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Note and Comment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 9, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 15.

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Note and Comment

By Editor

Subtle Infidelity

It is sad to see men of large talents, and who are capable of exerting a mighty influence for God and his Word, fall into the pitfalls of higher criticism, and turn their influence against the cause of Christianity. Many are doing this at the present time.
One of the latest recruits of higher criticism is Dr. Charles Aked, of San Francisco. Much was made of his departure from the East several years ago to take up work in the great metropolis of the Pacific Coast. Many hoped great things from his ministry. He was received with open arms by the church people of San Francisco, and was honored with the position of president of the federated churches of that city. But now he openly declares that he cannot longer support the doctrine of the miraculous conception and birth of Christ. Of his position the Christian Observer of February 11 says:—
Dr. Aked's drift toward Unitarianism has been rapid. Now he has aligned himself with those who would rob Jesus of his divinity and would declare that "there is divinity in us," and that the difference between men and Jesus is a "question of quantity and not of quality." This heresy has been paraded in all ages of the world's history, and it is passing strange that a man with the opportunities that Dr. Aked has had of study and observation should align himself with the enemies of Jesus, the divine Saviour of men. Veiled praises of the Christ as the highest type of man and yet as not divine, cannot avail to stem the torrent of sin that surges through the hearts of unregenerate men.
Dr. Aked's position is in harmony with that held by many religious leaders. We are glad, however, that there are some clergymen in San Francisco who widely dissent from his utterances. The Presbyterian ministers of San Francisco demanded that Dr. Aked resign from his office, threatening that if he continued as president they would withdraw from the federation. When the matter came to vote, according to the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post of February 18, seventy-four members of the federation voted declining to accept his proffered resignation, and only nineteen voted for it. If this vote indicates the drift of religious faith and belief among the clergymen of San Francisco, the situation is truly painful as well as deeply significant of the trend of religious faith at the present time; for undoubtedly the same line-up of religious teachers would be made in other cities as has been made in San Francisco if similar occasions were to arise. Of Dr. Aked's position the Post above referred to, says:—
A preacher who refuses to accept the Bible in its entirety is getting out of his element. A lawyer can attack the constitutionality of a statute and appeal to a higher court, but with a preacher it is different. The law which serves as his guide is accepted by civilization as divine revelation, and to deny any of its theories is calculated to shake the faith of those who listen to his teachings.
In the refusal of the federated churches of San Francisco to accept Dr. Aked's resignation, the Congregationalist of Boston declares that he received a "handsome and merited vindication." While not indorsing his views, this representative journal of the church to which Dr. Aked belongs, believes that "a Christian minister should be accorded liberty," and that "belief in the virgin birth should not be a prerequisite of admission to the fellowship of evangelical churches."
On the other hand, the United Presbyterian thinks that Dr. Aked in holding such doctrines should "fall out of the ranks in which he has been marching, and take his place with those who prefer a humanistic and rationalistic religious fellowship."
The Herald and Presbyter considers that the church faces a crisis, and declares:—
The Presbyterian Church stands for comity and federation, but neither comity nor federation will long stand if we are to have attacks from Methodist and Congregational ministers on the essential doctrines of the gospel.
The Catholic News, in reviewing the question, relates the following dramatic incident as indicating the influence of such teaching:—
Dr. Aked, of San Francisco, who has been proclaiming doctrines contrary to Christian teachings, was forcibly reminded of the damage he is doing to religion when, the other day, in San Francisco, a well-dressed young man made his way through a crowd attending the laying of the corner stone of the First Congregational church in that city, and tore into pieces a marked Bible, throwing the leaves at the feet of the pastor, Dr. Aked. The Bible's cover was tossed on the corner stone. The man then retreated and disappeared in the crowd. The cover was tagged with texts referring to followers of new doctrines, and the inside was marked "Property of the San Francisco Church Federation." Dr. Aked is president of that organization. One of the cards with which the cover was tagged read "Tekel." This word was printed in large red letters. Its meaning, as translated in the book of Daniel, is, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." Dr. Aked and clergymen like him are certainly tearing the Bible to pieces by the denial of essential Christian doctrine, and it is not surprising that he has been taken to task so conspicuously.
In the Public Ledger Dr. Aked defends his position by the pitiful statement—pitiful if it is true, as we do not question—that "these views of mine passed unchallenged in the more orthodox circles of New York Baptists."
Silently and insidiously but none the less surely the enemy of all righteousness is undermining faith in God and in his Word. Fittingly does that Word inquire, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Some—a rapidly lessening number—appreciate the drift of religious thought and teaching, but the majority are fast drifting upon the rocks and shoals of unbelief.
It is for us to exalt in our lives and teachings the blessed Word. We serve a living God; we have a divine Saviour. By the overshadowing power of the Spirit, whereby he was begotten of the Father, we may become changed into the likeness of his character. He is able to do for us "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." We may safely rest our salvation in his hands.