Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-24
RIVAL SCHOOLS
OF RELIGION IN
BITTER STRIFE
Dean Gray Of Moody Institute
Calls Or. Mathews Hereto
for Stand on Higher
Criticism.
By Joseph B. BoWLEs.

Inc conference on World Evan
gelism and Vital Christianity After
the War" recently held at the
Moody Bible institute Of Chicago
witnessed two developments of
unique and even extraordinary re-
ligious interest.
The first resulted from the open
ing address by DR.. James NJ. Gray,
dean of the institute, in which he
dramatically crystallized the issue
which has long divided what may
be termed the evolutionary school
of theology and that which adheres
to the Bible as a divinely inspired
revelation.
Declaring that German militar-
ism is dead but the German theol-
ogy that made it possible still lives"
he held up the dean of the Univer-
sity of Chicago Divinity school and
his co-workers Though without
naming Dean Smaller Mathews) as
opponents of German theology"
quoting from their utterances and
writings which frankly reject be-
lief in the virgin birth, the deity,
the atoning death and' resurrection
of Jesus Christ. and reduce Jesus to
the status of a mere man, a great
religious teacher.
In the vivid light of the quota
tons from the university professors
and DR.. Gray's comments, as print
ed the next day under Scare heads"
in the Chicago newspapers, il be-
came clear that the theologians Of
the evolutionary school" set aside
the foundation of orthodox Chris
tian faith. A she'll from a big Ber-
tina" exploding in the Chicago mid
way institution would scarcely
have caused a greater commotion.
The reality and vital character of
the chasm between the current
scientific modern Christianity" and
the orthodox theology has long
been understood by theologians the
world over, but multitudes of church
members with thousands Of mini
sters and the public at large, have
been hazy, or entirely ignorant, of
its real significance. Hence, the dis
turbance the publicity created.
Never was there a sterner de-
mand on Christians of the evangeli-
cal faith" said DR.. Gray, never
sterner call for bold and united
testimony to God as he has reveal
cd himself in Jesus Christ.
Il very seldom mention names
when speaking in gathering of this
kind, but sometimes. il is false
courtesy, sometimes rank coward
ice not to mention names; and so
| propose to mention the name of
Chicago university, which is stand
ing today, according to the printed
text which it sends out for all that
is opposed to what we understand
by the gospel of our Lord and Sa-
vior Jesus Christ.
The dean of the theological
school of that university has said
very recently, as quoted in the pub
liz press, that orthodoxy met its
Waterloo in the war; and his illus
tration Of II is that the kaiser is or
thodox.H
Then quoting from a new book,
edited by DR.. Gerald Birney Smith,
professor Of Christian theology in
he University Divinity school, and
made up of essays written chiefly
by other professors, DR.. Gray COM
tinued;
This is what they say about the
Bible, that in the light of the new
historical criticisms, the Bible has
haa,, d;eravered ~ he natural IN
, stead Of a supernatural book. The
twentieth century world needs
twentieth century religion, and part
of its task is to make religion for
itself
"Then this is what the book says
about the deity Of Christ. One Of
the professors informs US, in speak
ing Of the agnostics and their be-
lief regarding our Lord, that they
adopted the myth of the Goldman.
There is a professor in divinity
school, regarded by some as an
evangelical school, practically at
hrming that belief in the God-head
Of Jesus Christ is belief in myth.
I'VE find, too, another professor
WAC sees a growing appreciation
OF the life of Jesus in this world,
and lessening emphasis on such
matters as the virgin birth and
Christs supernatural nature.
This is what he says about the
atonement. To insist dogmatically,
as a principle, that without the shed
ding of blood there is no remission