Awake!, August 22, 1946
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WAKE UP, WORLD! /
How to be on the alert in a busy but blind world
A Trip in Travancore, India
The trials of India's populace lightened by Theocratic activities
Juvenile or Adult Delinquency?
Placmg responsibility for moral degeneration where it belongs
Spirit Operations
Identifying God's spirit and its workings
AUGUST 22, 1946 semimonthly
THE MISSION OF THIS JOURNAL
News sources that are able to keep you awake to the vital issues of our times must be unfettered by censorship and selfish interests, •Awake!” has no fetters. It recognizes facts, faces facts, is free to publish facts. It is not bound by political ambitions or obligations; it is unhampered by advertisers whose toes must not be trea.d upon; it is unprejudiced by traditional creeds. This journal keeps itself free that it may speak freely to you. But it does not abuse its freedom. It maintains integrity to truth.
"Awake!" uses the regular news channels, hut is not dependent on them. Its own correspondents are on all continents, in scores of nations. From the four corners of the earth their uncensored, on-the-scenes reports come to you through these columns. This journal's viewpoint is not narrow, but is international. It is read in many nations, in many languages, by persons of all ages. Through its pages many fields of knowledge pass in review—government, commerce, religion, history, geography, science, social conditions, natural wonders—why, its cover* age is as broad as the earth and as high as the heavens,
"Awake I" pledges itself to righteous principles, to exposing hidden foes and subtle dangers, to championing freedom for all, to comforting mourners and strengthening those disheartened by the failures of a delinquent world, reflecting siure hope for the establishment of a. right* eous New Woriel.
Get acquainted with "Awake!" Keep awake by reading "Awake!"
v^^UP.J.,a^^^^u
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CONTENTS
Wake Up, World!
Asleep or Bind '1
What Is the Remedy?
The Command to Awake!
Arns aud Purposes
Music Is JIedieine
A Trip in TravancorC: Intlin
Bible Influenco
Travel facilities Theocratic Actitili^ A Jungle Kingdom Hnll Demon Activities
Juvenile Delinquency or Adult Delinquency?
Deeper Reasons, ancl the Remedy
"Personal Representative” to Vatican
Color, the Glory of CreaLion
The Stream of Life
Revealed to Solomon
2ii
g
"Thy Word Is Truth”
Spirit Operations
io
Freedoms Restored in Two British Colonies
PainfullyLate
2fl
Progress Slow in British Guiana
Watoblng the World
^'Now it is high time to awake.'!_Romans /J:/1 9j
Volume XXVff Brooklyn, N. Y., August 22, 1946 Number 702
WAKE UP, WORLD!
WHO says the world. is asleep? Is this not the fastest-moving age in aU history? Does not every aspeet of human life and endeavor on this globe throb with energetic activityt News and information continually crowd the channels of c o mm unic a ti o n, where it travels by radio and by wire with tlif' speed of light. Wliere, then. is there any sign of sleepiness, or any necessity for this world and its people to awaken?
Like a paradox, the world is very much awake to some things, while, at the same time, It is indifferent to the more important happenings. Individuals of the world conscious of the lesser things are sound asleep to the most important matters. Pearl Harbor is bombed! In a moment the whole world knows about it. But do they know why such bombing was not prevented 1 The people hear that Rome escapes bombing; but do they know why 1 ‘rhe Normandy heaclies are struck with the impact of modern warfare, and shortly thereafter the nations hear that G ermany is beaten. But do the millions of returned soldiers know what they were fighting for? Japan surrenders! In a flash the world learns about it. And yet, do they know why Worlcl War 11 has not officially ended, but continues to this very d.ayf An atomic bomb is dropped on Bikini and the world is tuned in to hear it explode, but how many peace-loving people realize the significance of such experimen ? Of a truth, the world seems to he awake to the outward or surface appearance of events, but most people of the earth are totally unconscious of the underlying causes of these happenings and the effects such have on man's destiny. They are iu fact as leep to these all-important matters.
“CONSOLATION" magazine is m longer [lublishtd, but the good services it performed do not come to an end. It has been replaced by the new and up-to-date magazine "AWA^!1’ This is the first issue of the new jourunl. Rend it, and see if you do not enjoy its general artieles aml its special features. Consider its mission, as expr^^ed on pnge two. '.rb.is leading article gives further information on. the aims and pnrposes of the new journal. ''Awake:" is semimonthly, and we hope that you wil find ple^^e .in reading regularly each issue.
In the field of science
. and in v e n t i o n the world of mankind is in the same plight. From all outward appearance it would seem that tremendous forward strides have been made in those parts of the earth where scientific research has been promoted. Here me.n no longer live in tents or travel by oxcart. Instead, they live in comfortable homes and are abl e to transport themselves to any part of the earth in a matter of a few hours. They no longer plow their land by hand or send letters to distant points by courier 011 foot. Thev have learned to harness electricity and use it to turn the wheels of industry. Their knowledge of higher mathematics enables them to solve the engineering problems encountered in nuu:lR production. They even say they are winning the war on disease and pestilence. There iti no question tlait wan's technical knowledge of these material things is very great.
However, in spite of such learning scientists are absolutely blind to the world-shattering signiicance of their discoveries. [t is admitted that it takes technical skill to build an electronic calculating machine that is able to work mathematical equations a thousand times faster than lmmaus, but it takes more than technical skill to build a robot calculator capable of solving the weighty problems confronting the nations of the earth. Those who think they are awake will say that the scientific progress, which they call "miraculous", is proof that man has entered a better and finer world—u synthetic, atom-smashing, jpt-propelled, radar-controlled, electronic world-in this twentieth eeuturv. But do those who say such things have their eyes open wide enongh, or are they awake enough, to explain why men, tliongh able to talk around the earth, see beyond the horizon, and bounce radio signals off the moon, are, nevertheless, so immature and undeveloped that they still wallow themselves in a dilemma of strife, sweat and blood?
Are the "theoj^etical" or "imre" scientists, who gaue into the expanse of the universe and peer into the miniature world of the atom there to learn about the phenomena of creation, able, because of their learning, to answer the question? 01' do they too draw erroneous conclusions from their findings and hastily support destruction and death rather than construction and life 1 The folly and stupidity of these eminent men become even more apparent when it is learned tliat they are now laboring to produce a cosmic ray bomh having a destructive force incomprehensively greater than that of the atom bomb.
Asleep or Blind? ,
And what ahout economic conditions? Are individuals of the world more alert to :melt problems than they are to scien-tiJic developments 1 They are fully aware that there is a great crisis in the world’s food supply. TheY know that production is far behind the needs of the peo-pJe, that there is a scarcity of clothing and a shortage of homes, that the cost of living soars higher and higher with inflationary processes on the move in many parts of the earth. All of this is common knowledge. But do the people know the l'anse of these crippling conditions ? Do they make any effort to find out why. at a time like this, there are unemployment and strikes and curtailments in production i Are not the people in general asleep when it comes to knowing the portent of Ihese conditions? They cry because of taxation and government regulations and restrictions as rationing continues to hold the people down and prices for consmiier goods skyrocket in many countries of the earth, and yet the reasons for such situations do not concern the man in the street, who apparently is asleep. The masses are very much alive to tlieir own suffering but aTe insensible to the moving causes of such misery.
Social problems of race hatred and discrimination, the problems of child delinquency, and parent delinquency alr:;o, and the problems of crime and widespread moral degeneracy, are all extensively publicized. But the very fact that they remain baffling problems show that the leaders of this world are unaware of the origin of these things and hence unable to strike at the root of the trouble.
Going on to the bigger problems of international importance, the same mental condition on the part of the ruled as well as their rulers is found to exist. There is a mental stagnation and indifference on the part of the people to search ont the real causes and remedy for the intolerable and killing world conditions. The ilhu;ion of a man-made "better world" was held out hefore the people to sustain their spirits during the recent war. The result is now here. Therefore let creatures awake aurl look soberly and realisticaliy at this so-called "new order" of (JN.
Are people so blind, or are they so asleep, that they cannot see that it is the same old world of strife, nialit>e and hatred'/ 'There if; India and her millions with their mixed creeds and races; Palestine and lier double-sided issue; Egypt and Iran and Greece; Poland and Finland, anil the other countries from the Balkans to the Baltic; there are the oiice-occupied countries of France, Belgium and the Netherlands; the one-time "nxis" partners of Germany, Italy aud .Japan, in addition to the so-called ''neutral" conntry of Spain; and there are the miglity countries of China and Russia. One and all alike, th:se governments have problems of such intemationnl moment that there can never be a lasting peace until they are solved. A divided wodd it is, a world of disunitv and confusion, oiw that the Greeks would call chaos. Truly. the world is in a fmincnt and the people are intoxicated with the spirit of selfishness, pride and ignorance. Never was there a more urgent need for a sobering, stabilizing and awakening influence than there is today.
What Is the Remedy?
From tin; mournfnl condition the people Reck relief for their distressed minds by plunging themselves into wltat they call •‘entertainment", by rewiry in an effort to brace up their fainting spirits and drown tliei I’ sorrows. The rarlio and television, by drama and by propaganda, servo the people in this respect. People aloo attend tJw theater where they see conditions, not as they are, but through colored glasses which show a glamorized make-believe world. Some persons’ jagged nerves are soothed by listening to music, while many others lind refuge from the cares of this world ty attending or participating in va;‘?ms sports events. H is not an exaggeration to say that the people ol' this pleasure-crazed world are entirely ignorant of the means whereby they can find real happiness.
And what is this sure tmd complete remedy for world woes? Is it the United Nations organization 1 No, it is not tlutt howling ch.ilcl that was brought forth by a dazed and stupefied world suffering the after-effects of a tenihle war. But do not the international physicians proclaim this child the new-horn savior of the world 7 and do not credulous people crown it as the futnre ruler of the nations 7 Yes, they do; but this is only proof of their hlindnes::;. OnJy those who close their eyes to the facts will Ray that selfish, imperfect and greedy nmm of a thousand tongues, and having as many cultures and creeds, can live and work together in unity and peace. Only those who close their ears to past history will say that capital and lahor, communism and fascism, and Catholicism and Protestantism, mnke np the building lilocks of a lasting peace .structure. Only the blind woulrl proclaim that the assembled delegates from the various nations can estaltlhdt a lasting peace in a conference hall at the same time tliat their individual governments are hysterically preparing new and more destructive weap-OH::> for u::;e in a third world war. Totally blind must tliose be that promise peace and safetv when an atomic bomb hangs precariously above the world suspended by the mere thread of tricky diplomacy.
And there ar^ many other remedies that arE' put forth as cures for this dying old world. Some are ‘’left”, some are "right''; some of one color. some nf another. Eaeli has its own formula for balancing the world’s supply and demand; each has its sages and seers, prophets and preachers i each has its "sales tnlk". One says: ''Religion alone has the answer for humanity's twentieth century cry of dispair.' ( Trnmau) .Another says : ''In my opinion, he [Pope Pius XIIJ is one of the foremost figures working for world peace." (Grace Moore) There nre many other ‘‘i!:)rns" that are championed in the open forum of public opinion, but. totaled up they are only vanities or nothingnesses. Those qualities which are necessary to aeJiieve great political aud social reforms tlieHe leaders laclt, but worthless oratory tli-.-y conurmnd in abundance. In fact, Un?ir wincly taiJ, is what constitutes the thin "new order" gown that is draped around the old battle-seaned world.
But through this sheer synthetic costume is seen the same Big Three in control, the l3ig Three wbo never agree, tliat is, Commerce, Politic!:) ancl Heligion. Their mighty men are the leaders of this world, and the peoplu blindly follow these leaders who have no vision . .And what is the result H Let tlui wispst man tliat ever lived on this earth answer that question. He said: ••If tJjf' blind lead the blind, both shall I' all in to the ditch." Those words were prophetically spoken by Christ Jesus (Matthew 15; 14). and no one can deny that tliey are now ful-fHlf'd, for the whole world is hogged down in a muddy ditch. ll'farcover, in fulfillment of prophecy it is observed that ’darkness covers the world and gross darkness the J>eople'. How true it is: "Wherr there is no vision. the people perish."—-Isaiah 60: 2: Proverbs 29: 18.
The responsibility for this condition must be borne to a large measure by the political, commercial aud religions lenders; for, indeed, none an;. so blind as these who have "eyes r to see the facts I. and see not; which have oars [to hear the warning], and hear not". (Jeremiah 5: 21) Isaiah the prophet gives a hril-liant description of these leaders: "They are all ignorant, they are nil dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping [Hebrew, "talldug in their sleep"J, lying down, loving to slumber." (rsaiah 56: 10, margin) It is therefore plain that any effort spent in trying to awaken the blind and sleepy leaders would be lost.
The Command to Awake!
Be it noted, however, that those who have followed the willfully blind leader’s have been deceived and kept in ignorance, but iwt willingly so. There is hope for such. Hence, the cry is: "i\wake. for the climax of the ages is here I" The issue jg not politics versus economics, or state versus man, or man versus man, nor is it the atom versus man. The issue of the ages is Devil rule versus noel rule, the old world of wiclmdness against the new world of righteousness.
Are you a lover of righteousness 1 Do you sigh ann cry because of the wickedness tluat you see done in the world? Do you wonder what lies behind the mysterious current events tlw.t arc occuning in the earth today? If so, then lift up your head and rejoice, for now it is possible for your eyes to be opened so that yon can see the light of the new day through this present pall of darkness.
.And who is it that will open the eyes of these sincere people? Not the scientists who hnsy themselves forging new destructive instruments. They are able to smash nn atom, hut not the iron curtain of darkness; they can harness atomic energy, but not the passions of wicked men. Neither arc the commercial, polit-icn] or religious elements able, or willing, to enlighten those that sit in darkness. As for the great publicity agencies, U1e radio and jmblic press, they ha-ve miserably failed to inform the people. There are newspapers galore and magazines aplenty which hecloud the issues with tlicir multitudes of words, and so often, by distorting the news, they produce a deceptive optical illusion. The failure of these agencies to give the people right knowledge makes necessary now the publication of this magazine, Awake!
Thfl world Itas reached the crossroads and is entering the atomic age. Therefore, yon people of good-will of all nations should arouse yourselves and observe that tlte world is 'reeling to and fro like a drunkard' on the very precipice or dN;bwtion. "How may T escape ?" sh ould he the pressing question on your mind. To arrive at the correct answer vou must he alive and rU(lrt to what iR happening in the world. Take a keen interest ancl he quick to sense out the truth of mntiers. Not only learn the facts, hut weigh their import. Look not only at tlte :mperfirial, but penetrate, search out, cmd fll:-;covcr the suhterra-neal roots and meaning of world events. In doing so you will find this magazine a great aid and assistance. It is awnke to the universal issiws.
Aims and Purposes
On October l, HH9, the lirst issue of the Golden Llge magazinp wos published. Eighteen years later the name of the magazine was changed to Consolation. On July 31, 1941, the last issue of Consolation was published, and now A.u:ake! becomes its sncc('ssor. To all of the advantage:-; contuinpd in The Golden 4Lge and Consolation will lw u<lded timely information for the pnrpo8e of awakening men of good-will to the issues of life.
Integrity to the truth will he the highest aim of this magazine, and. therefore, it will publish thr truth without partiality aml without h)poerisy. It will have the courage to publish the facts as they are, nnd to champion God-given liberties sneli as freedom of speech and worship. H will not stop at expnsnre, at tearing down and rooting ont error, hut it will aim to present a remedy, to build np hope for tJie future, to comfort those that moum and to Rtrengthen those that sigh and cry because of the ahomina-tions clone in this evil world. Destructive evidence will be foil owed by eon-strnctive information; the hopelessness of the old world will bt> contraRted with the hopefulness of the nrw world. This is a Scriptural conn;(' to follow, for it is written that the Lord's servant, after rooting out, pulling down and destroying, should then proceed to build and to plant.—J eremiab 1: 10.
The articles aud statements of this magazine will be ba::ipd upon fully documented l'onrce material as proof. Dogmatic statements and tmproved assertions will be avoided. nnd editorial comment will be baRerl on solid argument, especially when dealing with controversial issues. Tltc magnzine will not serve as a channel for per.sonal opinion of‘ speculation on any suhject.
As for coverage this magazine will en-deavor to treat information from a world-wide rather than local viewpojnt. It will appeal to all honcat people of all lands. It will not hp a polifieul iiitiga-ziue nor will it preach nny C'rpcd; it will he frep from all sects awl creeds and doctrines of men. The latetit political, economic and rdigiom; dewelopments wil bp. dealt with in ::;o far as the-Re affect the people in general. Historical and geographical nrtielt>s will he presented from time to tinw, and educational and instructive information will he drawn from the field of science.
It will not he a one-man or on.e-nation magazine. but its contributors and corre-spoiilents wiJJ hp spread ont world-wide. LiYing in many lands anil under many conditions, they will be nhlc to make on-the-scene reports of happenings as they are, uncensored, and free of any nationalistic flavor. 'rhe material and contents of the magazine, therefore, will Ijc informative, edntatioual and interesting to the greatest, mtmher of persons, young and old alike.
Efforts will be made to make the style and composition pleasing in both its writing aml the way it is jji’intC'd. Good, readable type will be used, and short articles will he set off in r^elief from the heavier and more lengthy ones. Generally there will be a leading article and one or two secondary articles; also several shorter artieles covering many aspects of life. Short, pithy and concise items will tastefully season the magazine to the delight of its readers.
Tliere will be two out standing features regularly carried in each issue ‘•Thy Word Is Truth" will inspire faith in the Creator by having as its authority God's Holy Word, the Bible. The other feature of particular interest, “'Watching the World," will summarize world events and happenings. It will flash he-fore the reader a pieture of the world as it is seen hurrying on its way. The great volume of words published by the daily press wild be boiled down to crystallize the essentials for the reader.
Here, then, is a magazine of the highest educational value for all sincere and upright people of all races, creeds and nationalities. “Who hath ears to 'hear, let him hear," amd let him arise from the dust and darlmess of this old, musty world and come out into the light and freshness and freedom of the new world. Those who will do so will hear the King of the new world, Christ Jesus, say: "Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (.Matthew 13: 16) Blessed, indeed, are those who aTe already awake to present worldshattering conditions. Blessed, too, will be those who arouse and shake themselves from their lethargy. The climax of the ages is at hand; there is no time to lose. Romans 13: 11, the keynote text of this magazine, emphatically declares: ''Now IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE!"
Music Is Medicine
MUSIC hns long l.ieen known for its soothing effect upon ruffled and irritated nerves.
More lhnn a thousand years before Cbrist it was recorded that David the shepherd lad cunningly played the harp to refresh the troubled spirit of King Satil.—1 Samuel 16:23. ' .
Muel.imote rel'E'Dtly, just last inonth, in fact, a news dispatch reports that the Veterans Administration has ordered thousands of phonograph records for distribution to veternns' hospitals. The musical programs are to be planned Lo suit. the patients. For instance, an album of 75 recordings is specially selected for ueuro^psychiatiic hospitals, and another of !lO recordings will go to Luberndosis and general hospitals. The nmsicnl selections rang"' from Biich to barbershop ballads.
The Nntional Music Council recently conducted a survey to determine to what extent music is used in mental hospitals. Of 209 reports received, 23 hospitals said they used it for therapeutic wasons nnd 134 reported that they used it for hoth therapy and recreation. But the discovery was made that active participation by the patients themselves in making music was iuvautably far more beneficial than niei'1 listening. Group performance is probably best for this purpose, as it diverts the’attention of the pnLienL from himself and develops a spirit of fdlowShip and co-operation.
.Another importnut fi ncling of this survey was concerning jazz. J ll7,z is not music, but is a very irritating disonance to many sane persons. ThaL is not new, bnt the new discovery made in these mental hospitals by psychiatrists is thut the blasting and blaring l'nlled jazz "is a dstui'bing nHuence to all types of patients". Yes, cvcii an insane person is disturbed by that discordant "tin-pun alley" racket called j^.
A Trip in Travancore/ India
SQUALOR. abject poverty, dirt; pestering beggars and nnserupulons sljopkeepers—these are the impressions tliat tirst jostle for attention in the mind of the westerner newlv landed in India. Leaving the port for the interior he aUds to tlte:;e a flat. uninteresting landscape, with parched, hrown fields in the dry season, and flooded, green ones in the wet; dust, flies, stinks and lilth. Hm’e and there a village, tiny houses huddled each against its neighbor, pitifully thin eattle in large herds nosing the dust for shriveled grass, and peasants as thiu as their cattle; poverty, poverty, starl;:, cruel poverty everywhere.
As his acquaintance with the country increases yet other, more sinister and more intrinsically evil impressions take root in his mind: Heligion; blatantly evil, filthy in the extreme and catering for every depraved impulse of the human heart. Idols i appeased by gifts from the scant substance of the ignorant dev-oteesi and which gifts, as in any religion, go to fatten lazy. ignorant priests. Superstition; that. synonym for religion and also for demonism (compare the ICVn,g James, Emphatic Diaglott and A-mericam Standard Version translations of Acts 17: 22), governing every important act of life. Grotesque architecture. Sadhus; Indian monks, indescribably dirty with long, matted hail' aud dtJig-smeared body, battening upon the credulity of the people. Phallic symbols; representative of the sex organs, openly displayed and venerated.
ludiu, pitiful India! The slave for centuries to the greatest of all tyrants, Satajj and his demons. That other tvran-ny of British rule is weak, anemic, beside this awful scab upon the people. It alone has sapvnd their manhood, bringing a nation 400,000,000 strong into submission. to a mere handful of foneigners, powerless in the grip of nn inherent treachery and mutual distrust of each other. The "gocl of this world'', Saian, "which tleceiveth the whole world," truly has r'hlintled the minds" of thi::; groaning people, using Itis most deceptive weapon, religion, to accomplish it.
/Jible Inltuence
In one part of Jndin alone is there any variation to this condition, and it Is no coincidence that it is the one part where the Bible has been an open book fnr centuries. This is limited to a small strip of tenitorv on the extreme southwest coast, Travancore. Here since the fourth century the Syrian "church" has taken root, bringing to the people the enlightening and ennoMing influence nf the Book of Frepdom, God's Word, the Bible. And the effect here has heen the same as in any other part of the earth where it has had free circulation: an en-lightpned antl cultured people.
'Plus is not suggesting that the:;e people have escaped from the bondage of religion. Seventy percent have retained their Hindu religion, and the otber thirty have merely changed one form of t demonism for another, Hinduism for what they falsely call Christianity. No, the point here made is that in spite of religion the influence of the Bible luas permeated tho whole people, uplifting both the so-called Christian and. inUi-rectly, the non-Christian. The result of this inftueuce is seen in the general demeanor of the whole people: mutual cooperation. freedom for the womenfolk, some degree or sanitation, personal cleanliness, education, kindliness, true human dignity.
From amoiig these people of recent years there has arisen a small number of persons who 'stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made tltcm free’, escaping completely from the snares of religion and witnessing to the name and kingdom of Jehovah. Just a minute portion of the vast masses that go to the mn.ldng of the natinn of H indnstnn, from three to fonr huud.rrd in number.
The better to know this people, let us first take a look at their land and living conditions. In place of the flu t, arid plains of tlie rest of India, here the land is undulated ana green the year round. Enjoying botlt monsoons, aud ronse-quently hvo rainy seasons, coupled will! a strong sun, the brown, laterite soil responds in a way hard to credit from its stony appearance. At the cost of very little cultivation, the scratch with a primitive plow and onee or twice with the hoe, the sun and min comhine to produce good crops of rice in the floodNl fields in the depreBsions; coconuts, hana-nas, tapioca, mangoeR and vineapples on the slopes; ancl on the hills nml mountain range, ruhher, tfla uncl coffoe.
Instead of being huddled together in insanitary villages, the fanner folk are housed eacJi in his own land. These houses nrc well built frorn the la tcrite ( meaning. "brick-stone") dug from his land, with timber from theii' own farm and thatched with the fronds of the palms platted together, anti finally a eemeiit floor. Thus eemen t is ahou t the onl v i tflm that they need tn Imy. The children go to the local school, nerluciug the i I literacy figurp of seventy percent for the rest of India flown to ten percent here. The women also are Pdueaterl anti pn.ior a measure of freedom ulwost equul to lhe West.
Travel Facilities
Communication is either bv boat through the many backwaters that interlace large areas or else by tlte Indinn-style busses. A popular and excellent alternative is to walk. Where it i:-; possi-ble, the water route is certainly the more pleasant. For ten cents in American currency you may travel ull night or all day in a thirty- or forty-foot rnotorboat, chugging between grec’n lipids so close as sometiuieR to give the impression of gliding over the land itself. If by n ight, then you sleep where you ran, huddled "rith other passengers on floor or seats, a jmubled muss of anns and legs seemingly sticking out from the least ex-peC'ted plart>s.
But that is better than the busses, gmwraJJy. Tlwse arp just plain wooden forms placed transverse across the chassis, the :;iC.cs open and a roof constructed for luggage. To travel in •me of these i8 an experience that stirks in miiid. You may start off with a '‘full’’ load of passengers, but that is purely a relative term. At the next stop others will crowd in, and :ou will squeeze closer together to nmke room. Again a stop, and mo re chunber on, hanging onto the outsifli’ aud stRnding on tlte running hoard when no more can be crammed in. More and more pile on until the ira.;i<le passenger gets no more sight of the world a round him than opaque human hoc lie:-; will allow. Bnt this is all taken in good part. Everybody is so iiiee about it all, and f:o pleasant to his fellows. gladly ::uhmitting to being crammed so tlu:t some other iwrson might get 011.
'flip rule "No Luggage" ou busses in the We::;t doos not obtain hpr€‘. "Luggage" may include anything from the usual trunk of <'lo thes and rnll of bedding indispensable to tltt> traveler in Imlin to sack:-; of vegetables or Jtou>e-]iold furniture. All or this is piled onto the> roof, aiiil the Hnal overload of passengers uud lug-gage takes on the seui-blanee of a surrealistic artist's nightmare.
Theocratic Activities
For liw duration of the war the King-Uom publishers were ofHdallv Ut>uied nil literature. Eudy in the war the 'l'rnvun-core State government "binned" the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. conliseatml the literature aid the printing press and externed the Engli::;]t representative of the Society then there. But no power on eurth ean successfully "ban" Jehovah's witnes!:i(>s, for the great Uod of the universe, Jehovah, has decreed that this witness shall be given to all nations, including Ind.iu, and given it udll be. In conmiun with their fellow witnesses in other parts of earth under smnlar circmm;tanees, these rallied to the Theocratic standard ami continued with the witness work with any instrument at theirr disposal, often just the Bible alone. The quality of integrity stamped them as true followers of the '.faithful and true witness", Chrh;tJe:ms.
Their beloved magazine The Watchtower no longer could be printed in they r vernacular, Malayalam. But Jelwvah spread a table before them 'in the presence of their enemies’. A duplicated copy of the leading artic]e from The Watcli-towe'r would reach one brother, aml he wouId translate it into !.TuJaynlam in manuscript form. A few copies of this would be made by hand and these kent to certain companies. Here tlw hretltren would muke extra copies for their own use and extra ones to be sent to yet other companies, nnd so all in turn would be fed.
Now that the ban on the Society is lilted, these nre looking forward to re-
St-eet-corner witnt'SSing with Tile WateMower and Oonitolatiou at Kottayam
ceiving the printed copies o! The Watchtower again ruiil other puhlications of the Society ill tlieir \"i‘i‘naenlnr. At present they haw iinOjing. In spite of this they Have now resumed pavement ‘"it-nes:ing, offering the peoplc the English magazmes Ills nIn/thlower and Con.so-la lion and the l'ew Ejiglish booklets available. These art handicnpprod in this by not knowing EnIn.!, themselves bnt they delight to identify themselves openly with The rheoevfC'Y In public places, awl so approach Uie more educated types of persons most likely to know English.
The bleenodum Assembly
Being farmers, these brethren are scattered all about the countryside. TlwRP art: grouped together as “companies:-;’’, ol' Jehovah's witnesses, having the usual in r l' i‘iiul Theocratic .wgitimn.-tion for C'ncii group. At three places the re lire Kingdom Halls. To the western eye these will appear as burn-like nf-Jaiis, hut are all f'hat is required for theu purposes and are a grl'at credit to the brethren who luhmctl with tJteir own hands to eonstruct thetu out of muterials obtained at their own expense. Plain laterite walls, illC'ej led roof of thatch, and n concrete floor. Fumishings: a rough, plam table, a chair, wooden forms and soine woven rush mats.
From time to tinw various companies "Will meet together iu ont- center for fellowship and mutual <-m-on ragemen t. The occasion is taken to give one or more puhlic lecture;; to which most of the farmer folk for runny miles urotmd will conw. Tlw writer of ihil'l article hnd the privilege of Iwing at ont- such assembly at the Al eenadnm Kingdom Hall.
The 1irs1 prol Mm was to get there. As no busses serve nnvwliere near and a quantity of luggage ns bedding, changes of clothes and other material were to be taken, a bullock-cart was obtained. But any healthy person who is not accustomed to sitting for hours upon his
Left: Meenadnm witnesses. Right: A jungle <:oinp; ry of witnesses nt Gpputbarit {High Rnnge).
haunches in one position will prefei to walk.
The skips were heavy with monsoon clouds, aml min set in. '1'Jiis persisted, and by the time tdie first session was due to hegin only ubont thirty of Htp ex-pectpd hundred witnesses hail arrived. Many had to walk frotu twelve to 1 went v miles with tloodecl streams and rivers hlof’king their paths. l n spite of these dilticnltips they continued to arrive, nnd in the meantime the rain increased.
All thoughts wen:> un tlte public meeting for thf\ evening. Handbills had been drcnlated for many miles around. and the heavy mill threatened to prevent many from attending. Snddt?ji1y. two limits before the lecture was to Login, tlw rain stopped ami a bright moon shone through onto a watery world.
Honrs before the: time to begin a lanre gong that hangs on the veranda of the Kingdom Ilull was sounded. Its tone:, reve.rliprat<‘(l over tlu: peaceful Jiills aml valleys. and soon after tlu? audience beg-an to arrive. Stripling and maiden. mid aged men nnd women with faces furrowed by the toil of the years. There is ao concern about being hvo hours he-fore the appointed h out. W1nt is mono pleasant than to sit chattng wiJ ’ h neighbors in tlte friendly, rion-religious atmo:-’-jpbere of Kingdom Hall. or to join some little group listening to a witness tell the ba:npy story of Uie King-nom being at hand 1 Still they continue to a rdve.
De, you enjoy seeing an honest, oppn Hnd kindly face. softened by adversity. change Hs expressions as n pathetic and poh]e ta!p is tokl ? As they waited for tlif> j;_ime to J,Pgin, a brother read anti trans-Jated front !1te JVaft;htouu magazine t;be story of the tee]{ crf some of Jelio-vmri wiinesse::; in Germany from the concentration camp. ("integrity Outlives Concentration Oomp,'' ll English WaCcllmn-n-r of -\eptember 1, 1945) Every face there wa::; a study in itself. Ncm u smile, Dow tender concern as the il.l'-count unfolded. Not mw wlto was not deeply moved, witnesses and good-will j;olk alike.
Agai n du ring the lerturp '’I’isc.-ape lh-?-(•trnetion in lite Coming Crisis", pt>rfi?d attention to every wurd. There is 110 f ■ udience on earth that could show more consideration for tlw speaker by paying careful ntknhon to the fads and Scrip-huraJ evithmee there woven together for their infonuatiou.
The next day dawn£><1 bright with n elpar sky, contrary to expectations. Tliis C'ontinneil all through the-> morning, and other witu<‘:-;Ht;:> <.n’inot'l from long tlis-taiinv:-;. Dy midduy every seat wn.s occupied. hi the afternoon again tli(:> g(ing sounded nn<l thr hall h^gan tn fill with the audience for the public lecture, "A United World Under Theocratic Huie/’ It was eni'ly apparent that tlw hn.ll w!'nlrl he full to overflowing. To make mere room the> forms were removed outside, rnsh mats were spread upon the floor, awl the> uudionce sat upon the t!oor. Hv .tliis nwtlw<l four persons ean he accoui-modnterl in tlw floor space occupied by onp person in. »ay, virf>slorn public hnlls. Seated on tlieir haunches. knees drawn np under thp chin. the persons in front seated em tiH'ir t<wl'. shoulder against shoulder, they wiU sit for hour!' and m:"'er once mention cramp. The hall full, wnh person:-; seated almost on tite feet of the sppnkez\ the ontskle veranda nnd do oH’R nnd winclows provided an overnow meeting-. Fnr au hour and a half they lieard about the New WorM prospect.:-; and blpssing:-; ns they were trnns-Jah'd fmm English into Mabynlmu, p:>z>-f»*d attention. pYt'ry t'oijgh stifled. True gentlemen anil g-pntinwouien, all of them. Hah an lwnr after Ilie lethtre finished the clouds masspU and the heavens tlr-opped tlt<'ir hnrdens. A drenching but n happy walk homr.
i\ micl jungle surroundings in High Rung(', in u river where clephuut:s bathe and tigers drink. ('ou-:sectutton:; to do ,Jebovab's will wet-c; syntholixetl bs‘ water immersion Wore \vitncsses.
.4 Jungle Kingdom Hull
The High Range is the name of the section of the Western Hhats range of hill:-: tltat E'Xtend.: into Travaneone. Hrre tl!Pi‘c> arp covered with tlikk jungle with oof‘:i:-:iot!HI dt'urings for the growing of
tea. f'offec and rnhlwr. Situated at tli1! horclpr where jungle mnd clearings meet is another live |\ lit lie company of about
2!) of JphovHli's witnesses, and to this u visit wn:-: also made.
Th(> Kingdom Hull is a ten -mi le waJk from the hus terminus. 'Phe roaC winds around hill::; whose peaks are tlu’nst through little clouds. At first throngh tea estates, nucl then jungle patlis nnd through sm all cultivations. ut one time chhnhij-ig almost 011 hands and knees and next slip ping down a sharp decline. Measured in fatigue, ten miles of tLiis is equal to twenty miles on even road.
On every side is evidence or elephants. Here a -footprint, there a milestone up-i-ooted (they seem to have a inarked distaste for milestones, particularly white ones, for wJii ch reason in l\1ysnre state the stones are painted black), here some droppings, autl tltrre where 1hey had sJHhered down the bank to the road level on the slack of tlwir baggy pants. Even the eve of the novice can read these signs when they are pointed ont to liim. A local brother showed where one had trampled a coolie to death, and again where it was shot by the English planter afterwards.
Tu these surroundings proudly stands the Kingdom Hall. Of simple design and structure, plain laterite walls nnd thatched roof, ns remote in nppearance from a Kingdom Hall in N New York< or London as it is remote in distance. Yet both alike in purpose, to serves as a place where those who lov . .Jehovah might as-semhle to honor Him. But liow tinlike iu situation, in this, that where the one is in the jungle of Jehovah's creating. the others are in tlte jungle of a demonized, so-called civilization, dark with its crop of treachery and Irypoerisy!
Animals from the jungle roam at night in the Kingdom Hall compound. Close by were marks less than a week old lel.t by a herd of elephants. In the cultivations around they had trampled crops and pulled and eaten banana plants. These large and lovable creatures are viewed bv the brethren here much as we would view mosquitoes, a nuisance and possibly dangerous.
The jungle that is religion also grows close around. For example, at the first public lecture given there were about twenty Roman Catholic persons of good-"'il] who desired to le>arn something. Tlw usual Gestapo mptliods of that totali-ta rhtn system were resorted to of having a spy present to report any sneh to the priest. It goes contrary to the priest’s religion for anybody to learn anything, particularly about (locks \\' ord. The next day, Sunday, the priest marie these persons who had committed the grievous rw of trying t(j get something into tlitdr beads besides the nhaeadabra, mumblejumble, hocus-pocus put there by priests, for puuislnuent, stand during the hearing of ••mas:;* with n human skull on their heads. Tlwse skulls he kept on band for tltis purpose. Now then, civilizeU world, l ask you, can you beat that one for pnrc religion and superstitions ig^ nonmce 1 And it i::; true. Tlm name ol' the village i::; Up'puthara, and the date Sunday the 9th of December, 1945. Yes, Mj'. Printer, keep the figure one in, please— UJ45, not H-!5 iu the Dark Age::;.
After the lectures four of the local "men of good will" intimated. that they had made a covenant to do Jelwvalt'B will, mid thaL they desired to take their ::;tand lieneath the banner of The Theocracy. zAmid jungle surroundings, in a river where elephants hathe and tigers drink, tlwse demonstrated by the symbol of water immersion that they had made that covenant.
At the foot of the Ghats is a town where several persons had manifested they were of good-will toward J eliovah. Partly for their benefit two lectures were arranged for the return journey. A iiew theater built of platted pahn fronds and woven cane with a capacity of one thousand was placed at the disposal of these good-will persons for this purpose. Surely it could not be opened for any grander purpose than this, to declare the name and kingdom or Jehovah. :-:lo Jiandbills had been distributed advertising the ■first lecture to begin at sis-thirty.
At six-fifteen the speaker arrived to fijjrl not r siugle person of the audience present. At the scheduled time to start half a dozen kids perched their semi-naked persons on the front seats. One hour and fifteen minutes after the advertised time to start the lecture commenced with six hundred persons present. This is India!
The next night nearly eiglit hundred almost filled the hall. Almost all of the educated peri’ons of the town were present, including a couple of pastors. One of these stood up to protest against something that was said, but Itis protest there was not in order and not pernutted. 'PhEi atmosphere was tense. .H the end of the lecture it was announced that further information could he obtained from the literature available. The "sheep" and •'goats" are being divided.
Demon Activities
The demons do not restrict their activities to just superstition, al though that is by far their most jjowerfn] instrument. Many are tlieir other methods of keeping the people deceived and in subjection to their oppressive yoke. Sometimes this breaks out in poltergeis-tic activities.
A world that denies the existence of evil spiTits will be hard put to it to ex-vJain some events. But those who know their Bible will recognize them as the actions of the once righteous spirit creatures who joined Lncifer in the rebellion against J ehovuh's government, and who we re cast nut of heaven A.D. 1914 together with Lucifer, iiow Satan. and are confined to this earth. That these and other actions <u‘p part of their "great wrath" at the knowledge that the period of their evil reign is now up and theirr destruction is near.—Hevelation 12: 7-12.
Such phenomena are not peculiar to IiHlin or to the backward countries by any iiiNiiis. World-wide and for centuries such events liave taken place. Nor are poltergeistic methods the most effee-ti ve .instrument by which the peoples nre dpeeived and opprestied. The Bible evidence is that religion is the most powerful instrument by means of which they Meccive the whole \vorlcl'. Whether in India, America or the seas' smallest isle. there is only one plaee of security, The Theocracy. To tlw.t place men of good-wi 11 the world over are now feeing befoTe the “hat.tle of that great day of God Almighty", or Annagetidon, shall destroy demons. religion and all who voluntarily ltavp supported religion's racket, and tlwn shall Ree a righteous and cleansed earth heeome the jaradise home uf mall where they shall enjoy freedom hom sickness, death and every harmful thing.—Correspondent in India.
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High Egg Production
'i1 Two Rhode Islnnd Red hens Hew to an anillzng ull itudc of 8.000 feet. Not content with this feat over which to cackle, each of the hens, while flying at this dizzying heigbt, laid an egg. A pretty high egg-Juiying 1‘ccoi‘tl, that I 011, incideulully, you might he interested in knowing that these two hens were flying from New Orleans to the poultry show in Madison Square Garden in New York, aboard one of the commercial stratoliners.
Another Scientific Triumph!
'i: Science hns pitted its brains against brawn and won again. It has added the scalp of a tough old rooster to its trophy belt, n.nd all by a simple little pellet of n synthetic chemical compound called diethylstilbestrol. Science News Letter Tcports the victory, telling us Lhat by inserting a tiny tablet of this compound under the skirt of !he toughest rooster six weeks before the date of execution the old bird will be o.s tendlli' and juicy as u spring fryer by feast doiy. The softening-up piooess is due to the pellet's cnusing fat to form in the muscles.
DISMISS from mind for a moment the insipid findings of pious hypocrites and starry-eyed idealists on tlte subject of juvenile delinquency. Neither the condition nor the remedy is mvste-rions. VVhv make it so? The causes crowd in upon is from every direction; so it you will open youv eyes to see and unstop your ears to henr, the questions on juvenile delinquency will have scores of answers.
Soberly reflect on adult doings. Two adults make a solemn eovennnt to live together. They have children. Then they tire of each other, sever their relationship, and search for new sex thrills. Not only do the children sutTer, but they have stamped on their yonng minds the example oF their parents. One out of six marriages ends in divorce court. Prominent personalities lead in the trading of old mates for new. "Jokes" on the number of husbands or wives tliey have had are received with hilarity. So vouth comes to view marriage lightly. Adults are responsible.
ReacUug material supplied to youth contributes to delinquency. Dime-novel magazines drench the land with poorly written stories on sex, lust, murder, crime, and a score of other demoralizing topics. Even the comics put the accent on sex in picturing their beros and heroines. Seldom are they funny; but in serial fashion they feed the young mind fantastic tales of war and crime and adventure by superhuman characters. A few of the comic strips still provide clean humor; the majority are suggestive and exciting and harmful. Adults write and draw and puhlish the comics.
“Movies" go in for sex aml crime and mnrder. Though the villain pays with !tis lite in tJ t e end, the excitement of such a life while it lasts intlaiiie:; the red blood of youth. The young mind meditates 011 the lnsls and passions and thrills Hashed on the screen. Eventually many translate these thoughts into action. Motion pictures could be a tremendous force for good, invaluable as an educat iona} aid and source of relaxation. A small minority of productions do serve such good ends, but the great majority glamorize sex nnd fast hing. The vouth absorh the immoralities picturesl., because the power of suggestion works mightily. In a similar manner radio also i:- misused to demoralize. Adnl ts produce the shows aud broadcasts.
Popular songs eornmercialize on sex. .Jazz and hot music stir passions. Some songs even O'lorifv wliat moderns cull "pick-ups'*. Lyrics not so plain accomplish the same enrl by subtle suggestion aud insinuation. The modern dances that accompany tlw mns.ic match it:: power to excite. They cater to lust. Proper barriers behveen tJie sexes are broken down; the open road to delinquency stretches aheaU. Grac.e and beauty in dancing have' been replaced by vulgarity and passion. Givi tization'R "liep-cats" are on the same low level in dancing as demonized saYages. The songs and dances come from adults.
Look at tlte advertisements of eom-merce. You should buy a certain suit or hat because "she" will "go for you'' in it. That determines the \'Hlue nf the merchandise, not quality. Desirability is measured in terms of its power to attract the opposite sex. Voluptuous curves protrude their way into ads with which they have no imaginable comiec-tion. Apparently advertisers are out to
sell sex. Tliey pander to hase Jesires.
Even national governments are not nhove capitalizing on sex, opportunistlike. Past hlstorv has sh own them willing to sell out moral ity, especially in wartime. Keep up the figl iti ng morale of the soltlier, they cry out. How? By devotion to righteous principles of freedom ? Nnt 8() mncli by that as ljy the girds' doing their part. The expression "patriotic delinquency" has not been coined, hut the term "victory girls” Itas been used to de};crihe the teen-age delin-qnents. The boys want a girl hi theirr arms tonight because they may not come hack, says the song. When the lighting men are far from women, the pin-ups feed the imagination. Adnl ts indulgently wink at these things. But then when their own children turn delinquent they lte-hu-'di' turn gra\e. Foolish world! They kittle platitudes ahout moral regeneration. but feed lhe world's inhahita.nts on a diet of immorality. They plant the seeds, Lhey water them, and then tliey lament the increase and the harvest n]-timately reaped. By the way, remember tl ie rerent test of the first atom bomh at Bil\im ! Do you recall tJiat this bomb was -4iuHcfl- aJlieJL-a -se::n c-hamcter vaJIed “ Gilda''? and tliat there wn.s reportedly a curvaceous female motion-pictnre star painted on the deadly missilo ? Why1
Immorality seems to be the style. If you object, you are old-fashioned, narrow-minded, a prude. You're not one of tlw gang. It is a rollilking thing to whistle at the girls; the -vani ty o£ the miR-guided ones i:> tickled by the insulting attmhion. There is a subtle and devilish pressure toward delinquency. It is not easy for the youth to resist it. And adults do not help them. Some hinder. K ot in so many words, of course; but because delinquency is produced by methods subtle and suggestive and indirect rather than direct does not lighten adult responsibility. If adults would set better examples. provide better reading matter, better motion pictures, better songs, AUGUST 12, 19M>
better dances, better aclvertj sing, and all-round cleaner environment, the youth would profit. nut insieud publicity channels and entertainment facilities, and public parks tmned into potting grounds, ar<> before the young to make theiT unclean impressions upon tlip mind. If the price of decency i:; loo Jdgh or the lme of lu:-:t too strong fnr mature adul ts, tl icii i hey should resign themselves to children who are "chips oil: the old block’’. Tbc remedy is to halt udnlt delinquency.
Deeper Reasons, and the Remedy
Do not misconstrue the posi tion taken lierp. This article is not condemning novel::; or comics or motion picture::; or radio programs or songs or dances or other facilities mentioned. Jt is onlv pointing out that through misuse of these tljing:.:; by adults the condition of juvenile delinquency returns primarily to t.Jie parental lap. Sex. too, is natural. Being prudish is foolish. Bnt being broadminded for immorality is worse than Lndi-h. The fact is that a powerful invisible force lats capitalized on sex.
In tlw days of Hw flood of Noah's day demon angels twd otheJ^ spirit creatures — material)zed “and leu man astray.’ That wicked world went sex-mad. 'Goo saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and tllal every imagination of the thought:-; ol' his heart was only evil continually.” ( Uenesis 6: 5) Evil thoughts, unclean imaginations—they found expression in action. Only righteously disposed Noah and his household survived the ilood that came as a result of tlw continual wickedness. Later sex.crazed Rodom wag destroyed for simila r reasom;, only Lot and his daughters being delivered. Christ Jesni-) said that conditions at the end of "this present evil world'' would l)e "as it wa:> in the days ol' N oo" anU ••'as it was in the days of Lot''. (Lnke 17: 26-29) Revelation 1:!: 12 and W: 13-16 show Satan and his demons mo re active now.
What is the solution? Religion f Far
from that! Priests and preudiers ltuve made headlines be cause of tlieir immoralities, tbough few of their Rim:. find the way into the public press. Why, religion grunts absolution for delinquency, selling it for money returns. All religion has to offer is an outward show of piety and pnrity; but Christ Jesus condemned them for that sham. (Matthew 23: 25-28) ^Moreover, th ey have tunned their church-e::; into "bingo" gambling deus, outdoing even the religions Jews of Jesu