Draft Dodgers? It was common during the war to accuse ministerial students of a lack of courage and patriotism because of their enrollment in theological schools. The idea in the minds of many was that the Bible schools and seminaries were burst ing at the seams with war-shy students. This matter, however, has been satis factorily cleared up in a recent report of the Selective Service. During the three years preceding the war, theologi cal school enrollment was increasing at the rate of 4% a year. During the war years, it slumped almost to a standstill and enrollments fell far below normal expectancy, and increases did not come until the war’s close when veteran applications boosted the enrollment to an all-time high. Very Plain Speech We quote from the editorial columns of the Christian Advocate for an ex ample of lucid thinking and plain speak ing: “ If the Un-American Activities’ Com mittee wants to discover what the mo tion picture industry is doing, let it look at the pictures themselves: Prosti tutes are glamorized, rapes are made to appear respectable, little or nothing can be undertaken without the aid of a cig arette, all social recreations must be saturated in alcohol, the marriage vow is nullified, domestic relations are made a mockery, nudity is applauded, insanity is glossed over with technicolor, jungle ethics are paraded before our -children, decency is made to appear dull. Protes tant clergymen are almost without ex ception represented as simpletons, sacred things are made common and sobriety is ridiculed.” At this point the editor evidently ran out of space. Some Progress <£ The atom bomb, containing the ex plosive power of 20,000 tons of TNT which wrecked Hiroshima, is now con sidered a “ Model T” compared with the improved bombs. At a recent conference in Manhattan, a member of the Army’s General Staff hinted that there were now bombs equivalent to 40,000 tons of explosive, and that there was talk about producing a bomb 50 times more power ful. One such bomb, skillfully placed, could do a Hiroshima job on the entire city of New York. Nor is this all. Ac cording to Washington scientists, the latest doom weapon is a form of carbon dioxide gas with potentialities of death to any living thing within four days. Since this gas is an integral part of natural air, gas masks will furnish no protection whatever against it. Psychiatrist Praises vit Dr. George W. Crane, well - known practical psychiatrist, has some good words for the ministry of the American Sunday School: “ In this dearth of moral instruction, the need for a strongly organized Sun- M A Y , 1 9 4 8
William W . Orr, D.D.
day School is greater than ever before . . . The very best fortresses for pro tecting American culture and this re public are those brick and stone houses o f worship in every hamlet and me tropolis throughout the land. They are the churches! Moreover, they aren’t filled with machine guns, high explo sives or atomic bombs and poison gases. Yet they not only created but still stanchly maintain our liberty, freedom and cultural heritages. So get behind the Sunday Schools. They are really DO ING something to combat juvenile de linquency! They don’t confine themselves to dire predictions and ominous shak »St A real blow to gospel broadcasting was the agreement by the National As sociation of Broadcasters which decided that “religious programs should be pre sented by recognized and responsible groups and organizations . . . no ap peal for funds should be permitted on such programs . . . Religious broadcasts should place major emphasis on broad religious truths. They should not be used for the presentation of controversial questions or for the expression of par tisan opinions or discussions.” On the other hand, there are some items of encouragement in the radio field. The Sudan Interior Mission has permission to construct a radio station of 100,000 watts in Ethiopia which will reach throughout Northern Africa and the Near East. In San Jose, Costa Rica, the new station of the Latin American Mission, TIFC, is now broadcasting. Known as “ The Lighthouse of the Car ibbean” this station is starting out with 1,000 watts on the 1,000 kilocycle chan nel of standard broadcast band. An ap plication for a license, for short wave operation is pending. The giant mission ary station, HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, has received another mark of favor when upon it was conferred knighthood, and its contract with the government of Ecuador extended to 1980. The new FM station, WPTL, of the Providence R. I., Bible Institute, dedicated to education and religion, is now broadcasting regu larly. ings of the heads.” Christian Radio
More Chaplains •-¿tA recent circular letter from the office of the Chief of Chaplains of the United States contains an appeal for 400 men to serve as chaplains in the army and air forces during 1948. These men will be responsible for spiritual and moral counsel, promoting morale and arrang ing for services for public worship. Ap plicants must not be more than 50 years of age and members of the National Guard or of the Chaplain Reserve Corps. This call presents a real opportunity for able, Bible-believing men to aid in a very needy field. No Wet Ads £ Most of us are nauseated by the un wholesome flood of liquor advertising appearing in newspapers and magazines. However, according to the Associated Church Press, the following magazines contain liquorless pages: Saturday Eve ning Post, Ladies’ Home Journal, Path finder, Farm Journal, Good Housekeep ing, Capper’s Weekly, Country Gentle man, Etude, and Woman’s Home Com panion. The Little Jew ■M Recently, because of a successful evangelistic campaign in Detroit, Michi gan, Dr. Hyman Appelman recently made the religious department of Time. Time reported that he reminded many listeners of Billy Sunday, and called him a sensational evangelist who styled him self “ the little Jew with a big Jesus.” There is no doubt but that God is using Dr. Appelman to turn many hearts to Christ. He is now heading for Australia for a six-month series of meetings. Another Record Now termed by sportswriters the “greatest miler who has ever run,” Gil Dodds has consistently broken records in his athletic endeavors this year. This time his nearest rival was some 40 rods in the rear as Gil breasted the tape. The time of 4:05.3 bettered his previous rec ord by more than a second. Again Gil gave credit to the One to whom it is due, as he testified, “ I always do my best, trusting in the Lord. I feel as if He’s with me—I’m not out there completely alone.” Page Five
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