CONTENTS _ _ _______ ___ ___ __ __ _ .. __________ __ __ _ _ ____ __ __ _ Luther 313 Gtntttnrbiu m4tnlngttul :8lntdlJlg Continaing LBHRB UNO WERRE MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LUTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLy-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY VoI.xm Aprll, 1942 No.4 Pace Verbal Inspiration - a Stumbling-Block to the Jews and Foolish- ness to the Greeks. Th. EngeJder . ________ ____ ___ __ Z41 Leading Thoughts on Eschatology in the Epistles to the Thessalonians. L. FuerbrInger .__ ___ ____________________ __ _ Z85 Luther: A Blessing to the English. W. Dallmann ___ ___ 273 Outlines on the Wuerttemberg Epistle SelectioDS 290 Miscellanea 30Z Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-ZeitgeschichtIiches 303 Book Review. - Literatur ____ Eln Predlger muas nlcht alleln wei Es 1st bin DiDI. daa die Leute den, also class er die Schafe un1:er mehr be! dar ltIrche behaelt denn we1ae. wie sle rechte CbrtBten BOllen die gute PredlJt. - Apo1oQW. At't.1!4 sein. IIOI1dem auch daneben den Woe! fen wehnm. class sle die Schafe nlcht angreJfen und mit falBcher Lebre ver U the trumpet give an uncertain fuehren und Irrtum elnfuehren. sound. who shall prepare hfmIeJf to the battle? -1 CM. 14:' Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBUSBING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. to the Century council, during leaders of Lutherans in periodic Pitts who time, American branches have found matters cooperation establishing the participating churches charge the new wartime activities the churches would also over common interests. Affiliation with convention involve doctrinal commitments, is recognized that union, of service, National proposal enthusiasm and appointed commission this has done, an extraordinary session of Council will convened to upon it. The the from that it service three principal American Lutheranism. United Lutheran Church, was War separate synodical more members. Conference, to include the Scandinavian-descended churches together with two groups which have shown the proposal, or larger membership. confederation formed, only extreme conservatives, represented Missouri Synod, will remain outside. Thus the trend toward Lutheran unity, which impetus First receive further substantial forward the Second." We can understand that the Christian Century, non-denominational which is uniting of should enthusiastic news National Lutheran Council action. editors cannot be expected to possess that desire sound ness of doctrine has been strikingly characteristic of Lutheran Church throughout the question be the Lutheran reaction? At this writing we can quote the Lutheran Herald, the official paper of Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, which submits a long discussion of this matter to its readers. quote some paragraphs: question, of course, immediately arises as to what could be accomplished by the creation of such a Theological Observer- stitci)ltci)'.8dtgefci)ici)tHci)es 303 Theological Observer - itngeitgefitlie Concerning Lutheran Union.- On the National Lutheran Council meeting in Pittsburgh, where the question of Lutheran union was one of the big topics be discussed, Christian writes: "An important step toward further unity among Lutherans was taken at the recent meeting of the National Lutheran Council in Pittsburgh. The which was formed the First World War, brings together the about two thirds of the America for consultation and for action on matters of common concern. At burgh it received a proposal from the editors of Lutheran publications, were meeting at the same that the eight Lutheran which it possible to cooperate in a number of should formalize this by an entity to be called the American Lutheran Convention. This convention would act for by taking at once of of and take other the would not although it in time a closer doctrinal as well as in matters public might come to pass. The Lutheran Council received the with a representative to perfect it. When been the be act importance of proposal can be judged the fact will unite in two of the divisions of The which formed during the First World from three groups, has than 1,400,000 The American Lutheran which was set up about ten years ago other interest in new has an equal total If this is the Lutheran as by the received its first great during the World War, seems likely to a push during a paper constantly advocating the churches, be about the of the Its to maintain which the centuries. An important is, What will the We of the "The Lutheran groups in the would were possible Lutherans The as Council. Synodical Conference includes American Lutherans, long as it aloof, the cannot by proves enlist Synodical thereby doomed failure? not inclined that, while it would usefulness federation, would its establishment. This for reasons: because step direction, make our more effective. based doctrinal Frankly, in (im mediate remote), more the Lutheran America. Perhaps we have 'statement end all ments,' should already existing agreements into it might useful purpose. we want additional we before the of collate statements. be believe, that sufficient any federation, whether confined externals internal well, already exists." follows of the attitude Synodical Conference, concerning which editor times, read and statements from some of the leaders of the Synodical Conference, we optimistic; breath, men to limbo impossible. puzzled." The editor next paragraph complains that Missouri apparently afraid acknowledge external there is "coordination" of Finally he "We still, however, refuse to become altogether hopeless over picture. First, we do believe those now working together in the time; secondly, Missouri deep-felt for a closer unity and may even come to the point some day of making a break with the elements in the Synodical Conference which remain demands and they are arbitrators definers of Lutheranism; thirdly, believe that world conditions force us closer together." 304 Theological Observer - .Rftd)1id),2eitgcfd)td)tnmts federation which is not now being accomplished? The answer to that question will in turn depend upon how general the participation of federation be. If it to enlist all Lutheran bodies in America, we would have that for which 'Iwe have long hoped and prayed: an agency through which all might speak and act regarding external matters of concern to us all. National Lutheran Council today constituted does include two thirds of all American Lutherans. With the exception of a few small · bodies, it is only the Synodical Conference which has not joined the But the one third of and so remains Council any stretch of the imagination claim to speak for American Lutheranism. So at the very outset the question arises as to membership. Suppose that it impossible to the support of the Con ference, is the project to Frankly, we are decided in our own mind as to that. At present we would be to say certainly limit the of the we still favor two First, it is certainly a in the right in the direction of a greater degree of unity; secondly, because it would tend to joint efforts the As we see it, such a federation would not be on the adoption of more 'theses.' we see no need, either now or the future or for theses as basis for unity in if could a to state which collate one, serve a But do not statements. If mistake not, one of the tasks unity com mission the American Lutheran Conference at present is to all these That will quite a book and will prove, we doctrinal basis for future to or including affairs as - Then a discussion of the the says: "At when we hear become then, almost in the same we read or hear something from these same which seems place the whole thing in the of the So we are in the Synod Lutherans are to that in some respects a efforts. says: the that Council are drawing closer in spirit all the we cannot doubt that many in the Synod have a desire adamant in their that they only to be the and we will -position there cooperation should about real doctrinal fathers did Lutherans our country church will lodges about Prof. Henry m., closes Thinking Theology" (Lutheran Church Jan Luther, [italics Bible. consider another statements, which his Him prefers mature Very point one regards and as the "mature" that L ______ . .. _. 305 Theological Observer .Rird)lid)/8eitgefd)id)tlid)e§ In reading the above we are struck especially by the author's statement that in his opinion no more doctrinal theses should be drawn up. That is a strange to take when one seeks to bring about unity in the Lutheran camp. If that policy had been followed in the sixteenth century, we should not have received the Formula of Concord. But the question whether further doctrinal state ments have to be written and adopted is really of minor importance. What is necessary is that doctrinal unity be achieved before fellowship is declared to be established. With respect to purely external matters is some or coordination even now. The difficulty is that at times the line between purely external matters and matters involving fellowship is extremely difficult to draw. But what is truly essential is that doctrinal unity be achieved before fellowship is declared to be established. When the General Council was founded in 1867, Dr. Walther and Dr. Sihler of the Missouri Synod sent a communication to the meeting urging that before an organization was formed, there be discussions to bring unity. Our not think that the in should be in a hurry to form a large organization. But they exhorted all Lutherans to be concerned to have unity in faith brought about and maintained. The discussions in recent years have shown that there are a number of topics concerning which confusion and erroneous teaching are found in the camp of Lutheranism in America; chief among these are the doctrines of inspiration, conversion, predestination, and the last things. Among matters of practice concerning which unity have to be established are membership in and unionistic activities. If the National Lutheran Council through its organization will bring a thorough airing and examination of the things that are now debated in the Lutheran Church of America, it will render an im portant service to the cause of true Lutheranism. A. Luther's Aristotelianism. - Schaeffer, of Maywood, a rather keen and helpful study of the theme ''Biblical and Aristotelianism in Quarterly, uary, 1942) with a rather confusing and historically misleading para graph, in which he says: "Luther himself did not always escape the insidiousness of the Aristotelianism in which he had been trained from his youth. The young it will be remembered, accepted absolute predestination ours] on the basis of certain statements in the But the mature Luther had had time to series of Biblical did not altogether agree with youthful position, namely, such passages as John 3: 16: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in should not perish but have eternal life.' According to H. E. Jacobs the Synodical Conference prefers the young Luther in this regard, while the United Lutheran Church the Luther." much for one's view on this depends, of course, on what as the "young" Luther. We admit in his early theological career Luther had not yet quite cast off Scho lasticism or Aristotelianism, if one prefers to call it so. In other words, 20 incubation. church-historical mythology, "absolute on Arbitrio appeared in by that had very grasped John let us say, sola gratia, books defense Galatians, which 1519, New Testament books, his translation newe Testament deutsch" (1522), by all broke pletely scholastic theology. Again, it may that doctrinal between the Luther. Luther doors Wittenberg Ninety-five 16 as from the Luther matters, essentials; there is only not of kind. However, of frequent assertions effect place: Luther absolute We discuss Nor necessary; in "Historical Introduction Article of On Predestination" glot, pp. Dr. F. Be'n.te, instructor in at Concordia Seminary than thirty has so unanswerably proved that did not absolute predestination that above-mentioned charge ought not to be brought against him Beginning doctrine predestination Article Formula is Luther's Luther nor Article XI teaches an absolute predestination. Section 234 proves theme "Luther Falsely Charged with Calvinism." Section 235 sents Luther's Views." Section shows "Object of Luther's De Servo Arbitrio." The climax of the discussion follows section 241, "God's Grace Is Universal and Serious," which denial Bente Luther taught before De Servo Arbitrio. The section establishes perfect agreement in Luther's doctrine on predestination both at the beginning and end of his theological Luther sola gratia, the gratia universalis, and the vocatio seria. et efficax, also the electio salutem Christo et propter Christum. These sections present Luther's 'f, ·f 'q 1 I 306 Theological Observer .l(ird)lid)'3eitgefd)id)tlid)e- Luther at first still showed at times the Romanistic egg-shells of his theological But at the time when Luther, according to is said to have taught an pre destination," he was no longer a "young" but a rather "mature" Luther. Commonly the charge that Luther taught "absolute predestination" is based on one of his most mature works, De Servo Arbitrio. This great monograph the human will is regarded by some as so completely Calvinistic in tenor and tone that very good Calvinists have published it as a witness to their doctrine of absolute predestination. But De Servo 1525 and time Luther well the import of 3: 16 or, of the and the universalis gratia; for between 1517 and 1525 Luther wrote not only very many expositions of these central loci of Christian theology but also long treatises and whole in of them, such as his commentary on appeared in his "To the Chris tian Nobility of the German Nation" (1520), his numerous exegetical works on Old and Bible "Das etc., of which he com with be said in essentials authoritative Dogmengeschichte does not recognize any dif ference the "young" and "mature" On the very day when nailed to the of the Castle Church his famous Theses, he understood John 3: as clearly he did on February 18, 1546, when he died. The "young" Luther differs "mature" only in secondary not in a difference of degree, in view the to this the question is in "Did really teach an predestina tion?" cannot here this subject in detail. is this for his monumental to the Eleventh of the Formula Concord: (Tri 195-228) Symbolics for more years, ably and Luther teach an the any longer. with section 234, Dr. Bente shows that the on taught in XI of the of Concord in reality doctrine on predestination and that neither the pre a "Summary of 236 then the in is a total of absolute predestination. From section 246 on Dr. shows what actually on election and after his the career. always taught the as ad in " , • Theological predestination, while historical treatises does the recognition deserves. scholar's excellent research, representing both historical and egregiously disliked the popularity S. Christian Doctrine and other recent similar Lutherans do well review the doctrinal grace published a praiseworthy the July (1941) Christianity Today (October, 1941) toto. Lack space does not permit to follow the example of Today, and few paragraphs to show fortunate our God's with the remark graduates of many seminaries vexed the perplexing question as they really preach. Modernism has from them Christian message salvation. discovered that life, longer message (J. Campbell that might burn all seminaries), advocates of gospel tried void with of failed miserably Campbell, example, the great apostle of the entered Catholic Church, the Universalist evangelist Benjamin Fay Mills returned to the orthodox Machen pointed divergencies between the Gospel of New accusing the Modernists of insincerity, incon while Barthianism, with theological emphasis, weaned away from this great delusion such leading men as Reinhold Niebuhr kindred spirits, who demand a more realistic theology, "the Theology of Crisis, deeming it essential to get the idea revelation sense of the Professor says: "Some that they does not mean that they are inclined to return to the Bible the infallible Word of God. That a Rubicon which they will not cross. And, sad to say, they derive comfort from Barth and Brunner on this point." Very striking writer's analysis of Modernists' quandary today. He writes: lost their message and becoming increasingly conscious of the fact that the Church of our day has no message of its own and is therefore quite useless and ineffective. They - - - - 307 Observer .Ritdjlidj23eitgefdjtdjmd)e3 - true doctrine on the of most modern dogmaticians describe it one-sidedly and unfairly. This is • true even of Luthardt's Kompendium der Dogmatik (cf. 13. Auflage, Jelke, pp. 174 f.). Unfortunately Dr. Bente's fine work is presented in small type and as prefatory to our Confessions in the Triglot, so that it not receive which it A true theological truth, is thus passed by, while less reliable, or even altogether misleading treatises on the subject are accepted as authoritative. At this time when the study of theOlogy is again becoming popular in circles where it has been (cf. of J. Whale's works), we will to precious treasures which have been bestowed on us by God's in the past in so full a measure. J. T. M. What Shall We Preach? A Diagnosis of the Present Theological Situation. - Under this heading, Dr. Louis Berkhof of Calvin Seminary, has very article in issue of The Calvin Forum, which reprinted in of us Christianity but we shall in compensation stress a few salient points publish a from it how Church has been in escaping the curse of Modernism by adhering to Word without fail. The essay begins that today are with to what should removed the of When it the Church, thus deprived of its spiritUal no had a mission and a R. once suggested it be well to the the social to fill the "a Kantian gospel activism." But the social gospel so that J. R. for once new theology, the Roman and fold. After had out the social gospel and the the Testament, humanists entered the fray, dishonesty, and sistency, its more positive and back to of in some word." Berkhof Modernists feel ought to get back to revelation, but this as is is the the "They have are to they world discovering some the only which, like that the false prophets, word out heart. preach, great heartening us disgrace which fearless confession orthodoxy entails, author's cluding article he recognize Jesus as the of Church and there not since and merely messengers of the that nature the good that conveyed sinful doubt they to that point as they wish, is essentially for generations every road, but there absolutely warrant change. essential brought the impinges on prerogatives of the is mani festation disloyalty. Naturally, this does the form message place, change e'mphasis frequently required; but the heart day speedily come when preachers everywhere return once more the message of the King substitute for their hesitant opine' or imagine' Lord.' Then the again become real power in land." J.T.M. The "Moody Monthly" Not Safe - Moody Monthly is being read, understand, also in Lutheran circles. Its insistence on deity of Christ, His vicarious atonement, the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and other fundamentals, as also its aggressive mission spirit, delightfully refreshing doubt cynicism. Moody Monthly by means safe for read. Its "Practical and Perplexing Question Department," for instance, exhibits many perplexing and misleading answers. For one thing, the periodical is thoroughly premillennialistic, the replies at times extremes of dispensational enthusiasm. There are other points which equally unscriptural. answer to the question when knew man would make, says that God created man with possibility of sometime choosing because this the only way for man "to develop Godward," Theological Observer .Ritd}lid} eit\lefd}id}tlid}eil-308 are groping about for light and are trying to discover some useful message but refuse sit at the feet of the Lord of the Church and to learn of Him what should preach. They still feel that it must be • a this-worldly rather than an otherworldly Gospel, just another system for the regulation of the life of the world. They still prefer the wisdom of the to the foolishness of the Cross. And if they succeed in message to take place of the original message, it will be one of is a of their own They will continue to with diffi dence and hesitation, their own fallible opinions and will not be able to address the Church with an authoritative, 'Thus saith the Lord.' '' Most for Missourians, who have borne the a of is the con in which writes: "What an immense advantage they have who Christ Lord the fore as the only one who has the right to determine the message of His servants! They need start with an anxious quest for a message, they are willing glad to be King and are satisfied to know the King has determined once for all the of tidings must be to men. And if they are ever in about it, have but to turn the written record, which is always at their disposal. They can refresh their mind on as often for the message the same all of men. Not only is there no need of changing it at turn of the is no for such a Every change on in message the rights and King and a of not mean that of the may not change. Formal adaptation will always be in and a of will be of the Gospel and its fundamental implications will be forever the same. May the to and '1 '1 the authoritative 'Thus saith the pulpit will a the a Guide. The as we the makes it in this age of and But the is no a guide Lutherans to and go to on it is In why God created man He what a turmoil it the evil was i 309 gives positively claims coming issue, that fallen apparently entered polygamists." fallen This explanation of Gen. 6: course, answered the commandment to one another He us" ment applications Christians, and with was motives with was enforced." one's "Since is work God, believe [our salvation] last." intimates old doctrine final preservation God's promises Phil.l:6.) from these have been special study. on Biblical reason the Moody Monthly should read care should cannot discern between Education without The Calvin Forum (December, Dr. J. article entitled "Conflicting Ideologies Kingdom," heading given above, the pitiful of undergraduate great Eastern University." it printed Ladies' Home president university for the inconsistency of expecting from the students crusading for democracy and Christianity entire curriculum school destroy faith Christianity democracy. Just now, when Valpa University efforts many of desire be, first-class firmly on God's Word and having an enrolment worthy of such a school, and well-planned Students' ably ducted Rev. R. W. Hahn and his capable associates, this appeal ought to strike us with special force. This is what the student has say: "You, sir, were brought up from earliest childhood an atmosphere of traditional Christianity democracy. You read, inwardly digested the Bible. Nearly every Sunday you went Theological Observer - Rirc!.lltcfJ=.8eitoefc!.licfJtlid)d which suggests an Anninian background of original neutrality, similar to the Romanist claim that man originally was made in purls naturalibus. At any rate, Scripture us no ground for assuming that man in the state of innocence was to develop Godward; for he was created good. Again, the Moody Monthly that "the literal .. Elijah will himself come prior to the second coming of Christ, just as John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah prior to the first of Christ." Here, too, we have a speculation which contradicts Scripture. Still more amazing is the belief, expressed in the same "the angels into the bodies of men, who became Quite naively it adds: "This interpretation is plausible and makes the sons of God (Gen. 6: 2) to be angels." 2 is, of pre posterous. -The question whether Christ, while sojourning on earth, gave a new commandment, is without any qualification in the affirmative: "He did, love as loved (John 13:34). There is no reference to the fact that this command was new only as "to its peculiar to the clearness power which it taught, and the which it (Cf. The New Testament with Notes.) -The question "Is salvation lasting?" is briefly answered thus: our regeneration the of we it will This the Calvinistic of of the effectively called, which ignores the believer's firm trust in gracious to keep him in Christ Jesus to the end. (Cf. The copy which replies taken was submitted to us for It proves that Moody teaching many points is certainly not sound Lutheran theology and truth. For this be with great and be kept from all who true and false doctrine. J.T.M. God. - In 1941) H. Ockenga, in an and the Coming presents in a special paragraph, bearing the plea "an in a Originally was in the Journal. The writer rebukes the of that a zeal when the of the is calculated to in and raiso is making new and laudable to become what us it to a university, planted when our Welfare Work is being so con under to in and learned, and to an scarcely are are species the If there no natural Declaration Independence you, or college president, are supposed which potential devotion teaches through ordination certain question-box Church conducted he still remains priest. Baptism, in the question jurisdiction rather than Orders. standing, he ordained would Protestant Episcopal Romish leaven Theological Observer seircl)ncl)8eitgefcl)id)Uicl)es-310 church, and there you heard and believed sermons which postulated the divinity of Christ, eternal principles of right and wrong, the existence of the human soul, a personal God, and a life after death .... During your youth you were educated to think that man is superior to animals, that he is a free agent, capable of choosing between good and evil. Loyalty to country was ideal you came to cherish, and your schooling never caused you to doubt that man possesses certain inalienable rights. Unlike you, most of us have ever glanced at the Bible. When our elders refer to eternal verities, absolute ethics, we likely to recall the lesson your instructors in sociology have driven home - that morals relative to time and place, that what is good in one society is bad in another .... Our biology courses now conceive of man merely as one of mammal. Furthermore, is not your traditional doctrine of free will at odds with the basic assumption of modern science - determinism? We know not whether to praise or curse the current flag-waving and a belief that the American system is much better than any other. If men are but animals, why not treat them as such? An animal has no rights. The law among animals is the law of strong. is law in the universe, how do you justify those inalienable rights which the of asserts men to possess? Why do you think America is worth defending? Personally I fail to understand how any other can expect us to become ardent Christians and democrats when the vital postulates on which these faiths to rest are daily undermined in the class rooms. One thing seems certain, and I state this with all the solemnity of I am capable: you and other educators of the country are now rearing a brood of Fascists. No Promethean fires of faith and sacrificial zeal burn in our hearts. Our wish-washy adherence to Christianity and democracy pales into nothingness alongside the incredible of German youths to the Nazi creed." J.T.M. Character Indelebilis. - That the Protestant Episcopal Church that a indelible character is be stowed on a person is evident from this question and answer in the of the Living (Episcopal), by Bishop Wilson. "It is my impression that an ordained priest is irrevocably a priest. If he is deposed, he is deprived of authority to exercise the functions of his office, but a Is that right? Answer: Quite right. Holy Orders, like is indelible. In ordination a 'character' is imparted which can never be lost. Once a priest, always a priest. Holy Orders cannot be expunged or recalled. When a priest is deposed, he is denied the right to exercise his ministry Church - a of of In case the sentence should be lifted and he should be restored to good would not be again. He simply go on from where he had left off." Here we have evidence that in the Church not all of the has been removed. A. • .Rird)lid)+.8eitgefd)id)tIid)e!l Religious in Mexico. correspondent the Christian undergone important and the attacking 'prejudices fanaticism.' The orthodoxy Under tion; according to the new 'socialism' Article means individual.' This particular definition, put schools. and propaganda of any religious creed doctrine excluded prejudices continue attacked. But conscience profession will maintained, and fanaticism or prejudices not legally understood to profession religious creeds the of ceremonies, forms, carried law. consequence, allowed under pretext fighting fanaticism and prejudices, III left untouched measure (the antireligious forces strong), the whole educational policy government has been radically changed and fight through has brought religious teaching in private schools. educational societies have extended welcome to private initiative in field education. And with schools carrying on their work without government interference in realm conscience. Private schools, of course, will have to submit govern that not carried to the the is possible it means also private schools include religious teachings and practices along with the officially supervised favorable report ultimately found to be too optimistic. A. Brief Items. - Christian Century (non-denominational) reports congregation Brooklyn. The Protestant church was Flat Bush Congregational Church. that Protestants how a course fails render a real service Jewish people! the Chicago area the Chicago Bible Society last year distributed different languages. That for can grateful. Theological Observer 311- Situation A ill- Century (non-denominational) states that the attitude of the govern ment toward religious education has an change. He writes: "Article III of the Mexican Constitution, the origin of the trouble, was revised in 1934, under the high pressure of political radicalism. 'Socialized education' was thus made compulsory for all public and private schools as wen as the exclusion of all religious teachings duty of and latter term was understood to include all religious creeds. As for 'socialism,' Marxist was plainly meant. the shadow of this reform, Communism took a firm grip on Mexican public educa but law the of m simply 'the formation of the higher value of that which is social over that which is merely of course, is meant to an end to the doctrinal monopoly of militant Marxism in Teaching or will still be and and fanaticism will to be in doing this, freedom of and religious be strictly will be mean the of and practice devotions, or worship on according to the In the educators will not be to attack, of against the licit religious beliefs or practices of the pupils. Thus the text of Article was as a of political compromise are still but of the the against religion the schools been to a sudden stop. Under the new law of public education the door seems to be open again for The a the of the new policy it will be possible for private to exist in the of to ment supervision; but it seems this will be length of examining private religious convictions of teachers and pupils. It that that may curriculum." Let us hope that this will not be The on joint services held by a Protestant and a Jewish in the How sad these do not realize utterly such to to In the Bible in fifty is work which we be ciently which the asks. Gordon resigned position and to retire. younger the Lords. The just Archbishop been active late Dr. Robertson quoted Western doctrines Baptists day. sacra religon ecumenical making universal 'I J 312 Theological Observer - .Ritd)ltd)3eitgefd)id)tHd)e!l In Chicago there died at the age of 86 Dr. Andrew C. Zenos, a Pres byterian, who was one of the editors of the New Standard Bible Dic tionary, published by Funk and WagnaUs. The president of the University of Chicago, Dr. Hutchins, recently made the announcement that the A. B. degree will now be conferred at the end of a two-year course. He expressed the view that the ele mentary-school education, which now covers eight years, should not require more than six and that the secondary education can be suffi attended to in another six years, at the end of period the A. B. degree could be conferred. It will be noticed that he cuts off four years from the span of time which now is allotted to ele mentary, high-school, and college education. He holds there should be no specialization before course thus briefly pointed to has been completed, and concerning specialization he insists that it should not be inflicted on students who have neither the interest nor the ability for it. Whether the plan proposed will be widely favored is a question that everybody The Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of the Anglican Church, Dr. Cosmo Lang, his intends He is more than 77 years old and expressed the thought that the times call for the leadership of a man. The Living Church (Epis copal) expresses the opinion that Dr. Lang will be given a temporal seat in House of news has come that the of York, Dr. William Temple, who is 60 years old, has been appointed to succeed Dr. Lang and that Dr. Cyril Garbett, Bishop of Winchester, will succeed Dr. Temple at York. In the religious press it is announced that Dr. John R. Mott will retire as chairman of the International Missionary Council. Since 1910 Dr. Mott has extremely in behalf of the International Mis sionary Council. The A. T. is in the Recorder as having warned his Church of the danger of sacramentalism coming in on the side of the ecumenical movement of which he saw but the be ginnings. W. C. Taylor of Rio de Janeiro writing in this journal sees a danger to the peculiar of in the trends of the He writes: Dr. A. T. Robertson warned in his day of a revival of mentalism. If it could be seen then on the horizon, there is now little else that can be seen. The ecumenical movement in is, first and foremost, sacramentalism, bent on that Christianity. Thus writes the Presbyterian. Dr. Robertson was woefully wrong in his evaluation of the Sacraments, but he was right in viewing the ecumenical movement with suspicion. A. •