The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-06
THE INDEPENDENT
 CHURCH HAS GREAT
 BIBLE CLASS HERE
By CAROLYN B. ELLIOTT

pendent Presbyterian church school every Sunday morning, from 9;45 to II o'clock offers a choice opportunity that numbers of thoughtful men and women are accepting for protitaote study of the Bible.
 When Dr. Eaves reads the above statement in all probability his glasses will be adjusted to scan it more care fully, and his comment will doubtless follow
 Not my class-the peoples Bible class. I am only the teacher"
 Which is quite true. Dr. Eaves is a teacher in the fine sense of being able to impart others the truth he has found and is finding for himself in the Book Fof books. True too, that the class is the peoples class" in the sense of democracy and freedom from dogma4-"the peoples class" open to all who have an earnest desire to study Gods word, "the peoples class' to all who wish to understand the fun damentals of Christian faith without sectarian prejudice.
 PEOPLES CLASS The peoples class in indeed for the people, but its intellectual stimulus does, not appeal so much to those who seek to pass Sunday morning away, as it does to sincere students of the Bible The purpose of the class, it is understood, is to help people who have lost touch with the old faith; to keep those who have questions about the Fundamentals of the Christian faith.
 THE TEACHER
 Dr. Eaves is peculiarly fitted to be teacher of this noble type. First of all, he is sincere in his thinking. in his attitude toward others and in the re- quirements such an attitude necessar- | fly makes upon others for frank. un- hampered, unprejudiced conclusions. The years of training for the Congre- gational ministry in the Theological seminary at Bristol, England. 'lnder the tutelage of one noted for his pas sion for freedom and truth, and six years on the mission fields in Japan as disciple of Christianity among Buddhist and Confucianist priests have offered unusual preparation for a teacher who meets frankly the type of mind unhindered by pretense.
 The modern mind, when repelled by the inherited phraseology of churches, is bewildered." said pr. Eaves. PURPOSE
 The purpose of the peoples Bible class is really to help those who have lost touch with the old time faith to help people who have questions about the great fundamentals of the Christian faith. Our class has num- bered people of all shades of ortho- doxy and heterodoxy, who are allowed the freedom We wish for ourselves. i Our course of study from year to year is outlined and adapted in our own way to meet the immediate needs. During the past year we have been studying foundations of faith. as de- fined by seventeenth century Puritans, systematically followed in outlines of the Shorter Catechism and Westmin- ster Confession of Faith Our idea has been to get the reality behind all the ancient symbols, as expressed in modern terms.
 We do not pretend" said pr. Eaves that the modern mind can honestly indorse the modes of expression, but whether it can believe the thing rep resented is different matter that can be settled only by the individual for himself.
 IS A JOY
 | Tt is joy to me-" added Dr. Eaves, ito be able at any time to help point | the way by reason of previous facil- ities that have been mine for special study.
 "In addition to our studies in seven teenth century orthodoxy and old faith in new light, we have been study ing the first work of Psalms, and we are trying to understand the local and temporary, as well as the permanent meaning" explained the teacher. "We are also trying to do justice to this poetic litera ture as such"
 CHARTER MEMBER
 Dr. Eaves is charter member oi 1 the Independent Presbyterian church school. He has been teaching the Bible class since the organization of the school number of years ago. and has been in the Service as long as any one | there
 During this period we have studied half dozen books of the Bible, usins each time as textbook the New Cen tury Bible,'' stated pr. Eaves. From these are culled the best thoughts as presented by thoroughly modern and up to- date scholars.
 FUTURE STUDY
 We shall continue to select the kind | of studies the class asks for" Dr Eaves said. T am there as the servant of the class to carry out their wishes
 am sure results in the past have justified this process. for we have an interesting group of people enlisted who are sincere and democratic, ol | et'NS WVdit HUI SVHtllidC M SVt&iS'
 Our next study will possibly be the book of Job and the great problem oi undeserved suffering.
 We are not trying to study the Bible as group of dogmas." Dr. Eaves concluded, but as a great historic movement in which truth begins tc come to light. especially as enshrin- ing the spiritual King of mankind
 A cordial invitation is issued the public to attend this department oi l the church school that will be con- l ducted each Sunday morning in the auditorium of Temple Emanu-El until the apartment is ready for occupancy that will be set aside for the Peoples Bible class in the new Independent Presbyterianl church.
 day. p. m.: Mrs. C.C Daniel, president Prayer meeting Wednesday. p. m.
 Pratt city-Third street and Third ave nue Rev. I. K. Walker. pastor. Sunday l school. s45 a. m-; PaA Ingram. superin- tendent- Preaching, II q. m and 7:so p. m Junior. 2so p. m; Miss Pauline Grim. su- 1 perintendent: senior, 6:s0 2, m.. Mrs. Win nie Outlaw. president. Preaching by pas tAr n en x<f- Dr.~