MR. BALFOUR AND CHRISTIANITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17254, 2 September 1919, Page 9

MR . BALFOUR AND CHRISTIANITY.

fcr,—. Saturday's - Hek*ld, "S.W.S." clwms. Mr. Balfour as an agnostic. This mistake cfiu'd not be made by ,anyone who. had read Mr. Balfour's books. In the preface tip his, latest book, " Theism apß humanism"— Gifford lecture, delivered in the University of Glasgow, in —Mr. Balfour says: —" For example,! God,* freedom, 1 and immortality have been j treated by at least one eminent writer j as the graat. realities beyond the world of sense. I believe in them all." And, ' of'.course,, the volume being a. Gifford Lecture is a defence of Theism. Mr. Balfour is not only a Thcisfc, h« is a decided Christian and is a.member of the Presbyterian Church. In the British Weekly for February 12, 1919,' Df. James Robertson, Minister of WHittingehame, and that year Moderator of the Church of Scotland, has a letter in which .'he says:—"l have known Mr.. Balfour since he was 17 years of age. He is a member of my congregation, and attends .worship and communion regularly while at his home here. I have pleasure in his presence whenever 'I preach I know that I have in him & believing, responsive, and eminently understanding hearer. He is a regular and liberal subscriber to the 'enterprises of the church, and has done the Scottish Church service .for which' a multitude of' its ministers are grateful;" It- is a matter for which- many are thankful nearly all our' great leaders, both in council and jn the; field— "Lloyd - George, 'Bonar Law, and A. J. Balfour, Earl Haig, Karl Beat%, and Lord Allenby, are decided Christians. As Mr. Balfour is often claimed as an agnostic by those who have never read either his " Foundations of Belief," or his " Theism and. Humanism," it is hut fair that the above facts regarding him should be published. " Issac Jolly. Popsonby.