Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-16

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modern in Its Interpretation
Of Genesis. According to one
view, the volume promotes
the position that the Bible is
a great truth sometimes
illustrated by parallels rather
than literal truth"
Called Worldly Wisdom
DR.. X. Owen White, pastor
Of First Baptist Church,
Houston Tex. in q talk soon
after the volume was pub
lished charged: 1.-THE book
from which l have quoted is
liberalism, pure and simple.
1t stems from the RATIONAL
istic theology of Wellhausen
and his school which led
Germany to become q mate
realistic, goddess nation. This
is the wisdom Of the world
which seeks TO find a 'rea-
sonAble, acceptable solution
to every problem which in
wolves the supernatural"
The former pastor Of Met
ropolitan Baptist Church in
Washington presented two
resolutions which were
adopted by the Southern Bap-
I It Convention in San Fran
cisco last June Z. One, passed
unanimously, declared Bap-
fists "reaffirm their faith in
the entire Bible as the au-
thoritative, authentic infal-
lible Word Of God"
The other, approved with
registered opposition, objected
vigorously Ito the dissemina-
ton Of theological views in
any Of our semtnarieS which
would undermine such faith
In the historical accuracy
and doctrinal integrity Of the
Bible"
1t further requested "the
trustees and administrative
officers Of our institutions
and other agencies to take
such steps as shall be neces-
sary to remedy at once those
situations where such views
threaten our historic posi-
ton"
Board Alters Stand
The trustees Of Midwest
ern Seminary, who had sup
ported DR.. Elliott at q meet
ing in December, 1861, on Oc-
tober IS, 1862. voted to dis
miss him unless he agreed
not to have the book repub-
lished. The work by this time
had long sold out its first
printing of 5000 copies.
(Broadman Press is operated
by the Sunday School Board
Of the Southern Baptist Con-
vention.)
DR.. Elliott refused to accept
this direction, contending:
IF I voluntarily withdrew it.
1t would have the overtones
Of repudiating my work and
suggesting that I did not now
share the same perspective"
But he agreed to set the
work aside and not seek an
other publisher If the full
board Of trustees so In
structed him. The board de-
clined, asserting 1t would put
them Gin the Questionable
position Of banning books"
Washington Baptist minis
ters interviewed agree the
question revolves around q
conflict within the Southern
Baptist Convention Of con-
sentative and liberal Baptists
over doctrinal positions. One
said, "The Elliott affair Is
part Of the iceberg showing
above the water"
Invited 10 Speak Here
Conservatives and liberals
in the Washington area gen.
orally approved the invita-
ton Of DR.. Edward Hughes
Pruden, pastor Of First Bap-
fist Church, to DR.. Elliott to
speak here. They said this
was in the hallowed Baptist
tradition Of permitting q
person the right to express
his views and TO be heard.
even II those listening
strongly disagreed.
DR.. Pruden said the inH-
tation was given because of
DIR. Elliott's distinguished
record as an able teacher,
author and Christian leader.
! think 1t is most unfortu-
nate that DR.. Elliott should
have been dismissed from
the Midwestern Theological
Seminary"
Local ministers part COM
pany over DR.. Elliott on the
question Of academic freedom
within the framework OF q
seminary dedicated to GER
tain beliefs.
DR.. White declared: I'VE
gladly grant any man the
right 10 believe what he
wants to-but we do not
grant him the right to be-
lieve and express views in
conflict with our historic
position concerning the Bible
as the Word OF God while he
IL teaching in one OF our