Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

cent."mind."washing'?"values"else."Glimpses of the Religious WorldFrank E. Allen, D. D.Jews Oppose Religion in SchoolsTwo of the larger Jewish organizations have expressedtheir opposition to religious instruction in the public schools,and they included teaching "moral and spiritualin any or all religions. These two groups represent about43 Jewish organizations. As is usually the case with thosewho oppose religious education they affirm that they fear itmay affect the principle of religious liberty. The real factis that religious and civil liberty are endangered where thecitizens are not trulyreligious and where the youth arenot taught pure morals. In such efforts the Jews are turningback on their historic principles and practices of religioustraining in church and state. The priests were to be religious teachers and the rulers were to know and promote theknowledge of the law of God.World Day of PrayerThe National Association of Evangelicals is providingan outline of worship for the World Day of Prayer on February 17, 1956, for churches or groups which desire it. Thetheme is, "The Spirit of Power," based on 2 Tim. 1 :7, "Godhath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,love, and of a sound1. Peril of Fear.2. Prelude to power.The suggested outline is :3. The Spirit of power for an impotent world.4. The Spirit of love for a forlorn world.and of5. The Spirit of a sound mind for a confused world.Material may be had from the NAE headquarters office,108 North Main Street, Wheaton, 111. There is no chargemade for the material, but the Association requests that afreewill offering be received at the service to assist withthe cost.Oppose Merger of ChurchesThe second effort that is being made to unite theCongregational Church with the Evangelical and ReformedChurch is being opposed by a group ofCongregationalchurches which has formed a permanent national organization. This group represents about 200 congregations from 20states. They declared that the merger "will result in division and not result in the unitysought."Many in eitherdenomination do not know what the other stands for, asindicated in a conversation which I had last summer withsome from the Evangelical and Reformed Church did notknow the doctrinal position of the majorityof Congregational Churches which is near Unitarianism. A few yearsago, in conversation with a well-informed Congregationalistminister who was widelyacquainted in the Chicago areaand in Texas, I asked him; "From your acquaintance withCongregational ministers, what proportion are so modernistic that they are virtually Unitarian?" He replied, "About95 pergain from such a union?What advantage can an Evangelical churchThe Answering to BrainwashingJohn H. Noble, who was for ten years a prisoner ofthe Soviet Union was asked, "What is the best way toresist Communist 'brainHe replied, "Faith inGod is the best answer; my faith saved me nothingMr. Noble, who is an American citizen, believes that the418armed forces should emphasize religious training if theywashing"want men to resist Communist "brain tactics. Heaffirmed: "A strong trust in God is the most effective wayto beat torture." He saw many men subjected to interrogation by the Reds and those who weakened first were"strangers to the Bible." Mr. Noble is writing a book andspeaking to church groups about his experiences as a prisoner, including the secret worshipwere held in the Vokuta slave labor camp.services which he saidTo Allow Hearings on Liquor AdvertisingIn January both houses of Congress will conduct hearings on bills to outlaw radio and TV advertising of alcoholic beverages. Miss E. A. Smart of the W.C.T.U. hasstated that, "Representatives of the alcoholic beverageindustry have admitted frankly that consumption of liquor,wine and beer would drop by one-half if its advertisingwere discontinued." Memorizing Bible VersesA college student from Dallas, Texas, Miss ElaineThomas, recently recited 1,050 Bible verses from memorywithout a mistake. It took three hours and twenty minutesfor her to recite all of these verses, but when she hadfinished she was given the highest award offered by theBible Memory Association of St. Louis, Mo., which offersprizes each year to young people who commit certain Biblepassages to memory.New Mission Territory in BrazilThe Unevangelized Fields Mission in Brazil has prayedthat God would guide in making it possible for evangelicalmissionary work in three previously closed Indian territories,and the prayers have been answered. The Brazilian Government's Indian Protection Service has reversed a policyof fifteen years and given permission to enter three regions in north Brazil. Thse regions are accessible to Missionary Aviation Fellowship planes and have a largerIndian population than many other parts of north Brazil.Ford's Enormous GiftsThe gifts of the Ford Foundation, amounting to half abillion dollars to colleges and hospitals, have astonishedeveryone, especially college presidents and hospitals managers. It was the largest single appropriation in the historyof philanthropy. The huge sum averages roughly $3 for everyman, woman and child in the United States. We think wecan see a host of college professors, who are usually portrayed as very sedate, smiling from ear to ear. Perhapsthe Geneva professors can better afford to entertain theirrelatives and friends next spring at Synod time than heretofore. Incidentally, they have done this very graciouslyin the past. Our paper, today, does not announce the amountthat Geneva College is to get, but no doubt it will be a verygenerous sum for which we thank the Ford Foundation andcongratulate our alma mater. There is a phase of this greatgift which is not so pleasant to contemplate, namely, thatRoman Catholic colleges will receive a proportion as well asProtestant schools and thus help them to propogate thefalse worship and religious errors whichthey profess.COVENANTER WITNESS