This brief article is the first of several describing the writer's two visits to Europe during the past summer.
The experience of flying to Europe is truly remarkable. Distance seems to mean nothing. No longer must one spend several days in travel on a steamship, but he can simply board a plane one day and arrive in Europe the next. It was mid-afternoon on Friday, May 9, when I boarded the plane at the Philadelphia airport. After a half-hour's delay, we were in the air.
The flight to New York is quite interesting. In a few moments from the Philadelphia airport one is looking down on familiar landmarks in New Jersey — for example, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church at Crescent Park the city of West Collingswood, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Some twenty-five minutes later the plane descended at the New York airport, and we changed to another plane.
At about five-thirty that Friday afternoon we were again on our way. The plane was not crowded, and I had a double seat. The weather was clear, and it was possible to see Long Island, then Nantucket. Every now and then the plane passed over land, and as it grew dark one could still see islands far below. The night was very short, for London is five hours ahead of New York time. So we had a rather short period of darkness. As soon as light came we were flying over Ireland, and one could easily distinguish the farms, roads, and stone fences. The countryside was green and inviting, and I watched eagerly as we passed over villages and the countryside.
Soon we were over England, and came in for our landing at the London airport. The Rev. H. D. MacDonald, Vice Principal of the London Bible College, and the Rev. Owen J. Thomas, Professor of English Bible, Classics and Theology, were on hand to meet me.
May 10 was an important day in the history of the London Bible College. It began its operations in 1946 with eight full time students and one instructor. Now it has nine faculty members and over one hundred students. During the interim over three hundred full-time students have passed through the college, and 3,500 have attended the evening classes, while 4,500 have enrolled for correspondence courses. Between 1946 and 1956 sixty students have gone into the gospel ministry, eighty have entered foreign missionary service, and the others have entered other forms of Christian work.
This remarkable growth appears to be an evidence of the blessing of God on the institution, and much of the credit for the wise conduct and growth of the school is due to its principal, the Rev. Ernest F. Kevan. Principal Kevan has put his whole heart into the work of the school and is deeply concerned that there should be in England such a training school for ministers of the gospel. What he has accomplished is truly remarkable, and the writer counts it a high honor and privilege that he could meet Mr. Kevan and the other devoted members of the teaching staff of this College.
On May 10 a new building was to be dedicated, designed to house the offices and classrooms. This building is also the result largely of the hard work of Principal Kevan. The dedication service was impressive, and the highlight came in the address by Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones of London. To hear Dr. Lloyd-Jones preach is a memorable experience. Like few others he has the ability to expound the Scriptures in such a manner that what he says stays with one. His words were very appropriate for the occasion. He pointed out the reasons for the existence of such a college, and the need for it. His remarks were an inspiration to those present whose hearts were in sympathy with the purposes of the college.
I had the privilege of delivering four lectures as part of the program connected with the dedication of the new building. Held on four successive evenings, these lectures were attended by the members of the student body and by visitors interested in the college. It was a pleasure to speak to those who believe that the Bible is truly the infallible Word of God and who are not compromising with modern theology.
In my lectures I spoke on the general subject, "The Study of Old Testament Theology Today." It was my purpose to point out what Old Testament theology really is, namely the study of God in His self-revelation in the Old Testament Scriptures, and to contrast this view of the subject with modern substitutes.
There were many opportunities for conferences with the faculty and students, and it was a delight to find so many who knew the Word of God and were determined to stand up for it. I felt at home in the London Bible College, finding that here was truly an institution seeking to stand for the Word of God. Each day at the chapel service there were letters from graduates serving in distant places, and prayer was offered for these. At one service I had an opportunity to tell of the work of Westminster Theological Seminary. Westminster's name is well-known and loved by many in England.
The short week came to a close all too soon, and I started on the return trip, also by plane. Such a trip always seems to include surprises. This time we stopped at Shannon, Ireland, where there is a duty-free shop, and Irish goods (linen and tweeds, etc.) are on sale at quite reasonable prices. Airborne again, we were told there was a severe storm in mid-Atlantic and so we would fly toward Greenland and across to Labrador. We flew low enough so that visibility was good, and it was fascinating to watch this strange country. All too soon, after passing over Canada, the mouth of the St. Lawrence, Maine, Boston and New York we were again in Philadelphia.
In just one week we had visited England and delivered four lectures at the London Bible College. In the next GUARDIAN we plan to tell of our return to Europe for a longer visit.