m is s io n a r ie s to f a i t h f u l l y s u p p o r t th e
d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n o f th e d e n o m i n a t i o n . P h y s i c a l and
1 3 3
" T r a in in g th e W o rk e rs ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 7 , p . 79.
In h i s o p e n in g w o rd s , Cox e x p re s s e d a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r two
A b ile n e f a c u l t y members who h ad p la n n e d t h e f i r s t L e c tu r e
s h ip on e v a n g e lis m : " I am g r a t e f u l to d a y to B r o th e r H. L .
Schug and to B r o th e r R. B. Sw eet f o r o u t l i n i n g and b r in g in g
to o u r a t t e n t i o n t h i s w o n d e rfu l p ro g ra m ."
^ ^ L e c t u r e s . 1 9 3 7 , p p . 2 2 -2 3 .
135
W illia m Owen C a r v e r , M is s io n s i n th e P la n o f th e
Ages (New Y ork: F lem in g H. R e v e ll Company, 1 9 0 9 ), p . 105.
A lso s e e R e -T h in k in g M is s io n s , o p . c i t . . p p . 8 4 -8 5 .
520
em o tio n al f i t n e s s , p e rs o n a l com mitm ent, m a tu rity and
e x p e rie n c e , knowledge o f th e la n g u ag e, and aw areness o f th e
n a tiv e c u ltu r e were a t t r i b u t e s w hich w ere s tr e s s e d b o th by
1
d en o m in atio n al s o c i e t i e s and by A b ilen e s p e a k e rs .
The absence o f an o f f i c i a l m issio n a ry s o c ie ty ,
how ever, c re a te d s e v e r a l u nique h an d icap s in th e p re p a ra
tio n o f q u a lif ie d m issio n a ry w orkers f o r th e churches o f
C h r is t. Speaking on th e 1937 program w ith B e ll, Cox,
D o u th itt, B enson, and M e r r itt was A b ilen e p ro fe s s o r Homer
H a ile y . He u rg ed th e b ro th erh o o d to re v e rs e th e p re v a le n t
p r a c tic e o f sen d in g young and in e x p e rie n c e d w orkers in to
d i f f i c u l t fo re ig n f i e l d s . H ailey a d v ise d :
. . . we o f te n make a m is ta k e , th a t o f sen d in g young,
in e x p e rie n c e d p re a c h e rs in to such new places. . . .
i t is a r e f l e c t i o n on th e Church f o r k eep in g th e
b e s t " a t hom e,” and se n d in g o u t th e young " to g e t
e x p e rie n c e ." The b e s t p la c e fo r young men to g e t
t r a in i n g i s u n d er th e s u p e rv is io n o f an o ld e r man
who has been o v er th e ground many tim e s. . . .137
Many su b seq u en t sp e ak ers echoed H a ile y ’ s o b je c tio n
to th e sen d in g o f ea g er b u t u n tra in e d men in to m issio n
f i e l d s . J . H arold Thomas, a w orker in th e n o rth e a s te rn
116
World M issio n ary C o n feren c e, 1910 (Edinburgh:
O lip h a n t, A nderson and F e r r i e r , 1910).
137
"How They Went in the First Century," Lectures,
1937, pp. 10-11.
521
s e c t i o n o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , c o n te n d e d t h a t g i f t e d a n d
p r o v e n p r e a c h e r s o u g h t t o b e t h e f i r s t t o v o l u n t e e r f o r
t h e m o s t t r y i n g m i s s i o n a r y a s s i g n m e n ts . He w as e s p e c i a l l y
c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e c h u r c h 's i n c l i n a t i o n t o s e n d t h e
in a d e q u a t e a n d u n s k i l l e d t o t h e o b s c u r e b u t n e e d y m i s s i o n
f r o n t s . " I o p p o s e a p o l i c y o f e v a n g e l i s m ," s a i d T h o m as,
" t h a t m ans t h e n e e d i e s t f i e l d s w i t h t h e c u l l s a n d r e j e c t s
o f o u r p r e a c h e r s . " Thom as a d d e d :
We w a i t f o r i m p u l s i v e , i n e x p e r i e n c e d , u n t r a i n e d men
t o v o l u n t e e r . T h ey com e a r o u n d a n d s o l i c i t u s an d
we s u p p o r t th e m . God b l e s s th e m ; i f i t w e r e n 't f o r
th e m a lm o s t n o t h i n g w o u ld b e g o in g o n ! T h o se who
f a i l we b e r a t e , t h o s e who s u c c e e d we c a l l b a c k t o
p r e a c h f o r a s t r o n g c h u r c h o r t o t e a c h i n a C h r i s
t i a n c o l l e g e ! I t ' s w r o n g - - a l l w ro n g . I t ' s
u n s c r i p t u r a l .1 3 8
L e s l i e D ie s tle k a m p r e a l i s t i c a l l y a d d r e s s e d t h e sam e
p ro b le m : " B u t i f we c a n n o t h a v e a l l t h e men we n e e d i n
m i s s i o n f i e l d s , g i v e u s m o re b o y s . As lo n g a s I c a n rem em
b e r , t h e y o u n g men h a v e c a r r i e d t h e b u r d e n o f m i s s i o n
w o r k ." D ie s tle k a m p c o n c lu d e d : " O f a l l t h e men I know who
a r e now i n A m e r ic a 's m is s i o n f i e l d s , t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y w e n t
119
i n t o s u c h w o rk a s v e r y y o u n g m e n .”
Harold Thomas, op. cit. . . p. 184.
139
"American Missions," Lectures . 1954, p. 235.
523
The la n g u a g e b a r r i e r s ta n d s b e tw e e n t h e w o rk e r and
t h o s e whom h e d e s i r e s t o r e a c h an d t h a t b a r r i e r
m u st b e o v erco m e th r o u g h l e a r n i n g t o s p e a k and
w r i t e w e l l t h e la n g u a g e o f t h e c o u n t r y . W ords a r e
t h e m i s s i o n a r y 's t o o l s an d i f h e i s a p o o r w orkm an,
h e w i l l b e i n e f f e c t i v e i n h i s w o rk f o r C h r i s t . He
may f e e l t h a t t h e tim e s p e n t i n la n g u a g e p r e p a r a
t i o n i s w a s te d b u t h e c a n n o t co m m u n ic ate w i t h
o t h e r s u n l e s s h e h a s t h e m edium o f c o m m u n ic a tio n
m a s te r e d . I t h i n k o n e o f t h e m is ta k e n i d e a s on
t h e p a r t o f many b r e t h r e n h a s b e e n t h a t i t i s b e s t
t o w a it u n t i l th e w o rk e r g e t s o n t h e f i e l d and
t h e n g e t h i s la n g u a g e s t a r t . A num ber o f m i s s i o n
a r i e s h a v e p o i n t e d o u t t h e m is ta k e o f t h i s p r o
c e d u r e . 143
R. C. C a n n o n , a m is s io n a r y t o t h e O r i e n t , re c o m
m ended o t h e r s p e c i f i c s t e p s t o im p ro v e t h e t r a i n i n g o f
f u t u r e w o rk e rs a t t h e c o l l e g e l e v e l . He c h a r g e d :
Foreign mission fields need more than personnel.
T hey n e e d t r a i n e d p e r s o n n e l . C h r i s t i a n s th r o u g h
o u t o u r la n d s h o u ld s u p p ly o u r C h r i s t i a n s c h o o l s ,
s u c h a s A b ile n e C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e , w i t h fu n d s
which enable them to set up special courses
designed to fulfill the needs of each particular
f i e l d . Men an d women w i t h o n - t h e - f i e l d e x p e r i
e n c e s h o u ld t e a c h t h e s e c o u r s e s i n c u l t u r a l ,
r e l i g i o u s an d la n g u a g e b a c k g r o u n d s . T h is w o u ld
i n c r e a s e o u r f r u i t s o n e h u n d re d f o l d . 144
I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , h o w e v e r, t h e s p e a k e r s l a i d
t h e c h i e f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e m a t t e r o f i n s p i r i n g and
p r e p a r i n g m i s s i o n a r i e s a t th e f e e t o f t h e c h u r c h . " I f
^■^Pack, op. cit. , p. 132.
1 / /
"The Work of the Church in Japan," Lectures ,
1952, p. 271.
522
R e a liz in g th a t th e c h u rc h 's m issio n program f r e
q u e n tly s u ffe re d from a sh o rta g e o f tr a in e d m is s io n a r ie s ,
th e 1959 L ec tu re sh ip com m ittee s e le c te d Frank Pack to
d is c u s s th e s u b je c t, "P re p a rin g th e M issio n a ry ." Pack
p la ced th e r e s p o n s i b ilit y fo r tr a in in g w orkers upon th re e
i n s t i t u t i o n s —th e home, th e c h u rch , and th e C h ris tia n
c o l l e g e . O t h e r le c tu r e r s had preceded Pack in d e s c r ib
in g th e r o le which th e c o lle g e should p la y in th e m issio n
a r y 's p re p a ra tio n . In 1922, C. J . Robinson exclaim ed: " I
am g la d we now have sch o o ls conducted by th e churches to
t r a i n th e young f o r e f f e c tiv e work in th e church as m is
sionaries to the world.At the other end of the
L e c tu re s h ip , Leon C. Burns a s s e r te d : "Schools lik e A bilene
C h ris tia n C ollege a re doing more to c r e a te m issio n ary z e a l
in the hearts o f young m en and w om en than any of us thought
I/O
p o s s ib le a few y ears ag o ." Naming th e f a i l u r e to
th o ro u g h ly le a rn th e language o f th e m issio n ary co u n try as
a p e re n n ia l a re a o f u n p re p a re d n e ss, Frank Pack c h allen g ed
th e c o lle g e to remove t h is h an d icap . He d e c la re d :
140
L e c tu re s , 1959, pp. 127-133.
141
R obinson, op. c i t . , p. 84.
142
Burns, op. cit., p. 142.
524
th e r e i s a s h o rta g e o f w e ll-p re p a re d g o sp e l p re a c h e rs and
m is s io n a r ie s ," concluded Frank P ack , " th e blam e f a l l s
u ltim a te ly upon th e lo c a l ch u rch . I t has f a i l e d to
encourage and in s p i r e enough young p eo p le to se ek such
s e r v ic e f o r C h r i s t . " '^ In answ er to P a c k 's q u e s tio n ,
"What a re you d oing in y o u r home c o n g re g a tio n to send o u t
la b o re rs u n to th e s e f i e l d s 'w h ite u n to h a r v e s t , '" Leon C.
Burns proposed th e fo llo w in g p la n f o r ch u rch es to b e t t e r
equip t h e i r m is s io n a r ie s :
I th in k t h a t many o f o u r young men coming o u t o f
c o lle g e sh o u ld be c o n sid e re d by th e e ld e r s h ip s
o f th e la r g e r c o n g re g a tio n s , who have in mind
in c re a s in g t h e i r m is sio n a ry w ork. Why n o t t r a i n
th e man a t home in th e c o n g re g a tio n ? O bserve
h is c h a r a c te r and h is h a b i ts ; t r a i n by p ro p e r
w orking h a b i t s . Then when b o th th e c o n g re g a tio n
and th e young man a r e read y to do g r e a te r w ork,
you have your man. You know th e k in d o f man you
a re se n d in g . I b e lie v e t h a t we can h e lp c u re a
c e r t a in i l l among us by p ro p e rly t r a in i n g th e
young men o u t o f c o l l e g e , p la c in g them as a s s o
c i a te s and co-w orkers among th e la rg e and s tro n g
c o n g re g a tio n s , r a th e r th a n se n d in g in e x p e rie n c e d
men to d i f f i c u l t f i e l d s . I t i s a b s o lu te ly
r id ic u lo u s to th in k some g r e a t b u s in e s s firm
would ta k e an in e x p e rie n c e d man to open up new
t e r r i t o r y . U n til we re c o g n iz e th e need o f
t r a i n i n g , th e need o f s u p e rv is io n in m olding
th e c h a r a c te r and work h a b its o f young p r e a c h e r s ,
^ “ *Pack, op. c i t . , p. 128.
525
we w i l l n o t h a v e s u c c e s s i n t h e s e f i e l d s t h a t we
c o u ld h a v e i f we t r a i n e d and s u p e r v is e d m ore
c l o s e l y .1 4 6
C lo s e ly r e l a t e d to t h e s u b j e c t o f m is s io n a r y q u a l i
f i c a t i o n s was th e d i s c u s s i o n r e g a r d in g t h e d u r a t i o n o f a
w o r k e r 's s e r v i c e i n th e f i e l d . The recom m ended l e n g t h o f
s t a y ra n g e d fro m t h r e e m onths t o l i f e l o n g s e r v i c e , d e p e n d
in g u p o n s u c h v a r i a b l e s a s t h e w o r k e r 's h e a l t h , th e
c o n d i t i o n s on t h e f i e l d , and th e n a t u r e o f t h e p ro g ra m o f
e v a n g e lis m . A few s p e a k e r s w e re c o n v in c e d t h a t e f f e c t i v e
m is s io n a r y s e r v i c e c o u ld b e r e n d e r e d i n a r e l a t i v e l y b r i e f
l e n g t h o f tim e . T . H. T a r b e t o f A u s t r a l i a s u g g e s te d t h a t
men o f h ig h q u a l i f i c a t i o n s m ig h t make a v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u
t i o n th r o u g h an e v a n g e l i s t i c ca m p aig n o r te m p o ra ry m is s io n
t o u r . He r e a s o n e d :
L e t me s a y , ev en i f a b r o t h e r i s n o t a b l e to sp e n d
a lo n g p e r io d i n t h a t c o u n t r y , h e i s s t i l l n e e d e d .
I f a man o f a b i l i t y c a n o n ly go f o r s i x m o nths o r
f o r t h r e e m o n th s , i t w ould b e w is e ju d g m e n t to
s e n d h im . I t m ig h t n o t b e w is e to move h i s fa m ily
t h e r e and b a c k ; b u t l e t him f l y o v e r f o r t h a t
p e r i o d , and f l y him b a c k hom e. Remember t h e good
t h a t P a u l d id i n t h e p la c e s w h e re h e was o n ly a b l e
t o s t a y a s h o r t t i m e . 147
^^Burns, op. cit. , p. 161.
^^"Christ in Australia," Lectures , 1961, p. 286.
526
O tis Gatewood was among th o s e sp e a k ers recommending
an a b b re v ia te d p e rio d o f fo re ig n s e r v ic e . He r e c a lle d h is
e x p e rie n c e s in Germany:
When we f i r s t w ent to Germany, m ost o f us agreed
t h a t we would s ta y th e re f iv e y e a rs b e fo re r e t u r n
in g to A m erica, b u t we have le a rn e d by e x p e rie n c e
t h a t th i s i s to o lo n g . D uring t h i s p e rio d o f
tim e , a p erso n lo s e s c o n ta c t w ith th e b ro th e rh o o d .
The b r e th r e n h e re in A m erica f o r g e t h im , and th e
p erso n g e ts g r e a t ly d isc o u ra g e d and o f te n tim es
h is h e a lth i s im p aired by s ta y in g in a c lim a te to
w hich he is n o t accustom ed f o r su ch a lo n g p e rio d
o f tim e . A p e rso n need n o t, th e r e f o r e , th in k
t h a t he i s u n d er o b lig a tio n to spend th e r e s t o f
h is l i f e away from A m erica i f he goes to a fo re ig n
la n d to p r e a c h . 1 ^ 8
A m a jo rity o f th e s p e a k e rs , how ever, n o t o n ly
encouraged m is s io n a rie s to d e d ic a te t h e i r e n t i r e liv e s to
th e w ork, b u t a ls o named t r a n s i e n t s e r v ic e o r b r i e f to u rs
o f d u ty as a m ajor w eakness o f th e c h u rc h 's e v a n g e lis tic
program . In 1946, R euel Lemmons c a s t h is in flu e n c e f o r
th e co n cep t o f l if e l o n g m is sio n a ry s e r v ic e . He to ld th e
A b ilen e au d ien ce :
The more I have to do w ith work in new f i e l d s , th e
more I am convinced t h a t ch u rch es a re n o t b u i l t by
p eo p le who do n o t l i v e th e r e . W e m ak e.th e m ista k e
o f sen d in g a p re a c h e r in to a new community and
ex p e ct him to do in two o r th r e e y e a rs w hat s e v e r
a l hundred o f us p u t to g e th e r have n o t done in
148
"The Work in Germany and Europe," Lectures,
1955, p. 153.
527
many y e a r s down h e r e i n T e x a s --w e e x p e c t h im t o
c r e a t e a s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g c o n g r e g a ti o n . U s u a lly
t h e p r e a c h e r i s c o n s id e r e d t r a n s i e n t b y t h e com
m u n ity t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h o f h i s s t a y t h e r e . I t
seem s t o me t h a t t h e p e o p le who b u i l d c h u r c h e s
a r e t h e p e o p le who move i n t o new f i e l d s an d f i x
t h e to w n s p e o p le 's s h o e s an d s e l l them g r o c e r i e s .
I f I w e re t o p o i n t o u t w h a t I c o n s id e r e d t h e k e y
t o s u c c e s s f u l w o rk , t h a t w o u ld b e i t . T r a n s i e n t
p e o p le s e ld o m p ro d u c e l a s t i n g w o rk , th o u g h
n a t u r a l l y t h e r e a r e e x c e p ti o n s . 3-49
I n 1 9 5 1 , J . W. T r e a t s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s c r i b e d " t h e
e v e r - s h i f t i n g p e r s o n n e l" a s t h e m a jo r d e t e r r e n t t o t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p e rm a n e n t c h u r c h i n t h e Panam a C a n a l
Zone.^"*^ A t t h e 1958 L e c t u r e s h i p , v e t e r a n m is s io n a r y
J . Dow M e r r i t t e u lo g iz e d t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c i n f l u e n c e o f
J o h n S h e r r i f who s p e n t h i s l i f e i n A f r i c a w o rk in g a s a
s t o n e m aso n . " T h e re i s t h e p a t t e r n , " c o n te n d e d M e r r i t t .
" I h a v e b e e n w i th t h e w o rk i n N o r th e r n R h o d e s ia s i n c e
1 9 2 6 . . . . I b e l i e v e a m is s io n a r y s h o u ld go f o r l i f e . I t
i s a t r u e p r i n c i p l e . P r o f e s s i o n a l men m ake t h e i r w o rk
t h e i r l i f e ' s w ork o r th e y f a i l . " 5 --*1 - I n to n e s r e m i n i s c e n t
149"T he w o rk i n New F i e l d s , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 4 6 ,
p p . 1 2 9 -1 3 0 .
l S O i r e a t , o p . c i t . . p . 1 3 8 .
lSlurphe Church in Africa," Lectures , 1958, pp.
266-267.
528
o f M e r r itt's p le a fo r A fric an w o rk ers, C harles McPhee
tra v e le d to A bilene from Canada to u rge m is s io n a rie s to
d e d ic a te them selves to lif e tim e s e rv ic e :
The g re a t need o f th e Church is fo r w e ll-q u a lif ie d
p reach ers and te a c h e rs to move in to s tr a t e g ic
p o in ts , and th e re love and p reach th e g o sp e l. The
work cannot be done in a few m onths. I t i s a l i f e
tim e jo b . The ground has to be plow ed, harrowed
and sown, b e fo re a h a rv e s t can be g a t h e r e d . 1 5 2
The Indigenous Method
The m is s io n a rie s who were in s p ire d and s e n t f o rth
from A bilene in to fo re ig n f ie ld s c h e rish e d th e d e s ire to
b u ild up th e Church o f C h ris t as a perm anent ex p ressio n o f
t h e i r message and as th e v i s i b l e organ and in stru m e n t o f
i t s tra n sm issio n . They could n o t conceive o f C h r is tia n ity
as d is a s s o c ia te d from th e c o rp o ra te body. They fre q u e n tly
co n fro n ted d i f f i c u l t y , how ever, in th e attem p t to tr a n s
p la n t th e fix e d h a b its and fin is h e d s tr u c tu r e o f th e
American church in to th e u n p re d ic ta b le s o i l o f new r a c i a l
c u ltu re c o n d itio n s and d iv e rg e n t customs o f thought and
l i f e . I t was p r e c is e ly th is d i f f i c u l t y th a t p r e c ip ita te d
W illiam E rn e st H ocking's 1932 recommendation o f th e
152
"Canada, the Land of Opportunity,” Lectures,
1953, p. 66.
529
in d ig e n o u s a p p r o a c h a s t h e i d e a l m e th o d o f m is s io n w o rk :
T he i d e a l m e th o d o f c h u r c h c r e a t i o n , i f i t c o u ld
h a v e b e e n r e a l i z e d , w o u ld h a v e b e e n f o r t h e m is
s i o n a r i e s t o p r e s e n t t o t h e r a c e s among whom th e y
cam e t h e v i t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , th o s e
t r u t h s an d i d e a l s o f l i f e w h ic h c o n s t i t u t e t h e
e t e r n a l a s p e c t s o f i t , an d t o h a v e l e t t h i s d i r e c t
s p i r i t u a l im p a c t u p o n t h e O r i e n t a l p e o p le s p r o d u c e ,
i n i t s own f r e s h fo rm , i t s p e c u l i a r ty p e o f o r g a n i
z a t i o n a n d i t s u n iq u e m odes o f c o r p o r a t e d e v e lo p
m en t s o t h a t t h e C h u rc h i n t h e s e la n d s m ig h t h a v e
b e e n fro m t h e f i r s t t r u l y i n d i g e n o u s .1 5 3
From t h e d a y s o f W illia m C a re y i t h a s b e e n r e c o g
n i z e d t h a t e v e n t u a l l y t h e d a u g h t e r c h u r c h e s o f m is s io n
f i e l d s m u s t b e f r e e d fro m t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e m o th e r
c h u r c h e s o f t h e W est."*"^ The A b ile n e l e c t u r e r s a g r e e d
t h a t t h e in d ig e n o u s m eth o d o f m i s s i o n w o rk w as m o st e f f e c
t i v e a n d p e r m a n e n tly f r u i t f u l . I n t h e i r r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e
in d ig e n o u s m e th o d , h o w e v e r, th e y e l i m i n a t e d a s i g n i f i c a n t
d im e n s io n o f t h e m e a n in g w h ic h H o c k in g h a d in t e n d e d f o r
h i s w ord t o c o n n o te . H o c k in g c l e a r l y d e f i n e d h i s u s e o f
t h e te rm :
M ore an d m ore i n t h e f u t u r e t h e C h u rc h i n m is s io n a r y
la n d s w i l l becom e in d ig e n o u s i n t h e p r o p e r s e n s e o f
1 55
H o c k in g , R e -T h in k in g M i s s i o n s . p . 8 2 .
154-
S ee A r c h ib a l d G. B a k e r , " T h o u g h t C o n c e rn in g
P r o t e s t a n t F o r e ig n M i s s i o n s ," i n R e l i g i o u s T h o u g h t i n th e
L a s t Q u a r te r C e n tu r y (C h ic a g o : U n i v e r s i t y o f C h ic a g o
P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ).
530
th e w ord, as i t c e r ta in ly should b e , and th a t w ill
mean th a t i t w ill n o t be fin an ced w ith fo re ig n
money, o r conducted by fo re ig n w orkers , o r p ro -
je c te d and p a tte rn e d on a foreign-m ade e c c le s ia s
t i c a l system . I t must become a liv in g organism
r a th e r th an a copy o f a s t r u c t u r a l p a tte r n . . . .
T his means t h a t i t m ust n o t be a f r a id to change
i t s tem poral form o r to outgrow th e p e c u lia r
f e a tu re s stamped upon i t by th e dom inant p erso n
a l i t i e s who n u rtu re d i t . 155
The A bilene le c tu r e r s lim ite d t h e i r use o f th e
term "in d ig en o u s" to s ig n if y th e concept o f n a tiv e c o n tro l
and fin a n c e o f th e m issio n e f f o r t . In t h e i r o p p o sitio n to
e x c lu siv e and in te rm in a b le dom ination and su b sid y o f m is
sio n s by American c o n g re g a tio n s, th ey were as vig o ro u s as
Hocking. They d id n o t, how ever, conceive o f th e term as
g ra n tin g lic e n s e f o r d o c tr in a l and o rg a n iz a tio n a l v a r i
a tio n s to harm onize w ith th e p e c u lia r c u l tu r a l p a tte rn s o f
th e fo re ig n la n d . Whereas Hocking was in c lin e d "away from
a r e lig io n focused upon d o c trin e tow ard a r e lig io n focused
15 6
upon . . . . . th e s o c ia l env iro n m en t," th e A bilene l e c
tu r e r s contended th a t an unchanging co re o f d o c trin e upon
which th e C h ris tia n church was o r ig in a lly founded must be
p ropagated in every n a tio n on e a rth and fused w ith e x is tin g
^ ^ H o c k in g , R e-T hinking M issio n s, p . 106.
156Ib id . , p . 114.
531
c u sto m s an d m o r a ls . T hey m a in ta in e d t h a t t h e c r e a t i o n and
d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e c h u r c h on th e f o r e i g n f i e l d w as a p r i
m ary aim o f t h e m is s io n a r y e n d e a v o r . " T h is i s w h e re t h e
g r e a t e s t r e s i s t a n c e c a n b e e n c o u n te r e d th r o u g h o u t t h e F a r
E a s t , " a d m itte d l e c t u r e r H a rry R o b e r t F o x , J r . , " f o r t h e
O r i e n t a l s p i r i t f i n d s i t a lm o s t im p o s s ib le t o a c c e p t t h e
i d e a o f c h u r c h e s . O ver an d o v e r a g a in t h e c r y g o e s u p ,
’ G iv e u s C h r i s t b u t n o t t h e C h u r c h I '" A t t r i b u t i n g s u c h
r e s i s t a n c e t o a n i n o r d i n a t e s t r e s s u p o n t h e c h u r c h ,
H o ck in g m a in ta in e d t h a t t h e p ro m o tio n o f t h e c h u r c h s h o u ld
b e o n ly a s e c o n d a r y aim i n t h e new e r a o f m i s s i o n s :
I t o u g h t t o b e t h e p r im a r y b u s i n e s s o f t h e i n t e r
p r e t e r o f t h e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n i n t h e f u t u r e t o
p e r m e a te t h e p e r s o n a l l i f e o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l and
t h e f a b r i c o f hum an s o c i e t y w i t h c r e a t i v e i d e a l s
an d e n e r g i e s w h ic h w i l l re n e w an d r e v i t a l i z e b o th
t h e s i n g l e u n i t s an d t h e g ro u p r a t h e r t h a n to
b u i l d a c h u r c h a s a n i n s t i t u t i o n t o s t a n d o u t a s
a n e n t i t y i n i t s e l f a p a r t fro m t h e l a r g e s t w h o le
o f s o c i e t y . T he o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c h u r c h e s an d th e
z e a l t o p r o s e l y t i z e i n t o th em m em bers who c o u ld
b e c o u n te d i n s t a t i s t i c s an d r e p o r t e d t o b o a r d s
a t home h a v e i n many c a s e s d e f e a t e d t h e c e n t r a l
b u s i n e s s o f m is s io n a r y p u r p o s e . T he c o n v e r t h a s
b e e n p r e m a tu r e ly h u r r i e d i n t o a c h u r c h a s th o u g h
i t w e re a te r m in u s an d a n en d i n i t s e l f . . . .1 5 7
I n t h e e v e n t o f a c l a s h b e tw e e n d o c t r i n e an d e n v i
ro n m e n t, H o c k in g 's m is s io n a r y fo rm u la w o u ld te n d t o f a v o r
^^Hocking , Re-Thinking Missions , p. 98.
532
th e l a t t e r w ith an em phasis upon th e s p i r i t o f C h ris t and
th e v i t a l is s u e s o f l i f e fo r th e in d iv id u a l. The A bilene
s p e a k e rs , w h ile a g re e in g th a t th e m issio n church should
n o t be plagued by a foreign-m ade d enom inational system ,
went f o r th to e s ta b lis h th e Kingdom o f Heaven and to
p reac h what they b e lie v e d to be " th e f a i t h once fo r a l l
d e liv e r e d ." A side from th is v ery c r u c ia l d if f e r e n c e , th e
le c tu r e r s were u n reserv ed in t h e i r advocacy o f th e in d ig e -
158
nous method championed by H ocking's R e-Thinking M issions.
F. B. Shepherd was th e f i r s t sp eak er to urge th e
b ro th erh o o d to employ th e indigenous method in i t s evan
g e l i s t i c v e n tu re s . "Are we in t h is c o u n try ," he asked in
1919, " to c a rry o n e, two o r a dozen n a tiv e co n g reg atio n s
in d e f in ite ly ? Is i t p o s s ib le th a t th ey w ill n ev er become
s e lf-s u p p o rtin g ? . . . th e b e s t way to a s s i s t . . . is to
te a c h and encourage them to h e lp th em selv es. . . ."159
E v en tu a lly le c tu r e r s came to d e fin e th e indigenous method
as th e only s c r i p t u r a l approach to m issio n ary work. In
158
H ocking's d is c u s s io n o f " s e lf - s u p p o r t," "com
m unity w o rsh ip ," s u b s id ie s ," and th e tr a in in g o f n a tiv e
le a d e rs h ip i s c o n s is te n t w ith th e A bilene concept o f th e
indigenous method.
1 t;q
Shepherd, "Missions," pp. 178-179.
533
1 9 5 3 , Mack K e r c h e v i ll e r e l a t e d i t t o t h e c o n c e p t o f l o c a l
c o n g r e g a tio n a l autonom y:
Even th o u g h we s p e a k o f m is s io n f i e l d s , i t i s n o t
o u r p u rp o s e to e s t a b l i s h " m i s s i o n s b u t a u to n o
mous , in d e p e n d e n t c h u rc h e s w h ic h w i l l s ta n d on
t h e i r own f e e t and do t h e i r own w o rk . . . . I
a s s u r e y o u , my b r e t h r e n , t h a t th e M ex ican p e o p l e ,
t h e C u b a n s, t h e N e g ro e s , th e J a p a n e s e , and a l l
t h e o t h e r p e o p le s o f th e w o rld we c a n r e a c h w ith
th e g o s p e l w i l l h a v e enough s e n s e t o do any and
e v e ry w ork God a s s ig n s th em . We d o n ’ t n e e d to
make an y im p ro v em en ts o n t h e L o r d 's p la n a t all.160
I n r e c e n t y e a r s , t h e A b ile n e s p e a k e r s h a v e
r e f l e c t e d upon e a r l y m is s io n a r y f a i l u r e s and h a v e o v e r
w h e lm in g ly e n d o rs e d th e in d ig e n o u s m e th o d . W e n d ell Broom
d e s c r ib e d th e w o rk in g s o f t h e m ethod i n th e N ig e r ia n
p ro g ra m :
I n N i g e r i a , s e v e r a l d e n o m in a tio n a l m is s io n s h a v e
c h o s e n th e q u i c k e s t w ay. T hey h a v e im p o rte d
e q u ip m e n t, i n s t i t u t i o n s , E u ro p e a n w o r k e r s ,
E u ro p e a n f u n d s — a l l a l i e n f a c t o r s t o t h e N ig e r ia n
p e o p l e , and th e y h a v e made a good s h o w in g - -h o s -
p i t a l s , s c h o o l s , c l i n i c s — b u t a l l s u p p o r te d from
o u t s i d e th e c o u n tr y and a t t a c h e d t o t h e p e o p le .
S h o u ld t h e p o l i t i c a l p i c t u r e ch a n g e an d t h e s e
f o r e i g n w o rk e rs and f a c t o r s b e e x c lu d e d , i t i s
v e r y d o u b tf u l t h a t t h i s w ork c o u ld s u r v i v e . . . .
T h is i s w h at h ap p e n e d i n C h i n a - - th e g e n e r a ti o n s
o f m is s io n w ork t h e r e w e re e x t e r n a l an d a l i e n i n
n a t u r e , n o t p a r t a k in g o f th e e le m e n ts o f th e
n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n . O ut o f t h i s g rew r e s e n tm e n ts
and s h a llo w n e s s w h ich made a n a t u r a l i n v i t a t i o n
160
"The Church among the Latin Americans ,"
Lectures. 1953, p. 47.
534
f o r th e Communistic i n f i l t r a t i o n w hich was a
" p e o p le 's m ovement." . . . In N ig e ria , th e w orkers
e n v is io n in s te a d a N ig e ria n work among N ig e ria n
c h u rc h e s , manned by N ig e ria n s , governed by N ig eria n
e l d e r s , su p p o rted by N ig e ria n b r e th r e n , sp re a d in g
by i t s own re g e n e ra tiv e pow er, re c e iv in g i t s s p i r
i t u a l s tr e n g th from God d i r e c t l y , w ith o u t th e
n e c e s s ity o f American m is s io n a rie s to m ed iate God's
g ra c e to th e p e o p l e . 161
In 1960, Rees B ry a n t, a n o th e r N ig e ria n w o rk e r,
echoed Broom's s e n tim e n ts :
I t i s n ' t our p urpose in N ig e ria to develop "m is
s io n s " dependent fo re v e r on American p r e a c h e r s ,
s u p p o rt, and le a d e rs h ip ; b u t, r a t h e r , we w ant to
develop in d ep en d en t c h u rc h e s , c a p ab le o f s e l f -
governm ent, s e lf - s u p p o r t, s e l f - p e r p e t u a t i o n , and
s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e . To t h i s end, we encourage them
to s e t t l e t h e i r own p ro b lem s, and to d evelop men
w ith in each church q u a lif ie d f o r th e o v e r s ig h t.
W e encourage them to su p p o rt t h e i r own p re a c h e rs
and to send such e v a n g e lis ts o u t to e s ta b li s h
o th e r c h u rc h e s.162
Perhaps th e p la tfo r m 's m ost a rd e n t ad v o cate o f th e
in d ig en o u s method was George S. B enson, form er m issio n a ry
to China and c u r r e n tly p r e s id e n t o f H arding C o lleg e . In
1959, he v ig o ro u s ly c r i t i c i z e d th e custom ary p r a c tic e o f
paying n a tiv e p re a c h e rs and c o n s tru c tin g b u ild in g s on
fo re ig n s o i l w ith American money. He re p o rte d : "We have
1 61
"The Church in Nigeria," Lectures, 1958,
p. 257.
162„The work in Nigeria," Lectures, 1960, p. 325.
535
o n f o r e i g n s h o r e s to d a y som e c o n g r e g a tio n s w h ere A m erican
d o l l a r s h a v e p a id t h e f o r e i g n l e a d e r and w h e re t h e r e h a s
b e e n l i t t l e g ro w th i n t h e s e t e n y e a r s an d w h ere t h e sam e
am ount o f h e l p i s n e e d e d now a s was n e e d e d t e n y e a r s
163
a g o .M C h a rg in g t h a t t h i s m is s io n a r y a p p ro a c h "m akes i t
p r a c t i c a l l y im p o s s ib le to d e v e lo p r e a l c h u r c h e s B e n s o n
a p p e a le d t o P a u l 's e v a n g e l i s t i c m e th o d s :
P a u l d i d n 't b u y any la n d f o r t h e l o c a l c h u rc h e s i n
t h e d i f f e r e n t c i t i e s , an d h e d i d n 't becom e a s u p e r
i n t e n d e n t o f r e a l e s t a t e . L ik e w is e , P a u l d i d n o t
h i r e n a t i v e p r e a c h e r s i n t h e s e d i f f e r e n t c i t i e s
an d p ay them on f o r e i g n s a l a r i e s . T h e se tw o th i n g s
t h a t P a u l d id n o t do a r e t h e t h i n g s t h a t c u r r e n t
m i s s i o n a r i e s n e a r l y alw a y s d o , an d th e t h i n g s t h a t
a p p e a r t o c r e a t e t h e g r e a t e s t o b s t a c l e s t o t h e
a c t u a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f in d ig e n o u s c h u rc h e s an d t h e
lo n g - r a n g e p r o g r e s s o f t h e g o s p e l . 164
I n a d d i t i o n to t h e g r a d u a l d e c r e a s i n g o f A m erican
s u b s i d i e s , th e l e c t u r e r s recom m ended s e v e r a l p r o c e d u r e s
f o r c r e a t i n g s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g , in d e p e n d e n t m is s io n c h u r c h e s .
C h ie f among t h e s e te c h n iq u e s an d a k e y f a c t o r i n t h e
s u c c e s s o f th e in d ig e n o u s m eth o d w as th e t r a i n i n g o f e f f e c
t i v e n a t i v e l e a d e r s h i p . S c o re s o f m i s s i o n a r i e s t e s t i f i e d
a t A b ile n e t h a t t h e w e l l - t r a i n e d n a t i v e e v a n g e l i s t i s
163j»The Well-adjusted Missionary," Lectures, 1959,
p. 230.
^^Ibid. , p. 226.
536
q u a l i f i e d to acco m p lish more among h is own p eo p le th a n th e
■ j / : c
f o re ig n A m erican w o rk er.
In p r e p a r a tio n f o r th e em ergence o f a t r u l y
in d ig e n o u s program , th e l e c t u r e r s f re q u e n tly d is c u s s e d th e
need f o r and th e m ethods o f tr a i n i n g n a tiv e p r e a c h e r s .
"N a tiv e p re a c h e rs do n o t j u s t h ap p e n ," R e in e r K a llu s
rem inded h is 1960 a u d ie n c e , " b u t i t ta k e s a s y s te m a tic
166
method in o rg a n iz e d p la n n in g to f in d and t r a i n them.
The m is s io n a ry sp e a k e rs su g g e ste d th r e e ways in w hich
n a tiv e e v a n g e lis ts m ig h t be fo rm a lly tr a in e d as le a d e rs in
th e ch u rch : th e y c o u ld be tr a n s p o r te d to A m erican s c h o o ls ,
tr a in e d in m is sio n B ib le sc h o o ls , o r a l i b e r a l a r t s c o lle g e
co u ld be e s ta b lis h e d on th e m is s io n f i e l d to e d u c a te them.
" I have alw ays h e ld th e p o s i t i o n ," d e c la re d F. L.
Rowe in 1936," t h a t th e g r e a t e s t way to do m is sio n work i s
to b r in g th e f o re ig n e r s h e re and e d u c a te them and send
■ ^ T ex W illia m s, " C h r is t in S outh A f r ic a ,"
L e c tu r e s , 1961, p . 249. " E d u c a te d , i n t e l l i g e n t n a tiv e men
have been found and a re b e in g tr a in e d to go b ack in to th e
r e s e rv e s and lo c a tio n s and te a c h t h e i r own p e o p le . Speak
in g t h e i r lan g u ag e and u n d e rs ta n d in g t h e i r own p eo p le makes
i t p o s s ib le f o r th e s e men to do more e f f e c t i v e [work] th a n
a w h ite m is s io n a ry in m ost c a s e s ."
166
"The Training of Evangelists in Foreign
Fields," Lectures, 1960, p. 333.
537
167
them b a c k t o t h e i r own p e o p l e . ” W h ile o n ly a h a n d f u l
o f s p e a k e r s s h a r e d R o w e's e n th u s ia s m f o r t h i s m eth o d o f
p r e a c h e r e d u c a t i o n , i t was f r e q u e n t l y p r a c t i c e d d u r in g t h e
1 9 5 0 's . Jo h n T . H a r d in , a m is s io n a r y to S o u th A f r i c a ,
s a i d i n 1 9 5 4 : " . . . w e now h a v e f i v e young men i n t h i s
168
c o u n tr y s tu d y i n g t o b e t t e r e q u ip th e m s e lv e s to p r e a c h . ”
F . T . H a m ilto n , a m is s io n a r y to t h e P h i l i p p i n e s o b s e rv e d :
A n o th e r v i t a l n e e d i s p r o f e s s i o n a l t r a i n i n g i n th e
s t a t e s f o r some y o u n g F i l i p i n o C h r i s t i a n s . I f
t h e s e y o ung men c o u ld come h e r e and s tu d y a g r i c u l
t u r e , m e d ic i n e , and o t h e r v o c a tio n s i n s c h o o ls
l i k e ACC, w h ere th e y c o u ld g e t f u r t h e r s tu d y i n
t h e B i b le a t t h e sam e t i m e , th e n th e y c o u ld r e t u r n
to th e I s l a n d s and s u p p o r t th e m s e lv e s w h ile p r e a c h
in g t h e g o s p e l . ^69
Some m is s io n a r y s p e a k e r s s t r o n g l y o p p o se d t h e p r a c
t i c e o f s e n d in g n a t i v e p r e a c h e r s to A m erican s c h o o ls f o r
t r a i n i n g . The e x tre m e e x p e n s e o f s u c h a m eth o d was t h e
m a jo r w ea k n ess w h ic h i t s c r i t i c s n o te d . ” 1 c a n t r a i n f i f
t e e n b o y s a t I b a r a k i C h r i s t i a n C o l l e g e ," m a in ta in e d L ogan
J . F o x , " f o r th e c o s t o f b r i n g i n g o n e t o t h i s c o u n tr y f o r
167iiThe B ib le M ust Be T a u g h t t o T h o se i n R e g io n s
B e y o n d ,” L e c t u r e s , 1 9 3 6 , p . 1 0 0 .
168f'T he U n io n o f S o u th A f r i c a , " L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 4 ,
p . 187.
169
"Opportunities in the Philippines Lectures ,
1957, p. 172.
538
t r a i n i n g . n ^70 Fox added a second p r a c t i c a l o b je c tio n to
t h i s m ethod:
F u rth e rm o re , a f t e r a l l t h i s money h as b een s p e n t on
one p e rs o n , we h av e no way o f knowing how i t w i l l
tu r n o u t. In some c a s e s , th e s tu d e n t who comes
o v e r l i k e s A m erica m ig h ty w e l l , and h a s no d e s ir e
to r e t u r n to h is c o u n try . O r, i f he does r e t u r n ,
h is own p e o p le may n o t a c c e p t h im , b e c a u se he i s
" d i f f e r e n t . " The Ja p a n e s e sa y he i s " b a ta k u s a i , ”
w hich means h e s m e lls l i k e b u t t e r . . . . Many
g r e a t changes ta k e p la c e in p e o p le betw een th e ages
o f e ig h te e n and t h i r t y , and i t i s sim p ly a f a c t
t h a t none o f us can sa y w ith much c e r t a i n t y w hat a
young p e rso n w i l l b e fo u r y e a rs l a t e r . 171
A second and more p o p u la r p la n f o r t r a i n i n g n a tiv e
p re a c h e rs was th ro u g h th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a B ib le sc h o o l
on th e m is s io n f i e l d . Guy C a sk e y 's d e s c r ip tio n o f th e
A fric a n program was d u p lic a te d on s c o re s o f o th e r m is s io n
a ry f r o n t s :
The r o l e o f th e w h ite g o s p e l p re a c h e r in A f r ic a i s
to make t h i s g o a l l i v e in th e h e a r t s o f a few
h u n d red n a t i v e s , w ho, in t u r n , can re a c h a few
th o u san d and so on u n t i l s a l v a t i o n 's r in g in g m es
sa g e h as reso u n d e d i n th e l a s t d a rk c o r n e r . W e
know i t w ould be im p o s s ib le f o r a few w h ite men
to re a c h two h u n d red m il lio n p e o p le who sp e ak
h u n d red s o f la n g u ag es and d i a l e c t s and whose c u s
toms and ways o f l i f e a r e so d i f f e r e n t from o u r
own. I f we e v e r sa v e A f r ic a , we m ust t r a i n th e
A fric a n in B ib le s c h o o ls to te a c h h is own p e o p le .
170"Training Gospel Preachers for Japan,"
Lectures, 1957, p. 172.
~^^Ibid. . pp. 172-173.
539
T h is i s n o t some a u x i l i a r y o f th e C h u rc h , o r
c o o p e r a tiv e o r g a n i z a ti o n to a i d th e C h u rch i n i t s
m e ssa g e . T h is i s th e C h u r c h - - th e C hurch a t w o rk ,
d o in g w h at God commanded to b e done to s a v e th e
w o r l d .172
A t th e 1961 L e c t u r e s h i p , J . W. N ick s sum m arized
th e w ork o f two N ig e r ia n B ib le s c h o o ls . He r e p o r te d t h a t
a t o t a l o f 250 p r e a c h e r s h ad b e e n g r a d u a te d from th e t r a i n
in g s c h o o l s , and s in c e 1 9 5 7 , th e s c h o o l a t O n ich a Ngwa h ad
g r a d u a te d 49 s t u d e n t s . N ick s r e p o r t e d t h a t 38 o f th e
g r a d u a te s h ad c o n tin u e d to p re a c h a f t e r f i n i s h i n g s c h o o l ,
w ith 30 o f them p e rfo rm in g "good w o rk ." Seven o f th e
g r a d u a te s had c o m p le te ly l e f t th e c h u rc h .
F o x , th e p r e s i d e n t o f I b a r a k i C h r i s t i a n C o lle g e o f
J a p a n , a l s o fo u n d th e s t r i c t l y B ib le s c h o o l " w o e f u lly
w a n tin g a s a m ethod" o f t r a i n i n g p r e a c h e r s . He re a s o n e d
t h a t a c o m p le te ly s u b s id iz e d B ib le s c h o o l te n d s to draw
th e in c a p a b le and i r r e s p o n s i b l e , w h ile th e e x c e l l e n t s t u
d e n ts a r e a t t r a c t e d to r e g u l a r l y a c c r e d i t e d i n s t i t u t i o n s .
P o in tin g to th e w ea k n e sse s o f th e B ib le s c h o o l a p p ro a c h ,
Fox h i n t e d a t a t h i r d p la n :
^ ^Caskey, "The African Field," p. 170.
"Nigeria for Christ," Lectures, 1961, p. 257.
540
I t seems much b e t t e r to te a c h th e B ib le to many
boys and g i r l s as th e y p u rsu e r e g u la r co u rses o f
s tu d y , and l e t p re a c h e rs emerge from t h is la r g e r
process. . . . can m a tu re , b alan ce d p re a c h e rs be
m ass-p ro d u ced , ground o u t o f a tw o -y ear B ib le
co u rse? In A m erica we know th e answer to th a t
q u e s tio n . . . . Would i t be s u f f i c i e n t in America
to ta k e ju n io r and s e n io r h ig h sc h o o l g ra d u a te s
and p u t them th ro u g h a s p e c ia l tw o -y ear B ib le
c o u rs e , th e n tu r n them o u t to p reach f o r th e
ch u rch e s?174
Fox em phasized th a t " i f Jap an ese p eo p le a re to be
reach ed w ith th e g o s p e l, Jap an ese p re a c h e rs m ust do th e
jo b . But th is le av e s us w ith th e problem , ’How can we
t r a i n ca p ab le Jap an ese p re a c h e rs o f th e g o s p e l? '" He .
answ ered h is q u e s tio n by u rg in g th e e s ta b lis h m e n t and m ain
te n a n ce o f f u ll y a c c re d ite d C h r is tia n c o lle g e s on th e
m issio n f i e l d s :
W e can b e s t t r a i n p re a c h e rs when men who have d e d i
c a te d t h e i r liv e s to evangelism a tte m p t to p ro v id e
a program o f w e ll-b a la n c e d , C h r is tia n e d u c a tio n fo r
as many q u a lif ie d boys and g i r l s as p o s s ib le . A
sc h o o l o f t h i s k in d a c ts as a g ia n t n e t throw n o u t
in to l i f e , and from among th o se b ro u g h t in each
y e a r , th e re w i l l always be a goodly number who w ill
go on to make q u a l if i e d e l d e r s , p re a c h e rs and
te a c h e rs in th e v a rio u s co n g re g a tio n s o f th e
Church. Such a sc h o o l w ill a t t r a c t th e h ig h e s t
q u a lity o f young p e o p le , and i t p ro v id es a wonder
f u l s i f t i n g p ro cess in w hich th e r e a l c h a ra c te r o f
boys and g i r l s i s b o th formed and r e v e a le d .175
^ ^ L o g an J . Fox, " T ra in in g Gospel P re ach e rs fo r
Ja p a n ," p. 174.
175Ibid. , pp. 174-175.
541
G o t t f r i e d R e ic h e l c o n c u r r e d w ith F o x 's r a t i o n a l e
f o r a l i b e r a l a r t s m is s io n c o l l e g e . He p a r t i c u l a r l y
s t r e s s e d th e n e e d f o r w e ll - e d u c a t e d c h u r c h l e a d e r s in
G erm any:
T he f u t u r e o f t h e C h u rch i n G erm any d e p e n d s t o a
g r e a t e x t e n t on i t s l e a d e r s . I f i t s l e a d e r s a r e
w e l l e d u c a te d s o t h a t th e y a r e a b l e n o t o n ly to
r e a c h t h e a v e r a g e p e o p l e , b u t a l s o t h e i n t e l l e c
t u a l s , t h e g ro w th o f t h e c a u s e w i l l b e f a s t e r .
A t l e a s t , t h i s i s th e p r i n c i p l e w h ic h Germ an
h i s t o r y h a s t a u g h t a b o u t many new m o v e m en ts.1 7 6
S p e c i a l M eans o f E v a n g e lis m
S in c e th e a p o s t o l i c e r a , p u b l i c p r e a c h in g h a s
o c c u p ie d an a lm o s t h a llo w e d p o s i t i o n a s t h e p r im a r y m eans
f o r p r o p a g a t in g t h e C h r i s t i a n m e s s a g e . T h ro u g h o u t t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l i s t c o n t r o v e r s y o f th e 1 9 2 0 's , h o w e v e r, m o s t o f
t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e b o d ie s c h a rg e d t h a t , a s a r e s u l t o f
l i b e r a l i n f l u e n c e s , t h e c l a s s i c a l m eth o d o f e v a n g e l i s t i c
p r e a c h in g w as b e in g d i s p l a c e d on t h e m is s io n f i e l d s i n
f a v o r o f m e d i c a l , h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a l , an d s o c i a l
17^1'The Church at Work in Germany," Lectures,
1953, p. 166.
542
p r o g r a m s . H e a r t i l y c o n c u rrin g w ith t h i s in d ic tm e n t o f
l i b e r a l m issio n b o ard s , th e A b ilen e p la tfo rm v e n e ra te d
p u b lic p re ac h in g as th e in d is p e n s a b le n erv e c e n te r o f th e
e v a n g e lis tic program . H e in ric h Blum d e s c rib e d h is p re a c h
in g ex p e rie n c e s in S w itz e rla n d :
Our g o sp e l m eetings have been o u r m ain avenue fo r
m aking new c o n ta c ts . W e h o ld ab o u t th r e e o r fo u r
m eetings every y e a r , and d i f f e r e n t p re a c h e rs from
Germany have re n d e re d us in v a lu a b le s e r v ic e in
t h i s r e s p e c t. The av erag e crowd i s u s u a lly about
f o r t y - f i v e , w hich means t h a t a t l e a s t h a l f o f th e
au d ien ce a re o u ts id e r s . W e e s tim a te t h a t p o s s ib ly
one thousand p eo p le h a v e , a t one tim e o r a n o th e r,
h e a rd a g o sp e l sermon in our h a l l . 178
"Made in O ccupied J a p a n ," was th e name o f Logan J .
Fox’s 1953 speech w hich f u r th e r e s ta b lis h e d p re ac h in g as
th e c h u rc h 's f a v o r ite e v a n g e lis tic m ethod. R ev ealin g th e
incom parable adv an tag es o f p u b lic p re a c h in g , Fox asked:
How co u ld we b u t p reac h th e g o sp e l to such people?
F e e lin g as P au l d id , 'Woe i s me i f I p reac h n o t th e
g o s p e l,' we p reach ed in s e a s o n , o u t o f s e a s o n ,
n ig h t and d a y , p u b lic ly and from house to house.
W e p reach ed in th e c i t i e s , in th e towns , in thfi
177
C o le, op. c i t . , p . 117. A rch ib ald G. Baker
re p o rte d in 1927 th a t among P r o te s ta n t c h u rc h e s , "sc h o o ls
and h s o p ita ls have become th e c e n te r o f c o -o p e ra tiv e
a c t i v i t y . " R e lig io u s Thought in th e L a s t Q u a rte r C entury
(C hicago: U n iv e rs ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), p . 208.
178
"Report from Switzerland," Lectures, 1960,
p. 316.
543
m o u n ta in s and b y th e s e a , and so m etim es s ta n d in g
i n th e r a i n . We d ro v e o v e r ro a d s t h a t some
A m erican m u les m ig h t ev en r e f u s e to a tte m p t. We
r o d e b i c y c l e s . We r o d e w h a t th e y c a l l e d ’b u s e s '
b u t m ig h t m ore a p t l y b e c a l l e d 'b o n e c r u s h e r s . '
We ro d e u n h e a te d t r a i n s i n c o ld w in te r s , and we
w o rs h ip p e d i n s c r e e n l e s s b u i l d i n g s i n m o s q u ito -
r u l e d summers. . . . And l e t me t e l l y o u , t h e r e
i s no t h r i l l i n a l l th e w o rld t h a t c a n e q u a l th e
t h r i l l o f p r e a c h in g to p e o p le who h a v e n e v e r
h e a r d th e g o s p e l b e f o r e , n o t ev e n i n a p e r v e r te d
fo rm , and o f s e e in g s u c h p e o p le b e l i e v e th e
g o s p e l and o b ey i t . . . . 1 h a v e fo u n d t h e g o s p e l
s e l f - v i n d i c a t i n g . I t d o e s n ’ t ta k e e lo q u e n c e , I
know , b e c a u s e t h e la n g u a g e I f i r s t u s e d w as s u r e l y
p i t i f u l , b u t ev e n th o u g h as I b e g a n to s p e a k I saw
a few s m ile s as I p u t t o g e t h e r a b ra n d new v e r s i o n
o f th e J a p a n e s e la n g u a g e . Soon t h e p e o p le w ould
b e c a u g h t b y th e m essag e b a c k o f t h e s t r a n g e l y p u t
t o g e t h e r w o r d s , and f i n a l l y h e a d s w ould nod a s s e n t ,
ey e s w ould b l i n k b a c k t e a r s , an d h e a r t s w ould s u r
r e n d e r t o C h r i s t . I t e l l you a g a i n , t h e r e i s no
t h r i l l l i k e i t . . . . W o u ld n 't you l i k e to go
som ew here and t e l l th e g ra n d o ld s t o r y f o r th e
f i r s t tim e to s o m e b o d y ? * * ? ^
W h ile g r a n t i n g th e im p o rta n c e o f p u b l i c p r e a c h in g
in e s t a b l i s h e d c o n g r e g a t i o n s , some l e c t u r e r s s e r i o u s l y
d o u b te d i t s e f f e c t i v e n e s s and q u e s tio n e d i t s p o s i t i o n o f
p r i o r i t y a s a m is s io n a r y m e th o d . Dan F . F o g a r ty , s p e a k in g
i n 1952 on th e s u b j e c t , " O p p o r t u n itie s i n New F i e l d s , "
d e c la r e d :
You do n o t c o n v e r t th e s e p e o p le b y i n v i t i n g them to
th e s e r v i c e s and p r e a c h in g th e g o s p e l to th em . You
ca n i n v i t e th e m , an d you c a n p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l o f
^Lectures , 1953, pp. 136-137.
544
th e L o rd , b u t th e y l i k e l y w ill n o t be th e re to h e a r
i t . Y et th e re have been p eople co n v erted from
C a th o lic ism . How do th ey do i t ? They do i t by
means o f p e rso n a l w o r k .l° 0
In 1937, George S. Benson ex p ressed l i t t l e con
fid e n c e in a program o f fo re ig n evangelism p rim a rily based
on p u b lic p re ac h in g . He recommended a program o f v a rie d
te a c h in g methods on th e fo re ig n f i e l d :
W e should te a c h p u b lic ly and from house to house
b o th day and n i g h t , w ith t e a r s . W e sh o u ld p ro v id e
r e g u la r d a ily B ib le c la s s e s in o rd e r t h a t f a i t h f u l
d is c ip le s may be so th o ro u g h ly ta u g h t th e Word o f
th e Lord t h a t th e y would be a b le to te a c h o th e rs .
W e sh o u ld a ls o p ro v id e C h r is tia n l i t e r a t u r e in th e
n a tiv e languages o f th e p eople among whom we la b o r.
They need t r a c t s , b o o k le ts , b o o k s, and i f p o s s ib le ,
m agazines in t h e i r own la n g u a g e .181
A side from p u b lic p re a c h in g , th e s p e c ia l e v a n g e lis
t i c methods which th e le c tu r e r s d isc u sse d can be examined
under two broad c a te g o r ie s : te a c h in g th ro u g h p e rso n a l
ev an g elism , and te a c h in g through th e p r e s s , r a d io , and
te le v is io n m edia.
Personal Evangelism
As e a rly as 1923, F. B. Shepherd em phasized th e
prim acy o f p e rso n a l te a c h in g in h is l e c t u r e , "A V ita l
•^Lectures, 1952, p. 170.
181
Benson, " Q u a lific a tio n s o f Workers and Methods
o f Work in F o reig n F ie ld s ," p . 91.
545
F a c t o r . " He d i v i d e d e v a n g e lis m i n t o p u b l i c p r o c la m a ti o n
an d " p e r s o n a l w i t n e s s e s t o k in d r e d an d f r i e n d s , t h e m o s t
d i f f i c u l t y e t t h e m o st f r u i t f u l o f t h e tw o ." A s s e r t i n g
t h a t e v e ry C h r i s t i a n m u st p e r s o n a l l y b e a r t h e lo a d o f
e v a n g e lis m , S h e p h e rd q u o te d h i s c o n te m p o r a r y , B i l l y S u n d ay :
"Make a d e f i n i t e e f f o r t , t o p e r s u a d e a d e f i n i t e p e r s o n , to
a c c e p t a d e f i n i t e C h r i s t , a t a d e f i n i t e t i m e , and t h a t tim e
i s now ." S h e p h e rd c o n c lu d e d :
L o v e , n o t e l o q u e n c e , i s t h e m i g h t i e s t f a c t o r i n
w in n in g s o u l s . The s u c c e s s f u l s o u l- w i n n e r i s n o t
t h e h i g h l y p o l i s h e d o r d e e p ly l o g i c a l p u l p i t e e r
p ro d u c e d b y som e e d u c a t i o n a l o r e c c l e s i a s t i c a l
m a c h in e ; b u t r a t h e r t h e d e v o u t , e a r n e s t s t u d e n t
a n d h u m b le , u n s e l f i s h p r o c l a i m e r o f t h e u n s e a r c h
a b l e r i c h e s o f G o d 's lo v e an d s a c r i f i c e . 182
T h ro u g h t h e y e a r s , o t h e r s p e a k e r s s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e
c a s e f o r p e r s o n a l e v a n g e lis m b o t h a t home an d a b r o a d . In
1 9 3 7 , E. C. C offm an a t t a c k e d t h e te n d e n c y o f t h e c h u r c h t o
r e g a r d t h e p r e a c h e r a s a " h i r e d p r o f e s s i o n a l " i n t h e w ork
o f s p r e a d in g C h r i s t i a n i t y . He r e a s o n e d :
No w h o le s a le h o u s e c o u ld e v e r b e r u n on s u c h a p r o
g ra m , an d no m ore c a n t h e c h u r c h o f t h e l i v i n g God!
S u p p o se i t s h o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d t h e d u ty o f t h e
s a l e s m a n a g e r, i n h arm ony w i t h t h a t p ro g ra m , t o go
o u t an d do a l l o f t h e s e l l i n g , w i t h a l i t t l e h e l p ,
p e r h a p s , fro m a few o f f i c e r s o f t h e com pany o r mem
b e r s o f t h e f i r m , w h ile t h e s a le s m e n s u p p o r t h im b y
182Lectures, 1922-1923, pp. 290, 292.
546
t h e i r encouragem ent and t h e i r f a i t h f u l a tte n d a n c e
on h is w eekly le c tu r e s on th e q u a l ity and v a lu e
o f t h e i r goods. And suppose th e salesm en sim p ly
go o u t in to th e t e r r i t o r y th ro u g h th e week to tr y
to p ersu ad e a few p ro s p e c tiv e custom ers to come
to th o se w eekly le c tu r e s in th e hope t h a t th e y
w i l l d e c id e to b u y , w h ile th e y th em selv es make
l i t t l e o r no a tte m p t to s e l l any goods , b u t sim ply
se ek to i n t e r e s t p o s s ib le custom ers in th e f in e
le c tu r e s o f th e s a le s m anager. How long do you
th in k t h a t house would l a s t ? J u s t ab o u t long
enough to e x h a u st th e c a p i t a l !183
In 1941, Byron F u lle r to n c o n tin u e d C offm an's
r a t i o n a l e : "The u se o f p e rs o n a l ev an g elism is one t h a t we
have allow ed th e s e c ts to ta k e away from us e n t i r e l y too
lo n g . God d id n o t in te n d t h a t th e g e n e ra ls and commis
sio n e d o f f i c e r s in h is army sh o u ld be th e o n ly ones to do
th e f ig h tin g . He in te n d e d th a t h is w hole army sh o u ld c a rry
184
on th e f i g h t . " A decade l a t e r , R euel Lemmons d e s c rib e d
ev an g elism as " p r im a rily an in d iv id u a l ta s k . Many members
o f th e body o f C h r is t th in k o f th e ch u rch o n ly In term s o f
an o r g a n iz a tio n ." He p a r t i c u l a r l y s tr e s s e d th e id e a o f
p e rs o n a l r a t h e r th a n m erely f i n a n c i a l in volvem ent:
On th e o th e r h an d , l e t no b r o th e r among us suppose
t h a t he can p reac h th e g o sp e l w ith h is p u rs e . You
183
"The R e s p o n s ib ility o f th e L o cal C o n g reg atio n
in P re ach in g th e G o sp el," L e c tu re s , 1937, p . 39.
184
"Every Christian Citizen a Teacher," Lectures,
1941, p. 146.
547
c a n n o t p a y me t o do y o u r g o s p e l p r e a c h in g f o r y o u .
. . . T h e re i s no p o s s i b l e way f o r you t o s h i r k
y o u r i n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s a p r o c la im e r o f
t h e g o s p e l o f C h r i s t . ^85
D e i t e r A l t e n , a German m i s s i o n a r y , in tr o d u c e d th e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f co m b in in g a p ro g ra m o f b e n e v o le n t r e l i e f
w ith th e p e r s o n a l w ork a c t i v i t i e s . "Some p e o p le o v e r
t h e r e , " h e r e p o r t e d , " w i l l n e v e r b e im p re s s e d w ith th e
1
te a c h in g o f th e g o s p e l u n le s s a c t i o n w i l l p r e c e d e i t . "
As e a r l y a s 1 9 2 8 , C. M. P u l l i a s h a d s u g g e s te d b e n e v o le n t
a c t i o n a s a m eans o f o p e n in g o p p o r t u n i t i e s on th e m is s io n
a r y f i e l d . I n h i s s p e e c h , "T he U tte rm o s t P a r t o f th e
E a r t h ," h e lik e w i s e w arn ed a g a i n s t th e te n d e n c y to d i s
c h a rg e p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y th r o u g h f i n a n c i a l c o n t r i b u
t i o n . " I t i s n o t en o u g h f o r u s . . . to r a i s e money f o r
s u f f e r i n g h u m a n ity , b u t God w a n ts u s to come i n t o c o n t a c t
w ith th e s u f f e r e r ."'*'8 7
As p e r s o n a l e v a n g e lis m g a in e d momentum a s a t e a c h
in g m ethod d u r in g th e 1 9 3 0 's , t h e A b ile n e l e c t u r e s r e v e a le d
th e com ponent p a r t s o f a s u c c e s s f u l p e r s o n a l w ork p ro g ra m .
185iiEvang e l i s m ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 1 , p . 2 3 .
186
"T he Work o f th e C h u rch i n G erm any," L e c t u r e s ,
1 9 5 0 , p . 97.
187Lectures, 1928-1929, p. 235.
548
L. L. G eig e r's 1952 speech d iscu ssed the p h y s ic a l, m en tal,
188
and s p i r i t u a l q u a lific a tio n s of th e p erso n al w orker.
In 1956, Paul Southern le c tu re d on "Teaching Through
P erso n al C o u n sellin g ." He contended th a t p erso n al coun
s e llin g "should rank high in r e s p o n s ib ilitie s o f a preacher
because h is c h ie f b u sin ess is w ith p e r s o n s . I n 1959,
A. J . Kerr d iscu ssed a r e la tiv e ly new, h ig h ly su c c e ssfu l
m ethod, "The C ottage M eeting":
W e are beginning to r e a liz e th e g re a t p o te n tia lity
o f Home B ible S tu d ies. This is evidenced by th e
la rg e number o f a r t i c l e s which have appeared in
our re lig io u s jo u rn a ls in th e p a st two y e a rs.
A lso, th e re have been a number o f s e rie s o f s lid e s
and film s t r ip s made a v a ila b le to complement th is
type of B ible stu d y . Many are converted through
th is medium whom we could never reach by p u lp it
te a c h in g ,190
Leroy Brownlow in tro d u ced s e v e ra l "ways and oppor
tu n itie s " to p e rso n a lly teach th e B ib le: "from house to
h o u se," " in v ite th e p ro sp ects in to our homes," "a sso c ia tio n
w ith fello w -w o rk ers," and "an organized program o f personal
evangelism ." He a lso o ffe re d a reason fo r th e s p e c ia l need
o f p erso n al evangelism in th e busy modern w orld:
188"pe r gonai Evangelism ," L ectures , 1952, p. 244.
^ L e c tu re s, 1956, p. 63.
190nThe Cottage Meeting," Lectures, 1959, pp. 268-
269.
549
T h e r e w as a tim e i n w h ic h we c o u l d a n n o u n c e a g o s p e l
m e e t i n g o r p r e a c h i n g o n t h e L o r d 's d a y , a n d c ro w d s
w o u ld g a t h e r i n t o h e a r . M any cam e b e c a u s e t h e y h a d
n o o t h e r p l a c e t o g o . T h a t d a y i s g o n e a n d g o n e
f o r e v e r 1 T h e r e i s e v e r y t h i n g e l s e i n t h e w o r ld t o
a t t r a c t th e m now . I f we p r e a c h t o th e m i n t h i s a g e ,
we m u s t " g o " w i t h t h e g o s p e l . Many o f o u r g o s p e l
m e e ti n g s i n e m p ty c h u r c h b u i l d i n g s a r e p r o d u c i n g
l i t t l e m o re t h a n a h o l y e c h o I Why? B e c a u s e i n s u c h
i n s t a n c e s v e r y l i t t l e i n d i v i d u a l s o u l - w i n n i n g o n t h e
p a r t o f t h e C h u rc h i s d o n e . 191
A l v i n J e n n i n g s e m p h a s iz e d t h a t B ro w n lo w 's p o i n t
t a k e s o n a d d e d a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s i n t h e m i s s i o n f i e l d :
T oo o f t e n we h a v e h a d t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e w ay
t o c o n v e r t t h e l o s t i s n o t t o s e e k th e m o u t , b u t
t o r e n t a h a l l , p u t a n a n n o u n c e m e n t i n t h e n e w s
p a p e r , a n d w a i t f o r t h e l o s t t o f l o c k t o t h e
p l a c e o f a s s e m b ly . B u t i n m i s s i o n f i e l d s , v e r y
few w i l l v e n t u r e o u t t o s u c h a m e e ti n g s p o n s o r e d
b y t o t a l s t r a n g e r s .1 9 2
T h e P r e s s , R a d io , a n d T e l e v i s i o n
"A s t u d y o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f C h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s ,"
w r o t e W illia m E r n e s t H o c k in g , " w o u ld b e i n c o m p l e te w i t h o u t
c o n s i d e r i n g t h e i r u s e o f b o o k s , n e w s p a p e r s , i l l u s t r a t i o n s
a n d o t h e r w ay s o f d e l i v e r i n g t h e i r m e s s a g e b e s i d e s t h e
1 93
s p o k e n w o r d ." T h e A b i l e n e p l a t f o r m 's d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e
^ ^ 1 "Go . . . T e a c h ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 6 , p p . 2 0 9 - 2 1 0 .
192
" P e r s o n a l W o rk ," L e c t u r e s , 1 9 5 9 , p p . 2 6 5 - 2 6 6 .
193
Hocking, Re-Thinking Missions . p. 180.
550
u se o f th e p r in te d page and th e ra d io and moving p ic tu r e s
i s e q u a lly a p p lic a b le b o th to th e e v a n g e lis tic e f f o r t s o f
th e ch u rch es o f C h r is t in th e U n ited S ta te s and th e work
o f m is s io n a r ie s on fo re ig n f i e l d s . S e v e ra l sp e a k e rs
s tr e s s e d th e p o w erfu l in f lu e n c e w hich th e p re s s e x e rts
upon th e modern m ind. "No a r t e v e r d is c o v e re d by m o rta l
m an," a ffirm e d l e c t u r e r F rank W inters in 1952, "has
a f f e c te d th e human ra c e as has th e a r t o f p r i n ti n g . . . .
A w ise one o f o ld has s a i d , 'W hat gun powder d id f o r w ar,
th e p r i n t i n g p re s s h as done f o r th e m ind. " 1 S k etc h in g th e
v i t a l r o le w hich th e p r in te d page has p la y ed in th e h is to r y
o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , W in ters p o s tu la te d : " In no f i e l d has t h i s
G od-given power been more e f f e c t i v e th a n in th e C h r is tia n
r e l i g i o n .
A thens C lay P u llia s co n ten d ed t h a t in th r e e d i s
t i n c t ways , th e w r i tte n word i s " th e m ost p o w erfu l weapon
f o r good o r e v i l t h a t man may w ie ld " : i t p re s e rv e s th e
w o rld 's m ost p r i c e l e s s tr e a s u r e s in perm anent form , i t
re a c h e s th e more th o u g h tfu l p e o p le " w ith g rav e r e s p o n s i
b i l i t i e s ," a n d , u n lik e th e spoken w o rd , i t is r e a d i ly
a s s e s s ib le f o r f u r th e r s tu d y . P u llia s recommended t h a t th e
•^"The Power of the Press," Lectures , p. 247.
551
to u c h s to n e s o f t r u t h , f a i r n e s s , p r o p r i e t y , s i m p l i c i t y , and
195
b r e v i t y g o v e rn th e u s e o f th e p r i n t e d p a g e .
I n t h e e a r l y 1 9 5 0 's , i n t e r e s t b e g a n to m ount among
C h r i s t i a n b u s in e s s m e n and p r e a c h e r s f o r em p lo y in g th e
p ag e s o f n a t i o n a l m a g a z in e s a s an e v a n g e l i s t i c a v e n u e .
T . E. M illh o lla n d d e s c r ib e d th e fo u n d in g o f t h e " G o sp e l
P r e s s , " a n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n d e s ig n e d to p r e p a r e and
f in a n c e a d v e r tis e m e n ts i n th e n a t i o n a l p r e s s :
A f t e r a g r e a t d e a l o f p r a y e r and d i s c u s s i o n , i n
M arch o f 1955 t h e d e c i s i o n was made . . . to . .
. c a r r y th e g o s p e l t o t h e m i l l i o n s b y u s e o f th e
p a g e s o f n a t i o n a l m a g a z in e s . A n o n - p r o f i t fo u n
d a t i o n was o r g a n iz e d an d i n m e e tin g a f t e r m e e tin g
p la n s w e re c a r e f u l l y l a i d f o r t h i s w o rk .196
F o u r y e a r s l a t e r , A la n B ry a n , th e p r e s i d e n t o f
"G o sp e l P r e s s , " d e s c r ib e d th e f o u n d a t i o n 's a c t i v i t i e s :
T h is m eans t h a t a t o t a l o f o v e r 2 3 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n d i v i d
u a l s 1 m a g a z in e s h a v e c o n ta in e d an a r t i c l e t e l l i n g
r e a d e r s a b o u t t h e C h u rc h . R e sp o n se s h a v e come from
a lm o s t e v e ry tow n an d v i l l a g e i n A m erica and from
s c o r e s o f f o r e i g n n a t i o n s . I t i s d i f f i c u l t to
t h i n k o f ev e n a f o r e i g n n a t i o n w h ere a t l e a s t one
r e s p o n s e h a s n o t com e. B a p tism s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d
fro m F l o r i d a t o t h e s t a t e o f W a sh in g to n an d C a l i
f o r n i a to M ain e. E t e r n i t y a lo n e c a n m e a su re th e
im p a c t t h e s e ad s a l r e a d y p la c e d h a v e h a d on th e
m i l l i o n s who w a lk t h e f a c e o f t h i s e a r t h . 197
1 QS
"Effective Christian Journalism," Lectures ,
1956, pp. 194-195.
196"The Gospel Press," Lectures , 1956, p. 244.
197nThe Press," Lectures, 1959, p. 277.
552
The L e c tu re s h ip 's most v iv id example o f th e evan
g e l i s t i c powers o f th e p ress had i t s s e ttin g on th e
N ig erian m issio n f i e ld . An in te r e s tin g s e r ie s o f events
in 1945 brought a dynamic N ig erian le a d e r, C. A. 0. E ssie n ,
in to c o n ta c t w ith a B ib le correspondence course o ffe re d by
th e Lawrence Avenue Church o f C h ris t in N a s h v ille ,
Tennessee. E ssie n , by p ro fe s s io n a policem an o f th e E fik
t r i b e , had been educated in a denom inational m issio n ary
sch o o l. A fte r voluminous correspondence w ith members of
th e churches o f C h ris t and th e c a re fu l stu d y o f numerous
1 Q8
t r a c t s and books, E ssien was b a p tiz e d . 70 His unique
le a d e rsh ip q u a l i t i e s , coupled w ith h is z e a l fo r th e New
Testam ent ca u se , s e t in m otion an amazing movement rem in is
cen t o f th e American R e sto ra tio n Movement o f th e e a rly
n in e te e n th ce n tu ry . E ldred Echols in 1949 and 1952,
Leonard M ullens in 1951, Leonard M . Gray in 1953, Guy V.
Caskey in 1955, Howard Horton in 1956, Tommy K elton in
1957, W endell Broom in 1958, Rees B ryant in 1960, and J . W .
Nicks in 1961 spoke o f th e

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Creator Banowsky, William Slater (author)

Core Title A Historical Study Of The Speechmaking At The Abilene Christian College Lectureship, 1918-1961

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Speech

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,Theater

Format dissertations (aat)

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor McBath, James H. (committee chair), Dickens, Milton (committee member), Richards, Gale L. (committee member), Robb, J. Wesley (committee member), Seal, Forrest L. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-307414

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