WOULD ffEWSGRAMS
James O. Henry, M . A. , Editor Associate prof, of History, Biola Bible College
liament of India, besides raising the minimum marriage age (girls — 18 and boys — 21), also provides for di vorce by mutual consent. Other claus es in the bill enable marriage or marriages between any two persons irrespective of religion or caste. It might be noted that the clause “ di vorce by mutual consent” perhaps was borrowed by Hollywood. Supreme Court Rules on Xetc Testament The Supreme Court in effect recent ly upheld a New Jersey decision that distribution of the New Testament in the public schools violates the Con stitution. Operation Rottles Lenoir-Rhyne College’s message or messages to the Chinese people two years ago through “ Operation Bot tles” finally paid off when a young Chinese by the name of William Wong registered at the college. “ Operation Bottles” was a system by which letters or messages were written in Chinese enclosed in plastic bottles and then thrown overboard off the China coast. These letters were carried to the China coastline by the tides and were picked up by Chinese people. William’s father was given a Lenoir-Rhyne letter by a refugee in December, 1953. The father was so overwhelmed by the friendly atti tude of the letter to the Chinese peo ple that he vowed that his son should attend Lenoir-Rhyne. Perhaps we might learn a lesson from the method used by this American college in sending the message of the gospel to the Chinese behind the bamboo cur tain. Red Danger in Syria Two communists won seats in the Syrian Parliament in the first free parliamentary elections since 1948. They were the first communists to be elected to such a position in Syria. One of the two, Khalid Bakdash, is the leader of the Syrian Communist Party.
in the next 20 years or whether— heaven forbid— it will grow even worse.” Arm y Sponsors Religious Retreat The United States Army is estab lishing a “ religious retreat” house in Berchtesgaden— the Bavarian town in which Hitler had his “ eagle’s nest.” The town has been made a recrea tion center for United States person nel in Europe. The Army announced that the retreat house located there would have facilities for 100 guests and a religious library of 500 vol umes. Vatican Seeks Missions Aid The Vatican radio expressed hope in a recent broadcast that the Geneva Conference would consider the diffi culty of missionaries in Asiatic lands and that problems “weighing upon those far lands” would be solved in a spirit of justice and equity. We may well wonder why the Vatican is so interested in seeking the aid of the Conference in Missions in view of its own attitude toward Protestant Missions in South Ameri can countries, Colombia in particular. Tax Fraud Increase Federal revenue officials put the magnifying glass on one of every 19 income tax returns filed with the government during the 1953 fiscal year. The ones selected for audit were those with the largest chance for mis takes. The annual report by the Com merce Clearing House, a national re porting authority on tax and business law, says an average of two out of every five income tax returns ex amined for fraud resulted in recom mendations for prosecution. This rep resents an increase over the previous year’s ratio of 1 to 3. We seem to be taking the path followed by Rome in her attitude toward responsibility to government. This represents a fright ening trend in America. India Goes Modern The Special Marriage Bill passed recently by the Lower House of Par
Our Children A noted columnist recently said, “When about 385,000 boys and girls are required to appear in our juvenile courts for such crimes as auto theft, burglary, rape, homicide and assault, the problem has reached a stature where no one can any longer say boys will be boys.” A prominent New York jurist add ed the following: “ The terrifying juvenile crime problem is not going to be solved this year, nor next year, nor the next. If we are sensible and lucky, it will take a whole generation to cure. In any public library you will find volume upon volume dis cussing the causes and cures of juve nile delinquency. They cover the problem pretty well and there is not much to add except this: these books and the youth clubs, recreation pro grams and constructive attitudes they advocate, may be of help. But if the problem of juvenile crime is to be solved it must be attacked at its very roots. The roots lie in the American home. Too many Americans are wor shiping the froth of life. In too many homes the only god seems to be the new refrigerator, the high-powered car or the television set. These ob jects are virtually worshiped as sym bols of the best.” The jurist stated further, “ I am convinced the materialism and moral laxity that surround our children are at the heart of the problem. The typi cal young criminal who comes into my courtroom thinks policemen are clowns and judges are buffoons. He has no fear and respect of the law. Usually we find that he has never had any respect for God, his parents, his teacher, his employer, the policeman on the beat or the judge on the bendh.” The jurist concluded his remarks by saying, “ The love of God and His bénéficient influence must be brought back into the home. The church, the home and the school are the three cornerstones upon which a morally healthy youth must be nurtured. It is up to our young married couples whether juvenile crime will diminish
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TH E K IN G 'S BU SINESS
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