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Letters from the Front: J. Gresham Machen's Correspondence from World War 1

John Gresham Machen
$10.50 $24.99
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“ ...it may be a surprise that in the First World War Machen chose not to fight as a warrior. Instead he regularly risked his life in embattled France as a humanitarian non-combatant serving with the YMCA... This volume rounds out our understanding of Machen the brilliant scholar by also revealing him as a servant of Christ to needy and suffering soldiers.”
–From the foreword by Peter A. Lillback

Listen to a lecture by George Marsden entitled Machen's View of History and Truth.

Publisher’s Description

Never before published, here is a glimpse into the formative years of a great campaigner for the faith... and a stirring example of how the faith of a seminary professor was refined and strengthened through the trials of war.

Barry Waugh adds commentary and footnotes to provide essential guidance for fully understanding Machen's service and ministry.

Specifications
  • Cover Type
    Paperback
  • ISBN
    9781596384798
  • Page Count
    342
  • Weight
    1.2 lb
  • Publisher
    P&R Publishing Company
  • Publication Date
    May 2012

Endorsements (3)

“Doughboy accounts of their experiences in World War I are fairly common, but it is unusual to find the stories of those who offered assistance behind the trenches. J. Gresham Machen served in the YMCA in France for over a year and was always near the frontline. Whether helping the wounded or working in the canteen, he ministered to the men as best he could. Machen's letters reveal the frustrations and boredom that so many soldiers felt as well as the joys of serving those in need. Machen's compassion is truly amazing, and his letters home offer a wonderful glimpse of the service of one YMCA official. The editor, Dr. Barry Waugh, deserves commendation as well. His commentary and footnotes provide essential guidance for fully understanding Machen's service and ministry during the war.”

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David Snead

Chair, Department of History, Liberty University; editor of George Browne: An American Soldier in World War I

“What a treat Barry Waugh has provided for those who love Machen! [Letters from the Front] reveals Machen the perfectionist, the theologian, the servant, and the son. But, these letters to his family also reveal the changed man, having seen firsthand the horrors of war.”

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Danny E. Olinger

General Secretary, Committee on Christian Education, Orthodox Presbyterian Church; editor of A Geerhardus Vos Anthology

“For students of Presbyterian history, Machen is always a stop along the timeline. We consider his scholarly role and applaud his supernaturalism. It is even commonly known of his international travels to study under men like Hermann. Now we have access to the humanitarian Machen. In the context of the Great War, these personal letters open up a new side of him. From his own pen, often in the midst of uncertainties, we are able to know him better. I can't commend this book too much.”

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C. N. Willborn

Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Adjunct Professor of Historical Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

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