Baptist Protest Against Unsound Teaching
By Editor
SOME protests are being made by the Baptist papers against the unsound teaching found in the ‘books recently written by Professor Foster, of the University of Chicago, and Professor Clarke, of Colgate University, Baptist institutions. The editor of one of these papers, the Western Recorder, tells why he feels called upon to enter a protest, and we think he gives a good reason. We quote one paragraph as follows:— When Dr. Foster and Dr. Clarke (though the latter is not so far wrong as the former) attack the foundations of the faith, it is due to the denomination that they know the sort of teaching that is furnished at the institution where these men teach. Young men from all parts of the land, and especially young ministers, are enticed to the University of Chicago and to Colgate University. Warning should therefore be given of the sort of teaching to which these young men will be subjected; and they ought to be warned away from the danger. Then, too, it is of the utmost importance that the churches be warned against calling men who have studied at these institutions, and whose minds and hearts have been poisoned by the destructive notions. It is true that some students may go through courses of study at Chicago without imbibing Fosterism and at Colgate without imbibing Clarkism, but the presumption is that young men who have been trained by such professors, are more or less tainted with false views. Our churches can not be too careful. . . . So long as our young men are appealed to to attend Chicago and Colgate, especially our young preachers, it is of vital moment that the churches know the sort of teaching dispensed there. The editor of the Recorder is right, and we entertain the same views concerning the situation which confronts us in our own denomination.