Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

wrought"
about."
Glimpses of the Religious World
Frank E. Allen, D. D.
Luther Film Banned
The Board of Review for Motion Pictures of the Philip
pine Islands has banned the Martin Luther film. However,
in order to ease the ban somewhat, President Magsaysay
has authorized the showing of the film in Protestant church
buildings. The chairman of the Board of Review, in an
effort to justify the board's action, said: "The flim glorifies
one religion at the expense of another."
No Bible Credits in Arizona
The Superintendent of Public Instruction in Arizona
asked: "May a (public) high school give credit to pupils for
classes that are non-denominational in nature but deal only
with historical aspects of the Bible" The State Attorney
General answered this question in the negative and claimed
that his ruling was based on the constitution of Arizona.
shoulder on the concrete terraces as is the custom of Brit
ish soccer fans. The total number of decisions for Christ
throughout the Crusade was 52,253. The total attendance at
crusade meetings and relay
services was 2,647,365.
Mr. Graham is scheduled to hold meetings this summer
in France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Norway and
Sweden. Interpreters in five languages are now
being
chosen. George Beverly Shea has begun learning solos in
five languages.
If we had been told a few years ago that in this year
there would be
held evangelistic meetings which would
reach hundreds of thousands and even millions we would
have thought the suggestion unbelievable. "What hath God
Mr. Graham said that, "whoever described the Scottish
people as 'dour' did not know what he was talking
Niemoeller Resigns
Pastor Martin Niemoeller has notified the German
Evangelical church leaders that he is resigning from all
duties in the church's governing organization. He stated
that he was doing this. because of criticism of his work by
the General Synod of Protestant Churches which was re
cently meeting in Weimar, East Germany. Niemoeller has
actively opposed West German rearmament. Protestant
authorities said that their criticism referred mainly to the
pastor's handling of administrative matters.
Broadcasting in Korea
Early in May a missionary, Tom Watson, flew from the
U.S.A. to South Korea to acquire property for a new radio
station. Cash and pledges have been received for one third
of the amount needed to construct the new broadcasting
station. It is to be a 20,000 watt station and is intended to
broadcast the gospel behind the bamboo curtain to China,
Manchuria, Siberia, Mongolia and North Korea in the lan
guages of those lands. It is two years since Mr. Watson be
gan to negotiate with the Syngman Rhee government to
secure a license for this project.
Mennonite Gains Citizenship
Complying with an order of the U. S. Supreme Court
in February 1954, the Superior Court of Fresno, California,
has granted citizenship to Mr. Arthur Jost, Mennonite of
Reedley, California. This is the end of a legal battle which
has been going on for three years. It is said to be the first
application for citizenship contested under the McCarran
Act of 1950 to be granted.
Mr. Jost's earlier applications had been rejected because
he refused on religious grounds to agree to bear arms for
his country. In the oath asked of him he was required to
swear to support the Constitution, but no reference was
made in it to bear arms or do non-combatant work in the
case of a national emergency. He is a native of Canada and
a member of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. He
served four years during World War II as a conscientious
objector in civilian forestry camps and hospitals.
DeShazer in U.S.A.
A well-known missionary in Japan, Jacob DeShazer,
former Doolittle bombbardier, is now in the U. S. on fur
lough and to hold a series of meetings. He expects, later, to
enter Asbury Theological Seminary
Graham Meetings in Scotland
for advanced study.
The largest attendance records in the history of Billy
Graham's evangelistic ministry were broken on April 30, the
closing day of the Scotland Crusade, when 113,000 crowded
into Hampden Stadium. Only 14,000 of the great crowd had
seats. The greater part of the crowd stood shoulder to
338
Romanism in Argentina
Those who are acquainted with the problem of the
Peron regime as over against the Roman Catholic Church
believe that there will be a separation of church and state
in Argentina. There is an intense campaign going on led by
the pro-Peron newspapers for a constitutional change dis
establishing the Catholic Church. (Later, this separation
has now been affected by an overwhelming vote. Editor.)
Waldensian Celebration
The Waldensian church celebrated the 100th anniver
sary of the establishment in Rome of the Waldensian
Theological College, which is the oldest seminary in Italy
for the training of Protestant pastors. The Waldensian
church did not obtain religious and political recognition in
Italy until 1848, though it is the oldest and largest non-
Catholic group in that country. The Waldensian church is
named after Pietro Waldo, who was once a rich merchant of
Lyons, but who in 1170 gave up his possessions and began
the itinerant work of a minister.
Would Ban Liquor Ads
The House of Representatives of Maine has voted by a
majority of 90-17 to ask Congress to forbid all liquor adver
tising
on TV and radio. One of those who promoted this ac
tion stated that "liquor advertising is bringing the saloon
atmosphere into the home."
(Continued on page 345)
COVENANTER WITNESS