Is Modernism Fighting a Losing Battle in America?
—If Dr Albert C. Dieffenbach, the editor of the Unitarian “Christian Register,” is to be believed it certainly is. In his book, “Religious Liberty,” he regretfully admits that “In one Church after another—Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, and all the others—the holy warfare has ceased. The Fundamentalists have overwhelmed their liberty-loving brethren. The strife is over and peace prevails. The Churches have denied to their ministers by one form of declaration or another the freedom of individual conscience, and their laity have meekly acquiesced with only sporadic uprisings of the more emboldened ones, who have had no real effect upon the triumphant security of the Fundamentalists.” We wish with all our heart that this Unitarian editor’s report on the field of conflict was in accordance with fact, but there are not wanting signs that the mighty Modernist army is not yet routed. Still, it is something to know that there are sinkings at heart within the enemy’s lines, and perhaps we may yet live to see the host that so proudly spread its banners in full flight. One thing is certain, there has been a very considerable decrease in Unitarian Churches in America in recent years but Unitarians took comfort in the fact that their doctrines were gaining a place in the various denominations, but if there is already signs of coming defeat here, then there is but a poor outlook for Unitarians. The poorer the better.
Disappearance of Another “Missing Link.”
— The following pungent note is taken from a recent issue of “The Christian,” and speaks for itself:—”Another comedy of Evolution has just been brought to a close. In 1922, an American archæologist found in Nebraska a tooth which scientists proclaimed as belonging to a hitherto undiscovered creature, intermediate between man and the higher types of monkey. The conclusion drawn was that this was a tooth of the ‘missing link,’ and the creature was named ‘Hesperopithecus.’ The Evolutionists made much of this ‘completion’ of their chain of evidence at the time of the Scopes trial in Tennessee, when, as will be remembered, a school teacher was indicted for teaching Evolution in State schools. Now, at length, Professor W. K. Gregory, of the American Museum of Natural History, has declared that the tooth is of an extinct species of wild pig! Whether that attribution is correct or not, it must be for the experts to decide. Yet how ludicrous does science threaten to be made, on account of the irresponsible conclusions arrived at by men who profess to deal with exact knowledge and to possess a sense of the value of evidence! As ‘The Times’ points out, the existence of ‘Hesperopithecus’ was presumed solely on the strength of the supposed identification of the tooth in question. And such, let it be understood, are the grounds upon which modern men and women of sense are being asked to throw overboard the Word of God!”
The Mormons at Work.
—”The Daily Mail” (London) had recently an article setting forth the activities of the Mormons in this country. It would appear that 150 missionaries are at work in the British Isles. The headquarters of this section of the Mormon propagandists is at 22 Doughty Street, London, W.C. Their method of spreading their unscriptural doctrine is by house-to-house visitation, and like the Seventh Day Adventists and the Russellites, they are supplied with abundant literature, which is scattered without stint. The figures given to the “Daily Mail” interviewer by the president of Mormonism in the London district are interesting. At present the president claims that their membership in America is 500,000. In the 98 years of their existence he estimates that half of their members have been people from Great Britain. Their membership in London is 700. When asked, “What is the attitude of your Church towards polygamy?” the answer was: “There has been no polygamy within the Church since 1890.” The simple explanation of this change is that Congress passed a law prohibiting polygamy in any of the States. We warn our readers against these emissaries of Satan, for their plausibility is a snare to the unsuspecting. Polygamy is not the only anti-scriptural view they hold, and a system that had such an origin and such a history as Mormonism ought to be shunned by all who would seek to honour God’s truth as it is in Jesus.
“Hospital Religion.”
—A correspondent recently wrote to the “Morning Post,” concerning terms of excessive self-abasement in certain hymns, singling out “I am a worm,” as a specimen. He was followed by Prof. Henderson, of Aberdeen University, who holds the Church History Chair. Prof. Henderson is averse to such self-depreciation, and pleads for a more self-respecting kind of religion. He characterises the kind of religion he condemns as “hospital religion.” The old Calvinism that gave moral back-bone to Scotsmen and made men of them gave a very low place to man and an exceedingly high place to God, but its attenuated and lifeless successor has reversed the positions. We wonder if Prof. Henderson would characterise that announcement made at Nazareth which has cheered many a dropping heart: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” as “hospital religion.” What does it matter what they call it, to thousands and thousands it has been glad tidings of great joy, because it was meant for such as are described.
Mr Brider’s Mission to Sailors and Soldiers.
— Mr Brider has sent us his annual report of the good work he is doing in distributing sound literature among our sailors and soldiers. He has no private means, but gives his services to this noble work in dependence upon any help the Lord may put into the hearts of kind friends to send him. Those of our readers who are interested in this work should not forget this Mission in their prayers, and, where they are so inclined, with monetary help also. Mr Brider receives a monthly parcel of Free Presbyterian Magazines, for which he time and again sends us appreciative letters of thanks.