Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

affirm"
requirement,"
Glimpses of the Religious World
Frank E. Allen, D. D.
The items in this issue, owing to special circumstances,
are taken directly from other papers.
Missionaries in India
The growing impression in this country that India has
no place for Christian missionaries from the U.S. is a false
one, mission leaders meeting in New York were told last
week. The door is open, and large numbers of American
missionaries are freely carrying on their ministry of preach
ing, healing, and service. During 1953 and 1954, the Indian
government granted 89%% of all requests for visas by U.S.
mission boards, a total of 399 persons. The report, based on
a recently completed survey of 20 U.S. mission boards with
work in India, was presented at the annual meeting of the
South Asia Committee of the National Council of Churches
by the Rev. A. Russell Stevenson, executive director of the
Council's Office for Southern Asia and the Near East. Dur
ing the same period, the Indian government refused only
49 visa applications.
University of Japan
George Togasaki, president of the Board of Trustees of
Internationa] Christian Union University, Japan, and presi
dent of the Nippon Times, Ltd., Tokyo, is paying a visit
to this country. He was introduced by Dr. Stanley I. Stuber
to a group of religious editors at a luncheon in the ICU
head office in New York. Mr. Togasaki reported the Uni
versity as rapidly developing. Its incoming class will number
167 picked students who come from all parts of the country.
One third of the students are women. The students volun
tarily maintain two Bible classes a week as part of student
activity. The school has a campus of 296 acres.
Various Sects in France
Since World War II, some thirty new religious denom
inations have sprung up in France. These sects have
arisen largely on an anticlerical basis, as in Italy. The
predominant, monopolistic Roman Catholic Church in France
is resented by numerous elements of the population, largely
among the working classes. An attempt by that church to
stem this tide of alienation and even opposition was made
by the use of labor-priests in industry, but this turned out
to be dangerous for the ecclesiastical powers, because the
disaffection of the masses infected the loyalty and obe
dience of the priests. When ordered to stop their labor ac
tivities, some of the young priests refused, and the church
does not tolerate disobedience in the priesthood. The social
unrest coupled with a deep desire for full religious freedom
among the masses has created the opportunity for promot
ers of various religious sects to propagate. This has resulted
in a warning being issued by the Roman hierarchy to their
church people of "the grave danger which threatens their
faith .
. .
"Evidently,
evangelicals in France are making
some headway in awakening the people.
Court Decision on the Oath
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that wit
nesses with religious scruples against oath-taking do not
need to make more than a simple affirmation that they will
tell the truth. It reversed the conviction of Perry Bowen
Moore, of Sullivan, 111.,
who received a 2-year sentence
on charges of draft evasion and ordered that he receive a
290
new trial. Moore claimed religious objections to military
service. The opinion, which was unanimous, held that Fed
eral Judge William Campbell,
of Chicago, 111., erred in re
fusing to let Moore take the stand in his own defense, as
well as other defense witnesses who refused to swear the
usual oath or to "solemnly
truth. "There is no
that they would tell the
the high court said,
"that the word 'solemnly' be used in the affirmation, and
the judgment of conviction is therefore reversed and the
case is remanded for a new trial."
Worship in Egyptian Camp
For the first time, an Egyptian military camp
will have
a Christian place of worship. A Coptic Orthodox church
will be constructed soon in the huge Abbassia barracks
near Cairo for Egyptian soldiers of the Christian faith sta
tioned there.
Graham Invited to Norway
American Evangelist Billy Graham has been officially
invited to visit Norway by Bishop Johannes Smemo of
Oslo, Primate of Norway and his predecessor Bishop Eivind
Berggrav. The action virtually assures plans for the evan
gelist to stage a 5- to 6-day campaign in Norway next
June, since Dr. Graham earlier had indicated his willingness
to come to this country if all of its churches participated
in the invitation. A committee appointed by the Evangelical
Alliance, representing most of Norway's free churches, has
been working for some time on plans for a Norwegian cru
sade by
the American preacher. Committee officials said
that, since Oslo had no indoor auditorium large enough to
handle the anticipated crowds, the rally probably will be
held at the Bislet sports arena, which can accommodate
up to 30,000.
Congregation Supports 325 Missionaries
Dr. Oswald J. Smith celebrated his 25th anniversary
as pastor of the People's church, Toronto, Canada, March
(Continued on page 298)
THE COVENANTER WITNESS
Issued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of the
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NORTH AMERICA
at 129 West 6th Street, Newton, Kansas or
through its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka. Kansas.
to promote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and Life
For individuals, churches and nations
Opinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writers :;
not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.
Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor
1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka Kansas
Contributing Editors
Frank E. Allen, D.D.
Prof. William H. Russell
Walter McCarroll. D.D.
Remo I. Robb. D.D.
Departmental Editors
Rev. John O. Edgar
Mrs. J. O. Edgar
Mrs. Ross Latimer
Subscription rates: 12.50 per year; Overseas. J3.00 ; Single Copiee
10 cents.
The Rev. R. B. Lyons, B.A.. Limavady, X. Ireland, Agent for the
British Isles.
Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton, Kansa^
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Address communications to the Topeka office.
COVENANTER WITNESS