Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Glimpses of the Religious WorldFrank E. Allen. D. D.Mariolotry and Catholic PowerOn Marian Day in Detroit 100,000 Catholics gatheredfor the worship of the Virgin Mary. A Russian Christian, Mr.N. Ivanov, was so moved when he saw the city given toMariolotry that he paid for a five column advertisement inthe Detroit News, Michigan's largest daily, to answer inScripture language the false teaching concerning Mary andto present the true worship of God. It was entitled, "Doesour Bible teach the worship of Mary?" (Free reprints ofthis may be had from N. Ivanov, P. O. Box 116, North EndStation, Detroit 2, Mich.).This advertisement was accepted by the Church Sectioneditor at regular rates, yet as soon as the first, small edition was placed on newsstands,so much pressure wasbrought to bear on the News management that it was stricken out of the later larger edition and the check returnedto the advertiser. A Knights of Columbus advertisement mayappear in this or other papers, but when an answer toCatholic Mariolatry appears, largely in Scriptural language,the Catholic hierarchy demands its elimination and it ispromptly granted.The Gospel in South AmericaSouth America is considered a stronghold of RomanCatholicism. Yet the Gospel, through missionaries and evangelists is penetrating the nations there. Mr. Ernest Gordonquotes Mr. N. Lewis who tells of large evangelistic meetingsin Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. He says: "T. H.Hicks from the U. S. A. began healing meetings in a footballstadium in Buenos Aires. He offers salvation by gracethrough faith to all who believe. He offers healingon thesame wide basis. I consider him mistaken in his extremedoctrine of healing but report the extraordinary happenings."Crowds grew until 100,000 persons filled and overflowed the stadium. This attendance has continued. Results?Thousands upon thousands of people who had the mosterroneous ideas about evangelical Christians are hearingthe Gospel. They are finding to their great surprise thatevangelicals worship God and His Son, the Lord Jesus."Up to now, 20,000 Spanish Bibles have been put into thehands of eager people. This has exhausted the supply ofBibles in Argentina. We would like to bring a planeloadfrom New York. Nothing like this distribution of Scripturehas happened before in Argentina."It truly seems God's hour has struck for South America. We cannot keep up with literature opportunities. Doorsare open for the translation, printingand distribution ofLa Voz, Supplemento, and evangelical books, beyond mywildest dreams of two years ago."Peru and MexicoDr. Hyman Appelman has been conducting meetingswhich drew large crowds in some countries of the South.Peru has asked for a month of his time and Argentina fortwo months in 1955. Honduras and San Salvador have senturgent invitations to him.When Dr. Appelman was conducting meetings in MexicoCity great crowds attended and the campaign leader saidthe greatest difficulty was to find sufficiently large halls.Therefore, when they asked Mr. Appelman to return in 1955,162a groupof leaders, including General N. Medina and twoother officers of the General Staff, along with Mr. Sanchez,pastor of Mexico's largest Protestant church, promised tohave large tabernacles constructed in all the major Mexicancities.Synagogues in Tel AvivWhen Tel Aviv was laid out fortyyears ago no planwas included for a synogogue. Now there are 400 synagogues in that city alone and 2,000 in Israel.For some thirtyMosques in Turkeyyears past the reformed governmentof Turkey was mainly hostile to religion. But there hasbeen a revival of Mohammedanism until now there are 6,000major mosques in that land, an increase of over a thousandin three years. Even these are not sufficient to house theMoslem worshipers on Fridays when many thousands prayon the streets for lack of space in the mosque.APersecution in Portugalreturned missionary tells of hearing missionarieslately of Portugal speaking in Paris, when they said thatthey have been forced out of Portugal and are not allowedto re-enter as yet. They affirm that the people are readyand anxious to hear the gospel, but the government which isCatholic controlled, tries to suppress the gospel and gospelmessengers. The missionaries are waiting and hoping to beallowed to return. What a weight of guilt rests on a government which refuses to allow God's messengers to enter itsborders !Growth in AbyssiniaSome years ago the Sudan Interior Mission had gathereda few converts in Southern Abyssinia. But when the Italianinvasion came in 1936 the Fascists tried to suppress all(Continued on page 166)THE COVENANTER WITNESSIssued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of theREFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHOP NORTH AMERICAat 129 West $th Street, Newton, Kansas orthrough its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue. Topeka,Kansastopromote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and LifeFor individuals, churches and nationsOpinions 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., Editor1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka KansasContributing EditorsFrank E. Allen, D.D.Prof. William H. RussellWalter McCarroll, D.D.Remo I. Robb, D.D.Departmental EditorsRev. John O. EdgarMrs. J. O. EdgarMrs. Koss LatimerSubscription rates: $2.50 per year; Overseas, $3.00 : Single Copies-10 cents.The Rev. R. B. Lyons, B.A., Limavady, N. Ireland, Agent for theBritish Isles.Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton, Kansasunder the Act of March S, 1879.Address communications to the Topeka office.COVENANTER WITNESS