Setback at Princeton

But Buchman soon met the first of his setbacks. He was asked to leave Princeton by authorities who simply failed to understand him. Of course, it was true that he himself had estimated, scientifically, that between 80 and 90 per cent, of all sins were sex sins. But surely it was grossly unfair to suggest that students were more interested in the sex than the confession? Certainly Buchman himself could never overstep the narrow line between confession and boasting: for he has never married. And who could possibly suspect this benign, upright gentleman of anything unhealthy? Was he not, in his person, so perpetually neat and fresh and scrubbed? But at [unclear: Prirtceton] the authorities suspected this curious odour of sanctity . . . and bathsoap. Of course, it was also true that the star at a group confessional was he with most to confess: and there was a temptation to fabricate confessions rather than be insignificant among your friends. But are not any surgical instruments double edged?

At least in England his success was unqualified. The Oxford Group took the house party confessional to the summit of its achievement: all the best people confessed! So, in the bitter years of the depression, it remained, even when Buchman found his houseparties islands of spiritual—and physical—comfort. But we must be wholey grateful that he was spared the burden of want and poverty. For it allowed him breadth of vision. He could see the problems, and he knew their answers. What the masses needed, he knew, was not more food, or full employment. They needed spiritual uplift. The danger lay with those materially minded people who disagreed: and they were all Communists. Dr Frank Buchman would soon provide plenty of spiritual comfort, but not a defence against Bolshevism. But he knew the answer. Let us digress for a moment to sec why he can be so positive.

Dr Frank Buchman is guided by his Maker. He tells his followers to do just what he does: every day he takes time alone—his Quiet Time, he calls it—and like a worthy subordinate, receives his orders. And this is why Dr Frank Buchman has never needed to think: he knows! That is why he knew the answer to Bolshevism. The answer was Adolf Hitler: For Hitler was not only a great man . . . but he was anti-Communist.