August 22.

Elizabeth McIntyre's comments on Professor Carroll's article on

Professor William Barclay (August 22) call for a response.

It seems unfair to take him to task for not having the physique of

Linford Christie or the looks of Mel Gibson.

The New Testament teaches that our bodies are a gift from God and are

to be treated as such, being temples of the Holy Spirit.

This means, in my opinion, that they are not to be weakened with

cigarettes and alcohol in the style of Professor Barclay or trained for

personal gain in the style of Linford Christie. They are to be kept

clean, fit, and healthy and used for the glory of God.

With regard to the student meeting in the GU Union, I can make no

comment, not having been there. So far as answering questions in class,

Profesor Barclay often changed his ground, which sometimes made it

difficult to know what he believed.

As to the good things of life, it is surely possible to enjoy them

without becoming grossly overweight. St Paul believed in self-control

and in keeping his body in subjection.

Certainly Professor Barclay was a kindly man, yet he could use his

influence unfairly. I well remember hearing of his claim to guarantee

that a certain student would have a church within a stated period.

No-one surely has the right to exert such an influence on a vacancy

committee.

Rev. W. J. McMillan,

7 Leven Place,

Linburn.