Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

News From CyprusC. C. CHRISTOUMarch 3, 1971The BILL about the private schools, which wasunder debate in the House of Representatives, at lastbecame LAW, and was published in the official Gazette ofthe Republic of Cyprus, on February 26, 1971. I have itbefore me. It has 29 Articles and one Schedule at the end,which lists all the foreign schools (the AmericanAcademies are included) exempting them from makingnew application for permission to function under the newLaw.All private schools are required, within threemonths of the date of the publication of the Law, toconform to all the provisions contained in it. In certaincases, where complete compliance is impossible, theDirector of Education can grant extension, but not afterthe first of September, 1971.The Article in connection with religious teachingreads as follows:(Translation)"In any private school the use of physical or moralcompulsion to the end that the student be compelled tochange his religion or prevented to change it is prohibited.And for this purpose the compulsory teaching of religionor doctrine different from that to which the studentbelongs is not allowed."For the purposes of the present clause, the term"moral compulsion" includes any penetration or attemptto penetrate with intention of changing its contentsthrough means deceitful, or through abuse of inexperience,or confidence, or exploitation of his spiritual orbodily incapacity."Non-conformity imposes on the guilty person heavyfines and the school upon the order of the Court may beclosed.There are other provisions which interfere with thepresent setup of the academies, e.g. matters of discipline,administration, qualifications of teachers, curriculum, etc.The Governing Body asked me to seek an interpretationof it, from a lawyer, without delay. In all this,however, we must admit that the Law, as a whole, is verygood, for it seeks to protect education, to raise thestandards, and safeguard the schools from becomingcenters for commercial gain.This is high time for united prayer by the Church'hat God's will may be done.Other things are happening, but I do not feelcompetent at this time to say anything.MARCH 17, 1971Rev. W MilroyFidelity To Vows" — It has been said, and we think truly said, that thehigh church in England and the high church in Scotlandare 'sappers and miners for the Church of Rome!" withequal truth we may add, popish prelacy, the high churchin America, is a sapper and miner for the Church of Rome.And what are the purposes of the Church of Rome here?A distinguished Romish priest of New York revealed themwhen he said, in a lecture recently delivered in the city ofDetroit: 'Catholicism rules the city of New York with fiftythousand majority. And the question is not now, will theCatholics ever rule America? but, how soon? The policyadopted to secure their contemplated end — the end ofwhich they are now. and with reason, so boastfullyconfident — is Jesuitical, artful, and insidious. Have wnot been forewarned of it? Has it not been intimated to usin the word of infallible truth, that as there were falseprophets among the people of Israel of old. so 'there shallhe false teachers among you. who privily shall bring indamnable heresies: and whose coming is 'with alldeceivab/eness of unrighteousness.' beguiling unstablesouls? Have we not been informed that 'many shall followtheir pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truthshall be evil spoken of?'II Peter 2:1, 14 — "But there were false prophetsalso among the people, even as there shall be falseteachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnableheresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, andbring upon themsebes swift destruction.Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot ceasefrom sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they haveexercised with covetous practices; cursed children:"II Thessalonians 2:10 — "And with alldeceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;because they received not the love of the truth, that theymight be saved.""Is it not high time the friends of religion and truthwere taking alarm? were forecasting the future'.' werepreparing for defence, seizing again those weapons thatha\e been proved, and found so effective in the past? Is itnot highly proper, now that danger threatens, that truth isimperiled, that the enemy is coming in like a flood; is itnot. I say. highly proper that we, directed by the exampleof our worthy covenant ancestors, and animated bv theeminent success that crowned their efforts, should againdisplay the banner, as of old. that we should gather for itssupport, and for the defence of liberty. ci\il and religious.blended in unity, and bound together as one man hy theoath of God.' —"Memorial Volume published by order of Synod in LS~2.3