Sinking Ships

SINKING SHIPS ily Floyd IF THIS keeps on, we'll have to burn up the skating rink!" Such a remark must have had some background. And that background is what I was discussing with a friend of mine. The convention had been in progress for several days. And the messages of one speaker in particular were pro- voking a great deal of prayer and heart searching among those in attendance. That is what led to the just-a-bit-exag- gerated observation about the skating rink. Now, whether the skating rink was to have such an untimely fate because the evangelist in question thought skating was a sin, or because in the pres- ence of such a spiritual revival the skating rink would ultimately perish from neglect, was a topic for debate. My friend thought it was the first. And Everywhere Wrecks of Humanity Are Going Down to Death—Unless Some- I disagreed. one Throws Out a Life Line "I know the evangelist very well," I VERNON NYE. ARTIST said in his defense. "And I'm sure that he has nothing against skating or to me, so that I can't really have a good a day for God? Or is something else any other good clean recreation. He time being a Christian, then I don't more important? doesn't think it is wrong. His burden want to be onel" Perhaps in heaven there will be time is that people should spend more time Well, he was right. It is important abundant for recreation. I am sure in prayer and less in recreation, rather to have recreation and to have the there will be. But right now, do you than the way it has been. He has right kind. As for enjoying Chris- not know there is a war on? nothing against recreation—he just tianity, I cannot imagine not enjoying There has been a war on for thou- wants to see it take second place in- it, if it is genuine. Why anyone sands of years. The final battles are in stead of first." should not enjoy the companionship of progress at this moment. If ever there "Oh, but he does. He thinks it is the blessed Master, with the prospect was a time of emergency it is now. wrong," my friend insisted. of the future He has promised, more Wars of men necessarily affect our pro- "And anything is wrong if it takes than the uncertainty of those who put gram. In this controversy between such a big place in our lives that it their confidence in a tottering civiliza- Christ and Satan is it logical to insist crowds out God, or even puts Him in tion which is admittedly not atom- that our daily routine remain un- second place." bombproof, I cannot see. There is changed, untouched by the fury of the "Perhaps," he admitted. "But rec- infinitely more appeal inside Christian- conflict? reation is important. I'll tell you how ity than there ever can be without. This war has interrupted even heav- I feel about it. I'm a Christian because But I ask you, Is the all-important en's schedule. Do you think for a mo- it appeals to me. I enjoy it. And any question today how much Christianity ment that leaving heaven and coming time it goes beyond that which appeals appeals, how much recreation the down to this sin-blackened world ap- church offers, how good a time we can pealed to Christ? Does letting all this From Faith on Tiptoe have and still save a couple of minutes (Continued on page 17) VOL. 94, NO. 39 SEPTEMBER 24, 1946 Pr HE first things that impressed me seeing jaunt, but I learned that this nominational setup in this field. First, 1 as I left the plane at Jamaica's "City of Gold," where the ruthless sea we went to the North Street church, Palisadoes Airport were the superbright rovers and robbers made their head- where the congress was to be held, so sunshine and the heat which seemed quarters, and where they brought un- that I, a stranger, might get "the lay of to sweep over one in waves. Instinc- known quantities of silver, gold, pre- the land" and see our largest church tively I opened my purse to take out cious gems, and priceless jewelry from building in the island, in fact, in all my dark glasses. But it seems that one the Orient, was shaken by a mighty the British Indies. It was being given who goes a-traveling always forgets earthquake on June 7, 1692, and "in a final cleaning and dusting. The something! the space of two minutes two thirds of janitor and the small boy helping him The formalities of entering a foreign Port Royal was swallowed up by the wielded their weapons diligently but country—health test, passport inspec- sea," and nearly all that remained un- quietly, mindful of their privilege to tion, money check, and customs--took submerged was left in utter ruin. perform this labor of love in God's considerable time, but finally I was free It is said that if you go out in a house. to greet the good folk, who had come to glass-bottom boat and look sharply into On the same lot and only about two bid me welcome. The only familiar the clear water below, you can find rods from this light, airy, modern house face in the group was that of Pastor a church steeple and a few rooftops of worship, stands the very first church Arthur Roth, Missionary Volunteer and that have not yet been covered by the built in Jamaica. It impresses one as educational secretary for the Inter- shifting sands. The survivors of this being very old, and it is indeed American Division, but in a few mo- disaster, many of them doubtless think- weather-beaten inside and out. Today ments I had been introduced to Clyde ing it an act of judgment because of it is used for a church school room and O. Franz, secretary-treasurer of the their sins, moved across the bay and as an assembly hall on occasion. But division, and his son Charles, Pastor founded the city of Kingston, toward it is entirely inadequate for both pur- D. V. Pond, president of the East Ja- which we were driving. poses. How much a new building is maica Mission, and Pastor W. A. Hol- The roadside scenes were full of in- needed! The work of the third angel's gate, Missionary Volunteer secretary terest to a newcomer. Arrow-straight message here has grown in a wonderful for the East Mission. Without more women and girls walked nonchalantly way since 1893, when Pastor A.. J. ado I felt right at home. along carrying great baskets and loads Haysmer went to the island and held But before we left the airport I had of a variety of things on their heads. the first Seventh-day Adventist meet- two really unique experiences. First, Trees wearing vivid red blossoms which ing in a home which was located—of I was invited to "have a drink"! Should almost hid their greenery were Poin- all places—on Rum Lane! We drove it be rum or whisky? Both were at cianas I learned, and it seemed that along this street, and the very house hand. Jamaica is a sugar island, and palms were everywhere. was pointed out to me. all incomers are shown this courtesy by The Myrtle Bank Hotel, where I Just behind the church, on James the alcoholic beverage manufacturers. registered and was shown to a comfort- Street, is the Andrews Memorial Clinic, I promptly refused, of course—but that able room, is built for the tropics, of a substantial new building, where Dr. was before I learned that one could course, and the wide windows, short, Clifford Anderson and his staff are do- have a delicious iced limeade if he ex- slatted doors, and electric fans make it ing an amazing work with a minimum pressed that preference. Second, I was a real refuge from the boiling sun. of equipment and help. They serve interviewed by the press. Really, those "There's about half an hour before approximately fifty patients a day, and reporters did a wonderful job. About dinner," suggested Pastor Pond, "and although practically everything they the only thing I recognized in the perhaps we might was well take the use, from surgical instruments to the highly complimentary write-ups that time to go over the Youth's Congress sheets on the beds which stand in or- appeared the next day was my name. program (it was to attend Youth Con- derly rows in the wards, are second- "Well," remarked Pastor Roth as we gresses that I had come to Jamaica) hand or improvised, the smiling faces took our places in the waiting auto- and make sure that no detail of ar- of the men, women, and children in all mobile, "here you are on the old stamp- rangement has been overlooked." stages of recovery were an eloquent ing ground of Henry Morgan, most As we found the coolest place in testimonial to their success. Efficient famous of the buccaneers who in mid- the lobby, Pastor Holgate explained nurses were on duty, and that led me seventeenth century made their head- that he was just taking up his Mis- to ask Business Manager Robert E. quarters on this island." sionary Volunteer duties in East Ja- Gibson whether they operated a train- "Oh, yes, we must be sure to show maica Mission—in fact, had been ing school in connection with the clinic.

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