Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

membership"arms'standards?"wise."red."again,"cohol."evil"cause."Open LettersTo the Editor of Christian Union Herald:It was with considerable surprise thatI read the item captioned "CovenantersSeek Union" in The Observation Post inyour issue of October 3, 1954. As thechairman of the committee of the Covenanter Synod which submitted the report on church union which was adoptedby the Synod, I know what the committeethought as well as what the Synod decided. The matter of "recurring net lossesin church(which The Observation Post mentions as the reason forthe Synod's action) was not consideredby the committee, was not mentioned inthe report, and so far as I can recall wasnot mentioned by any speaker on thefloor of the Synod in connection with thisreport on church union.The report which was adopted by theSynod was grounded in Scriptural principle, not in practical expediency as yourcommentator supposes. The ideal presentation is ultimate church union on thebasis of mutual confession of Scripturaltruth. The report clearly warns againstoptimistic hopes for rapid progress. Itstates: "We believe that church union onthe Scriptural basis is a long-range ideal,not something which can be attained bya single bound or a few rapid strides. Butbecause it is a truly valid Scripturalideal, we believe that our Church ought tokeep it constantly in view and also oughtconstantly to be making a practical effortto attain it" (Minutes of R. P. Synod,1954, pp. 11-14).Very sincerely yours,J. G. VosNovember 15, 1954Dear Dr. Taggart:706 Hillcrest Ave.Orlando, Fla.Nov. 5, 1954It was a shock to read some of thestatements which our brother Rev. JoeHill made in commenting on the SabbathSchool Temperance Lesson for November 7. At the same time, it was heartening to see that you pegged the matterimmediately in writing the concludingparagraph, in which you took proper andsharp issue with the opinions which Mr.Hill had expressed.For several reasons, I feel impelled towrite a reply for the Covenanter Witness,on my own responsibilityas chairmanof Synod's Temperance Committee, without waiting to hear from the other members of the committee. They are free toexpress their own reactions.First, I have been requested to writean answer, by people over the church,364who are 'up inover the matter.Second, The Covenanter Witness has awide reading, not only among our ownmembers, but also among the people inother denominations. It is read also bythe editors and readers of temperancepapers. Surely in the minds of manyreaders has arisen the question: "How'sthis? Has the Covenanter Church changedits position on the drink question andlowereditsThat questionshould be allayed. Third, Mr. Editor,thanks are due to you for the correctionswhich you have brought to Mr. Hill's attention. Your corrections should be buttressed and re-emphasized.In charity to our brother, who writesthe weekly comments on the SabbathSchool Lesson, a real job, let us say thathis better judgment was "out for abreak" when he wrote this one. But indefence of the truth let us nail downcertain things.Alcohol does enslave men's souls. Beverage alcohol (under discussion) IS intrinsically evil and DOES have its degrading, demoralizing ingredient. Strongdrink is of itself evil and HABIT-FORMING.That isthe teachingof the Bible.What was true in Solomon's day is stilltrue. "Wine is a mocker, strong drinkis raging and whosoever is DECEIVEDthereby is notThe very forcefulpassage for this temperance lesson forNovember 7, in Proverbs 23:29-35, ending with the statement, "When shall Iawake, I will seek it yet is thedismal picture of an enslaved alcoholic(drunkard) made so by sin, certainly,but also specifically made so by 'strongdrink'whose distinctive ingredient is alcohol, a narcotic, habit-forming drug.The Bible commands: "Look not uponthe wine when it is"Be not drunkwith wine, WHEREIN IS EXCESS."Eph. 5:18. (Pr. 20:31.)That is also the teachingof science.Dr. Sam Morris is right, in his oftquoted statement, giving at the hearingon the Bryson Bill: "It is an accepted,scientifically established fact, that ethylalcohol in beer, wine, whisky, gin, rum,et cetera, is a habit-forming, narcotic,poisonous drug, that beclouds the brain,depresses the nerves, distorts the vision,retards the reactions and releases the inhibitions."Dr. Haven Emerson, professor emeritus, College of Physicians and Surgeonsof Columbia University, New York City,says, "Alcohol is a narcotic drug."Dr. Emil Bogen, on the staff of physicians in a sanitarium in California says,"Alcohol is the most dangerous poisondiet."widly included in the humanDr. Bevan, of the American MedicalCollegeof the University of Chicago,says: "Alcohol, ether, and chloroform areall narcotic drugs."Dr. Alexis Carrel, long a distinguishedmember of the Rockerfeller Institute forMedical Research and Nobel Prize manin 1912, said: "The tissues of human beings are so constituted that they alwaysdeteriorate under the influence of al"He classifies wine, with bubonicplague, the virus of yellow fever andtuberculosis, as a thing."deadly and evil(Ernest Gordon in "Wet Science").The Encyclopaedia Brittanica says: "Apoison is any stupefying or over poweringdrug."Surely, Mr. Editor, our brother Mr.Hill realizes upon reflection that he madea grave mistake when he removed thelabels "Inherenting"and "Habit-formfrom strong drink. The evidence isoverwhelming that this thing which turnsmen into beasts and devils, is inherentlyevil and that it enslaves them.For several years the Yale Schoolbrand of teaching that "alcoholism is adisease"has been conditioning the American people. Let us not succumb to it. Letus remember, always, that never yet hasany person become a drunkard who refused to take the first drink, who refusedthe CONTENTS of the bottle.I have just taken from the shelf andre-read the spendid and forceful orationof Robert Fullerton delivered at ourGrinnell Convention in 1950. It is timelythat the church should read it again.Copy enclosed. Alcohol outside the body,wonderful! It has a thousand uses thatare beneficial to mankind. But alcoholinside the body is a poison and a destroyer. Beware!The Covenanter Church has notchanged its testimony.Sincerely yours,Alvin W. SmHh,Ch. of Temp. Com.Sterling, Kansas27 Nov. 1954To the Editor; Covenanter Witness :It would seem that a word should besaid with regard to the Editorial in thelast Covenanter Witness concerning contributions of the Covenanter Church tothe American Bible Society.Support of the Society is a matter ofhuman judgment in which Christianpeople will doubtless differ. I doubt,however, that the decrease in contributions from the Covenanter Church isdue to the "indifference of our churchtoward this great Rather, itwould seem that the late Dr. Frank T.Mann is correct in concluding that theChurch is not pleased with the Society's publication of RSV portions.COVENANTER WITNESS