Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-26
REFUTE STAND
BIBLE STUDY
STRIKES FAITH
Investigation Committee Re
ports Adverse Criticism of
Earlham UnfOunded.
PRAISE DIR. PURDY'S AID
Special 70 The Times.

ing taught there reported to the board OF
trustees of the college at its annual meet
ing today.
The investigation came as a result Of
action at the annual session of 1920 Of
the Indiana and Western Yearly Meet
ings. These two meetings have jurisdic-
ton over Earlham College.
A committee Of ten, consisting of five
members from each meeting, questioned
the colleges teachings. The testimony OF
this committee, summarized, as as fol
lows:
/ That some of the teachings in
the Biblical department cOntravene
the authorized standards of the
Discipline and the Richmond Declare
ton of Faith that they do not &C
cord with the teachings of Scripture
in certain respects. and that such
teaching tends to destroy faith in
the character of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3 That what was charged as the
improved evolutionary hyposesis' is
taught in the scientific departments.
3. That the attitude of the head Of
the department of philosophy with
reference 20 Christian fundamentals,
such as the new birth, experimental
conversion, etc, is questioned.
AS against the charges made by the
Committee OF Ten and also certain quo
tatiOns read from letters written by
other people, DR.. Alexander C. Purdy
Of the Biblical department, gave the com
mittee a careful presentation Of his
teaching, together with his methods OF
teaching, presenting the notes and the
outline used in the classroom upon the
various subjects in controversy.
nR DVTRnV
COMMITTEE AS CLEAR.
The committee says In its report ain
his entire testimony, DR.. Purdy impressed
our committee as being clear, open, I'M
evasive, thorough and convincing. At
every point he evinced not only an honest
desire to meet every question raised, but
a purpose TO speak so plainly that his
meaning might not be misunderstood.
"On his own testimony we find that
DR.. Purdy does believe in and teach the
fundamental Christian doctrines of Pre-
dictive prophecy" 'the new birth" "tha
virgin birth of Jesus" Miracles" 1.-THE
diety OF Jesus" 1.-The resurrection" etc.
As to differences between the com
plainants and the college upon the ques-
tons involved the committees report
says Eve are forced to. the conclusion
that the differences are in large part
due to differences in phraseology or to
MISUNDERSTANDING or to questions which
involve only technical theological defini-
tons, and which do not endsnger any
vital spiritual doctrine, or the credita-
bility Of the Scriptures"
AS to the scientific teachings the com
mittee found that it was frankly ad
mitted at Earlham College that theistiC
evolution is taught there, that God is
Of ha Of
ton and that his constant care has been
exercised over it from the beginning until
now.
''The college management claimed" the
report says, that this teaching not only
accordS with the best scientific standards
Of the present day, but also makes God
more realistic to the individual search.
ing after Him, and that it gives a final
conception of his majesty and his power
In referring to the process Of creation,
Professor Markle of the science depart
ment described Earlham Colleges posi-
tiOn as follows: Instead Of believing that
it is a mere mechanical process entirely
apart from God. we believe that it is
merely the workings Of God through ma
ture.
COLLEGE MUST
BE OPEN MINDED.
By the committee: "Earlham College, as
a standard educational institution, can
not be rightly expected to suppress the
facts Of science, or the theories of sci
enee comOnly held by Christian educa-
tors, neither can it reply satisfactorily to
the honest queStionings of the masses of
young men and women who come to the
Institution for instruction by saying that
the scietific course is not course in
theology and does not have - account
for theological interpretations. Both
theology and science must be taught in
agreement, or the teachings are bound to
produce doubt and infidelity
Real science and real Christianity do not
disagree, for God is the author Of them
-hoth."
We findings OF the committee in regard
w" science and Biblical department is
of up as follows: There were
u Stimonies to the effect that the
teacl Apf Earlham College, both in the
EcienenoA Ind Biblical departments, had
estabH;p tcA faith and Christian character
more ( : and that the Bible had be-
come Il. Get alistic as a spiritual guide
with personal spiritual message"
DISCUSS DIR.
COFFIN's TEACHINGS.
DR.. ]. Herschel Coffin in the philosoph-
ical department the committee says "Dr.
Coffin not only svows his belief in con-
version, but adds that every man who is
converted knows it by the witness of the
Spirit in his own soul He gives an alb
sOlute affirmative response as to his be
lief in the atOnement made by the sac
rifce of Jesus. but adds his conviction
that His sacrifcial life is the essential
factor in His atOnement He expresses
his disbelief in human depravity There
is nothing in DIR. Coffin's presentations
of his position that will lead US to be-
lieye that he does not accept Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior"
The committee closes its report by
saying Indiana and Western Yearly
Meetings should not expect Earlham Col
lege to be the exception in its Biblical
and scientific teaching, unless it can be
clearly shown by direct and aboundant
evidence that its present methods of
teaching are bringing about the I'M
settling of Christian faith and character
on the part of Earlhams students and
uniting them for the work of the
churches.
"In the face Of the evidence produced, 4"
the report adds, las to the Christian
character and experience of students at
Earlham College, and taking into con
sideratiOn the testimony of many Of them
to the effect that both the life and teach
ings at Earlham have tended to establish
their Christian faith, and, in many in
stances, to bring about an awakening of
the Christian life, we are not able to feel
that there is any need of anxiety on the
part Of the membership of Indiana and
Waafaru Yearly MeatfnrS raTotfva 70 ,ho