OUR LONDON LETTER by M. Ellsworth Olsen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 29.

OUR LONDON LETTER.

By M. Ellsworth Olsen

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Canon Henson's Attack on the Scriptures.

CANON HENSLEY HENSON's attack on the authority of the Scriptures is still the subject of comment in religious circles, and some of the church papers have referred to it in terms of what would appear to be genuine regret, while others commend the courage of the canon in openly avowing a position quietly held by the generality of church-goers. A short time ago the newspapers announced that Dr. J. Guinness Rogers, a widely-known and respected Congregational minister, would reply to the strictures of Canon Henson in an address to be given in the old Dutch Reformed church (near the Bank of England), where noon meetings are conducted on Tuesdays for London business men. I attended the meeting, and listened to an able address by Dr. Rogers, a well-preserved man of some eighty-two years, who is sometimes referred to as the “Grand Old Man of Non-conformity.” But the speaker really did not take issue with Canon Henson, except in the matter of substituting other books for the Bible at divine service. He said he could not agree with the canon that the service of church or chapel could be improved by going outside the Scriptures and using the works of approved devotional writers; but as for the criticism directed against the Bible as a whole, he had little to say. He thought there was danger of misunderstanding the article in question, and taking it to mean more than was intended by the writer.

Most of the criticism of the canon's article has come from his own church, rather than from the non-conformists, there being still a fairly strong element in the State Church that sticks close to the English Prayer-book and the doctrinal ideas which prevailed at the time when it was first issued. Thus the matter has been brought to the attention of Dr. Davidson, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he has promised to give it careful attention, which probably means very little.

The Tendency of the Times.

The fact is that the whole tendency of the times is toward unbelief and rationalism, and the subtle yet powerful influences at work are not easily detected. Many are possessed of a feeling of vague apprehension, seeing the dangers threatening Christianity, and not knowing what course to take to avoid them. In his Oxford Commemoration Sermon, preached last Sunday, the Bishop of Liverpool well expressed this general feeling of disquiet and anxiety. “The day broke,” he said, “on an unquiet world and upon a troubled church. Everywhere was upheaval and unrest, distress and perplexity. The powers of Christendom, armed to the teeth, were standing watching each other with undisguised fear and distrust and resentment; each unwilling to strike the first blow, which might lead to the blotting out of nations, and the changing of the political map of Europe. All were looking with strained eyes toward the Far East, where a Christian and European power was battling with an Asiatic and heathen foe, and all were striving to forsee what shall be the end thereof.”

These words, it should be noted, are not those of an alarmist, but of a conservative, thoughtful official in the Church of England.

Referring briefly to the controversy raging around the Bible, he said that “in the church, men bewildered and sick at heart were asking what they ought to believe about the Bible, and where, with the full effect of judgment and eternity before them, they were to find certainty and peace. That sacred thing which doubt had never dimmed, and controversy had never soiled, . . . was it after all a human book, or was it from God, and, if from God, how much of it, a part only, or all?” Here, you might think, was a splendid opportunity for this able preacher to strike a clear, definite note himself, and nobly maintain the truth of the Scriptures, but he failed to do it. At least there is no trace of it in the full report of his address which appeared in a most reliable daily paper, from which the foregoing quotations are taken.

His references to the political outlook are typical of the feelings of thinking men in this country. The old idea, taught by Herbert Spencer and other evolutionists, that in the natural development of civilization wars would more and more become a thing of the past, and everything would be settled by arbitration, has been shown to be a fallacy. Europe to-day is acknowledged to present the appearance of an armed camp, and no one can tell what will be the outcome of the great struggle now taking place in the East.

Militarism—Compulsory Military Service.

One thing is certain. The striking success which has thus far attended the armies of Japan and her excellent navy, can not but spur on other powers to increase their military resources, and especially to put their armies and navies in a state of preparedness, so that in the event of war, they will do themselves credit. This tack is already being taken by the English and the Continental press. They say, The Japanese are teaching us a lesson; we must wake up, and emulate her example. Thus the military spirit grows. The recent report of a commission appointed to inquire into the defenses of the country is to the effect that Great Britain never can have a satisfactory system of home defense until she adopts the plan of compulsory military training for all males. A number of prominent men are members of this commission; so its report, if not accordant with general public sentiment, is at least indicative of the feeling of a powerful minority. The London Times significantly says that the time has not yet come for such a move to be made, but the words amount to a hint that, in the opinion of this powerful moulder of opinion, such a time may not be far off. Some of the leading papers, including the London Daily Mail, speak approvingly of the plan.

The Result of Spiritual Death.

One very interesting feature of the religious situation is that, along with the remarkable dearth of power amongst the so-called orthodox churches, evinced by dwindling congregations and general lack of religious interest, is a marked forward movement amongst the Roman Catholics on the one hand, and such outside bodies as the Mormons, Theosophists, Spiritualists, Christian Scientists, and Dowieites on the other. The Mormons are exceedingly active in the country, and seem to be regarded with greater favor than was the case some years ago. Dowie, it is true, found no place to lay his head on his recent trip to London, but that was owing to the newspapers. His followers really are increasing. Annie Besant is giving popular lectures, showing that reincarnation, as she claims, is the very foundation of the Christian religion. A prominent clergyman of the Church of England was announced to act as chairman at one of her meetings, but the Bishop of London interfered and forbade him to do so. Nevertheless, Theosophy is gaining ground rapidly. Spiritualism is also going steadily forward. It is a very common thing for its leading principles to be discussed in the magazines and reviews as well as in the daily papers. As confidence in the Word of God falls off, these deceptions naturally flourish more and more. It is most sad to see the great lack of Christianity right in this heart of this so-called Christian nation. It has been said recently that Japan is just as truly a Christian nation as England, since there, as here, it is only a small minority of the people that even profess to be Christians. In London scarcely one man in ten attends public service regularly in church or chapel.

M. ELLSWORTH OLSEN.

London, England, June 22, 1904.