THE PROPHET OF CALVARY CHURCH
By Perley Cummings Grant '01. NewYork: Vantage Press, 1962. 142 pp. $3.00.
This vivid account of the efforts of a gifted young Protestant minister in rebuilding a decaying downtown church in a large city, against hostility and evil, should be of interest to anyone concerned with the problems of the Christian Church in modern America. The places, persons and denominations mentioned are not identified by name, but the stage-setting could be New England, Illinois or California. The time is the" last' decade of the 19th century, when "modernism" (scientific study of the Bible Higher Criticism, liberal theology, etc.) began to lock horns with the time-honored "fundamentalism" - a mighty battle in which for a full generation our President Tucker took a prominent place, both as a renowned churchman and educator. The basic theme of the book, perhaps, is the power-struggle between a hard-core standpat minority, with its seniority rights and hoary traditions, against a much younger majority demanding change, growth, and spiritual challenge - a situation far from uncommon even at the present time.
The story, which could be called a small novel, is intensely personal throughout, with fine character delineation, lively dialogue, scenes full of dramatic surprise and suspense. The central figure, the recently widowed pastor of Calvary Church, is most appealing: small of stature, radiant and dignified in appearance, witty, eloquent, gentle, loving, selfless, patient, imaginative, courageous, with a growing following of all sorts of people who respond vitally to his dynamic and prophetic leadership. The arch-enemy is a suave, influential bank president, with tails and top hat and cane, with a small coterie of fawning sycophants, who has run the great church into the ground by his tyranny, denying any participation in its management on the part of the people. The picture is sometimes so overdrawn that the GOOD PEOPLE are seen as near-saints and the BAD PEOPLE become so Satanic that they really belong in jail, where, indeed, some actually end. Out of it all comes real generation for the evil ones, and goodness triumphs, as it should.
Dr. Grant merits a resounding Kudo. There are few indeed who dare to publish a good book when they are up in their eighties. The author of this little book knows whereof he speaks, out of personal experience, for he has had a notable career as pastor and teacher, and for over sixty years. As he has helped so many people into a fuller life over the decades, his book should be an inspiration to many more who have never heard his voice.
