Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev. L. E. Kilpatrick, D. D.1031 E. Glenrosa AvenuePhoenix, Arizona 85014LABELS!Craig Brown, 18, clean-shaven, neatly dressed,walked into a jewelry store in Sacramento and asked aboutpurchase of a ring, was treated courteously and assuredcredit could be arranged. The next day, bearded, bleachedoutpants, beads and all, he entered the same store, and wasfirst ignored, then lectured. He was refused service in tworestaurants, and was told in a bank, where he applied for abusiness loan, to get his shop going first, then apply and hisrequest would be considered. The following day he went intothe bank "straight" and made the same application, listingthe same assets and plans and he was assured that the loancould be arranged. He walked out into the street and tried tobuy'an "underground newspaper" for 25 cents, as he sawone sold for that just ahead of him, but he had to pay 50cents. He said his overall reaction was one of disappointmentin his fellow humans.Maybe we'd like to have our world all in order, neatlylabeled, Scout's honor bona fide. There was once a sect ofNazarenes, later called Christians, which name hasremained, in spite of many interlopers and counterfeits, aname of honor. Labels are not only handy but necessary, inspite of some difficulties with people who infiltrate anddebase what is good — and some who applaud and glamorizewhat is bad.A HUMANIST FUNERAL SERVICEThe National Funeral Directors Association, meetingin Scottsdale, Arizona, was told that "the funeral is for themourners,'' and in a nation where half the population has nomeaningful relation to any religious organization, some kindof appropriate service should be provided; so said the Rev.Paul Irion, professor of pastoral theology of the UnitedChurch of Christ seminary in Lancaster. Perhaps he has apoint, at least to the extent that a Christian service shouldnot be borrowed and used for 20 minutes by unbelievers.ACLU OFFERS McINTIRE HELP AT SANCLEMENTEThe city council denied the request of Carl Mclntirefor permission to hold a public rally in Plaza Park, January30, according to EP. Councilman Thomas O'Keefe voted togrant the request, emphasizing that he didn't agree with the"right-wing, super-patriotic views" of Mclntire, but thathe had a right to be heard. The South Orange Coastrepresentative of the American Civil Liberties Union warnedthat public use of the park has been established, and that ifthe request were denied he would offer Mclntire the servicesof the ACLU, though he too, would be among dissenterstoward Carl Mclntire's views. There is no word as of thiswriting as to Dr. Mclntire's response to ACLU's offer.MISSIONARY COUPLE, DAUGHTER ARE KILLEDThe Rev. and Mrs. Robert M. Lytton, missionaries ofthe Presbyterian Church (U.S.) since 1961 in SouthAmerica, were killed, along with their 18-year olddaughter, Amy, when their plane, piloted by Mr. Lytton,crashed on a flight from Santiago, Chile, to Western Brazil.A 14-year old son, Major, is in "fair condition" in aSantiago hospital.THE EXPERTS AND AMERICAN MORALSPerhaps by being selective of which expert to trust,one might find comfort in U.S. News and World Report'sreport on "American Morals," whatever his own views onthe subject. Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck, a husband and wiferesearch team at Harvard Law School, while quite critical ofthe report of the President's Commission on pornography,yet say, "We find one aspect of the commission's majorityfindings to be good: the recommendation for a massiveprogram of sex education." Ernest van den Haag, lecturer insociology and psychology at the New School for SocialResearch in New York City, a practicing psychoanalyst,says, ' T think sex education is one of the most stupid racketsI can imagine. . .There is no such thing as many sexeducators believe, as 'sound, healthy sex' vs 'unsound,unhealthy sex'; there are emotionally healthy and unhealthypersons." Two other "experts" are cited in U.S. News &World Report's article on "American Morals," one amember of the Commission, the other the executive directorof the Commission. Both appear to defend the commissionmajority's recommendation for a loosening of laws againstpornography.HIS PURPOSEDid you think that life would be all credit and no loss?Did you think you would escape the bearing of a cross?Did you hope for easy paths and roses all the way?Did you dream that every dawn would bring a perfect day?Life is not like that at all. We are not meant to beSafe and happy all the time, just living peacefully—Never being made to think, to suffer or to fight.If the darkness never came, we'd never see the light.Life's a blend of joy and sorrow. Thank God this is so.If we never had a care, the soul would never grow.We're not put into this world mere pleasure to pursue-But to do the work that He intended us to do.— Patience Strong