Manuscript Collection #042
Boxes #340 and 341

Content Summary: Representative materials from the life-work of a career missionary to Japan.

Biographical sketch: provided at the end of this page.

Access: This collection is open to researchers.

Preferred citation: John M.L. Young Manuscript Collection, PCA Historical Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

Related Collections: World Presbyterian Missions; W.A. McIlwaine Manuscript Collection.

Box/File/Contents
340.19 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1955, Correspondence
340.18 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1956, Correspondence
340.17 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1957, Correspondence, January - June
340.16 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1957, Correspondence, July - December
340.15 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1958, Correspondence
340.14 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, 1959 - 1960, Correspondence
340.09 — Bible Presbyterian Church Conflict, Documents
341.09 — Bible Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, TX, 1958, 12th Anniversary materials
340.89 — Bible Presbyterian Observer, 1956, Special edition, March, 1956
340.90 — Bible Press, The, 1955, September 9
340.02 — Blackmore, Glenwood, "Shall the NCC Control Religious Broadcasting"
341.15 — Bratt, John H., "Modern Ecumenical Movements, Analysis and Appraisal," 1958, [publication]
341.06 — Brochures, Miscellaneous, Folder 1
341.07 — Brochures, Miscellaneous, Folder 2
340.07 — Buswell, J. Oliver, Jr., Comments on Free Press articles of October 19, 1961
340.08 — Christ Church, Grand Rapids, MI, 1966, By-Laws
340.91 — Christian Beacon, 1937, 1956 and 1957 [4 issues]
340.08 — Christian Education
341.16 — Christian, George S., "Dispensationalism, Arminianism, Lutheranism and the Reformed Standards of the Bible Presbyterian Church"
340.03 — Christian, George S., "Let's Not Talk About a Split in the Bible Presbyterian Church"
340.20 — Colloquial Japanese Bible, Correspondence, Folder 1, includes news articles
340.21 — Colloquial Japanese Bible, Correspondence, Folder 2, includes articles and publications
340.22 — Colloquial Japanese Bible, Correspondence, Folder 3, includes articles and publications
340.17 — Conflict of the Ages:  A Symposium, The, 1954, [publication]
340.13 — Correspondence, 1958 - 1960
340.12 — Correspondence, 1961 - 1962
340.37 — Correspondence, 1973 - 1974, Miscellaneous
341.13 — Covenant College, 1963, Purchase of Lookout Mountain Campus, news articles
341.18—  Cross, Thomas G., Historical Background and Development of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod, 1968
341.11 — Far Eastern Council of Christian Churches, 1951, First General Assembly, Minutes
341.12 — Far Eastern Council of Christian Churches, 1953, Second General Assembly, Minutes
341.40 — Far Eastern Council of Christian Churches, 1956, Third General Assembly, Report
340.93 — Financial Reports, 1958, 1961 - 1967 [sampling]
340.92 — Free Press, 1956, 1961, [November 9, 1956 and October 19, 1961]
341.19 — Garman, W.O.H., What is Wrong with the Federal Council?, 1950 edition
341.28 — Hallmarks of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod; ; and Proposed Basis of Union between the OPC and RPCES
341.20 — Horner, Kenneth A., Jr., Biblical Government, 1963, 1970
341.21 — Horner, Kenneth A., Jr., Christian Doctrine
340.30 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1948 - 1950, Correspondence
340.29 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1951 - 1952, Correspondence
340.28 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1953, Correspondence
340.27 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1955, Correspondence
340.26 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1956, Correspondence
340.25 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1957, Correspondence
340.33 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1957, Correspondence with Clark, Philip
340.24 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1958, Correspondence
340.32 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1958, Correspondence with Clark, Philip
340.23 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1959 - 1960, Correspondence
340.31 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1959 - 1960, Correspondence with Clark, Philip
340.94 — Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, Minority Protest on the Failure to Re-elect Dr. Shepperson and Dr. Robert G. Rayburn
340.47 — Independent Fundamental Churches of America, 1952 - 1953, Action against the American Council of Christian Churches
341.22 — Introducing and Comparing the PCA, OPC, RPCES and RPCNA
341.04 — Japan Bible Christian Council, Constitution [booklet]
340.10 — Japan Christian Presbyterian Church, Form of Government
340.54 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1949 - 1950, Correspondence, primarily with the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
340.53 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1951 - 1952, Correspondence, primarily with the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
340.48 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1955 - 1956, Catalog
340.52 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1957 - 1958, 1960 - 1963, Correspondence
340.58 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1958 - 1960, Faculty Minutes
340.57 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1961 - 1963, Faculty Minutes
340.56 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1964 - 1965, Faculty Minutes
340.51 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1965, 1967 - 1969, 1975, Correspondence
341.05 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, 1967 - 1968, Catalog
340.49 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, Constitution
340.50 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, Controversy with Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
340.55 — Japan Christian Theological Seminary, History
340.76 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1949 - 1951, Minutes
340.72 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1950, 1957, Independent Board
340.75 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1952 - 1954, Minutes
340.74 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1955 - 1957, Minutes
340.66 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1957 - 1958, Correspondence
340.71 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1958, Independent Board
340.65 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1959 - 1960, Correspondence
340.70 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1959, 1961, Independent Board, undated material
340.79 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1960 - 1963, Minutes and Reports
340.64 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1961, Correspondence
340.69 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1961, History of the Relationship between the Japan Mission and the Japan Christian Theological Seminary
340.61 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1962, Correspondence
340.63 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1962, Correspondence
340.60 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1963, Correspondence
340.78 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1964 - 1966, Minutes and Reports
340.67 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1969 - 1975, Financial Reports
340.73 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1981 - 1984, 1986, Minutes
340.77 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, 1983, 1985 - 1987, Minutes and Correspondence
340.59 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, Constitution
340.62 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, Correspondence
340.68 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, History
340.80 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, Miscellaneous
340.82 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, Statement on Relationships
340.81 — Japan Presbyterian Mission, Statement on the Property Problem caused by Factions in the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
341.23 — MacRae, Allan A., The Millennial Kingdom of Christ
340.04 — Mawhinney, Allen, "Baptism, Servanthood, and Sonship"
340.36 — McIntire, Carl, 1955 - 1956, Correspondence
340.35 — McIntire, Carl, 1957, Correspondence, January - May, 1957
340.34 — McIntire, Carl, 1957, Correspondence, June - December, 1957
340.06 — Merritt, Richard N., "Proposed Presbyterian Confession of 1967, The"
340.24 — Mickelsen, Alvera, How to Write Missionary Letters
340.06 — Miller, Ira, "Crime of the Auburn Affirmation, The"
340.83 — Miscellaneous, undated
340.95 — Mission to the World, 1981 - 1985, Minutes and Reports
340.43 — Mission to the World, 1981 - 1987, Correspondence, Financial Statements [sampling]
340.42 — Mission to the World, 1981, Correspondence
340.41 — Mission to the World, 1982, Correspondence
340.40 — Mission to the World, 1983 - 1984, Correspondence
340.39 — Mission to the World, 1985, Correspondence
340.38 — Mission to the World, 1986 - 1987, Correspondence
341.25 — National Presbyterian Missions, 1954, 1955, Prayer Calendar
340.84 — News Articles
341.10 — Noe, Edward T., 1957, Correspondence
341.26 — Payne, J. Barton, What is a Reformed Presbyterian?, 1974
340.86 — Photographs
341.14 — Photographs
340.88 — Pierce Crusade, 1959 - 1961, Correspondence
340.87 — Pierce Crusade, Articles
340.85 — Rayburn, Robert G., Bunzel, Claude and Lyons, Walter, "Ideological Division within Our Church, The" [paper]
340.44 — Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod - Presbyterian Church in America Transition, undated, Correspondence
340.45 — Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod - Presbyterian Church in America Transition, 1982 - 1983, Correspondence
341.27 — Reid, Allan S., A Divisive Course, 1947
341.02 — Sanderson, John W., "The Menace of Barthianism, The" 1953
341.29 — Shepherd, Jonas E.C., What is a Dedicated Presbyterian?, 1967
340.04 — Smith, Ralph, "The Five Points of Christian Reconstructionist Theology"
341.31 — Soltau, T. Stanley, Lo, I am with You, Always, 1949
341.30 — Soltau, T. Stanley, The Everlasting Gospel, 1946
340.46 — World Presbyterian Missions, 1953, 1962, 1963, 1966, Correspondence
340.11 — World Presbyterian Missions, By-Laws for Foreign Missions Board, Financial Policies and Missionary Manual
341.32 — Wright, J. Elwin, How Modern is the Federal Council?, 1947
341.33 — Young, John M.L., By Foot to China, 1984
341.03 — Young, John M.L., Common Grace Debate in Calvinistic Circles, The, 1957
341.34 — Young, John M.L., Karl Barth's Doctrine of the Trinity, 1962
341.35 — Young, John M.L., Motive and Aim of Missions, The, 1964, Chapters 1, 2 & 4
341.36 — Young, John M.L., Motive and Aim of Missions, The, 1964, Chapters 5, 6 & 7
341.37 — Young, John M.L., Motive and Aim of Missions, The, 1964, Chapters 8, 9 & 10
341.38 — Young, John M.L., Motive and Aim of Missions, The, 1972, Japanese version
340.05 — Young, John M.L., Reformed Debate on Common Grace, The
341.39 — Young, John M.L., The Two Empires, 1961
340.05 — Young, John M.L., Tokyo Christian Theological Seminary, The

Additional Resources-
World Presbyterian Missions Collection:
420.28 — Young, John M.L., The Motive and Aim of Missions, Part 1
420.29 — Young, John M.L., The Motive and Aim of Missions, Part 2
420.30 — Young, John M.L., The Motive and Aim of Missions, Part 3
421.22 — Young, John M.L., Applications, 1961
421.23 — Young, John M.L., "Karl Barth's Doctrine of the Trinity"

W.A. McIlwaine Papers:
479.66 — Young, John M.L., Correspondence, 1960
485.22 — Young, John M.L., Theology of the Nestorian Missionaries in China, 600 - 1000 A.D.

Biographical Sketch:
John Mair Lisgar Young was born on November 7, 1912 in Hamheung, Korea to Luther L. and Catherine F. (Mair) Young, Canadian Presbyterian missionaries. John began his education there in Korea and later moved to Kobe, Japan, where he graduated from the Canadian Academy. He received the degrees of B.A. (1934) and M.A. (1935 from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, doing thesis work in the field of the German Reformation. He then attended Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia from 1935 to 1937, before transferring to Faith Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1938. He was both licensed and ordained to the ministry later that same year.

On May 28, 1938 he married Jean Elder in Toronto, Ontario, and together they served as missionaries in Harbin, Manchuria from 1938 to 1941. From 1942 to 1948 he served as the organizing pastor of the Bible Presbyterian church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The Youngs next moved to Nanking, China to continue their missions work, but were forced to leave China when the communists took over in 1949. A subsequent move to Japan initiated one of his most important periods of ministry. There he served from 1949 until 1966. During this time he helped to plant three churches and was cofounder of the Japan Christian Theological Seminary. At that institution he taught systematic theology and also served as the president of the school from its founding in 1954 until 1966. In that year his wife died of cancer and he returned to the United States with his seven children, arriving to settle in Grand Rapids, MI and work on the Th.M. degree at Calvin Seminary, with thesis work focusing on the topic of Christology. Upon completion of that work, he moved in 1967 to Lookout Mountain, TN to take a position at Covenant College as Missions professor.

On February 8, 1968 he married Jane Brooks, a faculty member in the English department. They remained at Covenant until his retirement in 1981, at which time they returned with their daughter to Japan. Work there continued under the auspices of World Presbyterian Missions, the foreign missions arm of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. Dr. Young served as president of WPM for three years. Two of his sons currently serve as foreign missionaries in Japan.

During his time in Japan, Dr. Young served for fourteen years as the editior of The Bible Times. His first book, The Two Empires in Japan, was first published in 1958. Subsequent editions were brought out in 1959, 1961 and 1987, and the work has been described as "a valuable contribution to an understanding of the situation with which the Japanese Church is confronted today." As a record of church-state conflict, it remains a very pertinent work today. In 1961 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by Covenant College and Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Other publications authored by Dr. Young include a series of ten booklets on The Motive and Aim of Missions and a booklet on Karl Barth's Doctrine of the Trinity, along with numerous articles on missions and covenant theology as the theological basis of missions. Research for his last work, By Foot to China, was begun during the time of his studies in Christology in 1966-1967 as he focused on the history and theology of the Nestorians.