A Secretary of Religion? Representative Prank Boykin, a Dem ocrat from Alabama, in a speech to his home town’s Methodist Men’s group in Mobile, suggested having a member in the President’s cabinet whose duty it would be to keep that body in constant touch with all the religious groups for the purpose of interpreting their sen timents and desires to the government. This idea is a meritorius one, but the problem is to find a sincere and large- hearted man who can properly evaluate the tremendous maze o f religious groups which are to be found in this “ land of the free and the home of the brave.” Another Billion <5* Individual incomes in the United States jumped more than a billion dol lars in November to top a new record annual rate of $216,700,000,000.00. Just how much money this is no one seems to have the least idea; even the con templation of such an amount makes the head swim. But, coupled with these as tronomical income heights, is the sad fact that gifts to churches and even charitable organizations are reaching new lows. Even the usually well-sup ported Community Chest found itself forced to make a second desperate ap peal. Let us be honest with ourselves. As surely as God is in heaven there will be judgment brought to bear upon the American people if, in their prosperity, they do not remember the Giver o f all good gifts and the poor that we have with us always. Bags of Coffee •9* The Finnish Bible Society sold 40,000 bags of coffee. The American Bible Society, as a duty-free gift with full government approval, brought in the raw Brazilian coffee to be merchan dized in Finland. The coffee is called “ Agricola Coffee” after Bishop Michael Agricola, who translated the New Testa ment into the Finnish tongue. The occa sion was the celebration of the 400th anniversary of this stirring event, and the receipts from the coffee sale are to be used for the erection of a Bible House in Turku to replace the one which was completely destroyed in the war with Russia in 1939. China's Future <¿5 Missionary representatives of 61 Prot estant denominations, meeting in Buck Hill Falls, Pa., for their annual get- together, were in almost complete agree ment as to the Christian front in China. No denomination planned to evacuate its missionaries, and in most cases the missionaries themselves decided to stay. So far as the Communist infiltration is concerned, the missionaries are not anti- Communist, but pro-Christian. The missionary statesmen are by no means blind to the tremendous issues in volved, but the feeling is that God’s will fo r China is to forge ahead, and that even though the Communists come, God is greater than they. M A R C H , I 9 4 9
William W . Orr, D.D.
errors have appeared times without number in the public press, only to be followed by later information showing the Scriptural accounts to have been accurate. The exact point where the Exodus was made would be difficult to determine, but let it be understood that the events as recorded in the Book of Exodus under the inspiration of God are true to the last jot and tittle. Just Sociable Poll takers, from the National Opin ion Research Center, were asking why people drink. The most frequent reason given was “ for sociability,” covering 38% of drinkers. Some other answers: “ People think you are dead if you don’t” ; “ Just to be sociable. I don’t care for it at all; I just choke it down” ; “ When I drink, I feel important.” Considering these facts, sociologists from Rutgers suggest to hosts that they never insist on anyone’s drinking, and always serve soft drinks along with the hard. Japan and the Bible The Bible is the most eagerly sought after and the most widely read book in Japan today, according to the Reverend Takuo Matsumoto in an article published by the American Bible Society. The Japanese nobility are definitely interest ed in Bible study, with a number of the Emperor’s brothers or cousins holding Bible classes in their own homes. Best of all, the Scriptures are taking hold of the great masses as well. For in stance, thirty employee^ of the Nippon Glass Manufacturing Company are hav ing a Bible class among themselves. The Shiga Bank at Otsu has another Bible study group. The famous Dainaru De partment Store in Osaka has a Bible class among the employees on Fridays after the store closes in the afternoon. The Hyogo Provincial Government Workers’ Union has organized a Bible study group, with 100 in attendance. Now is the strategic time to pray for Japan! It could be that this interest in the Bible will bring about the beginning of a mighty revival in that land. Page Five
Back to Protestantism •£ Twenty years ago, William Purcell Witcutt, a student preparing for the Anglican ministry, renounced his faith and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. He rose in the Catholic ranks, becoming a leader among the English Catholic literati. Last October he went into hiding, and after several months, came forth to. apply for re-admission into the Church o f England. He stated to the press, “ The reason I left the Catholic Church was because I grew to dislike the rigidity of the Roman Catho lic faith; I prefer the broader outlook of the Church of England.” The Angli cans add, “ This is nothing so unusual. In this diocese alone, we have several Roman priests who have come over to us.” Outlook for India <£ When the British withdrew from India, grave fears were felt that this was the beginning of the end for Chris tian missions in India. But, according to David H. Johnson, General Director of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission, the missionary outlook for India is brighter than ever before. People are more receptive and more willing to listen to the gospel than they have been for centuries. There are also some out standing Christians in high govern mental positions that are giving spir itual testimony for Christ. However, in Pakistan, the Moslems are working hard to make it a land of Islam exclusively. Find the Bible Wrong? A news item under a United Press date line reports that it is not true that Moses led the children of Israel across the Red Sea. Rather, according to the National Geographic Society the Exodus was made across the brackish Reed Sea, 10 miles south of where Port Said now stands. With all due respect for the explor atory findings o f this world-renowned Society, it should be recalled that in the past headlines pointing out Biblical
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