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These basic tenets were included in the Deed of Trust, but as is well known, Deeds of
Trust do no implement themselves. Unless Trustees are faithful, and unless the company
of believers constituting the Movement are made aware of them, it is possible for such
tenets, in the course of time, to become a dead letter. They may be "safe" in the Black
box in which they are kept, but they may also be "dead and buried" therein.
With this in mind it was deemed desirable that:
(a)
From time to time the foregoing basic doctrines be brought prominently before
those constituting the Movement, at what is to be known as "Foundation Day"
Meetings, to be held on the last Saturday in May each year. These to take the
place of the old Annual Meetings.
(b)
Whoever should speak at these Meetings, their subject must be one or more of the
four basic doctrines or their interrelationship.
(c)
At the first of these gatherings it was considered fitting that the Principal should be
the sole speaker, and deal with all four basic doctrines, two in the afternoon, and
two in the evening.
For the afternoon, the Inspiration and Right Division of Scripture was the theme, and
in the evening The Deity of Christ and His One Sacrifice were dealt with.
It was pointed out that the Inspiration and Right Division of the Scripture were
really inseparable. Both are maintained in one epistle, namely in II Tim. 3: 16 and
II Tim. 2: 15, and all Scripture cannot be accepted as true unless Right Division is
applied. This will be demonstrated presently. First, however, let us present the case for
the Inspiration of Scripture.
Three passages provide all that we need at the moment, II Tim. 3: 16; II Pet. 1: 19-21;
and John 17: 8, 14, 17. They are as follows:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Tim. 3: 16).
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation
(or, of its own unfolding); for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1: 19-21).
"I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me" (John 17: 8).
"I have given them Thy word" (John 17: 14).
"Thy word is truth" (John 17: 17).
It is noteworthy that both Paul and Peter wrote the above words in view of imminent
martyrdom, even as John 17: is uttered in view of the approaching death on the cross.
This adds to the solemnity of the utterances, and the obligation under which such
passages place all believers.
"Right Division" is a basic principle of interpretation. The meaning of the term is best
understood by consulting Prov. 3: 6, where the Septuagint reads "He shall rightly
divide thy paths". Full acceptance of inspiration is jeopardized where right division is
not observed. For example, Exod. 12: 14, 15 declares that "that soul shall be cut off
from Israel" who fails to observe the law concerning unleavened bread, and the