Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

News Notes from Syria
By Chester T. Hutcheson
Dear readers of the Witness;
Spring is on us with a jump this
year, with a hot desert wind the first
two days of April.
Schools are going along rather evenly
and three-fourths gone for the year.
We had only two strikes this year,
losing a total of six days of school.
Public schools have lost more.
Next week we expect to send two
teachers and six students to the Chris
tian Young People's conference in Alep
po, Syria. We are very thankful that
these conferences have taken a very
evangelistic viewpoint and interest for
the last few years. Pray that much
spiritual good will come of the con
ference for the Protestant youth of the
land. Miss McClurkin is to be one of the
leaders.
During the last week of May there
is to be a conference of all Protestant
missions and native Protestant churches
in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.
Mrs. Hutcheson is privileged to be our
delegate. Pray that this also may be
blessed richly from above.
When foreign countries have colonies,
one sometimes hears that the minority
groups do not get a fair deal. It is
generally conceded that when the for
eign government left and native govern
ments took over, these minorities often
got less fair treatment. Here is one in
stance of how our converts are being
vexed. When they want to register a
new baby, if the name does not sound
Arab enough to the registering of
ficials, they say they
cannot accept that
name, and tell them they must choose
a more Arabized name; that that is too
foreign. Then they put them off, and
put them off many times, trying to wear
them down, so to speak. Eventually
after some weeks or months the par
ents can usually get their children regis
tered under the name they want; but not
without a struggle and many perplex
ities. Even adult Christians from other
countries have been asked to change
their names when they wanted to be
nationalized. But I don't know of any
that just had to, or did. Pray that our
people may show the right spirit and
perseverance in such cases.
Our church young folks group has
been reorganized this winter and is
very active, having weekly meetings
with a social every third week. They
are a large group. They have their own
officers, and committees and seem to be
functioning nicely. The pastor does not
attend except when invited, but of
course is always ready to give advice,
and is often consulted. The society is
actively using a vacant lot near the
church for such games as tennis and
volley ball. These days, it is patronized
from sun-up till school begins;
from 4 P.M. till sundown.
then
We have recently received new Arabic
Psalm books with all the psalms. We
have been using only selections for the
last 15 years or so. Each Sabbath
evening now for about six weeks we
have had an hour's psalm singing to
learn the new tunes, and have used
them the past two Sabbaths in church
quite satisfactorily.
The Junior society of the church,
sponsored by the Ladies Society of the
church is meeting a hearty response
among the children each
forthright, with
an attendance around 50.
We trust we are doing your bidding
to a great measure, and that of our
Lord and Saviour,
as His human repre
sentatives here in our group.
Some 270 students will receive diplo
mas at the Moody Bible Institute 1955
commencement, June 10. This is the
largest graduating class ever to go out
from the famous old school in Chicago.
Sixteen evening school students also will
receive certificates. Since it was estab
lished 69 years ago, the Institute has
trained some 58,000 men and women for
Christian service.
COVENANT JULY
HEIGHTS
J I i$si
IAIN SPEAK^S
^Rev. W