September, 1945
345
IN TH E S
B I
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An Interpretation of World Affairs in the Light of the Scriptures.
Soon to be placed on the market will be a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. About fifteen years ago, this task was begun, and it is expected the work will be com pleted this fall. “This version,” says Dean Weigle of the Yale University Divinity School, “will enable the read er of. today to get the meaning of Scripture in a straightforward lan guage that will be more understand able to him, and undoubtedly will result in more widespread reading of the Bible.” However, the list of men who have been working upon this revision seems to have been taken almost entirely from the liberal di vision of our theological thinkers. ♦ In the July issue of The Ladies Home Journal the well known columnist, Dorothy Thompson, thus states her conclusion: “Unless there is a rebirth of religious spirit in the hearts of .its leaders and in people throughout the world, our civilization, despite tre mendous victories, will slide into an abyss—perhaps for centuries.” While the rebirth which Miss Thompson calls for probably is not the new birth of the third chapter of John, still there is a sense in which God will bless the nations that turn to Him, and the Old Testament premise still stands—that “righteousness ex- alteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Uppermost in our hearts, of course, there is the desire that our land might come to know the joy of full salvation as it is found in the finished work of Christ, but we also pray for a recognition of God throughout the length and breadth of our nation. This is national life in surance, and has been proven time after time throughout the history of mankind. ♦ From General Dwight Eisenhower and from his field commanders; from Admiral Ernest King and from other navy chiefs; and from General Alex ander Vandegrift of the Marine Corps, come messages testifying to the fine
role played by the 500,000 Jewish men and w.qj*ien in our armed services in the war against the Axis. These praises were publicly voiced at the fiftieth annual memorial service of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. Certainly the Jewish people have nobly shouldered their part of winning the war against the Axis. ♦ A recent six weeks’ seminar, for in dustrial chaplains, the first of its kind, was held at Wheaton College during the month of July. This course was designed to fit men, now serving as military chaplains, to serve as chap lains in industrial plants. Candidates who successfully completed the course were awarded certificates issued joint ly by the Commission for Industrial Chaplains of the National Association of Evangelicals and Wheaton College. A real opportunity is seen in the post war world for men of God to serve as chaplains in large industrial plants. Opportunities without number are of fered for counsel, spiritual help and comfort, not. only in the factories, but in the homes of factory workers. Schools which are training young men for Christian service should recognize this opportunity and give it deserving emphasis. ♦ Already begun are new nonstop round trip flights between London and Lydda, Palestine. The flying time one way will take ten hours, and the cost for a round trip ticket will be approx imately $380.00. This reminds us that some day the land of Palestine, thought by some to be off the main cross-roads of the world, will become the center of all the world’s traffic. The nations of that day will count it not only their responsibility, but their privilege, to send representatives to Jerusalem, there to stand before the King of Kings as He personally ad ministers the affairs of world govern ment. ♦ It is our understanding that the an nual survey of the brewing industry published by Modern Brewery Age,
covering the year 1944, shows that the total consumption of fermented malt beverages in the United States advanced to the highest mark in the nation’s history. Also in the first elev en years since the repeal of prohibi tion, drinking has more than doubled, and the expenditure for drink has in creased threefold and more. Along with figures like this, there comes the resultant train of sorrow, broken homes, broken bodies, insanity, crime, poverty, disease and death. The brew-, ing industry does not attempt to tab ulate these figures, but you may be sure that if drinking increases, these woes also increase. God help Amer ica if this drinking is allowed to ex pand still further. ♦ A hopeful sign in the halls of our national legislative body is that meet ing at 7:45 a.m., when about a dozen senators have been gathering, for the purpose of prayer and discussion of the Bible, and of measuring public problems by the yardstick of Christian ethics. We understand that a number of such breakfast clubs have been brought into being by Abraham Verei- die, Executive Director of the National Committee for Christian Leadership. ♦ In the Chicago Daily News we read of strange funeral processions heading toward a plot fourteen miles west of the city, known as the Illinois Pet Cemetery. Buried there are dogs, cats, parrots, monkeys, a turtle, a rooster, a dove and canaries. Their most elab orate funeral was that of a fourteen year old Spitz named “Queenie.” A limousine carried the dog’s body, which was enclosed in a silk and plush lined casket. Following was a cortege of fourteen automobiles. Each week brings a number of visitors to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of these animals. One visitor in particular comes, regardless of the weather, even wading through the snowdrifts to bring flowers to the grave of a three months’ old puppy. All of this in enlightened Christian America!
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