Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

year."also"The Use of the ExplanatoryDeclaration to Be LimitedFor the Oath CommitteeNo report with reference to the Oath was adoptedby the last meeting of the Synod. The action recordedin the 1953 Minutes is as follows : (page .117)"The majority and minority reports of the OathCommittee and the report of the Testimony was referred to the Committee on the Oath to report nextThe committee on the Oath has been faced withan honest difference of opinion concerning the extentof the use of the Explanatory Declaration. The members of the committee feel that there is also a difference of opinion on the part of the Synod with respectto this phase of the Oath and the use of the Explanatory Declaration. There has been general agreement that the original purpose of the ExplanatoryDeclaration was to get a test case before the U. S.Civil Courts. Political office was included as one ofthe possible fields for such a test. (See Minutes 1937,1939, 1940).However, when the question was raised as towhether the use of the Explanatory Declaration wasto be used for any or all political offices, this raisedserious question as to the effect of such activity upon the position of the church with respect to politicaldissent.We agree with this committee's report that anindiscriminate use of the Explanatory Declaration inseeking political office would tend to vitiate ourtestimony as a church to the Crown Rights of Christover the nation. However, we feel that there mightbe a valid reason for using a test case, if one becomesavailable in that area termed "political." For this reason, political office was originally included as one ofthe possible fields for a test case.The Exlanatory Declaration should be used withcare. In cases where it involves officers, popularlyelected, who have agreed that if elected they willuse the Explanatory Declaration we believe discriminative care is needed.1. Because the fact of their promise will notbe known by all the voters.2. That in case they so agreed it is not knownwhether they will be permitted to acceptoffice.3. That the public does not know the voter isvoting only for that officer, or others taking a similar position,and not for otherofficers.4. That this practice would tend to neutralize our position on political dissent.Therefore, we would advise that except forcases that are to be test cases, Covenanters do notavail themselves of their right of the elective franchise. The use of the Explanatory Declaration doesnot affect the tradition and practice of the churchwith respect to referenda.We recommend:1. That this Synod reaffirm the action of theSynod of 1946 : that "we do not advocate the use ofthe Explanatory Declaration in seeking political office unless in cooperation with the purpose of thecase."committee to get a testSeptember 15, 1954witness.2. That this report be printed in the CovenanterR. H. Martin, Chm.D. H. ElliottC. T. CarsonS. Bruce WillsonHello Everyone:Tithers CornerBy Delber H. ElliottMars, Pa.H. L. SmithR. W. CaskeyC. M. LeeThis is Station TTTH, broadcasting as a publicservice from Mars to earth in the interest of Christian giving. Tune in each week to this same spot onyour dial. Federal communications at Topeka, Kansas, will tell us when they and you have had enough.A not unusual thing has happened. Synod reported that the asked for budget fell short by 8,500dollars. So the work of the church has to be sheareddown to the size of the where-with-all.Why does this have to be? To tell the plaintruth, it doesn't. The church's tithe would have carried all of our work, home and abroad, by a handsomemargin, the answer is MORE TITHERS!If the tithe principle is right; if the Scripturesreveal this as God's plan for financing His church;if we believe God's promise that He will pour us outa blessing if we do it, why should we hesitate to urgeour people to "abound in this grace ?Another thing, more hopeful, happened at Grinnell. Dr. George S. Coleman announced a meeting attwo o'clock Sabbath p.m. (naptime) for those interested in promoting the tithe in their congregations. Iwent expecting to find a dozen or so willing to sandwich in an added meeting among all the others scheduled for that busy day. But lo ! The place was packedwith folks from many congregations who crowded upto sign the following promise :"I will make a special effort to help thecampaign this year for more tithers amongCovenanters."Guess how many congregations and missionfields are represented by the signers of that paper!Guess again! The answer is 44. I know for I havejust counted them. If you are interested further, thetotal names signed to that paper is 86, 15 of whomare pastors. If Dr. Coleman, who sparked this meeting and worded that promise, hadn't forgotten to puthis own name down, there would have been 87. 1 stillthink he is in favor of it. (Don't feel badly, Dr. Coleman, I can't find mine there either. It is on therenow.) We therefore announce the number as 88. 88willing workers, with the help of God, should speedus on our way.Since I have been drafted as chairman of theStewardship Committee along with Rev. NormanCarson and Elder Fenton R. Farley, we earnestlysolicit the united support of the entire church in aventure so vital to her future success.Were do we go from here?Tune in next weeksame station!P.S. Dr. Taggart has generously consented to grantus one display page each month in the CovenanterWitness together with space each week for a"Tither's Corner" in the interest of this undertaking.167