William Bell Riley

{{short description|American Baptist pastor}}
{{lead too short|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox philosopher
| main_interests  =  
| image      = 
| caption    = 
| birth_name       = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1861|3|22}}
| birth_place      = [[Greene County, Indiana|Greene County]], [[Indiana]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|1947|12|5|1861|3|22}}
| death_place      = [[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]], [[Minnesota]]
| alma_mater = [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]] 
| institutions = 
| school_tradition = [[Baptist]], [[antievolutionism]]
| influences = 
| influenced =
| notable_ideas    = 
}}

'''William Bell Riley''' (March 22, 1861 – December 5, 1947) was an American [[Baptist]] [[evangelical Christian]] [[pastor]]. He was known as "The Grand Old Man of Fundamentalism."

==Biography==
In 1878, at the age of 17, Riley publicly professed faith in Christ. He had planned to study law, but shortly after his conversion he felt called to the ministry. 
After being educated at [[normal school]] in [[Valparaiso, Indiana]], Riley received his teacher's certificate. After teaching in county schools, he attended college in [[Hanover, Indiana]], where he received an A.B. degree in 1885. In 1888 he graduated from the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]].

He served several Baptist churches in [[Kentucky]], [[Indiana]], and [[Illinois]] before taking the pastorate at the [[First Baptist Church (Minneapolis)|First Baptist Church]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] in 1897. He was known as "The Grand Old Man of Fundamentalism."

He resigned after forty-five years but served as pastor emeritus until his death five years later. Riley wrote a number of texts on Christian Evangelism and founded the [[University of Northwestern St. Paul|Northwestern Bible Training School]] along with an Evangelical Seminary.

In 1919 Riley founded the [[World Christian Fundamentals Association]].

Theologically, Riley was a [[Baptist]] traditionalist who subscribed to the [[New Hampshire Confession of Faith]] of 1833, the most popular Baptist creed of the 19th century. His first major work was an exposition of the Confession and in 1922 he tried to help the fundamentalist faction of the [[Northern Baptist Convention]] gain control and reject theological liberalism by convincing the Convention to adopt the Confession as its binding statement of faith.

Riley was the editor of ''[[The Christian Fundamentalist]]'' from 1927 to 1932. Riley was president of the [[Minnesota Baptist State Convention]] in 1944–45. When Riley died in 1947, [[Billy Graham]], whom Riley had chosen to succeed him as president of Northwestern, conducted the funeral services. At Riley's death [[University of Northwestern St. Paul|Northwestern Bible School]] was the second largest Bible School in the world, with some 1,200 students enrolled.

==Evolution==
In 1923 Riley set up the Anti-Evolution League of Minnesota, which blossomed the following year into the [[Anti-Evolution League of America]] (later run by [[T. T. Martin]]). While the anti-evolution crusade is often thought of as a Southern phenomenon, two of its foremost leaders, Riley and [[John Roach Straton]], were from [[Minneapolis]] and [[New York City]] respectively. In the early 1920s Riley promoted a vigorous anti-evolutionary campaign in the Northwest and it was Riley's [[World Christian Fundamentals Association]] that wired [[William Jennings Bryan]] urging him to act as counsel for the association in the [[Scopes Trial]].<ref name=Numbers>[http://www.history.vt.edu/Barrow/Hist3706/readings/numbers.html ''Creationism in 20th-Century America''], Ronald L. Numbers, Science 218 (5 November 1982): 538-544</ref>

Riley and Bryan tried to remove all teaching of evolution from public schools. One of the creationists in their movement, T. T. Martin claimed that German soldiers who killed Belgian and French children by giving them poisoned candy were angels compared to those who spread evolution ideas in schools.<ref>
T. T. Martin, Hell and the High School (Western Baptist Publishing Co., Kansas City, Mo. 1923), pp. 164-165</ref> Riley also claimed that "an international [[Jewish Bolshevism|Jewish-Bolshevik-Darwinist]] conspiracy to promote evolutionism in the classroom"<ref>{{cite book |title=Whistling Past Dixie |last=Schaller |first=Thomas |authorlink=Thomas Schaller |year=2008 |origyear=2006 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Paperbacks |isbn=978-0-7432-9016-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/whistlingpastdix00scha/page/97 97] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/whistlingpastdix00scha/page/97 }}</ref> was behind the changes in curriculum occurring in the 1920s. Riley advocated a form of "[[Day-Age Creationism]]".<ref name=Numbers/>

The main objection that Riley had to evolution was:

{{blockquote|The first and most important reason for its elimination is in the unquestioned fact that evolution is not a science; it is a hypothesis only, a speculation<ref>W. B. Riley, ''Christian Fundamentals in School and Church'' 4, 5 (April–June 1922)</ref>}}

==Antisemitism==

Some of Riley's beliefs and writings were [[antisemitic]]. He wrote and spoke extensively about Jews, especially in relation to [[Communism]], crime and historical social influence. He promoted the [[antisemitic canard]] of linking Jews with mysterious sources of influence, power and money. In his Introduction to a collection of Riley's anti-evolutionary writings <ref>William Trollinger, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5860412 ''The Anti-evolution Pamphlets of William Bell Riley''] (New York: Garland Pub, 1995), xix.</ref> William Trollinger, the editor, describes Riley's belief in a worldwide Jewish conspiracy to control the media and the economy. Trollinger believed Riley was partly influenced by the anti-Jewish Czarist forgery ''[[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]''. [[Henry Ford]] had been promoting the Protocols at that time through his newspaper [[The Dearborn Independent]]. Riley believed that Jews had a prominent role in promoting evolution to undermine religious and social values. Riley saw this as part of a wider plot involving Communism's plan to conquer America, especially through the administration of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], whom he accused of being part of a communist conspiracy.<ref>Riley, William Bell. [http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4894/rec/45 ''The Jew and Communism.'']{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online. 1</ref> Riley declared that Soviet Russia "was under the dominance of a successful mob of atheistic Jews."<ref>[http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4603/rec/158 ''Doom of World Governments.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102033424/http://cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4603/rec/158 |date=2014-11-02 }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online. 5</ref> Riley described the origins of World War I as the result of the maneuvering of Jewish bankers and arms dealers.<ref>Trollinger, William Vance. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22276771 ''God's Empire: William Bell Riley and Midwestern Fundamentalism.''] Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 1990. 72</ref> Riley preached a sermon entitled "Shivering at the sight of a shirt" <ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/59759935 ''Shivering at the Sight of a Shirt.''] [Minneapolis: L.W. Camp], 1936</ref> in support of the Fascist Silver Shirts (of the [[Silver Legion of America]]) calling them "defenders of the Constitution."<ref>Lundin, R. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/833047141 ''Christ across the disciplines past, present, future.] Grand Rapids, Michigan: [[William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.]], 2013.</ref> In his book, "The Nazi Hydra in America: Suppressed History of a Century", Glen Yeadon <ref>Yeadon, Glen [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/750729691 ''The Nazi Hydra in America: Suppressed History of a Century.''] (California: Progressive Press, 2008.),109.</ref> compares Riley's use of anti-Jewish imagery and rhetoric in his sermons and writings to Hitler's propaganda.

Some writers think that Riley moved towards anti Semitism after the failure of his crusade against evolution, blaming the Jews for his inability to influence Schools against teaching evolution.<ref>Trollinger, William Vance.[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/316082622276771 ''God's empire : William Bell Riley and Midwestern Fundamentalism.''] Madison, Wisconsin. : University of Wisconsin Press, 1990.</ref> Trollinger also argues that Riley was influenced by and became a leading part of the antisemitism prevalent in [[Minneapolis]].<ref>Berman, Hyman. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/political anti-Semitism in Minnesota during the great depression] New York : 1979.</ref> There were also parts of wider fundamentalist culture at that time adopting antisemitic conspiracy theories.<ref>Dinnerstein, L. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28631951''Antisemitism in America.''] New York : Oxford University Press. 1994.</ref>

Riley denied that he was an [[antisemite]]. He argued that he was merely commenting on social conditions at the time, and that he theologically and personally supported the Jews. Soon after the British Army entered Jerusalem in 1917, Riley described his hopes of a restored Jewish state and the role of Jerusalem in end time events in a published sermon. Riley also believed that Jews as a race had been "under God's punishment", similar to the theology of [[Medieval antisemitism]]. Riley continued to be a supporter of more modern manifestations of antisemitism, such as belief in a worldwide [[Jewish Bolshevism|Jewish-Bolshevik-Darwinist]] conspiracy.<ref>[http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4883/rec/36 ''Jerusalem and the Jew.'']{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online.</ref>

==Award==
In 1908, the Southwestern Baptist University of [[Jackson, Tennessee|Jackson]], [[Tennessee]], conferred upon Riley an honorary [[Doctor of Divinity|D.D.]] degree.<ref>Marie Acomb Riley, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5860412 ''The Dynamic of a Dream''] (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1938), 95.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Works by W.B. Riley==

===Books and pamphlets===
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4432165 ''The Bible of the Expositor and the Evangelist.''] 40 Volumes. Cleveland: Union Gospel Press, 1925–1938.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5665353 ''The Crisis of the Church.''] New York: Charles C. Cook, 1914.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10821237 ''A Debate: Resolved, that the Creative Days in Genesis Were Aeons, Not Solar Days.''] With Harry Rimmer. Los Angeles: Research Science Bureau, [1930?].
* [http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4603/rec/158 ''Doom of World Governments.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102033424/http://cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4603/rec/158 |date=2014-11-02 }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7490799 ''The Evolution of the Kingdom.''] New York: Charles C. Cook, 1913.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62565787 ''The Finality of Higher Criticism; or, The Theory of Evolution and False Theology.''] [Minneapolis?]: W.B. Riley, 1909.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/798563628 ''Hitlerism; or, The Philosophy of Evolution in Action.''] Minneapolis: Irene Woods [1941?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3859997 ''Inspiration or Evolution.''] Cleveland: Union Gospel Press, 1926.
*[http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4883/rec/36 ''Jerusalem and the Jew.'']{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online.
* [http://www.cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/riley/id/4894/rec/45 ''The Jew and Communism.'']{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Minneapolis: University of Northwestern: William Bell Riley Collection online.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7442603 ''The Menace of Modernism.''] New York: Christian Alliance Co., 1917.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/189023901 ''Messages for the Metropolis.''] Minneapolis: Winona Publishing Co., 1906.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/8544136 ''My Bible: An Apologetic.''] Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1937.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55127541 ''Painting America Red.''] Wichita, Kan.: Defender Tract Club, [194-?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/6871473 ''The Philosophies of Father Coughlin.''] Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1935.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60385963 ''The Promised Return.''] Chicago: Star Printing Co., [1897?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10383843 ''Problems of Youth.''] Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1941.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/810326951 ''Prophecy and the Red Russian Menace.''] Minneapolis: L.W. Camp, [193-?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4506850 ''Protocols and Communism.''] Minneapolis: L.W. Camp, [1934?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2709792 ''Revival Sermons: Essentials in Effective Evangelism.''] New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1939.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/852434777 ''Riley versus Robinson: a Discussion of the Superintendency of Minneapolis Schools.''] [Minneapolis: Luverne Gustavson?], [1944?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/59759935 ''Shivering at the Sight of a Shirt.''] [Minneapolis: L.W. Camp], 1936.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/852434483 ''Socialism in Our Schools: Sovietizing the State through Schools.''] [Minneapolis: L.W. Camp?], [1923?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7070401 ''Ten Burning Questions.''] New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1932.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/424524212 ''Ten Sermons on the Greater Doctrines of Scripture.''] Bloomington, Ill.: Leader Publishing Co., 1891.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11413512 ''Vagaries and Verities; or, Sunday Nights in Soul-Winning.''] Minneapolis: Hall, Black, and Co., 1903.
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16857482 ''Wanted--A World Leader!''] Minneapolis: W.B. Riley, [1939?].
* [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/59759944 ''What Is Fundamentalism?''] [Minneapolis: L.W. Camp], [1927?].

==Works on W.B. Riley==
* Hull, Lloyd B. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/226531318 ''A Rhetorical Study of the Preaching of William Bell Riley.''] PhD., Wayne State University, 1960.
* McBirnie, Robert Sheldon. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/8323480 ''Basic Issues in the Fundamentalism of W.B. Riley.''] PhD., State University of Iowa, 1952.
* Riley, Marie Acomb. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5860412 ''The Dynamic of a Dream: The Life Story of Dr. William B. Riley.''] Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1938.
* Szasz, Ferenc Morton. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/8320605 ''Three Fundamentalist Leaders: The Roles of William Bell Riley, John Roach Straton, and William Jennings Bryan in the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy.''] PhD., University of Rochester, 1969.
* Trollinger, William Vance. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22276771 ''God's Empire: William Bell Riley and Midwestern Fundamentalism.''] Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 1990.
* Trollinger, William Vance. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3160826 ''The Antievolution Pamphlets of William Bell Riley.''] New York : Garland Pub, 1995.

==Historical works on the political and social history of the era==

*Berman, Hyman. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5947497 ''political anti-Semitism in Minnesota during the great depression.''] New York : 1979.
*Dinnerstein, L. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28631951''Antisemitism in America.''] New York : Oxford University Press. 1994.
*Lundin. R. [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/833047141 ''Christ across the disciplines: past, present, future.''] Grand Rapids, Michigan : William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2013.
* Yeadon, Glen. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/750729691 ''The Nazi Hydra in America: Suppressed History of a Century.''] California: Progressive Press, 2008.

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=William Bell Riley |sopt=t}}
*[http://cdm16120.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/riley William Bell Riley Collection - Berntsen Library, University of Northwestern-St. Paul]
*{{Find a Grave|8196684}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, William Bell}}
[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1947 deaths]]
[[Category:Anti-Masonry]]
[[Category:Antisemitism in the United States]]
[[Category:American Christian creationists]]
[[Category:American conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:American Nazis]]
[[Category:Baptist ministers from the United States]]
[[Category:Christian fascists]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalists]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni]]
[[Category:Valparaiso University alumni]]