DMLJ 16 Fountain on Poole-Connor

https://archive.org/details/ejpooleconnor1870000davi

E J Poole-Connor 1872-1962 Contender for the Faith by D G Fountain

Foreword

I have much enjoyed reading this account of the life and doings of my friend, the late Rev. E. J. Poole-Connor. The question often arises as to who is worthy of such notice. The Victorians and Edwardians clearly overdid this, and gave posthumous fame to men who, while good and worthy and who did good work in their day and generation, have little to say to subsequent generations. We to-day have tended to go to the other extreme, and on the whole, rightly so.
There is no question, however, of the rightness of issuing this volume and that for one special reason. Mr. Poole-Connor was a very able man who lived to a good old age and who was busy in many spheres for a long period. His work as a preacher was appreciated by congregations large and small up and down the country, and I personally can testify to the invaluable character of his work and stimulus in connection with the Evangelical Library. He was also a friend of many other causes and gave of his time and advice freely without ever counting the cost. All that, however, would not call for special biographical notice in this way.
The thing that marks him out and makes him worthy of our attention is his interest in, and his activities in connection with, the leading problem of our age - namely the question of the nature of the Christian church and especially the relationship of the evangelical Christian to that problem.
His own excellent book dealing with “The History of Evangelicalism in England" showed his grasp and understanding of that problem in a masterly manner.
Here, we have not only the essence of that history judicially selected and presented, but also the part which he himself played in the making of that history in the present century, and particularly in connection with the formation the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.
The Rev. David Fountain has produced a perfect blend of history and doctrine which is most instructive and thought-provoking.
The reading of this book cannot but clarify the thinking of all who are deeply concerned about evangelical witness at the present time and in the years that lie ahead. I therefore strongly and heartily recommend it to all such and pray that God may bless it and use it.

D M Lloyd-Jones

Westminster Chapel

February, 1966

DMLJ 15 Poole-Connor on Evangelicalism

This one came out in 1951

Evangelicalism in England by E J Poole-Connor

Foreword

Why the veteran author of this book should deem a Foreword to be necessary I cannot imagine. He bears an honoured name among all Evangelicals, and his ceaseless labours to further every Evangelical cause are well known to all.
However, as he desires it, I am happy and honoured to have the opportunity of writing a word which may prove to have the function of an appetiser. I write gladly and freely because I am able to recommend this book wholeheartedly. Though I can claim without immodesty that the subject matter was in the main very familiar to me - indeed represents the favourite field of my leisure reading - I nevertheless found the book to be absorbingly interesting and fascinating, and the last chapter especially, most moving and elevating. Our author commands a charming and yet powerful style, and he has evidently not read his Macaulay in vain.

It is a most timely and much needed book. The so-called Ecumenical Movement will, of necessity, cause all Evangelicals to re-examine and re-consider their position more and more. It has already done so in many countries, and there is much uneasiness in many minds in this country.
Our first duty, therefore, is to make certain that we are clear as to the meaning of our terms. What do we Evangelicals represent, and how can that be determined? This book is an answer to these questions.
The answer is given in what all must surely agree is the most interesting manner - the historical. Here, doctrine and personalities, and the clash of historical forces and incidents are all blended together in a most admirable sketch and review of the history of Evangelicalism in this country.
I cannot imagine a better introduction to that great story. It is a masterpiece in the art of compression. Its greatest merit, however, is that it is balanced and fair, objective and judicial. As one would expect of him, the author does not obtrude his own views and judgements but allows the facts to speak for themselves.
All who read it, and who have any claim at all to the name Evangelical, must surely be driven to certain conclusions when they have read this volume.
We have a long and glorious history which did not start with the visits of D. L. Moody to this country, nor even with John Wesley.

We are inheritors and custodians of a priceless heritage.

Our position is well defined and perfectly clear, and does not change with the "modern thought" of each age and generation.

I pray that under God's blessing this book may prove to be a call to greater vigilance and zeal in our great cause, and that it will rouse many amongst us so to live and so to witness to our Evangelical faith that we shall not be unworthy of the noble army of confessors, and indeed martyrs, who have gone before us.

D M Lloyd-Jones

Westminster Chapel

London, SW1