The International Situation.—We do not wish to be alarmists neither do we profess to have inside knowledge, and if we had the kind some profess to have we would keep it to ourselves. We have had conversations with some who profess to be thus privileged and they would make one’s hair stand on end as they tell what is to happen at certain dates if one believed them. If the Dictators strike, it will in all likelihood be suddenly and unexpectedly but they will not be able to do so if the Lord has ordered otherwise. Our conduct in provoking the Ruler of Heaven and Earth is crying out against us and our readiness to join with godless and God-defying nations in the time of our need does not encourage us to look for God’s blessing. The situation at the time of writing is uncertain. There is a lull in in the mad speculating of the Dictators but both sides are feverishly entering into, or attempting to enter into, pacts. While the diplomats are thus engaged it is the duty of God’s people to be instant at a throne of grace.
Princeton on the Downgrade.—The Presbyterian Guardian in an article reviewing another by President John A. Mackay of Princeton Theological Seminary makes the following comment: “For over 100 years Princeton Seminary occupied the tower of sound doctrine watching the flow of contemporary life, but at the same time directing the people according to the Word of God and historic Christianity. Since 1929, and especially since the inauguration of Dr. Mackay as president in 1936, Princeton has left that watchtower and has fallen in line with the cavalcade of modern vagaries. So-called Barthianism is the prevailing philosophy taught at Princeton Seminary by Dr. Mackay and others, and particularly by Dr. Emil Brunner, who is guest professor of Systematic Theology.” It is with sorrow we read this paragraph. The stronghold of orthodoxy in the New World where the Alexanders, Hodges, Warfield, and Machen taught is capitulating to the modern disintegrating forces in the theological world and what adds to our sorrow is that at the head of this institution on the downgrade is one who had his upbringing and training in the Free Presbyterian Church. Dr. Brunner, the guest-professor referred to above, it may be pointed out, has strongly marked modernistic views on the Bible to say nothing of some other theological aberrations.
The Pope’s Interference in International Affairs.—From press reports it would appear that the Pope is exercising his diplomatic experience in an endeavour to bring about peace among the nerve-racked nations of Europe. While one would wish every success to anyone who would bring about an end of the tension that is laying its strangle-hold on the hearts of men yet the Pope is about the very last man from whom one would expect any good. Perhaps a few of the Canterbury type of so-called Protestants might expect great things. The announcement that the Pope was calling a Five Power Conference has been denied but no doubt the wily wire-pullers of the Vatican might be able to give more information on this than was given. Was it a feeler broadcast to the world to see what reception it would have? We notice that though it was proclaimed on the housetops that the appointment of Monseignor Godfrey, the Apostolic delegate, was an ecclesiastical appointment yet he has had an interview with Lord Halifax in connection with the above movement.