The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-01
SAYS CRITICISMS
ARE ADMITTED.
REV. MR.. ROLLINS REPLIES TO
DIR. RIIEY's LETTER.

II
DIR. RILEY's LETTER.
& to Character Of the Northwestern
Bible Conference Best Known Bible
Expositors Are Not on the Program,
Says Mr.. Rollins.
Rev. G.. s. Rollins, pastor Of the Park
Avenue Congregational church, who
against the Northwestern Bible confer
ence, and its claim to represent twin
city churches, replies today to the state
ment Of Dr.. w: B. Riley, published in
he J 0 ur ma yesterday. Rev. Mr..
Rollins maintains that al OF his former
contradiction. His letter is as follows:
To the Editor Of The Journal.
Perhaps The Journal will be
sufficiently generous and the public pa
| tient enough to allow a brief word in
reply to Dr.. Riley's extended letter in
Monday evenings Journal anent the
summer Bible conference. / had as
serted the following facts, which, I de-
sire to point out, have not been ex-
planned away:
/ First That there existed very gen
/ eral impression that the great North
i western Bible conference was connected
| with the Northwestern Bible Training
school of which DR.. Riley was the foun-,
der. He admits this fact.
il Second stated that he had been
the chief promoter of the conference.
He admitted in an interview with the
Times that most of the work had been
4 done in his office-by his stenographer!
Third-That there was general inn
great conference like those of North
field Mass, where the broad-minded
Moody invited scholars of world renown
representing various shades of theolog-
:, zeal opinion. Here he brought Meyer,
; Morgan, George Adam Smith and Henry
Drummond. 1t was not the aim Of the
Bible conference to create such a broad
school, and I wrote to inform the pub
lis Of the fact. The generous advertis-
! ing granted by the press, and persistent,
! often impertinent advertising in and
! thru the churches had created the i'm
Q preston referred to. x
: Fourth asserted that there is not
7 the name Of one noted Bible scholar on
4 the entire program, and there is not.
DIR. Guinness is great and good man,
pre-eminent in promoting missionary
}, work, but he is not an authority in
Dipllcdl scHoldiSn1p. II. OrquAait uoes
9 not stand in the rank of great Bible
d scholars. He is polemical defender of
traditional views of the Bible, the very
views that played into the hands Of in
fdels like Ingersoll. Broader and saner
/ might add more honest treatment Of
: the Bible, is what. disarmed infdelity
There are many well-known Bible schol
l. :. great Bible schools. Professors Mat
L thews and Willets Of Chicago, PROBES
I I sors Robinson and Curtis of Mccormick
\ y theological seminary, Professor Bos
worth and President King of Oberlin
!. Professor Beardslee Of Hartford, Pro
q fessor Genung of Amherst, Dean San
~ ders of Yale and others are amoni
=, these. Who sees the name of such
~ man in the program Of the Northwest
70 ern Bible conference2
IL Griffith affirmed that less thai
~ half a dozen of our leading pastors i
~ the twin cities appear on the program
IL And it is true. It is no disparagemen
Of those who do appear to declare tina
those to whom we look as leaders 1
! scholarship pastoral experience an
8 success are not in the list Of speaker:
Among those whom DR.. Riley names a
members of the program committee, an
y of which he is secretary, several alread
\ have gone on their vacations and do nc
appear in the list of speakers. Ev
IDENTIFY their connection was merely non
:, inal, for they are able men and scholars
IS and had their names appeared as lie,
terers. the whole situation would hav
been different. One or two city pastor
who are down for a lecture or two wi
j.. Immediately depart on their vacation
" This shows how much Importance the
lie attach to great Bible conferenc
IT. organized to save us from the perl
~ of skepticism.' There is not leadin
a | Of
There is not leading Baptist beside
Dr.. Riley himself. Where are DR.
Crandall, Fowler and Heysham Of Nil
neapolis, and West of St. Paul9 If LEAF
rs ing scholars and pastors are supporting
ps why are not Drs. Bushnell, Thompso
ig able men. The second-named is an e!
n. pert in Biblical archaeology, known ;
ne such in America and Great Britain.
Mt admit that I am not familiar with tt
III names Of many Of the good brethre
who do appear on the program, but v
ne all know the names of distinguish
%. scholars who do not appear, but who al
NJ available for such summer schools.
in "Sixth-I asserted that the Christie
Elk Endeavor and Sunday school peop
ne were not aware that they had any co
re nection with this Bible conference, al
ne [ had this from the lips of the leade
X of these societies.
III "SeVenth-l held that THIS BID
conference and the training school we
ne organized, not to promote broad al
IN tkoro study Of the Bible, but in the
hs terests of special views. This DR.. Ri
rs. admits. It is in harmony with t
w work of the American Bible league, t
a., aim of which is to stem the. tide
ny skepticism'; in reality to check broa
, a minded, fearless Biblical research
Gu sincere erdeavor to solve the real pre-
:. lens Of the Bible.
an an ssFinally, have never charged tn
~ the Northwestern Bible training scht
W. has sought the Endorsement and
't 10 operation Of the denominations, tho
~ ~ might have done so. Last winter
III; ~ pastors Of this city were invited to
WI conference to consider the broadenl
- Of the scope of the school, to make
~; w interdenominational. The board OF TT
~, nv tees represents three denominations
+ha least. Furthermore, the persistent ;;
~ ~ yertising Of the school in our churcl
saj looks in the same direction. 1T 81
o oba things as these do not mean seeking
operation and Endorsement, what do
an. tOf course il matters not to me
ma any broad-minded man what theology
'a;r tenents the promoters Of this Bible G
,slv ference hold or plan to teach, but
an them advertise it for Just what 1t IS, :