Dr. Machen Invited

An invitation went to Dr. J. Gresham Machen of Princeton Theological Seminary last week, the sort of an invitation that could have only caused more embarrassment to an already harassed man.

Dr. Machen is a great and learned theologian, a philosopher among preachers. Also he is a literalist. He interprets the Bible strictly, and that has made him vastly unhappy at Princeton, for the greater number of the authorities there have been opposed to his views. When he was named for the Chair of Apologetics, the Board of Directors fought with the Board of Trustees over the appointment. That has been the scandal of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. The General Assembly a year ago would not order the appointment. Three weeks ago at San Francisco the General Assembly again snubbed Dr. Machen (TIME, June 6).

Here, decided Fundamentalists, was a man who could command attention for their religious-scientific arguments, which a world busied with crime, catastrophes and aviators has of late ignored. Forthwith President F. E. Robinson of the association promoting Bryan Memorial University at Dayton (Scopes trial), Tenn., sent a 48-word telegram to his Promotional Director Malcolm Lockhart in Manhattan, ordering him to offer Dr. Machen the presidency of the proposed Bryan Memorial University. Promoter Lockhart made the offer; told the newspapers. Dr. Machen harassed, unhappy, kept silent.