Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-25
WHAT SORT OF PREACHERS WILL
TT MAKE
BY BISHOP w. A.

"HE spiritual nature of men may be per-
verted and polluted, but it can not be
A eXtirpated; and as long it survives
preaching will be sought by their souls. The
spiritual world has always commanded the
attention of mankind, and it always arouses
the deepest human interest. 1.-THE human
/ race is incurably religious"
Priests and prophets have appeared in all
ages among all nations. The whole earth
shows marks of temples and sanctuaries. OF
course, there have been many false faiths
and many false prohpets; but their very eX-
| istence witnesses to the imperative hunger
! of men for worship.
| Notwithstanding the prevalence of much
| doubt in day, and the resulting output
| of not little poor preaching, there was
never more than now, an inststent demand
| for improving the Christian ministry. Cost
| ly seminaries richly endowed, are set up con-
! stantly. Old institutions are being strength
| ened and new ones erected almost daily
| One church, which has not been conspicuous
! for the success of its ministry, now seeks
not only to affect its own preachers, but also
! to project its spirit and influence into the
! theological schools of other denominations
| 1t is conducting a campaign designed to in
crease in other communions the number ot
men favorable to it's liberalistic views OF
Christianity.
It's program may be inferred from the fol-
| lowing quotation from publication made
recently by its publicity department" as fol-
| lows: "The committee will recommend that
| in order to train men to deal with the
problems of today, less emphasis be placed
on courses in the Old and New Testaments-
Church history and theology, and more on
psychology, sociology, world history, political
economy and political science.
Mark what such a recommendation I'M
plies:
b. The Holy Scriptures are to be relega{ed to
a subordinate place in the studies of young
men preparing for the ministry.
Tho of
are recorded the triumphs and defeats OF
historical Christianity, are to be put in the
background.
Theology, which has been called justly,
"the queen of the sciences, is to be mini
mized, if not ignored.
In place of these high subjects sorry sub
stitutes of human speculations are TO be
brought forward.
Psychology, of the present-day variety,
than which there was never worse type, Is
to lead the list in the courses given TO mill
isterial students.
Sociology. a crude, if not a spurious,
science scarcely deserving the name aof
| science, is to follow with all its muddy mix
| lures of impractlcable theories, is 10 en-
gage much attention,
'rWorld history" meaning doubtless his
tory with the supernatural eliminated and
the divine purpose obscured is to be studied
| laboriously, the textbook perhaps being the
outlandish Outline" by H. G. Wells
| doctrinaire stuff designated as political
| science" is to be pored over.
| What kind of preachers and what sort
of preaching may be expected to arise from
| the execution of such a program?
The revelation Of God as contained In the
Bible is to be minimized, and no subject
which concerns the salvation that Christ
offers is to have any place in the scheme.
The remedies for human sin and sorrow
are to be such as unaided reason can con-
4 c+aV,
and external conditions rather than caring
for the deathless hungerngs of immortal
souls.
From the speculation of psychology, and
theorizings of sociology and the argumen-
tations of political economy, some sort of
| earth-born and earth-bound scheme of re-
demption from physical ills and bodily dis
comforts is, to be evolved, and young men
sent forth to proclaim it as superior COS