THE CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY
by ANNA-MODINE MORAN
Step by step, we walk the narrow way; We must not pause, though weary we may be, For every forward step we take each day Will bring us that much nearer, Lord, to Thee. Mile on mile, we journey toward our goal; And though obstructions often slow our pace, They cannot ever stop the trusting soul Who hopes to, some day soon, behold Thy face. Day by day, our enemy and Thine Suggests to us we turn aside, retreat; But well we know his venomous design— To thwart Thy plans by causing our defeat. We pray for strength to go on to the end— Our destination is not far away; And, prayer by prayer, we see, as we ascend The upward path, a gleam of endless day. COVER: CAMERA CLIX PAGE 2: DEVANEY safe arrival. Miles WithGod,"whichappearsonpage18. This isCaptainM.L.Boling'spersonalstory "Bounty," andthisinterviewwithhimwasse- Christian experienceandliterallyflieswith Our_ of hisrecordnonstopflightfromManilain Signs oftheTimes. God. Heisprobablythefirstfliertogiveone dise" isanotheroutstandingfeature,prepared issue, thefirstofanothernewvolume thousand dollarsasathankofferingforhis teresting becauseCaptainBolingenjoysarich the PhilippineIslandstoPendleton,Oregon. by ourspecialcorrespondent,DonaldWebster, States. cairn Island.Mr.Christianisdirectlydescended in collaborationwithParkinChristian,ofPit- sure ourreaderswillenjoyherdelightfuland sure toreadhisfirstarticleentitled"Travelsin spent considerabletimeinBiblelands.Be cured duringhisrecentvisittotheUnited correspondent, arealwayswelcome,andwefeel from oneoftheoriginalmutineers series ofarticlesbyRichardLewisonLawand Ancient Persia,"onpage10. teresting seriesbyDr.S.H.Horn,whohas Grace willenjoyhisconcludingarticlewhich Go Wrong,"whichappearsonpage8. In ThisIssue. appears onpage22entitled"Who'stheLegalist Now?" penetrating treatmentof"WhyTeen-Agers excellent articles."CouldWeLoseOurLib- Buckwalter, secretaryoftheInternationalRe- A. Webster."DarwinAfteraHundredYears" is amasterlytreatmentofthesubjectDar- erty?" isthetitleofaninterviewwithJ.A. ligious LibertyAssociation,arrangedbyDonald choice itemswillbe"DivorceDilemma"by winism, byGeorgeMcCreadyPrice.Other Howard A.Welklin,"TheCigaretteOnTrial" by JustaLeeAllen,and"CalloftheHighCoun- try" byJanS.Doward. Rates inU.S.A.anditspossessions, One-year subscription To othercountries,takingextra postage: One-year subscription Single copy You willfindafeastofgoodthingsinthis Special attentioniscalledto"SevenThousand "From Mutineers'HideouttoPacificPara- Starting inthisissueisanexceptionallyin- Contributions byMaryJ.Vine,ourLondon Those whohavebeenfollowingtheveryfine In ourFebruaryissuetherewillbemany , Mexico, andPan-American readers willfindthisarticleunusuallyin- Union: Canada, 3.90 $3.50 .35
11 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111i111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111 Norway; INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS: Australia; Lebanon; England; W.S. Liquor Advertising CIRCULATION MANAGER. Genesis andGeology Travels inAncientPersia Korea; A. EDITOR Church orState) Philippians: EpistleofRejoicing Who's theLegalistNow) What LiesAhead) From Mutineers'HideouttoPacific Put GodFirst Living WithHighBlood New Year'sEve Our WorldToday Seven ThousandMilesWithGod Why Teen-AgersGoWrong My NewYearAim Who IsMyNeighbor) The Christian'sJourney Alone WithYourBible So YouAreHavingSurgery Your BibleQuestions Signs The SIGNSOFTHETIMESisprinted andpublishedmonthly(twelve issues ayear)bythePacificPressPublishing Associationat1350VillaStreet, Mountain View,California,U.S.A. Second-class mailprivilegesauthorizedat 1958, byPacificPressPublishingAssociation. give botholdandnewaddresses.Only paid-in-advancesubscriptionsentered. Member ofAssociatedChurchPress andReligiousNewsService.Copyright, Mountain View,California.Allowthirty daysinrequestingchangeofaddress; ASSISTANT EDITOR. Pressure Paradise Counsel Corner Volume 86,Number1,January,1959 SlIGNS J. The World'sPropheticMonthly B. Beach, J. N. Nelson, J. Aitken, R. Spangler, Christ asMan'sRedeemerandComingKing A MagazineofChristianLiving,Presenting . OF THETIMES the BibleasWordofGodandJesus Jensen, . REGULAR FEATURES Parkin Christian . .. Answered CONTENTS Montevideo, Uruguay;G.J. . . Florence, Italy;W. . Tokyo, Japan;R.C. Addis Ababa,Ethiopia;C.W. EDITORIALS ARTICLES Singapore. . . ARTHURS.MAXWELL POEMS . . . Clifford R.Anderson, . . . . Pearl WaggonerHoward . . . and George McCreadyPrice . . Lucile JoySmall,R.N. Sanford T.Whitman . Captain "Pat"Boling . Anna-Modine Moran Helen RogersSmith . Della AdamsLeitner . Donald A.Webster Raymond H.Libby Siegfried H.Horn L. Emmerson, Taylor G.Bunch William A.Fagal . Charles 49566 Charles D.Uu Richard Lewis H. Piper, Mary J.Vine Karl Abrahamsen, K. Christman Appel, D. Utt Warburton, Lee, M.D. London, Beirut, Seoul,
29 26 22 18 14 12 10 21 20 34 24 30 32 16 3 6 4 7 8 7 5 2 OUR WORLD TODAY
Wealth on Ocean Floor become big business, says Behind the Scenes in American Mineral engineers of the University of California are Business. The industry's yearly production in the United now investigating for the first time the possibility of re- States is valued at about four and a half billion dollars, covering loose-lying metal-bearing rocks from the ocean according to the American Can Company, a leading sup- floor. They have computed that in a good location a plier of metal food containers. square mile of the sea bottom could yield $750,000 worth Religion in the United States Capital of manganese ore, $40,000 worth of iron ore, $180,000 In the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., there worth of nickel, $60,000 worth of copper, and $500,000 are 1,155 houses of worship, according to figures released by worth of cobalt. the Council of Churches of the National Capital Area. More Bank Robberies Protestant churches number 1,014, Roman Catholic 102, During the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1958, there Orthodox 7, and Jewish synagogues 32. There are 977,000 were 631 violations of the Federal law against bank rob- Protestants, 254,000 Catholics, 89,000 Jews, and 631,793 bery, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar who are not members of any religious body. Hoover reported. The highest previous number was 568 Scriptures Published in East Germany three years before. One of the high-ranking robbers and During 1957, according to Evangelical Bible Work, among the most wanted on the FBI's list of fugitives from there were published in the Soviet Zone of Germany a total the law is a woman. of 300,172 volumes of Scripture. These included 86,975 Israeli Farmers Observe Sabbatical Year whole Bibles, 83,714 New Testaments, and 129,483 smaller For the first time since the days of the second temple in portions. The total was an increase of 80 per cent over 1956. the first century after Christ, Jews in Israel are obeying Donations of large amounts of paper by foreign churches the Biblical command to observe the Sabbatical year. At and paper-import permits by the East German government least fifteen villages are not cultivating their land during made the printing possible. the twelve months of the Jewish year 5719, which began Archaeologists Find Ancient Sardis September 15, 1958. Discovery of the ancient city of Sardis, once the capital "Pillar of Peace" to Be Built at Capernaum of wealthy King Croesus of Lydia, and site of one of "the The Interfaith Committee for Peace in the Holy Land seven churches which are in Asia" (Revelation 1:4; 3:1) recently held ground-breaking ceremonies for a "Pillar of climaxed two months of excavation last summer by an Peace," which is to be erected on the shore of the Sea of archaeological expedition sponsored by Cornell University, Galilee near the New Testament city of Capernaum. The Harvard University, and the American Schools of Oriental committee includes Christians, Jews, and Moslems, and the Research, Jerusalem and Baghdad, with the support of the 170-foot pillar will bear symbols of all three faiths. Bollingen Foundation of New York. Sardis was destroyed by Tamerlane, the Mongol conqueror, in 1402. Liquor Advertising Reaches New High Tenth Anniversary of World Council Alcohol-beverage advertising totaled a record $413,267,- 548 in 1957, the Methodist Board of Temperance has Church leaders from all parts of the world attended the reported. One out of every twenty-one adults in the United tenth-anniversary session of the World Council of Churches States is now an alcoholic. Citing the latest studies con- at Nyborg, Denmark, in late August last year. The Council ducted by the Yale Center of Alcohol Studies, the Board now has 171 member church bodies in 52 countries. Three said that the number of alcoholics has risen to 5,015,000, churches were admitted to membership at this session: The which means 4,760 per 100,000 of the adult population. Hungarian Reformed Church in the U.S.A., the Iglesia In 1940 the total stood at 2,632,000, or 3,050 per 100,000. Filipino Independiente (Independent Philippine Church), and the Eglise Evangelique du Cameroon (Evangelical Canned Food a Major Industry Church of the Carneroons). Plans were made to build a Since a Frenchman named Nicholas Appert won an $2,500,000 headquarters for the World Council in Geneva, award from Napoleon in 1809 for developing the principle Switzerland, and to hold the third world assembly of the of preserving food in sealed containers, canned food has Council in Ceylon in 1961.
4
.1!
the flight of TIME
WHAT LIES AHEAD ? ANOTHER New Year's Day dawns upon our troubled world, millions of people stand gazing This child in Stockholm, Sweden, is surrounded by some of the AS into the future, wondering what it holds in store numerous items required by the average Swedish child during for them of joy or sorrow. the first year of its life. The value of the display is $384.20. "Happy New Year!" they say to each other mechanically, the while questioning how much real happiness there can be in a universe threatened with atomic destruction. The fact is that deep down in all hearts there is a growing fear that time is running out; that the present era of fictitious prosperity, improvident living, and un- ethical conduct cannot last much longer; that the hour of judgment approaches for a careless and godless generation. Are such fears justified? What lies hidden in the womb of time? What may we expect in the days and months ahead? One thing is certain: Only God knows the future. Of himself man cannot tell what even the weather will be like a few days hence. As to the direction of history, so de- pendent upon a multitude of conflicting forces, he knows nothing at all. But God in His infinite wisdom knows the end from the beginning. As He Himself has said, "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." Isaiah 42:9. Through His prophets He has spoken of things to come with great clarity and certainty. The apostle Peter refers to the "sure word" of prophecy, and describes it as "a The giant Boeing 707 jet transport stands on the flight line light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and at the Boston, Massachusetts, airport after completing a 2,500- the daystar arise." 2 Peter 1:19. mile flight from Seattle, Washington, in 4 hours and 16 minutes. Has prophecy light for our time? It has. Concerning international affairs, the greatest Prophet of all predicts: "And there shall be . . . upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for look- ing after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21:25, 26. This is Christ's picture of the condition of the world in the closing years of human history. Therefore we are not to expect any permanent improvement in international relationships. Mistrust and misunderstanding will never be eliminated this side of the kingdom of God. Wars and rumors of wars will be man's lot until the end of time. Furthermore, we are told that as Christ's coming nears "there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." Daniel 12:1. So we are not to anticipate an era of universal prosperity and world brotherhood as a result of the activities of the United Nations or of any other similar organization. Heaven upon earth will never come about by human devising. Concerning the current decay of moral standards and
PHOTOS: UNITED PRESS 5 An artist's impression of a streamlined nuclear-powered submarine compared with a modern surface tanker. British engineers hope to have the first nuclear-powered cargo submarine built by 1962.
corruption in social life and political affairs, we are told death decree by the last religious tyranny to curse mankind, clearly that "in the last days perilous times shall come. he adds, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, un- and over his image, and over his mark, and over the num- thankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, ber of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that harps of God." Revelation 15:2. are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures Therefore as we peer anxiously into the future at the more than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:1-4. Here is dawn of 1959 we are not to be unduly alarmed by the clear forewarning that the processes of degeneracy will not scenes of trouble and distress which prophecy indicates are be arrested. Rather will they become "worse and worse" to be our lot in the days ahead, but rather look still further until the end. Verse 13. on to where its light glows upon the face of our divine Concerning religious liberty Bible prophecy informs us Redeemer coming back in majesty and glory to bring that, instead of the area of human freedom expanding with earth's sorrows and trials to an end. the passing of time, it will recede until at last, in history's With this prospect before us, and the certainty of the tremendous climax, reactionary forces will seize control of final triumph of truth and righteousness, a happy new year the very citadel of civil and religious liberty and will may indeed be a reality for each one of us. Trouble may decree that "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free surround us, but within our hearts shall be the peace of and bond," shall "receive a mark in their right hand, or in God that "passeth all understanding"—a happiness divine their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save which shall abide through all eternity. A. S. M.
CHURCH OR STATE ? T MAY have come as a surprise to some that the recent election of a pope should involve the laws of the With the I United States or the American principle of separation London Tower of church and state. It did both, however, as pointed out bridge in the background, the by that ever-alert organization, Protestants and Other Royal Navy's Americans United for Separation of Church and State. latest submarine, Prior to the papal election Glenn L. Archer, the execu- H.M.S. "Por- poise," arrives tive director of P.O.A.U., charged that if the American in London for cardinals should vote for a pope they would violate Section inspection by 1481 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, high naval officials. which says that an American citizen "shall lose his nation- ality by . . . voting in a political election in a foreign state or participating in an election or plebiscite to determine the sovereignty over foreign territory," and in his letter to the United States State Department he cited numerous in- stances in which the courts have deprived ordinary Ameri- cans of their citizenship for violations of this law. he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the In its reply to Mr. Archer the State Department at- number of his name." Revelation 13:16, 17. tempted to draw a distinction between the position of the Someone may say, If such are the revelations of prophecy, pope as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church why trouble our minds with them? Why permit such a and as sovereign chief of the state of Vatican City, stating gloomy view of the future to oppress our spirits? If the that "it is only incidental that by virtue of his office as coming days are to be so filled with tragedy, why not enjoy head of the Catholic Church the Pope is also head of the the bliss of ignorance while we may? State of Vatican City." Commenting on the State Depart- Thank God, this is not all that prophecy has to say. ment ruling, Mr. Archer very aptly summed up the whole As the apostle Peter says, it is a light that si-"es amid case: darkness to illumine the path of the child of God "until "The State Department's reply is a noble effort to re- the day dawn." It is designed not to discourage, but to solve an impossible dilemma. It fails to do so. The De- cheer; not to cause us to despair, but to fill our hearts with partment admits our contention that this election is for hope. the purpose of choosing the head of a sovereign state known So it is that, when Christ tells of the conflicts and as the State of Vatican City. It argues that the law is not agonies of time's last hour, He adds, "When these things applicable because the political election is 'incidental.' It begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your would appear that the State Department is nullifying the heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. law by an irrelevant interpretation. The law plainly covers When we read in the book of Daniel of the coming of all political elections, whether their political character is "a time of trouble, such as never was," we read also that `incidental' or not. It makes no provision for splitting an "at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that election in two and calling one part ecclesiastical and the shall be found written in the book." Daniel 12:1. other part political. The split is impossible in this case, And when the apostle John tells of the total eclipse of also, because the religious and political sovereign is the human liberty in the last days, and the promulgation of a same person.
6
I R A OF
"While acknowledging that the election in which the My New Yea 41% American cardinals propose to vote is an election to choose SOMA PA WO). the head of a sovereign state, the Department also makes by Pearl Waggoner Howar the interesting admission that the 'real significance of the election of a pope is religious.' Certainly this admission Not yet attained! But still my feet are pressing means that the United States Government is forever Toward those heights which lie outstretched before; estopped from sending an ambassador to the Vatican. For That which the past has held of heavenly blessing if this is a religious sovereign who is now being named, Will not suffice; I hunger still for more. then it would be flatly unconstitutional to send an Ameri- And now as dawns for me one more new year, can ambassador to such a sovereign. So grant, 0 Lord, 'twill bring me yet more near. "The ambivalent reply of the State Department is in itself evidence that this split personality of a church which More near to Thee! Yea, Lord, and ever nearer, alternately poses as a church and a sovereign state ought to Forgetting all the things now left behind; be promptly resolved.... My aim is higher ground, with vision clearer, "One remedy for the present situation might be to To see Thee close, though steep the path may wind. pass a special law to reinstate the cardinals, similar to the Forgive, 0 Lord, the blindness of the past; 1951 law which restored citizenship to 4,000 little people Be still my guide, I pray, and hold me fast! involved in the Italian elections of 1946 and 1948." "One thing I do!" My time cannot be squandered American citizens who are loyal to the principle of In grieving o'er mistakes of years now gone; separation of church and state should remember the papal Though in side paths my feet have ofttimes wandered, election of 1958 if at some time in the future a move is Yet reach I forward still—Lord, help me on! made to send an ambassador to the Vatican. C. D. U. And grant this year, in mercy given me, May lead to untrod heights, close, close to Thee. LIQUOR ADVERTISING M ERICA is not becoming a nation of "alcoholics unanimous" fast enough to suit the distillers. Their the other ills that receive concerted attack from voluntary recent reversals of the so-called voluntary advertis- groups, foundations and government—indeed, more than ing code indicate their intention to try two previously most of them combined." unused methods to step up the sale of their products. The 5,000,000 alcoholics and the 3,000,000 "problem Since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 the liquor makers drinkers" in the United States are the direct victims, and have followed an unwritten rule that they would not use they include a rapidly increasing number of women. The radio in their hard-liquor advertising. Two broadcasting indirect victims are the husbands and wives of the alco- stations, however, have recently announced their intention holics, their children, and, in a very real sense, society as to accept distilled liquor advertising and doubtless other a whole, which must assume much of the burden of caring stations will follow their lead. There will be no lack of for the alcoholics and near-alcoholics. money to put liquor advertising on the air, and the tempta- It is hard to understand why an enlightened, civilized tion to reach out for a share of the $400,000,000 the society should allow any traffic to exploit human weakness liquor business spends annually on advertising will out- by deceptive advertising of a product that is responsible for weigh the sense of social responsibility the stations have a large part of adult and juvenile crime, mental and physi- heretofore professed to feel. cal illness, broken homes, and death on the highways. The To give their products more glamorous appeal to men reversal of the voluntary codes of the distillers makes it and to accustom women to the idea that they belong in the evident that the liquor traffic will not place restraints on group where whisky and vodka are being served, the Dis- itself any longer than it has to. tilled Spirits Institute has decided to drop another of its There is a rising tide of resentment against liquor ad- rules and picture women in its advertisements. vertising, particularly since radio and television have That liquor advertising produces results is evident from brought beer and wine advertising into the home, and at- figures furnished by the Yale University Center of Alcohol tempts have been made by temperance organizations to Studies. Citing them, Wayne D. Williams states in the secure legislation that would ban interstate liquor adver- Christian Century (November 5, 1958) that between 1940 tising. The National Temperance League, whose head- and 1953 the per capita alcoholism among adults increased quarters are in Washington, D.C., predicts that the decision 44 per cent, with twelve states showing an increase of by the Distilled Spirits Institute to modify its voluntary more than 50 per cent. By 1956 it had increased another advertising code to permit using illustrations of women 8.5 per cent. and to use the radio will strengthen the drive among re- Concerning the seriousness of the problem, an outstand- ligious and temperance forces in the next Congress to ing authority on alcoholism, Dr. Selden D. Bacon of Yale enact legislation curbing all liquor advertising. University, wrote in the New York Times: All Christians should support the temperance organiza- "Alcoholism and alcoholics form one of the worst and tions in their efforts to secure such legislation, and in ad- largest problems of American society today. Alcoholism has dition they should continue their work in the home, the . more direct victims and more indirect victims, lasts church, and the school to educate youth so that they will longer, more dramatically injures the very structure of be able to withstand the pressures that are brought to society, and entails enormously greater costs than most of bear on them to drink alcoholic beverages. C. D. U. fr- r v.) U why teen-avers go wrong
THREE LIONS, P.P.P.A. PICTURES, LAMBERT
Do Young People Need More Recreation, or More Parental Attention?
_. ANXIOUS parents, teen-age daughters, bright new houses, telligent parents recommend theaters, swimming pools, brand-new city, but Something Important Missing. jukeboxes, and paid organizers, as remedials against juve- A shadow has fallen over the whole community. The nile delinquency and as antidotes for parental lack, not just good name of a school is in question. A schoolgirl is in of control, but of all those fine things that make fine parents. trouble. The $50,000 community center has not prevented "Tuppence" is the canine member of the family of one the tragedy. of our friends. She is a collie of, without doubt, unim- Now the parents have gathered to thrash out the ques- peachable ancestry; she may have that to her credit. She tion, How can we stop the teen-agers from going wrong? is still very young and spirited nevertheless. But does she "We ican't chain them up in the house," said one; "they break bounds? Not she. Does she scamper off when and haven't been used to restrictions." where she shouldn't? Not she. Without leash or check she "I bought my daughter everything I could think of to trots along beside her mistress, proud, useful, dependable, keep her off the streets," said one mother; "a record player, companionable and free, not under control, but in control; typewriter, roller skates, but she still prefers to go to the in control of herself, and happy and glad in it. jukebox café. There's nowhere else to go." So should our children be, every one of them. And they "We need paid organizers," some said, "and equipment can be, by God's grace, providing the "things missing" are to keep our children occupied in healthful activities." supplied. "We need the $100,000 swimming pool they once prom- The things missing, however, are not measurable in ised us." terms of dollars and cents, nor in the ability of paid "We need the $10,000 bowling alley." organizers, but are all compassed in the degree to which "We need the $5,000 putting green." mothers and fathers accept and bear their God-given re- "If it means a jukebox in our community center," said sponsibility. one, "then let's have a jukebox." A young mother was in a hospital, and she was worried. One scarcely knows whether to pity or to condemn such No, not about her condition; she was doing well enough. a calamitous lack of sense of personal responsibility. Not about her family, either; they had, by experience, Poor So-and-So is in the bankruptcy courts. He can't learned to fend for themselves. make his business pay. He needs about $100,000. Do you No, she was worried about the money she wasn't earning. think that bag of pennies the children play with would in And why did she need the money ? To help feed or clothe any way suffice? Ridiculous, isn't it? Yet presumably in- her family? No. To help pay the mortgage on the house? 8 I had the loveliest experience just a week or two ago, one that I shall never forget, one that I shall always look back upon with gratitude. It happened in the corner store. Three women were waiting to be served. First one nodded, "Good morning," then the second looked around and greeted me, and, when she heard my name, so did the third. "You know," the first said to the others, "I was nursed by this by MARY J. VINE lady's daughter in the hospital." "Well, I never," said the second, "so was I." "That's funny," said the third, "so was I." But when they compared notes neither had been nursed by the same daughter. The one had been nursed by one and the second by another, and the third by still another, and when they told me of the good treatment, the good fellowship, and the kindliness they had each received at the hands of one of my three nursing daughters, I felt like the first lady of the land. Each girl could have been a Florence Nightingale in the eyes of those three grateful women, and I—I felt I had not, maybe, lived in vain. Every baby born is born to something. "Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children," says Ellen Gould White—your children and mine. Who knows what skill is latent in those tiny, cling- ing fingers, what artistry, what possibilities of superb crafts- manship, what healing, soothing power? And who can gauge the possibilities of each infant mind? A giant in mind and purpose, Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin, poorest of the poor. But if there was one who shared his greatness, it was his greathearted stepmother, who by all the means she knew helped to direct the mind of the sad-faced, lonely boy brought to her charge. Who shall say that this year of grace, 1959, this tre- mendous year, has not other Abraham Lincolns just in need of recognition and encouragement, and who shall say that No. To help, maybe, give some of the children specialized they are not, even now, sitting right on our own hearth? training? No. How gladly we satisfy their material wants, but these are She went to work solely for the purpose of earning suffi- not the end of our responsibility. Teach them the other cient wages to pay for the weekly consumption of cigarettes. things—that the good Lord loves them and gave His life Reprehensible? Culpable? Yet she could very well be for them. Teach them to respect their own manhood and one of those worried mothers discussing their wayward womanhood, so that they hold it as a holy, sacred thing. daughters. She is just as respectable as they, and lives in Teach them the joys of service, as much by your own dedi- exactly the same kind of community. But by so pitiful a cated life as by your prayers and exhortations. Encourage cycle of deterrents her children are robbed of that which is them to develop their capabilities. You will not be able to theirs by right of being born, their mother's first and best spare time then to go to work to earn money for the attention. "smokes." Not, of course, that that applies to every work- She is not in when they come home from school. And ing mother, but we must all work out the problem for our- such time as she does have at home is occupied to the full, selves. If we really think and pray about it, the Father so much so that it is a relief if the children are outside. will not leave us long ignorant as to what should come first. There was a mother once, and she a slave, who so And at all costs let us try to help them set their af- faithfully discharged her duty to the babe God gave her, fections on the clean and lovely, the birds that fly, the that not even the prospect of kingship of the most power- flowers that grow, the beautiful in art, in music, and in ful nation on earth could divert him from his purpose. A literature. nation of mothers of the caliber of Jochebed could very It will perhaps be a great turnabout for some of us, but quickly solve this delinquency problem. There is not a it is never so late but that it will do some good, perhaps baby born but is blessed with infinite potentialities, and a great deal more than we are aware of. there is none so heavily responsible to develop those poten- It is a heavy burden we have laid upon ourselves, the tialities as the mother who cradled it so long. motherhood and fatherhood of this latter-day generation, There was a mother once who had a fifteenth child. but, having so far committed ourselves, let us not lay Surely her hands were full enough! Nevertheless she de- the responsibility back on city councils, nor upon paid termined that she would pay particular attention to the organizers. Rather let us manfully bear it ourselves. It care of his soul. She did. She was Susanna Wesley, and is a high privilege. Let us face it as such, rejoicing that we her son John truly "turned the world upside down." have been counted worthy. [END)
9 1. FROM TEHERAN
TO PERSEPOLIS
by SIEGFRIED H. HORN trailds in 3nrient persia
Y DREAM of many years' standing—to roam over The ruins of a bridge that was built during the Middle Ages by the hills of Shushan, to climb the world-famous Anushi Dawan. Behisnin rock, and study the magnificent palace ruins of Persepolis—came true in 1956. My journey took me on an exciting 2,050-mile trip through deserts and highland plains, over some of the steepest mountain descents on earth, and through some of the deepest rivers a modern station wagon can ford without being lost. In subse- quent articles I will describe the most important sites visited in old Persia in connection with the history of the kings asso- ciated with those sites, such as Ecbatana, the capital of the Medes; Pasargadae, the residence city of Cyrus the Great; the Behistun rock, on which Darius the Great inscribed his auto- biography; Shushan, the palace city of Ahasuerus's and Esther's fame; and Persepolis, the most magnificent of all Persian capitals. Like most modern travelers I caught my first glimpse of old Persia from the air. Winging my way in a Super Constel- lation from Karachi to Teheran, the _modern capital of Iran, I flew for several hours over a grayish-brown land of apparent desolation. I noticed very little vegetation, and places of habi- tation seemed to be almost absent. As far as the eye could reach there seemed to be only barren mountains, desert val- leys, and dry plains. Shortly before we reached Teheran we flew over the Dasht-i-Kavir, the great Salt Desert, and then viewed the mighty Elburz mountain range, with its beautiful snow-capped peak, 18,600-foot Mount Demavend. Upon landing at the modern airport of Tphx.rn, T was met by R. C. Skinner, in whose hospitable home I later spent some pleasant days. Learning that K. S. Oster, who was to be my guide, interpreter, and driver, had already completed all prepara- tions for our twelve-day trip, and was ready to start at once, S. H. HORN
I took from my baggage what I thought I would need most one hour and had found several men standing around us during the next two weeks, and declared myself ready for discussing who we were. Fearing that they might have evil departure. intentions, he talked with them, explained why we were there, Less than two hours after landing at Teheran we were head- and then stayed up the rest of the night, not daring to go to ing south in Oster's 1953 Dodge station wagon. We were sleep again. accompanied by Malcom Gasparian and his wife. They were Isfahan, a city with a population of about one hundred thou- eager to make this trip, and spent their annual vacation with sand, is a treasure house of Moslem architecture, having sixty us in this way. We welcomed their companionship, since we mosques and several beautiful palaces. I would have enjoyed knew we would travel through rough terrain in desolate desert seeing some of the world-famous buildings at Isfahan, but we regions, and had to reckon with the possibility of a car break- had no time for a prolonged stay. It was Friday, and we wanted down. In that case someone knowing the language of the to visit Pasargadae during the day and to reach Persepolis country would have to obtain help, which might be hundreds before sunset. of miles away. All morning we drove over the dusty road that leads to Our first hundred miles were traveled on a good asphalt Bushire, a port city on the Persian Gulf. One who has not road, and were uneventful except that we had a punctured driven over such a road has no idea how much dust can accumu- tire from picking up a nail. Qum, where we stopped to have late on one's body and hair. It literally formed a thick crust our tire repaired, is a holy city of pilgrimage, having some on the exposed skin and discolored the hair so that it looked beautiful mosques with golden minarets and colorful tiled like the Persian desert grass. domes under which several Moslem saints are buried. Since I was especially interested in the intricate water supply the population of this city is known to be fanatical, I was system found in many desert regions of Iran, a system that cautious at first about taking pictures, having read that for- has been in existence since ancient times. At regular intervals eigners have been killed there in the past for doing this. one sees five- to eight-foot dirt mounds, in the midst of which I was glad, however, to find the people of Qum rather friendly. is the opening of a shaft. These shafts are thirty and more They seemed to have no objection to my taking pictures of feet deep, and are connected underground by means of tun- their beautiful mosques and colorful street life. nels in which subterranean water is collected. A man traveling Our next stretch—to Isfahan—took us over a 180-mile- through the Persian desert cannot perish of thirst if he carries long road that was paved but dusty and in a poor state of with him a long rope and a bucket. He is practically always repair. Since there were many big trucks on the road, we in sight of one of these water holes. Since they have to be traveled most of the time in a thick cloud of dust. On this road kept clean, in several places we saw that people were working I experienced my first sunset in Persia. It was beautiful, as in them. We stopped at one kanut, as such a water hole is sunsets always are in desert countries. Driving on for several called, and saw a man hoisting buckets of dirt from the hours in the dark, we reached Isfahan at 11:00 p.m., but found bottom of the shaft, which was forty feet deep at that place. all hotels full. We learned that four men, whose singing we could hear, were Since we were prepared for such emergencies, we drove down in the tunnel to clean out the sediment and mud. This to the lot on which a Seventh-day Adventist church was in dirt is placed around the opening of the shaft and forms the the process of construction, its walls having been erected to characteristic low mound, which reveals to the traveler the the windows. We spread our sleeping bags on the ground and presence of a kanut. had as our canopy the Persian sky lighted by the myriads of At noontime we stopped at a roadside teahouse where people friendly stars. I slept for more than five hours without in- traveling in trucks and caravans stop for their meals and drinks. terruption. However, upon awakening the next morning I We had a Persian dinner of well-cooked rice and a thick heard that Gasparian had awakened after having slept for only gravy, with vegetables and sour (Continued on page 31)
II FROM MUTINEERS' HIDEOUT TO PACIFIC Romantic Story of Pitcairn Island As Told by Parkin Christian to Donald A. Webster PARADISE
Parkin Christian (center) is looking through a spyglass that belonged to the Seventh-day Adventist mis- sionary ship "Pitcairn;" and Walter Bligh, by family tradition a descendant of Captain William Bligh, is looking through the one that belonged to Captain Bligh. They met last summer in New York City.
ECENTLY I visited with the descendent of a mutineer. my cabin while I was asleep, and seizing me, tied my hands R Parkin Christian, great-great-grandson of Fletcher with a cord behind my back and threatened me with Christian, history's most famous mutineer, was visiting instant death, if I spoke or made the least noise. I, however, the United States from a remote island of the Pacific. called so loud as to alarm everyone; but they had already Bronzed and erect, the six-foot, three-inch Mr. Christian secured the officers who were not of their party. . . . Chris- looked every inch the descendant of a rugged mutineer. tian had only a cutlass in his hand, the others had muskets His home is lonely Pitcairn Island, which lies approxi- and bayonets. I was hauled out of bed in my shirt. . . . mately halfway between Auckland and Panama. It is 400 " 'Christian . . . then said—"Come, Captain Bligh, your miles north of the shortest route between these two points. officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with A change of steamer route would cut this ocean speck off them; if you attempt to make the least resistance you will from the outside world. The island itself is only two miles instantly be put to death:" and without any further ceremony, long by a mile wide. It rises 1,1000 feet out of the Pacific. holding me by the cord that tied my hands, with a tribe of Parkin Christian's story of Pitcairn goes back many years, armed ruffians about me, I was forced over the side. . . . to April 28, 1789. The "Bounty," under Captain Bligh, was A few pieces of pork were now thrown to us, and some returning to England after six months spent at Tahiti. clothes, also . . . cutlasses. . . . We were at length cast "Eight bells struck," according to an account in the adrift in the open ocean.' " National Geographic magazine of December, 1957. "Fletcher In forty-one days Bligh sailed from Tofua to Timor, a Christian, acting mate of His Majesty's armed vessel distance of 3,618 nautical miles. Christian and his followers `Bounty,' came on deck to relieve the watch. The ship's returned to Tahiti. Sixteen of them chose to stay there, commander, Lieutenant William Bligh, was asleep in his while Christian and the eight remaining crew members, cabin below. along with six native men, twelve Tahitian women, and a am now unhappily to relate one of the most atrocious little girl, sailed for Pitcairn. acts of piracy ever committed,' " wrote Captain Bligh. The first few years of life on Pitcairn were marked with " 'Just before sun-rising, Mr. Christian, with the master-at- violence, drunkenness, and death. By 1808, according to arms, gunner's mate, and Thomas Burket, seaman, came into Parkin Christian, only one of the original mutineers was
12 still alive. The lone surviver, John Adams, turned to re- time you want," he said. "I don't like to rush, rush, rush ligion. He took the Bible, which had been taken from all the time. We talk about temperance. It is not temperate the "Bounty," and mapped out a way of life that has helped to rush so much. I like to talk to you. Take your time." to make Pitcairn a model of Christian civilization. In this congenial atmosphere Mr. Christian and I visited Parkin Christian told me about some of the early trouble on. "Certain young people in many parts of the world pose on the island. "My grandfather, Fletcher's grandson, told quite a problem, which we term juvenile delinquency," I me when I was a youngster that not long after the landing, said. "Do you have any such problems with the young peo- all the women of Pitcairn deserted the men and set up ple of Pitcairn?" a separate colony on the other side of the island. They did "Our children do not have idle fingers," was his reply. it because the men were distilling liquor and getting drunk. "They work near their parents. Your families are divided They built a fort, did their own planting and fishing, and too much and you have trouble. Liquor causes much trouble, held the men at bay. They said it was easier to get along too," he said further. "Up here people go to the bottle without the men. They even fought some battles. Finally, or the glass and lose their senses and then act. That makes after five years, they gave the men an ultimatum—quit barbarians out of people." liquor or get off the island. "The men wouldn't do either, so the women attacked. The men stayed locked up in their houses, so the women burned them out. Then they destroyed all the distilleries. "There hasn't been any drinking of alcohol on Pitcairn since," Parkin Christian told me. "The women set the law. If it weren't for the women, there'd be no Pitcairn." Parkin Christian, 74, was chief magistrate of Pitcairn, a British colony, for almost 25 years. "I never had to lock anyone up," he said, "because we on the island are all related and help instead of hurt one another. The laws of Christian love have made the island a place where we find true joy in living. There is nothing artificial with us." Much of the property on the island, such as buildings, boats, etc., are commonly owned. "The people work to- gether," Mr. Christian said. "When the bell sounds three times, all able-bodied males from 16 to 60 must report to the courthouse and do whatever work the island council decides must be done—road mending, repairs to the landing slide, land clearing. "Americans might not enjoy this life as much as they Parkin Christian (left) talks with a newspaper reporter. think," he went on to say. "It is not an easy life. If you want to build a home, you don't look for a contractor. You "What do the young people do for entertainment and build it with your own hands." recreation?" I asked. "What about taxes?" I asked. "Don't the people of "They use their hands," he told me. "They fish, boat, Pitcairn have to pay a certain percentage of their earnings build, and work in the gardens. They also like to play games, to the government?" such as cricket. Swimming is one of their favorite sports. "No," he replied. "The public work takes the place of The boys especially can swim well. Recently one boy of taxes." twelve battled the big waves of the Pitcairn shore to rescue "What do the people do with their money?" I asked. two girls of seven and eight. The boys can also repair "The people of Pitcairn collectively earn about 3,000 the machinery on the island. Most of them can take it pounds ( $8,400) a year," he said, "most of which is earned apart completely and then reassemble it." by selling curios and fruit to passing ships, which are reached "What do you think of the United States?" I asked to in longboats. In America," he continued, "many people close our interview. give 10 per cent of their increase to the Lord. On Pitcairn "I love the people," he said, "but when I leave Pitcairn we give almost all." I turn my back on civilization and come to uncivilization." "How can you afford to be so generous when you earn He again spoke words that were indicative of a wisdom so little?" I inquired. based on years of experience in following Christ. "On "As long as we are faithful to God," was his quick reply, Pitcairn we have better civilization than in America," he "He will never forsake us. We live and work for one an- said. "There our civilization is founded on love; here there other on Pitcairn. Giving is living. If only receiving, you is often hate. Buildings and bombs are impressive, but the die. You must be content with what is your lot," he said only true civilization is founded on love." further. "Don't be too concerned about things. Live by It was time to end the interview. Many people were the Bible and let the Lord look after you." standing around, impatiently waiting to speak with Parkin At this point in my interview I was approached by a Christian. But he refused to be rushed. news reporter. "Hurry up," he told me. "There are many I put out my hand. It was almost lost in his. "We must other people who want to speak with this man." follow the Book," he said as we parted. "We must give Immediately Mr. Christian turned to me. "Take all the the gospel, finish the work, so Jesus can come." [END]
13 ple without further examination agree that this first part of the Bible belongs with the myths and fairy stories of childhood. It is well worth our while to examine this situation, to see what intelligent modern Christians should believe, though neces- MEM sarily these large and complicated subjects can be touched upon only briefly. True, the contrast and antagonism could hardly be greater than between the Bible account of creation and the modern scientific teaching about the beginnings of our world. Genesis and tells of a deathless, painless, sinless world spoken into existence by God at essentially one period only a few thousands of years ago, with the Sabbath at its close as a perpetual reminder that the methods by which God created came to a definite end. These methods were entirely different from the methods of natural law by which the same Creator has since been conducting the affairs and processes of the world. But the current theories @EOLNY of evolutionary geology are founded on the idea that the present laws of nature have always prevailed, that the present is the measure of the past and of all the past. And thus, by flatly denying the gigantic miracle of the Deluge, and by projecting by GEORGE McCREADY PRICE the present order backward indefinitely, these theories tell of all nature, red in tooth and claw, prolonged during a thousand million years, with no real beginning of anything anywhere. In the Bible the first man was made by direct fiat of the the Almighty, in the image of his Creator, endowed with free CAN moral choice, and without the slightest bias toward evil; while, according to the current teachings, the human race originated by long-drawn-out natural process from animal ancestors who THEY had climbed the bloody ladder of survival at the expense of others. In the Bible account it is plainly man's own fault that BE he is a sinner and subject to disease, suffering, and death. But, according to the popular theories, it is not man's fault but his misfortune that he is a sinner; and if there is any RECONCILED? being responsible for the present state of affairs it must be God Himself. No slightest similarity exists between these two accounts; it is all contrast. No clear-thinking, honest-minded human being would ever attempt to "reconcile" or "harmonize" them. If one is true, the other must be false. They are mutually ex- ECENTLY a revival of interest in religion has been clusive. sweeping across Europe and America. In spite of this, The present world situation is similar to that confronting it is still true that few even among religious people Luther and the other early Reformers. They found the Bible Raccept at face value the first chapters of the Bible. Myriads teaching one thing and the current philosophy and world opin- of different and contradictory "explanations" or "harmonizings" ion holding something entirely different. They took their of the Genesis account prevail, their diversity and fantastic stand on the Bible and the Bible only as the one true guide details revealing their inconsistencies and lack of truth. This to belief and practice. But they also had the strong backing Babel of self-contradictions and absurdities ought to suggest of the Bible's predictions about the antichrist. And when that there must be a better way of treating this first part of they once got into their souls that the predicted antichrist God's rev elation to mankind. was plainly confronting them in all the world around, nothing The spectacular achievements of such inventions as radio could turn them back, and they went cheerfully to the stake and television, atomic bombs, sputniks, and guided missiles, or the rack in sublime confidence that they were still on the have produced a state of the public mind similar to a blind side of the majority, with God and the angels of heaven. superstitious idolatry for anything claiming to be "scientific." Similarly today, the believer in the Bible record of crea- These achievements are deceiving them that dwell upon the tion is not at all dismayed as he sees essentially the entire earth. In the minds of millions they seem to confirm all the educated world accepting the so-called "scientific" view of the prevailing theories of geology, or "earth-science," so that all beginning. For he looks upon this modern anti-Genesis apostasy the guesses and fancies of the only science which has not as only a sort of second edition of the antichrist that confronted changed or been reformed in more than a hundred years are Luther and his fellow Reformers. now venerated as established facts. The result is that now, But the believer in the Bible remembers also another proph- whenever geologists point to the obvious fact that their account ecy which describes the credo of the modern evolutionary of the beginnings of the earth is in flat contradiction to the geology like a divinely drawn blueprint. And nothing can records in the first three chapters of the Bible, millions of peo- uphold the spirit like the conviction that a prophecy of two
14 thousand years ago is even now being fulfilled before our eyes. 1. It is a picture of the religio-scientific philosophy pre- We have already seen how the modern scientific theory is vailing in the "last days." based on natural uniformity, or the assumption that the presently 2. These last-day mockers deny anything like a future second prevailing natural processes have always prevailed through all advent of Christ and an end of the present condition of the the past. In the Bible prophecy, to be given directly, this is world, because they have grown accustomed to willfully ignor- stated as the idea that "all things continue as they were from ing or denying the Bible record of the Flood. This is an ac- the beginning," which is the same thing. But the prophecy curate statement of the present situation. goes on to tell the logical process of thinking by which men 3. These religio-scientific philosophers are described as uni- reach this conviction of uniformity, which is by denying the formitarians, or followers of the theories of Lyell and the Bible record of a universal Deluge; and this is in exact agree- modern geologists; for the basic doctrine of the latter is that ment with history. For the uniformitarian geology of Lyell pre- everything has remained as it was from "the beginning of ceded by a quarter of a century the biological theories of creation." Nobody can deny that this entire sentence is an ac- Charles Darwin, and without the preceding teachings of Lyell, curate statement of the most fundamental scientific theories Darwin could have had no followers. Even today, when, as one during the past century or more. modern scientist has remarked, Darwin has been shorn of his 4. The over-all teaching of this prophecy of Peter is that selection theories as completely as Samson was shorn of his these mockers of the last days are wholly wrong. For the locks, the world still believes in evolution somehow, because world was once destroyed by water, and the next time it will they still believe in the long geological ages as taught by Sir be destroyed by fire at the second advent. Charles Lyell. Attention has been drawn to the diametric contrast between The prediction referred to is here given according to the the Genesis record and the current popular theories. If one translation of 2 Peter 3:3-7 by Goodspeed. is true, the other must be false. "First of all, you must understand this, that in the last days Each decides on what he thinks is the evidence. But each mockers will come with their mockeries, going where their decides on faith, not demonstration. The believer in the Bible passions lead and saying, 'Where is His promised coming? has faith in what he regards as the word of God, the Creator For ever since our forefathers fell asleep everything has re- Himself, the only Being who can possibly know. The scientist mained as it was from the beginning of creation!' For they decides by faith in the accuracy and the bona fides of all his willfully ignore the fact that long ago there existed heavens fellow scientists. For not even the wisest of scientific men can and an earth which had been formed at God's command out ever have firsthand knowledge of more than a very small part of water and by water, by which also that world was destroyed, of the facts involved in any theory about origins. For all the through being flooded with water. But by the same com- rest—and this involves essentially all—he has to trust to others. mand the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, and So, in the last analysis, he rests his faith on his fellow men— are kept for the day when godless men are to be judged and not the Lord. And whatever or whomever one trusts his ulti- destroyed." mate belief upon is in effect his god. Several ideas in this passage need to be noted. How much better to (Continued on page 25) "I'd rather walk in the dark with my hand in the hand of God than to walk in the light alone."
S Guidebook for the New Year 16 "I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." Hebrews 8:10. Note: This is something that only God can do. The principles of His character, His word, must become our very nature. ALONE WITH YOUR BIBLE Who will help us toward perfection? by "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13. Note: His will takes the place of our will. His strength RAYMOND H. LIBBY replaces our weakness. His word becomes our instructor. What wise advice does Jesus give us for this new year, and for life? "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have HY has God given the Bible to the human eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." John family? 5:39. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light Whom will we find revealed in both Old and New unto my path." Psalm 119:105. Testaments? Note: I do not know the way ahead. How wonderful that "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He ex- God should place in my hands a "light" to lighten the path pounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things con- before me! That light is the Holy Bible, God's guiding light cerning Himself." Luke 24:27. for me in 1959. Note: The Old Testament is filled with prophecies con- Is there any danger that this light will go out before cerning the promised Messiah. Jesus Christ is in all the the year's end? Bible. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto If we permit the will of God, as revealed in His word, ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth to govern our lives, of what are we assured? in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19. doctrine, whether it be of God." John 7:17. Note: God's guiding light, His Holy Word, will not go out. It will shine brighter and brighter until the "day dawn" How does this knowledge of true doctrine come to us? of Christ's second coming. There is eternal light in the "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will Sacred Scriptures. pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, If we listen to the word of God, and obey it, what will that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of happen? truth." John 14:15-17. "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that guide you into all truth." John 16: 13. shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18. Note: The diligent student of God's word will find the Just how does the Holy Spirit do this work? right way illuminated more clearly as he walks "in the "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, light." This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right How does the apostle Paul describe the effects of Sacred hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21. Scripture in our lives? Is it important that we study the Bible seriously this "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is new year? profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in- "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not struction in righteousness: that the man of God may be knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." Matthew perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timo- 22:29. thy 3:16, 17. Note: It is a mistake not to know the Bible. We are in Note: When the instructions of God's word shine into the dark spiritually without its precious light. Sin rules our lives we see our imperfections; we receive counsel for when we fail to know and heed the inspired truths of this correction; we are instructed in rightdoing; and by carrying Book. out God's instructions we are perfected in all good works. The power of Christ transforms us as we walk in the path What assurance of peace and happiness does the knowl- to perfection. edge of God's word bring to us? "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the How will the Holy Scriptures lead us to the perfect life? knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." 2 Peter 1:2. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin Note: "It is a good thing to remember that the Bible against Thee." Psalm 119:11. in the head won't do. The Bible in the hand won't do. The Note: There is power in God's word to keep us from sin, Bible in the pocket won't do. The Bible on the shelf won't but His word must be in our hearts. do. But the Bible, the word of God, in the heart, accepted How can we obtain this hiding of the word in our through faith and full surrender, will bring a new life."— hearts? Bible Readings for the Home, page 38. [END) 17 Stc
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by ( Seim Thousand
APT AIN BOLING, readers ing a flight like this not to attempt it un- You said you were planning this of the "Signs of the Times" less he had very great confidence in his trip for eight months. Was that the are deeply interested in the ability. total planning time? story of your historic flight. Did you run across any unusual or That was when Beech Aircraft entered 'T ell us, where did it start and finish? exciting experiences en route? the picture. Personally I had planned this Geographically, it started at Manila In- thing for several years, but the money ternational Airport and finished at Pendle- Well, yes, exciting, but I wouldn't say was slow coming in. The fact that Beech ton, Oregon. It covered about 7,000 miles. unusual. I was surprised to find that the became interested accelerated it. icing area extended down to almost 6,000 How did this compare with Bill feet between the Aleutian chain and Did Beech Aircraft supply the plane? Odom's 1949 record? Seattle. This almost got me into trouble. They paid all the expenses and built It was 2,000 miles longer. Actually he I was cruising along in great shape and the plane for me. flew 4,957 miles. the clouds came up to meet me. They were What was your main purpose in un- How did it compare with Lind- loaded with ice. In the middle of summer dertaking the trip? bergh's famous flight thirty years ago? it was unexpected. Of course, I had plenty It was a challenge. I could give a hun- hours and of altitude to take care of this situation, dred other answers, of course, but the He was in the air 331/2 but nevertheless, it was a complication. I traveled 3,600 miles. challenge of improving on something al- had to descend and this cut down my ready done was it. I felt the airplane itself How long did your flight take? range, as I was counting on the 15 to 20 had never been extended to its absolute My flight took 46 hours and 52 minutes. knots of tail wind at the higher elevation. limit, and I thought that if this were done It averaged very close to 150 miles an hour. I was tempted to land the airplane short in the ideal area—and there's only one of my goal because of fatigue, and I did fly? ideal area, the north Pacific—the record What kind of plane did you have a slightly rough engine. But there A Bonanza built by Beech Aircraft. It was no real emergency at any time. couldn't help but be improved. was a single-engine airplane of 250 hp. It If you were 46 hours in the air how Was the weather good most of the had some modifications in the form of did you keep awake that long? additional fuel tanks, a special radio and time? Well, I don't require a great deal of a slightly larger propeller than normally The weather was as I expected. In other used. sleep myself. On occasion I can sleep words, I had planned this day for at least twelve hours at a stretch, but in prepara- Apart from these items, would you eight months in advance, simply because tion for the trip I tested myself and dis- say that it was a regular plane? my research into meteorology indicated covered I could get by on two hours' sleep Yes. You could take the gas tanks out that the last of July would be the best time out of the twenty-four and still be alert. and put the seats back in and it would be to make this trip. There were several Well, with the equipment in this plane, a regular four-place Beech Bonanza. other factors—one of them was the full the autopilot, etc., I felt that it was not moon. A person is foolish not to take Could anyone with average flying unreasonable to be able to get that much advantage of every plus factor. If you're sleep in little stretches at a time. experience navigate one of these planes over the north Pacific and have to come this far? down low to hunt for a landing spot it's What about the horn mentioned by Oh, no. He'd get himself into very better to do it by full moon than by no "Time" magazine? serious trouble. I frequently had to bank moon at all. There was a lot of rain en Yes, there was a horn. In fact, that on my 15,000 hours' flying experience. I route and a great deal of cloudiness, but, horn was tied in all around me. If my would advise anybody thinking about mak- all in all, it was pretty much as I expected. speed got too fast it blew, if my speed <1
Oh, no. That was out of the question. Yes. I wanted to carry some Bible and If you're talking about alcoholic beverages, this seemed the most appropriate one. a Record Small-Plane that would be completely absurd and futile. However, it was really too small to read They would have torpedoed the whole ex- very well; so I read only a chapter or two. pedition. m Manila, Philippine Normally you study your Bible Did you smoke on the trip? regularly? No, I don't smoke. I gave that up many Oh, yes. I'm not a Berean, but I try to Islands, to Pendleton, years ago. Tobacco and flying don't mix read the Bible every day. very well. I know in my own experience Tell us something about your reli- that smoking is a very poor habit. It af- gious background. as Told to the Editor fects the heart, the eyesight, and every- thing else. A great many pilots are giving Well, my father was a Baptist minister. up cigarettes. It's just a matter of plain He was drowned when I was five years old, UN "PAT" BOLING common sense. Smoking cuts down the and my mother raised us in the Baptist oxygen in the blood, affects the night belief. I've always had a very deep faith vision, and is actually a very serious in the Lord and His word. I met my wife problem with instruments. It clogs up while flying on the airline. She was a their delicate mechanism. If there's ever stewardess with United. That's when I any trouble with the pressurization back in became acquainted with Seventh-day Ad- the passenger cabin it is probably because ventists. s With God of tobacco tars on the valves. They gum Was your wife a Seventh-day Ad- things up terribly. That is one of the air- ventist then? lines' great problems—keeping the pres- Yes. She was rebaptized into the church surization valves in the airplane cabin in Mountain View some years ago. I am free of tobacco tars. not a member, but I am becoming per- Would you say that so long a flight suaded. One does a lot of thinking over got too slow it blew, if my altitude got too the Pacific. low it blew. And it blew every hour unless was a severe test of physical endurance? I turned it back. As a matter of fact, Yes, it was. It was by far the most diffi- Did you pray on your long journey? I didn't sleep the whole trip. I may have cult thing, physically, I had ever attempted, Every half hour. I had a half-hour closed my eyes for five minutes the second and I have always kept myself in very schedule on a card that detailed some fif- morning, but I was so keyed up and so good condition. teen different duties, one of which was busy that I did not sleep. The purpose of To what do you credit your ability prayer. I felt it was very necessary, and it the horn was to protect me in case I be- to endure such physical and mental was a pleasant duty. came overwhelmingly drowsy. strain? For what did you pray? What did you eat on the trip? I would say first of all, a very solid faith in the Lord. I had plenty of evidence that Primarily that whatever was God's will I had communicated with the Air Force I was being watched over and I felt con- would be done; and that I should not dietitian who was in charge of various fident I was going to make the trip suc- bring disgrace upon the expedition or long-range projects in the Air Force, and cessfully. But I always take good care of upon anybody who had had anything to she was very co-operative, sending me her myself. I don't abuse myself with strong do with it. impression of a complete diet for this drink or tobacco, and I always practice trip. Well, it was a good place to start I understand that you made a large exercises every day, with strenuous winter gift to the Seventh-day Adventist from, but I discovered that a great many sports in season. things she recommended I didn't care for. Church as a sort of thank offering for Nevertheless, there were canned milk, I heard that you carried your wife's your safe return. Is that correct? canned fruits, dried fruits, and various white wedding Bible with you. Is Yes. I wrote a check the other day types of cookies. Unfortunately, I used that correct? (Continued on page 33) my short hops from Oakland to Manila to determine exactly what I'd carry on the long hop. Anything that wouldn't con- tribute to the main trip I discarded at Manila. Well, I discovered that one's diet requirements are far different over a long-range flight than they are over a fifteen-hour flight. I discovered I needed something to break the overwhelmingly sweet diet. I would have given a hundred dollars for a nice sour lemon about the 36th hour! What did you take along to drink? Almost entirely water. I found that my demand for water was very great. I took six canteens ( one-quart size) along, and I think I used up five of them.' In ad- . dition there were fruit juices. You didn't take any stimulants?
BEECH AIRCRAFT COR. PHOTOS SO You ARE Timely Counsel for One of Life's Anxious HAIM Moments by Lucile Joy Small, R.N. SURGERY
HETHER or not it is "serious" in your doctor's opin- If I die, who will marry my husband? ion, it is in yours. You are probably asking yourself This nice morbid train of thought might even lead you several questions as you look into your mirror, go about to shed a few tears in anticipation of your coming funeral. your daily tasks, or try to go to sleep at night. They might Self-pity is so satisfying if you go about it right. be something like this: Then as you allow your panic to continue to expand, Why does this have to happen to me? Others, I know, you finally conclude, I just can't endure pain; I want to be but not me. knocked out completely just as long as I can be, so that I What if my doctor finds cancer? How can I endure the will not know anything that is happening. pain? And so, having convinced yourself that you cannot face What about my family? How will they get along with- it, you are all set to become a hysterical problem to all con- out me? cerned. What if I fail to waken from the anesthetic? And Then you begin to wonder about God. You haven't had possibly even— much time for Him for a long time. Life has been too busy.
20 You remember that He is always referred to as a God who So far as pain is concerned, you will have an anesthetic loves—yes, now you remember—John 3:16: "For God so while the surgery is being done, and then you will work loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that with your nurses to restore normal thinking and activity whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have as rapidly as possible. You will remember the Scripture everlasting life." promise: You learned it years ago as a child. Now you would like "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is to read it, but where is your mother's old Bible? After a stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. long search, unless you are a spic-and-span housewife, you So you will trust God for the help you will need to en- find it stacked away in a pile of books, covered with dust. dure the discomfort that comes as the result of both anes- Wiping off the dust, you find your mind awaking to a thetic and surgery. familiar sight of your childhood—your mother sitting in And about your family, they will probably prove to you her sewing corner with this Book open on her lap. A feel- that you have been oversolicitous of their welfare and be ing of remorse comes over you. Your mother knew how glad for a chance to stand on their own feet. You can even to meet disaster without cringing, and you know that this smile now at your old role of indispensability. Book was the source of her strength. If God really loves You are glad that you do not need to worry about failing you, you haven't done much to reciprocate. This Bible to waken from the anesthetic. You will know when you seems like a long-lost friend. You open it eagerly. There go to sleep that God has you in His care. You will have the are some verses marked with a red line in the margin. The assurance that all of your sins are confessed and forsaken, very first passage that your glance falls upon says: and you will rest in the knowledge that you are covered "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of with Christ's righteousness, which prepares you for any them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. eventuality. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye You will be so endearing to your husband these days not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." before your surgery that if you should die, he will have Matthew 10:29-31. It seems to you that God and your such pleasant memories of you that he will look for another mother are speaking directly to you. Over on the next who will measure up to what you are to him. page is another marked passage: With all of your phantom worries removed, you can "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, give your attention to preparing for a positive approach to and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. This is wonder- surgery while you are cultivating the friendship of the One ful. You turn the pages looking for more: who has assured you: "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, be- "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee lieving, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22. Can this really by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through be true? you ask yourself. Then you come to: "Heaven the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the Matthew 24:35. A dry sob catches in your throat as you fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle regretfully ask yourself, Why haven't I acted as though my upon thee." Isaiah 43:1, 2. heavenly Father could be trusted? If he means what He Your heart will sing with the psalmist: says, He will help me through this. "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul: and all that is within me, You fall on your knees with your open Bible before you bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget and you continue reading the last two chapters of the Gospel not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who according to Matthew. When you come to the place where healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from de- "they spit upon Him" and "smote Him," you recall the struction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and words, "For God so loved, . . . that He gave. . ." And now tender mercies." Psalm 103:1-4. your tears are no longer tears of self-pity. They are tears Yes, even a preparation for surgery can be a happy ex- of sorrow that you have neglected to cultivate the friendship perience if you and God are clasping hands. [END) of the One who has expressed God's love for you so per- fectly. Brokenly your lips form words: "Dear Father in heaven, forgive my selfishness. If my 410,. child should treat me as I have treated Thee, I would be brokenhearted. Can it be that my selfish life has brought sorrow to Thy heart? 0 cod, forgive me and cleanse me PUT GOD FIRST and accept me as Thy child, and help me in my hour of need. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen." by HELEN ROGERS SMITH Peace comes to your heart. The questions that you were Put God first, asking yourself do have answers. For He alone is worthy In all your life to have priority. Why shouldn't this happen to you? Already you can Invoke His will and purpose for you daily, see that it has been a blessing because it has led you to And sweet the way with Him will always be. clasp Christ's hand where you find peace and security. Put God first. If your doctor finds cancer, you will still trust God, His gifts of love and mercy thank Him for the years of health that He has given you, Are fairer far than earthly wealth or fame. do all that you can to care for your body as a sacred trust, And blest indeed are they who seek His kingdom, Who give to Him the glory due His name. keep your mind clear and your connection with God un- broken, and trust Him to heal you if it can glorify His name. Put God first. Yield every inner conflict To Him and know the peace He longs to give. With joy divine He'll fill your soul and spirit, So put God first and ever in Him live.
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Those Who Obey God's Commandments or Those Who Seek
to Enforce Religion by State and Federal Law? the Le4alist Now?
by RICHARD LEWIS