, '
arnurnr~ttt
wqrnlngtrttl flnut41y
Continuing
Lehre und Wehre (Vol. LXXVI)
Magazin fuer Ev.-Luth. Homiletik (Vol. LIV)
Theol. Quarterly (1897-1920)-Theol. Monthly (Vol. X)
Vol. II October, 1931 No. 10
CONTENTS
Page
FUERBRINGER, L.: Dr. F. Pieper als Theolog. 721
DAU, W. H. T.: Dr. Francis Pieper the Churchman ...... 729
ARNDT, W.: Paul as Citizen ... '" .. . ...... '" ... " .. 736
KRETZMANN, P. E.: Wann und wie kam Luther ZUl' Er-
kenntnis del' Wahrheit? .......... . 747
KRETZMANN, P. E.: The Inspiration of the New Testa-
ment ........ . 754
LAETSCH, TH.: Dr. Pieper als Prediger .................. 761
Dispositionen ueber die von del' Synodalkonferenz ange-
nommene Serie alttestamentlicher Texte............... 771
Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches. . . . .. 777
Book Review. - Literatur. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. 793
Ein Prediger muss nicht allein weide1lJ
also dass er die Schate unterweise, wie
sie rechte Christen sollen sein, Bondern
auch daneben den Woelfen wehren, dass
Bie die Schafe nieht angreifen und mit
falscher Lehre verfuehren und Irrtum ein·
fuehren. - Luther.
Es ist kein Ding, daB die Leute mehr
bei der Rirche ber..a::;lt d~nn die g'.lte
Predigt. - Apologie, Art. !4.
If the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1 Oor. 4,8.
Published for the
Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.
3.
lB. 28-30. ~eoufabneaar h:mrbe aur @idenntni~ feine~ flinbigen
SjodJmug unb aur gIiiuoigen Wnedennung ber ,anadJt be~ gro13en @otte~
georadJ±. Wu~ einem lBerfoIger !lJurbe er ein @ldJu~~err ber Si!irdJe,
R 28. 29. ~ie 10 mandJer ift audJ fpiiter burdJ bie tnunberoare @nabe
@otte~, tnie fie tidJ enttneber in ber mefreiung ber (f~riften au~ aUer
~ot ober in i~rer @ltanb~aftigfeit in aUer ~riiofar ertnie~, aum @rau~
oen georadJt tnorben 1
Woer audJ bie brei 15reunbe ~atten @legen bon i~rer ~o±' @lie
edangten i~re bormaHge @etnart tnieber aurlid'. lBgL S\)an. 2, 48. 49.
~a o~ne ,8tneifer tnirb i~r Wnf e~en im ganaen 2anbe geftiegen f ein.
@lie fonnten mit ~ofep~ fagen: 1,anof. 14,20. @lo ~anbeH @oit oft
mit feinen (f~riften fdJon in biefem 2eoen. Sjioo 42,10 ft. (meb 351,
11.) 2a13± un~ ba~er @ott gerabe audJ in ber ~ot liver aUe~ flirdJten,
Heoen unb bertrauen. ~f. 91, 10; 2 ~im. 4, 18; '\Jioo 5, 19; ~f. 37, 5.
o.Si!.
Theological Observer. - ~itdjndj~8eitgefdjidjtlidje~+
1. .2lm:eriktl+
Dr. Stub, Sr., Deceased. The chief data in the life of this gifted and
prominent Lutheran leader are thus summarized in the National Luthemn
Oounoil Bulletin:-
"The Rt. Rev. Hans Gerhart Stub, D. D., Litt. D., L. H. D., LL. D., bearer
of the Grand Cross of St. Olav and president emm'itus of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church of America, died in St. Paul, Minn" August 1, at the age
of 82, after an illness of three months. Dr. Stub, born February 23, 1849,
the son of a Lutheran pastor at Muskego, Wis., was educated in a German
school at La Cross, Wis., was sent to Bergen, Norway, to attend the
Cathedral School from 1861 to 1865, returned, attended Luther College,
Decorah, Iowa, 1865 and 1866; Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1866
to 1869 and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., from 1869 to 1872. Or-
dained to the Lutheran ministry, he preached for six years in Minneapolis,
later becoming professor of dogmatics and president of Luther Seminary
of the Norwegian Synod, which position he held from 1878 to 1896, mean-
while spending the year 1881 and 1882 in study at the University of
Leipzig. In 1896 he went to Luther College as professor of religion and
pastor of a local church in Decorah. In 1900 he became president and
professor of dogmatics at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, which position he
held until 1917, when he resigned to take the presidency of the newly
organized Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. While at St. Paul, he
held various offices in the Norwegian Synod, being president of that body
from 1910 to 1917. On his retirement from the presidency of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church, in 1925, he became president emeritus, which position he
held until the time of his death.
"An active participant in all discussions concerning a better under-
standing among Lutheran groups in America, Dr. Stub took a prominent
778 Theological Observer. - ~ird)Hd),{3eitgefd)id)md)e~.
part in the efforts to amalgamate the Hauge Synod, the Norwegian Synod,
and the United Norwegian Church which culminated in success in 1917.
He was instrumental in establishing the National Lutheran Commission
for Soldiers' and Sailors' IVelfare and was vice-president of it throughout
its existence. He was one of the small group who brought into existence
the National Lutheran Council in 1918 and was its first president, serving
until 1921. Dr. Stub led the way to his influence to the Lutheran World
Convention movement, preaching the sermon which opened the first con-
vention at Eisenach, Germany, in 1923, and serving as delegate from his
Church to the second convention in Copenhagen, in 1929. Dr. Stub in-
terested himself actively in a number of the projects of the Lutheran
Church, particularly the Lutheran Hospital of St. Paul and the Luther
College Endowment Campaign, and was sent to Norway on several occa-
sions as representative of the Norwegian Lutherans of America and of the
State of Minnesota, notably the Norway Centennial, in 1914, and the
coronation of King Haakon, in the summer of 1906. For his leadership,
King Haakon made him a knight of the Order of St. Olav. In 1912 he was
made a commander in the order and in 1922 given the Grand Cross. He
was a linguist, having command of English, Norwegian, German, Danish,
Swedish, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and in the midst of his busy life
found time for the production of at least a dozen books in Norwegian and
English and for editing, for a period of twenty years, two theological
journals. Two of his sons, Dr. J. A. O. Stub of Minneapolis, Minn., and
Rev. H. A. Stub of Seattle, Wash., are in the service of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church."
It is with deep sadness that we advert to the break in the brotherly
relations between Dr. Stub and the Synodical Conference, which came when
the merger of three Norwegian bodies resulting in the Norwegian Lutheran
Church of America was formed. In the early days of the controversy on
the doctrines of conversion and election, Dr. Stub was a valiant defender
of the Scripture teaching as set forth in the Confessions of the Lutheran
Church. His eloquent lecture on the doctrine of election, delivered in
Madison, Wis., and published in German translation in Vol. 27 of Lehre
und Wehre, not only gives evidence of his deep learning, but of his shar-
ing the position held by Dr. Walther and the latter's associates. When
Concordia Seminary conferred on him the degree of doctor of theology
honoris causa, this was more than a mere courteous gesture; it gave ex-
pression to the unity of faith existing at that time between him and the
Missouri Synod. How he in 1917 could enter into church-fellowship with
his former opponents and declare himself satisfied when they accepted the
Opgjoer is difficult to understand. It is true that Dr. Stub made the
statement the Opgjoer was in full agreement with the so-called Chicago
Theses, which were endorsed by a number of conferences belonging to the
Synodical Conference; but in this he was mistaken. It is our firm con-
viction that history will show (and is doing so even now) that the
Opgjoer was not a satisfactory document of union and that the merger
of 1917, to say the least, was premature. Our explanation of Dr. Stub's
attitude in 1917 is that, imbued with a zeal for uniting warring elements
in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, he became too enthusiastic and thus
was led to endorse a union which was not resting on true unity in doctrine
Theological Observer. - .reitcf)licf)~8eitgefcf)icf)mcf)es. 779
and practise. For whatever great and good things God accomplished
through Dr. Stub we are sincerely grateful, and we trust that divine mercy
will graciously mend whatever injury was caused when the judgment of
the deceased was at fault. A.
Archbishop Soederblom Deceased. - It was on July 12 that
Dr. Nathan Soederblom, Archbishop of Upsala, having undergone a serious
operation, died of heart failure. He was born January 15, 1866, his father
being a Lutheran pastor in Northern Sweden. After having served as
pastor of the Swedish congregation in Paris and as professor at Upsala
and Leipzig, he was appointed Archbishop of Upsala, thus being placed in
the position of highest ecclesiastical dignity in Sweden. That he was
a man of marvelous gifts and a great scholar cannot be doubted. One of
our exchanges credits him with having known ten languages. In circles
outside of Sweden he will be remembered as a churchman whose constant
aim was to reunite Protestant Christianity. Sad to say, his efforts did
not have the objective to bring about a union of Christians on the basis
of the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions, but rather to induce
them to be friends and brothers their doctrinal differences notwithstanding.
He was a thoroughgoing unionist. The atmosphere of the conferences of
Stockholm and Lausanne appealed to him. In fact, among the people that
brought about the Stockholm and Lausanne conferences he was the prime
mover. If his views should prevail, the death knell of the Lutheran
Church would have to be sounded. Personally, we are told, he was a
lovable man, whose home-life was exemplary. His specialty as a scholar
was the field of comparative religion, where he espoused modernistic views.
A.
Objectives for U. L. C. Seminaries. - Our readers will probably
recall that a plan was on foot to merge some of the thirteen seminaries of
the U. L. O. The plan has not as yet materialized. According to an
article in the Lutheran by Dr. Oharles E. Kistler, attempts are still being
made "to find a solution of what appears to be a very difficult problem."
After denying that there is an overproduction of ministers in the U. L. C.,
the writer examines the question, "Should the requirements for entrance
to, and graduation from, our theological seminaries be raised?" We shall
quote some of his remarks. "A three years' seminary course at best is
hardly adequate to equip a young man fully to meet all the problems that
will confront him in the holy ministry. Time wasted and energies diverted
into other channels during so short a period can only mean a still more
limited preparation for life's greatest calling. No young man should be
obliged to enter t.he ministry with a mere elementary knowledge of the
Bible, with serious handicaps in ministering to the sick and the distressed,
with an inadequate conception of the great variety of the functions of
a modern congregation, and with a lack of definiteness in framing his
pulpit messages as frequently as the parish to which he is called requires
him to preach. The number of hours per week required of medical students
indicates approximately what the Ohurch should provide for its theological
students. Nothing is left undone to equip prospective practitioners to
restore broken bodies. Anything less for the preparation of physicians of
sin-sick souls would seem inadequate. The time is at hand to begin to
make conditions of admission to our theological seminaries so exacting,
780 Theological Observer. - .RitdJlidJ=,8eitoefdJidJtlid}e!l.
and the courses so attractive, that the students cannot and will not look
for additional culture anywhere else while pursuing their studies in
preparation for the ministry." To utilize the great number of seminaries
in the U. L. C., Dr. Kistler proposes the unique plan that "prospective can-
didates for the ministry should be privileged to spend the junior year in
one seminary, the middle year in another, and the senior year in a third,
if they choose to do so." He thinks that "the contacts with a larger
number of the leaders of the Church, the greater knowledge imparted by
a larger number of professors, the wider acquaintance with men and
methods of the whole Church, the different libraries with additional rare
volumes in each, should not be denied any student who desires them." On
the merging of some of the seminaries our author says that of the many
difficulties confronting such a project some are born "of a long-cherished
sentimentality." "The plan that will ultimately meet with general ap-
proval, if such a thing is possible, must be without taint of self-interest."
The whole article of Dr. Kistler makes interesting reading for the members
of the Missouri Synod, who are now weighing the recommendations made
by the so-called Survey Committee. A.
Union Lutheran Seminary in India. - We read in the News Bul-
letin of the N. L. C.: "Three Lutheran churches in India and the four
missions supporting them have joined hands in establishing at Madras
a Union Lutheran Theological Seminary, which will open its doors to its
first three-year class in July. Each cooperating body will furnish one
professor, either Indian or foreign, and will be responsible for his salary
and house and will also send students to the institution. The organiza-
tions cooperating in the project are the Danish Lutheran Church in South
India and the Danish Missionary Society, the Lutheran Church in the
Andhra country and the United Lutheran Church Mission, and the Tamil
Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mis-
sion, and the Church of Sweden Mission."
The Bulletin adds this paragraph: "Another problem now under con-
sideration by churches and missions of various denominations in India
is that of interdenominational cooperation in theological education. This
problem is particularly pressing since the five months' sojourn in India
of the Commission on Higher Christian Education, consisting of eleven
men, headed by Rev. C. Luther Fry, secretary of the Interdenominational
Bureau of Religious Research and son of Dr. Charles L. Fry of Philadel-
phia. This commission urged the concentration of all theological educa-
tion in selected centers, controlled jointly by all missions and churches
in the area, and the National Christian Council of India is now seeking
to develop such a plan. The Lutherans in India are inclined to move
very slowly on this proposal, their viewpoint being expressed in the fol-
lowing from an editorial in the May issue of the Gospel Witness, official
organ of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in India: 'It is too early
as yet to comment at length on this ma,tter, but mention is merely made
of it here in order that all concerned may be thinking over the problems
involved.' "
The religious mania of the age, to join hands irrespective of the doc-
trinal position held by those concerned, is attacking the Church in India,
Theological Observer. - Ritcf}licf}~2eitqefcf}icf}mcf}es. 781
too. Some people actually seem to think that Laodicean lukewarmness
in matters of doctrine is a panacea for all ills that are besetting the Church
and society. Not only the plan of the Commission on Higher Christian
Education, but also the above-mentioned Union Seminary rests on a union-
istic basis. A.
The status of Theological Education and the Administration
of Vacancy and Supply in the Presbyterian Church. -At its meeting
in Pittsburgh in May the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
(Northern Presbyterians) listened to a report of its general council, which
dealt with the kind of education Presbyterian ministers have received and
with the question how vacancies can best be filled. A report sent the
Ohristian Oentu1'y from Pittsburgh reads concerning this point: "The
restlessness of the ministry, the fact that statistics compiled from 173 pres-
byteries show a third of the ministers were without college training re-
quired by the standards and that almost one-fourth had no theological
education as such, the indictment that much of the trouble fomented these
last years has come from men who are untrained, have led the general
council to recommend a plan for the administration of vacancy and supply.
Notwithstanding some objection, voiced in fear of centralized authority,
the assembly adopted this." We are a little afraid that the meaning of
the above report is that Fundamentalism is due to lack of training on
the part of the respective clergymen. How untrue such an assumption is
can easily be demonstrated by the case of Dr. Machen, who is one of the
foremost defenders of the authority of the Scriptures and at the same time
one of the most scholarly men the Presbyterian Church of to-day can boast.
A.
Relations of Northern Baptists to the Federal Council of
Churches. - That smart and strong talk is not always followed by appro-
priate action is illustrated in the resolutions of the Northern Baptists'
convention pertaining to relations with the Federal Council. On this head
the correspondent of the Ohristian Oentury presents the following report:
"The second problem listed above, however, that concerning relations
with the Federal Council, did create a stir. The recent report of the
Federal Council's committee on marriage and the home dealing with the
moral aspects of birth control, together with the rumpus which this report
created in the Presbyterian general assemblies, both North and South,
caused grave apprehension as to what might happen in the Northern
Baptist convention. A great many individuals and churches in the con-
vention have long been restive about the relation of the convention to the
Federal Council. Further, Southern influence was strong in this convention.
The meeting was held on the border-line between North and South, and
several churches are affiliated with both Northern and Southern conven-
tions. And the Southern Baptist convention, as is generally known, does
not hold membership in the Federal Council. Thus the situation was set
up for trouble.
"Just why this report of the Federal Council's committee on birth
control should stir up so much trouble it is a bit difficult to see. Of course,
there is a lot of emotion connected with the subject. Yet my own observa-
tion of the size of Baptist families indicates that the report ought to
receive almost unanimous Baptist approval, or else we are an unconscionable
782 Theological Observer. - ~itd)lid)<8eitgefd)id)md)e§.
lot of hypocrites. However, remarks from the floor and vigorous applause
made it clear that the report had aroused a good deal of angel'. Trouble
threatened, but passed when the report of the convention members of the
Federal Oouncil was received. The debate came on the appropriation from
the convention for the support of the Federal Oouncil. A motion was made
to reduce the appropriation from $9,950 to $7,500, the accompanying
speeches making it clear that this action was to be interpreted as a rebuke
to the Oouncil. Thus the debate, was precipitated.
"It was decided, on vote, to give a full airing to the whole matter of
relat.ions to the Federal Oouncil before the matter of the appropriation
was settled, the discussion to take place at a later hour on the program.
When the matter came up again, somewhat to the surprise of many del-
egates, no proposal was made to withdraw from the Federal Oouncil.
Instead, a motion was introduced by Dr. J. O. Massee, seconded by Dr. P.
O. vVright, expressing the need of some organization that would express
certain common interest.s of Protestantism and stating the conviction that
at the present the Federal Oouncil best served that need. At the same
time the motion admonished the Oouncil in cert.ain regards, particularly
'that they would be wise, in recognition of their cooperative and non-
authoritative capacity, to limit the number and character of the subjeds
upon which they make formal pronouncements.' This motion Judge F. W.
Freeman of Denver supplemented with an amendment disclaiming 'any
implication that we, as a denomination, have approved t.he transaction,'
that is, the birth control report. The motion prevailed without debate.
"The whole incident illustrates the extremely difficult circumstances
under which cooperation moves forward. The matter of the financial appro-
priat.ion was referred back to the finance committee, Judge Freeman saying
that he would not oppose the reduction if it were made on the ground
of absolute financial necessity, but would oppose it if the action were to
be interpret.ed as a punitive measure."
The episode illustrates that the current of unionism and indifference
in doct.rine runs strongly and swiftly these days and that. it is not an
easy task to swim against it. A.
The Northern Baptist Disarmament Resolutions.-The Northern
Baptist convention, which met this year at Kansas Oity, Mo., June 3 to 8,
passed the following resolutions with reference to the forthcoming General
Disarmament Oonference: -
"VVHEREAS, Whatever may be the right methods used by nations to
render war a thing of the past, and whatever wars of the past may have
been justified, we no longer can believe that war as a present and future
method of settling difficulties is justifiable from any human or Ohristian
standpoint; therefore be it
"Resolved, That we favor every sane method that looks toward a con-
structive program for peace and international good will; and be it further
"Resolved, That not only do we favor the participation of the United
States in the coming General Disarmament Oonference, but we urge that
it will use to the utmost its influence to make the Peace Pact a construc-
tive factor in the disarmament of all nations, involving all the war forces
of land, sea, and ail'; and be it further
"Resolved, That we commend the recent utterances of the President
Theological Observer. - ~irq,Hq,~8eitgefq,iq,tliq,e~. 783
of the United States in regard to disarmament as a means to a better in-
ternational relationship and as a relief from the burdens of taxation; and
be it further
"Resolved, That we favor the World Court and urgently request that
the Senate of the United States will lead our country to become a party
to it without further delay and thus assume our national responsibility."
Not to enter into It discussion of the mixing of Church and State in-
yolved in these resolutions, we feel that the premise laid down in the
preamble cannot be upheld on the basis of Scripture or reason. "Ve refer
to the statement: "We no longer can believe that war as a present and
future method of settling difficulties is justifiable from any human or
Christian standpoint." That is a sweeping assertion, covering a wide ter-
ritory, and it must have raised the question in the minds of some of the
Baptist delegates as to the matter of just wars. Or does this large body,
representing over a million and a quarter members, mean to go on record
,officially as asserting that, if our country were invaded by some armed
power, its members would not be ready to rush to arms in its defense?
We do not believe that the extreme pacificism clearly expressed in the
statement is seriously meant. At the same time we hold that such expres-
sions are unwise because of the confusion they cause in the minds of the
people. A crop of conscientious objectors, who seriously believe that serv-
ing as a combatant in any war is wrong, will be the inevitable result; and
the calling of a soldier, the honorableness of which is nowhere questioned
in Scripture, is unjustly impugned.
With the woods to-day as full of ranting pacificists as they were
with blatant hate propagandists during the late war, it is very important
that we keep the thinking of our people straight by teaching, whenever
the occasion offers, the things which our Church has taught for four hun-
dred years de rebus civilibu8,'-
"Of Civil Affairs they teach that lawful civil ordinances are good
works of God and that it is right for Christians to bear civil office, to sit
as judges, to judge matters by the imperial and other existing laws, to
award just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers, to
make legal contracts, to hold property, to make oath when required by
the magistrates, to marry a wife, to be given in marriage." (Augustana,
Art. XVI, 1. 2.) W. G. P.
Ordination in Baptist Churches. - When the Northern Baptist r,on-
vention met in Kansas City June 3-8, the subject of ordaining ministers
was one of the topics of discussion. On this matter the correspondent of
the Christian Centu?'y writes: "Under Baptist polity any Baptist church
can ordain any person it wishes. It rarely does so, however, without the
advice of a cOlllCil. At the same time a large number of very ill-prepared
men have slipped in. The convention feels that it has a stake in the
matter since a person ordained by one Baptist church may be called to
serve other Baptist churches. And there are substantial benefits involved
in denominational recognition, as, for example, membership in the min-
isters' and missionaries' benefit board. A strong body of opinion has
developed therefore that the Northern Baptist convention ought to establish
worthy standards of ordination without which denominational recognition
should not be accorded. Opposition to this course has come from a section
784 Theological Observer. - .Ritd)1id)~.8ettgefd)id)md)e!l.
of the old Fundamentalist group, particularly those associated with certain
Bible-schools whose graduates would have difficulty in meeting any
standards of scholarship worth anything.
".A committee of the convention was scheduled to report at this annual
meeting, and it was anticipated that severe opposition might develop.
The commission, however, did not go very far in its recommendations.
It did not advise the withholding of recognition from anybody, but only
indicated its belief that ordaining churches should recognize their fraternal
obligation to be advised by a regular council in the matter and recommended
that these councils 'keep in mind' certain 'desirable considerations,' among
which were the following standards of preparation, here presented in order
of preference: -
"Standard college and standard theological studies, with graduation.
"Standard theological studies with graduation, besides two years of
college study.
"For those unable to obtain the above, full high-school work or its
equivalent and at least two years' study in a theological school.
"The report was so innocuous and so completely lacking in mandatory
character that no opposition was expressed, and the report was adopted.
It gets just nowhere."
The Baptists are right in keeping the congregation supreme. The
caution in the report of the committee that obligations toward the Church
at large must not be disregarded is important. Besides the grand declara-
tion of Paul, ".All things are yours," 1 Cor. 3, 21, we find the other one:
"I beseech you that ye walk, ... endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace," Eph. 4, 1-3. .A.
Is a New Day Dawning in Gospel Criticism? - We learn from
the Oommonwea~ that Prof. John Scott of Northwestern University, Evans-
ton, Ill., one of the great Greek scholars of our country, has recently pub-
lished a book entitled Luke, Physioian and Historian, in which he sounds
a note which will be quite disturbing to negative critics. Professor Scott,
we must say in explanation, is chiefly an authority on Homeric questions
and has done important work in opposing the view that the Iliad and the
Odyssey come from a great number of authors whose productions were
pieced together in a rather imperfect way by some unknown editor or
editors. The writer in the Oommonwea~ says of Professor Scott: "It was
an essay from his pen that, in the first decade of this century, made the
largest breach in the ramparts hitherto deemed impregnable of those
higher critics who defended multiplicity of authorship as the only rational
explanation of Homeric origins. On reading this essay, .Andrew Lang
declared that it had sounded the death-knell of Homeric higher criticism,
and he added that it would prove to be the death-blow of Biblical higher
criticism as well, 'since criticism of the Bible depends on the assumption
of the truth of the higher criticism of Homer.' Certain it is that the
underlying principles are essentially the same in both these applications;
and now that they are an acknowledged failure as regards Homeric unity,
which has been vindicated beyond doubt, Professor Scott, in agreement
with .Andrew Lang, expresses the conviction that the failure of their ap-
plication to the Bible will be universally admitted within no great inter-
val of time." Professor Scott is quoted as saying: "I want to make the
Theological Observer. - .Ilitcf)ltcf»8eitgefcf)icf)tlicf)ell. 785
following prophecy. In a few years there will not be a single schol9~r of
any standing in the world who will doubt that Matthew was written by
Matthew (the publican), Mark by Mark, Luke by Luke, and John by John
and that the gospels were from the very beginning in all essentials ex-
actly as we now have them. I base this prophecy on what has happened
in the last twenty years in the kindred field of Homeric criticism." We
have not seen the book of Professor Scott, which was issued from the
Northwestern University under the auspices of the Shaffer Foundation.
The information given in the Oommonweal would indicate that it is a work
of absorbing interest to all conservative theologians. A.
Does Rome Ever Meddle in Politics? - To this question our reply
has to be an unqualified yes if the Moody Monthly is right. Referring
to the conflict between the British authorities on the island of Malta and
the hierarchy, a matter concerning which we suppose our readers are suf-
ficiently informed, the publication mentioned, as quoted by Prof. J. P. Meyer
in the Theologisohe Quartalsohrift, prints the pastoral letter issued by the
Roman Catholic bishops of the island with respect to the attitude Roman
Catholics should assume in the approaching election. The salient para-
graphs of the letter read: "Know therefore as Catholics: 1. You may not,
without committing a grave sin, vote for Lord Strickland [the British
governor] and his candidates or for all those, even of other parties, who
in the past have helped and supported him in his fight against the rights
and the discipline of the Church or who propose to help and support him
in the coming elections. 2. For even stronger reasons you may not pre-
sent yourselves as candidates in the electoral list proposed by Lord Strick-
land or by other parties who propose to support him in the coming election.
3. You are also solemnly bounel in conscience in the present circumstances
to take part in the elections and to vote for those persons who by their
attitude in the past offer greater guarantee both for religious welfare
and for social welfare. In order, then, to prevent abuses in the adminis-
tration and reception of the Sacraments, we remind our priests that they
are strictly forbidden to administer the Sacrament to the obstinate, who
refuse to obey these instructions." Continuing, the report brings an affi-
davit (one of thirteen) which testifies that the deponent was refused ab-
solution when he at the confessional was unwilling to tell the priest which
party would receive his vote in the election. The statement of the priest
was, "My orders are precise and preclude me from absolving you." It
seems Roman apologists will have a hard time putting an innocent con-
struction on the above facts. A.
Religious Instruction in New York High Schools. - The Oom-
monweal of June 17 informs its readers that "an extremely interesting
development in Catholic education for public-school children has been made
in New York with the announcement that religious instruction is to be
admitted to official standing in two high schools. These two cases are to
be somewhat in the nature of test cases. Specifically they will be courses
in religious instruction one hour a week after regular'school-hours, and
if a student perseveres in the courses for four years, he will receive a credit
out of the total requirement of fifteen credits. The Interfaith Committee,
on which Catholics, Jews, and Protestants interested in obtaining religious
instruction for public·school children have cooperated, are responsible for
50
786 Theological Observer. - .Ritd)lid)~2eitgefd)id)tlid)es.
obtaining as much as has been obtained." The Oommonweal adds: "Of
course, a thorough Catholic education will always be the thing most to be
desired and to be worked for." Continuing, this paper states that about
one half of the Catholic children of school age are in public schools and
that here is to be sought one of the gravest causes of leakage in the Cath-
olic population. Of these children only one-eighth, according to a well-
informed Catholic authority, receive religious instruction. "The rest run
wild in a state of more or less pagan ignorance." This is a remarkable
confession .
.After the above had been written, press reports came to hand stating
that the plan of the so-called Interfaith Committee is vigorously opposed
and that on this account the undertaking probably will for the present
be dropped. .A.
Reverend Barnhouse to be Tried. -News from Philadelphia is to
the effect that Rev. Donald Gray Barnhouse, the noted radio preacher, will
be the defendant in an ecclesiastical trial instituted against him by some
fellow Presbyterian ministers. Trouble between the plaintiffs and the de-
fendant, we are told, has been brewing since 1928. Committees have tried
to bring about a reconciliation, but without success. The Synod to which
the Philadelphia presbytery belongs in June of this year passed a resolu-
tion urging an amicable settlement of the difficulties. We are told that
efforts to bring about such a settlement have proved unavailing and that
the trial has become unavoidable. The two charges against Rev. Barnhouse
are said to be violation of the Ninth Commandment (our Eighth Command-
ment) and violation of ordination vows. To what extent the firm, laudable
stand which Rev. Barnhouse takes over against Modernism in the Pres-
byterian Church is responsible for this action against him, we are unable
to say. The details and the outcome of the trial, if it should take place,
will be watched with interest. .A.
An Argument of the Atheists Refuted. -.An editorial in the .April,
1931, number of the Bibliotheca Sacra draws attention to views propounded
by the representatives of the new physics which must be rather harassing
to thoroughgoing atheists. The editorial says: "The favorite argument of
atheists and of deists as well is drawn from the immensity of the universe
and the insignificance of me. They contend against my faith that it is
colossal egotism to imagine that God, if there be such a person, with a uni-
verse on His hands, should give particular attention to me, and so, that
all my little prayers are but wasted breath. But now the physicist, who
has heretofore been considered by the unbeliever as his chief reliance,
comes to us out of his laboratory den with the more appalling story of
the atom. This is not only that there is another universe below us as well
as above us, the answer of the microscope to the telescope long ago, but
that the atom, the last item in the category of this dual universe, is a little
universe in itself, as completely organized, and in the same order, as the
great universe above us. Thus the unbeliever, who has been peering about
the universe and me, finds his hair rising on end as he stands face to face
with the atom and me. Everywhere there is evidence of thought, plan,
order; if a great Thinker thinks thus of both the atom and the stars,
surely he may think about me, midway between the atom and the stars .
.A.
Theological Observer. - .Rircl)Hcl)~3eitgefcl)icl)tIicl)es, 787
II . .lu5!tmll.
fiber hie ~reffirdjen in :l)entfdj{anb. ~n bel; ,,~bangenfdH~utljel;ifdjen
~J;eifil;dje" bom 21. ~uni 1931 finbet fidj ein Iiingel;el; 2rriifel, ~. ~. unteJ;~
aeidjnet (oljne BweifeI ift bel; mel;faffel; ~en ~aftol; ~riebl;idj ~illienel;),
wOl;in in feinel;, fadjlidjel; }llieife ba~ gegenlviiriige mel;ljiiItni~ awifdjen ben
bel;fdjiebenen Iutljel;ifdjen ~l;eifil;djen SDeutfdjIanM fJeflnodjen whb. illadj~
bem bel; mel;faffel; aUf ben mOl;wUJ;f, bie l)JNffouriel; feien "fdjl;Off" , ljin~
gewiefen ljat, fagt el; feljl; l;idjtig: "SDa~ ift iiliel;ljaupt eine bel; ~auptfJ;agen
awifdjen fJeiben ~reifirdjen (ber ~annoberfdjen ~reifirdje unb ber ~reifirdje
in ®acljfen u, a. ®t.): fJi5 au we!cljem ®rabe man fJei ber ljeutigen firclj~
Hcljen 2age unb iifJel;ljaupt milbe, nacljgiefJig, buIbfam fein barf ober mut,
fJi~ au weIcljem ®rabe man entfcljieben, ,riicfficljt§Io~', ,fdjroff' fein mut,
um ber ~ljre ®otte~, um be~ ~eiIe~ ber ®eelen toillen, im ®eljorfam gegen
®otte~ }lliori. ~n unferer Beit, ba ber Unioni5mu~ unil Die ®IeicljgiiItigfeit
in fircljHdjen ~ragen immer weiter um ficlj greifen, ift e~ boppert niitig, bat
ganae SHrcljen unb einaelne ~ljriften bie fo ernften }lliarnungen ber ®cljrift
bor 2auljeit unb faIfcljer 9CacljgiefJigfeit fJeljeraigen unb nicljt einfaclj iilier
cljriftnclje ®egenfii~e ljiweggIeiten mit allgemeinen Sleben~arien wie ,fcljroff',
,ftreitfiicljtig', ,SlecljtljafJerei' ober ,~clj mag ben 6treit nidjt' j)ber ,SDM ljat
boclj feinen Bwec!" unb bergleicljen meljr. 9Cein, man ljat ficlj griinbHclj
mit ben ®egenf~en liefannt au macljen. ~~ gmt efJenfowoljI notwenbigen,
bon ®ott gefJotenen .lfampf aI~ auclj unniitige, fcljiibHclje ®treiterei." BUr
.lfennaeicljnung ber 2age in ber 2anbe~firclje aitieri ber ®djreifJer bann
einige illiorie be~ "Sh:euafJlatte~", be~ ;Organ~ ber ~annoberfcljen ~reffirclje:
,$icljt nur bie unierien 2anbe~fircljen in SDeutfdjIanb, auclj bie aur Beit nodj
fJefteljenben Iutljerifdjen 2anbe~fircljen ljafJen feine eintriicljtige 2eljre Ddl
reinen ~bangeIium~ meljr. SDer mfJerali~mu~, ba~ ljeitt, nacl'te~ ~eiben~
tum, ift fJei iljnen eingebrungen, ljat fJei iljnen ®IeicljfJeredjtigung erftritten
unb ftrebt naclj ber 2rlleinljerrfcljaft. -- illidjt llircljen meljr im waljren ®inne
be~ }lliorte£; finb e~, bie wir in ben ljeutigen 2anbe~fircljen bor un~ ljaben,
in benen bie llSofitiben ficlj mit ben mberaIen briiberIiclj bertragen, bie ~ir~
ten - mit ben }lliiiIfen. SDiefe fiirdjterIicljen Buftiinbe fallen ben ®Iiiu~
bigen auf~ ~era." SDie }lliicljtigfeit bief er illiorie wirb man berfteljen,
wenn man bebenfi, bat ber ®egenf~ awifcljen unfern mriibern briifJen
unb ben anbern ~remrcljen dum groten ~eU aUf biefe ~rage ljinau~Ifutft:
illiie ljaben wir un~ au ben futljerifcljen 2anbe~fircljen au ftellen~ ~ene
anbern ~reifircljen umfaffen naclj unferm 2rriifel bie ebangeHfclj~Iutljerifdje
.lfirclje in llSreuten (mre~Iau), bie ebangeHfclj~Iutljerifclje llirclje in maben,
bie ~ennann~burg~~amburger ~reifirclje, awei ljeffifdje ~reifirdjeri unb bie
~annoberfclje ~reifirclje. 2rlle biefe ~reifircljen ljalien einen glauben~brii~
berHcljen merbanb gebifbet. SDer ftiirffte .lfiirper unter iljnen ift bie mre~~
Iauer ~reifirclje. SDa~ medeljrte unb UnljaItbare in ber ®tellung biefel;
~reifircljen ift, baB mre~Iau "grunbf~Iidj mit ben Iutljerifcljen 2anbe~~
fircljen .lfanaeI~ unb 2rbenbmaljggemeinfcljaft ljiift", wiiljrenb bie anbern
foIdj eine ~artung berwerfen. Unb boclj bIemen fie mit mre~Iau berfJunben.
mre~Iau berfucljt bie futljerifcljen 2anbe£;fircljen unb bie ~reifircljen, tro~
be~ 2rfJfa@ ber erfteren bon ber }llialjrljeit, au bereinigen. mJ;e~Iau ljat
allerbing~ Ie~te~ ~aljr ficlj geweigeri, an ber unioniftifcljen ~ubeffeier in
2rug~burg, beranftartet bon bem beutfcljen ebangeHfdjen llirdjenbunb, teif~
auneljmen. 2rfJer tro~ foIclj foben~werier ®tellungnaljme in einem ~inae!~
788 Theological Observer. - .R'itd)lid).2eitgefd)id)md)e~.
fall berfjarri mre5Iau in briiberIief)er @emeinfef)aft mit ben 2anbe5firef)en.
llBenn nun bie anbern futfjerifef)en iSreifiref)en, unfere mruber aU5genom~
men, boef) llJeiter mit mre5Iau in e i n em 2ager bleiben llJollen, fo ift ba5
eine unfjaItbare \13ofition. ~5 fommi noef) fjinau, llJie unfet WrtifeI aw~
fUfjri, baB mre5Iau unb bie &;lannoberfef)e iSteifiref)e ifjre aufiinftigen l$a~
ftoren immer noef) auf ben "in Unglauben, 2eugnung, 2afierung unb 2au~
fjeit ertrunfenen 2anbe5uniberfi±a±en" f±ubieren Iaffen. ®eIbf± in~rIangen,
too e5 naef) bem Ur±eH be5 "Siteuablatte5" toofjI noef) am beften ftefjt, fefjIt
in bet tfjeologifef)en iSafur±ai bM unumtounbene mefenn±ng au ber mibef
aI5 bem irrtum5Iofen ?!Borie @0±te5. ~et ®ef)reiber bellJeift bie5 mit einem
:Bitat aU5 bem ,,@runbriB ber ~ogma±if" bon \13rof. \13. WItfjau5 in ~rlangen,
ber bie ~bangeIien nief)t aI5 fjifiorifef)e merief)±e, fonbern nur aI5 ,,:Beugniffe
ef)tiftu5gIaubiger IDlenfef)en im Eief)±e ber Df±ergellJiBfjei±" llJerien llJill. ~n
meaug aUf merfjanbIungen mit ben anbern iSreifiref)en fagt bann gegen
®ef)IuB unfer ®ef)reiber: ,,?!Benn atoifef)en bet &;lannoberfef)en iSreifiref)e unb
ben bom mefenn±ni5 abgefallenen 2anbe5fitef)en Me unbebingt no±llJenbige
®ef)eibellJanb aufgerief)±et worben iff, llJenn bie @efafjt einer bauernben
mergiftung ber iSreifiref)en buref) mobern fUr ba5 Wmt borbereUe±e \13af±oren
nief)t mefjr brofj±, Iaffen fief) un±er @0±±e5 @nabenbeiftanb unb bei bieIem
guten ?!Billen, ernftem @ebe± unb gebulbiget Wrbeit noef) nief)± geUar±e
@egenfa~e unb IDliBberftanbniffe in ber 2efjre gellJiB befeitigen. Un5 gefj± e5
auef) buref)au5 nief)t barum, in allem ,ffieef)t au befjaIten'; auef) meinen toir
nief)t. llJie un5 ba5 ,Sireu5blatt' aUf ®eite 162 un±erIeg±: ,~fjr mUB± in
allem genau fo llJerben llJie toir, fonft fommen llJir nief)± aUfammen.' ~m
@efjorfam gegen ben &;l~rrn ber .iliref)e unb aum &;leU ber ®eeIen muffen
toit allerbing5 barauf beftefjen, baB ~inigfei± in allen in ber &;leiIigen ®ef)rift
flar geoffenbar±en unb im mefenn±ni5 bet Iu±fjerifef)en S'eitef)e befann±en
2efjren unb in bem baraU5 fief) etgebenben firef)fief)en &;lanbefn bJ)tfjanben
fein mUE, llJenn allJifef)en allJei S'eiref)enfOrpern S'eiref)engemeinfef)aft gefef)Ioffen
llJerben foll. ?!Bie fjier im einaefnen bie @tenaen au aiefjen finb, batiiliet
toare eben aUf @runb ber &;leiIigen ®ef)rift 5U fjanbdn. DberfIaef)fief)feit
toare fjier ebenfo au meiben llJie SHeinfief)fei±. ®o bfieben affo bie @runb~
fa~e fUr bie Wrbei± an bet merf±anbigung biel @ebet, bieI ®ef)riftftubium,
bieI gebulbige5 &;lanbeln mi±einanbet. S'eeine &;laff, abet auef) feine mer~
f ef)Ieppung! S'eeine D!ietfIaef)Iief)feit unb feine S'eleinfief)feit! S'eeine itber~
fef)arfung unb feine 2aufjeUI mid Eiebe unb biel ~rnf± bet merantllJottungl
mid ~emut unb bid IDlu±! mid maef)giebigreU, abet auef) bid Iu±fjetifef)e
iSeftigfeit,unb babei ±ro~ flatet ~denn±ni5 ber groBen ®ef)llJierigfeit unb
@efafjt ber ®aef)e friifjfief)er @Iaube an ben, bet ba efjerne :irore unb eiferne
ffiiegd aerbrief)±, bet ba fjUft unb etfjiiri, 11)0 man 'bUM aUf bie merfjeiEung
fjin, aUf &;lJ)ffnung, ba nief)±5 au fjoffen if±. (1 ~ofj. 5, 14; ~ofj. 17, 15-26;
.wead. 9,23. 24; ~ofj. 16,23.24; ffiiim. 4, 18-21.) ®o fei bie ®aef)e benn
ifjm befofjlen, bem llJir fingen: ,~u, &;l~rr, fjaft felbft in &;liinben bie ganae
llJeite ?!Bert, fannft IDlenfef)enfjeraen llJenben, llJie e5 bir llJofjIgefiint; fo gib
boef) beine @nab' aum iSrieb' unb Eiebe5banben, bednuPf in allen 2anben,
toa5 fief) getrennet fjat. ", ~5 finb bie5 fjerrIief)e ?!Borie, bie ben tecf.J±en :iron
angeben fUr merfjanbIungen mit 2u±fjeranern, Me nief)t mit un5 in @Iau~
ben5einigfeit ftefjen. ?!Bo ba5 fjier Wngegebene befoIg± llJitb, f onte e5 an
gu±en ffiefur±a±en nicf.J± fefjlen. ~et &;l~tr fegne unfere )!)ruber briiben,
inbem fie in bet obenbefef)tiebenen @efinnung feine S'eriege fUfjten. W.
Theological Observer. - mt~Ii~<,seit\Jef~i~m~e~. 789
£lnt~et:ltner nnb !neformiene in ber l1reufjifdJen Union. SDie ,,%C. <:f. 2. Sf."
oerief)tet: "uoer balJ j8er~artnilJ bon 2ut~eranern unb Dleformierten inner~
~aIo ber preutifef)en Union fagt bie j8ereinigung ber <:fbangeIifef)~2ut~erifef)en
inner~aro ber preutifef)en 2anbelJfiref)e (oefenmnilJtreue @ruppe) in i~rem
foeoen berfanbten )!Beroeaufruf: ,)!Bir ~aoen inner~afo ber <:fbangeHfef)en
Sfiref)e ber aItpreutifef)en Union oeibe etriimungen; lUir ~aflen @emeinben
fut~erifef)en unb @emeinben reformierlen Q3efenntniffelJ. SDie erfteren maef)en
etlUa neun Be~ntef, Die anbern ein Be~nter belJ ganaen Sfiref)engeoie±elJ aulJ.
SDie Bdt ift boruoer, lUo man in ljSreuten buref) bie 1817 oegrfrnbete Union
eine @inigung im Q3efenntnilJ ~eroeiauffr~ren ftreo±e. SJaflen Die refor~
mierlen @emeinben niemaflJ baran gebaef)t, i~re reformierte <:figenarl im
Q3efenn±nilJ, im ShtrtulJ unb in ber @emeinbeorganifation aufaugeoen, fo
lUoUen auef) bie fu±~erifef)en @emeinben .2u±~erlJ <:froe nief)t preiIJgeoen.
eooft lUir bem Q3eftreoen oegegnen, oeibe Q3efenntniffe in cinlJ aU ber~
mifef) en, muffen lUir bem entgegentreten. SDie neue Sl'iref)enberfaffung lUirb
ber aUein oereef)tigten Dleef)±lJauffaffung gereef)t, inbem fie Die preutifef)e
Union afIJ cine fiiberatibe anerfann± unb ben Q3efenn±nilJ[tanb ieber @e~
mcinbe lUa~rl, auef) bie Q3enennung ber @emeinben aflJ ,ebangeHfef)~fu±~erifef)'
ober ,ebangenfef)~reformierl' frcigiDt. SDie Ba~f ber unierlen @emeinben,
bie fief) liefef)Iutmatig aUf balJ @emeinfame ociber Q3efenn±niffe gefterrt ~aoen,
ift gang gering.'" .;s. ~. m.
[I1ormonenl1rolmganba in :!IeutfdJfanb • .;sn ciner mitteilung im ,,(!l:~riftr.
I2fpofogeten" Iefen lUir: "Unter bem ~i±eI ,Uta~, baIJ )!Bunberfanb %CmerifalJ'
lUurbe in iTl:urnlierger groten Beitungen cin mef)±oilberbortrag bon bem
amerifanifef)en e±ubenien unb Dleifenben %CmelJ Sf. Q3agfel) aulJ Uta~ an~
gemnbig±,ber unter bem %CUIJ~angefef)iTh, bie @nilUicffung belJ 2anbeIJ bon
ciner )!Bufte gum Shtfturftaat aU fef)Hbern, nief)g lUeiter lUar afIJ cine ljSro~
paganba fur baIJ mormonentum unb ber gum uoertritt gu i~m unb aur
@inlUanberung in Uta~ aufforbem lUorrte. <:f1J oefte~t fein BlUeifef, bat
biefer j80rtrag auef) in anbern etabten unb @eoieten <:furopalJ lUieber~oIt
lUirb." )!Ber etlUalJ uoer bie <:finfef)Icief)epoIitif ber mormonen lUeit, lUirb
fief) uoer ben ooigen Q3ericf)t nief)t lUunbern. .;s. ~. m.
:!lie rihnifdJe [I1iffion in (£~ina. SDie fa±~ofifef)e Sfiref)e in (!l:~ina gaqrt
naef) i~ren Ietten %Cngaoen, 2,473,619 @Iieber, cine Buna~me bon 47,637
im .;sa~re 1929. eie ~at auter bem europilifef)en unb amerifanifef)en mif~
fionlJperfonaf 9 ef)inefifef)e Q3ifef)iife, 1,371 ef)inefifef)e ljSriefter, 5,000 ef)inefifef)e
iTl:onnen unb ungefa~t 4,000 iunge (!l:~inefen, bie fief) auf ben ljSriejterftanb
boroerciten. .;s. ~. m.
Goethe on Marriage. - In connection with the present discussion of
marriage, divorce, and allied subjects it may not be inappropriate to draw
attention to remarks of Goethe on marriage which a correspondent of the
Ohristian Oentury submits. Goethe wrote as follows: -
"He who attacks marriage, he who by word or deed sets himself to
undermine this foundation of all moral society, must settle the matter
with me; and if I don't bring him to reason, then I will have nothing to
do with him. Marriage is the beginning and the summit of all civilization.
It makes the savage mild, and the most highly cultivated man has no
better means of demonstrating his mildness. Marriage must be indis-
soluble-, for it brings so much general happiness that any individual case
of unhappiness that may be connected with it cannot come into account.
790 Theological Observer. - .Ritd)!id)~{leit\Jefd)id)md)es.
"What do people mean when they talk about unhappiness? It is not
so much unhappiness as impatience that from time to time possesses men,
and then they choose to call themselves miserable. Let the moment of
irritation but pass over, and people will find cause enough to think them-
selves happy that a state which has already existed so long still exists.
For separation there can be no sufficient reason. In our present human
condition there is so much of joy and sorrow interwoven that it is beyond
all calculation what obligations a married pair lie under to one another.
It is an infinite debt, which it requires an eternity to cancel. Disagreeable
it may be, I admit, sometimes; that is just as it should be. Are we not
really married to our conscience, of which we might often be willing to
rid ourselves because it annoys us more than any man or woman can
possibly annoy one another?" A.