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

34 THE COVENANTER WITNESS July 21, 1948
QlUnpA&i oJf Ute (leliCfiauA Wosdd
Frank E. Allen, D. D.
Navy Bans Secret Societies
The Christian Cynosure, quoting the New York Daily
News says: "The Navy today ordered an end to the
'Green Bowl,'
historic secret society at the Naval Acad
emy at Annapolis, but denied that the 40-year-old or
self-help
clique designed to get its members choice jobs.
ganization had ever been a 'vicious'
officers'
It also ordered the superintendent at Annapolis to
prevent other secret societies from developing.
Charges that the Green Bowl was a 'vicious
clique'
officers'
were made by Capt. John G. Crommelin, former
commander of the aircraft carrier Saipan, before a
House committee last July 1.
Even though the Navy would not admit the validity of
the charges made by Capt. Crommelin we have reason
to believe that they were true. The fact that the Super
intendent at Annapolis was ordered to prevent other
secret societies from developing is one indication that
the naval authorities really believe the charges. When
in an Army camp during World War I a very capable,
diligent and trustworthy private told, us that men who
were Masons had a much better opportunity of being
advanced. The Masons were holding a meeting among
the officers in the camp
surprise that the Army
at that time. We expressed
would permit an outside organi
zation to hold a meeting which would include only part
of the officers. We were told in reply that they were
all Masons.
Lutherans Refuse World Council
The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lutheran
Free Church have declined to affiliate with the World
Council of Churches. A Lutheran minister said concern
ing this: "Any
approach to true unity must rest on a
sound confessional basis. We want to cooperate, but not
to compromise our faith."
Union Of Presbyterians Postponed
The Presbyterian Church in the U. S. (Southern),
which has been seriously divided over the issue of unit
ing with the Northern Presbyterians, voted unanimously
in their General Assembly to postpone a vote on the
proposal for five years.
The Anti-Japanese Mania
According to an editorial in the Des Moines Register,
There is no longer an organized anti-Japanese, anti-
Nisei movement in the United States. The mass evacua
tion of persons of Japanese descent from the Pacific
coast in 1942 is a shameful page in our history, without
precedent and we hope without sequel. The reason for
it heeded even by many
persons of good will was fear
of sabotage and espionage. In contrast, there was no mass
evacuation from Hawaii,
Japanese descent make up
where the 168,000 persons of
one-third of the population
and where there was much more opportunity for sabo
tage and spying.
THE COVENANTER WITNESS :
The difference is explainable chiefly by the fact that
Hawaii has no history of organized racism. On the Pa
cific coast, on the other agitation hand, against those of
Japanese extraction had two roots one in racism, ap
pealing both to domestic and racial snobbery and to fear
of Japan; and the other in economics and politics.
Two main reasons are given for the collapse of the
'yellow
peril'
movement. The first is the loyal wartime
record of Japanese Americans. Not one of the 110,000
persons of Japanese ancestry
evacuated from the Pacific
coast in 1942 has been charged with espionage. The
group heroism of the 442nd Combat Team and the in
dividual deeds of the Nisei like Ben Kuroki and Frank
Hachiya have won world renown. The second major rea
son is the surrender of Japan, marking the end of the
threat of Japanese empire.
Bills were introduced in the last session of congress
to remove race restrictions from the naturalization law.
The editor states that this should be one of the earliest
acts of the next congress, particularly to make amends
to Americans of Japanese ancestery and partly to show
our appreciation, but mainly to erase a long-standing
blot on the democratic tradition.
Christians should remember the lessons that come
from this and other anti-non-white-racial movements
and not be carried away
with them. Jesus used the so-
called Good Samaritan to teach us lessons of neighborli-
ness, kindness, helpfulness, in other words the Christian
attitude toward men of an unpopular, disliked race.
Socialized Medicine In Britain
On July 5, socialized medicine began to function in
Britain. Every Englishman can get the services of a
doctor free of charge. Men can still choose their own
doctors but the fees will be paid by the government.
Doctors will be free to join the government services, on
a salary plus fees per patient, or stay out. But in the
new doctors must join the service for at least
future,
three years before they
are free to choose. Doctors will
not be permitted to move about the country freely as
they choose. They
will have to get permission from a
central committee which will decide which communities
need doctors. Is this coming nearer Jesus' example and
ideal of healing bodily
ailments? Here is a problem for
Christians to study. We in America are facing a similar
issue. Will the government pay for or subsidize the ed
ucation of medical students? This is not all as simple as
it may sound. Many
serious problems will arise. The
main one from the standpoint of the people will likely
be that they will have difficulty in getting
satisfactory service from many doctors.
Beauty Contestants Under Ban
prompt and
The Roman Catholic Bishop, J. J. Swint, of the Wheel
ing, W. Va., diocese, who announced that he would ex
communicate any Catholic girl who takes part in a beauty
(Please turn to page 36)
Published each Wednesday by the Reformed Presbyterian
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