Covenanter Witness Vol. 41 - Reformed Presbyterian Historical ...

22 THE COVENANTER WITNESS July 14, 1948
described in a recent issue of U.E.A. under the title "Latter Day
[Bandwagon"
Religions". They are called "Religion a la as described
Limousine"
by Dr. Clarence Sidenspinner, and "Religion a la as de
editor of U.E.A.
scribed by Dr. De Forest Murch,
Dr. Sidenspinner thus describes the tabernacle service of some of
the more emotional groups:
"The salient features are sex appeal, soothing syrup, money and
noise. Parades, baton twirlers, concession stands,
boogie woogie, converted night club crooners, guest stars,
gospel songs a la
all have
combined to reduce the level of American culture to an all time low."
Dr. Murch, while not condoning
all the actions of this branch of
conservatism, described well the modernistic churches when he says:
"In the department of religious education, the latest pagan philos
ophies are taught to a handful of children. They learn much about
the birds and the bees and a little about a nice man called Jesus.
The corporal's guard of young people talk sex and politics under a
sponsor,
who dropped a cigarette butt at the door. Much time is
spent in announcements about the next Youth Canteen Dance. The
sermon may be a book review, or if religious in character it includes
slurring
remarks about 'slaughterhouse
religion'
and 'mouldy theol
ogy". Occasionally there is emphasis on 'Evangelism'
with pros
pects being told of the clubby atmosphere, the beautiful service, and
the chance to meet the best people. If they have liberal views about
religion and morality
so much the better. It would be a shame to
spoil the fellowship by getting any of those folks, who continually
harp
on 'what the Bible
version, heaven and hell,
says'
or get hot and bothered about con
and other 'old fashioned twaddle.' "
RITUALISM IN CHURCHES
That many churches have lost their contact with God is evidenced
by the fact that they do not like to face sin and its consequences.
Thus they are substituting ritualism for spirituality. More and more
is being
made of Easter and pre-Easter services. Lent is now ob
served by many Protestant churches. Palm-Sunday, Ash-Wednesday,
Maundy-Thursday, Good-Friday are all a part of the pre-Easter
week. The lighted cross occupies a conspicuous place in many Prot
estant churches. Pulpits are being placed at the side of the church
and an improvised altar, with its Bible, candles, communion elements,
and cross is being given the preferable place at the center. Em
phasis is being placed upon two, three or four robed choirs and their
anthems, and the preacher is becoming more and more just a mastei
of ceremonies. The people, all the while, are being moved farther
and farther away from the service. They remain seated through the
prayers, in fact through almost the entire service. They have come
to watch a performance.and that is about as far as it reaches.
The editor of a weekly newspaper wanted to tell his community
about the Easter Cantata that was to foe presented that week ,and
how they needed $500.00 to pay the expenses. He made an appeal for
support in these words:
"It is our claim that the two dozen or so kindhearted individuals
who underwrote the project should not have to pay the fiddler for
the enjoyment of the entire community. This means that Spencer
Hall should be filled to capacity on Palm Sunday night, and when
the plate is passed, there should be plenty
of that noiseless kind of
money dropped into the plate. So, when you arise for the Hallelujah
chorus, the Messiah's seventh inning stretch,
on the old coin
purse."
CHURCH AND STATE
get the zipper undone
But while there may be a dearth of serious thinking in the matter
of religious worship, there has been some very serious thinking in
the matter of the relationship between church and state, and the
state's relationship to Christ.
Concern over this matter started several years ago when our Presi
dent "appointed a man to be his personal ambassador to the Pope.
This concern increased as the Roman Catholic Church began to de
mand that public school busses be required to carry parochial school
scholars to and from school.
Thus there arose among Protestants strong organizations to com-
and can do things. Having visited a number
of the societies, I know whereof I speak, and
having seen your zeal in providing some
special gifts for use in our Mission stations,
I am persuaded that you are a potential force
in our church.
Now you want to know something of
Cyprus and of our work there. The Island
has a population of about 450,000 people
made up mostly of Greeks, Turks and Ar
menians. It has a semi-tropical climate, and
fresh fruits and vegetables may be had from
the gardens any time of the year. There are
beautiful mountains where people of mod
erate means can go to avoid the long and
monotonous summer heat of the plains.
On the east coast of Cyprus is the port of
Famagusta, the only place where ships can
dock. Six miles to the east are the ruins of
ancient Salamis. Along the coast to the
south lie Larnaca, then Limassol where small
boats take passengers out to the steamships.
Farther west lies the ancient village of
Paphos with the modern town of Ktima a
mile inward. On the north coast is the pretty
little town of Kyrenia having the beautiful
Kyrenia hills as its background. Inland
towns include the capital, Nicosia, and while
this is the only so-called town, there are large
villages such as, Morphou, Lefka, Pedoulas
and Lefkara. There are a few small rivers, so
they ate called, but they are usually dry all
summer. In the mountains one may find a
number of streams rushing down the moun
tain side all summer. These make lovely
picnic spots.
In Nicosia our church has a school for
girls where about 300 are enrolled. This
school has a Kindergarten and Elementary
school for boys and girls between the ages
of five and twelve. Above that only girls are
accepted. Regular school subjects are taught
but the Bible is included every day among
these lessons. Of course we do not accomplish
as much as we would like to, but there are
some results and it is up to all of you Juniors
and every one in our church to pray that the
Lord will bless the seed sown so that Satan
will be kept from sowing weeds. We do thank
God that reports from our recent annual week
of evangelistic meetings show that a number
of boys and a few girls had come out on the
Lord's side. Now we must pray that they will
"grow in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"-
Our church has a school for boys in
Larnaca. There is not such a large Elementary
school there, but the other departments are
larger and they have a few girls in their
school of over 400 pupils. In both Larnaca and
Nicosia there are organized
congregations of
our church, and the boarding students, that
is the ones who live in the school all during
the school year, go to Sabbath School and
church every Sabbath.
Most of our students come from the towns
and villages of Cyprus, but we do have quite
a number from outside the Island too. Dur-