WEAK APOLOGETICS

Press, Volume L, Issue 15017, 11 July 1914, Page 16

WEAK APOLOGETICS

"Weak Points in our Presentation of the Truth of Christianity," waa the subject of the annual conference of the Csbri_.ia_ Evidence Society, over which Lord William Cecil presided at Sion College, London. Dr. A. W. Robinson (Warden of the College of All Hallows, Barking) opened the discussion with some kindly plain-speaking. He drew an analogy between the early failure of the foreign missionary appeal and the present unpopularity of Christian Evidence work. The earlier advocates of foreign missions failed to win support because, m the first place, they were not candid. Dr. Robinson Quoted a recent conver-

sation he had had with Lord Uryco, in ;w_hieh that keenest of observers, 'discussing the changed attitude towards missions, had spokon of tho one-sided, ex parto nature of early missionary reports and literature. Failures were.not recorded, the brighter side of heatheniem was kept in tho background, and tho consequence was that a feeling of distrust arose. All that had passed away now. Missionary roporte wero {scrupulously fair and candid, and no one had a bad word to say of missions in coneoquenee. There was now, however, an impression abroad that the Christian apologist was wanting in candour. Evidential books and speeches were full of smart debating points, but they did not leavo the impression that here was a man who really anxious to get at the facts, and admit difficulties where they existed. Too often tho Christian apologist traded upon tho ignorance of his audience. There wore many things of this 6ort to grievo about in the long controversies about science and criticism. Tho other main chargo brought by Dr. Robinson was the ineffectiveness of much evidential work. They woro too much occupied in knocking down their opponents' men of straw instead of boldly declaring tho truth. Dr. Robinson believed that men were hungering for an intelligent presentation of tho truth, and he cited the bold and spacious intellectual appeal of tho Theosophiets as a rebuke to tho catchpenny advertisements of many Christian speakers and preachers. Tho discussion was not very cogent or to the point. Prebendary Carlilo and others dealt rather with evangelical than evidential methods. Rev. C L. Drawbridge seemed to suggest that Dr. Robinson hardly realised tho craftiness and unscmpulouaness of tho orators on tho other side.