*a message from the editor *
Lindy CUSTOM MADE LINE OF SILVER QUILL ballpoint pens. . . world’s smoothest writing points! Write with a Silver Quill, feel the difference!
Pres. Biola Schools and Colleges, Inc.
A b o u t t h r e e y e a r s a g o , the editor had the privilege of spend ing two weeks with missionary friends in Japan in connec tion with the presentation o f the translation o f the New Testament financed and produced by the Lockman Foundation of La Habra. Among other things, the tour provided ample oppor tunity to witness the propagation of a comparatively new re ligious movement originating in Japan called the Soka Gakkai. The movement originated in the early 1930’s and is an offshoot of the Buddhist religion. It was impressive indeed to see the adherents of the move ment evangelizing on the streets of Tokyo and other cities throughout Japan. They had informative printed materials by the millions to hand out to any and all who would accept the pamphlets. In 1965 they claimed a membership of approximately ten millions. The boast at that time was that when they ac quired twenty-two million adherents, they would be able to take over the government of the country. The leaders stated that all Christian missionaries would be banned from the country and every effort would be made to stamp out Christianity from among the Japanese people. In the January 17, 1969 edition of T i m e magazine, an article states that they now claim a membership of at least sixteen mil lions. The followers o f Soka Gakkai have an evangelistic fervor that knows no bounds. Their street meeting activities revealed a zeal that attracted the attention of all who passed by. Their per suasiveness brought about the enlistment o f many o f those who heard. The movement has been growing at an alarming rate in Japan. That country is a long, long way from the United States. However, T i m e states that the movement has come to America. At first, the Soka Gakkai concentrated on obtaining converts among the Japanese Americans or the wives o f thousands o f GI’s who had married Japanese girls and returned with them to the United States. By 1967 the movement had obtained practically all potential followers among the Japanese people, so the focus was shifted to whites and Negroes who had no previous Oriental connections whatever. The sect is promoting its doctrines in the United States with the same degree of zeal that has character ized it in Japan. “ Its youth division has a flashy fife and drum corps replete with majorettes,” states T i m e . It produces a thrice-weekly news paper entitled The World Tribune, which is filled with enthusias tic testimonials concerning the movement and its followers. In order to be considered a member of the movement in good stand ing, one is expected to help swell the membership by the prac tice of what they call shakubuku or getting members wherever he goes. The movement is attracting to itself disillusioned mem- THE KING'S BUSINESS
yfotúwtL, point with conven tional barrel.
dS tt»u6 p o in t w ith large barrel. 79t
TRY ONE FOR SIZE Choose the size barrel with match ing point that suits your style of hand writing. COLOR OF PEN IS COLOR OF INK BLUE • BLACK • RED • GREEN
manufactured by LINDY PEN CO. north Hollywood, california 91605
© L .P . C O . - 1969
4
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker