Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

worship.''IGlimpses of the Religious WorldFrank E. Allen, D. D.Floods in India and PakistanThe most fearful and destructive floods in years ravagedPakistan in October as described in Presbyterian Life. Atleast two million people lost their homes, clothing, cattleand food supply. Ten thousand square miles of the nation'sfinest agricultural land have been ruined. It is estimatedthat standing crops worth $700 million were lost,000 Christians have been isolated by flood waters.and 150,-In India there was the most devastating flood in thehistory of Punjab. Many families spent days and nights inthe trees, often fighting with poisonous snakes for space.When the water receded there was no food or shelter. Manywere drowned and some of the "outcasts" were sitting in thewater. The missionaries did all they could to clorinate waterso that people could drink it and help in other ways. Theydistributed milk, cheese, vitamins and blankets to the utmostof their means and ability. The church at home has askedfor surplus supplies of wheat, warm clothing as sweaters andcoats, and gifts of money. Recent reports in the daily paperstell of other floods.The greatest cause of India's poverty is its heathen religions and caste system. The greatest blessing is the Gospelof Christ which, of late, India has been seriously hindering.A Psalter-Hymn BookThe editor of the Associated Reformed Presbyteriancautions congregations of his church to study the Hymnbookof their church to see if it is what they want. He fears thatit will be difficult for congregations wishing to emphasizethe use of Psalms, along with the hymns, to do so. Manyof those which are called Psalm selections are paraphrases,hymns which adopt the idea of the Psalm indicated, butwhich are not a translation of a Psalm. The writer furtheraffirms: "A number of our congregations are largely disregarding the order of Synod that Psalms are to have an important place in the worship....am sure those congregations which largely give up the use of Psalms lost much ofthe richness of theirIt is but a few years since the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church authorized the use of hymns in worship, andthe above statements are evidence of what has come to pass.Other churches which have given up the exclusive use ofthe Psalms have had a similar experience. There have beencomplaints by ministers of the Christian Reformed Church(which a few years ago allowed the use of hymns) that somehymns which their congregations were using were not dignified, or taught Arminian doctrine.In the most recent broadcast from London of BillyGraham's 'Hour of Decision" Beverly Shea sang the 23rdPsalm and stated that he had found it one of the most favored in England. No other songs can equal the inspiredPsalms of the Bible.Free Mailing PrivilegesAccording to an item in The Watchman-Examiner (Baptist paper), "Bulletins published by rural churches will beable to go through the mails free of charge under terms of anew regulation issued in Washington, D. C. Extension of the'free incounty'mailing privilege, long accorded weeklynewspapers, to church bulletins or parish papers is an unexpected by-product of the legislation approved by Congress402July 26 this year (Public Law 170, 84th Congress) makingit easier for church bulletins to obtain second-classmailingprivileges. Rural churches that send out regular bulletins totheir members will be eligible for this second-classsubsidy,whether printed weekly, biweekly, monthly or even quarterly."That Sugar Bowl GameThe much-publicized opposition to the Georgia Tech-Pittsburgh Sugar Bowl football game because of a Pittsburgh colored player is a disgrace to our nation. No doubtRussian Communists will make much of it. We do not favorstudent riots, but in this instance the students of GeorgiaTech in their riots against Governor Griffin's efforts to prevent the game, showed their determination to allow thegame, and their opposition to such race segregation as theolder men desired. It is a splendid omen to see the youth ofGeorgia beginning to discard segregation. When they comeinto power perhaps even Georgia will show a Christian attitude toward our colored brethren.A more pleasant note comes from Tennessee where aNegro and a whitepastors'group merged at Nashville, andheads of the two organizations were elected copresidents ofthe new Nashville Ministers Association.Christian BenevolenceThe First National Conference on the "Churches andSocial Welfare" has reported that Protestant churches inthe United States spend more than $1,000,000,000 annuallyto provide health and welfare services for 11,000,000 persons.An Unusual MemorialIn one of Denver's new skyscrapers, there is a littlesanctuary set aside as a memorial to President Eisenhowerbecause the people of Denver believe that tribute should bepaid to a man who was not ashamed to express his trust inGod. This small place of worship is open all day to all whomay wish to worship. We regret to read of a good-luckhorseshoe which is being enshrined in memory of thePresident's recovery.Opposes Appointment of ChaplainsMr. Frank C. Hughes, a 73-year-old atheist of Minneapolis, has begun legal action to prevent the U. S. government from employing chaplains for the armed forces. Heclaims that the use of tax money for their salaries is illegal,that he is forced to support financially religious doctrineswhich he abhors. If he were under fire in a fox hole hewould probably be praying and hoping he could see a chaplain."How Sleep the Brave!"The Banner (Christian Reformed) is also publishingJames H. Hunter's book, "How Sleep the Brave!" in serialform. It is a thrilling book about the Covenanter persecutions which is still appearing in The Evangelical Christian,though it can be had in book form from The EvangelicalPublishers of Toronto, or from Zondervan of Grand Rapids.Mr. Hunter spent much of his life in Aryshire, Scotland, nearmany of the historic spots and monuments to the Covenanters.(Continued on page 405)COVENANTER WITNESS