Awake!, March 22, 1955
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COMMUNISM OR CHRISTIANITY —WHICH WILL IT BE?
Origin, status and ultimate defeat of the Red menace
German Rearmament
For peace or for war?
Muscle—an Object of Wonder
A vastly complex, yet beautifully simple mechanism
What Would You Have Done?
Is it "betrayal” to turn in a criminal?
MARCH 22, 1955 semimonthly
THE MISSION OF THIS JOURNAL
Newtf 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 trodden on; 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 I” uses the regular news channels, but 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 coverage is as broad as the earth and as high as the heavens,
°Awake 1" 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 sure hope for the establishment of a right* eous New World.
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CONTENTS
Appeal to Reason or to Emotion? 3 Communism or Christianity
—Which Will It Be?
Wind Tunnels Contribute to Progress 9 Respect for Religious Scruples Rewarded 12 German Rearmament—for Peace
or for War?
Denominational Education
in Newfoundland
Children Not Naturally Good Citizens
The Story of the Muttonbird
Muscle—an Object of Wonder
Sensible or Stubborn?
A Day of Crime in Just One City
"Your Word Is Truth”
What Would You Have Done?
Jehovah’s Witnesses Preach
in All the Earth—Reaching into
Literal Prisons
Watching the World
Volume XXXVI
Brooklyn, N.Y,, March 32, 1955
Number 8
Appeal to Reason or to Emotion?
THE churchmen of England confessed themselves sadly in need of help. Only five per cent of Londoners and ten per cent of the rest of the Englishmen were attending church services on Sundays. America’s foremost evangelist, ‘"Billy” Graham, was invited to help revive religion. Contrasting his manner of preaching with that of Jehovah’s witnesses was the following item that appeared in the Toronto Daily Star, July 20, 1954:
“An appeal to reason, and not to emotions, is the way Jehovah’s Witnesses try to relay their message to the people, Percy Chapman, supervisor of ministers and evangelists for Canada, said today* The meetings of Rev. Billy Graham have tended to be on an emotional plane, Mr, Chapman said, and he expressed doubt that they would mean a permanent change for the large numbers of converts reported coming forward at the close of them.”
That Graham does capitalize on emotional appeal is apparent from his use of a thousand-voice choir at his London meetings, by his preparing his audiences with an hour of mood music before he speaks, and by his entourage, which includes a production manager, song leader, baritone soloist, trombonist, organist, press agents, etc., some twenty-five for his trip abroad.
According to a writer in the London News Chronicle, March 11, 1954, Graham
“seemed to think he could solve all our problems by merely repeating that God loved us. He took as his text John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son . . ? And then he added: ‘There is enough gospel here for a person to be converted, even if you’ve never heard any other part of the Gospel? But there simply isn’t enough.”
That Graham does appeal to emotion rather than to reason to gain converts is apparent from a description of his method as given in the New York Daily News, June 13, 1954. After the musical program and an hour of “athletic oratory he mounts the podium, rests a moment, and says soothingly: ‘Has anybody forgotten you tonight? Well, God hasn’t ... He loves you. Will you do business with God tonight? This could be your last chance. This is God’s night. This is harvest time? At this point the organist launches softly into a hymn, ‘Almost Persuaded? and the audience picks up the chorus. . . . Weeping and praying, people crowd the aisles to reach the platform.” No wonder one of London’s reporters described him as "a very sincere man, with very little to say, and all the tricks of the modem demagogue at । his finger tips,” while another referred to him as “this theatrical disciple, the Hollywood version of John the Baptist.”
His emotional approach is further be-
trayed by his inconsistencies. On the one hand he states to the press: “What I preach does not matter a row of beans —it’s how I live that counts”; and on the other hand he preaches: “What does a man go to hell for? Not for getting drunk, cursing, committing adultery or lying. The only thing that will send a man to hell is rejecting Jesus Christ.” With feigned humility he says, “I just can’t explain my appeal—I am not a good preacher,” but then admits that he engages in generalities so as not to offend others: “I just preach the Bible in such a way as all groups can listen without being in any way embarrassed.”
A Watch Tower missionary in eastern Canada was witnessing to a sailor who had just come from England where he had been “thrilled to pieces" by Graham’s preaching. When asked what it was about Graham’s message that had so impressed him he could not say. He remembered the man but not the message. Then for an hour and a half the witness for Jehovah told him about the Kingdom hope. As they separated, the sailor agreed with the observation of the witness regarding the value of the message and stated that while he may forget the particular witness that had spoken to him he would never forget the message.
The appeal to reason is God’s way: “Come now, and let us reason together.” Instead of flaunting a powerful personality, Paul says: “I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling, and my speech and what I preached were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of spirit and power, that your faith might be, not in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power.”—Isaiah 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:3-5, New World Trans.
COMMUIMfWi
OHtidtivUtit be?
ATEVER before in history has an issue of IN such magnitude thrust itself upon mankind. There is no escaping it. There is no neutrality. Life depends upon being on the winning side. True, in times past, when a great crisis arose, men could remain uninvolved. Not any more. For the arena in which the present issue will come to its decisive conclusion is the whole earth. No mere conflict between East and West is this. It is Communism versus Christianity. The outcome will profoundly affect your life.
But is there not a hope of “peaceful coexistence”? Not in this issue. This is strikingly clear when we realize the aim of communism. Says the Communist book A Short History of the Communist Party
(Bofeftenifc) of the Soviet Union: “Studies of the history of the party strengthen the belief in the ultimate victory of the great task of Lenin and Stalin, the victory of Communism in the whole world?' Never will the leaders of communism be satisfied with anything less than world domination. Yet what of Christianity? The Bible, the basis for Christianity, declares that God’s kingdom must rule this earth and that the King, Christ Jesus, “must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:25, New World Trans.)
Clearly, the declarations of both communism and Christianity show they cannot coexist.
Origin and Growth of Communism
The final conflict draws near; happy are those that will be on the winning side. But to make a decision of such lasting consequence we need facts on both Christianity and communism. First, what is communism? What is its origin? How is it that communism boasts of a zeal and enthusiasm among its adherents that is unusual to politics?
Communism is defined as a social system based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. In practice it is a system in which all economic, religious and political activity is directed by a totalitarian state. In practice modern communism has come to include, besides the philosophical ideal, a revolutionary method.
Communism’s origin takes us back to the days of ancient Greece. Plato advocated a community of property, and also of wives, in his Republic. But revolutionary communism is generally regarded as dating from publication of the Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. This document called upon the workers of the world to fight for common ownership of all means of production and to establish a rule of the proletariat (the laboring class).
But communism made no lasting progress until the Bolsheviks, after the revolution of November, 1917, established a dictatorship of the Communist party in Russia. Origi
nally, the Communists expected the Russian Revolution to be the first in a worldwide series. Lenin, one of the revolutionaries, taught that the Communist party must be the advance guard of the proletariat and must consist of well-disciplined men ready to assume control and lead discontented masses in seizing power whenever opportunity should arise. So the Comintern, a world-wide union of Communist parties, was organized at Moscow in 1919 to spread the Communist idea throughout the world. But the Comintern failed to bring about world revolution. Russia's economic resources became exhausted; so the Comintern adopted a new policy to gain time to build up a great economic and military empire.
Today the colossus of communism stalks all nations. Already communism's iron and bamboo curtains have enclosed more than one third of the earth's surface and almost 1,000,000,000 people! There is no doubt that the so-called “Christian*1 religion is in peril. Declared the Sixth Congress of the Comintern: “One of the most
important tasks of the cultural revolution, affecting the wise masses, is the task of systematically and unswervingly combatting religion—the opium of the people.”
What Communism Really Is
Still, how can we explain the fanaticism that Communist party members manifest? The answer is that communism is more than a social system; it is a religion. Communism arrogates to itself power that belongs to God and causes people to look to the state for salvation and to worship it instead of God. In his book Communism and Christ Dr. Lowry wrote: “The miracle of Marxism is its social and institutional embodiment and its transformation into an aggressive, universal religion of salvation. . . . The appeal of Marxism was, and is twofold. It exploited, and exploits, the prestige of science, claiming to be a scientific system for a scientific age. It offered, and offers, deliverance from present injustice and misery, promising to all believers a new world of equality and happiness.”
So communism’s sales talk is for “a new world of equality and happiness.” Its religious aspects go even farther, for communism has its gods and “saviors.” Not only was Lenin made a god from the standpoint of adulation but he was elevated to the pantheon alongside Marx. When Stalin was alive the people in Albania erected a statue of “The Deity Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.” Albania’s premier said: “The great Stalin is our people’s glorious saviour." (Chicago Daily Sun Times, January 11, 1950) The “Holy Scriptures” of communism now include writings of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. The Red religion has its holy days and its parades. Nearly every nation is honeycombed with the missionaries of communism; its prophets predict a new world of economic bliss.
Like all religions, communism can be judged by the quality of its fruits. What are they? "Lying, hate, suspicion, censorship, torture, brutality and murder—all evil fruits. Why such rotten fruits? Because governments of this world derive their authority from an unseen wicked spirit, “the god of this system of things.” Of this master spirit the Bible declares: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” So communism is just this: a false religion that receives its power and authority from none other than the Dragon, Satan the Devil.—2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19, New World Trans.
False “Christian” Religion Responsible
The so-called “Christian” religion is often called the bulwark against communism. How is it, then, that this Devil-inspired Communist religion has deluded so many who profess to be Christian? Indeed, the United States is alarmed not only over its scientists but even over its clergymen! In France, where , from 85 to 95 per cent of the people are Catholic, the Communists have polled as high as 26.5 per cent of the vote. In Italy, where over 99 per cent of the people are born Catholics, communism has taken even far greater strides.
An article in the Roman Catholic magazine The Commonweal (May 7, 1954) should make us think. Under the title “When Catholics Turn Communist” the article said that, on the basis of information gathered by parish priests in all parts of Italy, communism has maintained a steady rate of growth. Then referring to the period since the pope decreed excommunication (1949) for Communists, the article says: “During this period Italian communism has not even been slowed; 1,626,957 more baptized Italians have voted Communist or pro-Communist, which brings the total number of ‘Catholic Com-monists’ to nearly 10,000,000.” About 10,000,000 Communist-voting Catholics— this in the Vatican’s own front yard! What is wrong?
Honest clergymen have to admit where the responsibility lies. So a Presbyterian preacher in Brooklyn, New York, admitted that communism is an “instrument of social change born in the intolerable vacuum left by a thousand years of Christian failure to achieve a better instrument or any instrument at all.”—New York Times, February 5, 1951.
So the failure of the “Christian” religions to bring real hope and comfort to the people has given communism the stimulus for existence. How the organized religions have failed! Have they brought the people the heart-cheering news of a new world of happiness? No! They have only offered the people hope in some dim kind of afterlife. But communism promises a new world of happiness in this life and on the earth. Not only that, but the hypocrisy and greed of the clergy have become notorious. Besides the pagan doctrines of trinity and immortality of the soul, organized religion has taught the unscriptural money-producing doctrines of eternal torment and purgatory. The truth of God’s Word the clergy have watered down so that the only real reasons people have for going to church is to show off toggery, socialize, hear music, take a lesson in psychology, get the facts on the latest “best-selling” novel, play bingo, learn which candidate to vote for, see a show of magic and drop cash into a zestfully passed collection plate or specially dated coin envelope. Is there any wonder that this spiritual vacuum has failed to strengthen professed Christians in a stand against communism?
True Christianity Demonstrated
It is false Christian religion, then, that has degraded and besmirched the name of Christianity. But Lenin’s charge that religion is “the opium of the people” does not apply to true Christianity. For true Christianity brings joy and hope. It brings the promise of a righteous new world, a promise that is sure because it comes from the Creator of the universe, the Most High God, Jehovah. Of that promise Christ’s apostle wrote: “There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Peter 3:13, New World Trans.) False religion has failed to tell the people of God’s new world. Who, then, demonstrate true Christianity? Who are telling the people of a paradise earth, of never-ending happiness and life in the new world that will be ushered in during this generation? Who are obeying Jesus' command: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come”? The only organization doing this and living up to all righteous principles of God’s Word is the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses.—Matt. 24:14, New World Trans.
False Christian religion not only fails to bring the hope of God’s kingdom to the people, but it mixes with the world, meddles in politics. Jehovah’s witnesses demonstrate true Christianity by obeying the Bible’s command: “Do yfiu not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” “Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world.” —James 4:4; 1 John 2:15, New World Trans.
In Communist lands today the Christian work of Jehovah’s witnesses is banned. And why? Because the Communists fear the good news that Jehovah’s witnesses bear. But never will these true Christians, though outlawed or imprisoned, cease announcing the truth that God’s kingdom is the only hope for distressed mankind. So whether in prison or out of prison Jehovah’s witnesses will keep on telling the truth. The Bible is the source of their truth. No wonder one commando leader of the peoples’ police at a penitentiary said: “A Bible in the hand of one of Jehovah’s witnesses is just as harmful as a torch in the hand of an incendiary.” The Bible harmful to what? Harmful to error, because Jehovah’s witnesses use the Bible to expose communism as a false religion, a vain hope.
The Issue Decided at Armageddon
The issue presses for settlement. It goes deeper than just Communism verses Christianity. For the issue narrows down to the question: Who is supreme? Jehovah God or Satan the Devil? The issue is to be decided for all time at the great war of Armageddon, “the great day of God the Almighty.” So now we see why this issue is far greater than any other that has ever arisen in history. This time the angels in heaven, under the command of Christ Jesus, fight for righteousness. Far-reaching will be the effects of this war.—Revelation 16:14, New World Trans.
False Christian religion, in God’s sight, deserves the weightiest judgment. Its wickedness surpasses that of which communism is guilty. For communism professes to be godless and has never represented itself as being of God and Christ, but false Christian religion has. And so for that reason it is the most reprehensible and will be destroyed first at Armageddon. God has foretold this in the Bible. The prophecy declares that the political powers, with whom organized religion has committed spiritual fornication, will turn against and destroy this false Christianity: “And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely bum her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose.” Next in line for destruction come all governments of this earth: “And the wild beast was caught.” The “wild beast” represents the earthly governments including communism. What will be the fate of those who remained neutral in this issue? The prophecy continues: “But the rest [all others who are not on God’s side] were killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse.” Thus Armageddon will have wiped out every vestige of this hollow-hearted world. All, that is, except those practicing true Christianity,—Revelation 17:16,17; 19:20, 21, New World Trans.
Armageddon reaches its culmination with the abyssing of Satan the Devil so that during the 1,000-year reign of Christ Jesus that master wicked spirit cannot spoil the peaceful conditions on the earth. What a glorious time follows! Earth’s King, Christ Jesus, brings mankind back to perfection. And finally all who become obedient subjects of Jehovah’s King will gain the right to live on this earth with no fear of ever dying. “For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, death is to be destroyed.”—1 Corinthians 15:25, 26, New World Trans.; Revelation 20:1-3.
Gone forever will be communism and all other imperfect forms of government. Never, in all the ages to come, will man have need for bombs, cannons or bullets. Live to see that happy time begin. Abandon communism. Abandon all forms of false religion. Take your stand with the New World society for true Christianity. Then when “Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity,” you will survive with the hope in view of everlasting life on this earth. —Isaiah 26:21, Am. Stan. Ver.
if
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be conducted
in the wind tunnel to ascertain the causes
By “Awake!" correspondent in Great Britain
AN AIRCRAFT streaks across the sky.
Its newly designed features seem perfectly styled for its graceful flight. The appreciative onlooker wonders in amazement at such an achievement. He may well ponder the question: What research and development lie behind the accomplishment of such a feat? Wind tunnels play an important part in the behind-the-scenes work, but they are usually away from the public eye and little is known of them by the, average person.
The stages in the design of a prototype aircraft generally conform to set pattern. First the specifications are drawn up, that is, the required load-carrying capacity, speed, range, operational altitudes and compass are decided upon. Next a configuration is planned that, according to theory, should possess aerodynamic qualities that will fulfill the required conditions. Models are then constructed for testing in wind of such discrepancies.
There are different forms of wind tunnels, but to present a clear picture to the reader a conventional form is used for the purpose of description. The diagram shows its layout and indicates the names of its components.
Since the model is stationary and air is propelled round the circuit by means of a fan, every effort is made to ensure a uniform flow of air through the working section so that the effects produced by an aircraft flying in ideal conditions through still air are simulated. Consideration of this point reveals the reason for the parts indicated in the diagram. As the stream of air flows from the fan round the circuit, the rotation of the fan will tend to rotate the air stream, so straightener vanes are placed behind the fan to induce linear flow. To minimize loss of energy in turning the air around the abrupt comers, specially shaped turning or comer vanes are placed on the diagonals. To prevent turbulence in the air stream, a wire screen of fine mesh is placed in the settling chamber just ahead of the entrance cone. Then the sudden contraction of the air stream through the cone brings about an increase in its velocity and also a steadying effect in addition to that produced by the wire screen, A steady stream of air with a fair freedom from turbulence is thus distributed throughout the entire working section. The stream then flows through a gradually diverging passage called the diffuser and then around two more corners on to the fan where it receives further impulses to complete the circuit. The speed of the fan can be varied to give a range of air speeds through the working section.
tunnels. When some preliminary experiments have been conducted, with perhaps some confirmation of theory, a start is made on designing the structural form of the main components. Then, as information is fed back from the wind tunnels, necessary changes are made in design. Eventually, when the machine is produced,
Varieties of Wind Tunnels
The three main groups of wind tunnels are: (1) low speed, (2) high speed and (3) supersonic. There is a wide range of size and form within the groups, and selection depends upon individual requirements, such as economy and the types of tests contemplated. In low-speed tunnels the speed of the air in the working section does not exceed 250 to 300 miles an hour. The working section of a general-purpose tunnel of average proportions would measure 9 feet by 7 feet and about 200 horsepower would be needed to produce a 170-miles-an-hour wind.
The largest wind tunnel in the world, controlled by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and located at Moffatt Field, California, possesses a working section of amazing proportions—80 feet by 40 feet! To produce the maximum wind speed of 250 miles an hour through this enormous working section, six 40-foot-diameter fans absorb about 36,000 horsepower. To convey an impression of the size of this tunnel, just imagine such a gale rushing through an auditorium capable of accommodating about 2,000 persons! Full-size aircraft or components can be tested in it
A high-speed tunnel is one capable of providing wind speeds in excess of about 300 or 400 miles an hour and which can approach the speed of sound (763 mph at sea level). It is within that range of speeds that violent changes in the pattern of air flow over an aerofoil can take place, sometimes with catastrophic results. Therefore supersonic tunnels are used to supply information on the effects produced by an aircraft passing through the sound barrier and attaining speeds above that of sound.
Attempts to investigate the phenomena arising from supersonic air flow have been conducted by placing the models directly in the exhaust from the high-pressure containers. Another supersonic tunnel injects a high-pressure supply of air through an annular Slot just downstream of the working section, A unique type of supersonic tunnel is one where a valve just downstream of the working section can be opened to permit a rush of air through and on into a hollow sphere that has been previously evacuated. An inconvenient feature of all these arrangements is that the running time is limited to a few seconds. This is because the air stream is supplied by storage vessels and not by a continuously running fan as in the case of the conventional form of tunnel. However, continuous-running types of supersonic tunnels are now in existence. Pushing even farther into the unknown are tunnels used to test very small models in hypersonic wind speeds, that is, five times the speed of sound.
A problem arising from supersonic speed is aerodynamic heating. The amount of heat generated due to the frictional resistance of an aircraft traveling faster than sound would make conditions within the
aircraft intolerable for the occupants. Furthermore, it can cause the structural material of the aircraft to become pliable with consequent failure of the aircraft members. Supersonic wind tunnel experiments provide much information on this problem.
Testing Procedure
The stage is reached where the lines of a new aircraft have been decided upon and now the model testing procedure follows. First, a complete model made of solid mahogany is tested in a low-speed tunnel to obtain preliminary measurements of the six components, namely, lift, drag, side force and rolling, yawing and pitching moments. Then the model may be modified so that tests can be conducted with various conditions and settings of control surfaces such as ailerons, elevators, rudder and flaps. Thus the effects of the controls can be determined. If these preliminary tests prove satisfactory, larger models of component parts, called “partial” models, are tested. Components are constructed with suitable mechanisms incorporated to facilitate structural design. Depending upon the available facilities of the wind tunnel organization, there are a number of other tests that may be conducted, such as the exploration of the effects due to air gusts and flutter. Air-flow patterns can be revealed by sticking tufts of wool on the model at strategic positions. It may surprise the reader to know that one of the most valuable pieces of equipment of wind tunnel technicians is a lump of plasticine. This is because, in the case of low-speed tunnel models, alterations in model component shapes can be accomplished speedily and easily with this humble molding material from the kindergarten.
Much more could be said about the techniques of aerodynamic research; but perhaps the information that has been presented will prove sufficient for the inquirer to catch a glimpse of the contribution made by wind tunnels toward the amazing developments in aviation.
It cannot be denied that the study of the phenomena associated with flight is most complex, and that the measures adopted by man are truly remarkable. So it is appropriate that man should be truly grateful to the great and loving Creator, Jehovah God, for the possession of the mental and material facilities enabling him to conduct intelligent and useful inquiry into the subject of aerodynamics, to the extent that he can enjoy safe mechanical flight. All praise should be to Jehovah, the One who introduced the marvelous facility of flight by saying: “Let flying creatures fly over the earth in the bosom of the expanse of the heavens.” And it came to be so. —Genesis 1:20, New World Trans.
At Miami, Florida, a bloodhound owned by the sheriff's office disappeared during a man hunt. Five days later the dog turned up in the city pound. Sheriff’s deputies angrily charged city officials with kidnaping the bloodhound while he was hot on the trail of a fugitive. A police inspector, they said, lured the canine detective into a car and took him to the pound. City officials explained that a woman reported a sick dog near the city limits, and so, to the men from the pound, the sad-eyed bloodhound looked sick. Pleading Innocent, they said they had no way of knowing the dog was a sleuthhound out on official duty.
Respect for Religious Scruples Rewarded
HERE are certain physicians and surgeons < who profess such great respect for their i procedures that they would not think of J making an exception for the sake of a patient’s ( scruples even though the patient’s life is in- i volved. They insist that the patient surrender J his scruples or die. By pursuing such a course ; they are, in effect, claiming to be omniscient i or Infallible. However, there also are some in J the medical profession who, while having s great respect for and confidence in their pro- j fessional procedures, are willing, for the sake J of saving a life and out of respect for a pa- s tient’s religious scruples, to make an excep- 5 tion. A reporter for the Winston-Salem Jour- J nal, April 23, 1954, told about it as follows: \ “One Chance in 10 Wins . . . Woman Re- i covers From Operation Without Needed Blood ■ Transfusion. A woman bet her life against ; heavy odds here recently—and won. Doctors j said she must undergo surgery or die. But J that wasn’t the choice she had to make. She ( told them she would not submit to surgery un- j less they promised not to give her blood or a ■ blood derivative during the operation. Her $ religion, she explained, prohibited her having i another person’s blood introduced into her J bloodstream. With blood transfusions, the sur- j geon said, she had nine chances in 10 of living, i Without the blood, she had just one chance of ■ making it. She took the one chance. s
£ "It happened at City Hospital. The woman i was taken there sometime back. She was in J severe pain and was unable to lie down. The i pain was located in the abdomen and chest, i The diagnosis: A pregnancy in one of the Fai- J lopian tubes. The tube had ruptured; she was i losing blood rapidly; immediate surgery was i necessary if her life was to be saved. J
H “She and her husband agreed to the opera- i tion, but they told the surgeon he must not i —under any conditions—order blood or a blood derivative during the operation. The surgeon explained that he couldn’t make such an agreement. She had already lost too much blood; she would lose more during the operation. He asked the patient, ‘Would you rather die than have a blood transfusion?’ She looked at him calmly and replied, ‘Yes.’
“He told her that he could not perform the operation under her conditions, and another surgeon was consulted. He, too, turned her down. And so did another and another. [All apparently willing to let her die rather than even to try to save her life because she stood by her religious scruples!] In the meantime, the patient’s condition grew steadily worse. The first surgeon, still confronted by her calm resolution to stick by her religious belief, finally agreed to try the operation. ‘Somebody had to do it,' he said. ‘Without it, she didn’t have a chance.'
<[_ "The woman’s husband signed a paper first. It stated the conditions under which the operation was being performed. It said he understood that the surgeon "had advised against it. Then thetwoman was taken to the operating room, and the operation began. An incision through the abdominal wall confirmed the diagnosis. Blood was pulsing steadily through the ruptured tube. Clamps stopped the bleeding; the damage was repaired. The patient was returned to her room, and, a few days later, she returned home. The surgeon says she’s doing fine.”
<1, Did that surgeon feel any regrets for having made an exception for the sake of his patient’s religious scruples? Hardly. Rather, deep down in his heart he must have felt thankful that he had made an exception for the benefit of a patient that showed such loyalty to her religious scruples.
WAy 4/iVty, Alt. Alotoziit?
A sign put up in North Carolina gave speeding motorists a jolt. It simply said: “It’s better to be late, Mr. Motorist, than to be the late Mr. Motorist.”
Tot Wayward Walkali
Some pedestrians overdo their rights; they think in terms of the earth's being a pedestrian’s planet. So they cross streets carelessly and walk according to any vagary of the moment A sign put up in Kansas City woke up some of the wayward walkers. It said: "To avoid that run down feeling, cross the street carefully,”
*3^
current issue over rearma-
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hava an art ids by the French corre-reflecting the view of that country.
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Thii article by “AwakeI” corretpondent in Germany give) the German view. The following
J. ment of Germany is of worldwide interest, and in Germany it is the talk of the hour. It was on Saturday, October 23,1954, that John Foster Dulles of the United States, \ Anthony Eden of Britain, ex-Pre- x mier Mendes-France of France and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Germany signed the document that, when ratified by their various governments, will allow Germany to rearm and will restore her to her place among the sovereign nations of the world. Some viewed this agreement as a promise of a securer and safer future—an added protection against the armies from the East that they fear are only biding their time awaiting an opportunity to take over the rest of Germany, if not all of Europe. Others considered German rearmament a morbid omen of troublesome conditions to come and perhaps the forerunner of a feared third world war. The entire situation is explosively charged with emotion, and almost everyone, both professional politician and common man, has his own very definite views on the matter.
Heated debate and intensive discussions preceded the signing of the agreement. Problems arose that made agreement seem remote if not downright impossible. Would France give in and agree to the rearming of her long-time enemy, Germany? The deep-seated feeling of hatred between these two European nations is nothing new, and the last two wars only heaped coals upon the fire. It is understandable that France would be cautious in thrusting weapons back into the hands of a possible future attacker, though it is thought that both sides were anxious for some kind of agreement. Another problem was the Saar question. For many years it has been a ticklish issue. Mendes-France demanded an immediate settlement before signing the sovereignty agreement. This demand momentarily threatened the conference with defeat, but a decision was finally reached that seemingly was satisfactory to all involved, and the way was left open for final negotiations.
German Rearmament
Just what does this agreement provide? The German "Bundesrepublik” receives its full inner and outer sovereignty. The Allied occupation of Western Germany comes to an end, although Allied troops will continue to be stationed throughout Germany as part of the NATO forces. Western Germany is the fifteenth member-nation of this organization whose express purpose is the defending of Western Europe and the Americas from the spread of communism. It is rather paradoxical to think that Germany, crushed into unconditional surrender in the second world war, should now be regiven her freedom by her conquerors solely for the purpose of rebuilding this armed might that they-once so ferociously fought to destroy. But in this upside-down, mixed-up world paradoxes seem to have become the order of the day.
Germany’s armed force is not to exceed 500,000 men. Some 20,000 of these will go to build up a small navy of 180 craft (all less than 3,000 tons), such as submarine chasers, mine layers, motor gunboats and harbor-protection vessels. An air force of 80,000 men and 1,500 planes is planned. This does not include heavy bombers, which, according to the agreement, may not be built. Of the 80,000 air force members, only some 3,000 will be pilots.
This army, incorporated into the NATO forces, will be under the direct and immediate supervision of NATO headquarters, and the German rearmament will be supervised by the Brussels Treaty organization (composed of Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, with Germany and Italy as new members) that controls continental arms manufacture. The new Republic of Germany agrees to produce no rocket weapons (like the famous V rockets used in the last war), no large warships, no heavy bombers, and also not to produce any atomic, biological or chemical weapons (known as the a-b-c weapons). The checking of this by the armament committee is In line with the policy that no nation will possess any weapon greater than necessary to preserve the safety of the NATO forces and programs as decided by NATO itself.
One hundred billion German marks (approximately $25 billion) will be necessary, according to preliminary estimates, to build this defense force. Already the government has money on hand that has been earmarked for this purpose. And on his recent whirlwind trip to the United States, Chancellor Adenauer was able to arrange for aid from Uncle Sam to the extent of 12.6 billion marks, or some $3 billion. One persistent argument raised by opponents of rearmament is that the spending of so much money at this time is “unjustifiable” in view of the serious social needs of millions of people who are still in need of homes and other facilities that were lost during the war.
Here are some of the other things provided for by the new agreement. The Allied High Commissioner offices will cease to exist and will be replaced by regular ambassadors as exchanged between other nations. Any veto power previously held by the Allies over the law-making factions of the new government will end. All Allied civilians in the German republic will be liable to the German laws. All control of German industry will come to an end. All export and import affairs will now be handled by the government itself.
Further, the three Western powers retain their rights in Germany only as regards Berlin and the German reunification arrangements and the making of a peace treaty with the German government. The state of emergency powers that up to now would have allowed the Allies to resume complete control in the event of an emergency have been lifted, though certain powers and rights are granted, at least temporarily, to maintain the safety of their troops on German soil. Later a Four Power office will be set up to deal with the problems of foreign troops stationed in Germany. The Allied powers retain. the right to check and approve all plans and treaties that have to do with reuniting Germany.
The Internal Political Issue
As could be expected, the party in power, Adenauer and his Christian Democrats, is generally in favor of this move, although evidences of complete unanimity are lacking; whereas the other major party, Ollen-hauer and his Socialists, is sharply against the ratification movement. Adenauer contends that a rearmed Germany in the ranks of NATO makes the possibility for a reunited Germany better; Ollenhauer, on the other hand, contends that West Germany’s entry into the NATO forces makes reunification with Russian-occupied East Germany not only improbable but almost impossible. Political difference on this point has been sharp and many bitter words have been and still are being spoken in debate.
Particularly is Chancellor Adenauer's handling of the Saar question being received with sharp criticism. By many it is considered a downright sellout to the French, Said one critic: "A business man is seldom considered successful when he sells articles very much in demand at a shamefully reduced price. It is therefore astounding that some consider our Chancellor in his foreign ministry politics as successful; all his ‘success’ is nothing more than the extremely moderate price that the Western Powers have paid for the much to be desired German military contributions." Even the French admitted that the Germans had made a great concession in the matter of the Saar. Said the French newspaper Le Monde: “One must fully appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice that the Germans have made, especially in giving up a population whose German background cannot be disputed."
Getting this agreement ratified may cause Chancellor Adenauer and his party many long hours of debate and worry, and the possibility of defeat is not to be overlooked. The uncertainness of the situation was augmented by the untimely death of Dr. Hermann Ehlers, the German “Bundestag” president, who was being counted upon by Chancellor Adenauer for strong support of his ratification program.
Not only the politicians, but also the common people are strongly divided in their views. Some feel that Germany's rearmament will only further the possibility of a third world war. Others feel that through this action the threat of another earth-wide wave of devastation and ruination has been dismissed. One thing, however, is sure. That is that the average person, like peace-loving peoples the world over, desires an end to the bickering and quarreling of the nations and fervently prays that a third world war—this time an atomic war—will not become a grim reality.
The horrors of the second world war are still fresh in the minds of many; people who still have no decent homes, who still have not been able to regain the necessities of life, not to speak of those who still grieve for lost loved ones who are either dead, maimed, missing or perhaps still held prisoner behind the iron curtain. Still fresh in their minds are the horrors of Allied bombing raids when whole cities were turned into gigantic flaming funeral pyres for thousands of men, women and children. The graphic description of their frantic efforts to escape and of the excruciating agonies they underwent makes you realize why they want no third world war in which Germany would no doubt be caught in the middle, between the East and the West
Of course, there are other elements, too, although in the minority. There are those who let national pride and patriotism run away with them, those who still hang on to Hitler’s Nazi ideas, and other warmongers who no doubt look forward to the future and the potential possibility of saving face for the “Vateriand.” One has the impression, too, that many of the younger generation, those who will now make up the new army in the biggest part, are just a little eager to see the adventure and excitement that this will bring. Will they too learn only through the sufferings and privations of themselves and others that war, being the crime that it is, does not pay?
The General Attitude
We can sum up the general attitude of most Germans, then, as “wait and see.” There were no wildly cheering, flag-waving crowds proclaiming the rebirth of a mighty world power. Nor were there political soapbox speakers declaring the possibilities of a iparvelous future brought about by the military might of the new nation, nor are there any hints of such to come. There are those, of course, who always agree with their political idols, be they right or wrong; there are the others who always disagree. But the majority of the people seem to be holding to the middle of the road between the two extremes, hoping that things will work out for the best for the eventual peace of this entire war-weary world.
Whether the rearming of Western Germany will be a wise move that will contribute to peace is anybody’s guess. Whether Germany is to become the bloody battlefield of yet another world war, complete with atomic cannons and perhaps even hydrogen bombs, also is anybody’s guess. But the final outcome of this entire situation is not anybody’s guess; it is based upon the confirmed and true word of Jehovah God. He has declared that all nations, both of the East and the West, will together go down into staggering defeat before the invincible armies of his Son Christ Jesus, and that very shortly. It is marvelous to see that thousands of Germany’s common people—yes, 48,000 in the Western area alone—are turning their backs upon man’s failing efforts and are looking to the Almighty God of the universe to bring into existence the new world of righteousness that he long ago promised. Then will be fulfilled the psalmist’s words: “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, he burns the chariots with fire!’’ —Psalm 46:9, Rev. Stan. Ver.
"Awake!" Article Appreciated
Recently Awake! received the following letter from one of its subscribers: "Not long ago the superintendent of city schools of W—— moved injto the neighborhood of one of Jehovah’s witnesses and the two families became well acquainted with each other. One day the superintendent dropped in on the witness and asked if she had anything he could use in his talk before the Parent-Teachers’ Association. She gave him a copy of the Awake! magazine that contained the article 'Crime Comics Produce Child Criminals,’ In his talk he made generous use of the information contained therein even quoting some of the scriptures used. The large group of teachers and parents were carried away with his discussion and afterward several of the teachers showed interest in the issue of Awake! he had with him. Several days later another witness of Jehovah was surprised when her boys came home with the request for every copy they could get of the Awake! magazine that carried the article on the crime comics. And the superintendent has been scheduled to give the same talk at six other schools. The effect of this has already been felt in our placing of Awake! on the streets. The attitude of the particular section where he first gave the talk has generally been hostile, but, right after that, in one Saturday afternoon 100 magazines were placed.”
Denominational
Education in Newfoundland
HE slogan “Education Is Everybody’s Business” has been highlighted in Newfoundland during the past few years. This is especially so during planned “education weeks” and during various financial campaigns conducted by the various religious denominations. Since education is everybody’s business, more and more people are asking questions and discussing the remedies put forth by some to improve the condition of education in Newfoundland.
The results of public examinations conducted in the past two years indicate that there is much room for improvement. In the 1953 examinations the percentage of students passing the examinations was 55.6 for Grade 9 and 54.4 for Grade 10, while the results for the 1954 examinations were 54.4 for Grade 9, and 53.2 for Grade 10.
Editorials and considerable correspondence printed in the columns of two leading Newfoundland newspapers revealed many reasons for the ‘poor showing1 in the examinations and education matters generally. The opinions expressed listed several weaknesses, for example, (1) the number of unqualified teachers is far too high; (2) a considerable turn-over in the teaching profession is due to insufficient remuneration; (this has resulted in the granting of new salary and grading scales by the government, giving the teachers over one million dollars additional salaries in 1954); (3) there is the lack of school accommodation to meet the increasing population; (4) the various boards of education need larger grants of monies by the government, and more generous voluntary contributions from an already generous public*
Admittedly these and similar reasons are confronting educational authorities elsewhere in Canada and throughout the world. However, there is one aspect of education in Newfoundland that is believed to be unique, and that is what is known as “ denominational education.” Under this system, the religious systems have, under the department of education, assumed the responsibility of teaching the children. The four major denominations, Roman Catholic, Church of England, United Church of Canada (Methodist and Presbyterian) and the Salvation Army, operate their own schools under their own local boards of education, provide teachers of their own particular denomination and appoint supervisors and superintendents of their own denomination in the department of education, who are employed as civil servants.
Politically, education is a provincial matter. The system of denominational education is treasured so much that, when negotiating the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada in 1949, tactful
MARCH M 1955
politicians insisted on the insertion of a special clause in the Terms of Union guaranteeing no change in the system of denominational education at any time, except where two denominations at any time mutually desired to unite their facilities in any location.
Financially, education in Newfoundland is said to be "free." Yet, in most schools children have to pay for their books, and pay tuition fees that in the capital city of St John’s range in price from $1.50 a month in kindergarten to $4.50 in Grade 11. Colleges, operated by the various denominations, teach the same grades but at a higher fee. Also the various religious boards of education receive substantial grants from the government based on the number of pupils attending the schools. In addition to that, the general public and the parents are solicited at least annually by each of the denominations for money contributions in the interests of education. Local business and professional men are expected to patronize denominations other than their own for business’ sake in the name of education. Besides all this there are socials, sales of teas, bingo, school entertainments, athletic games of all sorts in season, and many other ways in which parents and others are expected to contribute, namely, cookies, cakes, salads, sandwiches, clothing or any thing that can be sold, and, last but not least, money. Well, certainly “education is everybody’s business."
Unless the population of an "outport” or village is practically all of one denomination, two or more separate schools will be found in every one of these smaller settlements as well as in the larger towns. These schools are in many cases “one-room” schools with grades from kindergarten to Grade 11 being taught by one teacher. In many places children of one denomination have to walk long distances past schools of other denominations so as to attend their own school. Supporters of this system state that the problem is simply geographical.
In towns started or controlled by mining and paper companies there has developed what is known as “public" or “amalgamated” schools. With company support they have been able to build good school buildings and pay teachers better than is usual in other settlements, and they have had good success in public examinations. In some other communities this idea of “amalgamated” schools is gaining headway, and the Protestant denominations in particular have united their forces and facilities in a few locations. However, Roman Catholics are not amalgamating with any other denomination. Supporters of amalgamated schools point out that the Roman Catholic denomination is in a very favorable position in Newfoundland, to compare with other provinces of Canada. In some places, in order to operate their own schools Roman Catholics or any other denomination would have to pay directly for this privilege, but in Newfoundland they receive grants from the government based on the number of- pupils attending their schools, just as other denominations do, and at the same time have the majority of their teaching in the larger cities and towns done by the “religious,” Irish Christian Brothers and various orders of sisters, whose lives are devoted to their church and who do not receive any salary. Roman Catholics themselves claim that their support of denominational education is “ . . . our age-old position that education without religion is not real education at all. .. for it leaves out all consideration of the one essential purpose for which man was created,” which they believe is to become “a citizen of Heaven.”—From a report of Bishop O’Neill’s address in the St. John’s Evening Telegram,, February 20, 1954,
The Status Quo to Be Maintained
It Is admitted that much progress has been made In educational matters in Newfoundland in the last few years, but there is still room for improvement. Some feel that the remedy for all grievances would be to abolish the system of denominational education. But such persons will get no help from the present government, whose aim, as stated repeatedly, is to continue the existing system “until our grandchildren’s time” while allowing for amalgamation of any denominations who so desire. At the same time any other denomination may apply for and get government approval to operate its own schools when it has enough people in any district. In 1954 the Pentecostal Assemblies were authorized to operate their own schools, or they may amalgamate in some areas. At the same time it was announced that Jehovah’s witnesses could for similar privileges.
Jehovah’s witnesses in Newfoundland are engaged in an educational work far more important than any secular or denominational school. They are busy teaching all who will hear that the kingdom of Jehovah was established in the heavens in the year 1914, and that now is the time to gain education for everlasting life. What do they do about denominational education? The St John's Evening Telegram reported on November 29 that "C. F. Barney, a missionary representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” told the regular meeting of the St. John’s congregation: “Denominational Education has tried to instill into the minds of children teachings which are flatly contradicted by Holy Scripture.” He explained that the state has made provision in the Education Act “forbidding teachers to impart to any child any religious instruction which may be objected to by the parent or guardian of such pupil.” Thus, the speaker stated that “in cases where religious denominations have assumed the responsibility of the State to teach children the three R’s (Reading, ’riting and ’rith-metic), we shall gladly co-operate, but as Christian witnesses of Jehovah according to the Scripture we reserve the right to teach our children the fourth R (Religion). We shall continue to take full advantage of the Education Act to protect our children from unscriptural teachings, because we want to keep our children in the way of life.”
Thus Newfoundland has an educational controversy that has a different twist from that found in most lands, yet it properly promises that the children’s parents will have final say as to religious training.
Children CMot ^Naturally Qood Citizens
With the rate of juvenile delinquency soaring in many countries, it was a surprise to learn that juvenile offenses, during 1953, fell off 14 per cent in Britain. There are some especially interesting facts behind this. First of all, some places, such as Wigan, Lancashire, require that parents of young offenders appear in court with their children. The blame for delinquency is placed squarely on the parents, who, in many instances, are fined heavily. On the Isle of Man, the literal rod is used on juvenile delinquents. Though whipping was abolished in 1946, it was revived in 1952. The youth crime rate has dropped. Most interesting is the maxim of Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, home secretary, who is Britain’s top law-enforcement officer: “Children are not naturally good citizens.” (New York Times, August 24, 1954) So, many of Britain’s law officers, by demanding that parents be responsible for their children’s conduct, are applying the Bible principle: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”—Proverbs 22:15, Am. Stan. Ver.
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ery name is flights that they aie-’EiTOwnw fishermen as
___... .. n in 1790 by a®;:b^e **Muttonbird Gajes.’*’'A j^n'gie white egg is officer of the Royal Mdlrigs says tll^s namWrlaid almost immeMately»ari& then follows a trial was. given the birds bec&il&swtheir “tasting^' of fo^titufleCXbr^aeh' ocean rover—a cloistered
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like to mutton.” The birds are also known by' ffhe name “petrel,” no doubt a dimmutiv^, of
Peter in allusion to the bird’s habit-of appar-ently walking on water, as the apostle Peter did. Still another name is “shg^rivater,” given th. them because of their skjpnming low over the waves. Though muttopbirds are somberly oblored, being black gpd brown, they do live colorlul lives. v
One hundred ant} twenty miles to the northeast of Australia’s-Island state, Tasmania, lie the Furneaux Islands. These islands constitute the main breeding" place in the Southern Hemisphere for theUnuttonbird. When not feeding bit the surfaW the ocean, muttonbirds can .pe seen flyingwin long undulating lines a short distance off the island. Their vanguard dips to the water wift the Ups of their wings shearing .the crest of the waves. Then they soar up again to renew the"fline while the remainder dip be-hind in a movement that from the shore looks like the undulation of some giant caterpillar. Occasionally tlife^ settle on the water to feed, especially if they espy a colony of small mol-lusks and jellyfish. Then the surface is churned white by the scrafmble.
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