King's Business - 1954-04

WORLD NEWSGRAMS

James O. Henry, M.A., Editor, Associate prof, of History, Blola Bible College

have not taken them the gospel. It has recently been estimated that if every Protestant missionary in the world were to go to India, each would still be responsible for 22,000 souls. 8 6 Million Barrels “ Americans drank 86 million bar­ rels of beer last year, twice the amount they drank in 1935,” accord­ ing to a report given to the conven­ tion of the United States Brewing Foundation, by Edward V. Lahey, long-time president of the organiza­ tion, at its 78th meeting held in Los Angeles. This staggering consump­ tion of beer amounts to approximately 1.87 barrels per person in the United States. To add to the shameful in­ dictment of the American people, the convention was opened by Bishop Jo­ seph T. McGucken of Los Angeles. The president of the organization was very optimistic about the future of the brewing industry. He said, “ The beer industry is expanding—there’s no doubt of that.” Beligion in Education “ The American public school sys­ tem must recognize religion if it in­ tends to provide its charges with a well-rounded education,” said Dr. Jo­ seph B. Cavallarro, chairman of the Board of Higher Education in New York. In taking issue with those who contend that religion is a private mat­ ter and of no concern to students in the classroom, Dr. Cavallarro main­ tained that such a view was “ not consistent with sound educational principles.” It overlooks the simple fact that religion provides the highest moral sanctions for our behavior, that it is an inseparable part of our cul­ ture and of our American heritage, and that it is just as truly an aspect of our daily lives as politics, busi­ ness or industry.” He asserted fur­ ther that “ a complete education is impossible when there is no mention of religion, and that many well- meaning citizens are confusing the issue. They assume,” he said, “ that whenever there is a discussion con­ cerning education and religiop that it

will involve a violation of the prin­ ciples of separation of church and state. The American doctrine of the separation of church and state does not mean the separation of state and religion. “ If we are to plan wisely for the future, we must create in the minds of our youth a better understanding of what religion means and increase their contacts with it. We cannot hope to preserve our democratic tra­ dition without the religious founda­ tion upon which it rests.” The Italian Episcopacy, represented by high-ranking Cardinals, Arch­ bishops, and Bishops recently de­ nounced intensified Protestant propa­ ganda that they said helped atheistic communism. In a statement released at the end of their meeting they declared that “ Religions other than the Roman Catholic, since the birth of an inde­ pendent Italy, have been allowed to carry on their activities without giv­ ing rise to grave difficulties.” Since World War II a number of the small­ er Protestant denominations more ac­ tive in seeking converts have more than once found themselves in conflict not only with the Catholic Church but with the Italian Government au­ thorities.” We must denounce,” said the Italian Episcopacy “the intensi­ fied Protestant propaganda usually of foreign origin, which comes to sow pernicious errors in our simple peo­ ple.” It referred to propaganda that speculated on the people’s “miserable material conditions” in ways offensive to the Catholic Church. “ A ll this goes to the evident advantage not of religious practice, which falls into ruin, but of atheistic communism whose exponents and whose press do not hide their sympathies and sup­ port for this disuniting Protestant p r o p a g a n d a Thus the Italian Epis­ copacy connects any attempt to aid the Italian people in their extreme economic needs with communism. Vatican Denounces Protestant Acts

Anti-Semitic Mail

Sixty Committee chairmen of the American Legion of the state of New York were recently warned to regard as “ dangerous rub­ bish” two anti-Semitic publications mailed to Legion Posts from a post office address in Union, N.J. James O’Neil, former national commander of the Legion told the chairmen, “ It is almost pointless for me to say we cannot give countenance to that sort of thing. It runs counter to every­ thing we stand for, and it is appalling that Legion posts are being circular­ ized with this material.” He empha­ sized that the Legion stands “ for the exact opposite of what is pub­ lished in these anti-Semitic tracts.” Mr. O’Neil said, “We should do all we can to render it null and void by making certain that it is destroyed when it reaches a Legion post, and that no member disseminates this stuff.” Pilgrims Killed Five hundred men, women and children were killed and 2,000 in­ jured recently in India in a stampede of pilgrims seeking to wash their sins away in sacred waters at the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna rivers. Three million persons had massed at the riverbank on the oc­ casion of the great Kumbh bathing rite festival. Police and thousands ' of volunteer ushers tried to stop the throng to make, way for naked Sadhu holy men returning from their im­ mersion carrying their three-pronged spears. The pilgrims in front were crowded forward by those behind, and wild flight broke out among those determined to get to the water. Police and ushers were swept aside. The weaker began to fall. Many were trampled to death, while some were impaled on the spears of the holy men who were caught in the crowd. What a tragedy, but it be­ comes a greater tragedy when we think of the misplaced religious zeal that brought it about, and we wonder if much of the guilt should not be placed at the feet of the church? In­ dians seek peace for the soul and we Americanism

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